Monthly Archives: January 2007

Loyalty and kindness

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Some time ago I read that just like every organization has a brand, so too every leader has a “brand.” A brand is your “trademark” – that by which you are known.

I agree with the idea that every leader has a brand, and as I was reading in Proverbs this a.m. I came across a verse that I asked and will continue to ask God to make “my brand” – Proverbs 3:3-4.

The two identifying marks in these verses are loyalty and kindness.

As a leader, I want people to be better because they are around me. I want them to enjoy Jesus, ministry, and life more because I am a part of their lives. And I want that to happen because of the love of Christ, the wisdom of God, and the power of the Holy Spirit that flows through me creating a “necklace” of loyalty and kindness.

So leaders, what words would the people around you use to describe you? Would the words “loyalty” or “kindness” be used?

What’s your brand/trademark?

Man Law

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OK, it’s true… I have broken a “Man Law” and have rooted for two teams – the Steelers and the Colts.

Someone pointed this out to me, and after some research I admit… I’m guilty.

However, in my defense I make the following points:

1) I have been a Colts fan longer than I have been a Steelers fan.

2) I was a Colts fan when they went 1-15 (I’m due here…)

3) This is a stupid law made up by worn out actors and angry, retired coaches.

So you can bet your boots I’m rooting for the Colts in the Super Bowl! And, I am still rooting for both teams next season… until they go head to head!

Leading out of prayer

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Recently I have had a couple of great experiences with others in prayer.

Today we had our weekly Management Team meeting. Typically we meet from 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. Recently we have been discussing shortening this meeting.

After the previously mentioned experiences in prayer I went to the MT with the suggestion that we NOT shorten our weekly meeting, but rather that we spend the first hour of our time together (from 8-9 a.m.) in prayer. They unanimously agreed. So, from now on we are going to be starting our weekly meetings with intense prayer! We have always begun in prayer, but now it will be the cornerstone of our meeting!

As pastors/leaders we are charged with wrestling with administrative “stuff” regularly. For instance, today we heard a presentation regarding adjustments to our sound system; discussed the monies being spent for snowplowing; discussed volunteer recruitment methods; discussed the position of the church on homosexuality and abortion (over lunch); and discussed a new campaign to pay off one of the loans on our new building; and that’s not all!

What we believe is that our “job” is primarily spiritual in nature and therefore, the more we are “in touch” with God through prayer, the wiser and more effective our administrative decisions will be.

I love leading with this team and am looking forward to the increased time in prayer that we will be spending together for our church!

Here in Florida

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It’s been a while since I’ve blogged. Bad blogger… no biscuit!

Quite a bit has happened since last Saturday…

  • We had a GREAT Management Team and Board retreat (more about that later).
  • We (i.e. Sherri, The Ladies, and I) left for Florida.
  • About five minutes into our trip we hit a deer! The whole left side of our van is now looking pretty nice… but at least we have the deer hanging on our back porch! KIDDING! But seriously… our van looks pretty bad!
  • On Sunday morning (about eleven hours into our trip) Lexington got sick and puked. But it was okay because I caught it in my hand and was able to throw it into a McDonald’s cup! At least it didn’t get all over the van AND I had a first time experience… :-I
  • Later that morning (about 9 a.m.) I crested a hill going “slightly more” than the speed limit. The nice man with a light on his car cut me a break and saved me a lot of money… though I still have to pay some. :-(
  • All in all, the trip down is going to be pretty tough on my insurance. I may not drive back!
  • We spent the last several days with the Bishops, superintendents, and other pastors from churches that have weekend attendance of over 500.
  • Today Jeff and I had lunch with Ralph Howe. Ralph is a pastor from Discovery Church in Orlando, Florida that is doing the “one church in multiple locations” thing. We asked a ton of questions; learned a lot, and were confirmed in a number of things we are doing (more about this later)
  • Tomorrow Sherri, The Ladies, and I are going to The Magic Kingdom. Tomorrow night Jeff and I are going to the main campus of the Discovery Church and then on Sunday we are going to the satellite campus of Discovery.
  • Tonight Jeff, Sherri, The Ladies, and I played mini-golf. The score was Sherri – 41 (par was 42); Jeff – 52; and Paul… he had a good time and enjoyed the view! ;-)

Do Numbers Matter? (A continuing conversation)

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“Do numbers matter?” People regularly ask why large churches are so “into numbers.” While I can’t speak for all churches, I can speak for Northgate and I’ll tell you why we’re “into numbers.”

We’re “into numbers” because behind every number there’s a name, a story, an eternal destiny! Behind every number there’s a person that God created, loves, and sent His Son to die for!

We care about numbers because if we go for three years and no one is saved as a result of our church then we’re not accomplishing our mission of “Bringing people to Jesus and building them up in that relationship” and therefore something MUST change!

We care about numbers because if we go for three years and no new discipleship connections (e.g. groups) are established then we are not accomplishing our mission and that means something MUST change!

I contend that it is irresponsible to not be “into numbers.” There are two ways to measure effectiveness: quantitatively (numbers) and qualitatively (stories). In my opinion the best way to measure ministry effectiveness is to have LOTS (quantitative) of stories (qualitative) about life change! If we aren’t tracking numbers then all we can rely on is “hearsay” or “hope so” and that’s not good enough when it comes to issues of eternal destiny!

The more people we “Bring to Jesus” the more people we save from Hell. The more people we “Build in this new relationship” the more marriages are saved; the more addicts are freed; the more people are freed from financial chaos;  the more people get to enjoy God and enage in purpose-driven living!

