Who Is Lynne Hybels…and What Does She Need From Us Right Now?

August 7, 2018

Lynne Hybels is the wife of Bill Hybels–renowned founder and senior pastor of Willow Creek Community Church in Illinois. This year in 2018, Bill has been publicly accused of sexual harassment and he has resigned from the megachurch he and Lynne founded. In the last few months as this media storm has rained down confusion and grief on those at the Willow Creek Community Church, Bill’s family has been unsurprisingly silent.

Let’s be clear. These are accusations. Nothing has been proven but an independent investigation is in the works right now to dig deeper into the accusations brought forward by numerous women against Bill Hybels.

We believe Lynne Hybels is so much more than just Bill’s wife.

Lynne Hybels Is an Author

Forty-five years ago with her then-fiance Bill, Lynne Hybels started a high school ministry that later became Willow Creek Community Church–a church for adults. Neither Bill nor Lynne could’ve dreamed that it would become one of the largest and most influential churches in the United States.

Throughout her adult life, Lynne is someone who has been generous to share about her faith journey. Lynne writes on her blog that 25 years ago “when I was forty and married to a very public pastor, I entered an era of spiritual and emotional crisis. In the deep soils of my soul, the earth quaked; my life crumbled. Though the crumbling was quiet, it was agonizing. I could not imagine that anything could mend the fractures that split my soul.”

And yet, she says that with her husband’s support and guidance from deeply spiritual counselors, she “spent the next decade discovering healing truths about myself and about God.”

Lynne writes that her dark night of the soul “was a painful and messy decade,” but she says, “I entered the places of my deepest brokenness and I found Jesus there, loving me. That changed everything. Divine love was a foundation I could build a life on.”

Church, can we pray that Lynne and her family will once again find that divine love is the foundation they can build (and rebuild) their lives on?

Bill and Lynne penned Fit to Be Tied: Making Marriage Last a Lifetime about marriage during this time. Lynne writes, “Bill and I wrote this book twenty-five years ago out of the struggle of our own marriage. We’ve wondered during various times of deep marital challenge if we should have titled it Fit to be Un-tied. But the truth is: The lessons we learned and shared in that book have proven to keep us connected to one another, to our kids and to God for over forty years.”

Lynne Hybels Is a World-Changer

After that challenging decade, God called Lynne to follow Jesus deeper into the brokenness of the world.

“I ended up in places like South Africa, Zambia, DR Congo, Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq,” she writes. “I met children orphaned by AIDS and women raped in warzones. I met families destroyed by the despair of unsurmountable poverty. I met refugees who had crossed country borders in the middle of the night with bullets chasing them. Such brokenness. Such pain.”

She writes, “But in the midst of what seemed hopeless I found hope.”

In 2005, Lynne wrote a book entitled: Nice Girls Don’t Change the World. She writes about this book: “At thirty-nine I was a people-pleasing ‘nice girl’ who knew how to keep everybody else happy but was seriously depressed myself. During the next decade, I gradually discovered hope and joy as I owned my own dreams, strengths, passion and calling to engage actively in the world.”

Oh, Church, instead of judging or clicking our tongues in disgust that we’re so often tempted to do in situations like this…can we join in praying for Lynne to continue to have boldness and courage?

Can we ask God to fill her with the peace that passes understanding?

Dear Church, can we pray for Lynne that in this time of brokenness for her family, that she will find hope? Again.

Hope. Hope that does NOT disappoint.

The Megapopular Churches That Celebrity and Instagram Built

Megan Briggs

August 7, 2018

celebrity pastors — Screengrab via Instagram / @chadveach

What do Hillsong NYC, Vous Church, Churchome and Zoe Church have in common besides Justin Bieber’s sporadic presence at their services? All four churches hail from the same theological tradition, have lead pastors around the same age, and have a dizzying social media presence.

“Instagram built our church,” says Chad Veach of Zoe Church in Los Angeles, California.

All hailing from the Pentecostal tradition, a denomination which sticks to pretty conservative views when it comes to hot-button social issues such as homosexuality and abortion, these churches have managed to walk a very curious road of appealing to the broader culture. Their pastors have also managed to avoid directly answering questions about their positions on tricky topics. Their aim is to reach “those far from God,” including celebrities and their fans.

While there are differences between the four churches, they are most similar in their message to the people they’re trying to reach: We won’t ask you questions about your lifestyle. Just come to church. Judging by their social media pages, the key to appealing to culture is to make church look fun and hipster.

The Rise of Zoe Church

Veach hails from the greater Seattle, Washington, area, where his father continues to serve as an administrator of the Foursquare Church, overseeing some 200 churches. Getting his start by working under Judah Smith of Churchome (previously called City Church in Seattle), Veach made the move down to Los Angeles in 2014 to start his own church.

What has become a common thread among a lot of young churches, Zoe started in an unconventional place: a nightclub called 1 Oak. Before that, the group met in houses. Now the church meets at the El Rey Theater on Wilshire Boulevard.

