Ministry Lessons From a Billionaire
This was a post I did for Matt Knisley. I am so thankful to him for the opportunity and am excited to meet him, in person, at Cultivate ’09. You really need to check out his blog–lots of wisdom coming from that direction.
My wife is from Omaha. So is Warren Buffet. As a matter-of-fact, he still has a home in the city and I can attest, it is very modest for a billionaire. Seems you can take the man out of the Midwest but you can’t take the Midwest out of the man.
The picture above is from a daily calendar of Warren Buffet quotes that we have in our kitchen. Most often, these quotes are about business principles, investment strategies, mistakes Warren and his partners have made through the years, etc.
Every now and again, Buffet will start waxing philosophy. I’m not sure if today’s quote was meant to perceived at an existential level, but the words from Warren struck me. Here it is again:
“Wide diversification is only required when investors do not understand what they are doing.”
- In my mind, the “investors” for the church are the staff, clergy, and volunteers. They are the ones who are “investing” the most in the organization.
- We “diversify” the church by creating ministries, programs, service projects, and worship services, etc.
“Diversifying” the church is important to an extent. We need to understand the perceived needs of our community and faithfully attempt to meet people where they are at. As the church, we need to speak a language that people can understand and internalize. This much is true.
But what happens when the church “over-diversifies”? What happens when we, as the investors, start sinking time, money, and resources into every “investment” that comes our way? According to Warren, it shows that we “do not understand what [we] are doing.”
Think about it: How many churches do you know that offer a laundry list of ministries and programs, attempting to cater to seemingly every conceivable demographic on the planet?
- Are you a young adult? We have a ministry for you!
- Are you a stay-at-home mom? We’ve got a program for you!
- Do you like to fish and hunt? We have a special early-morning service just for you!
- Are you a twin? Like basketball? Knit? Have a third appendage? Majored in medieval history? We’ve got something for everybody!
In short, the Church has become over-diversified. We don’t understand what we are doing. We’ve lost our way.
Perhaps it’s time for the Church to go “all-in,” not with a program, ministry, or worship service, but with Christ Himself. What would it look like for a local church to “simplify” their investments and go-for-broke with an “investment strategy” that focused not on exalting what our investments are, but Who we’re investing in?
This is a very interesting quote indeed. All that said, I do think there should be a separate and strategic outreach to unbelievers as opposed to connecting the existing groups in your church. But like Matt said, in his response, we do need to be listening more!
Great post Justin! I couldn't agree with you more!
Our church is new, so it is easier for us… But we are very strategically "investing" in four things and saying no to everything else: 1) Sunday Worship Gatherings; 2) Children's spiritual formation, 3) Small Groups as a vehicle for discipleship, and 4) Outreach – community service & evangelism.
If we can do all of these things with excellence than I feel we will be headed in the right direction towards accomplishing our mission of worshiping God, reaching and discipling the lost, passing on the faith, and joining God in the renewal of all things.
You have a very excellent point. I can't tell you the number of times I have heard that exhortation to be sold out to Christ and it is desperately needed.
That being said, if I may make an observation? That need and encouragement to be sold out is usually where it stops. Very rarely do I find people who actually describe what that looks like…..or the dynamics that mark that commitment as a whole. Is that where we have to stop or is there more?