DON"T IGNORE THESE WARNING SIGNALS

LEADERSHIP ALARMS
by Dan Reiland

We've been in our new building now (12Stone Church) for five months and we are still discovering things, tweaking things and adjusting to the new "house." One of the more random and less explainable things on the list is the fire alarm system. It goes off when it wants to. It definitely has a mind and personality of its own. I've been thinking about naming it, like they name hurricanes. It apparently takes only a few specks of dust or maybe it just gets in a bad mood, but it goes off when it pleases.

It finally happened. It went off during church! Yup. There we were with a couple thousand people in the second service and right while the pastor was teaching this awful sound of immense volume began to pulsate like a code blue in an ER room.

Then I learned something new. When that happens, the fire system overrides the audio in the worship auditorium. Now isn't that special. I guess the pastor really can't keep talking anyway, but it just doesn't seem right that an alarm would have that much power! I been told that happens so everyone can hear the alarm no matter what was happening during worship. But trust me, we could have a rock concert in full gear and you would still hear that fire alarm.
The question in those moments was what do we do? Was it a false alarm? Do we start our procedure of evacuation? What are all the kids thinking? It was, as they all have been, a false alarm. My concern is that one day the alarm will go off for real and we'll push reset (now that we know where the reset switch is) and ignore it!

Alarms go off for leaders all the time and many leaders push reset and ignore. Granted, the alarm isn't nearly as loud, random and obnoxious as a fire alarm, but that makes it all the more dangerous.

When a leader misses or chooses to ignore when leadership alarms go off, problems loom on the near horizon.

The following set of leadership alarms are far from comprehensive. This group of thoughts is more about stirring thought for you as a leader. The ultimate idea is for you to "intuit" the alarms before they go off, whatever they may be.

Those closest to you don't seem to want you to win.
It's not all about you, it's about the mission, but if you are the quarterback, (or any member on the team) and the other 10 guys on the field don't appear to want you to win, that is an alarm bell. This is easy to spot but not easy to admit, so it ends up being ignored. If not ignored, the leader may attempt to lead by force or fear (leveraging position.) When that begins to take place the team really doesn't care if you win. I don't mean to cast a spirit of insecurity with this first alarm, because if this is true for you, you can turn it around over time through empowering, encouraging, and investing in those closest to you in ways that add value to their life.

You are not sure what you want or where you are headed.
This is a subtle alarm but has huge effects. In consulting with hundreds of leaders I have discovered that many don't know what they want and often are not confident about where they are headed. Even in the most loving and grace-filled of churches, this will eventually sour the leaders. The key is forward motion! Progress! If you are struggling with this, please don't attempt to figure it out on your own. Talk it over with a couple trusted leaders in or outside your church to seek wisdom in the matter. Don't wait. Think progress.

Your personal and family life is struggling for prolonged periods of time.
This alarm is an obvious one, but one that is frequently ignored. In the midst of the pressure of your work and passion for your work, your family might be getting left-over time. You are out of energy or any number of things that contribute to family life that is draining rather than fulfilling. This is a distraction to your work no matter what you think. I don't mean your work is priority over your family, I'm simply saying that if things are not good at home it absolutely will spill over into your leadership in the church. Eventually it will take its toll. Both your family and the church will suffer, and you'll end up caught in the middle. If you need time off or counseling, do it. It may be a long road to health, but it's really not an option. And it's worth it.

Your passion for the people is waning.
This is an alarm that that goes off for a long time before anyone pays attention. The alarm rings in a number of different tones. The alarm may be about evangelism. Your passion for the lost has lessened. This isn't something to do guilt about, but admit it, and pray that the passion returns. In addition to prayer, jump back into the process of investing in people who are far from God. The alarm may be about the congregation. Often when you are fatigued from leadership, or under pressure, the people you love begin to look like problems to fix. Though this is a huge alarm, it is usually one of the easiest to take care of. Typically taking a few days away for a play and pray time will restore your love and passion for the people.