Veach estimates the church’s Instagram audience of 65,000 brings in about 1,600 physical attendees to the church’s services each week. So what exactly is so drawing about the church’s Instagram account?

A brief swipe-through of Zoe’s Instagram feed produces professional-looking shots of people looking as if they’re genuinely enjoying church. Nothing but smiles. And coffee. From baptism to fellowship time to worship, my goodness it all looks so polished.

Huge congratulations to everyone that made the decision to go public with their faith today! Nothing like BAPTISM SUNDAY!! 🙌🏽

A post shared by Zoe Church LA (@zoechurchla) on Jun 3, 2018 at 10:27pm PDT

COLD BREW ✅ Can’t wait to see you in church today! One down… 5 to go! VALLEY 10AM EL REY 11AM 12:45PM 6PM 8PM!

A post shared by Zoe Church LA (@zoechurchla) on Jul 22, 2018 at 10:15am PDT

In addition to the church’s Instagram page, Veach’s personal page is public and only slightly less polished than the church’s page. Plenty of pictures of Veach’s children and household-name friends adorn his account.

V O U S C O N F 2 0 1 8

A post shared by Chad Veach (@chadcveach) on Jun 8, 2018 at 2:41pm PDT

It’s very clear Veach is trying to appear approachable and relevant, and more important, that he won’t judge anyone. “Our church is a place where our doors are open to people of all backgrounds—regardless of where they are at in their journeys—and we hope all feel welcomed, comfortable and loved,” Zoe’s homepage reads.

Appearances by celebrities on the church’s Instagram account and services don’t hurt attendance, either. Actor Chris Pratt regularly attends Zoe, and even promoted Veach’s book on his personal Instagram account. Pratt has been seen at services with his girlfriend, Katherine Schwarzenegger, daughter of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver.

4 Theories of How a Leader Becomes Controlling

Ron Edmondson

August 7, 2018

One of the most dangerous forms of leadership, and one of the most frustrating, in my opinion, is the controlling leader. I’ve written about this issue previously, because I believe it is one of the leading reasons for stalled growth and low morale in an organizational or team setting.

Under a controlling leader’s watch, leadership development is virtually non-existent. Pride is rampant. Ideas are squashed. Momentum is curtailed. It simply never works well.

A friend of mine and I were discussing this issue. He works in the business world and his boss is a controlling leader. It has led to burnout for my friend and caused him to start putting his resume out. He’s done—he simply can’t take it anymore. I realize this business is going to suffer long-term, because the leader can’t let go of the reigns. As an outsider, it appears they will be losing a quality person if they lose my friend. At this point in the life of the business, it will be a devastating blow.

In the conversation, my friend asked an important question. “How does one become a controlling leader?”

Good question.

I don’t know that I can answer for every controlling leader, but I have some theories. I know things that trigger controlling tendencies in my leadership—and, I think if we are honest, all of us leaders can control at times.

These are just my thoughts.

Here are four ways a leader becomes controlling:

Faith—or lack there of

Typically, this leader doesn’t trust anyone except him or herself to do the job. They are afraid to release the vision to others, often because they don’t have faith enough either in others or in themselves, or even in God. It requires faith to trust that when you release control others will do as they are supposed to do. Especially in the church, trusting the body’s many parts is an act of faith that God’s plan works.

In terms of the church, our vision is shaped by Christ. He was the master at delegation. He obviously set the vision, but then handed the entire ministry over to His disciples. The ministry leader who struggles with their faith will always default to trying to make things happen on his or her own.

Failure

This leader has witnessed failure—either personally or in the lives of others. They are now leery of things going wrong under their watch and so they refuse to let anyone else take charge. Controlling appears to be the “safer” option.

Fanfare

These leaders thrive on attention they receive from the limelight. They have been motivated over the years by the name they can build for themselves. They want the power, prestige and privileges that come with leadership, so they shut down anyone else who may appear to be easing into a position of influence or gaining in notoriety.

Fear

Mostly due to a lack of confidence in themselves, these controlling leaders always believe the sky is falling. They see the glass as “half empty” and don’t want to take too many risks or chances. When everything is under their control they feel a sense of security.

I don’t know if any of us can answer this question as it applies to every leader, but these are some theories I’d suggest.

Have you ever worked with a controlling leader? Anything you’d add to my list?

Leader, do you have controlling tendencies? Do any of these apply to you?

This article originally appeared here.

You’re Likely Losing Volunteers (and Members) If You’re Not Doing This

Danny Franks

August 7, 2018

If you’re a ministry leader, you’re eventually going to create a practice, policy or procedure that’s not all that popular. And chances are, your volunteers are going to be the ones to enforce that policy on the front lines:

A leader/student ratio in your kids’ ministry means that there will come a point when a classroom is full, and you can’t take more kids.
The high school you meet in doesn’t allow food or drinks in the auditorium, and your door greeter has to say “no” to the guest and their newly-purchased Venti Frappuccino.
The decibel level you’ve chosen for your opening worship set is deemed “too loud” by a worshipper, and that worshipper decides to take out their frustrations on the sound board operator.
A seating team member asks someone to scoot in so that they can open up more seating space, and the scootee takes exception at being told what to do.

