Skateboards and Ocean Liners
Churches and Organizations tend to fall into one of two camps – they’re either SKATEBOARDS or OCEAN LINERS.
Skateboards are Small, Fast, can make Turns on a dime, and are incredibly risky. A few small pushes and you’re off! They also tend to have only 1 rider at a time (I’ve tried to fit more, it never ended well). When ridden well they are exhilarating to watch. When they are not, they can be quite painful.
Ocean Liners on the other had are Big, Slow, and follow carefully plotted Courses. They are methodical because they have to be. They demand MANY people doing precise jobs, giving lots of small pushes (often unseen) to make everything work. When it works it is amazing though not as exhilerating. When they don’t…well I think Kate and Leo taught us a thing or two about that.
I have had the privilege of working for Two Very Large and Wonderful Churches (Willow Creek and North Point). They are Ocean Liners. While no one there would like to think of themselves as a deck mate, the truth is, in many ways they are. They are a small but significant part of a massive thing that makes tremedous impact on the Kingdom of God. While the impact is undeniably huge, it doesn’t always feel that way from the cargo deck.
I now ride a Skateboard. Soul City Church is a New, Young, Fast Moving, Nimble Church. We can make Big Decisions in a Short Time because there’s only a few of us making those decisions. It is wonderfully terrifying faith filled ride. It’s just us at this point. It all falls on us. If we don’t know or we can’t do, we run the risk of getting stuck or falling flat on our face. But, while the Impact is not as massive yet. We see it all. We experience it all. Firsthand.
- So, what are you riding on right now?
- A Skateboard or (at the risk of evoking T-Pain) an Ocean Liner?
- What’s One Benefit?
- What’s One Drawback?
- How can you, whatever you’re riding, do what only you can do, to make a difference in the direction you’re heading?
klreed189
I tend to be on the skateboard. It is way more exciting and I am not patient enough to sit on a ocean cruiser.
But I have been apart of both. I wonder what the consequences (if any) come from each one. I know each has its own abilities, but I wonder if there is one you should be on and one you shouldn't be on? Or does it just come down to where you are at and your situation?
Oct 13, 2009 @ 8:44 pm
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Oct 13, 2009 @ 5:15 pm
Jarrett Stevens
I think it does come down to Who You Are and How You're Wired.
Some people excel in one and would destroy the other.
Oct 13, 2009 @ 10:18 pm
Ed from Aus
In all honesty right now I feel like I've jumped overboard from the Ocean Liner and am floating in a life preserver with a skateboard in my hands.
I know that God has something planned for me but right now my skateboard is usless as I float in the ocean seeking God's leading. There are numerous directions I could swim, but I want to head in the right direction!
I need to be patient, seek God and serve Him however I can as I wait for His leading
Great post, thanks for the encouragement
Oct 13, 2009 @ 11:00 pm
klreed189
Glad to hear that you do not have to be one or the other, just how you are wired. I always feel the pressure to be an ocean liner and not a skater. Thanks for the mental picture and analogy, helped a lot.
Oct 13, 2009 @ 11:06 pm
Graham Brenna
I'm riding an Ocean Liner. We celebrated our 50th year in ministry in 2007. A benefit to riding my particular Ocean Liner is that we have the ability to bring God's love to many different people in all walks of life, both in our community and in communities in other continents. A drawback is that we don't have a large younger generation following. Since we are such an old church, we have a lot of older members. Which is okay, I just wish there were some more people my age (20-somethings) around to hang out with.
My ministry, the tech/media ministry, is the fastest growing ministry in the church. I've re-written my job description about 3 times in the last 6 years. So that's always fun!
Oct 13, 2009 @ 9:49 pm
Jarrett Stevens
Wow. Way to take the metaphor to the next level Ed.
I can only imagine how scary it must feel in this season.
Praying for you right now that in the absence of Clarity, God will lovingly increase your Faith.
Oct 14, 2009 @ 11:34 am
Jarrett Stevens
Graham,
That does seem to be the trend of "Older" established Ocean Liners is that the congregation tends to grow old with it and stay old with it.
Cool to hear that you are seeing growth and change in your area.
Keep it up.
Oct 14, 2009 @ 11:39 am
Graham Brenna
I'm looking forward to visiting Soul City in the spring! Excited about this skateboard
Oct 14, 2009 @ 2:08 pm
Blake
I'm definitely on a skateboard. Its great to be able to make decisions and change courses to best reach your destination. I think several times, Skateboards are so quick and nimble they can lack focus and constantly change visions and not their course. The vision, or destination, should remain the same but the benefit with a Sk8board (yes, I went there) is to be efficient with your path. The downside to a Sk8 is the responsibility factor. What if the new path isn't more efficient? What if it actually is a cul-de-sac and you have to turn around?
Oct 14, 2009 @ 2:44 pm