Media

I wanted to bring up one more idea that I thought was worth discussion from the book Zag! In it Marty Neumeier discusses a corporate dynamic that brings to mind many parallels to the church world. He sets up companies as either Paper, Rock, or Scissor companies. “Scissor Companies” are very small upstarts that have a revolutionary idea that can cut through larger competition because of how revolutionary it is. Scissors as they grow become “Rock Companies” that can crush smaller Scissor companies and run with Scissor ideas because they have more money. “Paper Companies” can cover Rock companies because they are enormous. They have tons of products and go after Rock companies. But they can be cut by Scissor companies’ ideas because Paper companies can’t afford to pursue risky projects like Scissor companies can–they have too much to lose. All of it is one big cycle.

Churches aren’t into crushing the other church competition like the company example (at least I hope not), but I do think a similar dynamic exists. Can a Paper church take the same risks that a Scissor church can? Will the brilliant idea of a Scissor church go completely flat because no one is paying attention to them? What can we do to make sure great ideas have a chance to flourish in any size ministry? How do you maintain innovation at a large church? How do you get people to pay attention to amazing ideas coming from churches that are on no one’s radar?

I think North Point has some great strategies in place to continually look for and foster innovation, but what about you–what are you doing at your church? In your life?