Attendance is declining.
This is an example of a blatant alarm that everyone "hears." It may surprise you, however, how many leaders "pretend" like everything is OK while this alarm is sounding, or go as far as saying something like, "Well, God is pruning us down to the size He wants us." There may any of a dozen or more reasons why a church is declining, and an equal number of possibilities to remedy the problem. But for the sake of this article, I would point you to the last three part series on leadership, prayer, and evangelism. If your church is declining, I'm confident one or more of these three is an area for you to invest intentional effort and energy.

You are not able to identify clear stories of life-change.
This is a heart-breaking alarm that goes off in more churches than any of us care to admit. This doesn't discourage me as a church leader, in fact it motivates me. I love the church and I know it's not perfect. But the reason we do what we do is ultimately all about people's lives being changed in a positive way and for eternity - through the redeeming power of Christ. At 12Stone we often take a few minutes in a staff meeting to share "stories of life change." It's just what it sounds like, we celebrate stories about people who have experienced significant life change! It's one of my favorite times. And if there would ever be too much silence, that's an alarm going off that must be addressed.

If you aren't good at recognizing alarms, I strongly encourage you to get some time with two or three leaders who love you and who you trust, and talk this through. Recognizing the alarms before they go off is the ultimate idea, but if you don't catch them ahead of time, it's crucial for you to be able to hear them as soon as they go off, and step up with a strong leadership response. Remember, you don't have to go it alone. God is with you and you are choosing a couple people to walk with you as well.

This article is used by permission from Dr. Dan Reiland's free monthly e-newsletter, "The Pastor's Coach," available at www.INJOY.com.

Calling on all church leadership to risk failure!

If you haven’t failed….you haven’t lived.

Biblical leadership is courageous, willing-to-risk, willing-to-fail leadership.

Take a long look at your congregation’s commitment to going outside it’s walls to make disciples in the untamed world beyond those walls.

Take a long look at the spiritual chaos and hunger of the unsaved folks in the community surrounding your congregation.

What’s to loose by risking whatever it takes to to introduce folks inside and outside the walls of the church to the life-saving, transformational Good News?

Willingness to risk failure is a non-negotiable quality of leaders whom God calls to serve His purposes.

Refuse to allow fear of failure to dictate your leadership!

LOVE…LEARN…LIVE…LEAD without submitting to the tyranny of the fear of failure.

If leaders in the secular world can live and lead without succumbing to fear of failure, then we who are in Christ ought to be demonstrating this attitude without any reservations! Greater is He who is in us, than he who is in the world!!!

hahaos and hunger

Courageous Leadership

There’s no other kind of Christian leadership. Listen to Richard Wurmbrand’s message and get his book, “Tortured For Christ”, FREE. You will view your CALLING and your CHRISTIANITY in a new way, ever after. Promise.

“A man really believes not what he recites in his creed, but only the things he is willing to die for.” (RW)

“The underground church is a poor and suffering church, but it has no lukewarm members.” (RW)

Many people called him the ‘Voice of the Underground Church’ and others referred to him as the ‘Iron Curtain St. Paul.’ This humble man who began the ministry of The Voice of the Martyrs was the Rev. Richard Wurmbrand. A Jewish stockbroker in Romania, Wurmbrand became a Christian believer, and then a Lutheran minister. During World War II, Richard and Sabina (his wife) saw an opportunity for evangelism among the occupying German forces. They preached in the bomb shelters and rescued Jewish children out of the ghettos. Richard and Sabina were repeatedly arrested and beaten and, at least once, were nearly executed. Sabina lost her Jewish family in Nazi concentration camps. In 1945 Romanian Communists seized power and a million ‘invited’ Russian troops poured into the country. Pastor Wurmbrand ministered to his oppressed countrymen and engaged in bold evangelism to the Russian soldiers. On February 29, 1948, the secret police arrested Richard while on his way to church and took him to their headquarters. He was locked in a solitary cell and assigned as ‘Prisoner Number 1.’ Pastor Wurmbrand experienced 14 years of imprisonment and torture in the hands of his Communist captors. Click here to read his biographical sketch

THE SERMON - This will take a little time to listen to…..but I promise, when you’ve heard it, you will consider it a great investment of your time. This message has the potential (by Good’s grace and the Holy Spirit’s empowerment) to be transformational. Click here to listen to Wurmbrand's sermon.

