Why Networks Matter. In this plenary presentation for the 2015 Synergy Summit, Phill Butler highlights seven key trends shaping the future of mission networks.

2. Phill Butler
Founder & Senior Strategy Advisor
visionSynergy

3. Why Networks
Are Important
Part One: Trends – Implications
Part Two: The Movement – The
Challenge

4. IT IS A COMPLEX, CONFUSING
WORLD

5. SEVEN MAJOR TRENDS
SHAPING THE WORLD

6. MIGRATION

7. URBANIZATION

8. URBANIZATION

9. COMMUNICATIONS
7+ Billion Population
3+ Billion Internet Users
3.7 Billion Unique Mobile Subscribers
7+ Billion Active Mobile Subscriptions
Last 21 seconds: 1,000
New Mobile Phones Came On Line!

10. RATE OF TECHNOLOGY’S
INNOVATION

11. TECHNOLOGY’S RATE OF
ADOPTION

12. POWER FROM THE CENTER TO
THE EDGES
“In the network model, rewards
come by empowering others,
not by climbing over them. John
Naisbitt 1990 Megatrends

13. POWER FROM THE CENTER TO
THE EDGES
Partnerships, Networks,
Strategic Alliances
Crowdsourcing
Crowdaction-Advocacy
Crowdfunding
Crowd Innovation

14. ORG THINK TO NET THINK
Organizations will never go away.
Yet, “progressive organizations are
tending to refocus on supporting
teams in community-style
networks.” (allee 2003)

15. WHAT THE WORLD IS SAYING
“There is no other way society will
achieve large scale progress
against urgent and complex
problems, unless a collective
impact approach becomes the
accepted way of doing business.”
Stanford Social Innovation Review 2012

16. WHAT THE WORLD IS SAYING

17. YOUR VIEW OF CHANGE –OBSTACLE
OR OPPORTUNITY?
 Existed When You Were Born?:
Normal
 Invented When You Were 15-35?:
New, Revolutionary, Exciting
 Invented After You Were 35?:
Big Questions – Big Challenges!
Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy

18. DISCUSSION
Questions:
 What do you make of these trends?
 What are the implications for our
Christian mission?
 What are the implications for your
network?

19. Why Networks
Are Important
Part Two: The Movement – The
Challenge

20. 2700 PEOPLE – 150 NATIONS
First Global Missionary
Gathering Since The 1910
Edinburgh World Missionary
Conference of 1200 Delegates

21. IMPACT: GLOBAL COOP?
 Evidence of God’s blessing on the global
missionary movement of 200 years
 Evidence of the Global nature of the Church
 Call for collaboration
 Network Prototype -- provided structures:
regional sectors & working groups
 Provided core theological basis - Covenant
 Vision/Task Focus Not Organization Focus!

22. MUSLIM COMMUNICATIONS CONF
 Marseille France / August 1974
 75+participants / 20+ countries
 Launched
 First regional media research
 Magalla Magazine
 Middle East Media
 Sat 7
 Regional Working Conferences

23. GROWTH: THE PARTNERSHIP MOVEMENT
1986 North Africa – Eight Ministries
First Strategic Evangelism Partnership

24. GROWTH: THE PARTNERSHIP MOVEMENT
1990 - 4 Strategic Partnerships
Partnership Training Launched

25. GROWTH: THE PARTNERSHIP MOVEMENT
1990 - Jordan Lewis’ Landmark Book
Confirms Principles Are Universal

26. GROWTH: THE PARTNERSHIP MOVEMENT
1996 – 23 Operating Partnerships
43 Developing Partnerships

27. GROWTH: THE PARTNERSHIP MOVEMENT
2002 – 92 Operating/65 Developing P’ships
3000+ Ministries From 55 Countries

28. GROWTH: THE PARTNERSHIP MOVEMENT
2005 - 10/40 Window Region
22 Annual Regional Evangelism Consultations

29. WILL OUR NETWORKS AND
PARTNERSHIPS REFLECT
THESE KEY GLOBAL DEVELOPMENTS?
THE CHALLENGE

30. TECH ADVANCE: GLOBAL?

31. TECH ADVANCE: LOCAL?

32. GLOBAL YOUTH POPULATION?
52% -- 3.8 Billion Under 30!
 1.8 Billion 10-25 years
Leading Edge of Innovation
Feel “Left Out” of Church/Mission
Strategy
How To Make Them Essential?

33. THE CITIES?
5 Billion Urban Dwellers 2025
37 “MegaCities” Over10 Million
27 In “Developing Countries”
400+ Cities Over 1 Million
Karachi: 4 – 14 million In 33 Years!

34. THE CITIES?

35. WHAT IS OUR FUTURE VISION?
Quality of the Network
Engagement of Participants
Strategic Vision
Effectiveness of Strategies
Quality of Outcomes
Evaluation & Stewardship

36. DISCUSSION
Questions:
 What do you make of these trends?
 What are the implications for our
Christian mission?
 What are the implications for your
network?