Mission Drift: The Unspoken Crisis Facing Leaders, Charities, and Churches

by Peter Greer, Chris Horst, Anna Haggard (With), Andy Crouch (Foreword by)

Overview

A Christianity Today 2015 Book Award Winner

Without careful attention, faith-based organizations drift from their founding mission. It's that simple. It will happen.

Why do so many organizations wander from their mission, while others remain Mission True? Can drift be prevented? In Mission Drift, HOPE International executives Peter Greer and Chris Horst show how to determine whether your organization is in danger of drift, and they share the results of their research into Mission True and Mission Untrue organizations. Even if your organization is on course, it's wise to look for ways to inoculate yourself against drift. You'll discover what you can do to prevent drift or get back on track and how to protect what matters most.

"We can't afford not to follow the lessons in this valuable book." —Richard Stearns, president, World Vision U.S. and author, The Hole in Our Gospel and Unfinished: Believing Is Only the Beginning

"Mission Drift gives a clear message inspiring and challenging us to intentionally keep Christ at the center of all efforts." —David Green, founder and CEO, Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc.

"This book is true-north wisdom for leaders." —Kelly Monroe Kullberg, founder, The Veritas Forum and author, Finding God Beyond Harvard

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780764211645
Publisher:	Baker Publishing Group
Publication date:	02/17/2015
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	224
Sales rank:	468,249
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Peter Greer (www.peterkgreer.com) is president and CEO of HOPE International, a global nonprofit focused on addressing both physical and spiritual poverty through microfinance. He has a master's degree in public policy from Harvard's Kennedy School. Peter speaks regularly to large audiences, including at conferences like Catalyst and Passion. Peter lives with his wife and three children in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

Chris Horst is the director of development at HOPE International and serves on the boards of the Denver Institute for Faith & Work and the Colorado Microfinance Alliance. He and his family live in Denver, Colorado. Chris blogs at www.smorgasblurb.com.

Table of Contents

Foreword Andy Crouch 11

1 The Unspoken Crisis 15

Mission Drift is a crisis facing all faith-based organizations

2 The Tale of Two Presbyterian Ministers 23

Mission Drift is pervasive, but it is not inevitable

3 Functional Atheism 33

Mission True organizations believe the Gospel is their most precious asset

4 Death by Minnows 44

Mission True organizations make hard decisions to protect and propel their mission

5 The Secret Recipe to Quaker Oats 56

Mission True leaders assume they will face drift and build safeguards against it

6 You Know Why You Exist 67

Mission True organizations have clarity about their mission

7 Guardians of the Mission 78

Mission True board members understand their top priority

8 True Leadership 89

Mission True leaders set the cultural tone for the organization

9 Impressive Credentials Are Not Enough 98

Mission True organizations hire first and foremost for heart and character

10 Follow the Money 110

Mission True organizations partner with donors who believe in their full mission

11 Measuring What Matters 124

Mission True organizations track, metrics reflective of their full mission

12 Etched in Excellence 137

Mission True organizations understand the Gospel demands excellence in their work

13 Culture Eats Strategy for Breakfast 148

Mission True organizations are fanatics about rituals and practices

14 The Language of the Chameleon Club 160

Mission True organizations boldly proclaim their core tenets to protect themselves from drift

15 Save the Church 167

Mission True organizations recognize that the local church is the anchor to a thriving mission

Conclusion 179

Review Questions 182

Acknowledgments 189

Appendix 1 Board of Directors Prospective Board Member Nomination Form 192

Appendix 2 Primacy of Proclamation Board Resolution 196

Appendix 3 Family Giving Charter 197

Methodology for Mission Drift Research 199

Notes 200

Further Reading on the Topic of Mission Drift 216