OK, there’s my take on it, but today I read a post that says it WAY better than I could! (click here to read the post)!

Click here to read my previous post on numbers.

Evaluation Time

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It’s that time around here… the time where all of the staff goes through performance evaluations!

Here’s the process…

1) Each management team member sets goals for his/her department that are in
alignment with our mission, vision, and values. These mutually agreed upon goals (i.e.
both the individual MT member and myself agree on the goal) become the
benchmark for the following year.

2) Every month we have “Face-Time” during which I spend time with each MT member
to ask: 1) How are you; 2) How’s your ministry area; 3) Are there any changes you
need to make; 4) Are there any resources you need; 5) How can I help you?

3) Every six months we sit down for a “formal” evaluation in which we review the
previous six months, make any adjustments necessary, and celebrate wins.

4) The individual being evaluated fills out the form (see below) and hands it into the
supervisor who has filled out the same form. The two compare notes and discuss any
differences. At the end of the evaluation they discuss areas that need to be adjusted and
celebrate areas of ministry effectiveness.

We all go through this process…

1) I am evaluated by our delegates using the same format that is used for the
Management Team.

2) I lead the performance evaluations for each Management Team member.

3) Each Management Team member is asked to carry out performance evaluations for
each paid staff member that they are supervising (e.g. Director of Discipleship
evaluates our paid children’s staff).

Why do we do performance evaluations?

We want to be as good as we can be and the best way to do that is to evaluate what we’re doing and the consequent results! If we are effective then we keep doing it! If we can be more effective then we adjust!

Evaluations provide us the opportunity to be introspective both personally and organizationally which consequently leads to a higher impact leadership team and more intentional missional activity!

You can click here to see the format we use.

Here’s to being the best we can be!

Some links worth checking out

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In case you haven’t heard… I am a fan of blogging and those who blog! Here are some of the highlights for this week…

1) Bob Franquiz – a great post on how to many churches try to do to many things and end
    up in trouble. A key quote of his = “Most churches increase ministry and lower
    their effectiveness as they grow. We have sought to do the opposite. We have
    narrowed the focus as we’ve grown and it has made all the
    difference.” (click here for the “rest of the story”)

2) Seth Godin - a compact but nevertheless powerful insight into leadership (click here).

3) Craig Groeschel - a funny commentary on why people come to church. It is also a
    reminder to us of why we do what we do! (click here)

Have fun!

After church thoughts

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I CAN’T BELIEVE IT’S 2007 AND WE’RE NOT HAVING CHURCH ON THE MOON! OK, just kidding there, but you’ve gotta admit, you probably thought back in the 70′s and 80′s that by this time something like that might be a possibility! ;-)

Here’s some reflections on this past weekend…

1) We launched a new sermon series entitled “The Marriage Journey.” This is a three
part series (Married with Children; Married with Teens; and Married in an Empty
Nest). Each of our speakers is someone who is currently living in the situation (i.e. Vern
is talking about “Married in an Empty Nest”). This is gonna be fun!

2) We had a fire truck in our back parking lot this weekend! Kids JAM is doing a
series in which they’re asking the question,”What does God want you to be?” They
are exploring the various character traits that God wants/creates in His children. This
weekend they talked about bravery… hence the firetruck and fireman! If your car got
sprayed…. :-0 sorry!

3) With the addition of the “thursdays” service @ south we had a total of 916 people
in worship services this weekend! Praise God!

4) Just a HUGE “Praise God” – our “Great Expectations” building campaign is wrapping
up in March and at this point we are at 94% completion! This is INCREDIBLE!
Thanks to everyone of you who have given so faithfully… and many of you
who have given sacrificially!

5) I love you guys!

How should we do church?

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In the church world there is an ongoing debate about how to “do church right.” Is it loud music or quiet music? Is it bright lights or no lights? Is it suits and ties or jeans and t-shirts?

This debate rages among denominations, pastors, churched, and unchurched! No one is excluded from this grand free-for-all!

Think about it… everyone, and I mean everyone, has an opinion about how church should “be done.” Even people that don’t go to church have opinions about how it should be done.

Books are written about how church should be done. New denominations are started with an idea of how church should be done. Strategies, structures, methods, etc… all of these nip at the heels of the church that is committed to its mission of life-change!

Sometimes it’s so crazy that the other day I looked at Sherri and said, “When did church become so complicated?”

Well, I think I have a response to that… church became complicated when culture became complicated! Let me just list a few “complications”:

- technology (e.g. sound systems; financial software; powerpoint; etc.)

- sexuality (e.g. sexuality didn’t used to be such common theme – for instance compare
   Leave it to Beaver with Desperate Housewives)

- ethics (e.g. abortion; stem cell research; internet addictions; etc.)

- liberal theology (e.g. ordination of homosexual clergy; the position that the Bible is 
   not the authoritative word of God)

- Secular “competition” for the weekend (e.g. work; sports; etc.)

- People’s busy lives (e.g. the very common 60+ hour work week is a chief competitor 
   for the church… people want their weekends off!)

The reality is that church is not as simple as it used to be! In my opinion, the church can respond in one of two ways…

1) It can rub its hands in dismay and lament the current shape of things, or

2) It can pray like missional effectiveness depends on God and work like missional
     effectiveness depends on us!

Perry Noble, a blogger that I read frequently, has a post in which he discusses this topic further (click here).

As for me… I’m ready to fight! I believe that God has given us a great group of people in a great location and I’m ready to wage war against our enemy… Satan, and push back His boundaries! I want to be a part of an army that does exactly what Jesus said we would do… push back the gates of Hell (Matthew 16:18)!

OK… vent’s over… :-)