renewed vision

‘Why isn’t Verge listed as one of our projects?’

It’s the right question.

And after a pregnant pause, I respond in the board meeting: 

‘because I think it’s time to put a line under it.’

This week-long experience turned interactive bible resource has been central to our activity. In fact, Verge was the key program around which AccessTheStory was formed.  

Six years on from running our last week-long camp, and three years on from developing a training resource for leaders in our learning practices, the time has come to:

 ‘retire the brand'.

The conversation turns into one of reminiscence; and gratefulness for the people impacted; and a little bit of grief. 

As we chat we come to the consensus that the season is done - and while that may be true, the culture and values forged through this program are deeply embedded in us as a team, and in the AccessTheStory network.

We suspect that despite this key program running its course, God isn’t done with AccessTheStory yet.

But we end our board retreat day in an unresolved place:  

‘if ATS isn’t about Verge, then what are we about?’

Some weeks go by.

A conversation with a younger leader quashes my musing over whether this moment means a complete rebrand of AccessTheStory:

“I think this is just a moment of ‘re-visioning.’”

Then two questions in a coaching session prompt a gentle breeze of possibility:

“What are you and Pixi known for?”

“What activity are you involved in right now?” 

In chatting together with Pixi, it takes me a while to move past the programs we’ve developed.  Then, as we discuss all the things we’ve done over the years - and how people feel when they participate in the things we’ve been able to lead - we land on the phrase: 

‘we make space for spiritual community.’

We know we’re not the only leaders to have ever done that, but there’s a set of skills we tend to take for granted around ‘making space’.

In order to do this we have consistently found ourselves in the process and practice of innovation.  Forging a new path.  Discovering new possibilities.  

Then I look at my schedule. It’s punctuated with meetings with people who like talking about this stuff. Leaders who are innovating spaces for people to experience spiritual community.

Two months later I return to my board with the statement: 

“AccessTheStory supports innovating leaders who help people access God’s story.”

This is what AccessTheStory is doing.

Advocating for those who are walking this path.

Coaching others who are seeking someone to walk alongside them.

Hosting projects that express the culture and values of everything we've done (not the least being the Verge experience).

Advocate.  Coach.  Host.

And with this renewed vision, I walk the familiar and exhilarating path of inviting others to partner with us - that our time might be released for what we love to do. 

What we’re called to do.

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