A colleague of mine recently forwarded information that addresses a plan for churches to be prepared when the unthinkable happens.

Check it out at Brotherhood Mutual.

Last week I attended a Sunday School Conference at Glorieta led by LifeWay staff.  Ed Stetzer challenged us to wrap our minds around growth (or the lack thereof) in evangelical churches today, all the while encouraging us to press in to what we know is true, the need develop small groups that equip, encourage, and send believers into a world that desperately needs Jesus Christ.  Ed reminded us of the simple, but powerful work of small groups, accountability with one another to love and good deeds!

To further equip, the leaders pointed us to a ministry of balance in our small groups using the Connect, Grow, Serve, Go model.  Check out the the handouts and the informative webcourse.

Have you been refreshed in mind, body, and spirit lately?  Find a great conference at a great location and go!

These are the kinds of issues that Marcus Buckingham raises in his book The One Thing You Need to Know…

This clear read quickly defines some important distinctions in leading and managing, and he gives advice that is easy to digest and implement.   

As I read the book there were some aha moments, some confirmations, and definitely areas to address and stretch.  

What are you reading to help you lead?

So what will they take with them?

Yes, interns are here to learn.  Thank the Lord for the ministers who took me under their wing to literally watch them work.  I have been shaped greatly by those early encounters in ministry.  So some things come by watching, some by doing, and some by a combo, literally trial and error at times.

Yet, make sure that you have some way of closing the loop. In other words, without being too heavy, how about an exit interview.  Instead of hoping they “caught” some things, actually say them.  Instead of wondering about how things went or what could have helped or been better, ask.

Try prompters like:

1. What has God taught you this summer about your call and gifting?

2. What stretched you the most?

3. What do you wish you could have experienced and did not get to?

4. If you were planning an intern experience/track for the future, what would you make a part of the training?

5. Because of this experience, you know you need to learn more about…

6. What could I do as a Minister/Leader to better equip interns?

A critical issue here is, do you really think about your message?  I know that sounds simple, but do you think about your message/lesson and how it is coming across?  Is it understandable?  Applicable?  While not the only book on speaking, and not the only way of speaking/preaching, a read like this at least helps me pull out of some deep groves I may be stuck in.

Recently, I tagged on the end of the semester a coffee talk forum for adults with one week discussion topics led by experts in their fields.  One was on the post-modern culture, and another was a discussion about another world religion.  Both of these stand alone classes were very well received, as was the coffee, tea, and snacks!

Now that I have primed the pumped on this style of class, I am looking forward to an expanded version in the upcoming semester with possible one week topics of:

End-time prophecy

The Temple/Tabernacle

Feasts of the Old Testament

Debunking ancient “finds”

World Religions

Take time to poll the church and find issues that are pressing or of interest.  Also, use your pool of church leaders/experts where you are to discuss the topics that would be a blessing for many. 

Let me know anything like this you may have tried, and as always, have fun!

 Christian Worker’s Handbook

 Please let me know if you have come across anything similar that could be of benefit.

 God bless you as you serve Him when times are smooth, and in crisis.

1.  Prayer walk-activate your members by thinking about reaching their own neighborhoods.  This seems simple but isn’t it the case that we often minister elsewhere than our own neighborhoods.  Walk, pray, on your own block.  I am not saying we do not minister elsewhere, but certainly make sure you have impacted your neighborhood.

2.  Action-use doorhangers.  Oklahoma Baptists are working again to touch every home in Oklahoma with information about local churches and a clear presentation of the Gospel through ACROSS Oklahoma.  So now that your group has prayer-walked, head back out with information, and opportunities to engage others with the Gospel. 

Most of all, go for it.  Whatever you do, do something.  If there are complainers about what will or won’t work, or just general apathy or laziness, rally the troups, get activated, get creative, and get out there.  People need to know your church is active and there for them!

This month we will be sending out special invitations to our community for a Grand Opening of new facilities at our church.  We are so blessed by these buildings, but these buildings are for the community!  We want them here, and to hear about Jesus Christ.

