Posted on January 14, 2010 - by Larry

The Possibility Thinker

Recently I remember being part of a group conversation regarding missions.  One of the guys in the group  has lived on the mission field a long time. This person has a wealth of knowledge and experience.  As I was interacting with the group and listening to this person I kept hearing something that inspired me to write this post.

For nearly every idea that was popping up in the conversation from a younger worker this person had a response.

“The problem with that is….”

I tried to be polite in the conversation but I must admit that kind of impossibility thinking drove me crazy.  I believe those words can quench the spirit of people who are trying to be creative in their ministry. Sure most ideas can be well, idealistic,  but we need dreamers.

On the other hand I know people who react just the opposite. They are what I call “possibility thinkers”. When someone presents an idea they do not kill it but they help you think through the possibilities and start dreaming with you. You start thinking you can actually do this. As they dream with you they are able in some wild sort of way help you self- realize some of the issues you need to consider as you implement your dream.

These are men and women of faith and vision.

Sometimes in organizations we can create an atmosphere where thinking outside the box or trying something new or risky is discouraged. We need possibility thinkers on the field. We need people willing to take a chance.

I talk to a lot of people from a lot of different missional networks and churches. Consider these two scenarios from the past.

One pastor called a mission organization several times about his church’s vision to start a work in a certain country. The reply he kept getting from the office was “sorry we do not work there”. Finally he gets connected with a possibility thinker. The ideas became a reality.

I heard of another pastor who had a similar story. He has a vision for his church to engage a certain people group.  He was trying to connect with some field leaders of a mission agency from his denomination.  After running against too much control and opposition from the field he moved on and started working with another organization in the same country.

What if he had connected with a possibility thinker?

Since I am becoming older each day I find this topic crucial in my own ministry.  I want to empower the younger workers on the field to pursue their God- given dreams.  I want to see churches try things in missions that have not been tried before. The future depends on this.

Are you a possibility thinker?