Lead Better Everyday

I am passionate about leading better everyday. I am on a constant quest to learn from others on how to lead well. Staying above the everyday tasks, rising above the office politics and ministering to the staff that God has given to me personally to invest in, is a day to day challenge. (Sometimes a second to second challenge) It is critical that I stay focused on what God has called me to do and not take my eyes off of Jesus' example.

God has trusted me with an incredible ministry opportunity that comes with an intense accountability. Ministering to those that minister to our children. I am not in the classrooms with our children, my leaders are. It is my job to lead the leaders.

Today in my quiet time, I pray my God would find me faithful to tend to sheep He has trusted me with; the leaders He has handpicked for me to minster to.



Ezekiel 34
The Lord Will Be Israel's Shepherd
1 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 "Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: 'This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to you shepherds of Israel who only take care of yourselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock? 3 You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you do not take care of the flock. 4 You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally. 5 So they were scattered because there was no shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild animals. 6 My sheep wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. They were scattered over the whole earth, and no one searched or looked for them.

7 "'Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: 8 As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, because my flock lacks a shepherd and so has been plundered and has become food for all the wild animals, and because my shepherds did not search for my flock but cared for themselves rather than for my flock, 9 therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: 10 This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against the shepherds and will hold them accountable for my flock. I will remove them from tending the flock so that the shepherds can no longer feed themselves. I will rescue my flock from their mouths, and it will no longer be food for them...'"

The people became as sheep without a shepherd, were given up as a prey to their enemies, and the land was utterly desolated. No rank or office can exempt from the reproofs of God's word, men who neglect their duty and abuse the trust reposed in them.

Father, find me faithful in shepherding the sheep you have placed in my flock, I pray my eyes are on you today and everyday in all that I do, may they say I do unto you. Amen.

Oh The Culture We Create...

I have been in ministry for 22 years. God has blessed me with some of the most amazing pastors to learn from during those years. Each time, when God moved me out from under a Pastor I grew to love, I was emotionally challenged. What I have come to understand is that God taught me through these Pastors specific to my future leadership needs.

When I served at Metro Life Church, I learned the Word of God as a new Christ Follower. I was like a sponge soaking up God's Word. I call these two years, my boot camp years. MLC is where I learned what God's Word was and how to apply it to my life.

Resurrection Life Church was a church where I learned about God's amazing Grace and Love for six incredible years.

Then, having the privilege to serve at New Community Church, where I learned the principles of leadership. Nine plus years steeped in leadership...leadership...leadership...

Lastly, to arrive at Church @ The Springs to implement all that I have learned. Those opportunities of learning and growth have empowered me to lead at a level I could never had led from as a new Christ Follower.

What I have come to realize is, that each time God placed me into a new ministry, I created a culture. I created a culture of what my knowledge was at the time. The culture I created however, would not allow me to implement new strategies or make changes, because I did not work that into my strategy.

Oh the culture we create...I once read, "You have what you lead", I am not sure who said it, but boy, isn't that the truth. So with that in mind, how do you create a culture where you can implement new strategies and growth opportunities? My present Pastor, Ron Sylvia, shares in our membership class that he fought for the word relevant in our vision statement, because he wanted to build change into the DNA of his ministry. We, as a church, would always be changing to meet the church of today. He says, "The Message will not change, however, the method must." That was incredible wisdom. That strategy gave him permission to make changes, try new things, stay relevant to the world today and to grow exponentially.

What is the culture you are creating with your present leadership? What culture would you like to create? Build it into the DNA of your ministry.

Ready...Set...Go Collaborate!

What would your ministry look like if you were to collaborate with your ministry leaders? Some of the best untapped resources lie within your team members. Hand pick a few key leaders and remember, not every idea they come up with will be an earth shaking idea, however; it might be the idea that springboards you into another incredible idea.

We need to create an environment where our leaders feel safe and supported and ready to do the best job possible. How do we create an environment that is conducive to sharing brilliant ideas? I say "Do unto others as you would have done unto you"... Think about how you would like to feel in that environment and create just that.

You know you are in a creative environment when:

*Your ideas are listened to and investigated before being judged. Give your leaders an umbrella of mercy.

*You feel appreciated when you suggest new ideas.

*Your ministry leader spends time with you and explains the reasons & politics behind it.

*You are given the freedom to do your work in your own way with the best tools.

*Experimental methods are encouraged. It is ok to fail forward.

*You feel comfortable talking with anyone in your organization.

*There is someone that will listen to your ideas.

*The generation of good ideas is rewarded, verbally or otherwise.

*You are treated with respect and as someone who can contribute to the organization.

*You are appreciated for what you do.

*You are appreciated for who you are.

Your volunteers aren't any different than you. My two favorite chapters in a book called, Orbiting the Giant Hairball by Gordon Mackenzie, is chapter ten: Containers Contain: you are confined... Contained in a box...find the grace to dance without stepping on toes...Don't build invisible walls...and Chapter nineteen:Orville Wright: Orville Wright did not have a pilot's license. I love that! Explore the possibilities! Be willing to let ideas free flow. Don't shut an idea down, just because it doesn't conform to the rules. Push the envelope. Give your leaders permission and an opportunity to be magnificent! Create an outline of what you are hoping to accomplish in your meeting. Prime the pump of ideas by giving your team leaders an agenda ahead of time. Are your ready? On Your Mark..Get Set...Go Collaborate!