So you’re trying to change the world? Start here.

We’ve got some advice that you should keep close.

Do you want to change the world? It might be a dream of yours. Honestly, it might be something that you’ve been thinking about your entire life. You’ve volunteered, donated your money, traveled the world to achieve a mission or advocate for a cause.

And for many who work in goodwill industries, for churches or for nonprofits, we have grand visions for what can be accomplished for good. And that is a noble endeavor—one that more people need to be convinced of!

But to do it well, you’ll need to keep these things in mind.

Always be gracious.

We have a hard time realizing how privileged we actually are. Living in America, in a comfortable middle-class life, there are plenty of struggles that we’ve (most likely) never been exposed to. If you want to create true impact in the world, then be intentional about asking questions—challenging stereotypes and assumptions. Make sure that you’re constantly trying to be better than you were.

If we truly want to change the world, then we need to come to the realization that we have an endless amount to learn. Be gracious with what you’ve been blessed with.

Always stay hopeful.

If you are not solid and secure in the truth of Jesus Christ, then you’re probably going to deal with anxiety in your life. And with anxiety comes fear, the loss of self-control and spending too much time focusing on ourselves rather than the world we’re trying to change and the God who will get us there.

If we don’t hope in Christ, then our focus will center around our own glory and self-preservation. But if we’re confident in faith that God is present in our future, then we are empowered to love others.

Always know your strengths.

The key to world impact is everyone working harmoniously in the role that they’ve been placed in by the Lord. Identify your strengths, own them well and find people to help you who have complementary skills.

Take a look at Ephesians 4:16 here. “[Jesus] from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.”

Always start informed.

Don’t jump into the water if you don’t know how to swim. To make real change in society, it’s important that we understand that preparation for a project is essential. This isn’t reading a Wikipedia article before launching a nonprofit. This is being aware of the goals, the challenges, the team members and capabilities needed in order to make something happen at the caliber that you’ve envisioned.

Do your homework. Winging it doesn’t work.

Always stay the course.

Don’t give up. Always, always, always run in such a run as to claim the prize. Now, that doesn’t mean that you should drive your endeavor into the ground because you’re not willing to give up on a failed initiative. It means that while your tactics might shift, your dream doesn’t.

Having a sense of discipline for your passion— engaging in certain behaviors regardless of whether you want to or not — is what helps to bring about real change.

If you found this article informative and helpful, please share! And don’t forget to keep a lookout for incoming resources for churches and ministries from Yellowbox Creative.

Do you need help:
(1) Launching a church plant?
(2) Designing your church series?
(3) Nurturing a creative community?

At Yellowbox, we empower churches and ministries with the tools, coaching and resources they need to reach real people. With that creative support, church outreach is no longer intrusive — it becomes a catalyst for community.