Let me know if you would like more information on this particular resource, or how we have used them for other projects in the past.

God bless you as you reach the lost in your community!

Why?

1.  When you are asked to lead somewhere, they don’t just need a warm body, or someone to read through reports, but someone to execute.  Make decisions, give advice, comment, dream, plan, promote, inspire, share wisdom, agree, disagree.  You get to add value to something not connected to you per se (your dream, job, vocation).  Look for opportunities to serve.

2.  This is a forum to stretch your strengths and weaknesses.  Folks on boards and committees may not see you as the normal coworker, boss, or role you may have slipped into at your workplace.  It could reveal a need to dust off how to connect with folks again, how to listen well, and how to be alert to group dynamics.  Serve well, think and work hard, and then take your fresh self back to your own job/staff meeting.

3.  Glean insights of good processes within the board.  Perhaps you realize some steps to agendas that would be of benefit where you work, or perhaps the opposite, you realize how not to do meetings.  Either way, just say no to boring, pointless meetings. 

The world needs strong Christian leaders.  Get out there!

1.  Make a habit of routine evaluations, at least once a year, but frequently give feedback, direction, and coaching.  Do not wait and simply be a person reacting to issues and problems. 

2.  Use a simple tool like this Employee Performance Review.  There are self, and management review sheets.  Perhaps you cover issues in addition to those listed here, but having something like this as a guide certainly keeps you from shooting from the hip, or being blind to issues that need to be confronted. 

3.  Meet in threes.  Have your employees meet with their immediate and upper supervisor.  This helps everyone, and also allows young supervisors to continue to be coached. 

4.  Yes, I am talking to you as ministers.  Do yourself a favor and don’t assume that you are exempt from this practice as a church.  The folks who work, serve, and minister for your congregation need contact and direction from the pastor/boss.   

5.  Use this as a powerful time for praise and vision casting.  Please don’t let your review time be a time to unload everything that folks are doing wrong.  Yikes.  Restate the vision, and give solid praise for jobs well done. 

6.  As a church, be careful for what you are measuring.  One powerful benchmark is a values statement.  Do you have one? 

Use the gift of performance reviews.

Check out this Bible.

Meet with the Lord daily.

1.  Sunday School Done Right by Allan Taylor.  He is the Minister of Ed at First Woodstock, GA.  He is certainly fired up about Sunday School.

2.  Power Up Your Sunday School by Bob Mayfield, state Sunday School Leader for Oklahoma.  Bob is the real deal, and he is passionate about people finding a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Most of all, remember with whatever you use, as the leader, your enthusiasm and passion will communicate most powerfully!

1.  Realize you are the leader. I love a cool passage about Solomon that says that he “took a grip” (msg) of the kingdom, with the Lord’s help.  I think that is a fantastic balance.  Get a grip, understand that you are the guy.  If you don’t know you are the person responsible, no one else will.  BUT before you get the big head, and potentially become an arrogant abusive leader, realize it is only by and with the Lord’s help that you are doing what you do.  He can replace you any time.

2.  You can be Buddy. In this laissez faire style, you will probably have good relationships, but poor direction, and if something critical comes up, which it will, your group will splinter, until they find the real leader.

3.  You can be Bossy. In this overty demanding and disconnected style, relationships are the last thing on your mind.  Your word is king and you want to see folks hopping no matter the circumstance.  No decisions are made without you.  Oddly, groups will splinter and they will search for the real leader.  Someone who really cares about them.

4.  I prefer Balance. When you are the boss, recognize it.  There are times when you make the call.  No one else.  Everyone has chimed in, but now everyone is looking to you.  At the same time, build healthy relationships.  One leadership coach helped me to move away from talking about staff as “family.”  I want good and rich relationships with staff, but I can’t fire my family; my brother/dad will always be that.  Instead, think of staff as being on your team.  Coach, lead, inspire, develop, and create vision.

Lead and lead well!

Financial Peace University, Beth Moore, Men’s Fraternity/Navigators, One on One with God, DivorceCare, Moody Bible Memory, and One Verse Evangelism to name a few.

