http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474979698288...

Kevin, that’s a good point about love. Brogan and Chris don’t talk much about love in Trust Agents, but just about everything I’ve read so far looks an awful lot like love. Treating people like people instead of numbers, putting the interests of your tribe/followers ahead of your own interests, doing good things for others without the expectation that they’re do anything in return, helping those with less influence.

Susan, I agree that it’s too easy to get hung up on numbers. IMO, it’s better to have a small tribe that’s totally passionate for the vision of the group than a big tribe of luke-warm associates. It’s the zealots that will stick with you and do whatever it takes.

I’m working on my Tribe of Christian whose families are dealing and suffering with mental illness. This is a tough Tribe to gather together because of stigma in the general community, and particularly in the Christian community (that bug-a-boo of love again).

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, not just from this book, but from being there is the other person matters more than me. Yes, I’d like a larger Tribe. But if my Tribe remains at ten or twelve and we all help each other, that’s fine too.

I think what is the foundation of both what Trust Agents is describing and the success of the Stuff Christians Like community building a school in Vietnam is actually our call by Christ to be a community of believers that loves one another.

Jon Acuff strives to humbly and respectfully love others and his readers (which isn’t always easy especially in the context of a satire blog). The reward of this investment in love is a committed community and the right to ask for their help. The result of which is that enough money was raised to build a kindergarten in 18 hours. Amazing.

The reason I’m making a point of emphasizing that love is a precondition is that a lot of blogs (even “Christian” blogs) have built up a following but haven’t made love primary. And I doubt that those communities could channel the same enthusiasm, commitment, and power to do what Jon and the SCL community did.

I am still building an online tribe, but this chapter (as well as Seth Godin’s book that you mentioned) are extremely inspiring to me. Another blogging buddy (www.tylerstanton.com), myself and a mutual friend are going to do a project this summer that we hope will raise awareness for some people who need it, and we are hoping that our online army can help out.

BTW, the Stuff Christians Like thing was amazing.