Intriguing Paradoxes for Leaders

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I recently heard that there has been more written about Abraham Lincoln than any other single person in history – second only to Jesus.  That is pretty impressive.  In my stack of “read-before-getting-rid-of” books, I pulled out Lincoln on Leadership: Executive Strategies for Tough Times by Donald T. Phillips.  I thought these  intriguing paradoxes, observed in Lincoln’s leadership, would be good for every leader:

1. He was charismatic yet unassuming.

2. He was consistent yet flexible.

3. He was trusting and compassionate, yet could also be demanding and tough.

4. He was a risk-taker and innovative, yet patient and calculating.

5. He claimed not to have total control of events, yet he took charge and was extraordinarily decisive.

What aspects of leadership do you need to learn from this?

This partial list was taken from Lincoln on Leadership, Warner Books, 1992

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Beautiful U Event Follow Up

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Beautiful U Girls Conference was held in Troy, IL last week and the attendance doubled from the year before!  This was the second year and it was an amazing day.  The underlying theme for the event is to connect girls in the name of Jesus Christ, so that they experience His love that makes one truly beautiful.  Through seminars, worship sessions, speakers and experience stations, teen girls got to build relationships with godly women who have been walking the road of faith.

Each part plays an important role for the day and I wanted to use words today to express gratitude to everyone who helped.

Thanks Christine for your work as the adminstrator – getting the website together, the online registrations processed, designing and printing the journal and for making the day go smoothly.  Also, the woodworking class was great.

Thanks Suzanne for your planning and execution of the day.  I thought it was a great idea you had to begin this conference in the first place.

Thanks to Heather Budwell and Teri Ahlvers for speaking during the day! Great job!

Thanks to the seminar leaders:  Jill Fisk, Elizabeth Grant, Jenny Kremmel, Teri Ahlvers, and Lisa Deaton. And thanks Lisa for coming to Illinois – the after lunch concert and devotion was awesome.

Thanks to the experience station leaders – you all made it a fantastic and memorable day!  Katie, Yolanda, Heather, Abbie, Laura, Julie, Megan, Cindy, Mary, Raelene, Millie and Christine.

Thanks to the Harvest Band - Grace Stone, Raelene Fischer, Jenny Kremmel, Tyler Lynn, and Bonnie Pocklington.  And thanks Millie for joining us with media!

Thanks to Jill Kremmel for the great refreshments, Kim McGrath for the great lunch and Chayne Morrison, Bonnie’s mom, Rita Brandt and others who helped in the hospitality team!  Thanks Donna for taking pictures.

Thanks to the Mable Sound and Tech Group – Justin, Collin and Tyler… it was fun to stick together during the day.

The leadership at Beautiful U Girls Conference was over the top.  Thanks for your part in the mission to help young girls see that their worth is in Christ and making it fun along the way.

BEAUTIFUL U PICTURES

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Why large events will always be part of the church

Details make a difference 

You’re invited to “like” facebook.com/goharvest to stay up to date for the next conference!

 

 

Who Packs Your Parachute

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Who packs your parachute?  Who are the people in your life who help you take risk and dives? Who are the ones who help you become successful? You’ve probably heard the story before, but it’s worth thinking of again – who packs your parachute?  Here’s the full story. 

But today, I was thinking about those around us that allow us to take the dives and risks in life.  If we aren’t trusting someone to aid in our life goals, then we probably either have really small goals or just aren’t getting very far.  It’s true, a person can pack their own parachute, but it limits the number of dives you can take.

If you want to be effective, begin developing and trusting people to help you.  Additionally, be a help others – preparing for others’ successful endeavors – assisting them - is just as important as being the one to jump.  You in effect, are jumping with everyone who is jumping.

As you are thinking of those people who are packing your parachute for you on a regular basis – your spouse, close friends, teammates or co-workers, remember to express your appreciation to them on a regular basis.

