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.”

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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.

Strong vision casting is absolutely essential for moving an organization toward the fulfillment of it’s mission.  That’s why leaders must be consistent in casting a convincing and compelling picture of the future. But sometimes when we actually open our mouths to cast vision we’re prone to some common mistakes.  Here are five to consider as you think about your next vision casting opportunity.

• MISTAKE #1  Too Much Information – While it’s important for you to know the details of the vision don’t feel like you have to share ALL the details with everyone.  When you share too much information you can actually dampen enthusiasm rather than inspire following.   Rule of thumb: The bigger the audience the fewer the details you need to share. You can let them know there is a strategic plan, just don’t feel like you have to share the step by step details with the large crowd.
• MISTAKE #2 Emotionless Presentation- There is nothing worse than casting vision in a monotone voice.  You may not have a charismatic personality but you can still find a way to enthusiastically express your vision through your personality.  You have to cast vision with passion or others wont be convinced that you’re convinced.
• MISTAKE #3 Credit Hog – it’s always tempting for a leader to take full credit for the vision.  But when we shine the light on ourselves we take the light off of the vision.  Rule of Thumb: When casting vision use the word “we” more than “I”. Show the listener(s) how they fit into the vision.
• MISTAKE #4  Trigger Happy – You may have a great vision but if you cast it at the wrong time you may do more damage than good.  For example if you’re new in the role remember this principle: People buy into the visionary before they buy into the vision.  Take the time to do the relational groundwork, build your credibility, demonstrate authenticity, give people time to know you as well as know your vision.  Take time to get key influencers behind and bought into the vision before casting it from a big platform.
• MISTAKE #5  Unbelievable – Sometimes leaders cast a vision that’s so big that the average person just can’t grasp it.  Rule of thumb: the more previous success you’ve had the bigger the vision you can cast. Our senior pastor Greg Surratt is one of the biggest visionaries I’ve known.  I always jokingly say he thinks with more zeros’ on the end than I do.  But his previous successes from years past allow him to cast a much bigger vision today.

What vision casting mistakes have you witnessed in the past?

Through twitter, conversations, a pizza, and a visit to Charleston I have had the pleasure of getting to know Mac Lake. I want to personally thank him for being a guest blogger and sharing his thoughts on casting a vision. For those who do not know Mac let me assure you he is the “Real Deal”! If you have any chance to connect with him I want to urge you to take advantage of it. Read more about my visit with Mac and Seacoast church here! You can also check out Mac at MacLakeOnline.com.

The Martin home is getting ready for the arrival of our 3rd daughter, Holland Hope. She is expected to arrive in early June and I’m so excited that I am excited. Yeah, I know that sounds weird, but with our first two daughters I was extremely nervous throughout the pregnancy and delivery. With Holland I am a lot more relaxed and more excited than nervous. I guess after having experienced the miracle of birth twice I have a reassured trust in Christ’s protection and will for our family.

I have also noticed that each time we have a baby my perspective of ministry changes. As a newlywed I was working countless hours and had huge aspirations of being the greatest within student ministry. After Sydney Grace was born I realized the overwhelming responsibility of being a Dad. I started cutting the overtime down and began prioritizing and setting boundaries between the Church and my family.

When London Faith was born, about 4yrs later, I began to internalize that it really doesn’t matter what I do for a career. At 18 months the saddest part of her day is when I say bye in the morning, and the happiest part of her day is when I walk through the door that evening. The girls running to give me a hug screaming “Daddy, Daddy!” with huge grins on their faces reminds me of the love Jesus has for me and my calling to demonstrate that love to them. The only thing that matters is how much my girls know that their Daddy loves them unconditionally, will protect them with every fiber of my soul, and how important it is for them to see Jesus living through me.

As Holland Hope begins to make her arrival “ministry” is beginning to gain so much clarity. Church ministry happens with or without my efforts. Jesus is in the life changing business and I am in awe to be a simple tool that He chooses to use from time to time. My calling, purpose, and ministry is centered on raising my girls to fall desperately in love with Jesus. If I can’t lead our home to fall in love with Jesus how could I expect a church to follow. A leader should be a living example and let Jesus take care of the details. Regardless of where the Holy Spirit has me or sends me to serve my awesome wife and precious daughters will be with me, therefore they are first! The most important thing my daughters can experience is a Christ centered home that believes in the power of the Holy Spirit, the unconditional love of Christ, and the Fatherhood of God.