If your volunteers haven’t experienced one of the above scenarios, they will. While it’s true that some policies are dumb, it takes good systems to keep our volunteer teams and weekend services running smoothly. But those systems sometimes run afoul of the way that attendees think things ought to be done. And if the attendee is feeling saucy enough, they might just take matters into their own hands and tell volunteers how to do their job.

So what do you do when one of your volunteers is taking heat on behalf of your team? I think there are four things:

1. Get both sides of the story.

It can be easy to assume the worst about a situation when you don’t know the situation. Gather as many facts as possible before you wade into the deep end: What happened? Who said what? What actions were taken? What was the desired outcome?

2. Affirm the things your volunteer did right.

If they took a bullet while doing what you asked them to do, praise them for it. Remind them of the “why” behind the policy, and use that “why” to bolster their confidence.

3. Get on the same page as your volunteer.

Perhaps you don’t need to put on your cape and swoop in to save the day. Take a quick assessment of how your volunteer is doing: Do they think the situation is resolved? Do they believe further action is necessary? If they brought closure to the crisis, encourage them and move on.

4. Know when to step in.

Under no circumstances should you allow a volunteer to be belittled, berated or subjected to abusive words or behavior. If a situation is escalating, step in and separate the parties. If a volunteer is upset after an escalation has taken place, reach out to the critic and seek to set things straight. Reinforce the reason behind the policy. Affirm the volunteer. If necessary, call on the critic to make the wrong right.

When you protect your volunteers, you affirm your belief in them and in their ministry. Don’t throw ’em under the bus. Stand up for them and watch them soar.

This article originally appeared here.

My Sin Is Great, Your Love Is Greater

Chelsea Crockett

August 7, 2018

I’m so grateful that love is greater. We live in such a sinful world that we don’t even think about the sin surrounding us daily. Sin is such a part of our lives that half the time we don’t even realize we’re doing anything wrong in the first place.

Think of the last time you gossiped or got angry with someone. You probably didn’t even consciously think about the fact that you could be sinning by doing so.

Although we’re not perfect, Jesus has given us the free, undeserving gift of forgiveness and mercy. We are sinful people living in a sinful world, yet there is so much love and grace in store for us.

Your Love Is Greater

There’s a song called “What a Beautiful Name” by Hillsong Worship and there’s a line that I fell in love with the first time I heard it. The lyric says, “My sin was great, your love was greater,” and that has always stuck with me since I heard it. We often get so wrapped up in our own sin that we forget how powerful the love of God is.

2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”

Once you’ve been redeemed by Christ, you are no longer drowning in sin. You’re a new creation, made pure and perfect in his sight. We oftentimes beat ourselves up for the sins we’ve committed. I know I do at least! But knowing that I am forgiven and made blameless in his sight gives me the hope I need for the days to come.

Psalm 103:12 says, “As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”

Think about the significance of this verse. The east to the west is never ending. It goes on and on and never stops. God removes our sins from us and never thinks of them again. In Micah 7:19, it says, “You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.” To think our Heavenly Father forgets the wrongs we’ve done against him is amazing and something we are so undeserving of.

It’s natural to feel regret and pain for the things we’ve done in our life, but we can’t forget who our creator is. His love is so big and so wide, and he wants us to know the depth of his mercy and forgiveness.

If we don’t think God truly forgives us for what we’ve done in the past, then we don’t know who God is at all. Have faith and dive deeper into what is character really is. He is merciful, loving, caring and perfect in all that he is.

I’ll leave you with a quote I found that gave me a peace over my heart. It says, “God is not waiting to love you until you have overcome your weaknesses and bad habits. He loves you today with a full understanding of your struggles.” – Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Write this on your mirror, make this your phone background, put it on a sticky note on your dashboard. Read it and believe it. God’s love is greater! God’s love overcomes all sin, today and every day!

This article originally appeared here.

The Best Personality Type for Ministry Leaders

Brandon Cox

August 6, 2018

I’m an introvert, and I’m a pastor. It’s a tough combination to pull off, especially when we tend to celebrate certain types of personalities over others in the world of ministry leadership.

As church planters, we went through a couple of different assessment periods before we launched Grace Hills Church, and I can specifically remember a couple of significant pain points in that process.

In one situation, it was made pretty clear that only the alpha males would successfully plant churches. This mentality still hangs around today and let me be blunt: It’s baloney!

In another evaluation, we were turned down for funding consideration because I tested as a high “I” (Influence) on the DISC profile, and as we all know, only high “D’s” (Dominance) can actually get anything done. Again, baloney.

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with being a type-A, driven person with a tendency to light up the room or dominate conversations. My concern is that we often elevate certain personality types as more prone to success than others.

