It is about people

Michael Henderson
I am a big fan of the phrase “human-centred innovation”. That is, innovation that improves life for people and communities. When innovation does its thing well it creates ways to simplify, to bring clarity to purpose, and generate new life in communities.

The reason I say this is that some people respond to contemporary church as being tiring, burdensome, and sucking the joy out of life. And this feeling is often amplified when you speak to the leaders of a church! It is almost as if we have become so focused on programs and running things and doing it “better than the best” that we have forgotten why we do it and for what purpose. Don’t worry about why. Just do things, and they will come. But they are not. Especially after covid.

But good human-centred innovation has the ability to re-generate life in people and communities. This is because it starts with people and communities, including the leaders, and can bring clarity of purpose out of the chaos of “doing lots of things”.

One technique for innovation, especially to rediscover your why, is to ask, “If I could only do one thing, what would it be?” Then, when you have the one thing, ask, “is there anything else I could do to add value to this one thing?” This is not a new thing, but adding value to the first and only thing. And you keep going, keeping in mind that you are building on the one thing.

Apply this to following Jesus. Jesus’ one thing? Love God. What added value to this one thing? Love your neighbour as yourself. It comes out of loving God. What added more value to this one thing? Go into all the world and help those you meet to love God and love your neighbour as yourself.

Now, what can you do to add value to this one thing of Jesus? Just add one thing you can do to add value to the end of the previous paragraph. What would it be? Then build from there.

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