Tim Elmore
Bio: Tim is the Founder and president of "Growing Leaders" a non-profit organization created to develop emerging leaders. He also serves as Vice President of Leadership Development, at EQUIP, a non-profit organization founded by Dr. John Maxwell. EQUIP's objective is to train one million Christian leaders around the globe by 2006, through conferences, training materials, books, DVD and technology.
Tim has authored numerous books, including Nurturing the Leader Within Your Child, Soul Provider and Pivotal Praying from Thomas Nelson Publishers, and a series of books with Lifeway Publishers that includes: Authentic Influence-Leading Without Titles, Wired for Influence-Skills to Lead Others, Intentional Influence-Investing Your Life Through Mentoring, and Leveraging Your Influence-Impacting Your Campus for Christ.
Site: Growingleaders.com
The Leadership Blog Interview Questions
1. Tim, what gives you the greatest joy in being a leader?
Tim: "There's no question my greatest joy comes from watching someone respond to a challenge and step up to meet it. Whether it is teaching a student at a conference having a divine "aha" moment or observing a team member in our organization seize the moment and take a risk to lead, it's always fun to see the light bulb go on, and to see someone realize they can, indeed, accomplish something significant. In short, my greatest joy comes when someone recognizes they can lead and influence others with their life; that they can multiply what God has placed inside of them. This past week, I was speaking at a university. I taught some of our "Habitudes" (Images That Form Leadership Habits and Attitudes.) I shared a Habitude called: "Rivers and Floods." It illustrates how so many young leaders begin as rivers with their vision and focus...then become floods, attempting to do everything. They do more damage than good. A student ran up to me afterward and said: "This principle explains the dilemma I am in. I plan to cut back on the stuff I am doing, and focus myself this year on what counts." Those conversations...are rewarding to me.
2. What is your biggest pet peeve as a leader?
Tim: "Indifference. I travel to dozens of schools and churches every year, speaking to about 50,000 young leaders annually. I cannot stand it when I get to an environment that expects little from anyone, and fosters apathy from the students or members of the church. Passion should exist in every Christ-follower, even if it is quiet passion. A fire should be burning inside of everyone of us to serve in the area of our gifts. This is what makes me want to take a whip (as Jesus did) and throw the money changers out of the Temple. We've diluted the calling young people have on their lives and become satisfied with mediocrity; stopping halfway. The term "mediocre" comes from mountain climbers. It literally means "middle of the rock." It illustrated a climber who began his climb to the top of a mountain and decided to simply stop halfway and be satisfied."
3. Who made the biggest influence in your life as a leader?
Tim: "I had an early mentor named Shawn Mitchell, when I was 17 years old. Shawn launched a ministry called "Friday Faith and Film." We would show a movie each Friday night to high school students and Shawn would speak after it on a relevant issue that the movie had addressed. My job, as a high school junior, was to pray for him and hold his coat. One Friday night, Shaw approached me and with a scratchy voice said he wouldn't be able to speak that night. He pushed me to go on that night and speak for the first time in public. After that night, Shawn affirmed me and said: "From now on, I will speak one week and you'll be on the next week. We will rotate." And I have speaking and leading on a regular basis ever since then...thanks to that mentor. The amusing part of this story occurred just a few years back. Shawn and I met for a reunion and reminisced about "Friday Faith and Film" As we recalled my first speaking experience, Shawn said, "I have a confession to make. I didn't really have laryngitis that night. But I knew the only way I could get you up to speak was if I was unable to do so. I saw something in you and I wanted to fan it into flame."
Another mentor has been Dr. John Maxwell. I have been working alongside of John since 1983. I worked as an associate pastor and then as a writer of curriculum and director of next generation leaders at EQUIP. John was instrumental in my launching "Growing Leaders", our non-profit organization targeting emerging leaders--students and those who work with students. He has been a fabulous cheerleader for me.
4. What books have changed your life?
Tim: "There have been a number of books that have shaped me as a leader and as a Christ follower. Some of them have been:
1. Your God is Too Safe, by Mark Buchanan
2. Leadership and Self Deception, by the Arbinger Institute
3. Certain Trumpets, by Garry Wills
4. The Tipping Point, by Malcolm Gladwell
5. Good to Great, by Jim Collins
6. Developing the Leader Within You, by John Maxwell
7. The Master Plan of Evangelism, by Robert Coleman
5. What's your biggest challenge as a leader?
Tim: "My greatest challenge lies in partnering with schools and churches and organizations--helping them to set organic goals instead of merely programmatic goals. For example, instead of merely setting the goal of getting five new leaders for next year, we recommend a school nurture a leadership culture, where every student is contagiously affected to think and act like a servant-leader. We want to help organizations create a leadership culture not just fill a few new positions each year. But its hard to get organizations to see past the immediate needs they have. A culture affects everyone living in it. And we think the world needs more "laborers" in the harvest, not just more followers. That's why Jesus talked about leadership in His early call on His disciples: "Follow me and I will make you fishers of men (Matthew 4:19)."
6. What goals do you have as a leader?
Tim: "Our most popular resource is: "Habitudes: Images that Form Leadership Habits and Attitudes." It is very post-modern yet very biblical. Our hope is to create a four book series on Habitudes to be used in mentoring communities on school campuses, in churches and campus ministries. We teach timeless leadership truths using images (pictures) and now have teaching kits for deans, campus workers and pastors. Our goal is to see leadership mentoring communities on every campus in the U.S. This next year, we plan to establish bases internationally. We are now working in several countries in Asia, Europe Africa and Latin America. We'd love to play a key role in equipping this next generation to finish the task of reaching the world for Christ.
7. Where do you see yourself in ten years?
Tim: "Mentoring key emerging leaders and staff to carry on the work. I want to continue writing and mentoring more than anything else. I love to create, to communicate and to coach. This is were my fulfillment comes from."
Tim, Thanks for taking time for the interview. You shared some great insight. I love that, "mediocre" means "middle of the rock." Good stuff.
The Leadership Blog Interview: Tim Elmore
The Leadership Blog Interview: Bob Coy
Bob Coy
Bio: Bob Coy is the Senior Pastor of Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale, which began in a living room with four in attendance. Calvary Chapel has now become home to over 17,000 men and women from the tri-county area, and ranks as the eighth largest church in the country.
Church: Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale
The Leadership Blog Interview Questions
1. Bob, what gives you the greatest joy in being a leader?
Bob: "I love to see that the direction that I provide actually bears fruit in a person's life. I want to see the tangible results of a positive outcome."
2. What is your biggest pet peeve as a leader?
Bob: "My biggest pet peeve is misunderstood communication. You know...when you really believe that you've had good, honest, open communication with someone, only to find out later that they totally misunderstood what you were trying to say, and spread that misunderstanding throughout the land."
3. Who made the biggest influence in your life as a leader?
Bob: "Well, .... Jesus is the one that changed my life of course. And of course since He is the one that I teach about every week, I'd have to say that He is the center of all that I do. Chuck Smith, the founder of Calvary Chapel would be the choice for someone that I would consider a mentor. His model of ministry is one that I've followed for the last 20 years. He is the one that gave guys like me a chance to even be in ministry."
4. What books have changed your life?
Bob: "1. The Bible 2. Jesus Style by Gayle Erwin 3. My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers, and 4. The Dictionary....I use it all the time."
5. What's your biggest challenge as a leader?
Bob: "Its always my biggest challenge to wisely choose those who I co-labor with."
6. What goals do you have as a leader?
Bob: "It's my goal to see the production of Biblical principles in the lives of those who consider themselves followers of this ministry."
7. Where do you see yourself in ten years?
Bob: "Doing the same thing.... better."
Thanks Bob for a great interview! You're one of my favorite communicators! Also thanks to my new buddy Rod Pearcy for getting the interview for me!
Inquiring Minds: The New Life Site
With the growing popularity of this site, I get many emails and google searches about who I am, my church, and where I am from. Here's the website for New Life A/G , where I am the Senior Pastor. Remember, it's still a work in progress.
