What Pastors and Church Planters can Learn from Obama’s Campaign

Yesterday's election was certainly historical in many ways.  When I listened to President Elect Obama I knew why he won.  He inspired hope in people.  When you go back and think about his campaign there are a lot of things we as Church Planters/Pastors can learn from what he did.

• Vision is boss!  Obama NEVER strayed from his message of "Change"  He had a vision that he summed up in a word that became the Mantra for his campaign – and everyone knew what he stood for and what he wanted to accomplish.  Even John McCain got it and ended up borrowing the idea.
• Inspire people!  There are a LOT of things wrong in America.  Every time I heard Obama he was insirping and could even take something negative and spin it in a positive way – and go back to his vision.  People know there is something wrong with them usually.  Hell fire and brimstone preaching is not always the right answer.  Tell me what I can be through Christ – not what's wrong with me.  If you have to tell me what's wrong with me  – at least give me hope that it can be fixed.
• Enlist people in your vision!  Obama did not win this election because he was a great orator.  He's good – not great.  He enlisted the help of ordniary people.  He asked for $5.00, $10.00, $20.00 – he got volunteers out knocking doors – he had students and seniors staffing campaign offices – he went to those who were disconnected and felt marginalized and engaged them in the process.
• Raise money!  Obama spent a TON of money.  Anyone who has a vision has to fund that vision.  The bigger the vision – the more money it will take.  Church planters shy away from money conversations because they are afraid it will turn people off.  People give to vision so have a vision and ask people to fund it.
• Embrace technology and look for new ways to engage people.  There was an Obama channel on my Dish Network.  Obama was everywhere – Facebook, Myspace, Twitter.  Obama understood that he had to reach younger voters too.  Part of his initial strategy was engaging them with new media and web 2.0.  This wasnt just something cool he added because everyone was doing it.  It was there from the beginning and a deliberate part of the strategy.  Just because your church has a webpage doesn't mean you are going connect with the next generation.   What technologies are you trying to leverage for the sake of the gospel? 

These are just a few of the things I see.  What else can we learn from Obama's campaign that will help us give people REAL Change that comes from Jesus Christ?