Building an Ecosystem of GroupLife
Ever wonder how some churches get to the place where they have more adults in groups than they do at their weekend services? Scratching your head trying to figure out why you’re struggling to break the 50% connected barrier? Or the 40% barrier? Or the 25% barrier?
I think the answer is actually pretty simple. They’ve built an ecosystem of grouplife. What’s that? What’s an ecosystem of grouplife?
Let’s start by defining ecosystem. Here’s a popular definition:
ec·o·sys·tem [ek-oh-sis-tuhm, ee-koh-] noun Ecology
a system formed by the interaction of a community of organisms with their environment.
What’s an ecosystem of grouplife? Here’s what I think it is: a system formed by the interaction of a community of individuals with their environment.
What does that really mean? And what difference does it make that you know this?
I think it’s best understood when you think about an actual ecosystem. For instance, a coral reef is an ecosystem.
“Often called ‘rainforests of the sea’, coral reefs form some of the most diverse ecosystems on Earth. They occupy less than one tenth of one percent of the world’s ocean surface, about half the area of France, yet they provide a home for twenty-five percent of all marine species, including fish, molluscs, worms, crustaceans, echinoderms, sponges, tunicates and other cnidarians. Paradoxically, coral reefs flourish even though they are surrounded by ocean waters that provide few nutrients (Coral Reef, Wikipedia).”
Note that last line: “Paradoxically, coral reefs flourish even though they are surrounded by ocean waters that provide few nutrients.”
It has never been more true that outside of an ecosystem of grouplife…too many people…way too many people…are not going to be in position to get the nutrients they need in order to fully live. They’ll be trying to survive in an environment where they just can’t get what they need.
I don’t know about you, but I will die trying to build an ecosystem of grouplife. And over the next few days I’ll be posting the beginning steps. Want to come along? Be sure you’re signed up to get my updates right here.
What do you think? Have an idea you’d like to add? Want to argue? You can click here to jump into the conversation.
