Organizational Change Strategies in the Marketplace

Taking Back Our Cities
by Janet L. Garcia
July 4, 2015

“Where there is no vision, the people perish,” the scriptures says in Proverbs 29:18. Consequently, though Satan is doing all he can to work at destroying us from the inside out, he’s been working at it through the seven mountain approach. As the TV commercial would say, “But wait there’s more”…Author Johnny Enslow of the Seven Mountain Prophecy writes, “We have an opportunity to be transformed through a national Renaissance to say that we are “All In.” The time of the Gideon’s is upon us now. God is going to use a very small courageous and hope-filled minority, even while the bulk of His Church is either asleep, fighting on wrong battle fronts, or defending ridiculous doctrines and positions.” The angel’s are over our cities and what the enemy meant for evil, God is going to turn over for good to save many lives. He’s calling a strategic army into place.
We have a gift. We have spiritual authority. If you are a Christian business owner, then “Marketplace Ministry” may not be a new concept to you. Christian business owners, it is time to rise up and use your business to take back our cities for God. This is an opportunity like never before for Christian owned businesses to begin to take over our cities for Jesus Christ through strategic thinking and organizational change from the inside out. Most Christian business owners are what the forward deployed military would call “boots on the ground.” You influence your customers on a daily basis through your product or services. Your products and services can help draw more people in so that you may be a witness to the lost souls living in today’s darkness. It is time to collectively focus on the revenue for the Kingdom of God along with your business objectives.
One specific example, in the early days, was the Salvation Army. It was and is a graphic example of the power of transforming the lives of the city. Their enemies were clearly identified as satanic bondages of their day such as alcoholism and prostitution. Now, we have even more serious crimes such as the fastest growing modern day slave trade called “sex-trafficking.” Would your organization know how to identify a woman gripped by this darkness? We are in perilous times. Author John Dawson wrote in his book titled Taking Cities for God, “We need to lift ourselves out of a self-centered spirituality-a mentality that says we are victims rather than warriors. Fiery darts will come, but as we raise the shield of faith, we must take up the sword of the Spirit and join with others in contending for cities and nations.”
The scriptures teach us in 2nd Corinthians 10:4, “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for the pulling down of strongholds.” It is encouraged that we take a different approach to reaching souls for Christ. Consider your position, it is to your advantage that your organization is at the forefront of society. Next, you’re able to reach and touch your customer base daily through business transactions and networking connections. Realize that your organization is in a harvest field so vast that it would take months for one individual to make a significant dent to bringing souls to Christ. Luke 10:2, says “And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
It’s time to put God first and pray for every employee hired, transaction conducted and for every customer before they come into contact with you. Pray in the harvest. It’s time to teach employees about spiritual warfare and ask where their hearts are for Christ. It’s time to fast and pray in the Spirit for your particular area of service. There is so much power in the ability to learn to pray and fast in the spirit in order to break the strongholds that grip our communities. The power of prayer is so significant in taking the first steps. In order to commence the strategic thinking/planning and action, pray for the spirit of unity within your organization. If you haven’t done so already, it’s time to bring God into partnership with your business. Pray together with other fellow business owners and get the word out during conferences and network meetings. Start a prayer before any business is conducted. Begin a meeting with a short devotion.
What can your small business or organization do to strategically set a vision to add to your services and begin an outreach marketplace ministry? Changing your organizations scope of practice begins with organizational change strategy. An organization with a revised vision will be able to make a significant impact and take advantage of the harvest crying in the wilderness. The three questions you can chose to ask your organization are the following; What are some strategic ways to shine the light of Jesus into our area of influence and customer service base? What steps can we take to differentiate our organization from the society around us? How can our organization stand out as a body of believers we are called to be in the midst of darkness?
Author W. Warner Burke of the book Organizational Change Theory and Practice says, “If an organization expects to see a change effort succeed in their organization’s culture then there must be a change in mission and strategy.” He goes on to say, “Change in culture is in support of the changes in mission and strategy; it is the “people” side, the emotional component of organizational change, or what a seasoned organization change consultant calls the “the change monster”—the human forces that either facilitate or prevent transformation.” Often times we want to change a person’s mental mindset in our own strength. Nevertheless, it is the changes in our behaviors that need to be dealt with first before we can make a significant change to our cities through marketplace ministry. When we make these changes in our behaviors first, then shifts in our attitudes, beliefs and values will subsequently change and we can take back our cities for God.
It’s time to attack the monster in the very places he is trying to take over which is right in our own backyards. Consider the steps that your organization can take to have a marketplace ministry to advance the kingdom mindset. The scriptures in Isaiah 60:1-3 says, “Arise and shine; for your light has come! And glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and the deep darkness the people; but the Lord will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you. The Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.”
The first step is to be intentional and begin praying for the “discerning of spirits.” The scripture in 2nd Corinthians 10:5 teaches us, “casting down arguments and every high that exalts itself against the knowledge of God.” Each city has a mark of God and sovereign purpose and a redemptive gift. Many institutions develop a creative nature, personality, and businesses identity. Your organization can tap into this anointing. One example of a city that gave so much hope to its citizens was New York City. Billions of people sought its shores for the dreams of wealth, power and liberty. However, now we know that is a city that never sleeps and has been overtaken by negative influences. Nevertheless, the questions to ask are what is God’s plan for your city? Secondly, pray how you can reach your customer base for the Lord Jesus Christ? Remember our Lord purchased us for a price, brought us back into the shop for repair, fixes us and ships us back out to do a work—in this case to set the captives free from the darkness.
Organizational Leaders, it’s time to use strategic innovative thinking, disrupt your daily operations and take actions towards a whole new industry. A compelling new organizational vision to win souls for Jesus Christ through the products or services you provide in the very cities we live and work in that need your authority.