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."
The Leadership Blog Interview: John Palmer
The Leadership Blog Interview: Ron Woods
Ron Woods
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"
The Leadership Blog Interview: Doug Clay
Doug Clay - General Treasurer of the A/G
Bio: Douglas E. Clay was elected general treasurer of the Assemblies of God by the Executive Presbytery in January 2008. He is a member of the Executive Leadership Team and the Executive Presbytery. Clay oversees the Division of the Treasury, which is responsible for handling all finances sent to Headquarters for the world ministries of the church.
Prior to his election as general treasurer, Clay served as superintendent of the Ohio District from June 2004 to 2008. He pastored Calvary Assembly of God in Toledo, Ohio, from 1997 to 2004. Clay has also served as the Assemblies of God national youth director (1995-1997), Ohio District youth director (1989-1995) and as a youth pastor in Ohio and Iowa.
The Leadership Blog Interview Questions
1. Doug, What gives you the greatest joy in being a leader?
Doug: “Fulfilling God’s purposes for my life…Helping leaders reach their potential…Contributing to church health.”
2. What is your biggest pet peeve as a leader?
Doug: “Observing leaders unwillingness to change…Watching leaders NOT surround themselves with people who are more gifted than they, due to their personal insecurities. There are great gifts in a pew that should be on church boards but are not because of this very reason!”
3. Who made the biggest influence in your life as a leader?
Doug: “My mom… (my dad died when I was 9, she raised me as a single mom) also Bill Leach and Gary Meyer.”
4. Doug, What books have changed your life?
Doug: :Other than the Bible…various books at different times in my life. For example, I was greatly impacted by Richard Foster’s book, “Spiritual Disciplines” in Bible college, however John Ortberg’s book, “The Life You’ve Always Wanted” really impacted me as a pastor. Both books on spiritual disciplines, different, yet impacted me. I do love to read Leadership and Management books and love reading about leadership trends from subscriptions like Fast Company.”
5. What's your biggest challenge as a leader?
Doug: “Prioritizing…giving myself to the priorities that need to be accomplished. Interruptions, which are a part of ministry, can really challenge your priorities.”
6. What goals do you have as a leader?
Doug: “ I want to give myself fully to helping leaders/pastors reach their potential and seeing churches become churches of influence.”
7. Where do you see yourself in ten years?
Doug: “In love with Jesus and my wife, enjoying life and giving myself fully to the ministry that God has me in! I would like to break 80 consistently in golf! (We believe in miracles right?)”
The Leadership Blog Interview: Alton Garrison
Alton Garrison
Assistant General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God
Bio: L. Alton Garrison was elected assistant general superintendent of the Assemblies of God at the 52nd General Council of the church in August 2007. He is a member of the Fellowship’s Executive Leadership Team and Executive Presbytery.
As assistant general superintendent, he serves as the commissioner on discipleship and as executive director for the Discipleship/Church Ministries Division, which includes all of the adult, youth and children ministries of the church.
Garrison served as executive director of U.S. Missions from 2005 until his election to assistant general superintendent. He served in district leadership in the Arkansas District, including assistant superintendent and superintendent from 2001 until his election to AG U.S. Missions. As superintendent, he launched a district mentoring ministry for pastors with the District Coaching Group and local church leadership through the Arkansas Cohort Group.
Garrison served as pastor of First Assembly of God in North Little Rock, Arkansas, for 15 years. Throughout his pastorate, the church experienced significant growth, developed extensive lay ministry involvement and gave millions to missions. Garrison began his pulpit ministry as an evangelist from 1966 to 1985.
Garrison is a graduate of Southwestern Assemblies of God University in Waxahachie, Texas. He is author of Hope in America’s Crisis and Building a Winning Team.
The Leadership Blog Interview Questions
1. Alton, What gives you the greatest joy in being a leader?
Alton : "Helping others reach their maximum Kingdom potential. After 18 years as an evangelist, 15 years as a pastor, and 4 years as a District Superintendent, I know I may not throw as many "touchdown passes" as I used to, but now I am privileged to help others throw them. Investing in others really brings me great joy."
2. What is your biggest pet peeve as a leader?
Alton: "Lack of sequential process. If the process is flawed the product will be flawed."
3. Who made the biggest influence in your life as a leader?
Alton: "Without a doubt, my father. He was a hopeless alcoholic when Christ saved him at age 37. His entire nature was changed and he became a pastor of a church before he had preached even one sermon. He was uneducated and never pastored a large church, but his wisdom and personal example still influences me greatly. "
4. What books have changed your life?
Alton: "Different seasons foster different needs, so I am reluctant to be too specific. At different times during my journey of faith and leadership development, I was able to receive instruction and encouragement by the books I read or the people I met."
5. What's your biggest challenge as a leader?
Alton: "Balancing spiritual sensitivity and learned behavior. Implementing time-tested principles can be tempting without waiting for God to give Divine direction."
6. What goals do you have as a leader?
Alton: "I am praying that I finish well."
7. Where do you see yourself in ten years?
Alton: "My experience has been that God has only revealed one chapter at a time."