Yes, you read the title correctly and you have every right to think I’m nuts.

Our world is full of chaos and distractions that continually pull us away from what we should be focused on. As individuals we can easily let the everyday chaos pull us away from our time with God, family, the church, and our friends. As a church or organization we can let chaos dictate our vision, principles, and goals when it raises its ugly head. By putting out one fire after another in our personal life and organizations we turn our focus away from the vision and calling God has placed upon us. We eventually become centered on man’s desire instead of God’s.

So how can chaos be a good thing?

1. At some point you and your organization will have enough! You will come to the realization that if you let chaos be in control there will be no control.
2. Chaos can reveal the desire for simplicity. We all desire less choices and boundaries… even if we complain about it. Organizations also thrive with a specific and simplistic message that followers can grasp, relate to, and repeat.
3. Chaos can force you to release leadership and delegate. The more you have on your plate the quicker you realize you are not the Lone Ranger and you begin to equip those around you. The more an organization has on its agenda the quicker its employees/members burnout which leads you back to #2.
4. Chaos can force you and your organization to define itself. Will you and/or your organization be known as the catch all, professional plate spinners, and fire brigade? Or will you begin the painful process of simplicity and learning to say no.
5. Chaos can reveal great leaders. If you survive the painful process of simplification you will find yourself confident in who and what God has called you to be. If your organization survives the simplification process you will lose “leaders” that are content with keeping the peace, mediocrity, and a desire to be needed. It will gain sacrificial and courageous leaders that equip those around them, and are laser focused on a simplistic vision for the organization.

I’m sure this list is not complete and would love to hear your thoughts and additions.

1. Let God grow you.

The cruel fact of church leadership is this. You can never lead others to a place you have not yet arrived.  So the challenge will always be, not to learn the newest trend or process, but to become more intimate with God. You don’t want a crowd of babies, but a brigade of warriors begging for a fight!

2. Let God grow others.

One of the hardest lessons I had to learn, as a young leader was that God is the only one that can change someone, I cant! I know it would be super cool to have that power…ZAP> Thou art now a sacrificial giver! Cool, yeah, gonna happen? Not! You do what God has called you to do, and don’t take it personally if people don’t respond the way you expect.

3. Let God grow others through you.

Now, as a leader, it is our calling to hear from & follow God, and challenge others to do the same. So one aspect is this… ALWAYS look for opportunities to replace yourself! You MUST develop leaders around you, if not your church will implode. Not matter how lofty your thoughts are about yourself, you are not the next Rick Warren, or a spiritual machine that can never break down. There will be no greater honor for you as leader, than to replace yourself… Several times over!

4. Let God grow the church.

I remember one point of being so discouraged. I didn’t know why some people weren’t coming, why we weren’t growing as fast as “I thought” we should. God slapped me with these 2 back hands… Jesus said “I will build my church” & “the Lord added to their number daily.” I was quickly reminded this WAS NOT my church. This is Jesus’ church, and He will grow it as He sees fit. My job is to hear and follow Him, like this… “He has told you old man what is required of you, to do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with Me.”

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Over the past several months I have had the pleasure of getting to know Artie Davis. Artie is the Lead Pastor at Cornerstone Community Church in Orangeburg, SC. Under his leadership Cornerstone Community Church has exploded in the Orangeburg area revolutionizing the local church culture. He is also the founder of Pray2k, a passionate movement to plant Multi-Ethnic, culturally relevant churches in smaller communities & The Comb Network which equips Multi-Ethnic churches and leaders with tools and resources necessary to reach an ever changing culture.

Thanks Artie for sharing your insights on church growth with us! Make sure you follow him on Twitter for daily insights and to connect with Artie.

Cornerstone has experienced tremendous growth since its birth in 1995 with 35 people. Today the church baptizes between 30-40 people each month, and has an average worship attendance between 1500-1700 people.

A couple of weeks ago I had the pleasure of spending the day in beautiful Charleston, SC at Seacoast Church with Mac Lake. Mac is the Development Pastor at Seacoast which currently has 13 campuses stretching across SC, NC, and GA. Mac and I began chatting on twitter so I wasn’t sure what I had gotten into, and it kinda felt like a blind date. I had heard that Mac was the “real deal” and was passionate about investing in the next generation. After a day of laughs and learning Seacoast Church and Mac Lake are the “real deal” they are laser focused on seeing lives transformed for Jesus. Here are a few takeaways from the trip:

