“Water system reformed, always reforming.” Correct my Latin, if you please, but don’t miss the forest for the trees. Living Waters for the World (LWW) is, without a doubt, a thoroughly Reformed organization in the best way.
Just when you thought everything was figured out, someone figures out something even better. Many organizations eschew change by investing heavily in human resources that are great cheerleaders. Cheerleaders play the important role of keeping morale and motivation at their peak, often by touting the benefits and comfort of maintaining the status quo—the way the game is currently being played. Other organizations corral change by investing heavily in mechanical and human resources that can function in only one way: the way we do it now.
LWW is constantly in search of the “New Superlative Way”(NSW) —the new best way. I just received a NSW Clean Water Systems Handbook in the mail, detailing the new best ways to treat and deliver safe drinking water. “Standard” is the word used to describe the set-up and treatment system for the majority of situations which fit LWW’s parameters. You may think “standard” simply means “ordinary” or “usual.” With LWW, I believe that the constant search for the NSW makes “Standard” the goal/measurement by which all others are evaluated.
How does LWW do it? How do they function so flexibly? The key, I believe, lies in keeping their focus on their goal and partners. Their mission statement: “Living waters trains and equips mission teams to share the gift of clean sustainable water with communities in need.” When your goal is to provide as much of the best water with as many people as possible, innovation is a welcome improvement, rather than a threat.
I find it ironic, hopeful, and inspirational that an organization with its roots firmly sunk in the church can be so fluid. If the church, which is high atop the hill of “We can’t do that because we’ve never done it that way before!” can give birth to a child of such shape-shifting, then perhaps all the mainline naysayers and their doomsday predictions aren’t as accurate or frightening as we might think. I wonder what would happen if we, at First Presbyterian Church, Fayetteville, Tennessee, spoke, lived, acted, and worshiped with similar passion and focus toward our vision to: “Reveal God's grace to all generations now and forevermore.”
© 2009 Todd Jenkins
Just when you thought everything was figured out, someone figures out something even better. Many organizations eschew change by investing heavily in human resources that are great cheerleaders. Cheerleaders play the important role of keeping morale and motivation at their peak, often by touting the benefits and comfort of maintaining the status quo—the way the game is currently being played. Other organizations corral change by investing heavily in mechanical and human resources that can function in only one way: the way we do it now.
LWW is constantly in search of the “New Superlative Way”(NSW) —the new best way. I just received a NSW Clean Water Systems Handbook in the mail, detailing the new best ways to treat and deliver safe drinking water. “Standard” is the word used to describe the set-up and treatment system for the majority of situations which fit LWW’s parameters. You may think “standard” simply means “ordinary” or “usual.” With LWW, I believe that the constant search for the NSW makes “Standard” the goal/measurement by which all others are evaluated.
How does LWW do it? How do they function so flexibly? The key, I believe, lies in keeping their focus on their goal and partners. Their mission statement: “Living waters trains and equips mission teams to share the gift of clean sustainable water with communities in need.” When your goal is to provide as much of the best water with as many people as possible, innovation is a welcome improvement, rather than a threat.
I find it ironic, hopeful, and inspirational that an organization with its roots firmly sunk in the church can be so fluid. If the church, which is high atop the hill of “We can’t do that because we’ve never done it that way before!” can give birth to a child of such shape-shifting, then perhaps all the mainline naysayers and their doomsday predictions aren’t as accurate or frightening as we might think. I wonder what would happen if we, at First Presbyterian Church, Fayetteville, Tennessee, spoke, lived, acted, and worshiped with similar passion and focus toward our vision to: “Reveal God's grace to all generations now and forevermore.”
© 2009 Todd Jenkins
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