So I’m putting forth a new theory that the absolute, very best personality type to possess as a ministry leader is YOURS!

Look at the diversity of personalities represented among Bible characters. Moses was meek, Joshua was inspiring, Paul was an intellectual. Peter was bull-headed. And John was a lover of souls.

And when it comes to modern church leaders who have impacted my life deeply… Rick Warren is larger than life. David Jeremiah is the calm teacher. Erwin McManus is a wild man. Dave Ferguson is a motivator. Derwin Gray is an evangelism linebacker. Bob Goff gives people medals and balloons. And Chris Hodges is happy and a little hyper.

The fact is, the Kingdom is made up of leaders of all kinds of shapes, sizes and flavors. We need extroverts who storm the gates of hell boldly and introverts who care for the broken on the battlefield. We need organizers who systematize the work of ministry for efficiency and motivators who engage the passion lying deep within the body.

The notion that you need to lead with a personality that isn’t naturally yours but looks more like a successful celebrity pastor is both hurtful and untrue.

Be you. Be the leader God carefully crafted from the womb. Know your strengths and weaknesses. Intentionally grow in areas you find challenging as a leader.

But reject the pressure to conform to a certain image of what a good leader must look like. God wants to you use YOU!

In fact, when God made you, he then broke the mold. There’s never been anyone on the planet quite like you, and God uses a diversity of people to accomplish his mission of redeeming others to himself.

It’s always wise to know yourself well so that you can surround yourself with fellow leaders who help to keep you in balance. But personality alone is just one aspect of who you are as a leader.

I was recently part of an assessment panel evaluating the readiness of some church planters. Before one particular candidate entered the room, we were all assured this particular candidate was a shoe-in. And he was sharp, as promised. His presentation was polished and his positive personality lit up the room.

As different panel members asked him questions about his planting strategy and approaches to ministry, he answered each one confidently. But something was missing for me. I finally spoke up to ask a different kind of question…

What is the biggest hurt you’ve ever been through? Tell us about a moment of pain that shaped the rest of your life.

He answered well, and I was finally convinced he possessed a particular quality missing among too many sharp, polished leaders…a pastor’s heart.

While it’s OK to assess people to discover their personalities and talents, we have to be careful not to pass over someone’s potential because they aren’t the “successful” type.

Sometimes, the very people we write off because of their meekness are the ones chosen for a special blessing and anointing from God.

So do YOU. Learn who you are and how to be confident about it. Grow and improve and work on your weaknesses, but don’t ever believe you need to be someone you’re not to have God’s blessing on your life and leadership.

It takes all kinds. Really.

This article originally appeared here.

5 Signs You’re a Lone Ranger Leader (and Can’t Grow a Team)

Carey Nieuwhof

August 6, 2018

Everyone knows that Lone Ranger leaders rarely take their organization as far as leaders who can build a team.

But here’s the question no one really wants to ask—so am I a Lone Ranger leader?

Cue the awkward tension.

If you’re even asking the question, good for you. Most of the leaders who need to ask themselves tough questions won’t. Which means everyone else is asking the questions instead.

I know my tendency as a leader is to try to do everything myself, which is never a good idea.

The good news is it’s a tendency you can fight and overcome.

If you need some motivation, just know that your failure to grow a team will ultimately stifle your mission.

And with something like 85 percent of all churches having an attendance of fewer than 200 people, and over 90 percent of business staying small, there’s a ton at stake.

The leader who does everything themselves is a leader whose team ultimately accomplishes little.

So, how do you know if you’re a solo, Lone Ranger leader? Here are five signs you are.

1. You Think You Can Do It Better

Many solo leaders honestly think they can do things better than other people. And when you’re starting out, sometimes that’s true.

Your organization isn’t exactly swimming in graphic designers, web developers, project managers, team leaders and creative thinkers. Further, nobody thinks about the mission and the future as much as you. And you don’t have a lot of budget to hire those things out.

So you do them all yourself.

In the early stages of any church or organization, there is a lot of hands-on leadership for sure. You can’t just sit back and say “all I do is cast vision” when you have a church of 26 people.

But inside this idea that you can do things better is a fatal flaw.

First, you’re only actually good at a few things. Just because you can do graphic design doesn’t mean you should do it, unless it’s your principal gifting and the most important thing you can do to move the mission forward. Which, unless you’re a graphic design firm, it isn’t.

Second, even if you have people who are almost as good as you are in an area, you need to give them responsibility quickly.

Why? Because they’ll get better (or someone else will soon come along who is).

And, because you need to focus on what you can truly do best.

Chances are you are only deeply gifted at one or two things. Maybe you can preach in your sleep, or cast vision without thinking twice.

The problem is that if you don’t spend time on your gifts, you’ll use them but never develop them. And that means you’re cheating your gift.

If you really want to become world class at something, spend time developing that gift. Which will also mean you need to delegate so many other things.

After over two decades in leadership, I’ve realized I’m really only good at two things: communication and ideation. I can generate ideas and content, and I can communicate them well. Everything else falls off a steep cliff pretty quickly.

