Running Head: INSIGHTS FROM BOOK
Insights from Book
Benjamin P. Anderson
Concordia University
1

INSIGHTS FROM BOOK
INSIGHTS FROM BOOK
Think Orange offered incredible insight into current, typical ministry paradigms. In the
2 process of reading through this book, the reader will learn about the great potential of ministry in the family system when both the church and the family are walking hand-in-hand with the same goal in mind.
In the beginning of the book, the author points out the problem with this statement,
“Some churches are embracing the idea that the church needs to become a substitute for the family, while others are endorsing a movement that encourages the home to become a substitute for the church” (Joiner, 2009, p. 25).” In this statement, I find a lot of truth. Youth leaders around the world after seeing their students turn to a life apart from God are pointing at the parents. The parents are seeing the same results and pointing at the ministry with the finger of blame. In our attempt unload responsibility, we have created a huge lack of potential.
The church and the family have different yet similar responsibilities. The church simply exists to draw attention to Christ (Joiner, 2009). The family exists as the primary conduit to draw families to Christ (Joiner, 2009). It goes without saying that two entities with a similar mission will have a better effect on an individual than one. If parents and ministries would get on the same page, they should and will have a better return for their time and energy. If they both point their fingers at Christ, the real focus will be sharpened.
The book defines and Orange leader as, “Any leader who connects other leaders and parents in order to synchronize their efforts in the next generation” (Joiner, 2009, p.78).” This statement hit me like a brick. I like many other youth workers throughout the world have been trying desperately to help a world and families in need by taking over, doing it professionally, and doing it in an entertaining fashion. In order to make our ministries legitimate, we have

INSIGHTS FROM BOOK played our pipes and the children have followed while the parents have stayed at home.
This book to me was very eye opening and the more I looked at the stats the more I realized that I was completely a yellow leader. I complained about the families, while not doing anything specifically beneficial for the parents. I pointed the finger and watched as our students
3 quit going to church and few returned for senior high youth group.
After reading through the book, I had some interesting correlations pop into my head. I started thinking about the Chicago Bulls from the 90’s. These correlations were actually the ground work last week, as I traveled to New Mexico, to share some ministry philosophies to a church in that region. From the combination of Think Orange, some other reading material from the class, and my general knowledge of NBA history, I developed something called the Chicago
Bulls Philosophy of Ministry.
In their heyday the Chicago Bulls were nearly unstoppable. They amassed six championships from 1991-1998. Along with this, they became the most dominate NBA team in a season by racking up 72 wins in an 82 game season (Chicago Bulls, 2013). The Bulls were a dominate team featuring some of the greatest individuals to be a part of the NBA.
Jerry Krause was the General Manager of the Chicago Bulls from 1985-2003 and was a fantastic visionary who brought in Phil Jackson, Scottie Pippen, and a host of other complimentary players. To this, he was awarded the NBA Executive of the Year two times, and was also entered into the Chicago Bulls Hall of Fame (Chicago Bulls, 2013).
Phil Jackson came to the Bulls as the Head Coach in 1989, and instantly became a coaching icon. Jackson is no stranger to notoriety. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest coaches, if not the greatest coach of all time. He was named in the list of top ten coaches of all time and has the highest winning percentage for any coach (Chicago Bulls, 2013).

INSIGHTS FROM BOOK
The name Michael Jordan has almost become a definition onto itself. Jordan is widely considered to be the greatest basketball player of all time and has been honored by numerous
4 awards. These are highlighted by this awards: NBA MVP 5x, NBA All-Star 14x, NBA All-Star
MVP 3x, All-NBA Selection 11x, Defensive First Team 9x, named to the NBA’s top 50 players of all time, named #1 to SLAM magazine’s top NBA players of all time, named #1 in ESPN’s top athletes of all time, and is a part of the NBA Hall of Fame (Chicago Bulls, 2013).
Scottie Pippen was Michael Jordan’s sidekick, but was a great player in his own right.
He also received many awards: 10x All-NBA Defensive Team, 8x All-NBA First Team
Defensive honors, selected as the 50 Greatest Players of All Time, he is a member of the
Chicago Bulls Hall of Fame, and will be a member of the NBA Hall of Fame.
What is interesting is that though any of the NBA icons could be considered the greatest at what they do, they never really became great until they were all together. Michael Jordan joined the team in 1984, Krause in 1985, Pippen in 1987, and Phil Jackson became the head coach in 1990. Though they were all fantastic, but only Jackson won a championship apart from them. Even Michael Jordan- the greatest of all time, never won a championship without Krause,
Jackson, and Pippen. In fact during their run, Michael Jordan took a season and a half off, in which the Bulls failed to win championships. As soon as the ship was righted, they went on to win the next three championships before Jordan retired (Chicago Bulls, 2013).
We can learn a lot from this in regards to family ministry. We might see fruit here and there, but we will never reach our ultimate potential without all the moving pieces together. In this regard, Krause is the Holy Spirit; He has called us and placed us all in our unique situations for God’s Glory. Phil Jackson is the Bible who leads us all in the direction that we should go.
Michael Jordan is the parents who are the number one influencers of the family, and Scottie

INSIGHTS FROM BOOK
Pippen is the church who is to come alongside Michael.
Only when we are working hand-in-hand will we reach out ultimate potential and truly
5 create environments where children will have the greatest potential for not only staying in the faith, but bringing glory to God. We need to think orange in order to bring home the prize that truly matters.

INSIGHTS FROM BOOK
Reference
Chicago Bulls. (2013, April 7). Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia . Retrieved April 10, 2013,
6 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_Bulls
Joiner, R. (2009). Think orange: imagine the impact when church and family collide .
Colorado Springs, CO: David C. Cook.