The 7th element of swarming is Multiplication. To have an outsized impact on a region and to have any chance of achieving its goals (given that most swarmish networks operate close to, or at, “free”), a swarm must be able to scale toward its vision or problem solution: this can only be done through the idea of multiplication.
Exponential multiplication is a key concept in nearly any piece of literature that talks about the decentralized network approach to problem solving. You can find multiplication in political literature about grass-roots mobilization, and in church planting literature about church planting movements. You can find it in social networking literature. It’s at the core of popular books like The Tipping Point, Made to Stick, and The Idea Virus.
As I recently began unpacking my office in Plano, I once again ran across this little gem from the late Dr. Ralph Winter: “The Planting of Younger Missions.” (I’ve hunted for a web-based copy but haven’t found one; if you know of one or can provide a PDF–friends at the USCWM, I’m looking at you–I’ll happily update this post with a link or upload the PDF itself. Update: Greg Parsons at USCWM sent me a copy, and it’s linked above.) It was originally published in “Church/Mission Tensions Today” in 1971.
Missionaries and mission strategists commonly talk about planting younger churches in the mission fields they are sent to. This is all to the good. But in this chapter, which may turn out to be a milestone in contemporary missionary thought, Ralph Winter raises a question that is not commonly talked about in missionary circles: How about planting younger missions?
If the Great Commission is ever to be completed (and I think it can be–although I know others disagree with me), I believe it’s going to require partnerships and collaboration between Christ-followers from every corner of the globe. It’s great to see the huge number of networks around the world that have sprung up to focus on the unreached–from Latin America, Europe, Africa and Asia. I think the Church needs to get even better at helping these networks form.
One network that I’m part of–the Bs–is a classic example of superempowerment and multiplication. This small network is focused on a very unreached people group in Northern Africa. The network is made up of volunteers, ministers, and missionaries and hosted by small churches–and they are already have a “superempowered impact.” But to really reach the vision, it’s going to be important for these kinds of networks to learn not just to form–but also to multiply. Churches must plant churches and networks must plant networks.
Sometimes, this means a network will in the end die. It will be the seed that falls in the ground, from which springs up many networks. We need to be willing to see this happen if that’s what required to achieve the goal. We are not here to build empires but relationships.
See if you can look up Ralph’s book. It’s just 17 pages long, but it’s worth adding to your library.
{ 0 comments… add one now }