THE BOOK - Click here to get a FREE copy of his book, "Tortured For Christ"

Should your church be doing more? The answer is “NO!” Shocked by that answer? Read the rest of this post.

Yeah…I knew that title would draw your attention…and for a good reason! Geoff Patterson, Senior Pastor of the Marietta, GA. Seventh-day Adventist Church recently forwarded the following quote to his staff and me, noting that it aligned with some of the thoughts he had been wrestling with lately. The quote is derived from Church Solutions magazine, May 2009, Volume 14, Issue 5.

I’ll quote Geoff verbatim. He poses some observations and critical questions worthy of reflection. We’d love to get your feedback.

Geoff shared:

"I ask every church I work with to tell me the 20/80 rule. Without hesitation, they can all recite it. And in most churches, the rule seems to be solidly in place. Rarely do I come across a church that has a core of laborers that surpasses the 20 percent mark. But here's the problem: It doesn't take more than about a quarter of the people in your church to do what your church does. Sure, you could always use a few more volunteers in the nursery or a few more brave souls to work with middle school kids, but you don't need another 80%. . ."

"Imagine that next Sunday (or Sabbath!) you got up to give your message. . . a message directed at your unengaged 80%. During the talk, you can feel and see the Spirit move. . . Hundreds of people respond by filling out the response card strategically placed in the day's program. . . The 80% rise to the occasion, and your heart soars. But then Monday comes. What do you do with these people? You and your staff are overwhelmed. A few of the people who responded are place in open ministry positions, but the remaining 75% never get a call, much less a place to serve. Let me state it again: It only takes about 20 percent of your people to do what your church does."

"This then begs the question: Should we be doing more? The answer to that is an emphatic 'No!' Another bad math concept is 'the more, the better.' Churches of any size can only do about five things well, but instead, we do 25 things and end up doing them poorly. Our tendency is to keep adding more and more, and soon our church is completely bogged down, unable to change, adapt and move. In contrast, however, doing five things well allows for direct correlation to your mission, core values and strategic objectives."

“The author goes on to argue that while the church really only needs the 20% for its operation, the 80% should be equipped for ministry outside the church.

In other words, limit what the church seeks to manage to the five things the church can manage. And then send the people out to find a way to make a difference without the church having to be in charge of them.

What do you think of this notion? What would it look like at MAC (or your church)? What might be our five things?”

Memorial Day Tribute To Sacrificial Leadership

AUTHENTIC BIBLICAL LEADERSHIP IS SACRIFICIAL LEADERSHIP.

