The Monkey and the Fish: Liquid Leadership for a Third-Culture Church

by Dave Gibbons

Our world is marked by unprecedented degrees of multiculturalism, ethnic diversity, social shifts, international collaboration, and technology-driven changes. The changes are profound, especially when you consider the unchecked decline in the influence, size, and social standing of the church. There is an undercurrent of anxiety in the evangelical world, and a hunger for something new. And we’re sensing the urgency of it.We need fresh, creative counterintuitive ways of doing ministry and church and leading it in the 21st century. We need to adapt. Fast. Both in our practices and our thinking. The aim of this book is When we understand the powerful forces at work in the world today, we’ll learn how something called The Third Culture can yield perhaps the most critical missing ingredient in the church today―adaptability―and help the church remain on the best side of history. A Third Culture Church and a Third Culture Leader looks at our new global village and the church’s role in that village in a revolutionary way. It’s a way to reconnect with the historical roots of what Jesus envisioned the church could be―a people known for a brand of love, unity, goodness, and extravagant spirit that defies all conventions. This book is part of the successful Leadership Innovation Series.

Genres: Leadership, Christian, Nonfiction, Church, Christianity, Cultural, Spirituality

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Phil Whittall · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Monkey & the Fish is part of Leadership Network's innovation series and I'm really not sure what to make of it. The subtitle is Liquid Leadership for a third culture church and I have to confess even after reading it I'm not entirely sure what that means.

On the back cover it pronounces this to be a book that is a mandate for change and a manifesto for how and I have to say I'm not sure it's either of those things.

Dave Gibbons is another American mega-church pastor, this time of Newsong which has a site in London and several other nations so this shouldn't be a book simply for 'over there.'

Let me explain third-culture. If I was born in Britain, that's my first culture. Then I go and live and in Sweden and raise children there. Sweden is the second culture. Noah then grows up with some Britain and some Sweden, he can live in both and create a new culture, that's third culture. So as they say on the website it is, "having the mindset and the will to love, learn, and serve in any culture, even in the midst of pain and discomfort." Apparently God is third culture, which is a bit daft really. God is love, his 'culture' is love and so of course he can love anyone, anywhere at anytime. That makes Him God not third culture. Anyway.

In essence it seems this book is about creating leaders and churches that really, actually and truly love people then it would really change the world. Now I'm not sure what churches they have in America but come on now, that should be in church leadership 101. Love God, love people. I mean, that is what Jesus said right?

To be fair though it does seem that he is practising what he preaches and engages with the poor, realises that a having a big church isn't IT (although it does help in getting your book published), realises and affirms the importance of the world of business in mission and the importance of multi-generational ethnically diverse leadership and the importance of community in a global fragmented world.

On the whole the illustrations were average and there isn't a lot of theology or scripture here although there are some good ideas and some good examples from their story. It's kind of a strange love child of emerging church and mega church. So you could read it and if you're a church leader you might find it interesting if you're thinking of reinventing the wheel.

[Jessie T · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is accessible and easy to read, however it is misleading. When the author talks about Third-Culture, he is not using the common definition from sociologists (which he does state in the book). I discovered in the book that he is Asian American, which would've been a good subject to explore given the title of the book. However, this book is encouraging and inspiring for those who are thinking about 'doing church' in new ways - it is probably most beneficial from those who are moving away from a mega church model to smaller forms of ministry which is more focused on really loving community across difference.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

the first thing about a non-fiction book, how many of the people reccommending it are mentioned between the covers 8 of the 24 people supplying blurbs. two thirds of the people saying to buy the book in the blurbs aren't mentioned, that's an incredibly high number of people liking it for the content. v.good sign.

some positives:
the simple defn of third culture. p20,38

the Bible comes full circle. "What begins in Genesis w/a call for God's people to be a blessing to all nations ends dramatically in Revalation 7, where "all nations and tribes, all races and languages" are gathered together worshipping God." p49

"The genius of leaders like Hybels and Warren is their ability to design new clothes that fit their contexts. Each generation of leaders is called to do the same...We wear these clothes, even though they don't fit, because we really don't know any other set of clothes to wear." p58

..."Moses, like us, is focused more on what he doesn't have than on what he actually has." (when called to lead his people out of Egypt) p121 that is us. all we have is God and what He's given us. but i need MORE.

