Seek First

(stay true to your mission...it is after all why you exist)

Neil Nicoll, the newly appointed CEO of Y-USA, gave one of his first talks at a Chief Financial Officer Conference in May. As he spoke about youth work and philanthropy one point really hit home, “Make sure you are doing something worth giving to.” If the work we do as YMCA staff and volunteers is impacting lives and improving the quality of our communities, finding the money to support that work should be the least of our worries. It even applies to those working outside the charitable sector, as any organization that stays true to its mission and core strengths is more likely to be successful!

There is a Biblical parallel. In Matthew Chapter 6; Jesus tells the crowds to stop worrying about what they will eat, or what they will wear. Rather he says “seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well.”

So it seems that keeping God first in our work, in our families and in our interpersonal relationships should be our focus. If we have the ability to influence an organization or operating unit of one, we should have the same focus. At the YMCA staying true to our stated mission “to put Christian principles into practice through programs that build health spirit, mind and body for all” should take primacy over just chasing dollars.

Seek first the mission.

Thanks for all you do.

Brian

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