The Power of Simplicity

We are starting to think about focus and being strategically simple around here at Hope. One resource that is helping us work through this process is the book “Simple Church” by Thom Rainer & Eric Geiger. They set out a philosophy of focusing your church to develop a simple disciple making process. There are four elements that they see as crucial in helping churches rethink and retool their ministry process.

1. Clarity - The ability of the process to be communicated and understood by the people.
2. Movement - The sequential steps in the process that cause people to move to greater areas of commitment.
3. Alignment - The arrangement of all ministries and staff around the same simple process.
4. Focus - The commitment to abandon everything that falls outside of the simple ministry process.

It is a good read with some powerful implications for ministry. One thing they point to is the power of simplicity being seen in web design today. Look at Google. Incredibly simple design. Incredibly successful. Look at the simplicity the web site of Mars Hill in Grand Rapids. Look at Starbucks. Look at the clarity seen in Calvary Church near St. Louis.

Also, give a look to this quick video that Kem Meyer posted on her blog. It deals with simple vs. complex solutions in problem solving.