When I bring those gifts to any mission, I can help move the mission forward. When I try to do anything else, it’s almost always sub-par.

You’re not that different.

So what are you great at? Develop that, and let so much of the other stuff go.

Leaving Your Ministry: 7 Steps to Get It Right

Jim Wideman

August 6, 2018

I have met a lot of children’s pastors in my life. Anyone who knows me knows I like to network. Being a professional conference attendee, most of the children’s ministers I meet fall into one of three categories: those who have found where God wants them to be, those who are not sure where they are supposed to be, and those who want to leave where they are because they know that they are not presently where they are supposed to be. At different times in my ministry over the last 35 years, I have been in all three categories.

My quest to find God’s plan for my life started in 1973. There I was, minding my own business, selling drugs to my high school, when one of my best friends told me eight words that rocked my world. Those same eight words still rock my world today. What are they? You know them, “God has a wonderful plan for your life!” Jeremiah 29:11 tells us, “’I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you, and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” God’s plan for my life is so much better than the plans I came up with own my own. These last 35 years of serving Christ have been an amazing journey. I am so glad the Lord called me to minister to children and their families. It has been wild to see God place me in five wonderful churches under five wonderful pastors. There has been more deposited in me through the leaders and the people God has brought into my life than I have ever given.

In watching people in children’s ministry in the ’70s, ’80s, ’90s, ’00s and now in the ’10s, I’ve come to realize finding a position in children’s ministry is not hard to do, but finding the right position is a lot harder. I am glad I went to every church that I’ve been on staff at. I’ve loved every day I worked and served at each of them, but I’ve also loved every day that I haven’t worked at each of them, too. God used the four wonderful churches that were all part of His plan for me to prepare me for His plan for me, today!

Over the years, I think I’ve heard every reason under the sun why people have decided to make a change. Some are negative and some are positive. Things like lack of vision from senior leadership, frustration or burnout on the part of the children’s pastor, moral and ethical failure, not willing to change (stubbornness), a loss of trust or confidence in leadership or in you, the church outgrows you or you outgrow the position or church, constant conflict, as well as you’ve completed the task and it’s just time to go. Sometimes, the reason(s) to seek a change can be neutral or mutual, things like a change of philosophy or a change of pastor or you’ve been given a new assignment or promotion or you’ve been faithful in that which is another man’s and God gives you your own ministry. With all that stated, the only time to go is when God says to and gives you a release for your next adventure.

When you begin to sense a change might be taking place, here are seven steps to make sure you are making the right choices.

1. Listen to the right voice. Sometimes, I hear God; other times, it’s gas (pizza late at night is the wrong voice). You are the Lord’s; He is your shepherd. You hear His voice and know His voice. The voice of a stranger you will not hear! Ask God to remove blinders or hindrances to hearing His voice.

2. Remain faithful to the vision of the house. I believe it’s what you’re doing now, not what you’ve done in the past that matters. Stay faithful in the small things always! Allow your gifts to make room for you. If they don’t want or need your gifts at your present location, your gifts are needed somewhere else. Pray and talk to God about what you sense, not others.

3. Don’t go looking for greener pastures. Wait on release. If we truly work for God, He will show us our next assignment. Don’t try to help Him out.

4. Don’t get into fear. If your Heavenly Father can take care of birds and flowers, He knows how to take care of His children. Stay in faith, not in fear.

5. Remember no matter what, God is in control; He has a place for you and knows where you live and how to get in touch with you. It is His job to keep His promises to you and He will!

6. If it is time to go, never look back. Keep looking forward. Your best days in God are always ahead when you are making choices according to the Word!

7. God operates by the law of mutual benefit. He will take care of you and the ministry you left. It’s not your responsibility to worry about the kids or workers you leave behind. If this is good for you, it’s also good for the church and vice versa!

OK, Jim, that’s all well and good, but in all my seeking God, what do I do when God says stay? How do I stay put? Those are good questions, I’m glad you asked them.

Have a current vision. The best vision is a fresh vision. Ask the Lord daily to renew and refresh His plan and vision for your life. It’s also important to keep yourself refreshed.

How? Go to church, read your Bible, pray, enjoy your family, take time off, and make time for hobbies and other stress relievers. Another way to stay put is to keep your heart and life pure. Flee from ungodliness and evil thinking and doing. Guard your attitude. Sure, I’ve been hurt; we all have, but I will not be a victim. I choose to be a victor; that’s why I choose to take every thought captive and line it up with the truth of God’s Word.

One of the things that has helped me stay put is by never letting what I do become old hat. Choose to keep changing and trying new things. You’ve heard me say this before: “Same actions bring same results.” Another thing that keeps me appreciating where I am is networking. Experience is the best teacher, but it doesn’t have to be your experiences that you learn from. Don’t ride a dead horse; if it isn’t working, stop doing it. Don’t be sucked in by religious tradition; it is totally up to you to stay tuned in and up to date in every part of your ministry. Be teachable. Teachable people have longevity.

