A mere eighty-five nonprofits have endured five hundred years or more. Statistics suggest nearly three of every four newly launched nonprofits will close their doors within a decade. The odds are stacked against survival.
This might seem like an odd case to make in a leadership book. If our organizations will one day vanish, why care about them? Why not focus exclusively on maximizing our own prosperity or trying to secure an enduring legacy? Why not lose hope altogether? For Christians, the answer is clear. Hundreds of years from now, our descendants will likely not know our names, nor those of our organizations. But if we successfully embrace the unity Jesus taught, our descendants will remember what the Church did together.
As Christ’s followers, we are not just building temporary organizations but participating in an eternal Kingdom. Your ministry’s growth is not the only metric for success for followers of the One whose legacy on earth was defined by self-sacrifice and love for those who could never repay Him. In that light, rooting for rivals–cheering on and coming to the aid of those the world sees as our competitors–doesn’t feel all that crazy. It’s time we look at ourselves and our organizations in a Kingdom context.
We are part of a movement that has no end. We are on the same team. Let’s cheer each other on.|Peter Greer is President and CEO of HOPE International, a global Christ-centered microenterprise development organization serving throughout Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Eastern Europe. A graduate of Messiah College and Harvard University’s Kennedy School, Peter writes and speaks on the intersection of faith and international development. More important than his occupation is his role as husband to Laurel and dad to Keith, Lilianna, and Myles. www.peterkgreer.com.
Chris Horst is the vice president of development at HOPE International, where he employs his passion for advancing initiatives at the intersection of faith and work. Chris serves on the boards of the Denver Institute for Faith & Work and the Mile High WorkShop and is a founder of dadcraft.com. He and his wife, Alli, have three children–Desmond, Abe, and June. Chris graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Taylor University and an MBA from Bakke Graduate University.
From the Back Cover
Reject Pride of Ownership to Pursue a “Kingdom First” Agenda
Faith-based organizations are sometimes known for what we’re against–and all too often that includes being against each other. But amid growing distrust of religious institutions, Christ-centered nonprofits have a unique opportunity to link arms across our organizational boundaries and pursue a calling higher than our own agendas.
Rooting for Rivals reveals how your ministry can multiply its impact by cooperating, rather than competing. Peter Greer and Chris Horst explore case studies illustrating the power of collaborative ministry. They also vulnerably share their own failures and successes in pursuing a Kingdom mindset. Discover the power of openhanded leadership to make a greater impact on the world.“I love the African quote, ‘If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.’ I’m grateful to Peter Greer and Chris Horst for celebrating Christ-centered teamwork and collaboration in Rooting for Rivals. This is an essential read for Christian ministry leaders who want to model countercultural unity and generosity in how we obey and serve our Lord.”–RICHARD STEARNS, president of World Vision U.S. and author of The Hole in Our Gospel“In Rooting for Rivals, Peter and Chris have captured God’s heart for true Kingdom-minded ministry! They’ve created an irrefutable case for leaders around the globe to work together for the greater good. The truths in this book have the power to literally change the world!”–MARK MILLER, vice president of high performance leadership, Chick-fil-A, Inc.
About the Author
Peter Greer is president and CEO of HOPE International, a global nonprofit organization focused on alleviating both physical and spiritual poverty through Christ-centered microfinance. Under Peter’s leadership, HOPE has expanded its network from three to sixteen countries. Peter resides in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, with his wife, Laurel, and their three children.
Chris Horst is the vice president of development at HOPE International. Chris has been published regularly in The Denver Post and Christianity Today, and he coauthored Mission Drift and Entrepreneurship for Human Flourishing with Peter Greer. Chris and his wife, Alli, and their two sons and one daughter live in Denver, Colorado.
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