"In the case of artists, businesspersons, and community-development specialists, we need to help them understand how their gifting, skills, and passion can be of unprecedented service to God's activity in the world today." p140 !!!

p146,147 has a beautiful, and long, quote by RFK that's well worth reading.

"Strange travel suggestions are dancing lessons from God." p149

"And even today in the church, we are reading all the business books because we are trying to be so cool, when actually we should be the ones teaching them about leadership, right?" Dave Brubaker p158 sorry to get polical in this review, but isn't that part of what the election was about two weeks ago? our choices were either a sucessful business man or a succesful community organizer.

look at the world through Genesis 1 eyes - "God created the world and it was good - vs. Genesis 3 eyes, everything is cursed. p162

"I asked, What are you doing to bring these other people to Christ?" "It's not my job to bring them to Christ. It's His job. ...my job is to live the love of Jesus Christ that brought me to Him in their presence. They have to voluntarily accept or reject Christ, but i have got to live it out." p166

"Understand that Jesus is already there. We're not bringing Jesus to them." p197 !!!

"Recognize that what is offensive to much of the world is Christianity, especially cultural Christianity, and not Jesus Himself. Jesus is pretty irresistible to most people around the world and, in almost every case, is intriguing in the most positive way." p198

"...letting local people lead in this kind of church planting. You have to believe the locals know more than you. This is not always easy for an outsider from a powerful corporation or nation or church to believe." p211

"Big isn't bad, but it's overrated." p216


some questions:
"...the collective threats posed worldwide by terrorism, pandemics, rogue military leaders, political and social corruption... etc" p35, is this anything new? every generation has this.

"Why are Christian missionaries here in the first place? Why create a church in this land if they're not reaching out to the people?" p62 because that is their calling? because you are using a different defn of success than God is?


"Here's the reality: if we really want to see our churches grow in the way Jesus would want us to grow, if we really eant to see Christ revealed in our communities and through our lives and in this global world of ours, then we must focus on people who make us feel uncomfortable, who don't fit into our thinking and our conventions, who are marginalized and even considered misfits and outsiders." p79 i'm one of those misfits and outsiders- how many Christians really fit into the Cool Kids group anyway?- the people who don't fit into my way of thinking are the people in uniforms and the people w/titles, the insiders. making outsiders the target of your witnessing is kinda offensive, i've had people who don't know me come up and try to convince me -even ME! the longhaired guy w/the murse Jesus loves me man. condescending stinks. We need to get comfortable w/the other. look at a type you don't like (for me thats a cop or somebody w/an NRA sticker on their car) and pray for the person and type over and over and over, amazing that you'll start to see the other as individuals then talking to them is just talking to a slightly more weird version of ourselves. and it isn't condescending. afraid of homeless people, they make you uncomfortable? ask if they heard who one yesterdays game, libraries are open warm dry and have newspapers many homeless like being there and they read the papers. the scary looking Homeless person isn't scary if he likes the hometeam and can bitch about mets/yankees/dodgers.

"The Father's love is best reflected - and is most irrestible and potent - when we love those unattractive to us." p79 just don't hold your nose. we become unattractive when we love icky people because they're icky and they know we think that.

[Armando Sosa · Rating 3 out of 5]

it's ok.

[Nichole Windsor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very thoughtful book that pushed my views. I will be thinking about these ideas and how I can implement in my life.

[Tim Peterson · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book doesn’t really add anything to the conversation about how churches should be reaching people in today’s day and age.

[Marco Ambriz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Third Culture Leadership is what will forge the way for future churches and organizations that want to succeed in an increasing globalized world. This book had some great insights into this concept. It has inspired me to think of language that is needed for leadership and also to try to work at identifying third culture leaders when I may have once overlooked them.

[Merv Budd · Rating 3 out of 5]

In an increasingly growing multi-ethnic culture, learning to contextualize the Gospel, the nature of the church and the role of leadership is a primary mandate for those who want to remain relevant, effective and faithful to teachings of Christ. Dave Gibbons helps to begin the conversation in navigating the “third culture” of ethnic diversity that is an increasing trend around the world. A mix of theology, experience, common sense with humility makes this book easy to read, practical and thought provoking. It is not primarily a “how to” but is certainly convincing as a “have to”. Churches and church leaders that refuse to grapple with the trans-ethnic shifts taking place will increasingly find themselves not simply irrelevant and irresponsible, they will have missed out on the beauty, creativity and diversity that God is creating in His church.

