Recently God has been challenging me to new things. I left a position of being a student pastor to now being an associate student pastor at a church in Cullman. Reading that line it would seem as if I had done something wrong, there is no way God would move a leader down in position for his will...well actually that is exactly what He did. This is a great opportunity for me to grow in ministry and leadership and I know for a fact this is where God wants me to be.
With that said, I've learned a lot in the past few months I have been here and God has challenged me with a new aspect of leadership. The entire time I have been posting blogs I had been the man, the head honcho, the student pastor...now Im coming at this from a new perspective.
A leader is more than standing on a stage or platform.
If you feel like the only time you can lead is when you are speaking, or preaching, or leading worship...well then you are wrong. Completely wrong. Real leadership is when you step off that stage and teach someone how to play an instrument for your worship team, real leadership is teaching a kid how to listen for God's voice and look for God's words to preach on the very stage you spend most of your time on. A leader makes new leaders, no I'm not dissing on pastors or worship leaders, there are a lot of them who are doing just that...but being a young leader, this lesson sometimes never gets taught or missed completely. But this lesson is of most importance, because your ministry is only as strong as the leaders you surround yourself with.
So grow some leaders.
This goes without saying, but I am going to write about it anyways. Who you are on a stage should be who you are off the stage as well. If you are more spiritual on a stage then in your daily walk I advise you to step off the stage. You may be the cause of the stress you are trying to fix on your team if that last statement is true.
peace be the journey.
///tres
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Monday, March 28, 2011
What Is Most Important?
My pastor has a phrase that he uses all the time: "What is most important? Whatever it is time to do right now."
I have taken that phrase to heart the past few weeks. What was most important the past few weeks? School and Youth ministry. We had a huge trip coming up that I had to nail down the finishing touches on and get a few midterms out of the way in school. Im sure you all understand.
But what was cool was that while I hated not writing on this blog, I was realizing that I was leading by example and that I would eventually get to write about it.
If you are planning things, or volunteering for things, or working a job, etc...you must continually ask yourself what is the most important thing at this moment? (Obviously you can't say bump a paying job so you can learn to knit for an upcoming small group) Whatever it is time to do at that moment is most important. When you treat what you are doing in that moment as total importance your work ethic, ministry, job becomes more successful because of the attitude of importance you are using.
So what is most important right now? What other "thing" can you put on hold for a moment so you can use your best work?
peace be the journey.
///tres
I have taken that phrase to heart the past few weeks. What was most important the past few weeks? School and Youth ministry. We had a huge trip coming up that I had to nail down the finishing touches on and get a few midterms out of the way in school. Im sure you all understand.
But what was cool was that while I hated not writing on this blog, I was realizing that I was leading by example and that I would eventually get to write about it.
If you are planning things, or volunteering for things, or working a job, etc...you must continually ask yourself what is the most important thing at this moment? (Obviously you can't say bump a paying job so you can learn to knit for an upcoming small group) Whatever it is time to do at that moment is most important. When you treat what you are doing in that moment as total importance your work ethic, ministry, job becomes more successful because of the attitude of importance you are using.
So what is most important right now? What other "thing" can you put on hold for a moment so you can use your best work?
peace be the journey.
///tres
Thursday, March 3, 2011
God's Plan.
Today our guest post is from a great friend of mine named Jared Waldrop. He is the student pastor of Westmore Church of God in Cleveland, TN. Find him on Facebook and follow him on Twitter: @jaredwaldrop.
Jeremiah 33:3
"...Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know..."
Ever get to that point where you feel like your creativity and innovation is just tapped out? Ever feel like the well is dried up for fresh ideas for ministry? Ever hit a wall when it came to the next step in planning and vision casting, etc...?
"...Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know..."
Ever get to that point where you feel like your creativity and innovation is just tapped out? Ever feel like the well is dried up for fresh ideas for ministry? Ever hit a wall when it came to the next step in planning and vision casting, etc...?
