Connectors Moving the Church to "The Tipping Point"

Do you ever wonder why you want be around some people and avoid others? Malcolm Gladwell in his book The Tipping Point gives us a window into some of the reasons. Gladwell states that some people are connectors who know how to connect people.

I have become convinced that churches need connectors to reach the tipping point. So what is the tipping point? Here is a definition, "The tipping point is that magic moment when an idea, trend, or social behavior crosses a threshold, tips, and spreads like wildfire." It seems to me that churches are all striving to move to the tipping point so the gospel of Jesus Christ spreads like wildfire.

So what is the difference between a connector and one who does not connect? An illustration is given of Paul Revere and the famous midnight ride. The same night Revere rode on his horse warning the British are coming another man took a very similar ride but with little impact. What was the difference? Revere had the relationships and the other man did not.

As the church in the 21st century I believe we need to learn the lesson of being connectors. If we have a church with no connectors, we can focus in on teaching how to build meaningful relationships. Now I realize that everyone is wired differently, but at the same time we know that we all have the capacity to relate to different with our own unique personalities.

So where are you and your church today? Have you reached "The Tipping Point?"