Stay hooked up with your pastor and all the leaders above you. Be a team player.

Be loyal. If you need help, ask for it. Don’t be afraid to say, “I’m in over my head.”

A good leader knows their abilities and weaknesses. It’s up to you to staff for your weak spots as well as work to improve them. Keep a servant’s heart and be on the lookout for pride. If you know you are to stay, get leaving out of your mind.

Obedience brings blessing! Over the years, I’ve seen this principle work over and over again. If God tells you to go, be obedient and God will bless you; if He tells you to stay, be obedient and He will bless you. When you are obedient, you can expect the blessings of God. Have faith. Expect victory. Expect promotion. And never forget obedience has rewards!

The Greatest Cure for Pastoral Burnout Is Christ Himself

Nick Roark

August 6, 2018

Christian books ought to be like cisterns that hold the refreshing waters of life for weary and thirsty souls. The Puritans understood this. In his final sermon to his congregation in 1662, the Puritan minister Thomas Watson challenged his flock with the importance of reading soul-satisfying books: “When you find a chilliness upon your souls and your former heat begins to abate, ply yourselves with warm clothes and get those good books that may acquaint you with such truths as may warm and affect your hearts”” [i]

The writings of the Puritans have warmed and affected my heart over the years. Below, you’ll discover some Christ-centered excerpts from what George Whitefield called “good old puritanical writings.” I gladly share these quotes in hopes that weary and discouraged pastors may behold Christ Jesus in his beauty, be strengthened by the grace that is in him (2 Timothy 2:1), and strive to press on for his eternal glory.

It’s important to remember that the Puritans knew firsthand the challenges, discouragements and toilsome labors that accompany faithful gospel ministry.

John Flavel (1627–1691): “The labours of the ministry will exhaust the very marrow from your bones, hasten old age and death. They are fitly compared to the toil of men in harvest, to the labours of a woman in travail, and to the agonies of soldiers in the extremity of a battle. We must watch when others sleep. And indeed it is not so much the expense of our labours, as the loss of them that kills us. It is not with us, as with other labourers: They find their work as they leave it, so do not we. Sin and Satan unravel almost all we do, the impressions we make on our people’s souls in one sermon, vanish before the next. How many truths have we to study! How many wiles of Satan, and mysteries of corruption, to detect! How many cases of conscience to resolve! Yes, we must fight in defense of the truths we preach, as well as study them to paleness, and preach them unto faintness.” [ii]

So what do the Puritans have to say to the weary, exhausted, discouraged pastor? Look to Christ. By faith, look to Jesus Christ, the One who is mighty and glorious and whose steadfast love is better than life. Out of a love for the glory of God, the word of God and the people of God, the Puritan writers consistently focus our gaze on Jesus Christ. As Joel Beeke writes, “They set forth Christ in his loveliness, moving us to yearn to know him better and live wholly for him.” [iii]

The Puritans encourage us as discouraged pastors to consider the greatness of the mercies we have in Christ. Instead of pondering our failings, contentment may be found by plunging ourselves into the sea of God’s mercies and love.

Jeremiah Burroughs (1599–1646): “Name any affliction that is upon you: there is a sea of mercy to swallow it up. If you pour a pailful of water on the floor of your house, it makes a great show, but if you throw it into the sea, there is no sign of it. So, afflictions considered in themselves, we think are very great, but let them be considered with a sea of God’s mercies we enjoy, and then they are not so much, they are nothing in comparison.” [iv]

Thomas Brooks (1608–1680): “Sit down and wonder at this condescending love of God. Oh! What is in thy soul or in my soul that should cause the Lord to give such gifts to us as he hath given? We were all equal in sin and misery; nay, doubtless, we have actually outsinned thousands, to whom these precious gifts are denied. Let us therefore sit down and wonder at this condescending love of God. Oh! We were once poor wretches sitting upon the dunghill, yea, wallowing in our blood, and yet behold the King of kings, the Lord of lords, hath so far condescended in His love, as to bestow himself, his Spirit, his grace, and all the jewels of his royal crown upon us. Oh! What heart can conceive, what tongue can express, this matchless love! ‘I will be thine forever,’ says Christ, and ‘My Spirit shall be thine forever,’ and ‘My grace shall be thine forever,’ and ‘My glory shall be thine forever,’ and ‘My righteousness shall be thine forever.’ ‘All I am and all I have, shall be thine forever.’ O sirs! What condescending love is this! Oh! What a Christ is this!”[v]

The Puritans knew that feeling weak shouldn’t discourage us from drawing near to Christ. He already knows the weakness of our frame. He knows that we are dust. And he is merciful toward the weak and broken-hearted pastor. God looks upon weak saints in the Son of his love, and sees them all as lovely.