• Seacoast is huge on placing/moving people into positions based on strengths.
• Seacoast has a ton of leaders under 35. That’s awesome!!
• Mac really believes in the next generation and spends the majority of his days coaching.
• Those that Mac leads have a high level of admiration and respect towards him.
• The Greenhouse Project (in it’s infancy) has been developed so that each staffer has a mentor which also includes a plan of personal, spiritual, and professional development. I believe The Greenhouse will revolutionize Seacoast!
• Mac and Seacoast are not blinded by success. They constantly tweak concepts that work, and they are quick to eliminate anything that does not produce results.
• Mac is huge on respecting time and releasing the staff. I sat in on a meeting where he discussed how to eliminate and shorten other meetings that were sucking time away from the staff.
• They believe that failure is a learning tool.
• They value spirit filled worship. I listened as one upper level staffer spoke of personal tears and a filling of the Holy Spirit during the previous night of worship.
• Staffers were quick to share how the church was close to their heart and how it was changing their lives.
• They love pastor Greg Surratt and deeply respect the fact that he loves the people of Seacoast. I listened as a group of 8 young leaders spoke of Greg’s accessibility and how he loves to mingle with the church family.

I’m sure this list is not complete, and I really appreciate the time I was able to spend with Mac and some of the Seacoast leadership. Thanks again for a great day!…….. Ummm, this post would not be complete unless I included some of the funny things that I learned from the trip.

• Ernest Smith LOVES long meetings and has either an evil twin or split personality named Carey. I might create a twitter profile for Carey.
• Jason Surratt stole my chair before the meeting but I was afraid to say anything because, well…. did you see his last name?
• Brandon Hair is a ticking time bomb! He just bottles it up!!
• Brandon Lake respectfully disagrees on the amount of times he has seen his father angry!
• Scott Kinney is a 25 yr. old trapped in a 26 yr. olds body! I would enjoy getting into trouble with Scott. He is a trip!!
• Here is the map of Sugartit, SC! It’s not much guys!!
• THE BEST for last!!!!! Josh Walters owes me a bio and I will never forget his face when I told him I was there to evaluate new hires within their first year! Priceless!!!

OK! Lets get one thing straight… I stink at brackets! Every year I fill out a March Madness bracket and every year it seems to only get worse because I’m a sucker for the underdogs. That’s also why I love watching the first round of the tournament. I love the fact that if a team works hard, no matter the school size, they get a chance at the dance. I also love seeing new players emerge as leaders on the court.

Here are a few leadership truths we can learn from basketball:

• A leader wants the ball during the tough times. Great leaders believe they can lead the team to victory even when there is absolutely no chance of it.
• A leader is a game changer. Everyone knows when he’s on the court the game will go the way he has already mapped it out in his head. Or he will die trying!
• A leader does not hide from confrontation. If there is a problem on the team he courageously gets to the bottom of it and provides a solution. He knows that disunity = failure.
• A leader knows each players gifts and talents. He knows when to throw the ball to each specific player. He knows this because he has invested genuine time and an open relationship with his team.
• A leader bleeds the school colors. He has bought into the vision of the school/organization and sees himself investing quality time to see progress.
• A leader listens to his teammates. He has learned that victory takes more than just one person and there is no “i” in team, but there is in WIN.

• He believes in the best for the team and his team mates. He sees the potential in the school/organization and in each player. He can envision a bright future for both.

Finally, and the most important, the team trusts and believes in the guy that wants the ball. They all know from previous experience that he can lead them to victory. The team has seen him on court, off court, and outside the game prove countless times that he’s ALL IN! He makes it easy for them to follow and believe.

Michael Jordan once said, “Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen.” So, do you want the ball?

More quotes from the greatest BB player of all time… Michael Jordan!

“I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can’t accept not trying.”

“I never looked at the consequences of missing a big shot… when you think about the consequences you always think of a negative result.”

“My body could stand the crutches but my mind couldn’t stand the sideline.”

5 reasons chasing a rainbow can kill you

• You will never find the pot of gold! Searching for a man made gimmick will lead you and those whom follow you down countless dead ends. The Holy Spirit and desperation for the lost is what sparks a revival.

• Everyone else knows the gold isn’t there! Each pursuit will leave wounded along the journey. Soon word gets around that it’s just another wild goose chase. You’ll look over your shoulder to see less and less people following you.

• You start retaining baggage! Each time you return from a holy quest you bring back more for your camp to maintain. Each pursuit reveals programs, events, habits, and traditions that produced mediocre results. All of the additional items become a burden for someone else to bear. The more those you lead have to maintain the more frustrated, lethargic, and reluctant they become.

• You develop gold fever! Each adventure will also produce glimpses of progress and a false hope in man. But, something is better than nothing right? You become an addict of the chase and begin to depend on the next chase to bring you validation and a right to lead.

