If you’ve interacted with those of us at Wilberforce Academy at all you’ve probably bumped into this idea of a five-part model for social change. But what exactly is that model? Where does it come from?
The model was developed by Executive Director Dr. Robert Osburn and comes straight from the pages of scripture. It undergirds all that we teach in raising up redemptive change agents, and we often apply it to discussions of specific situations around the world that desperately need change. (A recent example from Dr. Osburn’s discussion on Venezuela and Zimbabwe can be found here.)
So, in brief, the model is as follows:
1. Discipled Followers of Christ: Mobilizable Mass Movement⠀
This means that churches prioritize disciple-making, just as Jesus taught us (Matt 28:19-20).⠀
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2. Church as Model Nation: Believable Model ⠀
To make a Christian vision for society believable, the church has to model the ideal society (Eph. 3:10).⠀
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3. Christian Worldview: Education for a New Mentality⠀
Of course, we have to be educating people in light of a Christian worldview, that is, a way of seeing reality through the eyes of and with the mind of Christ (Philippians 2:5-8).⠀
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4. High-Performing Network: Effective Leadership to Change Cultural Consensus⠀
It’s incredibly important to have an intentional network of Christian leaders, across sectors, who intentionally champion a Christian vision for change (.e.g, The Clapham community that surrounded Wilberforce).⠀
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5. Virtuous and Sacrificial Leader: Authentic Spokesperson⠀
Last of all, a sacrificial, virtuous leader becomes the face of the movement! (think Jesus).
Ultimately, this framework is a tool for helping our mentee community think about how they personally are working to effect change in their cultural context.