Failure is Simply Not an Option

May. 21, 2010 9 Comments Posted under: Lead Well

If we want to create change we should probably pause for a moment and take note of those who are actually making change happen.  Have you seen this commercial?

Don’t let the American Express promo overshadow the incredible heart of Geoffrey Canada.  Did you catch the sound bite?

“Failure is simply not an option….

We start with children — at birth — and stay with those children until they graduate.  If you want an impact that is large, you’ll get there going one step at a time.  There is no act that is too small to make a difference.”

What is remarkably beautiful about Canada’s approach to change, is that he is looking at the whole picture.  Not only is he leading with the end in mind for a child’s education, he is rebuilding the community where these kids live.  Rebuilding tenant associations, removing graffiti, cleaning up the streets and creating playgrounds.

His mission is to have kids grow up in an environment where they feel like the adults care about them and it’s easy to see that by the way their environment looks.

Wow.  That’s sobering to me.

What if we all took this end in mind approach to our ministries?  Every child deserves this mindset.  I hope that everything we do communicates to kids that the adults in their world care about them. It’s not enough to say “Jesus loves you”…..you gotta show it in your spaces, communities, consistent leaders, and acts of generosity and kindness….

What vision leaks from your ministry?

Bravo Geoffrey.  Bravo!

This entry was posted on Friday, May 21st, 2010 at 1:44 pm and is filed under Lead Well. You can leave a comment and follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

  • http://www.worldsofwow.com Wayne Geer

    Wow, now that’s good stuff Joy! Come on ministry peops, get those adults/leaders you partner with to live out “you gotta show it.”

  • Joy Bowen

    Thanks Wayne. It’s a both/and; not either/or — as Reggie Joiner would say.

    Has anyone read Canada’s book? I’m thinking about picking up a copy.

    Another GREAT book that will bring you to your knees is “Too Small to Ignore”. It’s a must read.

  • Gina Napier

    This is so incredible that you posted a blog about this guy because I just thought yesterday when I saw it again that Reggie Joiner needs to know about him. The first time I saw the commercial, I was so moved by what he’s doing that I recorded it on my DVR! I wanted to remind myself who he is, so I could find out more about his efforts. Children’s lives are being transformed by what’s happening in that community! What really got me was when he said, “We start with children from birth and stay with those children until they graduate.” I thought to myself, “now that’s thinking with the end in mind!”

  • Joy Bowen

    Gina, you’ll have to watch his other videos (click on the link in his name….) Literally made me have chill bumps on my arms. But I thought the same thing as you — would love to see him at Orange! I have a feeling we would all learn a lot from him.

  • http://WWW.121CC.COM Diana Parker

    LOVE IT! Was so touched… I just spent the last hour clicking on all the videos and learning his story… I know its already been said in the other comments, but what a GREAT picture of someone who starts with kids at birth and takes them to the end… always keeping the goal of the end in mind! We did a great exercise as a family ministry team where we each drew a picture of a preschooler, child, and student and we put all our end goals on each picture… what were our goals of what each preschooler, child, and student would “look like” … awesome exercise to help us keep the end in mind! Thanks for the reminder Joy!

  • Joy Bowen

    Diana, did you find his poems? they are incredible.
    I love your staff exercise idea!

  • Kim Koole

    Wow – that is inspiring! A vision shared with others and grown to impact so many! Deep down, that’s really what all of us are looking for – to feel valued & important – which is really a picture of love. If children get a taste of what that looks like from caring adults in their lives, it will be so much easier for them to understand our Great Big God who loves them even more!

    We need to make sure that we are communicating this passionately about our love for God and the children/families we serve!

    I also agree with the vote for “Too Small to Ignore” – read it while I was in Africa this past fall!

  • Joy Bowen

    Thanks Kim! I think we sometimes forget that we all have hurting kids that walk through our doors. Everything we do can communicate hope and love so that they can see and feel a glimpse of God with skin on. :)

  • http://www.twitter.com/joshuakellar Josh Kellar

    Thanks for sharing this Joy! I am always humbled by these gospel sightings. People breaking into the world around them to share redemption and hope always give me encouragement. The extent of their impact is widespread and eternal.