"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.“ John 11:1

“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.” 1 John 3:16

“But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure.” 2 Tim. 4:5,6

~~~

Oswald Chambers in My Utmost For His Highest compels us to embrace sacrificial leadership, as follows:

“Are you ready to be poured out as an offering? It is an act of your will, not your emotions. Tell God you are ready to be offered as a sacrifice for Him. Then accept the consequences as they come, without any complaints, in spite of what God may send your way. God sends you through a crisis in private, where no other person can help you. From the outside your life may appear to be the same, but the difference is taking place in your will. Once you have experienced the crisis in your will, you will take no thought of the cost when it begins to affect you externally. If you don’t deal with God on the level of your will first, the result will be only to arouse sympathy for yourself.

"Bind the sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar" ( Psalm 118:27 ). You must be willing to be placed on the altar and go through the fire; willing to experience what the altar represents-burning, purification, and separation for only one purpose-the elimination of every desire and affection not grounded in or directed toward God. But you don’t eliminate it, God does. You "bind the sacrifice . . . to the horns of the altar" and see to it that you don’t wallow in self-pity once the fire begins. After you have gone through the fire, there will be nothing that will be able to trouble or depress you. When another crisis arises, you will realize that things cannot touch you as they used to do. What fire lies ahead in your life?

Tell God you are ready to be poured out as an offering, and God will prove Himself to be all you ever dreamed He would be.”

I dedicate this post to all the men and women in every branch of the US military who have sacrificially served to preserve our liberty -  not the least of which is my own father, William H. Cunningham, World War II veteran (Sargeant/US Army/European Theatre).

HOW TO KNOW WHEN IT'S TIME TO GO

HOW TO KNOW WHEN IT’S TIME TO GO.

The title to this blog is guaranteed to bait the interest of anyone leading in ministry. Now that your attention has been attracted, let’s broaden the base of this theme, so that it is practical and applicable to the broader realities of ministry. Let’s re-title this blog:


HOW TO KNOW WHEN IT’S TIME TO......
A. LEAVE, RETIRE, or TRANSFER from your present ministry position or location to another
B. CHANGE the WAY you are ministering at your present position

Before, we go further… let me propose, as Morris Smith has (“When Is It Time To Leave?”, MBC Pastor’s Manual), that “In the final analysis, no one of these factors taken alone, should cause you to leave a place God has called you to serve. The Holy Spirit of God may overrule every suggestion in this article and may instruct you to stay just where you are. Do your best to determine prayerfully the will of God, and follow His plan. These suggestions may help you determine what he wants you to do.”

You know it may be time to either (a) transition to a new ministry, or (b) change the way you are doing ministry, IF……

(1) You sense God releasing you from your present ministry

(2) Your relationship with God is being harmed or compromised by the methods or circumstances of your present ministry

(3) Your relationship with your wife and/or children is being harmed or compromised by the methods or circumstances of your present ministry

(4) Your credibility with your core leadership has been lost or dangerously diminished

(5) The church has outgrown your professional competencies, so that you are no longer able to effect positive future health and growth of the church with your present skills *

(6) You have outgrown the church. Weigh your motives well. Do not to allow ego or arrogance to be the catalyst, but rather, good stewardship of competency skills and opportunities to advance the Kingdom of God.*

(7) You are functioning in ministry primarily based on FEAR OF LOSS. For example, FEAR OF LOSING a favored home, property, amenities (personal or professional), spouse’s job/income, control, comfort, convenience, title or position.

(8) Adding up the pros and cons, the advantages and disadvantages, of a change takes a compromising priority over simply hearing and obeying God’s call upon your heart.

(9) “your theological and doctrinal beliefs are fundamentally counter to those of the church to the degree that it threatens the fellowship of the church…A church’s sustained opposition to your theological conscience is a strong signal that your leaving may be best for all concerned.” *

(10) “Holding on” until retirement is your PRIMARY motivation for continuing your present method of ministry or continuing in your present location.

(11) You are practicing attitudes or behaviors (whether public or private) that are unethical or, in some fashion, casting a shadow upon the reputation of the Gospel and the Body of Christ.

(12) You are “burned out” and need renewal, but your church is not in a position or frame of mind to grant you sufficient time away from ministry for renewal.

(13) Your vision or values cannot conscientiously align with your church’s vision/values.

(14) You cannot honor your personal financial obligations

(15) You find yourself looking for ways to avoid/escape accountability or evaluation