Date Your Spouse
Check out this great post by Perry on Dating Your Spouse called "Date Night". (9-28-05 post)
Here's just a few of Perry's tips:
1. Double dating went out with the high school prom
2. Leave the cell phone alone!
3. Trust your babysitter
Get Over The Hump Day Quote
"Walt Disney’s widow was being interviewed after the completion of Disney World in Florida. The reporter remarked, "Isn’t it a shame that your husband never got to see this?" Mrs. Disney quickly corrected him. "He did see it. That is why it is here!"
10 Easy Ways to Know You're Not a Leader
Here's a few:
7. It's been some time since you said, "I messed up."
8. You're driven by the task instead of the relationships and the vision.
9. Your dreams are so small, people think they can be achieved.
10. No one is following you.
Click here to read 1-6 by Tony Morgan. Good stuff.
The Leadership Blog Interview: Stan Toler
Stan Toler
Bio: Stan Toler serves as senior pastor of Trinity Church of the Nazarene in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and hosts the television program "Leadership Today." For several years he taught seminars for INJOY Group. Toler has written over 50 books, including his best-sellers' God Has Never Failed Me, But He's Sure Scared Me to Death a Few Times, The Buzzards Are Circling, but God's Not Finished with Me Yet, The Five-Star Church, his popular Minute Motivators Series and his latest book, The Secret Blend.
Church: Trinity Church of the Nazarene
Site: Stantoler.com
The Leadership Blog Interview Questions
1. Stan, what gives you the greatest joy in being a leader?
Stan: "My greatest joy comes from watching people unwrap their spiritual gifts and grow and develop as leaders."
2. What is your biggest pet peeve as a leader?
Stan: "My biggest pet peeve is when no one leads. You have what I call vacuum leadership and usually the wrong person steps up with a really bad idea!"
3. Who made the biggest influence in your life as a leader?
Stan: "Dr. Melvin Maxwell, the father of John C. Maxwell has been the greatest infulence on my life. He is the most positive, movitational and godly leader that I have ever met."
4. What books have changed your life?
Stan: "Outside of the Bible, J. Oswald Sanders book, Spiritual Leadership and Chuck Swindoll's book, Hand Me Another Brick have infulenced my leadership thinking the most."
5. What's your biggest challenge as a leader?
Stan: "My biggest challenge is staying focused as a leader. There are so many pulls on our time these days and while its a great day of opportunity....its also a time fatal distractions."
6. What goals do you have as a leader?
Stan: "My goal is grow, develop and serve as a godly leader who lifts up the name of Christ in all avenues of my life."
7. Where do you see yourself in ten years?
Stan: "Ten years from now.....I see myself still in the ministry trenches. I am 54 years old and I have been in the ministry since age 14. I am more passionate about kingdom work today than I have ever been."
Stan, thank you for taking the time for the interview. You've been a big influence on my life, I've used your "Model Church" training for years, after going to an INJOY conference.
Churches to Get Reimbursed for Hurricane Relief
"We want to make sure that every group, religious or nonreligious, which opens its doors and opens its arms to shelter evacuees from this storm are able to get compensated for their generosity," FEMA spokesman Butch Kinerney said in an interview. Read rest of article here.
Should churches that helped house evacuees apply to get reimbursement?
The Leadership Blog Interview: Brian Bloye
Brian Bloye
Bio: Brian is the Founding & Lead Pastor of West Ridge Church in Hiram, GA. West Ridge Church is one of the fastest growing churches in the US and has grown to a weekly attendance of more than 2500.
Church: West Ridge Church
The Leadership Blog Interview Questions
1. What gives you the greatest joy in being a leader?
Brian: "Identifying new leaders and watching them flourish in their leadership."
2. What is your biggest pet peeve as a leader?
Brian: "People that abuse the gift of leadership. Or people that have the gift of leadership but won't lead."
3. Who made the biggest influence in your life as a leader?
Brian: "My dad, Jerry Falwell, Bill Hybels, and a guy named Dave Adams."
4. What books have changed your life?
Brian: "Obviously the Bible. Perilous Pursuits - Joseph Stowell, Classic Christianity - Bob George, Good to Great - Jim Collins, Courageous Leadership & Honest to God- Bill Hybels, Writings by some of the early church fathers."
5. What's your biggest challenge as a leader?
Brian: "I'm still learning when to back down so others can lead freely. I have a tendency to want to rescue people if I see them struggling in their leadership."
6. What goals do you have as a leader?
Brian: "To be a better encourager. To be a better listener. To read more. To be more intentional about raising up new leaders."
7. Where do you see yourself in ten years?
Brian: "Probably right where I am. I would in year 18 of a 20 year commitment I have made to West Ridge Church."
Brian, Thanks for taking time for the interview. I really love that you have a 20 year commitment to your church. I've been recently asking myself how long of a commitment to make to my church.
My Top Five Church Podcasts
1. Life Church -Subscribe Here
2. New Hope Christian Fellowship -Subscribe Here
3. Calvary Chapel -Subscribe Here
4. National Community Church - Subscribe Here
5. Seacoast Church -Subscribe Here
The Leadership Blog Interview: Bill Easum
Bill Easum
Bio: Bill Easum is the President of Easum, Bandy & Associates and is one of the most highly respected church consultants and Christian futurists in North America.
Bill has been a pioneer in the church growth movement, with 35 years of pastoral ministry in four churches and two denominations. During his 24 years at Colonial Hills Church in San Antonio, the church grew from 35 in worship to over 1,000...with 2,200 members.
Site: Easum, Bandy & Associates, Inc.
The Leadership Blog Interview Questions
1. Bill, What gives you the greatest joy in being a leader?
Bill: "That's easy. Seeing someone either give their life to Christ or find their place in God's world and put their faith into action. One of the greatest joys I get is to receive emails and letters from people I have mentored or coached telling me about their victories and what God is doing in their lives."
2. What is your biggest pet peeve as a leader?
Bill: "I have two. Pastors who allow their mercy gifts and their need to be liked to get in the way of doing what they have to do to lead their church. And churches that rely on representative democracy and corporate structure instead of listening to the movement of the Spirit and having a flexible, permission-giving, servant empowering environment."
3. Who made the biggest influence in your life as a leader?
Bill: "Nelson Mandela, who taught me that you should never give up on your dream and Billy Graham who caused me to go into pastoral ministry."
4. What books have changed your life?
Bill: "Cost of Discipleship, Bonhoeffer
Rules for Radicals, Alinsky
Leadership and the New Science, Wheatley
Jumping the Curve, Imparato "
5. What's your biggest challenge as a leader?
Bill: "Reading and watching culture enough to stay ahead of the curve as well as connecting with enough spiritual giants to continue to grow as a leader. When you start approaching 70, you need to work even harder to keep pushing the horizon farther ahead."
6. What goals do you have as a leader?
Bill: "To assist in the planting of as many churches as possible over the next ten years. I'm presently working with a group out of Virginia who is putting together what we hope will be a church planting movement."
7. Where do you see yourself in ten years?
Bill: "Well, I trust I'm still kicking and if so, I will probably be doing less traveling as a consultant and more online coaching through our EBA Community network."
Bill, Thanks for taking time for the Leadership Blog Interview. I was excited when another pastor emailed me that you contacted them through their interview, they said Bill Easum reads your blog! Thanks.
Church Blogs?
Tony raises a good question about church blogs in his latest post. Do churches really benefit from having a blog? I noticed on the "Fellowship Church" blog, which killed their church blog, that they only had 220 people who subscribed to their feed out of a church of 17,000+. Isn't that strange? To me, the Fellowship Church blog was just another announcement board, instead of sharing personal stories of what God is doing.
Update: "The above post was never meant to be an attack on Terry, Brian, or Fellowship Church but just an honest question that people will be asking. I'm sorry if it offended anyone." -JS
Domain Names?
With the rapid increase of the viewership of "The Leadership Blog", I am considering all my options for a domain name for the site. Any ideas? Also do domain extension matter any more? Everyone used to want .com or .org, now they have .us, .cc, .tv and all are becoming popular.
Leader, What's Your Motive?
Here's a great post by Mark Batterson on "Wrong Motives". What's yours? Check it out.
