What if Starbucks wrote your mission statement

A couple weeks ago I was speaking to a group of missional city leaders in Oklahoma City and said that I wanted to read our vision for city transformation and began to read.

Our mission: to inspire and nurture the human spirit – to bring about a thriving city – one person, one family and one neighborhood at a time.

Here are the principles of how we live that every day

Our Outcome

It has always been and will always be, about changed lives. We’re passionate about improving the lives of every person in our city. We care deeply about every person; our work is never done.

Our Partners

All of our participating churches, nonprofits, businesses, schools, and anyone else that wants to help our community thrive are called “partners,” because it’s not just a job, it’s our passion. Together, we embrace diversity to create a place where each of us can be ourselves and bring our unique strengths to the table. We always treat each other with respect and dignity. And we hold each other to that standard.

Our City

When we are fully engaged, we connect with, laugh with, and uplift the lives of those in our city– even if just for a few moments. Sure, it starts with the promise of a helping others, but our work goes far beyond that. It’s really about human connection.

Our Churches

When our visitors feel this sense of belonging, our churches become a haven, a break from the worries outside, a place where you can meet with friends. It’s about enjoyment at the speed of life – sometimes slow and savored, sometimes faster. Always full of humanity…always filled with Christ’s presence.

Our Neighborhood

Every church is part of a community, and we take our responsibility to be good neighbors seriously. We want to be wanted wherever we are. We can be a force for positive action – bringing together the people of our community to contribute every day to help create a flourishing city. Now we see that our responsibility – and our potential for good – is even larger. We would hope that the world is looking to the Church to set the new standard, yet again. We will lead. We will love.

Our Investors

We know that as we deliver in each of these areas, we enjoy the kind of success that creates satisfying rewards for our financial investors. We are fully accountable to get each of these elements right so that we – and everyone we touch – can endure and thrive.

I got head nodding and light applause. But the truth is, this is actually Starbuck’s mission statement with around 40 or so word changes. It’s all about the community…not about them.

We can do better can’t we?