Onesimus Workbook

26 • T HE O NESIMUS W ORKSHOP : W ELCOMING F ORMER P RISONERS INTO THE L IFE OF THE C HURCH

Category

ProgramThinking

Systems Thinking

Get inside the system and get to know the people. Be a learner. Fall in love with the people inside the system.

Step One

Identify a need

Make a plan to address the need

Develop a mutual understanding

Step Two

Work the plan but create unintended consequences

Meet their stated short-term needs, but also meet their long-term, underlying needs

Step Three

Observe results: when the problem isn’t solved (or gets worse) give up or double our efforts

Empower them to take over from you and reproduce

Step Four

Essential Tools

Money, technology, organization

Relationship, inter-relationship, empowerment

A. Examples of program thinking

1. Eliminating poverty in America

2. Eliminating global hunger

B. Examples of systems thinking

1. The ministry of Jesus

2. World Impact’s incarnational approach to ministry among the urban poor

III. Application to the OnesimusWorkshop

A. Program thinking

B. Systemic thinking