The Leadership Blog Interview: Bill Purvis
Bill Purvis
Bio: Bill Purvis is senior pastor of Cascade Hills Church in Columbus Georgia. He has led the church from 32 people to a membership of almost 8,000. John Maxwell calls this church, “one of the most balanced churches in America”. Bill’s spiritual gift is leadership and his passion is lost people.
Church: Cascade Hills Chruch
The Leadership Blog Interview Questions
1. Bill, What gives you the greatest joy in being a leader?
Bill: "Progress, either with people “getting it” and growing, or in watching the mission of the church move forward."
2. What is your biggest pet peeve as a leader?
Bill: "Religious flakes and weirdo’s. Apathy makes my list too."
3. Who made the biggest influence in your life as a leader?
Bill: "John Maxwell. Before meeting him, I restrained my leadership gift because I saw things differently but didn’t want to cause disruption."
4. What books have changed your life?
Bill: “Leadership Without Easy Answers” (Herfetz), “How Should We Then Live” (Schaeffer) “Spiritual Authority” (Nee) “Lincoln” (Donald), “Straight from the Gut” (Welch) “Execution” (Bossidy),
“Well Intentioned Dragons” (Shelley) and most writings of Yancey, Maxwell & Sweet.
5. What’s your biggest challenge as a leader?
Bill: "Eliminating interruptions that distract me, and keeping everyone on the same mission at the same time, all of the time, are two challenges."
6. What goals do you have as a leader?
Bill: "I want to leave people and the church better than I found them."
7. Where do you see yourself in ten years?
Bill: "If not raptured, then I want to still be growing. I wish I could give a great answer here, but who knows the future?"
Thanks Bill for taking time for a great interview!
The Leadership Blog Interview: Rev. Thomas Trask
Rev. Thomas Trask
Bio: Thomas E. Trask, was elected General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God in August of 1993. As chief executive officer of the church, he is a member of the board of administration and the Executive Presbytery.
A graduate of North Central Bible College (Minneapolis, Minn.), Rev. Trask has served over 40 years in the ministry, 25 of which were devoted to the pastorate. Ordained in 1958, he has believed in a strong emphasis on home and world missions. He and his congregations have helped to mother seven new churches throughout his ministry.
Trask serves presently on the boards of the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary, Central Bible College and Evangel University. He also serves on several boards and committees for the denomination, including the General Presbytery. He is chairman of the Assemblies of God Foundation board of directors and the board of the Ministers Benefit Association. He is chairman of the World Assemblies of God Fellowship, a member of the board of administration of the National Association of Evangelicals, a member of the board of directors of the National Religious Broadcasters.
The Rev. Trask has co-authored a number of books including Back to the Altar, Back to the Word, The Battle, a book on spiritual warfare, The Blessing, a book on the power of the Holy Spirit today, The Choice, The Fruit of the Spirit, and Ministry for a Lifetime.
Site: Assemblies of God
The Leadership Blog Interview Questions
1. What gives you the greatest joy in being a leader?
Trask: "To see God touch pastors and laity and they in turn respond in offering themselves to His Kingdom and for the building of His Church brings tremendous joy to one’s heart."
2. What is your biggest pet peeve as a leader?
Trask: "Because of the structure of the Assemblies of God and having been a pastor most of my life, being removed from the every day joy of touching people is frustrating to me at times."
3. Who made the biggest influence in your life as a leader?
Trask: "First of all, my father. Mother and Dad served as pastors in this church for over 50 years. Secondly, would be the former general superintendent G. Raymond Carlson. He was my first district superintendent and also the college president when I attended North Central University."
4. What books have changed your life?
Trask: "I am a great fan of Alan Redpath and his writings and a number of the British writers."
5. What is your biggest challenge as a leader?
Trask: "To effectively bring about change in a culture that is changing constantly so that the church remains relevant to the need both here at home and worldwide."
6. What goals do you have as a leader?
Trask:
"· To see this Fellowship remain thoroughly Pentecostal both in its doctrine and in practice.
· That we remain a leader in missions both overseas and in the U.S.
· To be a church that is marshalling the laity and releasing the laity of our congregations.
· To accomplish the task taken from Ephesians chapter 4.
· Establish healthy churches and have healthy pastors pastoring these congregations."
7. Where do you see yourself in ten years?
Trask: "Fulfilling the will of God for my life. I have lived with that single goal and desire and it will be in active ministry some place for I love the work of God."
Thank you Rev. Trask for taking time for the interview. You've made a huge impact on my life from preaching my ordination ceremony, from your books, and your leadership in general.
Survey: Pastors say pastors should stop moving church to church
"Many clergy are concerned that pastors do not spend enough years at one church. Only 31 percent believe the average pastor in their denomination stays as senior pastor of a church about the right amount of time. Thirty-three percent believe the average tenure is a little too short, and 26 percent said it is much too short. Only one out of 10 ministers believes pastors tend to stay at the same church for too many years." Interesting stuff, read the article here.
Get-Over-The-Hump Day Quote
"Don't go to start a church...go to serve a city. Serve them with love, and if you go after people nobody wants, you'll end up with people everybody wants." -Steve Sjogren
How to Be Creative!
Check out Hugh MacLeod's free pdf on How To Be Creative. Good stuff. Link via Brian.
"Put the hours in; do it for long enough and magical life-transforming things happen eventually."
The Leadership Blog Interview: Gary Lamb
Gary Lamb
Bio: Gary Lamb is the Lead Pastor of Ridge Stone Church in Canton, Ga. Started on August 15, 2004, RSC has grown from 6 families to an average of 350 in 13 months. Over 70% of people who call RSC home were unchurched before attending their first service. Gary is also the author of the Mad Babble From a Church Planter blog.
Church: Ridgestone Church
Blog: Mad Babble of a Church Planter
The Leadership Blog Interview Questions
1. Gary, What gives you the greatest joy in being a leader?
Gary: “Seeing unchurched people walk through our doors and see the light bulb go off in their head. It is a great feeling to know that they finally have been to a place where they can feel comfortable, safe, and know that God loves them.”
2. What is your biggest pet peeve as a leader?
Gary: “Christians. :) Those "mature" Christians who think that it is all about them. These ought to be the people who are on board and get"it" but most often, they don't. That drives me NUTS!”
3. Who made the biggest influence in your life as a leader?
Gary: “A pastor in Iowa that you have probably never heard of. His name is Tony Liston and he pastors Adventure Christian Church in Davenport,Iowa. He invested in my life when I had no clue what I was doing. Iwas pastoring a church I started and I was miserable. He showed mewhat Church was supposed to be about and it literally kept me in the ministry and changed the way I looked at what I get to do.”
4. What books have changed your life?
Gary: “The Bible. Good to Great by Jim Collins. Visioneering by Andy Stanley. Purpose Driven Church by Rick Warren.”
5. What's your biggest challenge as a leader?
Gary: “To keep growing as a leader. I can get so busy that I level off in my growth.”
6. What goals do you have as a leader?
Gary: “To impact my community with the message that God loves them. I wantpeople to know that God rocks and church can and should be fun. Itliterally is that simple to me.”
7. Where do you see yourself in ten years?
Gary: “Teaching Ed Young Jr. how to break the 30,000 barrier.” :)
Gary, Thanks for taking time to do the interview. I've really enjoyed getting to know you through your blog and email. I know you are going to do great things for the Kingdom of God!
The Leadership Blog Interview: David Foster
David Foster
Bio: Dave is the Founding Pastor at Bellevue Community Church located in Nashville, TN. The church has grown to over 3,000 each weekend on their 280-acre campus called "Hope Park. David Foster’s passion for communicating the authentic is obvious also in his books. The latest "Accept No Mediocre Life" (Warner Faith) follows in the footsteps of Foster’s critically acclaimed "The Power To Prevail: Turning Adversities Into Advantages".
Church: Bellevue Community Church
Blog: Fosteringhope.com
1. David, What gives you the greatest joy in being a leader?
David: "When you get right down to the bottom line of what makes leadership fun, for me it’s the privilege of helping people. That doesn’t sound very sophisticated but the real payoff for me is when someone recognizes their abilities and engages their life in a fuller and more creative way, because I’ve been able to lead them to see that they can do far more than they ever imagined and that the biggest obstacles they will face will be the obstacles in their own minds.
