Some time ago Christian leaders in South America discerned a four-step process that seemed to characterize many of the great movements of God in their culture. Recently my friend Omar Reyes of NorthWood Church shared those four steps with me. They have been guiding me in my journey ever since. I'd like to share those steps with you.
Step 1: Vision
God gives us a dream, a vision, and we give it voice. We talk about, blog it, draw it, dance it, write poems and songs about it. As we share that dream with others, we discover that our dream is only one small part of a much bigger dream, and that other people have been given the other pieces.
Step 2: Community
As we share our vision, we discover fellow travelers, people whose dreams are connected with our dreams as part of something bigger and more beautiful than any of us ever imagined alone. A new community begins to form, one that we are part of, a community that is passionate about the shared dream that is taking shape.
Step 3: Collaboration
As the new community begins to form, lines of collaboration become visible. The community becomes aware of what each of its members will contribute toward making the shared dream a living reality.
Step 4: Organization
Once the full dream has taken shape, a community has formed with a shared ownership of that dream, and the lines of collaboration have become clear -- then and only then is it time to organize.
