The Right People on the Bus

   Truth is transferable. Truth is universal. Truth in one place carries over to other places. I was reminded of this while sitting in the Board meeting of the Open Door Community House this week. We begin our monthly meetings by hearing from a client, served by one of the ministries of Open Door, for a Missions Moment. This week, Mrs. W was introduced to share a few words and soon everyone in the room was mesmerized. We learned she had been homeless, living on the streets, but now she lives in her own home and has great neighbors. She spoke very little about the specifics of the Case Management program of Open Door that had connected her to healthcare providers, local housing options and led her from poverty to putting her life back together. Instead she talked almost exclusively about Crystal Feliciano, the Open Door staff person, who helps oversee this ministry. Mrs. W said, "Crystal made me thankful to be alive. She came alongside me, not above me. You could not have picked a better person to help lead your program." It was powerful. It was true. 

   Earlier that morning, I had spent an hour listening to the visions and plans that our Children's Ministry has for the future. It was inspiring stuff. Kelley Conkle, Epworth's newest staff person, and Debra Johnson, the volunteer who helps oversee what we do with children and families, care deeply about partnering with families to shine the light of Jesus into the lives of children of all ages. Epworth's staff is awesome - from the nursery to the choir loft to the office - and they serve alongside passionate volunteers. We are blessed!
   Both moments reminded me of a truth from a book that I have carried with me for a few years now. Read this excerpt from Jim Collins' 2001 bestseller, Good to Great:
"We expected to find that the first step in taking a company from good to great would be to set a new direction, a new vision and strategy for the company, and then to get people committed and aligned behind that new direction. We found something quite the opposite. The executive who ignited the transformations from good to great did not first figure out where to drive the bus and get people to take it there. No, they first got the right people on the bus and then figured out where to drive it. They said, in essence, “Look, I don’t really know where we should take this bus. But I know this much: If we get the right people on the bus, the right people in the right seats, and the wrong people off the bus, then we’ll figure out how to take it someplace great.” 
   I think this also resonates with a truth from the Gospels. While Jesus knew where he was going, he did not make vision or prophetic power a prerequisite for joining his Messianic movement. Instead, Jesus invited the right people to join the bus and then equipped them to go and change the world. Palm Sunday is a powerful reminder of the differences between having people around you and having the right people with you.
   May we all be thankful to be counted as right because of Jesus, and may we continue to serve in ways that bring God glory and are in line with God's Kingdom plans. Peace to you, Scott