A new book, Mission Design, promises fresh momentum for your business or ministry
ChatGPTComing up on the end of the year always reminds me to relook at my life and work. A new book called Mission Design, by Jews for Jesus CEO Aaron Abramson (published by IVP), was exactly what I needed.
The book isn't groundbreaking; in fact, it rehashes much leadership wisdom I've read elsewhere. But this is actually the book's strength.
I found myself brainstorming while I read. Many times, as I pondered how to change up my ministry strategy, I put the book down, grabbed my phone and sent myself an email with thoughts prompted by Abramson.
The author writes, "This book describes how an established organization, Jews for Jesus, had lost momentum and found a way forward in a world of constant flux. It is about lessons we learned along the way and the tools we developed to help us get there" (p 7).
I found value in Abramson's own revisiting of past business wisdom and applying it in a new context. Jews for Jesus was in need of a deep rethink and a comprehensive turnaround strategy. He and his team employed design thinking, gathered extensive feedback, identified their key audience, updated their mission and vision, iterated and experimented with new ideas.
If your own ministry or business is getting tired and ineffective, maybe it's time to take advantage of books like Mission Design, or even reread some business or strategy books that have been on your shelf for a while.
2026 is coming fast. Leadership often means getting ahead of change—so why not start early?
Rethinking,
Tom Harper
Founder, BiblicalLeadership.com
LinkedIn profile | My books
 | Tom Harper is publisher of BiblicalLeadership.com and executive chairman of Networld Media Group, a business-to-business publisher and event producer. He has written five books, including Servant Leader Strong: Uniting Biblical Wisdom and High-Performance Leadership (DeepWater Books, 2019) as well as the Christian business fable Through Colored Glasses and its sequel Inner Threat (DeepWater, 2022). Learn More » |
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