There comes a point when you’ve exhausted all of your resources and creativity. You’ve gleaned from everyone else around you. You’ve been to all the trendy conferences. You’ve read all the books, checked all the blogs & ministry sites, and used the latest teaching material… I found myself there a few years ago. I had done everything I knew to do and just felt like my creativity was tapped. I was unsettled. Our youth ministry was not as effective as I knew it could be – and it was driving me crazy.
Then I came across Jeremiah 33:3… a verse I had always known, but never truly taken to heart. It hit me like a ton of bricks: I had been doing ministry my way… not God’s way. I was trying to run a student ministry from my limited resources and perspective instead of consulting a limitless God – the greatest resource of all. I was doing the best I knew to do – instead of asking God to show me His specific plan for our student ministry.
The “great and unsearchable things” began to show up in ministry doors opening that I had not seen before, strategic partnerships to make ministry easier and more effective, a renewed passion and burden that focused my ministry efforts… Everything changed. The nagging “where do we go from here” feeling in the pit of my soul was replaced with a kingdom confidence as I released my plans to take on His.
God has a specific plan for you and your ministry - one that will fit your context, your students, your city… and it may be very different from the ministry down the road. Don’t get trapped trying to reproduce what you see at the latest conference or read about in the latest book. Those things are GREAT to glean from – but above all, consult God’s plan for your ministry.
Let this verse change your perspective.
We serve a God of unlimited resources. He will show you the next steps, birth new creative things in your heart, show you how to do ministry the best way possible where He has placed you... just ask.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Humility.
As a leader you must stay humble. It is very easy to get big headed the more successful you become.
When you have a successful role in leadership (and you will by reading this blog) (sarcasm) you can become even more of an impact by simply admitting that you did not do it by yourself. A lot of times leaders think they have gotten to where they are based completely on their work efforts and so forth (they did work hard don't get me wrong) but they leave out how God has blessed them, how He gave them wisdom, how someone else gave them an opportunity to lead, and how others helped lead.
The best leaders never lead by themselves...never. So when your ministry or business or church makes an impact, don't forget the God that supplied and the people that helped. The downfall will happen just as fast if you take all the credit.
Who is helping you lead? Have you thanked them? Have you thanked God?
peace be the journey.
///tres
Monday, February 28, 2011
Sometimes IT JUST HAS TO BE DONE.
As I type this blog, I have a million thoughts going through my mind about what I have to get accomplished (and it's overwhelming). I have let my internet class work pile up the past two weeks and have to get it all done by next Monday. So it JUST HAS TO BE DONE!!!
This goes hand in hand with a lot of things in leadership. Sometimes regardless of how much you like or dislike the task, rather it be a busy week where you have no time to accomplish something so meaningless...IT JUST HAS TO BE DONE! For the good of the business, church, ministry the task has to get done. You have pushed it off long enough, too many people have said they were going to do it for you but never did...it's time. Some people aren't as passionate about something as you, so it falls down on their priority list, let them see you take the task and do it sometimes just for them to see that you are for real about your passion. When this happens, more times than not it will spark their passion too.
What are you putting off? It may be at the point to where IT JUST HAS TO BE DONE!!!
peace be the journey.
///tres
This goes hand in hand with a lot of things in leadership. Sometimes regardless of how much you like or dislike the task, rather it be a busy week where you have no time to accomplish something so meaningless...IT JUST HAS TO BE DONE! For the good of the business, church, ministry the task has to get done. You have pushed it off long enough, too many people have said they were going to do it for you but never did...it's time. Some people aren't as passionate about something as you, so it falls down on their priority list, let them see you take the task and do it sometimes just for them to see that you are for real about your passion. When this happens, more times than not it will spark their passion too.
What are you putting off? It may be at the point to where IT JUST HAS TO BE DONE!!!
peace be the journey.
///tres
Friday, February 25, 2011
Resource Friday.
This is resource Friday with a twist. What resources are you using? Add them to the discussion. Share with others what's helping you lead.
