2020s Foresight: Three Vital Practices For Thriving In a Decade of Accelerating Change
Tom Sine and Dwight Friesen
After two years in pandemic life, I find that I am constantly evaluating and re-evaluating everyday decisions in response to all I have experienced and learned. I have witnessed the beauty of people coming together to take care of each other and I have dealt with the behaviors of those that are struggling with ways to cope with the change that has been thrust upon us as the result of pandemic needs. I am certain that I am not alone in feeling somewhat weary from keeping up with everything that has happened. When 2020s Foresight: Three Vital Practices For Thriving In a Decade of Accelerating Change landed on my desk to review, I eagerly found my favorite reading spot and hunkered down to a good read.
Tom Sine and Dwight Friesen began writing this valuable resource before Covid-19 was even on the radar. Their conjecture that this decade would be one of accelerating change was prescient; the pandemic has only magnified the needs of our communities and the trends that were already revealing themselves to those who were paying attention. They discuss how congregations can borrow wisdom from the business world and engage in effective anticipation, reflection, and innovation so as to be able to ‘lead the band’ in vital ministries that communities need, rather than constantly playing catch-up with events as they start to present themselves.
Mr. Sine and Mr. Friesen lay out several ways in which congregations can innovate how to effectively be in ministry with and for communities. They dedicate chapters to discussing innovations for life, community building, ministering in your place, and ministering as a church. Discussion questions are included with each chapter, giving congregations opportunities to reflect and vision together. Real-life applications and experiences are included from a variety of perspectives and communities. There is something for every congregation in this resource.
This book was written for churches, seminaries, and colleges so that the current generation of leaders are equipped to anticipate and respond creatively to this decade of accelerating change. I spend my days as a parent and as a children’s and family minister, and I also find value in using this resource in my work. I have spent the last two years pivoting and innovating on the fly, and I am thankful to be in a space where I can use this resource to help me anticipate, reflect, and innovate based on the data I have collected. I will be purchasing a copy for my congregation to use as we continue to process who we are called to be in our setting. It will be a valuable addition to our resource library.