• You become blind! Finally, you realize that you are so accustom to chasing rainbows that you really don’t need a rainbow to begin the chase. If fact, your identity and self-worth no longer resides in Christ because it is consumed by results.  You have forgotten that at one time you were just like those you lead who simply admired the miracle and mystery of the Rainbow itself. It didn’t have to be explained just experienced.

As leaders we must realize that God gives us a specific vision when we are where He can use us, and we are spiritually hungry for it. Sometimes not having a clear vision for a leader can be detrimental. You have to come desperate and broken to God willing to do whatever He asks. No fear – No Questions – Just Obedience!

.

.

This could be the craziest post I have ever written! Rainbows and pots of gold! Where’s the leprechaun?

If you are reading this then you should be scared! Why? You could be starting a dangerous journey away from God’s will down a path of desperation, fear, and/or selfish gain. I bet you saw the title of this post and expected it to reveal the next church growth fad that is going to create an unstoppable revival within your community. Let me be the first to tell you, STOP IT!! There is absolutely nothing man made that can create a revival. A revival happens only when God decides that YOU and the church are ready for an outpouring of His Holy Spirit.

Hey, don’t feel bad. We have all been in your shoes at some point. Maybe you’re frustrated because everything YOU have tried “just doesn’t work”, or maybe you’re desperate because leaders within your church are sneaking out the back door? Shopping around for gimmicks will never solve your problems, create a revival, or reveal a vision from God. The only way for your church to grow is for you as a leader to grow. Get real with Jesus! Release your burdens, sins, fear, and selfish ambitions. Become desperate for Him and what He would have you do, instead of what YOU think He wants you to do. Carve out time to be alone with the Holy Spirit. Invite Him in and ask Him to reveal His vision for you and your community. Get down in the trenches with those you lead by investing in their personal lives and sharing yours. Being 100% submissive to the Holy Spirit and 100% transparent with your followers will produce an authenticity that desires Kingdom growth.

Chasing rainbows, gimmicks, and fads is a scary and dangerous path for all leaders and those around them. Let me encourage you to stick to the basics. The greatest gift the local church can give to its community is a high quality, spirit filled, salvation oriented, Christ focused worship that is relevant and consistent. So, maybe it’s time to “do” less and become great at the first thing your community is looking for… a place to find Jesus, experience the Holy Spirit, and see lives changed!

Are you looking for a 5 Star volunteer/leader, how to recruit, and retain them? Here are some characteristics you might want to consider.

A 5 Star volunteer/leader should be:

1. Committed to Christ.
2. Committed to the vision of the church.
3. Willing to surrender individual gain, popularity, and agendas to the churches vision.
4. Loyal beyond measure.
5. Willing to take on responsibility and difficult tasks.
6. Have a desire to “take things off the leaders plate”.
7. Honest, even when it hurts.
8. Be willing to give their talent, time, and treasure to the vision.

To recruit a 5Star volunteer/leader you should:

1. Communicate the vision of the organization with passion and clarity.
2. Give clear guidelines of the job, its time requirements, and your expectations.
3. Provide a trial time for both parties to discover if the job matches the volunteer.
4. Never give the title away until there is 100% agreement, passion, commitment, and competency.
5. Ask a ton of questions. Get to know them, their family, likes, and dislikes.

To retain a 5Star volunteer/leader you should:

1. Consistently communicate the vision, direction, and immediate goals of the organization.
2. Consistently say “Thank You”, encourage them, and highlight their accomplishments.
3. Brag on them to others. Word gets around!
4. Meet with them on a regular basis.
5. Provide an open environment for them to express concerns, ideas, and passion.
6. Don’t delegate, use, and abuse them. Empower them to take initiative and risks.
7. Be personal and have a genuine concern for their happiness and their family.
8. Let them in and trust them. Share your struggles and BE REAL!
9. Never look at the them as a number or person to complete tasks. They are partners for the vision.

Did you see a common theme in the three lists? The first, and most important, priority of a leader is to have a clear vision and direction for the organization. If you can’t provide the finish line then how can you expect someone to start the race? Before anyone of quality will buy into and commit to any organization they must first know where it’s heading.

These lists are just the beginning! I would love to hear any additions or corrections you would like to make. Just leave a comment below.

“Every generation refreshes the world!”

That is the closing statement made in last year’s Super Bowl “Pepsi Anthem” commercial featuring a mash up of Bob Dylan’s 1974 song “Forever Young” and Will.i.am from the Black Eyed Peas. There are a few leadership, church growth, and funny insights that can be taken from this commercial.

Each generation expresses themselves creatively.

Clothing and hair styles usually cycle back around.

Many times a common goal or purpose is shared.

Speedos are not cool, EVER!

Clear communication to one generation may look silly to the other.

