Exploration and pioneering often prove difficult for those in ministry to do because it costs something tangible and known for something intangible and unknown; just a small incentive can dramatically change your ministry culture.
My experience using Foursquare for the last month and a half prove it.
I love Foursquare; I'm amazed at any computer program that causes significant behavior change--probably because I have a difficult time seeing change in my own life :)
Foursquare is a location based social network that allows you to share where you are with friends. The coolest features have to be "The Mayor," which means you have checked in to a certain place more than anyone else, and the badges, which reward you for various types of behavior (Jet-Setter if you travel to many cities or airports, Local if you check in to more than 10 places in a city, etc).
I have started going to my favorite places and new locations more because of Foursqaure (I want to be the Mayor of Tin Roof Bakery, my favorite coffee shop). I have stopped going to average places (ones I "kind of" like because there is no incentive)--why go to an average coffee shop when I can go to my favorite one and not only get better coffee but retain/reclaim my mayoral title?
My experience has been that some ministry teams can be performance allergic--any hint of competition or striving "feels fake" and Galatians is whipped out to quench the fire. There are certainly extremes and dangers associated with offering incentives for anything but kept in check these can promote a culture of exploration and pioneering.
Here's a few ways this can be implemented:
- Intentionally identifying non-leaders who naturally behave this way and praising/involving them more.
- Integrating competitive elements into existing social events--guys vs girls, frosh vs soph are a couple examples.
- Promoting/Designing short-term mission trips that include elements of risk-taking, pioneering, etc.
Are there any incentives in your ministry context that promote exploration or pioneering?
View my Foursquare profile here.