(16) Special circumstances make change a necessity. For example, family health problems, special educational needs for your children, persecution, or safety.

(17) The length of your tenure reaches the point of diminishing returns. This point is often accompanied by symptoms such as:
- you and the church lack vision, enthusiasm, zeal
- eroding membership
- your leadership is no longer being followed
- redoubling your efforts produces no positive impact *

Stan Patterson, Ph.D. (professor, Andrews University) adds the following related council:
a. Never leave a church or district when others are retreating due to external forces such as economic downturn
b. Pray regularly that the Master will reveal His will regarding your call to a particular district or assignment--- Is it time? Have I accomplished the revealed mission for which I was called? etc.
c. Avoid making a move when doing so might link your decision to unresolved conflict, recent vote that went against your wishes, recent expressions regarding the quality of your leadership, etc. Your decision should be made wholly on an honest sense of call and a sense that your mission is complete
d. Time your decision to coincide with the church being in a relatively healthy state
e. Involve your spouse in prayer and seek unanimity between you regarding the move
f. Consult with and request prayer of those colleagues and leaders you trust so that counsel is available as you make the decision
g. Never forget the commitment made at ordination that states that you are willing to go or be sent wherever the Master calls. Assignments are not permanent nor is it the pattern of God for His church
h. Remember that moving to a new church will change the names and the faces but the issues and personalities will likely be pretty much the same. You will meet the same challenges again so meet them before you leave.

* Adapted from Norris Smith , “When Is It Time To Leave?”, MBC Pastor’s Manual
.

Leaders Need To Know God is Holding Their Lives Together

 

 

Leaders Need God’s Grace and Inspiration, Too!

I know God has called me to be a channel to His grace and a source of His inspiration to others…..and I gladly offer myself to Him and those mortals whom I serve for both of these purposes. But lately, I’m feeling a desperate need of both grace and inspiration myself. Can I get a witness? As pastors and church leaders we must share God’s grace and inspiration, BUT we gotta have His grace and inspiration, too! So I am dedicating 2 consecutive weekly blogs to sharing a 5 part video message by Louie Giglio that will offer you (and me!) POWERFUL spiritual rejuvenation. I’m NOT EXAGERATING. You gotta take in all five of these presentations. I think God may have inspired these messages just for me……. but He wanted me to share them with YOU, too! (LOL)

Winning ways To Witnessing

You may find this four part video series to be a useful tool in transforming members into disciples who are making disciples:

Session 1: http://www.veotag.com/player/?u=tdjxwzjeel

Session 2: http://www.veotag.com/player/?u=eduhszbart

Session 3: http://www.veotag.com/player/?u=uhuwsyziyq

Session 4: http://www.veotag.com/player/?u=aglldxsqco

Adjusting to Change

Who Moved My Cheese?: An Amazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life
By Dr. Spencer Johnson

This story is about adjusting attitudes toward change in life, be it at work, at church, at home, or in the community. Change occurs whether a person is ready or not, but the author affirms that it can be positive. His principles are to anticipate change, let go of the old, and do what you would do if you were not afraid. From one of the world's most recognized experts on management comes a charming parable filled with insights designed to help readers manage change quickly and prevail in changing times.

Change can be a blessing or a curse, depending on your perspective. The message of Who Moved My Cheese? is that all can come to see it as a blessing, if they understand the nature of cheese and the role it plays in their lives. Who Moved My Cheese? is a parable that takes place in a maze. Four beings live in that maze: Sniff and Scurry are mice--nonanalytical and nonjudgmental, they just want cheese and are willing to do whatever it takes to get it. Hem and Haw are "littlepeople," mouse-size humans who have an entirely different relationship with cheese. It's not just sustenance to them; it's their self-image. Their lives and belief systems are built around the cheese they've found. Most of us listening to the story will see the cheese as something related to our livelihoods--our jobs, our career paths, the churches we work in--although it can stand for anything, from health to relationships. The point of the story is that we have to be alert to changes in the cheese, and be prepared to go running off in search of new sources of cheese when the cheese we have runs out.

Dr. Johnson, coauthor of The One Minute Manager and many other books, presents this parable to business, church groups, schools, military organizations--anyplace where you find people who may fear or resist change. And although more analytical and skeptical readers may find the tale a little too simplistic, its beauty is that it sums up all natural history in just 94 pages: Things change. They always have changed and always will change. And while there's no single way to deal with change, the consequence of pretending change won't happen is always the same: The cheese runs out.