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The Pastor's Pen - February 2010: Saint Paul's Tipping Point |
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Thursday, 04 February 2010 |
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In late 1994 Hush Puppy brand shoes was all but dead, selling merely 30,000 pairs a year. Suddenly, Hush Puppies became the 'in thing' in New York City clubs. The frenzy swept the nation and in 1995 430,000 pairs of the classic Hush Puppies were sold, and four times that in 1996. Hush Puppies reached a tipping point and the road momentum to success.
The Hush Puppy story is highlighted by Malcolm Gladwell in The Tipping Point. The tipping point of an organization's success moves it into an epidemic because people believe in its mission and share the story. These Mavens, connectors or salesmen move the organization to its tipping point.
The tipping point of an organization is its decisive point of success or failure. Will its mission be achieved or will it struggle and die?
Saint Paul's Church may be close to its tipping point. We moved from a year of paying only 35% of our Mission Share to 100%. 66 new members were received in 2009. Several new ministries appeared, such as two young adult groups and the Prime Timers. The music program expanded by adding the Instruments of Praise. And our local effort mission programs, such as the CROP Walk, had their most successful year. All of this happened at Saint Paul's in the midst of one of the worst economic downturns in memory.
We are about to see if the tipping point is near and an epidemic of success continues. Will we be able to support our mission of making disciples and transforming lives with facility and program?
The Building Committee recently revitalized the church's planning process. 22 classrooms, a choir room, a nursery, an elevator, and an audio-visual library remain to be completed in our building program. We also have a two-million dollar debt from previous construction.
The primary reason for our fiscal success in recent months has come from the stewardship principals in J. Clif Christopher's Not Your Parents' Offering Plate. The Building Committee invited Christopher's opinion concerning Saint Paul's future. Christopher is clearly impressed with Saint Paul's success, vision and ability to deliver on its mission. He also believes we are at a critical juncture and possibly at our most opportune time to create our tipping point.
Christopher suggests that Saint Paul's moves into a capital funds campaign this fall in order to complete construction of the classrooms, etc. His reasons include:
- Our interest rate on our mortgage is locked in for three years and we are successfully caring for the monthly payments.
- Construction costs are at their lowest point in years and will only increase. Construction companies are looking for work.
- Major nonprofit fundraising efforts have been on hold but will be gearing up for 2011 and beyond. Organizations such as colleges and universities, hospitals, etc. will soon be soliciting our members.
- Finishing the classrooms, nursery, etc. would provide opportunity for significant new programs for our current members and for community outreach and be a significant boost to growth, especially in younger families.
The second part of Christopher's suggestion is that Saint Paul's then do a capital fund drive in three years to eliminate the debt. He believes that the new construction will provide a larger membership base and more excitement about the way Saint Paul's is changing lives.
The conversation has begun. Clif Christopher will conduct a feasibility study this spring to give us more data to make a decision. We need to do both, finish the construction and eliminate the debt. When and how we accomplish those goals will be a faith decision. Will the Mavens and connectors move us to the tipping point? This is an exciting time to be at Saint Paul's Church!
Dr. Dan |