I’d say the second joy of leadership is the ability just simply to express who I am in Christ and to use some of the latent talents and abilities that He’s given me as an agent of change."
2. What is your biggest pet peeve as a leader?
David: "Hands down, my biggest leadership problem is me. To be more specific, it’s the people pleaser that lives within me. For all the bravado and bluster that we leaders talk about, from the stage or in the act of leading, all of us are plagued with those haunting moments of receiving a scathing e-mail or a response from someone that we’ve angered or let down.
I’ve never met a leader who wasn’t honest in his own heart that struggled with the idea of pleasing people. No one likes being disliked unless you’ve got a real problem. But as all leaders know, people-pleasing does not mix well with vision, risk taking, and bold new adventures for God. I have to slay the people-pleaser inside of me on a constant basis."
3. Who made the biggest influence in your life as a leader?
David: "Probably the single most influential person in my life as a leader, in both spiritual and practical formation, was R.C. Sproul. I studied under R.C. in my graduate degree and his boldness and challenge to think in new ways and then to get outside the box in those particular days were very formative for me."
4. What books have changed your life?
David: "One of the books that formed a lot of what I believe about church growth is a book by Robert Shuler called Your Church Has a Fantastic Future. I read this during a time when I was formulating a dream to start a church that was unique and different and targeted on those who had given up on going to church. At the time, Shuler’s ideas were way outside the box and they caused me to rethink a lot of the things I’d been taught at seminary.
I think one of the most important books was a book by Henri Nouwen called The Wounded Healer, which helped me understand a lot of the internal struggles that I had, that I thought I shouldn’t be having if I were a stronger, more spiritual man. "
5. What’s your biggest challenge as a leader?
David: "For me the biggest challenge is ongoing personal renewal, to take care of my own heart and soul, to make sure that as I lead others, I don’t allow my own soul to shrink and shrivel because I’m giving out more than I take in."
6. What goal do you have as a leader?
David: "My goal as a leader is to be an agent of change with a message of hope to a world in pain. It’s to continue to grow and risk and trust God for great things, to be willing to change and transition from one success to another, not allowing what God has done in my past to become a ball and chain that restricts me from the future."
7. Where do you see yourself in ten years?
David: "More focused on writing books that confront people about authentic and genuine spirituality, coaching more young pastors because I see a chronic problem of discouragement among all the church leaders that I associate with.
As a young pastor, I had very few mentors and people I looked up to. I want to be coaching the younger generation by giving encouragement, insight, walking alongside them, helping them understand that many of the issues they are facing are not due to their shortcomings as a leader, but to the very nature of the leadership task.
Also, I’ll continue to consult with other groups, movements and organizations to have a deep, abiding passion for taking the Gospel into the marketplace, for speaking in the public square.
And hopefully, in ten years, I’ll be more in love with Jesus, with more energy, more dynamism, more faith, more risk taking than I’ve ever had in my life. After all, by that time I’ll have had ten more reasons to trust that the Gospel is real and that God rewards initiative and boldness."
Thanks David for sharing your insight and for being so transparent. There's so much we could all learn from you!
That Will Preach...
Rumors may be worst contagion
"Rumors can cause serious problems, Khan says. "Bad information has the ability to hamper effective response," he says, because it can cause rescuers to hold back out of fear for their own safety."
The Leadership Blog Interview: Bob Buford
Bob Buford
Bio: Bob Buford launched Leadership Network, a private operating foundation created in 1984 for the original purpose of identifying, networking and resourcing senior ministers and staff of large congregations (1,000+ in attendance) in the United States. He is also the Founding Chairman of the Board of Governors of The Peter F. Drucker Foundation for Nonprofit Management. In January 1998, Buford launched Halftime, the organization, to help high-powered marketplace leaders to convert their faith into action and effective results.
Buford is author of four books, Halftime; Changing Your Game Plan from Success to Significance, Game Plan; Winning Strategies for the Second Half of Your Life, Stuck in Halftime; Reinvesting Your One and Only Life and Finishing Well; What People Who Really Live Do Differently.
Site: activeenergy.net
The Leadership Blog Interview Questions
1. What gives you the greatest joy in being a leader?
Bob: "Results, results and results! --- in that order. Kingdom fruit: My mission is to work on “transforming the latent energy in American Christianity into Active energy.”
2. What is your biggest pet peeve as a leader?
Bob: “Empty suits” – in Texas the expression is “big hat, no cattle.”
3. Who made the biggest influence in your life as a leader?
Bob: "Peter Drucker"
4. What books have changed your life?
Bob: "The Bible and Peter Drucker books"
5. What's your biggest challenge as a leader?
Bob: "Staying focused which always means saying no."
6. What goals do you have as a leader?
Bob: "The fruit of my work grows up on other people’s trees."
7. Where do you see yourself in ten years?
Bob: "At age 76 – probably still pursuing God’s calling for my life – Finishing Well!"
Thanks Bob for an interesting interview!
Sunday Stew
Matthew 20:26-28 - "But among you it should be quite different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must become your slave. For even I, the Son of Man, came here not to be served but to serve others, and to give my life as a ransom for many." (New Living Translation)
Volunteer Appreciation Dinner
Tonight, we had our first annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner at the church we are "replanting" or rebooting. When we came nine monthes ago, they said no one does anything but a few people in this church, do everything. Sound familiar? Tonight, we had a catered dinner, thank you notes, and gifts for over 40 regular volunteers, who are NOW on the team. It was an awesome feeling for a few of us to go around the room and tell each volunteer what they meant to the team and share vision. Take time to tell your volunteers what they mean to the team!
Why? Because God cares about His laborers. I had a 5AM idea, wake me from me sleep, awhile back to contact the area restaurants about donating gift certificates to our workers. The response was overwhelming, we gave out gift certificates to every volunteer for a nice meal, all of them were donated. This was a night our church won't soon forget. This is something any church can do!
Friday Funny Caption Contest: Inflatable Church
Come up with a Funny Caption for this pic, but keep it clean! Last week's winner was Johnny Leckie for the World's Smallest Church Caption!
The Leadership Blog Interview: Bob Russell
Bob Russell
Bio: At just twenty-two years of age, Bob became the pastor of Southeast Christian Church. Today that small congregation of 120 members has become one of the largest churches in American, with 18,000 people attending the four worship services every weekend. An accomplished author, Bob has written over one-dozen books, including "When God Builds A Church
Church: Southeast Christian Church
The Leadership Blog Interview Questions
1. Bob, what gives you the greatest joy in being a leader?
Bob: "Without question the greatest joy is to see lives that are changed. My first joy would be to see unity and the joy I have for my own family. But if you mean joy of ministry it is to see lives that are changed...people who really get it. I looked out the window today and saw the wife of a prominent figure mowing the grass at church. She's really grown as a Christian; she sees herself as a humble servant. WhenI see people go from being a new Christian to becoming a mature Christian, that's really gratifying to me."
2. What is your biggest pet peeve as a leader?
Bob: "My pet peeve is the antithesis of that: people who don't grow at all-people who have gone to church all their lives and they never get it. These are those who never seem to transfer Biblical principles totheir daily walk and attitude. I'm talking about people who go to church all their lives and they are still selfish, people who have gone to church for years and years and get a divorce over the flimsiest of reasons, people who have been to church all their lives and they sue the church or they have a sour attitude. My pet peeve is people who have exposure to the Lord's teaching but aren't transformed by it."
3. Who made the biggest influence in your life as a leader?
Bob: "My leadership emanates from my preaching ministry. I see myself first as a preacher and then a leader. And, I think preaching gives credibility to lead. So the people who have influenced my leadership are those who have influenced my preaching: Fred Craddock Chuck Swindoll, Charles Colson. Local heroes to me would be: Butch Dabney, Bill Gaslin... people who have encouraged me in ministry."
4. What books have changed your life?
Bob: "Charles Colson's book, Loving God; Recently Frank Peretti's book, A Wounded Spirit; All of Warren Wiersbe's commentaries have been really helpful."
