Step out into the unknown, suggests Richard Hardy.

Listen to a successful story about engagement, and you can think it was all planned from the very start. But having spoken with many who have made the attempt, I’ve found the truth is the reverse. They’ve simply seen a need and tried to meet it. Usually badly!

But in the process they’ve learnt - usually from those they’re seeking to engage with! There’s no better way of learning than to ask them!

You probably learn more from the mistakes you make than from the successes you achieve. And that’s fine.

The process of change and discovery can be as important as the final destination. New initiatives, no matter how small, make a disproportionate contribution to changing the outlook of the church. Doing something simple but outward-facing can reduce fear, enable people to see that something can be done - and make them feel better about themselves in the process.

Many years ago when I was a youth leader, I suggested to the church that the youth raise money for developing world projects by running a café in the centre of town. We had never done anything like it before.

We didn’t have a venue; the kids had never cooked; we knew nothing about health and hygiene; it was the month leading up the Christmas. We just thought it would be a good idea.

We went to the leadership of the church and asked for £500 seed capital that we would pay back at the end of the project. The leaders told us that we could have the money but not to worry paying it back. They were sure that we wouldn’t be able to raise that much at that time of year.

Looking back, the project didn’t look promising – I can see it was our naivety that carried us through. The café opened and proved to be a wild success, and we discovered that the people that felt that it wouldn’t work suddenly wanted to get on board.

Nothing breeds success like success. The following year, when the youth wanted to raise money by running a radio station for a month, the leadership said yes without hesitation. Something had changed in all of us. And we had all grown in the process.

Sometimes we’re put off in the initial stages because somebody comes along with a dose of reality. And at times, that is right. But I can’t help wondering how many wonderful projects that would have met real need failed simply because someone said it cannot be done.

If only we could know the end from the beginning - but we can’t. With anything new, you have to start with nothing and step out into the unknown. But that is how we grow and that at its heart is called faith.

The important thing is keeping going. At times you’ll feel like giving up. That’s okay - but don’t.

Allow your vision and conviction to be your guide. Don’t feel phased by the fact that you don’t know the next step at the moment. You don’t have to.

http://www.engagetoday.org.uk/envision/how-are-we-going-to-engage/set-off-without-knowing-the-ultimate-destination