Peter Greer - Mission Drift: The Unspoken Crisis Facing Leaders, Charities, and Churches

2014 by Peter Greer and Chris Horst

Published by Bethany House Publishers

11400 Hampshire Avenue South

Bloomington, Minnesota 55438

www.bethanyhouse.com

Bethany House Publishers is a division of

Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, Michigan

www . bakerpublishinggroup . com

Ebook edition created 2014

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meansfor example, electronic, photocopy, recordingwithout the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

ISBN 978-1-4412-6343-8

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version. NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com

Scripture quotations identified ESV are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2007

Scripture quotations identified KJV are from the King James Version of the Bible.

Scripture quotations identified NIV 1984 are from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 Biblica. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

Cover design by Lookout Design, Inc.

Authors are represented by Wolgemuth & Associates.

Peter Greer and Chris Horst have identified one of the deepest challenges any leader faces: how to ensure that an organization stays true to its mission, especially when that mission becomes countercultural.

from the foreword by Andy Crouch, executive editor, Christianity Today

During my years as a CEOfirst in the for-profit sector and later in the nonprofit sectorIve always found it a challenge to stay on mission. Many of us in leadership have learnedoften painfullythat our mission needs to be built into every aspect of our organization, from leadership to receptionist, from hiring to implementation. We cant afford not to follow the lessons in this valuable book.

Richard Stearns, president, World Vision U.S. and author, Unfinished: Believing Is Only the Beginning

Keeping an eternal perspective is essential in our work. Mission Drift gives a clear message inspiring and challenging us to intentionally keep Christ at the center of all efforts. As Paul commands us, Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus.

David Green, founder & CEO, Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc.

Essential reading for twenty-first-century believers if we are to gain new vision, unity, and strength. Mission Drift is spine straightening, mind clearing, and courage inspiring. This book is true-north wisdom for leadersand a gift of hope for the world God loves.

Kelly Monroe Kullberg, founder, The Veritas Forum and author, Finding God Beyond Harvard: The Quest for Veritas

Paying attention is often harder than it seems. Perhaps nowhere is this any more important than in acts of Christian leadership. As this book makes clear, the possibilities of drift are many and substantial. Those charged with leadership face diversions from many directions. To pay careful, humble, and relentless attention to the heart of our Christian mission is an essential part of faithful leadership. Read this book and be helped in doing so!

Mark Labberton, president, Fuller Theological Seminary

Every organization has to guard against losing or even abandoning its original purpose. But the problem is especially acute in Christian organizations because Christianity is increasingly becoming countercultural. When the entire culture drifts in a bad direction, simple inertia can pull a Christian mission off course, even if no one really intends it. Thank God for Peter Greer and Chris Horst for having the courage to identify this growing crisis. They do a magnificent job, not only of diagnosing the problem, but of giving sound and practical advice on how to prevent your ministry from becoming a hostage of a hostile culture. If you want to prevent that in your own organization, you should read this book.

Jay W. Richards, PhD, author, Money, Greed, and God and New York Times bestsellers Infiltrated and Indivisible

We Christians are amazing at putting our passions into action with an entrepreneurial spirit. Yet we have a terrible track record of sustaining the original mission of these organizations. This book is the first step in reversing that trend.

Rob Moll, editor-at-large, Christianity Today

Mission Drift illustrates how organizations often lose their founding principles over time as they respond to the pressures of our secular culture and funding sensitivities. More important, Mission Drift gives useful tools and applications on how we can stay Mission True for the long term and breed excellence in application and execution as well.

David Weekley, founder and chairman, David Weekley Homes

No organization is exempt from the danger of drifting away from its original mission. While competing forces entice toward subtle changes, foundational principles must be safeguarded in your organization. In Mission Drift , Peter and Chris provide solid guidance for remaining laser-focused on core valuesfrom the board level to daily organizational culture. This book is a timely message for any organization working hard to remain Mission True.

Wess Stafford, president emeritus, Compassion International

Whether you are flirting with the siren call of success and relevance, standing at an ethical fork in the road, undergoing massive growth, or reeling from previous highs, Mission Drift will help you and your key decision makers stay Mission True.

Jeremy Courtney, author, Preemptive Love: Pursuing Peace One Heart at a Time and executive director, Preemptive Love Coalition

Peter Greer and Chris Horst offer you a gift of supreme importance. Replete with examples. Practical in its message. Clarion in its call: Be Mission True or face the inevitableMission Drift.

Robert Gelinas, lead pastor, Colorado Community Church and author, The Mercy Prayer: The One Prayer Jesus Always Answers

I cant think of better leaders than Peter Greer and Chris Horst to teach us all a lesson on focus, intention, and staying power.

Gabe Lyons, author, The Next Christians and founder, Q Ideas

We have all seen Christian ministries go off track, either toward heresy or incompetence or irrelevance. This book shows us the other side with models of Christian ministries that have held fast to the Gospel and to their calling. Every Christian leader should reflect on the message of the book as we commit to keeping our mission in line with the mission of Christ.

Russell Moore, president, Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission

Mission Drift is an enemy faced by every ministry. Incremental, insipid, and (nearly) invisible, it stealthily creeps up to envelop its prey. This book provides both a clarion warning and a clear pathway to stay true to the original call.

Alec Hill, president, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship USA

The Mission Drift message is timely and relevant for all who are seeking to make a difference in the world. Far too many once-successful efforts are carried off course by undercurrents of money, time, power, or ego, and one day find theyve drifted miles from their point of origin. Peter Greer leads HOPE International with an unparalleled mission focus. This focusand his passion for Christ-centered poverty alleviationare why HOPE International is a key global mission partner for LifeChurch.tv.