5. What's your biggest challenge as a leader?
Bob: "The biggest challenge is to keep the big picture. Dealing with so many people there will always be problems and there will be criticism and it's hard not to get discouraged and allow those problems to blind you to all the good things that are going on. I think the biggest challenge is not to get discouraged or to feel overwhelmed from the magnitude of the problems and the responsibility that we face and to keep trusting in God for His blessing in spite of imperfection. I've often said that 95%of the church is great; 5% is not so hot; and1% of that is down right nasty. If I'm not careful I tend to focus 50% of my time on the 5% -trying correct it - and I lose the big picture. To keep the big pictureand to stay upbeat is a challenge for every leader."
6. What goals do you have as a leader?
Bob: "To be a Godly husband, father, grandfather and honor the Lord in thatway and then to lead as many to a growing personal relationship with Christ as possible. More recently I have a goal to finish strong."
7. Where do you see yourself in ten years?
Bob: "I've not had, ever, a lot of personal goals other than to try to be obedient to God's leading day by day. I haven't been a big visionary but God has done more in my life than I could ever ask or imagine. If God allows me to keep living I'd love to be teaching the Bible to beginners and mentoring ministers 10 years for now in a way that is helpful."
Bob, Thank you for taking time for the Leadership Blog Interview! There is some great wisdom in what you've said, that we can all learn from. I HAVE to make it to one of your Saturday services since I now live less than an hour away.
You Don't Know Jack!
Jack Hayford Doesn't Set Goals
"We never set goals—that is, in the sense of numerical targets, fund-raising drives, or enlargement campaigns. Our one goal is to build big people. Every effort goes into developing each believer in the threefold ministry of worship, fellowship, and stewardship of the gospel."
Link via Todd.
The Leadership Blog Interview: Guy Kawasaki
Guy Kawasaki
Bio: Guy Kawasaki is a managing director of Garage Technology Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm and a columnist for Forbes.com. Previously, he was an Apple Fellow at Apple Computer, Inc. where he was one of the individuals responsible for the success of the Macintosh computer.
Guy is the author of eight books including The Art of the Start, Rules for Revolutionaries, How to Drive Your Competition Crazy, Selling the Dream, and The Macintosh Way. He has a BA from Stanford University and an MBA from UCLA as well as an honorary doctorate from Babson College.
Site: guykawasaki.com/
The Leadership Blog Interview
1. Guy, what gives you the greatest joy in being a leader?
Guy: "Seeing younger people develop and succeed. At this point in my career, I don't care much about my career. My role is to help others, not myself."
2. What is your biggest pet peeve as a leader?
Guy: "Shoddy work--particularly first drafts of documents and PowerPoints. I have zero patience for crappy work."
3. Who made the biggest influence in your life as a leader?
Guy: "My father and mother. My father because he taught me to be fair,understanding, and the concept of noblesse oblige. My mother because shetaught me not to take any crap from anyone."
4. What books have changed your life?
Guy: "You mean because of the royalty stream or what I learned from them? :-) I assume the latter. Then the books would be: In Search of Excellence, The Effective Executive, If You Want to Write, Uncommon Genius, Crossing the Chasm, and The Innnovator's Dilemma."
5. What's your biggest challenge as a leader?
Guy: "I don't consider myself a leader--not anymore anyway. When I was a leader, Iwas terrible at the touchy feely stuff about helping people understand themselves and realize their goals. This is why I wrote The Art of the Start."
6. What goals do you have as a leader?
Guy: "Right now, I have no goals as a leader because I don't want to be one. I want to find leaders and fund them. And help them become great leaders, butI don't want to be one myself."
7. Where do you see yourself in ten years?
Guy: "I'd like to staying at home, raising children, writing a book every 3 yearsor so, making 25 speeches/year, and playing hockey every day."
Guy, Thanks for taking time for the interview. After, reading where you've influenced so many leaders, "The Art of the Start" will be added to my library very soon!
Get-Over-The-Hump-Day Quote
" The quality of a person's life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor." - Vince Lombardi
New Layout?
If you're on Bloglines, you have to come in to see this! This is just a temporary layout, until I get the "NEW"! Leadership Blog design and domain. But I thought this was pretty wild.
The Leadership Blog Interview: Mark Evans
Mark Evans
Bio: Mark Evans is the founder and Senior Pastor of The Church at Rock Creek, a fast - growing congregation of 3,000 in Little Rock, Arkansas. The Church at Rock Creek was recently featured in Church Growth magazine’s list of “The 100 Fastest Growing Churc hes in America.” He is also the author of “An Inning at a Time: Nine Base Hits to Get You Home in the Game of Life,” a book about the consistent strategies that successful people apply in their every day life.
Church: The Church at Rock Creek
Site: PeoplemattertoGod.com
The Leadership Blog Interview
1. What gives you the greatest joy in being a leader?
Mark: "I’m at my best and enjoying myself the most when I am leading a team of people to accomplish ministry that makes a real difference – ministry that meets the real needs of hurting people. Ten years after starting the church, I still find immense satisfaction and fulfillment in living out our mission to “take Jesus as He is to people as they are.”
2. What is your biggest pet peeve as a leader?
Mark: "Being around people with small minds and small dreams, who major in the minor and don’t see the big picture. I believe God invites us to live in large places, with a vision that would take our breath away if we fully understood all that He wanted to do in and through us! Too many people walk through life in shoes that are too small, afraid to step out in faith and risk it all in their pursuit of God’s best for their lives. "
3. Who made the biggest influence in your life as a leader?
Mark: "I’ve been influenced the most by working with people who have struggled with addictions – drugs, sex, alcohol, food, gambling, you name it. When you have the privilege of watching genuine change occur in their lives, and realize that these are the people who are fighting life’s biggest battles and winning – it just doesn’t get any better. Those people are my heroes."
4. What books have changed your life?
Mark: "Today Matters by John Maxwell. The Purpose Driven Church by Rick Warren. Rediscovering Church by Bill Hybels. Maxwell taught me the value of thinking through every day, how to live it with maximum impact. Warren taught me new ways to think about the church in today’s culture. Hybels taught me the reality of starting a church, the myriad difficulties that you’ll encounter – and why the struggle is worth it."
5. What's your biggest challenge as a leader?
Mark: "Prioritizing the dreams. You have to remember that you can only tackle so many dreams at one time. You can – and should – still dream them; but you may have to delay some while you accomplish others."
6. What goals do you have as a leader?
Mark: "To finish out our ministry campus, with a home for abused and neglected kids, a residential minis try for teenagers who need help, and a medical clinic for those who have fallen through the cracks of the health care system. Because in the end, it doesn’t matter what else you do – if you don’t meet the real needs of the real people in your community, you’ve failed to walk as Jesus walked, ministering as He ministered."
7. Where do you see yourself in ten years?
Mark: "Dreaming new dreams about what God has in store for me as a leader at fifty. That’s one of the things I love about growing older: every st age of life is different and exciting – full of new things that God wants to do in and through us, things that are literally beyond our comprehension and imagination ten years earlier."
Thanks Mark for a great interview! This is a great quote, "Because in the end, it doesn’t matter what else you do – if you don’t meet the real needs of the real people in your community, you’ve failed to walk as Jesus walked, ministering as He ministered."
25 Ways to Distinguish Yourself
Check out this manifesto by Rajesh Setty on "25 Ways to Distinguish Yourself". Good stuff.
The Leadership Blog Interview: Doug Pagitt
Doug Pagitt
Bio: Doug is the Pastor of Solomon’s Porch in Minneapolis. He is part of Emergent and the Gospel in our Culture Network.
Doug is married to Shelley and father of Michon, Taylor, Ruben and Chico. He is the author of the books Church Re-Imagined, Preaching Re-Imagined and BodyPrayer.
Church: www.solomonsporch.com/
Blog: pagitt.typepad.com/
The Leadership Blog Interview
1. Doug, What gives you the greatest joy in being a leader?
Doug: "I find leadership to be situational. in other words we lead incertain areas and certain situations. So to me it is not about beinga leader, but leading in certain things. Since we all lead in onearea or the other the great joy I find is connecting the areas I leadin to the places where others lead. In other words, my joy comes inconnecting my life with others in a way that brings about somethingwonderful that could not have come about without the dedication of usas leaders. So, I guess I would say the best part of leadership iswhat comes in cooperation."
