I feel that most of my job is taking that which I see in society and "translating" that into Christian principles. Take this blog for example. Most of what I post on here has absolutely nothing to do with Jesus. Yet, it is my goal, that at least 80% of what I write eventually gets back to Jesus in the end. But today's post is an easy one. Why? Because Microsoft gets ministry better than most churches.

Now I should state for the record that I hate Microsoft. I am an Mac-man when it comes to operating systems; I am a Google-man when it comes to web-based applications; I am a Firefox-man when it comes to web browsers. Understand that what I am about to say almost kills me to say it. So while I don't think Microsoft knows what they are doing when it comes to computers, I do think they know what they are doing when it comes to ministry; which is probably why even though they don't know what they are doing with computers they are still incredibly successful. But I digress.

This is a quote from a recent CNN article:

In technology, 'evangelism'...is the process of reaching out to independent developers and persuading them to use that company's products as a platform upon which to write software programs..."Evangelism is a significant part of Microsoft's success..." says Greg DeMichillie, a senior analyst at research firm Directions on Microsoft.

Bingo! Microsoft knows that if they are to survive and fulfill their mission statement, evangelism has to be at the center of what they do. It is not enough to simply just keep the status quo and make their existing customers happy. They have to pursue those who aren't already apart of their organization and convert them to be full-fledged followers.

The church sucks at this. Most churches I come in contact with are more concerned about appeasing those that have already been in their "club" for years, than they are about pursuing those who would never step foot inside a church. Ultimately it is why the North American church is failing at its mission to go out into the world and make disciples, while Microsoft continues to succeed at its mission to bring in billions of dollars a year by providing horrendous computer applications.

America is better at making Microsoft followers than they are at Jesus-followers. In the end, this means that Microsoft is getting what the church should be deeply concerned about: people.