An “article” on archaeology noted the recent discovery of the following text exchange from circa 33 A.D:
SID: Peter, I’m glad you’ve asked Miracle Consulting Company for our input on the launch of your new product line. I have to catch the 5:05 caravan to Jericho, so let’s just knock around the bare bones of your plan.
PETER: Fine by me, but it isn’t a new product line. We just want to tell others about the good news of Jesus Christ.
SID: Check. What would be your mission statement?
PETER: To go & make disciples of all nations, to baptize them in the name of God, to teach them to obey everything Jesus taught us.
SID: All nations? Even Samaria?
PETER: Yes. Man-made borders & divisions can’t limit God’s love.
SID: Sounds ambitious! What are you looking at for your media buys?
PETER: We are planning on just using “word of mouth” as our advertising plan.
SID: Really? For an international launch? O-k-a-y. Tell me about your staff: education levels, experience, status in the community, international backgrounds, language skills, whatever you got.
PETER: We have 11 dedicated staff members. Education is probably considered lacking, very little formal schooling. Status is minimal. They aren’t well known in their communities. No international experience. Language background is very sketchy. They are mostly from the Galilee area & haven’t traveled much.
SID: For such an aggressive push, their credentials are a tad ordinary. Hang on I’m going through security.
SID: Okay, I’m back. Tell me about your support budget: backroom staff, expense accounts, employee benefit plans, commission/bonus budgets, the works!
PETER: We have no budget. The 11 of us will simply go & tell others about Christ & get by as best as we can. We have no expense budgets. While we will enjoy the Fruits of the Spirit, no formal benefit plan. We aren’t on commission, but we know our reward awaits us in heaven.
SID: Wow! You & your team must really be dedicated! Listen Peter they are about to pull away the stairs from my donkey so I’ll probably get cut off. Here’s my quick take: Are you a praying man, Peter?
PETER: Definitely.
SID: Then here’s what you do: pray to God for His help. Without Him, there is NO way this is going to work. I know you are impulsive, but you can’t really expect to get your message out with this rag-tag operation & shoestring budget. I’d limit your push to the Galilee area, set quotas of 10 believers/month & then maybe set up a satellite campus in Nazareth. With any luck, in a couple of thousand years you might be able to create a small market niche in Northern Israel.
PETER: Thanks for your input. I think we’ll follow our original plan. With God, nothing is impossible.
SID: I hear you. Thanks for using Miracle Consulting Company. As our slogan states, “If you like our advice, it’s a miracle!” Let’s do lunch next week. [SID has signed off.]
Darren Lippe co-leads the “Loving God” Learning Community at The Church of the Resurrection.