2. What is your biggest pet peeve as a leader?
Doug: "I find that so many people feel they have nothing to add, or no leadership to provide. In my view of leadership, based on cooperation, frustration builds when people see themselves as followers only, and do not have hopes, dreams and desires of their own."
3. Who made the biggest influence in your life as a leader?
Doug: "There are so many people who have lead in different ways that have influenced me. As I reflect on this question, it strikes me that depending on the situation there have been different influences."
4. What books have changed your life?
Doug: "Not sure I would say any books have changed my life. I have neverthought about books in that light. It kind of sounds like the question from Junior High School, "what is your favorite song". But maybe books have changed my life, there are sure many that I recommend and loved reading, I will give some time thinking of books in that way and see what comes to mind."
5. What's your biggest challenge as a leader?
Doug: "Being able to help draw from others and myself the deeply seated dreams in our hearts, minds and imaginations."
6. What goals do you have as a leader?
Doug: "I am not trying to be flippant, but it really depends on thesituation. There are times when it is people-development, and timeswhen my goal is to get a task done. Other times I want to keepsomething from happening and still again trying to make something happen. One of my early mentors says that the job of a leaders is to do what needs to be done. In my life there are so many things I do, from church, to parenting, to writing, to being a neighbor, to being a friend that I could not begin to list my goals overall."
7. Where do you see yourself in ten years?
Doug: "10 years older for sure. That will make me 49. I think much abouthow I want to spend my 40's and have not settled on that as of yet.This is the kind of question that I do spend much time thinking about. My guess is that I will be deeply involved with global justice issues in some ways."
Thanks Doug for taking time for an interesting interview!
The Leadership Blog Interview: Mark Batterson
Mark Batterson
Bio: Mark Batterson serves as lead pastor of National Community Church in Washington, DC. Starting with a core group of 19 people, NCC has morphed into one church with two locations—the movie theaters @ Union Station in Washington, DC and Ballston Common Mall in Arlington, VA. Comprised largely of Capitol Hill staffers, NCC is 80% single and 80% twenty-something. The macro vision of NCC is to meet in movie theaters @ metro stops throughout the DC area.
Mark is the author of ID: The True You; a weekly online evotional; and a daily blog. He also serves as Chief Spiritual Officer of GodiPod.com, a start-up that preloads iPods with sermons, audio devotionals, and music.
Church: National Community Church
Blog: www.markbatterson.com
1. What gives you the greatest joy in being a leader?
Mark: "I love helping people cross the line of faith. Whenever I baptize someone I think internally, "This is what it's all about."
I love helping twenty-somethings navigate the quarterlife crisis. NCC is 80% single and 80% twenty-something.
I love experimenting with new ways of doing church. If the Kingdom of God were a company, I think NCC would work in the Research & Development Department (R & D). One of our core values is: everything is an experiment. I love trying to say old things in new ways. I love trying to brand sermon series with new wineskins. I love experimenting with new ways of preaching. We meet in movie theater so we've done "trailers" for sermon series for several years, but we're getting into short films as a form of "offsite preaching."
2. What is your biggest pet peeve as a leader?
Mark: "Naysayers.
I've learned that every church has a bell curve. There are innovators and adopters who embrace change. But there are also laggards and resisters. I don't love laggards and resisters any less. But sometimes I want to show them a picture of Neil Armstrong getting out of the lunar module and stepping onto the moon. We put a man on the moon. Naysay no more!
I think God is glorified when we dream God-sized dreams. Anything less is boring. "
3. Who made the biggest influence in your life as a leader?
Mark: "My father-in-law, Bob Schmidgall, planted a church (Calvary Church in Naperville, IL) and pastored it for more than thirty years. I saw what could happen if you plant yourself in one place and invest your life there. That's what I want to do in Washington, DC. I want to pastor one church for the rest of my life.
4. What books have changed your life?
Mark: "I'm a book-a-holic. On my blog (http://www.markbatterson.com/) I've got a recommended list of 100 of my favorite books in a variety of categories."
A few recent reads include: Brand Sense by Martin Lindstrom; i am not but I know I Am by Louie Giglio; and The World is Flat by Thomas Friedman."
5. What's your biggest challenge as a leader?
Mark: "I always feel like I'm trying to catch up with my ideas."
6. What goals do you have as a leader?
Mark: "I have three core convictions:
C1: The church ought to be the most creative place on the planet.
C2: The greatest message deserves the greatest marketing.
C3: The church is called to compete in the middle of the marketplace.
Those three convictions are what drives me. I guess I'm more conviction-driven than goal-oriented.
Our macro vision is to meet in movie theaters @ metro stops throughout the DC area. There are fifty-seven theaters in the greater Washington area so we've got a ways to go. I do envision NCC becoming a five-digit church. But I'm realizing that impact can't be measured by attendance alone. Our podcast (http://www.theaterchurch.com/) had more than 6500 unique visitors last month. And I used to think my blog (http://www.markbatterson.com/) supplemented my sermons. Now I think it might be the other way around. "
7. Where do you see yourself in ten years?
Mark: "John Chancellor said, "If you want to see God laugh, tell him your plans."
I see myself pastoring National Community Church. I also feel as called to write as I do to pastor. One of my personal goals is to write at least one book a year so I hope I've written ten books in ten years. There are also a few "God ideas" that weren't on my radar a few months ago. I'm the CSO of a start-up called GodiPod.com. We'll launch in October 2005 so I have no idea what GodiPod will become in the next month let alone ten years.
Those are my plans. I'm sure God is laughing!"
Mark thanks for a great interview! Your vision really excites and inspires me to reach for more!
Funny Caption Contest: World's Smallest Church
See who can come up with the funniest caption, but keep it clean!
The Leadership Blog Interview: Sally Morgenthaler
Sally Morgenthaler
Bio: Known best for her book, Worship Evangelism (Zondervan, 1998). She has contributed to eight books. Her latest collaborative effort was Exploring the Worship Spectrum: Six Views (2004, Zondervan). Morgenthaler’s chapter, “Emerging Worship” has been haled as a “worship road-map” to emerging worship. InterVarsity Press will publish her debut work on leadership, with an expected release of 2007. Morgenthaler writes the worship and culture column for Leonard Sweet’s, PreachingPlus (www.preachingplus.com).
Morgenthaler has taught both graduate courses at some of the nation’s most respected theological institutions, incuding Yale University, Asbury Seminary, Denver Seminary, Fuller Theological Seminary, Gordon Conwell Seminary, Mars Hill Graduate School, Baylor University, and Texas Christian University. She has been a featured guest on radio stations around the country, as well as a featured speaker at a host of leadership and worship conferences.
Site: www.sacramentis.com
The Leadership Blog Interview Questions
1. Sally, What gives you the greatest joy in being a leader?
Sally: "Leadership for me is about creating space for others to flourish and live their best lives. I love setting up an environment that releases people to innovate, re:imagine, and co-create together."
2. What is your biggest pet peeve as a leader?
Sally: "Trying to work within antiquated, top-down systems. Business models ofeven ten years ago do not tap into peoples' creative energy or releasetheir best ideas and work."
3. Who made the biggest influence in your life as a leader?
Sally: "Carrell Pray, teacher, musician, photographer, artist. Her rennaissance-spirit, ability to go way beyond the box in any endeavor,and focus on releasing latent talent is nothing short of phenomenal. Her mantra in life: anything is possible. "
4. What books have changed your life?
Sally: "Thomas Kuhn - The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, Margaret Wheatley's -Finding Our Way: Leadership for Uncertain Times; also, Leadership and the New Science, Carole Gilligan's -In a Different Voice"
5. What's your biggest challenge as a leader?
Sally: "Holding my own goals loosely. If I truly believe that my job is to simply open up the pathways for peoples' best ideas and work, my job is not to provide the sole vision for an organization or project, but to co-create the best communal vision. If my identity is wrapped up in the small lens I have on life, that fixation will become a barrier to innovation and relationship - both so crucial to transformational change."