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Leading Off Stage

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The thought crossed my mind the other day that just because a worship leader is not on  stage, does not mean that we can’t be worship leaders? Maybe your worship team is on a rotation basis and there are times when you are in the congregation.  Here are some thoughts for serving in the worship ministry even when you are not in front.

Model Authentic Worship in the congregation – help the congregation see how to worship.  Don’t put on a show, but genuinely worship God and allow others to learn from it.

Model and lead worship for you family – a simple committment to regular weekly worship, among other faithful, leadership at home, is being a worship leader.

Pray for the worship team, the pastor, leaders – As we lift up prayer on behalf of the leaders in our church, the Lord uses the ministry and the congregation more mightily.

Take authority to help with little things like hospitality, extra chairs that need to be set up, etc..  There are some things people notice from the stage that no one else notices.  I see people walk in late and look for seats sometimes.  As a worship leader, we have the privilage of serving the church – through music and through other ways that relate to the worship service – such as picking up coffee cups, trash or old bulletins.  Help make sure details are in place for a great service.  Even if we aren’t scheduled for the day for an official role, we still have authority to help aid in the service.  Do it quietly, causing little commotion and don’t complain about having to do it.

Leading in every day life – taking time each day to seek the Lord, prepare your heart and live a life of integrity doesn’t have to happen the weeks you are gearing up for official ministry – it can happen every day and week.

OTHER POSTS…

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Reflection: Many Different Worship Settings

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Over the last few weeks, I have had the opportunity to lead worship in many different settings and situations.  I was reflecting on these and the amazing numbers of ways and styles that a group of faithful believers can gather to worship Jesus. It’s a reminder of just how large, vast and diverse the kingdom of God is and I’m privileged to be involved in it.  So, I’ll just list a brief description of each – mostly written from a technical, statistical view point – but all of them were really awesome opportunities!

- Ignition Middle School Conference, four in the band, 80 in the congregation, great sound guy at the church.

- Small local church, projector and screen, me and two others (two acoustics, one percussion) no sound really, I sang and spoke for the worship time.

- Fire-Up Conference, 7 in the band, 400 high school students and leaders, lots of video and sound stuff.

- Three kids events – all with great sound, about 6 people in each band, a total of 767 kids and leaders between the events, great sound operators for the events and great video set ups at each location.

- Smaller church lock-in, but a huge crowd of kids!  A local guy brought in the portable sound system, which was great, the room was a small gym and the night was great.  There were four in the band.

- Preschool Chapel – Every once in a while, I’m asked to lead a few songs for worship during our church pre-school chapel.  Me, one guitar, no sound and about 60 kids.  It’s a riot.

- A closing service for Upward Basketball – four in the band, the congregation was a mix of families, kids and leaders from the Upward Program for the season.

- Revival – four nights of leading at the same church, good sound, great congregation, there were 11 different people in the band that rotated throughout the weekend.

- Worship at our own church – my seven year old daughter and I sang a special during one of the services.  At Easter, I played percussion along with a 7th grade guy who played and sang a song on guitar – he did a great job.  I also led our worship band there for the Easter worship services – a dynamic team of people and servants at Troy UMC.

- During 8:00 church one Sunday I sang “Lord of The Dance” and played it on guitar.  It’s one of the few times I’ve actually done a song in a different tuning.

- Led worship for a group of pastors at a Thom Rainer event – there were four in the band (all from our church) and it was a great day of music, learning and worship.

- Last week, we did special music for one of the services – five guys from our worship band played one guitar for a song.  There’s a video on youtube of a group doing this and we thought we’d try it!  We got this song together to play for the offering during one of the days when the theme was ”everyone has a part in ministry in the church”.

- Beautiful U Girls Conference – the bass player, percussion player, keyboard player and vocalist were females and the crowd was a mix of moms, daughters and female ministry leaders!  A great day of worship and learning.

- Being in worship and not playing – I have had that over the last few weeks too.  Because my gift is music in the congregation, I typically don’t have that kind of opportunity very often.