[Brett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rather than celebrating the diversity of God’s created order, the American church has become a source of cultural hegemony and – at times – bigotry. Gibbons is calling for a third-culture church – a church culture that seeks out and celebrates the diversity of cultures. This, the author argues, is at the heart of Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan: loving one’s neighbor doesn’t refer to geographic proximity, but loving those who are different from one’s self. A third-culture church, therefore, demands liquid leadership – leadership which is characterized by its fluidity, adaptability, and willingness to learn from a variety of sources and cultures. While Gibbons’ big idea is solid, his illustrations and applications fell short of inspiring or motivating this reader. B-

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strong book from an exceptional leader. Dave Gibbons leads a great church in Irvine, which has started churches in Southern California, Dallas, London, Mexico City, and Bangkok. This book gives a picture of his philosophy of ministry and many of his best practices. My best take away is Dave's three questions he asks himself in ministry: Where is Nazareth? (trans.: who are the overlooked and despised God would send me to?) Where is my pain? (Minister out of the deep spots where God has met me) and What is in my hand? (a question God asked of Moses - trans.: what has God given me to use in this situation?). Highly recommended!

[Brent MacDonald · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I love about Dave Gibbons is that he is not afraid to do what is unconventional or even inadvisable (by most standards) in order to be obedient to his divine calling. Third culture ministry is difficult to explain, and perhaps more difficult to live, but Gibbons does this well. Not about building bigger shoeboxes for ourselves to live in, the gospel is all about connecting people (within their own culture) to a God who loves them and created them for relationship with him.

[Brent · Rating 4 out of 5]

• I attended a seminar at the Willow Creek Groups Conference last fall led by the author. Gibbons challenges churches to reinvent themselves as 3rd Culture churches. That is, churches that embrace the emerging, multi-cultural world we now live in. The second to last chapter, Becoming Third Culture, provides a good summary and some practical next steps. A good book for casting vision for a team.

[Minnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Our job is not to change the culture of people but to love them where they are. Let the Holy Spirit change them or point out where their culture comes in conflict with Christ. So many times we focus on forms and rules and miss out on loving people. I can maintain my convictions and core beliefs without manipulating or forcing people to maturity."

[Juan Carlos · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is indeed a liquid gospel and church to deliver it. The book posed a significant time demostrating the existence of third culture. Intercultural studies proved it more than a decade ago. His contribution as a fomer purpose driven pastor is to encourage fellow pastor to be culturally sensitive an get out of the melting pot process to experience the deep lesson of the good samaritan

[David Zimmerman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm pretty sure Dave Gibbons could do better than this. He's a sharp guy and a good critical observer of church life and mission. The best part of this book is the chapter on asking questions rather than giving answers. The rest of the book is a little thin. I would have liked Gibbons to drill down deeper; he probably could have if he had cut himself free of the jargon.

[Richard Nguyen · Rating 4 out of 5]

great book that explores an important theme of the practice of contextualisation for the people of God. lending from a popular narrative of the monkey and the fish , Kingdom practitioners are faced with the questions of what are the timeless prescriptive/beliefs of the faith and what are the essential values of the faith that needs to be adapted for a world that is constantly changing.

[Kathy Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

excellent book! Looks at the roll of the church and questions previous held models. It suggests that celebrating cultural differences aught not to move a church away from God, but rather, align more with God by living the message of The Good Samaritan.

[Derek · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book and is great to read from a person that doesn't even know a box exists when thinking about church. It stretches you, pulls you, rearranges you and you have fun as you do it. Great book

[Steve Robbins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great book. I think it challenged me to look at ministry and leadership differently. I do recommend this book to Pastors.

[Aileen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Expanded my horizons about 3rd culture

[Donny · Rating 3 out of 5]

How did I read the entire book and miss any references to Monkeys or Fish?

[Zeke · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very disappointing! Other than the great title there is little in here.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is so important to engage the third culture, not make them assimilate.