STRATEGY COORDINATORS FOR PEOPLE GROUPS

For OMF, the question “Who is a Strategy Coordinator (SC)?” is more important than the question “What does a Strategy Coordinator do?” The SC is a strategic thinker, prayerfully looking at the big picture and constantly asking what needs to be done to see God glorified in a particular people group or population segment. The SC’s role is not primarily activity based. Rather, as needs and opportunities are identified, he or she mobilizes and enables others to step in to meet those needs.

The role is multi-faceted, but there is one goal, or “endvision.” We work to see God glorified through a church multiplication movement true to the Scriptures and relevant to culture within the people group, and then to see that people group reaching out in mission to others. A singular focus on God’s glory among the people group is the hallmark of the SC’s passion and ministry.

DEFINITIONS
“Strategy Coordinator” can be defined in different ways. For our purposes, let’s first look at a dictionary definition of the two words separately.

  • Strategy: a carefully devised plan of action to achieve a goal, or the art of developing or carrying out such a plan.
  • Coordinator: One who brings things, people or parts into proper relation with each other.

These definitions are significant and imply several principles for the strategy coordinator:

  1. He/she needs to know the goal.
  2. He/she is not a lone ranger. Rather, the SC works with others, and with various resources.
  3. He/she needs to have knowledge of the people, location, the timing and the important factors at work.
  4. He/she needs to have a panoramic view of the situation, and must have the ability and insight to mobilize, employ, influence and enable his resources.
  5. The SC must be able to take initiative – and follow through.

WHO CAN BE A STRATEGY COORDINATOR?
Strategy coordinators may come in many shapes or sizes. They may not all look or sound the same. However, there are certain traits that are useful – indeed, paramount – in an effective SC. David Garrison lists seven characteristics of an SC: visionary, strategic, intentional, focused, disciplined, learning and urgent. One OMF worker has summarized the characteristics of an SC in a “FAITH” acronym. No one person is perfect in every area from the start, but we can look for evidence of the following areas:

F Faith: Does the person take God at his word? Does he/she act on God’s promises? Like Jonathan, the SC believes God will save, “whether by many or by few.” (1 Samuel 14)
A Accomplishments: Is there a track record of achieving goals in business, school, clubs, sports, etc?
I Intelligence: Is there the capacity to gather, process and synthesize information?
T Training: Is there hands-on, practical training, not just academic training?
H Heart: Is there a passion for God and reaching the lost?

Below are some other important characteristics of an SC, spelled out in greater detail.

RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS
The SC is a person who is consistently growing in his relationship with Jesus, as well as in experience and wisdom. His primary, driving purpose is that God be glorified. His eyes are fixed upon Jesus, the author and perfecter of his faith.

VISION AND PASSION
He or she constantly looks at the big picture, while at the same time feels a deep yearning. He longs for the people group to whom he has been called to be reached with the life-giving gospel. It is this trait in an SC which attracts and draws others to join him.

STRATEGIC THINKING

Strategic thinkers look at the big picture. Their concern is to achieve a goal. They don't plan each step in detail. Rather, others more gifted in this regard need to do it for them. They are not the kind of people who look at the individual trees, but instead are those who contemplate the forest.

TEAM PLAYER

The SC is both a pioneer and a team player. It is not easy to find these two qualities in one person.

SERVANT LEADER

The SC needs to be able to influence people towards God’s purposes for the particular people group. But this position calls for a leader who serves others, rather than relying on “command and control” approaches.

WHAT DOES A STRATEGY COORDINATOR DO?

The strategy coordinator has a variety of responsibilities. Below are some “hands-on” examples of what they do.

MONITOR TRENDS

He needs to be aware of the political, social, economic and religious trends in the area he’s working. Where are those trends taking the people? Are they bridges or barriers for the gospel? The SC is frequently asking, “What next?” or “What else?”

MASTER PLAN

The SC never asks the question, “What can I do in order to accomplish the task?” Rather, he thinks more broadly and outwardly. The burning question is, “What needs to be done (or what does God want done)?” At the same time, he looks at the resources of the Christian world globally, and acts as a conduit for these resources to flow from church at large to his specific people group. With this in mind, the SC in OMF develops a Master Plan for reaching that group.

“ENDVISIONING”

A critical part of the master plan is the endvision. The SC starts with the vision in mind. The vision is the desired outcome. Where his people group presently stands is the current reality. The gap between these two positions is what needs to be worked through prayerfully and carefully.

KEY RESULT AREAS

Once the vision, mission and values have been set into place, the SC will probably set about determining the key result areas (KRA) of the task before him. A KRA in business parlance is defined as “a major category of customer requirements that is critical for the organization's success.” In the missions context, it is the major areas that need to be addressed to see the vision realized. Each area is critical to the fulfillment of the vision. Without it, the vision won’t be realized.

Examples of KRAs for an SC include:

  • Prayer
  • Mobilization of prayer, personnel and resources
  • Entry and transformation platforms, especially if the SC is involved in a creative access nation.
  • Field work development
  • Research
  • Funding
  • Orientation and training
  • Organizational structures

These KRAs accentuate the fact that the SC is a bridge between two worlds - the Christian one and the world of his focus people. He or she straddles both worlds and needs to move comfortably between both.

EXPERIMENTATION AND EVALUATION

The SC is a pioneer and is not afraid to experiment. Neither is he afraid of failure, as he sees it as a teacher. His basic attitude is “those who have never failed have never done anything or tried anything new.” We are not suggesting that the SC blindly rushes in “where angels fear to tread.” He does not take foolish risks. However, he does take prayerful ones.

FACILITATING THE STRATEGY COORDINATOR

Like everyone else, the SC needs to be accountable for spiritual, personal and ministry development. He is not a law unto himself. In OMF, the Facilitator provides this accountability as well as serving as a coach and mentor. It is the Facilitator’s task to ensure that the SC is remaining true to God, and to his or her vision, mission and core-values.

If you have questions or want to find out more about specific SC needs in East Asia with OMF, please contact us at info@omf.org .