Andy McBeard

“I feel comfortable releasing control of disciples, leaders, churches, and movements as long as I know that each unit is connected to the Master. This is as it should be. The question we must answer is, Do we trust ourselves with the care of new believers more than we trust God?”
― Neil Cole, Organic Church: Growing Faith Where Life Happens

“With a top-down exoskeleton structure of church, delegation is critical. Commands are passed down, layer to layer, and are subject to confusion, corruption, and condescension. The church is slow-moving and slow-changing.”
― Neil Cole, Organic Church: Growing Faith Where Life Happens

“In a top-down hierarchical structure, delegation of authority is important. But there is a vast difference between delegated authority and distributed authority. All authority comes from God. True authority is recognized and granted from those who follow; however, sometimes that authority is forced by position, power, or even the threat of violent enforcement. This is how the world operates, but the Kingdom of God is not to be that way.”
― Neil Cole, Organic Church: Growing Faith Where Life Happens

“The core issue, where all this becomes most difficult, is in giving up control. We are afraid of all hell breaking loose, but our in-securities and resulting control have often kept all heaven from breaking loose.”
― Neil Cole, Organic Church: Growing Faith Where Life Happens