It’s fun to think about and I am grateful for the opportunities!  I’m also struck by the fact that there isn’t one way or style to worship – it can be in lots of settings, using various configurations of instruments, style of worship, etc.  The Lord is seeking worshippers who worship in spirit and in truth.

Thanks to all these places and events that invited me!  It was a privilege.

OTHER POSTS…

Step Down From The Worship Team?

Four surprising things a worship leader must do each week.   

Top ten ways to preserve the status quo in your church worship.

Details Make A Difference

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At times I get the sense that the “big picture people” think the big picture is more important than the little details.  I hear phrases like “I think about how it all should look and then I let the other people run around and make sure it comes together”.  In one sense it’s true, leaders help people see where they need to go and cast that vision.  But, the little details make or break it.  I don’t think one is more noble than the other – big picture vs details - but I had to pick, I might choose details.  Of course this all depends on your giftedness - one probably is more natural and all of us together makes it work.

Jason Hatley has a great blog and I recently read a couple quotes from something he wrote on this subject.  The first quote was from Harvey  Mackay who says, “The little things don’t mean a lot. They mean  everything!” And Charles Swindoll says, “The difference between  something good and something great is attention to detail.”

So what details do we need to tend to in our organizations?  It might be that the details are in fact done through people who assist us in our roles, but what do we need to double check on? What do we need to make sure happens?

I think one of the reason details are so daunting at times is because there are so many of them.  And they seem to multiply as the critical time approaches.  But, that’s the essence of details – many little things that add up to make something go well, run smoothly, have an effective impact.

We recently had a girls conference at our church.  Of the many things that happened during that event, I heard almost everyone talk about the homemade flowers that were used as center pieces.  One little tiny aspect to the event, but it made a lasting impression and was talked about immensely during the day. In fact, when the event was over – all the flowers were all gone.  Slowly, one by one, these homemade flowers had disappeared!  People took one here and there so they could go learn how to make them or whatever – and we didn’t mind.  But it was that one little detail of the day, along with so many others that made an impression – taking the event from good to great.

Leadership, with attention to the details and the people who make the details happen, is dynamite!  Decide which details you need to double check on today or  before your next big thing.

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The Purpose of Beautiful U

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I am getting ready to be a part of an event tomorrow called Beautiful U Girls Conference.  I am looking forward to it.  There are girls, mom’s, and female ministry leaders from all over the state and region who are attending!  It’s going to be a day of worship, experience stations and connections with others.

There are lots of girly things – chocolate fountains, polka-dot themed refreshments, nails, hair, homemade cards, etc. There are also some other things that aren’t necessarily considered girly such as woodworking, BBQ for lunch and more.  I’m thrilled to be leading worship for the day - and besides me, the rest of the worship and planning team is girls.

But the overarching goal is for girls to get a quiet and deep sense that a life lived in the transforming power of Jesus is what makes us content, confident and beautiful.

As with all my disclaimers about these weekend conferences (this will be the seventh event we have hosted in the last eleven weeks) my goal is for this weekend to be a tool.  This is our second year for the Beautiful U Girls Conference and I know that these things have a life span – it may go for 5 years, it may go for 20.  But, the goal isn’t to have a conference, the goal is to help people experience God’s love and to share with them the hope found in Jesus.

I have to confess, that I am growing ever more excited about the times when we get to host these in Troy, IL – right at home!  It’s much more work than going someplace else, but it’s fun to be at home.

Another footnote is that I am looking forward to a time when my daughters can attend something like this.

Finally, I want to make sure I say a thank you in advance to everyone who is helping this event come together!  It’s great to have your partnership.  Pray with me for fruit that will last in the lives of these teachable young women.

OTHER POSTS…

Four things I give attention to when developing a conference or event. 

Why large events will always be part of the church. 

Six ways dads help their kids belong. 

 

Thank You For This…

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For the last few weeks, my two year old daughter has wanted to pray for all the meals.