For some people reading this post these perspectives may seem radical, warped, or a little over the top. You are completely free to have your own assumptions and opinions. (just as I a free to place mine on my blog) You are also completely entitled to be absolutely wrong! Jesus entrusts me (not the church) to lead my family to Him everyday, and if I can’t do that then He definitely will not trust me to lead the local church toward Him. It’s the fathers responsibility to show the Fathers love at home first!!! Let that last sentence sink in….

In children’s ministry, I have the incredible blessing of watching boys and girls experience life as kids.  Kids experience life through different eyes than adults.  Kids haven’t yet heard the “You can’t’s,” the “That’ll never work’s,” and the “We don’t do it that way’s.”  I watch week after week as kids celebrate their lives in Christ!  I watch as they run into church excited about what God is going to do.  I watch them raise their hands, jump, and celebrate their Creator!  I hear them as they seek wisdom for the problems in their lives.  I think that’s why I come back week after week … to see life in Christ as new, full, and complete … through a child’s eye!

In the living of their lives, kids have taught me much about leadership … not in what they say … in how they live!  If a kid could give leadership advice, here’s what I think they’d say:

• I’m not interested in what you think about me.  This is who I am.  This is what I believe.  I will follow what I believe regardless of who likes me, talks about me, or picks on me.
• If I believe in the leader and in his direction, I will gladly buy in and follow.
• You do not have to persuade me to follow you, I will follow because you allow me to take part in the direction.
• There will always be bullies.  Leave them behind.
• Always listen to those wiser than you.  You do not know everything.
• The people who think they know everything, really know the least.
• You lead me, not by telling me what to do but by showing me what to do.

The kids in my ministry haven’t written books on leadership.  They’ve never taught a class or written a blog.  Their names have never appeared on the marquee of a church leadership conference.  But … they know leaders.  They know fakes.  They know people.  They are so much wiser than me.  That’s why I love them!  They may eat a little Play Dough and bring me weeds in a vase … but I wouldn’t have it any other way!

David Pearson, Minister to Children

“I have had the pleasure of getting to know David over the last 4 years while serving in Greer, SC. He is a great leader, friend, and minister. Thanks so much for being the first guest blogger on LanceMartin.net.”  Lance

To see what David is up to you can check out his ministry blog and follow him on Twitter.

There are 3 major characteristics that every leader must have to influence others and gain trust.

1) You must engage…

People need to know that you’re “with” them. Your speech and actions must be an investment into the lives of those you lead. No one will follow a leader that is not sharing life (the good, bad, and ugly) alongside them. All people want to identify with a leader, therefore you must give them the opportunities to share in your life as well.

2) You must equip…

Are you the person others lean toward for the primary vision, resources, challenges, and questions that produce positive change? If not, then you’re probably not the leader.  When people are sinking they need a leader to throw them a life saver not a cement block. If you are going to equip others you must know where the gaps are and how to fill them in the organization and the person. You must be visible, knowledgeable, accessible, and in rhythm within your organization and its people.

3) You must encourage…

You really never know what someone is personally going through. A true leader has invested personal time into those he/she leads and can read there emotions. Great leaders can see the best in people and bring it to the surface even when a person is at there worst. They can inspire people with words, attitudes, and actions. When all hope is lost people turn to those who can find and create it. Be the person who provides hope in a crisis and when all the odds are against your people!

Extra: As governor, Nehemiah says that he didn’t take advantage of food and land allotments that were allowed him due to his office, because there was already such a great burden on the people of his province. (Nehemiah 5:14–19) In the face of Jerusalem’s destruction Nehemiah (one of the shortest men recorded in the bible) brought hope to his people by leading them to rebuild the walls in just 52 days. Each family repaired/guarded the wall that was in front of their home. Nehemiah, on the other hand, rolled up his sleeves and repaired some of the nastiest areas of the walls himself. The unclean areas others would not have ever touched.  May we all strive to learn from great sacrificial leaders like Nehemiah.