Thomas Brooks (1608–1680): “The weakest Christian is as much justified, as much pardoned, as much adopted, and as much united to Christ as the strongest, and hath as much interest in Christ as the highest and noblest Christian that breathes.” [vi]

Richard Sibbes (1577–1635): “What mercy may we not expect from so gracious a Mediator (1 Tim. 2:5), that took our nature upon him that he might be gracious. He is a Physician good at all diseases, especially at the binding up of a broken heart.” [vii]

The Puritans wrote exquisitely about the transcendent loveliness and blessedness of Jesus Christ. Weary, burned-out pastors need to be reminded of the glory of being united to Jesus Christ, the One who is glorious and altogether lovely.

Pastor, Your Wife Might Be “Smokin’ Hot,” But…

Jeff Fisher

August 6, 2018

Editor’s Note: How we talk about our wives, and women in general, from our leadership platform is important. In this short post, Jeff Fisher offers a balanced critique on a trend that, while good-natured, could be doing some damage as well. We encourage you to share this story on Facebook to create a conversation in your personal ministry networks.

It seems like the phrase “My smokin’ hot wife” is coming into mainstream Christianity now. I have heard a number of preachers use the phrase from the pulpit, especially when they are sharing messages on sex.

And have you seen this video of a pastor at a NASCAR race praying, thanking God for the racetrack, the racing teams, the cars, the drivers, the cans of Sunoco fuel and his smokin’ hot wife?

When pastors talk about their wives as “smokin’ hot” or call attention to their physical beauty in a sermon, I think they are:

Trying to show their congregations that they love their wives and are attracted to them.

Teaching that it’s OK to admire beauty and to be sexually attracted to one another.

Showing genuine thankfulness to God.

Saying to congregants, indirectly, “Hands off my wife, she’s mine.”

Saying to congregants, indirectly, “I’m taken, I don’t need an adulterous relationship, I have a wonderful wife.”

Using “smoking hot” to describe your wife is fantastic, but I believe it needs to retreat to something you privately say to your wife. I don’t think we should be using this phrase publicly.

Why pastors shouldn’t say it publicly:

1. Strong sexual connotations with the phrase in our culture.

The phrase is already being used in our culture to describe Hugh Hefner’s girlfriends, Miss America, America’s Top Model and the Hooter’s waitresses you saw during lunch. It’s not a phrase we need to “claim for Jesus” from our pulpits.

2. Focuses on the wrong thing.

The message a pastor is sending is “look at the package.” God teaches us to value women, honor them, love them.

How Progressives View Scripture (and Homosexuality in the Bible)

Megan Briggs

August 6, 2018

Editor’s Note: Depending on your theological background, you might not understand why some Christians believe homosexuals should be allowed to marry in the church or even become ordained and pastor others. Pastor Adam Hamilton gives a thoughtful explanation of how some Christians view and interpret Scripture. If you’ve ever wondered how more progressive-leaning Christians come to the conclusions they do, Hamilton’s thoughts are definitely worth your time.

While the United Methodist Church is struggling to hold itself together over homosexuality, Adam Hamilton, a pastor of one of the few UMC megachurches, is looking past the issue of sexual orientation; he believes the argument is essentially about how we interpret Scripture and what we define as orthodox. His argument: You can be “orthodox,” hold a high view of Scripture, and still condone same-sex relationships.

“I’d like to suggest that the topic that is leading us toward division is not actually same-gender marriage…the topic is really Scripture.”

While addressing the audience at the Uniting Methodists Conference in July in Dallas, Texas, Hamilton lamented over how the debate has polarized people and turned into an orthodox vs. un-orthodox argument. “Orthodoxy now means that I hold a particular view of same-gender marriage and/or a particular view of Scripture that gets me to a particular view of same-gender marriage.”

This shift is troublesome to Hamilton, who notes, “It’s interesting that [a statement on sexual orientation] doesn’t show up in any of the creeds.”

Hamilton said for the first 10 years he led Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas (the UMC’s largest church), he would have considered himself a “traditionalist,” which is a person who welcomes same-gender attracted people, yet believes that same-gender relationships do not fall in God’s will. However, more recently Hamilton has changed his view on the topic—more appropriately, his view of Scripture has changed.

What Exactly Does It Mean to Have a High View of Scripture?

A “high view” is a subjective term. As such, it’s open to interpretation.

Hamilton says your average UMC member does not use the words “inerrant” and “infallible” to describe Scripture (although some do), and this fact causes critics of the denomination to argue that Methodists don’t have a high view of Scripture.

To Hamilton, though, a high view is less about what you think of Scripture and more about how you respond to Scripture. According to Hamilton, someone who has a high view of Scripture is someone who:

Opens the Bible daily and reads it
Listens for God to speak through it
Prays the Scriptures
Seeks to be led by the Bible’s major themes
Studies the Bible carefully
Seeks to understand the historical and cultural context
Reads its minor chords in light of its major chords
Seeks to live the Bible each day

In other words, someone who has a high view of Scripture may not take the Bible literally, but he or she takes it seriously.

