As a child I spent hundreds of hours playing with Lego. Out of my large suitcase of mixed blocks and colours came houses, tractors, people and various unidentifiable but lovingly crafted clumps of creativity.
A couple of years back, I had the pleasure of visiting LegoLand in Denmark in between some NCD ministry work. Wow, what an awesome experience that was in which I found myself lapsing into lego laden memories of my childhood (Amazingly, without any planning I also bumped into Henrik Anderson while there, a Danish Salvation Army Officer who is one of the key NCD in The Salvation Army contacts).
These many and varied images prompted me for an NCD presentation I was to give in the Australia Eastern Territory of The Salvation Army.
It had become apparent through NCD research by that time that the minimum factor for The Salvation Army Internationally was Effective Structures. So it seemed highly relevant and of utmost importance to speak about this issue that was holding back the long-term healthy growth of the Army more than any other. I began by pointing out that most churches in the world have no buildings, finances or 'orders and regulations' so these cannot be fundamental to church structure. The church at the purest level is only people relating with each other and with God through Jesus. Therefore, in the simplest sense, church structure is how we choose to put those people together, ideally with recognition of basics like their God-given gifts and actual spiritual authority and influence.
With that out there, I proceeded to pour a large box of Lego onto a table in front of everybody while saying, "imagine these many and varied blocks are the unique people of The Salvation Army." When finished pouring, I proclaimed that I had formed them into a structure. Some laughed, some smiled inquisitively, some began to groan softly with what was coming.
What I said was true. I had formed the blocks into a structure. It was by no means an effective structure, but it was a structure none-the-less. The critical issue though is that you can take exactly these same pieces and form them into a more effective, even more beautiful, structure.
Of course, all analogies fall short of giving full credit to the dynamics involved. We are not talking about bricks, we are talking about living, breathing people. People who may end up on top as others slip through the cracks. People who may hide under the pile and not be willing or empowered sufficiently to step up. People who, while gifted in exactly the areas most needed by the Army right now, find themselves at the edge of the pile neglected, eventually walking away.
As shown by pockets of Army expression that have pushed through these structural challenges, it need not be so!
Wonderful, much-needed pieces are still in the pile, even if under-utilised. If those were to be empowered to find their unique place, it would lead to even more diverse pieces joining the pile as is testified to by healthy Salvation Army Corps around the world.
So, what if Jesus were to join your Corps, Divisional or Territorial leadership team in the flesh? What would he suggest about the effective structures sticking point? Perhaps he would present a parable of two identical piles of Lego. One which was left in much the same shape as it was when the pieces at the top first found themselves there, while at the same time the blocks underneath hid from personal and relational responsibility by saying, "I'm just a little piece within this giant pile".
The other pile it might be said was given life-releasing form, with full time and volunteer pieces each fully validated and given a place based on their unique shape, size and colour. Each piece being recognised as having been crafted by God himself, with a place and purpose that dare not be ignored.
Let us pray for the courage and creativity to be the second pile to which he referred.
Blessings
AJ
PS. If you are or were into Lego, you might like to check out the Brick Testament.