Structure-Support-Challenge

A Paradigm for Learning and Growth

Structure-Support-Challenge is a paradigm to which I was introduced by Donald Guthrie at the Intersect Forum, an initiative of the Lilly Endowment exploring the convergence of challenges in business and ecclesiastical leadership.

Structure, Support and Challenge are domains that exist in tension with each other. Learning and growth occur when the tension is equal. But when the tension is unequal some form of struggle will result. For example if challenge is very high, as it is in ministry, but support and structure are low…over time the burden of the challenge will become destructive if it isn’t addressed. The S-S-C framework is an excellent diagnostic that can help avoid that outcome. Here’s a link to a more complete overview of the S-S-C Paradigm.

For a biblical example, look at what John says in his third little epistle:

  Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are, who testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God. For they have gone out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth. (3 John 1:5–8 ESVi)

There it is right on the face of the text. A mobile mission team has received the blessing of “a faithful thing” done by Gaius. John then uses what is a tag line for us: “send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God.” That is, give them whatever form of provisions they need. He ends that section saying that we should support such people. No doubt he includes material support, but support implies this lovely concept:

to take up, by placing one’s self underneath what is taken up

We hope you have such people in your life. Our hope and aim is that every Pastor, Pastoral Couple, and Christian Leader would have access to that kind of support and help with creating good structure in the midst of the high challenge of ministry in our world today.