Why-Not-Sayers

In her book, “Reclaiming the “C” Word, Daring to be Church Again” Kelly Fryer references an IKEA advertising campaign for new employees. She writes:

"Here’s what they said they were looking for: We’re hiring WHY-SAYERS…people who want to make things better. Make things more fun. More clever. People who aren’t afraid of the boss. People who aren’t restricted by convention but challenged by it. People who fit perfectly at IKEA. Because it’s the why that makes us successful."

Kelly then goes shares her thoughts on how different our churches would be if people began to ask the “why” questions. “Why, when it is our job as the church to pray with and care for one another, do we hire somebody to do this job for us?” “Why are so many of our pastor leaving the ministry long before retirement age?”

Kelly then proposes that the church is in need of some WHY-NOT-SAYERS:

“People who hear a new idea and say, “Why not?” Why couldn’t this great new thing happen? Why shouldn’t we listen to these new voices? Why not try a new way of worshiping, mentoring, leading, learning, singing, sharing our faith, organizing our life, and training our leaders together? Why not expect that God will bring new life and growth to our congregation? Why not trust that the Spirit is at work in us and through us giving us power beyond our imagination? Why can’t things be different? What’s stopping us?"

As I approach my first anniversary at Linden Heights I can say with confidence that this is a church that is welcome to and seeking people who are WHY-NOT-SAYERS --people who are ready to embrace the possibility of transformational ministry and have the courage and willingness to make it happen. Some of our WHY-NOT-SAYERS have already launched new initiatives while others are praying that God will help them discern how to implement the vision that they have been given.

I have no doubt that we have many more WHY-NOT-SAYERS sitting in our pews and still others who are living outside of our church walls who need to be invited to act on the mission and call that God has given them. If you are a WHY-NOT-SAYER, I encourage you to share your ideas with me or your small group. Let’s dare to share, dare to risk and dare to change so that we may bring hope to the world.