Navigating a Changing World By Aaron Abramson 

Changing the World Through Design Thinking

In a rapidly changing world, ministry innovation begins where Jesus began: with people.

I was stuck. At the time, I was leading our ministry team in New York when our tried-and-true methods of evangelism suddenly felt out of step with where culture was going. What had once connected deeply was no longer resonating. We were praying for a breakthrough and faithfully doing the work, but the response was clearly diminished. Something needed to change, but I had no idea where to start.

Seeking Solutions

Conversations with mentors confirmed the problem but not a solution. Many of them were wrestling with the same challenges: people’s habits, expectations, and ways of engaging were shifting faster than ever before. The world was changing, and the pace of that change was accelerating.

Desperate to move our ministry forward, I began studying leadership, innovation, and organizational change. I soon discovered I wasn’t alone. Leaders from nonprofits, churches, and major corporations alike were all trying to figure out how to adapt to a rapidly transforming world. It was during this search that I encountered a framework that would reshape how I thought about innovation in ministry: Design Thinking.

Design Thinking

Design Thinking is a problem-solving approach that begins not with programs or projects, but with people. It starts by seeking to understand those we are trying to reach, their needs, motivations, and barriers. From there, we explore ideas, test small prototypes, and refine our approaches based on what we learn. Rather than assuming what will work, we listen, experiment, and adapt along the way.

When I first encountered this approach, it struck me how closely it mirrors the ministry of Jesus. His focus was always on people, their stories, struggles, and hopes. He met Nicodemus in the quiet of the night, Zacchaeus in a tree, and the woman at the well in her shame. He listened, asked questions, and met each person right where they were. The gospel itself is deeply personal, and the Great Commission calls us to carry that same people-centered focus into the world.

Inspiring Gospel Curiosity

Design Thinking helped our team recover that sense of gospel curiosity. We started by getting to know our key audiences, listening to them, and understanding their needs, dreams, and challenges. Then, we sought to create spaces and host events that spoke directly to those needs. We embraced virtues in people that complemented the gospel and gently challenged those that did not. In every encounter, we met people where they were, just as God had met us. This Design Thinking approach has led to genuine relationships and opened doors for gospel transformation, showing that ministry innovation and faithfulness can go hand in hand.

Staying on Mission

We live in a time marked by volatility and rapid change. As ministry leaders, we face cultural shifts, technological advances, and unprecedented access to information that can render old methods obsolete quickly. Despite these changes, the mission of the church remains the same: to make disciples of all nations. Following Jesus’ example, we are called to hold firm to that message while creatively adapting our methods to meet people where they are.

People First!

When we begin with people, when we stay curious, and follow the example of Jesus, we can navigate change faithfully and keep the gospel moving forward in a rapidly changing world. Ministry innovation does not replace prayer, discernment, or Scripture. It complements them by helping us see God’s opportunities more clearly and respond with creativity, courage, and love.

Aaron Abramson is CEO of Jews for Jesus and author of Mission Design: Leading Your Ministry Through Organizational and Cultural Change. Raised in a Jewish family in Seattle and later in Israel, he came to faith in Jesus after a life-changing encounter with the New Testament. Aaron holds a BA in Biblical and Intercultural Studies from All Nations Christian College (England) and an MPA from New York University. He and his wife, Victoria, live in London with their three children.

Want to read more from Aaron Abramson?

There are more lessons to learn about how to ensure your ministries are ready for the ever-changing world we serve.

In Mission Design: Leading Your Ministry Through Organizational and Cultural Change, Aaron Abramson provides a step-by-step approach to help pastors, church planters, nonprofit leaders, and mission entrepreneurs adapt and innovate ministries to reach the shifting world around us.