Little story to help think through clarity on our target. Most churches hit their mark. Not always the one on the wall, but the one their values and rhythms communicate. Is it the right mission, the right target, the right mission?

In the great book On the Verge: A Journey Into the Apostolic Future of the Church by Alan Hirsch and Dave Ferguson, Hirsch tells the story about a drill bit company that had achieved great success, even worldwide success, revolutionizing the industry with the tungsten-tipped drill bit. Over time the competition caught up and the company’s market share began to erode. The board of directors decided to get a new CEO to recover the company’s success. The CEO called for a crisis-conference to clarify the mission of the company. After a few days together the employees came back to the CEO with the decision that their mission was to make the best drill bits in the world. They all agreed this was an excellent purpose for the company. At this point, the new CEO said, “No! Your job is not to make the best drill bits in the world; rather it is to make the best holes in the world!” The company went on to innovate laser drilling and become the best hole-making company in the world.

What is your drill bit? What should be the real goal of your church or organization? In Christianity, it seems we focus so much attention on having great churches, and not enough on making great disciples? Has church become the mission, hindering disciple making?