Swarms - Ellen Livingood and Justin Long Postings from September 9, 2009

My friend, Ellen Livingood, founded Catalyst Services (www.catalystservices.org ) to help strengthen agency – church collaboration. Postings, her monthly newsletter provides a wealth of cutting edge information for those interested in effective collaboration in God’s mission. Ellen is a missiologist practioner for whom I have great respect.

The latest edition of Postings features an interview with Justin Long, Senior Editor for The Network of Strategic Missions (www.strategicnetwork.org) on the subject and missional implications of Swarms. Defined as highly focused, highly adaptable networks that exist for specific purposes, Long provides seven characteristics of these networks. Swarms are

1. Focused on a measurable goal. They are not long term, and the lines are very clear around the purpose. Unless you accept the goal, you aren’t a part of the swarm.
2. Highly relational. Although many are virtual; personal connections are key.
3. Self organized. They are volunteer and autonomous.
4. Transformational agents. They impact their environment.
5. Highly adaptive. They are resource poor, so they are innovative and make the most of every situation.
6. Open. They build tools everybody can use for free.
7. Fast multipliers. They attract others quickly.

Related to mission mobilization, Long identifies two current approaches. First, is the “hierarchical, organizational approach adopted by most denominations. They have resources, events, conferences, recruits—all done very organizationally.” The other approach, upon which he elaborates in the article, operates in a more “swarmish” style.

Swarming was happening before technology, however, technologies have certainly made swarming easier. Technology is an amplifier, but the decentralized networking concept is not dependent on it and is not just something only the young do. Long calls YWAM [Youth with a Mission] a stunning example of swarming and notes the interesting phenomena that the Southern Baptist Convention is swarmish, while their International Mission Board is not.

The article provides helpful insights into the power and possibilities of swarms. Additional resources are also listed. Click here for the entire article. While you are there, let me encourage you to subscribe to Catalyst Postings. Let me know what you think! A Missional Swarm…I like it.

Meeting with Ellen Livingood

Recently I enjoyed a couple of hour’s one-on-one dialogue with Ellen Livingood, founding Director of Catalyst Services and mission mobilizer par excellence. Ellen has a passion to help mission agencies turn the corner in enhancing collaboration with churches in the global setting. One only has to listen to Ellen for a few minutes to discern her deep love for Christ and His church. Ellen is in the Dallas area to lead a Mobilization Training workshop, Developing and Presenting Partnership Opportunities, for mission agency personnel.

While Ellen’s primary mission assists mission agencies, local church mission teams can benefit greatly from resources archived from previous Catalyst Postings available at http://www.catalystservices.org/churches/postings-for-churches.shtml. For instance, check out the June 2008 post on Short-Term Ministry Ideas. Let me know if you cannot find at least one new idea there!

I was honored when Ellen asked me to write an article for an upcoming issue of Catalyst postings but delighted when she did not give me a deadline!