6. What goals do you have as a leader?
Sally: "Right now, I'm in a deeply reflective mode about what's next for me on this planet. I am trying to stay open to any option, not discounting the wildest idea. I am an artist at the core, and I long to return to the expressive work in music, photography, and writing that sustains my spirit and speaks a bit of truth to others. Where leadership will fit in to that trajectory, I don't have any idea."
7. Where do you see yourself in ten years?
Sally: "A whole lot healthier in mind, body, and soul than I am now. Perhap sserving as a guide for church leaders re: collaborative, co-creativesystems (certainly not the norm in church life now!) I also see women's mental and working style DNA as key to making the transition into postmodern culture. I am starting to work with women leaders to help them by-pass years of invalidation and affirm that their time has come to lead."
Thanks Sally for a great interview and for being the first woman and worship leader to take the Leadership Blog Interview!
10 Easy Ways to Make Your Church Services More Boring
Check out Tony Morgan's post titled, "10 Easy Ways to Make Your Church Services More Boring". Great stuff.
The Leadership Blog Interview: Dan Reiland
Dan Reiland
Bio: Dan Reiland serves as Executive Pastor at Crossroads Community Church in Lawrenceville, Georgia. He previously partnered with John Maxwell for 20 years, first as Executive Pastor at Skyline Wesleyan Church in San Diego, then as Vice President of Leadership and Church Development at INJOY. His semi-monthly e-newsletter, The Pastor’s Coach is distributed to over 60,000 subscribers.
Church: Crossroads Community Church
The Leadership Blog Interview
1. Dan, What gives you the greatest joy in being a leader?
Dan: "Coaching and seeing people find their place in the kingdom. I don't mean a dutiful response, but a Kingdom "sweet spot" like Buechner says: "The place God calls you to, is the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet." Frederick Buechner (Daily Meditations, Harper and Row, 1992, p. 185)"
2. What is your biggest pet peeve as a leader?
Dan: "Leaders with pet peeves. OK, I'm not serious about that, so, here's mine. People taking themselves too seriously and focusing on little things that don't matter. Life is too short to fuss about meaningless things. At my stage in life I have discovered that there are few real problems that can't be solved with people who want to solve them and a tall cup of Starbucks Columbian."
3. Who made the biggest influence in your life as a leader?
Dan: "Clearly John Maxwell. I am so very fortunate to have been personally mentored by John for 20 years. I often think I should be a better leader than I am with that kind of training, so don't hold my shortcomings against John!"
4. What books have changed your life?
Dan: "That's tough for me to answer. There are so many and I continue to read, learn and see my life shaped and re-shaped by the thoughts and experiences of others. So, let me offer one that had high influence. Richard Foster's Celebration of Discipline. It's not an exciting book, but I couldn't put it down. That was 24 years ago, and I have been teaching others from that book ever since."
5. What is your biggest challenge as a leader?
Dan: "Leveraging my choices for greatest impact. I'm at a stage in leadership and ministry where working harder and doing more are not the answer. Working smart and making wise and relevant Kingdom choices as I stare down my "final" run. Hey, I'm 50. When you are aware of what is your last 15 plus years, decisions are more weighty. I feel young, and think young, but my teenagers remind me that I'm not as wise and relevant as I want to believe I am. They, along with my younger staff keep me on my toes."
6. What goals do you have as a leader?
Dan: "Investing in the next generation of leaders is one of my great and consistent themes right now. I still have much to accomplish personally, especially through writing, but I possess an inner stir to unleash young leaders and get them running well and in the right direction."
7. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Dan: "It is highly likely that I will still be the Executive Pastor right here at Crossroads. I'm having the time of my life and it's not yet time to find my replacement. Check with me in about 9 years and I'll give you a better answer."
Dan, Thanks for giving some insight into the life of a great leader! I really enjoy your "Pastor's Coach" e-newsletter.
Get-Over-The-Hump-Day Quote
"Preparation is -if not the key to genius-then at least the key to sounding like a genius." -Winston Churchill
An Apple a Day..
Motorola ROKR E1
Introducing iTunes for your mobile phone. With iTunes on your Motorola ROKR E1, you can listen to music on your mobile phone, wherever, whenever you want.
A big day for Apple with the release of the Motorola ROKR E1, the iPod Nano, and iTunes 5.0. The ROKR is not bad at $249.99 but do I need a iTunes on a cell phone?
The Leadership Blog Interview: Todd Hunter
Todd Hunter
Bio: Todd Hunter is national director of Alpha USA and works as adjunct professor at George Fox University. Todd served as the national director for the Association of Vineyard Churches (1994-2001) with John Wimber.
Blog: toddhunter.org/
The Leadership Blog Interview Questions
1. What gives you the greatest joy in being a leader?
Todd: "Helping others realize the vision God has given them; being “coach” Hunter, assisting others to analyze and respond to the opportunities, gifts, etc. and threats within themselves and within culture so that their vision comes true. I like working with honest, self-aware, highly motivated people."
2. What is your biggest pet peeve as a leader?
Todd: "People who are not willing to grow and change and who are self-serving; they can ruin even the best of plans and drive good leaders crazy."
3. Who made the biggest influence in your life as a leader?
Todd: "John Wimber: though he had a few faults, he was a consummate leader.
Dallas Willard: he is a spectacular example of “what it means to be a follower of Jesus”. Though his profession skills as a philosopher/theologian are immense, his qualities of being are even better!"
4. What books have changed your life?
Todd: "Leadership: Max DePree: “Leadership is an Art” and “Leading without Power”
Theology: Willard (all his books, but especially the Divine Conspiracy) and Tom Wright (again, all his books but especially The Challenge of Jesus and Following Jesus)"
5. What's your biggest challenge as a leader?
Todd: "Me: believing in myself and ensuring that I do not tire in the process of seeking personal growth and change—that I never say “It is good enough”."
6. What goals do you have as a leader?
Todd: "To continue and deepen my own life as a follower of Jesus; to become more and more oriented around the Kingdom and the leading of the Holy Spirit. To envision for myself and then articulate to others a kind of life in the Kingdom and Spirit that makes sense of every aspect of one’s life in a naturally and simple way."
7. Where do you see yourself in ten years?
Todd: "I have some ideas, but they are not yet ready for the prime time of public consumption—ask me again in about a year!"
Thanks Todd for taking time for an interesting interview!
Freebie!
Check out Seth Godin's new Free e-book "Who's There?" It's "Seth's Incomplete Guide to Blogs and the New Web".
The Leadership Blog Interview: Mark Waltz
Mark Waltz
Bio: Mark is Pastor of Connections at Granger Community Church in Granger, IN. Granger has over 5000 each Sunday and is one of the fastest growing churches in America. Mark is also author of the book, "First Impressions, Creating Wow Experiences in Your Church"
Church: Granger Community Church
Blog: markwaltz.typepad.com
The Leadership Blog Interview
1. Mark, what gives you the greatest joy in being a leader?
Mark: "Watching light bulbs go on for people when they understand their significance in Christ, relationships and personal S.H.A.P.E. and are then empowered to BE what God had originally designed them to be."
2. What is your biggest pet peeve as a leader?
Mark: "Veteran “insiders” (believers, members, leaders) who become internally focused and forget our mutual mission and vision."
3. Who made the biggest influence in your life as a leader?
Mark: "A couple of grandma-types – one blood relative, the other not – who believed in me, encouraged me in my middle and high school years to trust God. Their faithfulness right where they were through all sorts of adversity made a huge impression on me."
4. What books have changed your life?
Mark: "In addition to the scriptures, the Bible, I would add: Larry Crabb’s books: Inside Out and Finding God, Henry Cloud’s: Changes that Heal, Rick Warren’s: the Purpose Driven Church"
5. What's your biggest challenge as a leader?
Mark: "Continuing to discover and narrow my focus on my “sweet spot”."
6. What goals do you have as a leader?
Mark: "Help my wife and daughter realize their God-given potential in God’s redemptive plan. Build a stellar of team around myself (it’s a great team; I want to continue to make it great-er) with whom my life mission to help people tap their God-given significance in personal relationships with God and others can be fulfilled… while at the same time helping my team to accomplish their life mission. Write a second book … still narrowing the focus. Bring crystal-clear clarity to the options of connection and growth for the guests and members of our church. Articulate, teach and mentor other leaders who are wired for relational leadership like I am."
