Going Deep : Becoming a Person of Influence by Gordon MacDonald
This book is about a small group experiment at the church Gordon MacDonald pastors. The experiment was about "GDP" (Growing Deep People). Gordon MacDonald goes through the thought process of doing something special with growing the church to be much more than it already was, about doing something special in the lives of people and building up a group of people who can be leaders and influencers in the church and throughout the community.
The idea for a GDP group gels together through interactions with leaders within the church and community. A special bond he has with a local Jewish Rabbi helps Pastor MacDonald see that to pattern His ministry after the ministry of a Rabbi, was to pattern his own ministry after the ministry of Jesus. After all Jesus was a Rabbi (Jewish Teacher) who had a very close group of learners. These learners, Jesus' disciples ended up turning the world around and spreading the Gospel message, the teachings of Jesus, throughout the known world at the time.
The book goes on to describe in conversational form how the group was formed, the process used in helping to "GDP", the significant ways that lives were changed and as all the good Rabbi's do the saying of goodbye so that the learners can go out to Grow Deep People. As the Rabbi taught growth stops or is muted if the teacher does not send learners out to teach what they have learned to others.
As I read this book I thought,; "when are you going to get to the point." Over two thirds of the book is about the thought process and the development of this idea about identifying the idea, processing how the group should look and then how the group was established and developed.
It turns out I was very much chastised by my Lord for my impatience.
As the book moved deeper into the relationships and the changes made in peoples lives, I felt embarrassed by my lack of patience in the middle parts of the book.
Although I still feel some of the conversation was a bit run on and could have been condensed with still having the desired impact, I am glad I didn't give in to my impatience.
The last part of the story I absolutely was brought to tears for the interactions and the changes affected in peoples lives. I am sure I would not have had such a strong emotional reaction had Pastor MacDonald not taken such care to help us get to know the people involved and some depth of the process. I was finishing reading this on an aiplane ride and I am sure the person next to me was wondering why my eyes teared up and I had to stop to reflect often through the last portions of the book.
All in all I would recommend this book to anyone who works with small goups or in some type of leadership capacity. I don't mean just church leaders but anyone who wants to build up others to become leaders and people of influence.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
This book is about a small group experiment at the church Gordon MacDonald pastors. The experiment was about "GDP" (Growing Deep People). Gordon MacDonald goes through the thought process of doing something special with growing the church to be much more than it already was, about doing something special in the lives of people and building up a group of people who can be leaders and influencers in the church and throughout the community.
The idea for a GDP group gels together through interactions with leaders within the church and community. A special bond he has with a local Jewish Rabbi helps Pastor MacDonald see that to pattern His ministry after the ministry of a Rabbi, was to pattern his own ministry after the ministry of Jesus. After all Jesus was a Rabbi (Jewish Teacher) who had a very close group of learners. These learners, Jesus' disciples ended up turning the world around and spreading the Gospel message, the teachings of Jesus, throughout the known world at the time.
The book goes on to describe in conversational form how the group was formed, the process used in helping to "GDP", the significant ways that lives were changed and as all the good Rabbi's do the saying of goodbye so that the learners can go out to Grow Deep People. As the Rabbi taught growth stops or is muted if the teacher does not send learners out to teach what they have learned to others.
As I read this book I thought,; "when are you going to get to the point." Over two thirds of the book is about the thought process and the development of this idea about identifying the idea, processing how the group should look and then how the group was established and developed.
It turns out I was very much chastised by my Lord for my impatience.
As the book moved deeper into the relationships and the changes made in peoples lives, I felt embarrassed by my lack of patience in the middle parts of the book.
Although I still feel some of the conversation was a bit run on and could have been condensed with still having the desired impact, I am glad I didn't give in to my impatience.
The last part of the story I absolutely was brought to tears for the interactions and the changes affected in peoples lives. I am sure I would not have had such a strong emotional reaction had Pastor MacDonald not taken such care to help us get to know the people involved and some depth of the process. I was finishing reading this on an aiplane ride and I am sure the person next to me was wondering why my eyes teared up and I had to stop to reflect often through the last portions of the book.
All in all I would recommend this book to anyone who works with small goups or in some type of leadership capacity. I don't mean just church leaders but anyone who wants to build up others to become leaders and people of influence.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
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