Did you ever stop to think about what a big difference can be made by the smallest thing? As I was preparing for this “BackPage” Editorial, my research turned up a small book by Malcolm Gladwell, entitled, “The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference.” Gladwell cites an epidemic of syphilis in Baltimore, MD, of all places. He points out that if you look at a line graph for Baltimore’s syphilis rates, it runs straight for years and years, then rises in 1995 at almost a right angle. Interestingly, the “little thing” in 1995 wasn’t actually related to syphilis at all. It was crack cocaine.
It was Robert Kennedy, speaking in South Africa, who spoke those now-famous words, “Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest wall of oppression and resistance.” Turns out he was right: in the case of South Africa, it happened just one generation later.
Intel proved it. Take a look at their site,
http://smallthingschallenge.com/
Watch the video and learn how Intel offered essentially to donate 25 cents for every click at their site. They ended up starting a movement that donated over $375,000 to 3 major humanitarian organizations in 2009 alone.
Or see it from a different set of eyes. Watch how, one bag at a time, entire mountains of garbage mound up, with the potential of covering state-of-Texas-sized areas.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uv4Q1oLjGs
Now how does this all apply to you? If we want to start a wave of church growth among the people we’re trying to reach — a church-planting movement, if you will — we have to figure out how to tip the scales. We have to figure out how to “go viral,” to convince that one person that he or she isn’t the only person with an inquietude. (Until now, I thought that word only existed in Spanish. Turns out it can be used in English too!) How many people will it take to tip the scales? Gladwell’s book reveals epidemics that have taken over entire cities, all traced back to 168 people. The truth is, according to history, if you get the right people involved (just ask Paul Revere), you can change a battle, turn the tide of a nation and — yes — even launch a church-planting movement. Look for the very social types. Look for those unafraid of speaking up, but still very sensitive to the needs of others. And above all, don’t give up. Don’t succumb to the temptation to think that one single soul, acting in the name of Jesus, can’t make a huge difference.
You can. You do. We will.
Would like to validate the value of finding a few good extroverts. All the growing churches I looked at, or served, both in USA and Australia, had, among other things, at least one “Attractor”.
None were “up front” people. They just loved God, prayed heaps and wanted others to know what they had. They were supported by the essential back-up team – which includes all types of personalities. Can share more about finding them, just write.