Essentials Part 7: Leadership is a Privilege

Regarding the ministry "growth Essentials" I've been blogging about, I wish I could say the concepts are new and profound, but that's not the case.

They're really quite simple, in theory:

1. Healthy at the core.
2. High quality, low complexity (two posts).
3. Prayed up.
4. Outreach is indispensable (two posts).

Essential #5: Leadership is a Privilege.

This idea is tied into #1 above. Ministries that are healthy at the core tend to reproduce themselves.

Today I'd like to offer some observations "from the gut" about leadership teams:

Struggling teams:

• Are comprised of members who show up late, leave early and fail to notify anyone when they're absent.
• Either have autocratic leaders or weak leaders who are "too humble" to assert themselves.
• Are disorganized and are dominated by the strongest (but not always wisest) voices.
• Don't have reliable communication systems (that people actually use), such as email, Google docs, etc.
• Have to beg and cajole people to do things.
• Are not in prayer and scripture together. Plus, they're no fun.

Thriving teams:

• Love Jesus and each other. 
• Spend time in scripture, prayer and community-building.
• Are comprised of members who all make roughly the same commitment. They don't "carry" anyone.
• Are led by strong, sensitive leaders who know how to mine the wisdom of everyone present.
• Have clear goals and systems, and get important work accomplished.
• Are attractive to prospective members. This is the leadership pipeline.
• Require training.

I keep thinking of how short my life is and what a privilege and joy it is to serve on a thriving team. 

See you next week

Essentials Part 6: An Evangelism Taxonomy

The past few weeks I've been writing about Essentials for ministry growth, based on observations from my travels around the country.

This week is the second part of the outreach Essential: 
An Evangelism Taxonomy.

It seems to me that growing, fruitful ministries often take evangelism beyond a single level. Here is a three-level taxonomy that I see often, though the ministries that use it don't necessarily name it as such:

1. Social and Service Events: These are events with little or no Christian content that anyone can attend. We're talking parties, outings, road trips, movies, service projects. It's a great way to introduce a friend to the Christian community where there's no teaching and no pressure.

My church ran a couple of ballroom dancing events this past year. Perfect.

2. Content Events: Lectures, concerts, debates, presentations, Bible discussions where some aspect(s) of a Christian world and life view are presented, sometimes juxtaposed with nonChristian thought.

Example: At Michigan State a few months ago we held a public discussion with a group of atheists on campus. Then everyone went out for refreshments and good conversation afterward. 

3. Harvest Events: Events where a specific call to faith is made. 

In conclusion: With a variety of nonChristian friends in your life, you simply ask how far along the Holy Spirit has brought each person. Then invite accordingly.

Essentials Part 5: Outreach is Indispensable

Essentials for ministry growth that we've talked about so far:

• Healthy at the Core
• Reduce Complexity to the Point of Quality (two posts)
• Prayed Up

These are observations from my travels.

This week's essential: Outreach is Indispensable.

Occasionally I hear: Our job right now is to work on discipleship. We need to build up the saints to get them ready for outreach . . . 

Quite honestly, I've never seen that strategy work. I'm sure it has worked in various places, just none from my experience.

Rather, the pattern I see so frequently on the field is that growing ministries are doing evangelism now. They're not waiting until they're ready.  

They're not waiting to elevate their people to X level of maturity before turning outward.

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A few months ago I visited the University of Texas Pan American (where Houston is considered to be "up north"). 

We did evangelism every day I was there -- not just because I was there . . . they were already doing it. I just rode the wave they'd created.

I remember Jason. The very first hour I was on campus he walked in and told me his life story and came to faith in Christ right on the spot. Before my first presentation of the week.

Jason was the 50th conversion of the year for the UTPA ministry. 

How do you explain that? I say: vigilant prayer and persistent outreach.

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Next week I'll suggest a general strategy of evangelism that I believe will be helpful to the ministry where you serve.