Table of Contents

Foreword Andy Crouch 11

1 The Unspoken Crisis 15

Mission Drift is a crisis facing all faith-based organizations

2 The Tale of Two Presbyterian Ministers 23

Mission Drift is pervasive, but it is not inevitable

3 Functional Atheism 33

Mission True organizations believe the Gospel is their most precious asset

4 Death by Minnows 44

Mission True organizations make hard decisions to protect and propel their mission

5 The Secret Recipe to Quaker Oats 56

Mission True leaders assume they will face drift and build safeguards against it

6 You Know Why You Exist 67

Mission True organizations have clarity about their mission

7 Guardians of the Mission 78

Mission True board members understand their top priority

8 True Leadership 89

Mission True leaders set the cultural tone for the organization

9 Impressive Credentials Are Not Enough 98

Mission True organizations hire first and foremost for heart and character

10 Follow the Money 110

Mission True organizations partner with donors who believe in their full mission

11 Measuring What Matters 124

Mission True organizations track, metrics reflective of their full mission

12 Etched in Excellence 137

Mission True organizations understand the Gospel demands excellence in their work

13 Culture Eats Strategy for Breakfast 148

Mission True organizations are fanatics about rituals and practices

14 The Language of the Chameleon Club 160

Mission True organizations boldly proclaim their core tenets to protect themselves from drift

15 Save the Church 167

Mission True organizations recognize that the local church is the anchor to a thriving mission

Conclusion 179

Review Questions 182

Acknowledgments 189

Appendix 1 Board of Directors Prospective Board Member Nomination Form 192

Appendix 2 Primacy of Proclamation Board Resolution 196

Appendix 3 Family Giving Charter 197

Methodology for Mission Drift Research 199

Notes 200

Further Reading on the Topic of Mission Drift 216