MegaCommunities
April 23, 2008 by markhsmith · Leave a Comment
Megacommunities, by Mark Gerencser, et al. (a book review with key points posted by Mark Smith)
The problems facing the world are so large that no one sector–business, government or non-profit–can solve the problems by themselves. According to the authors, what is needed is a megacommunity.
A megacommunity is a public sphere in which organizations from three sectors–business, government and non-profits–deliberately join together around compelling issues of mutual importance, following a set of practices and principles that make it easier for them to achieve results without sacrificing their individual goals. The megacommunity is an alliance of organizations, not individuals. In a healthy megacommunity, the three sectors maintain balance by “pushing” and “pulling” at each other according to their respective forms of influence. Order comes out of balancing this dynamic tension. In contrast to public-private partnerships, megacommunities bring civil society (NGO, church, non-profit, etc.) into the equation.
The megacommunity recognizes the kind of legitimacy that civil society represents. The civil sector brings accountability, insight into how to get things done locally, sensitivity to how the issues at play might affect individuals and the environment, and credibility in arenas in which business and government fall short.
My personal PEACE Plan
April 6, 2008 by markhsmith · Leave a Comment
At first glance, The PEACE Plan appears to be focused exclusively on global problems. The global GIANTS (poverty, disease, illiteracy, etc.) are so big, that the average person will assume they cannot make an impact and that somebody else will figure out how to deal the GIANTS. However, Rick Warren says PEACE projects can be implemented at various levels: personal, regional, national and global. Given this scope, I thought I would personalize PEACE by looking at the projects I’m working on (via Kinnovation or otherwise) and place them into the P.E.A.C.E categories.
I’ve decided not to elaborate on the project details at this point. The point is to put a public stake in the ground on this blog (with a date stamp). As the Kinnovation projects unfold, I will update the items on this page and link them to the details for each project. If you buy into the PEACE plan at all, then personalize it. Otherwise, PEACE is just another lovely idea, not a framework for action.
Promote reconciliation
- Between the local church and the parachurch
- Between large church networks
- Between the Orthodox church and Evangelicals
- Between Church and business
Equip servant leaders
- Train the trainers program.
- T3 Institute
- Halftime through Brown & Streza
- One-on-one philanthropic coaching
- Spark training
Assist the poor
- Health Access Now
- Microcredit technology systems
- Aslan’s Army, my own 501c3 that assists the poor in India, Africa, Mexico and Cuba
Care for the sick
- Rwanda Aids program (PEACE)
- Health Access Now
- Telemedicine technology through World Health Ed and American Telemedicine Association
- Spark
Educate the next generation
- Social network training
- V3 Studios
- Aslan’s Army bible schools
The PEACE Plan
April 6, 2008 by markhsmith · Leave a Comment
On October 29, 2007 I heard Pastor Rick Warren speak about the P.E.A.C.E. plan. Pastor Rick states that the church is the world’s largest organization with over 2.8 billion members, the only organization large enough and growing fast enough to combat the effects spiritual emptiness, poverty, disease, illiteracy, and corrupt leadership.
However the church can’t do it alone. Rick believes it will take a partnership of the Church, business and government to make a dent on the problem. Rick feels called to release the pent-up, latent energy in the church–to turn spectators into participators. To make a lasting difference in the world.
The P.E.A.C.E. acronym stands for Promoting reconciliation, Equipping servant-leaders, Assisting the poor, Caring for the sick, and Educating the next generation. Rick believes it’s the same plan Jesus used, so it’s time tested. I believe it’s a good framework and the kind of vision that will spark the imagination of Christian leaders worldwide. It’s the kind of idea that can get people out of their comfortable pew and look outward to see how they might make a real difference in the lives of others outside of their comfort zone.
I’m working with another organization, Halftime, founded by Bob Buford. Like Rick Warren, Bob is called to awaken the latent energy in Christianity, especially those that have had a measure of success in corporate America. If Rick represents a catalyst in the Church, Bob represents the catalyst in the business community. I have personally seen many people experience a Halftime and are actively pursuing Life 2.0 with a renewed and passionate vision to change the world in some way. Lloyd Reeb, one of the leaders of Halftime says, “One of my jobs is to rescue people from the golf course.” There’s a truth to that statement.
The PEACE plan is a logical next step from his popular book, Purpose Driven Life. First, you need to realize you have a unique purpose. Once you figure out your unique purpose, you need to go do it. If your purpose involves solving one of the BIG problems in the world, it would be nice to not have to go it alone. If your church is doing PEACE, you can surround yourself with some expertise and experience, multiplying your efforts. If this happens on a global scale, we might make a dent in the world’s problems.
I believe the major purpose of PEACE is to equip the church to become the efficient distribution network for the world’s philanthropy. If even a fraction of the 2+ billion Christians got involved in this effort, it would be the largest distribution network in the world.