Here is my dream. Understand the context: I am a student at the School for Social Entrepreneurs AND I am the ministry team leader at NationsHeart (not necessarily in that order). As a social entrepreneur and leader of a faith-based community, these are my three dreams...
1. I dream of being a part of, and lead, a faith-based community that really connects with its local community. When I talk of "connecting" I mean more than a few programs (children, youth and aged-focussed) designed to attract people to my territory and convert them to my faith. No, I am talking about developing a faith-based community which connects to its local community in such a way that the need-meeting programs are a cooperative effort between the faith-based community and the people whose needs are being addressed. This connection brings value and a sense of belonging into everyone's life. I dream of a community in which more people walk through its doors (real and figuratively) during the weekdays than on a Sunday morning or for any other faith-based program. I dream about a faith-based community that is caught arguing more about what to serve at a community meal than over some innane theological issue. I dream about developing leaders and building people for the sake of the community and not the survival of my faith-based community. I dream of a day in which the local community looks at the faith-based community because of its positive track-record and has no hesitation in volunteering, supporting and even giving financially to its work.
Beyond this, I also dream of being able to be open, confident and assertive about my faith in the context of connecting with the local community; in which the faith-based community is free to tell its story of faith and spiritual journey. And I dream that in this context, people do find faith and begin the spiritual journey and grow to a deeper spiritual maturity leading others in the community to the same. That's my first dream.
2. I dream of a faith-based community in which the offering (the financial giving on Sunday morning) is not the pivotal reason for existing. I dream of a day when faith-based communities can plan, design and experience the faith community in such a way that the central feature is not the offering bag (or plate). I dream of a faith-based community in which more is given away than is received and banked. I dream of local businesses and local donors giving to support the work of the faith-based community in a significant way. I dream of enterprises which create income from its local community which supports the work of the faith-based community. I dream of the faith-based community developing enterprises which employ individuals from its community and gives value and a sense of belonging to those who may be at a disadvantage of experiencing these things. That's the essence of my second dream.
3. I dream being part of a faith-based community which sees its priority in discovering, releasing and supporting local social entrepreneurs in the fulfillment of their passions. I dream of a faith-based community that no longer has to look for needs to meet within its community, but rather, looks to find those passionate locals who desire to develop innovative stategies to already visualised needs in the local community and enables them to see their passions fulfilled. I dream of being part of a faith-based community which sees the resources already existing in the local community as having more potential than any resources it may possess in itself.
These are my three dreams. Dream with me.
1. I dream of being a part of, and lead, a faith-based community that really connects with its local community. When I talk of "connecting" I mean more than a few programs (children, youth and aged-focussed) designed to attract people to my territory and convert them to my faith. No, I am talking about developing a faith-based community which connects to its local community in such a way that the need-meeting programs are a cooperative effort between the faith-based community and the people whose needs are being addressed. This connection brings value and a sense of belonging into everyone's life. I dream of a community in which more people walk through its doors (real and figuratively) during the weekdays than on a Sunday morning or for any other faith-based program. I dream about a faith-based community that is caught arguing more about what to serve at a community meal than over some innane theological issue. I dream about developing leaders and building people for the sake of the community and not the survival of my faith-based community. I dream of a day in which the local community looks at the faith-based community because of its positive track-record and has no hesitation in volunteering, supporting and even giving financially to its work.
Beyond this, I also dream of being able to be open, confident and assertive about my faith in the context of connecting with the local community; in which the faith-based community is free to tell its story of faith and spiritual journey. And I dream that in this context, people do find faith and begin the spiritual journey and grow to a deeper spiritual maturity leading others in the community to the same. That's my first dream.
2. I dream of a faith-based community in which the offering (the financial giving on Sunday morning) is not the pivotal reason for existing. I dream of a day when faith-based communities can plan, design and experience the faith community in such a way that the central feature is not the offering bag (or plate). I dream of a faith-based community in which more is given away than is received and banked. I dream of local businesses and local donors giving to support the work of the faith-based community in a significant way. I dream of enterprises which create income from its local community which supports the work of the faith-based community. I dream of the faith-based community developing enterprises which employ individuals from its community and gives value and a sense of belonging to those who may be at a disadvantage of experiencing these things. That's the essence of my second dream.
3. I dream being part of a faith-based community which sees its priority in discovering, releasing and supporting local social entrepreneurs in the fulfillment of their passions. I dream of a faith-based community that no longer has to look for needs to meet within its community, but rather, looks to find those passionate locals who desire to develop innovative stategies to already visualised needs in the local community and enables them to see their passions fulfilled. I dream of being part of a faith-based community which sees the resources already existing in the local community as having more potential than any resources it may possess in itself.
These are my three dreams. Dream with me.
