The Leadership Blog Interview: Mel Lawrenz

Mel Lawrenz

Bio: Mel Lawrenz is the Senior Pastor of Elmbrook Church with over 6500 in attendance. He has served as a pastor at Elmbrook in a variety of capacities for the past twenty-two years, succeeding Stuart Briscoe as senior pastor in 2000.Mel has authored or co-authored eight books for popular and professional audiences. His newest book is Putting the Pieces Back Together: How Real Life and Faith Connect, published by Zondervan. He also publishes a bi-monthly email essay for spiritual growth which has about 4,000 subscribers in thirty different countries.

Church: Elmbrook Church
Blog: pieces.blogs.com

The Leadership Blog Interview
1. Mel,what gives you the greatest joy in being a leader?
Mel: "Watching people break into the freedom from sin, guilt, and error that Christ brings. REALLY being free."

2. What is your biggest pet peeve as a leader?
Mel: "Just how easily we slip into hypocrisy. How we take the gospel of Christ and tarnish it."

3. Who made the biggest influence in your life as a leader?
Mel: "My wise wife, Ingrid. My mentor, Stuart Briscoe. My favorite author, C.S. Lewis. And the incomparable John R. W. Stott."

4. What books have changed your life?
Mel: "Anything and everything written by Lewis or Stott. Also, a book every Christian leader should read: Richard Lovelace, Dynamics of Spiritual Life; An Evangelical Theology of Renewal "

5. What's your biggest challenge as a leader?
Mel: "Keeping a diverse congregation convinced that the church really is the one place where we need to get our arms around all people."

6. What goals do you have as a leader?
Mel: "Faithfulness to God's leading. Don't rush, don't drag, don't flee, don't manufacture. See things the way God sees things and then influence people to move there."

7. Where do you see yourself in ten years?
Mel: "I've been a pastor for more than 25 years now, and honestly, I take it one year at a time."

Thanks Mel for an interesting interview!