Friday, August 29, 2008 | |

The Leadership Blog Interview: Jud Wilhite


Jud Wilhite

Bio: Jud Wilhite serves as Senior Pastor of Central Christian Church. Central Christian Church is one of the fastest growing churches in America. Jud’s role as Senior Pastor is to be the spiritual leader of the Central family, the primary Bible teacher, and the communicator of Central’s mission, vision, and values. Under Jud’s leadership, Central thrives as a church dedicated to helping people find their way to God. He and his wife, Lori, have two children.

After becoming a Christian, Jud went on to graduate from Dallas Christian College and Lincoln Christian Seminary. He is a frequent conference speaker and the author of several books including Stripped: Uncensored Grace on the Streets of Vegas and That Crazy Little Thing Called Love.

Church: Central Christian Church

The Leadership Blog Interview Questions
1. What gives you the greatest joy in being a leader?

Jud: "Seeing someone make a decision to follow Christ—nothing compares to that!"


2. What is your biggest pet peeve as a leader?

Jud: "Long time Christians with all kinds of books, CD’s, blogs and teachings at their disposal complaining that they aren’t being fed. My response, “So eat. Be a self-feeder and then turn around and spiritually feed others.” For me, realizing that I’m the one who is responsible for the fact that I don’t feel “fed” has changed my whole approach personally and in ministry."


3. Who made the biggest influence in your life as a leader?

Jud: "Pastors that poured into me—Roy Wheeler, Keith Ray, Scott Greer, Barry McMurtrie—and other well known leaders through teaching and writing—C. H. Spurgeon, Soren Kierkegaard, John Piper, C. S. Lewis, Martyn Lloyd-Jones and Eugene Peterson."


4. What books have changed your life?

Jud: "I think the books that change your life are at least as much about the stage you are at when you read them, rather than just the book itself. For me, Ian Murray’s biography of David Martyn Lloyd-Jones inspired me to be a pastor; Daniel Miller’s “The Myth of Certainty” changed my life in grad school and reaffirmed my faith; John Piper’s “Desiring God” re-directed my focus in ministry; Albert Camus’s novel “The Fall” helped me realize the depth of sin more than any Christian book. C. S. Lewis’s “Mere Christianity” and “The Problem of Pain” were huge for me. Also, G. K. Chesterton’s “Orthodoxy.”


5. What's your biggest challenge as a leader?

Jud: "I think there are different challenges for different seasons that rise above others. For me right now, I’m trying to find the right balance of leading for growth rather than control, pushing past my leadership lids and being comfortable in the messiness of helping people."


6. What goals do you have as a leader?

Jud: "Personally, to be a good dad and a great husband. I want my kids to grow up and know their father’s faith was genuine and grounded and that my love for them is unconditional. I also want them to know they are more important to me than the ministry. I also want to help bridge the gap between many who are skeptical and have lost faith in the church. My goal is to hear them, walk with them, and help them come to love the church as Christ does. Other goals are to improve as a pastor/leader. I’m getting a lot from Marshal Goldsmith’s “What Got You Here Won’t Get You There.” It is a great book which deals with 20 bad workplace habits—I’m learning I’ve adopted several of these and am working hard to identify them and grow through them."


7. Where do you see yourself in ten years?

Jud: "God willing, as a pastor/leader in the local church and particularly in the Las Vegas Valley. I love the church and I’m passionate about church work."

Thursday, August 28, 2008 | |

The Leadership Blog Interview: John Palmer

John Palmer – General Secretary of the Assemblies of God

Bio: John M. Palmer was elected general secretary of the Assemblies of God at the 52nd General Council in August 2007. John is a member of the Executive Leadership Team and the Executive Presbytery. As general secretary, John oversees the credentialing of ministers, church chartering, the collection of official statistics and the Flower Pentecostal Heritage Center.

Prior to his current post, John served as Executive Presbyter of the North Central Region and as an AG World Missions representative for the Africa Oasis Project, raising funds to dig wells in East Africa and plant churches in those same communities. In 2006, he founded Come Alongside Ministry, in order to provide encouragement, coaching and consultation to pastors and churches. John served as senior pastor of First Assembly of God, Des Moines, Iowa from 1985-2006. He pioneered New Life Assembly of God, Athens, Ohio from 1974-1985.

John holds a Master of Arts in Pastoral Leadership from Assemblies of God Theological Seminary and is a 1974 graduate of Central Bible College.

John is author of Equipping for Ministry, Stories to Keep you Looking Up and Keeping Up With the Jonahs, and has contributed to many others including: The Decisive Leader, The Pentecostal Pastor and Power for Living. He has also written numerous articles for Today’s Pentecostal Evangel.

The Leadership Blog Interview Questions
1. What gives you the greatest joy in being a leader?
John
: "My greatest joy is to see those I lead succeed in what they are called to do."

2. John, What is your biggest pet peeve as a leader?
John
: "I hate it when leaders treat those whom they are leading unkindly and with disrespect. It greatly bothers me when leaders do not value each individual on their team."

3. Who made the biggest influence in your life as a leader?
John
: "My dad and mom’s fingerprints are all over my life. My dad’s commitment to prayer, simplicity, and discipline have marked my life. My mom had an ability to work well with just about everyone. She also demonstrated how to face life’s challenges with joy and optimism. Though they are both in heaven, their lives influence me just about every day."

4. John, What books have changed your life?
John
: "The book of Philippians has revolutionized my mind. Alicia Chole’s book, Anonymous, transformed me. As a young church planter, Robert Schuller’s, Power of Positive Thinking, literally put me on a new track."

5. What's your biggest challenge as a leader?
John
: "My biggest challenge is to take the time required to continue to grow as a person so I can continue to grow as a leader (husband, father, pastor, church leader)."

6. What goals do you have as a leader?
John
: "To be consistent, to be a Christ-like example, to inspire and encourage those I lead, to value those I lead."

7. Where do you see yourself in ten years?
John
: "I see myself growing and flourishing – coming along side my children as they raise their families and do their ministries – spoiling our grandchildren – loving life with my wife, Debbie."

Monday, August 25, 2008 | |

The Leadership Blog Interview: Ron Woods

Ron Woods

Bio: Since becoming Senior Pastor of Raleigh Assembly of God in Memphis, Tennessee in July of 2000, Pastor Woods has led the church in tremendous growth, both numerically and spiritually. With a sincere compassion for souls and desire to see the great commission accomplished through the local church, Pastor Woods has brought a new awareness and dedication among his congregation to reach the lost of their community.

Church: Raleigh Assembly of God Memphis, TN

Blog: Ron Woods Blog

1. Ron, What gives you the greatest joy in being a leader?

Ron: "Being used by God to lead people to Christ and helping people go to the next level."


2. What is your biggest pet peeve as a leader?

Ron: "Negative Attitudes"


3. Who made the biggest influence in your life as a leader?

Ron: "Tommy Barnett and Bill Hybels"


4. What books have changed your life?

Ron: "Portraits of Vision and Leading Change"


5. What's your biggest challenge as a leader?

Ron: Keeping the Vision Clarified and Communicated


6. What goals do you have as a leader?

Ron: I have a lot of goals, but I would place emphasis on my goals of staying Fresh and Focused on what matters most.


7. Where do you see yourself in ten years?

Ron: "In the Center of God’s Will"