So how do I capture the momentum of promotion and registration:

1.  We promote the classes online and in all our print.

2.  We have online registration and registration through the offices.

3.  We have a preview night in Worship to allow full church exposure to the new classes offered, and follow this with an opportunity to sign up at the end of the service.

4.  There is a two week break between the preview night and class starts to allow time for the order and arrival of literature and leader kits.

Most of all, get excited.  If you act like this learning growing opportunity is boring and out of touch, well, your experience probably will be.

1.  Elementary Greek-Yikes, sounds heavy and serious doesn’t it?  But, what a great opportunity.  We plan to offer a short course in Greek like Mounce’s Greek for the Rest of Us.  This will encourage our folks to stretch themselves to search out the history of this language and enhance and expand their personal study of the New Testament.  In a word, cool!  Of those I have asked for interest, it is very positive!

2.  Round Table Discussions. This will be a weekly discussion class in a coffehouse type setting, casual, and relaxed, while focused on serious theological issues, cultural trends, and hot topics led by church and area leaders.

Let me know of any adult classes you have offered that have been new and fun!

1.  Reflect on any changes that you need to make in this particular job and its description prior to any future search, that way you’ve made adjustments prior to visiting with candidates, and quite frankly, you know who you should be looking for.

2.  Take time to visit with the staff person in an exit interview, when appropriate and possible, and listen for things that will make your team and this position even better and more effecient in the future.  Put down your guard and listen.

3.  Find meaningful ways to bless staff in their coming, and in their going.  For instance, some churches already have established monetary gift levels according to years served, so that there is no awkward thought of what to do when someone goes.

4.  If it is the unfortunate circumstance of a termination, don’t simply “move on,” carefully think about your part in the problem: poor hiring process, poor team leadership and management, or poor communication to name a few.  Use a consultant to help you and/or your team think through the issue in an objective way.

Don’t go on auto-pilot in this process and simply wait to fill a spot, but use it as a powerful moment to strengthen you and your ministry.  What do you wish you could experience at places as you leave?  Make it happen for your exiting employees.

1.  Pray. Make sure you are proceeding in the direction the Lord has for you and your church.  For example, we have been blessed by hiring a person for a ministry area that is anticipated to grow versus hiring a person for a position when it looks like you “need” them.

2.  Review the job description or create the new one.

3.  Make an adequate and appropriate search.  Get the word out.  Contact folks in similar fields of work.

4.  Work within the constructs of your ministry in hiring, that is, use a search committee when necessary, but always team up with someone in the interviewing process.  Utilize the personnel and finance committees of your church in the process when possible.

5.  Collect resumes of candidates.  Narrow to the top 3 or so.

6.  Only interview one candidate at a time from your #1 choice on.  If there is a “no” either way, communicate this clearly.  Do not leave folks guessing or hanging on if the committee is moving on.

7.  Remember that candidates are observing the church and staff team as much as you are observing them in the interviewing process.  So, just as they are making first impressions and are working on stating objectives, goals, values, vision…you should as well.

8.  Background checks.  Get the information and do the search.

You be blessed in the hard work of a great hiring process!

1.  Know that you really CAN have a positive impact on families!  There are some great resources available to grease the wheels of this momentum like Reggie Joiner’s site at www.reThinkgroup.org and conferences like www.theorangeconference.com.

2.  Strategically think about all the family groups currently in your church.  How do you strengthen them?  Don’t worry so much about who isn’t there, begin with who is and the different issues that would be great to address, encourage, and promote with your people.

3.  As I have said before, don’t reinvent the wheel.  Listen for special events in your area and jump on board.  If Tommy Nelson is coming to town, or there is a special LifeWay enrichment event, as long as it is Biblically true and sound, get a group and go.

There is so much more that can quickly impact families positively, let me know what works where you serve!

But, you’ll also be confronted with some issues that I sensed were present in ministry, but I had difficulty describing, and therefore, improving.

Take just a few minutes, and watch this video.