Technology and methods consistently change and improve.

Great communication reflects the culture without changing the message.

Every generation has needs, wants to be heard, and will find creative ways to impact culture.

Our military protects, even when we are not appreciative.

Kids are our legacy!

People want to change the world and be a part of something bigger than life.

No one will ever be as fast as Bruce Lee! EVER!

Gumby was weird but really cool.

I will never, EVER, dance on camera!

There is usually one great American leader/communicator within each generation.

People will always find joy in the simple things in life!

Lyrics for Forever Young

May God bless and keep you always,
May your wishes all come true,
May you always do for others
And let others do for you.
May you build a ladder to the stars
And climb on every rung,
May you stay forever young,
Forever young, forever young,
May you stay forever young.

May you grow up to be righteous,
May you grow up to be true,
May you always know the truth
And see the lights surrounding you.
May you always be courageous,
Stand upright and be strong,
May you stay forever young,
Forever young, forever young,
May you stay forever young.

May your hands always be busy,
May your feet always be swift,
May you have a strong foundation
When the winds of changes shift.
May your heart always be joyful,
May your song always be sung,
May you stay forever young,
Forever young, forever young,
May you stay forever young.

New York is full of….! Did you know that the New York sewer system is the oldest sewer system in the world? Due to the boom of industry in its early years the original developers dug a massive trench through the middle of the city and soon covered it with a wooden boardwalk. Over the years it has continued to expand to over 11,000 miles. If you straighten out the entire system it would reach from NY to Sydney, AU. Over 500 billion gallons of “fluids” pass through this system each year.
So why is this important to know?

Well, many of the oldest and most used channels are the oldest ones running through downtown Manhattan. These are wooden and one fatal collapse would equal a domino disaster. Everyday brave NYC workers go into the deep, nasty, rat infested, gator living (yes, they are there), and the massive amount of fecal matter to insure the health and safety of all those obliviously rushing above.

Who are the workers in your organization that are doing the “dirty work” so that you and your organization are comfortable, successful, support life, and thriving? What environment have you created where the people you’re

leading have influence and leadership? Those “doing the dirty work,” “on the front lines,” and “roll their sleeves up” everyday know where the weakest and most vulnerable points within the system are. They know which ideas will work and which will not because they’re in the system daily. They are the best resource that any leader can look to. They are not there for vision casting because they are focused, but they can help shape a vision toward practical use. I challenge

every leader to look beyond their personal scope to those on the front lines and ask this question “How can I help you?”

“The higher up in leadership you become the harder you must work to be a servant and submissive to those around you.” Andy Stanley
“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and give his life as a ransom for many.” Jesus Christ Mark 10:45

I am currently in a coaching network with Tony Morgan and some of the sharpest guys in the southeast and Texas, which might secede any day now (jk Crull). This network is designed to stretch me in many areas of my life, and lately I have been stretched in the area of strategy as it pertains to church philosophy.

Strategy (non-military):
1. a careful plan of method,
2. the art of devising or employing plans or stratagems toward a goal,
3. an adaptation of complex of adaptations (as of behavior, metabolism, or structure) that serves or appears to serve as an important function in achieving evolutionary success.

Strategy is a massive problem that is woven throughout many churches and organizations that can consistently hinder its health and growth. Why would strategy be a problem? Well, here are 10 ways that strategy can become your biggest enemy.

1. You don’t have one!
2. It’s dated, complicated, and/or too long.
3. You talk about it, but no one knows what “it” is.
4. You place someone in charge of it and its implementation, but you consistently undercut him/her.
5. Your team follows it, but you don’t.
6. It is used as an escape goat instead of just saying “no”.
7. People view it as rules instead of guidelines for growth.
8. It’s “written in stone” and can’t be recrafted for the future.
9. It has been proven ineffective, yet you keep pushing it.
10. You developed it alone in a vacuum.

Churches are living organisms that require a simple, strong, and culturally relevant strategy in order to grow and impact its community. You wouldn’t raise a child without parenting guidelines, and you shouldn’t raise a church without a strategy. Hummmm? Think about a child that has been raised with poor parenting practices, or possibly abused. Doesn’t a church present the same characteristics if there is no strategy, and/or has been abused by its leadership?

It’s simple really! It all comes back to the senior leader. You have to drive the strategy with passion, communicate it, believe in it, support it, live it, and never waiver from it. Violate any of the previous and all trust is lost! Change the strategy only when it’s not working, and always with the team that implements it. If the team doesn’t passionatly believe in its leader and the strategy, no one else will either!

If you would like to add to the list please make a comment and share it with everyone!

PS. Lucky for me Greer First Baptist has a great leader and we are developing a simple/strong strategy!