2011 Goal #11: Implement Metrics

We've always been interested in how to measure success. We spend a ton of time and a ton of energy doing what we do, we want to make sure its making a difference. Without measuring what we're doing how can we know we're making a difference? Some metrics that we might implement this year are: baptisms, small groups, church attendance, event attendance, houses built, families in the process for a house, etc....

Another thing this effects is moving forward. All new programs or initiatives will be extremely measurable and trackable.

If we believe this story is true (we do) then we don't have any choice but to track and make sure we're doing the most with what we have.

2011 Goal #6: Increase Volunteer Hours to 200

One Mission believes that impoverished communities around the world need to see themselves as active participants, not passive recipients of the change necessary to improve their conditions.

In Rocky Point we build around 50-60 houses per year. Every person who applies to receive a home through One Mission has to volunteer a certain amount of hours in their community. This is to make sure they actually want their community to get better.

Previously the requirement was 45 hours. Usually the applicant would help out by helping build a few of his neighbors houses. We've partnered with five organizations: two schools, one church, one retirement center, and one government organization. Now every house applicant is responsible to go to at least one of these organizations and help out.

The requirement is officially 200 hours of volunteer community service. This accomplishes a few things:

1) a lot more is being done in the community

2) people begin to understand the importance of volunteerism

3) people understand that it is up to them to earn their house

3a) its no longer just luck or connections - its fair and its their responsibility.

4) other things that we'll blog about in a few months

And as always, they are still encouraged to help build their neighbors home. Its so important that goals get accomplished using as many local resources as possible.

2011 Goal #4: CHE Vision Seminar

What is CHE? Technically it stands for Community Health Evangelism. Operationally it is a whole lot more.

Its a method of community development that is started, owned, and sustained locally. From their website:

Community Health Evangelism (CHE) seamlessly integrates evangelism and discipleship with disease prevention and community based development. The work is wholistic, seeking to meet the whole need of individuals and communities through complete obedience to everything Jesus commanded. Read more about CHE at this link.

Now onto the actual goal: Host a vision seminar with 20-30 participants.

What is a vision seminar? Its a two day event, hosted by One Mission led by a CHE representative. This event explains the vision, the purpose, and some of the methods behind the CHE program.

Who attends? Because we're in a unique location with multiple American based NGO's and a plethora of local church leaders we are going to be hosting an English and Spanish vision seminar. Pastors, organization leaders, lay leaders, teachers, even government officials can and should attend the vision seminar. We haven't sent out the actual invites yet so we're keeping the roster under wraps until they've had a chance to confirm their attendance:)

What happens next? Thats the beauty of it. After the vision seminar some people naturally want to do it and the others don't. Its the people that believe in the vision that take the next step. The beauty behind this whole concept is that it is owned by locals and we (as an American NGO) get to support in whatever way we possibly can.

Stay tuned for our next post: Increasing the volunteer hours required to receive a home from 45 to 200!

2011 in the Barrios

We are a goal oriented bunch of people here at One Mission in Rocky Point. We set goals for everything. Last month one of our goals was to set 15 goals for the next six months!

I won't share all the boring details with you but here are three of the goals we're really excited about:

1) CHE vision seminar complete with 20-30 participants.

2) Volunteer hours required for a house to increase to 200 from 45.

3) Implement metrics (home visits, leaders being trained, hours served, etc...)

Over the next few posts we'll be unpacking these goals a little bit. Stay tuned: next post is all about CHE! What is CHE? What is a vision seminar? Who will be there?

On a separate note, thank you for reading this blog. We couldn't do anything at all without people like you supporting us and encouraging us along the way. THANK YOU!