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3 Responses to “These Guys Don’t Suck”

1. Anne Jackson
   July 16th, 2005 at 12:03 pm

   

   Hey Tony (and Terry) :)

   Thanks for posting your list - it was nice to visit some websites of churches I haven’t really heard of before.

   I was wondering if you would comment on the difference/fine line of churches and leaders being “inspired” by innovative or influential churches vs. “copy catting” and not being authentic to their own calling and leadership and guiding of the spirit.

   I know there is room for learning from others’ mistakes and success - but I have seen and personally experienced the temptation to do it “Just like such and such church” did. And I feel as leaders in this generation when we do that, we are slowling silencing the unique song God is singing to each of us in our own place and our own time.

   So yeah…I’ll be quiet now - this is your blog, not mine :)

   Thanks!

2. Tony Morgan
   July 17th, 2005 at 12:45 am

   

   Well said, Anne. I think there are principles we can learn from other churches, but every community is unique. That means what works in one church may not necessarily fly in another.

   I will say from my experience, however, that there is much to be gained by learning from other Christ-followers, leaders, churches, businesses, etc. That whole “iron sharpens iron” thing really works. We just have to be discerning about how those learnings get applied in our ministry settings.

3. Anne Jackson
   July 17th, 2005 at 1:55 am

   

   I agree with you about the learning and adapting thing for sure. I guess my concern is people who don’t adapt, but flat out mirror image a respected mentor without any regard to their God-given uniqueness.

   Do you think that churches who are frequently modeled after by others should have responsibility in helping those people realize that it takes more than just using someone else’s great idea? As an example, I know of a youth ministry and all they do are Doug Fields series. They use all his graphics and the youth pastor uses Doug’s notes practically word for word. All the time. No kidding. It’s that kind of “copycatting” (sorry, it’s 12:30am and I can’t think of a more original term) that raises a concern with me.

   Thanks for listening!

   Anne