The YMCA Story
- After Mission Drift was published, an executive at the YMCA reached out.
- During a renovation, he discovered a time capsule behind a wall with two copies of the YMCA’s original charter.
- Reading it, he realised the current work was only a shell of its original Christian mission.
- This led to the creation of the “C Project” – an initiative to bring Christ back into the YMCA’s mission.
Lessons from the Time Capsule
- Leaders 50 years earlier had the foresight to record and preserve the original mission.
- This written legacy provided clarity and conviction for future generations.
Application for Organisations Today
- Ask: What would we want in our own “time capsule”?
- What do we hope remains true about our organisation long-term?
- What must always be central to our identity and mission?
- Staying mission true requires:
- Long-term vision → clarity about what must remain unchanged.
- Day-to-day decisions → aligning current practices with that vision.
- Success = linking long-term mission with daily choices.