The prayer is short and sweet and goes like this, “Dear Lode, tank ooh for dis. Amen.”

Dear Lord, thank you for this.  We are trying to teach her to be a little more specific and she will get there eventually.  But for right now, it’s a good prayer to have stuck in my head and heart.  Lord… thank you for this.

We all have “this” going on in our lives.  We can look to our situations, our blessings, our issues, our troubles, the valley we are in, etc and then be reminded that in all things we should be thankful.

Thankfulness is a theme in Scripture.  Colossians talks about devoting ourselves to prayer and being thankful.  Colossians chapter 3 says, Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts… and be thankful.

Find ways to pray, even in the tough times, “Dear Lord, thank you for this”.

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thes. 5:16-18

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“Step Down” from the worship team?

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Stepping down indicates that you were “up there” at one point.  And we don’t really need worship teams to believe that. We don’t need congregations to believe that either.  We need worship teams that are filled with people who have stepped down to be there – modeling the sacrifice that Christ made for the church.

The worship team role is one of humility and graciousness.  It’s a compassion for God’s people.  A desire to serve.  A purposeful and intentional sacrifice on behalf of the congregation, to be available and used by God, even in our weakness.

There are many phrases that perpetuate the pedestal that worship bands have been on in the church. The worship band, like any other team in the church, is a part of the body of Christ helping people connect with Jesus.  The ushers, the greeters, the teachers, the workers, the leaders, the designers, and all other sorts of people are involved in the same work – to help create conditions for people connect with Jesus.

I wonder if the attitudes of the worship team would change if the phrase became “stepping down to serve on the worship team.”

I understand the phrase and it is a tidy way of saying that “for this season, I’m going to set aside this ministry role for the sake of God’s call in my life in another direction or for a million other reasons”.

It just struck a chord with me today when I heard the phrase.  I want in all ways for the worship team to step down to serve.  We’re not “up” on stage. We are “down” on the stage, serving the church sacrificially.

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Churches: Under 500 and Over 500

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According to a recent study there are 282,000 churches in the USA with weekly attendance somewhere between 7 and 499 people. That same study concluded that there are approximately 19,210 churches with attendance over 500.

34 million Americans worship in churches with less than 500 people. 20 million worship in congregations with more that 500 in attendance.  Approximately 54 million people in the USA gather for worship on a weekly basis.

Here are some thoughts about this:

1)      The church in the USA, even though mainline denominations may be on decline overall during this season in history, is still the largest gathering of people on any regular basis!

2)      If so many people in the nation are getting their impressions of the church, faith and God’s love for them through the direct action and personal ministry of small congregations, the churches need to be effective.

3)      Smaller congregations should be confident in their gifts and God given ability to become extraordinary in the kingdom. In effect, small congregations reach more people that large ones do (as a whole).

4)      Leadership needs to be strengthened and grown in the ministry. We need leaders on all levels.  Smaller congregations have the benefit of inviting more people to experience and participate in hands on leadership.

5)      Congregations under 500 should glean what they can from the effectiveness of larger church ministries, but shouldn’t become consumed by what the larger church is doing – each church needs to do what they are uniquely called to do.

6)      People are continually being attracted to and more comfortable with worship in large congregations – with attendance of 500 to over 10,000 on a regular basis.  This might be an indicator that smaller churches clustered in close geographical areas might need to look for creative ways to join forces.  There is a trend, even with the overall decrease in mainline churches, for the largest churches in each denomination to be seeing growth in numbers.

7)      However, the millennial generation, is specifically looking for close relationships and a community church making a different in everyday ways – right there in the home town.  Large churches and small churches both need to figure out ways for people to get connected on a personal level.

8)      What if all of the approximately 54,000,000 church attendees left worship on Sunday morning committed to really living a Christ centered and Christ focused life for just one week?  What would happen?

OTHER POSTS….

Why large events will always be part of the church

The prerequisite to healthy and strong congregations

Does your church building aid in making disciples?