7. Where do you see yourself in ten years?
Mark: "At Granger Community Church advancing the mission, experiencing the thrill of people taking their next steps toward Christ… together."
Sunday Stew
Psalm 1:1 - "How well God must like you--you don't hang out at Sin Saloon, you don't slink along Dead-End Road, you don't go to Smart-Mouth College." (The Message)
"Just remember: Every baseball team could use a man who plays every position perfectly, never strike out and never makes an error. The trouble is, there's no way to make him lay down his hot dog and come out of the stands." -Illustrations Unlimited
The Leadership Blog Interview: Steve Sjogren
Steve Sjogren
Bio: Steve Sjogren has been involved in church planting in Los Angeles, Baltimore, and Oslo, Norway. He is the founding pastor of Vineyard Community Church (VCC) in Cincinnati, Ohio. With a strong emphasis on small groups, church planting, caring for the needy, and an innovative approach to evangelism called “servant evangelism,” VCC has seen attendance grow from 37 people to more than 6,000.
Church: Vineyard Cincinnati
Site: stevesjogren.com
1. Steve, What gives you the greatest joy in being a leader?
Steve: "Seeing people become visionary leaders. I can go on for weeks after one or two people “get it” with the kingdom message. It’s all about becoming outward. When people catch the fire for reaching out I am ignited."
2. What is your biggest pet peeve as a leader?
Steve: "I can’t stand people, churches, leaders, etc. that are inwardly focused – who exist just to stay in business for another year but have no idea why they are doing what they are doing."
3. Who made the biggest influence in your life as a leader?
Steve: "John Wimber, the founder of the Vineyard movement."
4. What books have changed your life?
Steve: "I read a LOT, so I would have to go with what has influenced me lately... Re-Imagine by Tom Peters, The Art of the Start by Guy Kawasaki, Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi."
5. What's your biggest challenge as a leader?
Steve: "Two things: I tend to overestimate how much I can accomplish in the short run, and I tend to underestimate how much I can accomplish in the long run as I faithfully keep up my steady pace going the same direction, faithfully, step after step."
6. What goals do you have as a leader?
Steve: "I am busy right now preparing to move to the east side of Tampa to plant a new church so I am recruiting and raising funds. Most of my energy is going in that direction right now. I believe this will be a significant church. We are prayerfully planning on planting dozens of churches out of this launching pad church."
7. Where do you see yourself in ten years?
Steve: "Being a smart old dude, leading Coastland Church in the Tampa area, innovating lots of things, mentoring lots of younger guys, touching hundreds of thousands of people each year with acts of kindness and generosity."
Steve, Thanks for taking time for the interview. For those of you who don't know, Steve offers his sermon graphics for free. Just check out his personal site and email him and ask for them! He truly is a kind guy!
New Orleans Video
Pastor Dino Rizzo from Healing Place Church has new video on his blog from New Orleans.
The Leadership Blog Interview: Craig Groeschel
Craig Groeschel
Bio: Craig Groeschel is Senior Pastor of Life Church. LifeChurch.tv meets in five locations with twenty-three weekend worship experiences averaging over 13,000 people per weekend. Life Church is also the #4 Fastest Growing Church in America.
Church: Life Church
The Leadership Blog Interview
1. What gives you the greatest joy in being a leader?
Craig: "Two things bring me the greatest joy. First, I love introducing people to Christ. Second, I enjoy helping every day Christ-followers become extraordinary ministers."
2. What is your biggest pet peeve as a leader?
Craig: "Small thinking."
3. Who made the biggest influence in your life as a leader?
Craig: "My parents and wife made the biggest difference personally. Lyle Schaller has made the biggest difference in my life as a minister."
4. What books have changed your life?
Craig: "The Bible is the book that brought me to Christ. I am inspired by reading biographies of great Christian leaders and stories of martyrs. Business and leadership books that spoke to me were, "Good to Great,""The Purple Cow," "The E-Myth revisited."
5. What's your biggest challenge as a leader?
Craig: "My biggest opportunity and challenge is finding and developing great leaders."
6. What goals do you have as a leader?
Craig: "My biggest goals are for my family. In ministry I constantly set short term goals. Every time I list long term goals, I feel like God laughs at how small they are. My desire is to stay out of the way and not limit God's work."
7. Where do you see yourself in ten years?
Craig: "Serving God at Lifechurch.tv."
Craig thanks for taking time for the interview! Life Church is a church that we all keep an eye on and that sets the standard for many of us. I also liked the fact that I couldn't find a photo of you without your wife!
High-Tech Circuit Riders
Check out this interesting article on "Satellite churches" by Christianity Today. It mentions Greg and Craig (who will be interviewed tomorrow) and compares them to Circuit Riders of the 1800's. Great stuff!
The Leadership Blog Interview: Tony Morgan
Tony Morgan
Bio: Tony Morgan is Pastor of Administrative Services at Granger Community Church. Granger has over 5000 each Sunday and is one of the fastest growing churches in America. In addition to writing several articles on staffing, technology, strategic planning and leadership for nationally known websites and publications, Tony has collaborated with Tim Stevens, executive pastor at GCC, on a series of books specifically for church leaders:
Simply Strategic Stuff
Simply Strategic Volunteers
Simply Strategic Growth
Church: Granger Community Church
Blog: tonymorgan.typepad.com
The Leadership Blog Interview
1. Tony, What gives you the greatest joy in being a leader?
Tony: "You mean after seeing people who were far from God become committed Christ-followers? That's my greatest joy as a leader. That's what drives me in life. I've given my life to reaching the unchurched forJesus. After that, what really pumps me up is seeing people soaring in their families, relationships and in their roles--ministry or marketplace. I love helping people get to a place where they're passionate about their contribution and they're empowered to perform at their highest capacity. I love helping people do what they do best."
2. What is your biggest pet peeve as a leader?
Tony: "Maintenance mode. I hate when I end up having to maintain anything. That probably sounds odd for a guy that's an administrator for a living, doesn't it? What's next? Where do we go from here? How can we make the system more effective? How do we make it happen? Those are always more intriguing questions for me."
3. Who made the biggest influence in your life as a leader?
Tony: "I'm surrounded by great leaders, so that's pretty hard. Mark Beeson, our senior pastor, has taught me more about the power of vision, teams, and encouragement than anyone. Tim Stevens, our executive pastor, has taught me a lot about managing relationships and the process that leads to successful execution. From a distance, BillHybels has really fueled my passion for leadership and the ministry ofthe local church. Then there are countless numbers of leaders that I'mconstantly reading and listening to both in ministry and themarketplace that stretch my thinking. I'm in constant learning mode."
4. What books have changed your life?
Tony: "Well, other than the Bible, of course, number one on the list wouldprobably be Rick Warren's Purpose Driven Church. God used that book toconfirm a calling in my life for ministry. When I read Warren's visionfor the church, I knew I wanted to serve at a church that wasintentional about reaching people far from God and helping thembecoming fully-devoted followers of Christ. Actually--I probably shouldn't admit this--I was reading and re-reading that book so much,my 3-year-old daughter started referring to it as "Daddy's Bible." Part of the reason I gave up my career in city management and became a pastor was because of that book. I guess that's a pretty big life change."
5. What's your biggest challenge as a leader?
Tony: "Dealing with me. There are days when I'm too comfortable with what I can accomplish through my own efforts. There are days when I'm not confident enough in what God can accomplish through me. Either way--it's sin. God's still doing a work in me. I'm still pursuing him."
6. What goals do you have as a leader?
Tony: "Remain faithful and committed to my wife. Raise my kids well. Do something great for God in ministry at my church. Help other churches to be cool so they can more effectively reach people who haven't yetfound Christ. Have fun doing all of that with people I love."
7. Where do you see yourself in ten years?
Tony: "I can't think that far ahead. I'm still trying to figure out what I'm going to do tomorrow."
Thanks Tony for taking the time for the interview. Your articles and insight has really inspired me.