Leave us a comment.
peace be the journey.
///tres
Leave us a comment.
peace be the journey.
///tres
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Balance.
Today our guest poster is Shaston Hunter. He is the worship pastor of Building Church in Huntsville, AL. Find him on Facebook and follow him on twitter: @shastonhunter.
Balance
Balance is something that has truly been on my heart when it comes to
Christ, this probably has a lot to do with our church just getting out
of our "Balance" series also.
Sadly enough, when I think back to balance in my relationship with
Christ throughout my life time, I found myself not understanding the
principle and importance of it. I am currently 27, A worship leader at
a Church called "Building Church" here in Huntsville AL. I was raised
in church all of my life, involved in every possible way and have been
a believer since I was a kid. It wasn't until about three years ago to
where my life started taking a different chapter and I started
understanding balance in my everyday walk with Christ.
See in the midst of a busy life full of ministry, school, marriage,
work, etc. We find ourselves so off course from our destiny and
purpose and we find ourselves doing things just because its routine or
we're just used to doing it that way which starts making us so out of
balance. Instead of fully understanding our purpose and pursuing our
destiny, we are pursuing everyday life and the things involved in it
when we don't even realize it. This is when we must bring the balance
back into our life and follow the way Christ has laid before us with
His word. Matthew 4:4 says that man shall not live by bread alone but
by EVERY word that that proceeds from the mouth of God. This just
brings it back to the basics for me. We should be vessels living to
please Him and live by His every word and desire.
Here is some questions to ask yourself regarding balance in your life,
ask yourself these questions and be honest with yourself...
1) What is motivating my decision making?
2) What is most valuable to me?
3) Do my actions support my core values?
4) Where can I start to reflect my core values?
Romans 1:1-2
1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy,
to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to
God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the
pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your
mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his
good, pleasing and perfect will.
I encourage you today to find balance in your life, pursue your
purpose and pursue you destiny all while making sure you have the
correct foundation laid in your life on a daily basis. Bring your
relationship with Jesus back to the BASICS, get into His word everyday
and continue asking Him to grow you and allow His balance for your
life to be magnified!
Balance
Balance is something that has truly been on my heart when it comes to
Christ, this probably has a lot to do with our church just getting out
of our "Balance" series also.
Sadly enough, when I think back to balance in my relationship with
Christ throughout my life time, I found myself not understanding the
principle and importance of it. I am currently 27, A worship leader at
a Church called "Building Church" here in Huntsville AL. I was raised
in church all of my life, involved in every possible way and have been
a believer since I was a kid. It wasn't until about three years ago to
where my life started taking a different chapter and I started
understanding balance in my everyday walk with Christ.
See in the midst of a busy life full of ministry, school, marriage,
work, etc. We find ourselves so off course from our destiny and
purpose and we find ourselves doing things just because its routine or
we're just used to doing it that way which starts making us so out of
balance. Instead of fully understanding our purpose and pursuing our
destiny, we are pursuing everyday life and the things involved in it
when we don't even realize it. This is when we must bring the balance
back into our life and follow the way Christ has laid before us with
His word. Matthew 4:4 says that man shall not live by bread alone but
by EVERY word that that proceeds from the mouth of God. This just
brings it back to the basics for me. We should be vessels living to
please Him and live by His every word and desire.
Here is some questions to ask yourself regarding balance in your life,
ask yourself these questions and be honest with yourself...
1) What is motivating my decision making?
2) What is most valuable to me?
3) Do my actions support my core values?
4) Where can I start to reflect my core values?
Romans 1:1-2
1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy,
to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to
God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the
pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your
mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his
good, pleasing and perfect will.
I encourage you today to find balance in your life, pursue your
purpose and pursue you destiny all while making sure you have the
correct foundation laid in your life on a daily basis. Bring your
relationship with Jesus back to the BASICS, get into His word everyday
and continue asking Him to grow you and allow His balance for your
life to be magnified!