Leaders Gathering

The "what's next" leader

Hey there

I am writing these comments on my laptop in Maui.  With my family (some sleeping, some just hanging out, all of us together under one roof).   I am thinking about Christmas this year and how thousands in this county will attend church at one of your churches.  We have such precious opportunities that God gives us to tell folks about His plan of redemption.   Think about how high the stakes are.  Think about what could happen if we 'perfectly' listened to God, and courageously responded to whatever it is He asks us to do.  What would happen during this Christmas?  What would happen (as a result) in homes?  What would happen in our churches as people begin to fill every seat, invite their friends, believe, invest in and support the local church.  Imagine with me what could happen in our little county.  We are just one body, but we are one.  We can't do everything, but I am convinced we can do something.

As I was typing this my littlest daughter Hannah came up, kissed me on the cheek, thanked me for being her daddy and thanked me for us being here and said good night.   Friends that is the Kingdom of God in my reality.   Here's what I mean.  We are only called to be faithful in this moment to do the right thing, say the right thing and believe the right thing.  The rest is up to God.   

What if this season, each of us lived in the stark and sometimes messy reality of the moment we are in right now.  God is so much bigger than whatever it is you are worrying about.  It is a sin to worry, so stop.  Trust Him.  Believe in yourself.  Jesus does!   Believe that God wants to do amazing things in the church He has entrusted to your care, for this season.   Once you allow that belief to resonate in your heart, it will become your reality, and you can't not invest every ounce of energy to see the dream become reality.  This is the only Christmas we have.  You are the only dad your kids have.   You are the only husband, the only friend and the only one God has called to do unthinkable things for His glory and purposes this Christmas.  Live in the gift of now.  Believe Him and give everything you have to see one person come to Christ this Christmas.  What better gift could we give back to the One who GAVE everything to us? 

I am praying for you.  I look forward to our leaders gathering in January.  I want us to focus on leadership, developing leaders, building trust in teams, among some other things God is showing me. 

In the end....This is the only Christmas you have.   Instead of being leaders who are focused on what's next, what if we became leaders who were more focused on "what's NOW."  When we begin to think more about what's now, less about what's next.  We find God stronger than ever, because I find myself weaker and more surrendered than ever.

This Christmas, let's all give everything as if you believed the dream for our lives, our churches and for the Kingdom of God.

Have an amazing Jesus-saturated Christmas.

Your friend and co-laborer for the baby who grew up to die for each of us.

John

Volunteers

One of the most difficult tasks as a leader has been to maintain a thriving volunteer ministry.  It seems with our culture screaming "its all about me, serve me, help me or give to me" it has become increasingly difficult to create a "culture" of volunteerism, for the right reasons.    I am so grateful for all that God has done, is doing and will do in regards to helping us develop a volunteer ministry that helps engage people and encourages those who serve.

I am so excited for the upcoming leaders gathering.  It will be the last gathering until january and so we are pulling out all stops to celebrate volunteers.    Think about it for a moment.  Without the volunteers in our churches there would be no ministry.   There would be no or little greeting.  The church wouldn't be the same, to say the least.   

IF you have time, try to make it to our leaders gathering next Thursday the 17th.  We will serve you breakfast, we will worship together.   Hopefully we can learn from each other ways to make the Bride of Christ what God intended for it to be.   

Thank you my friends and colleagues for all you do.  We pray for so many churches in the county each week.  I find myself more concerned about what God is doing in our community and city than what He is up to at Living Hope.   

Thanks for your encouragement.  Wayne, your words meant alot.

Guard your hearts!

John