New Investigation of Bill Hybels Announced in Wake of Latest Bombshell

Bob Ditmer

August 6, 2018

One day after new allegations against Bill Hybels and the resignation of its teaching pastor, Willow Creek has announced an advisory council of Christian leaders from across the country will oversee an independent investigation into sexual harassment allegations that created the firestorm.

“For many weeks we have been working together with the Willow Creek Association in seeking an independent investigation to examine any and all accusations made…” Willow Creek Lead Pastor Heather Larson wrote in an email to church members.

“This has been a difficult process because of the public nature of these allegations, but we are working on finalizing this key group of people,” she continued. “This council will have full autonomy and authority to pursue and investigate any and all allegations. Furthermore, an anonymous outside donor has come forward to completely cover the cost of this investigation to ensure there is no undue influence on the process and the conclusions.”

The email follows one Larson sent to church members Sunday in which she said she was “heartbroken” by the latest accusations against Hybels, detailed Sunday in The New York Times.

“I also understand that some are waiting for more information about past allegations and related investigations,” Larson wrote Sunday. “Many also want to know about our follow up with Bill Hybels and our plans for selecting a new lead teaching pastor. We will give you a fuller update as soon as we can, and I know it is urgent.”

The latest accusations, exposed in the New York Times, caused Teaching Pastor Steve Carter to resign from the church.

The ongoing scandal is also threatening to overshadow this week’s Global Leadership Summit planned for the South Barrington, Illinois, church and 690 satellite sites.

Some on social media have called on leaders to cancel the summit in the wake of Carter’s resignation, but that “doesn’t make a lot of sense,” Tom De Vries, the association’s president and CEO, told the Chicago Herald.

One of the speakers at the summit will address” the larger issues we are dealing with” regarding Hybels, De Vries said.

“We think this is an opportunity to speak out in defense of women and about empowering women, especially as it regards women in leadership,” he said.

In addition to calls for the summit to be cancelled, others have taken to social media to ask scheduled speaker, Angela Ahrendts, to back out.

@AngelaAhrendts In light of the new allegations that surfaced today, won’t you please reconsider not speaking at the @wcagls. Stand with the Victims please!

— April Kasper (@lollie50) August 5, 2018

@AngelaAhrendts Please do the right thing and back out of speaking at the Global Leadership Summit. Please support honesty and integrity and NOT sexual predators!

— Kristen McKnight (@kristenmcknight) August 6, 2018

Ahrendts, an Apple executive, has not responded to the calls.

The Global Leadership Summit is Thursday and Friday.

Ray Lewis Preaches Love and Faith at Hall of Fame Induction

Bob Ditmer

August 6, 2018

Former pro football linebacker Ray Lewis was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame this week.

During his 17 year NFL career Lewis accounted for 1,573 tackles and 500 assists. Combining the solo tackles and assists, Lewis would finish with 2,073 tackles, which is unofficially the third-most tackles in NFL history (the NFL didn’t keep track of tackles as a statistic until 2001).

Lewis forced 19 fumbles in his career, but he also was able to recover a fumble 20 times.

He showed the same kind of endurance in his 33-minute Hall of Fame speech in which he often spoke about his faith.

Here are a few of his quotes.

On his signature dance when leaving the tunnel from the locker room:

“People always talked about my dancing, right, and they always liked to see Sugar hit that thing… But, you know, when I found out, seriously though, as I started going—and [Coach John Harbaugh], you remember this, the conversation we had—because I didn’t want the light to necessarily be on me, because it wasn’t really about me… So when I started coming out of the tunnel I really wanted to start to honor God. So it was funny, right, because when I went to the right, right, it was for the Father; when I came to the left it was for the Son; when I came back for the middle it was for the Holy Father and Son, all in one.”

The role pastors played in replacing his absent father:

“My relationship with pastors is so vibrant, it’s amazing. And they have guided me throughout my life and continue to guide me to this day. I have to thank every pastor that has been in my life, and has prayed for my life, and is still in my life.”

His conviction for obstruction of justice in the deaths of two people:

“1999 to 2001 may have been some of the darkest moments of my life. But I’ll tell you something: When God says ‘can you hear me now?’ he sends you a family to make sure you’re okay while you’re going through what you’re going through.”

On prayer in schools and sex trafficking:

“I want us to work together, to really take on these challenges. To look at our goals, at what unites us. Surely there’s something! How about stopping our kids from dying in school? Can we please put prayer back in school? Please!… How about protecting our children from a terrifying life of being sex-trafficked?”

His desire that athletes will become a source for healing, not division:

“In the next 30 days I want you to think about why you get up in the morning. What is most important to you in this life? Are you living every day to make this world better?”

The Bible:

“One of the greatest gifts my mama ever gave me was the Bible. The Bible made me who I am today. Ephesians 3:20 says, ‘Now unto him who is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above, far beyond anything you can ask, think or imagine according to the power that is working within you.’”

Carey Nieuwhof: 10 Signs You’re Just a Jerk…Not a Leader

Carey Nieuwhof

August 6, 2018

So you lead. But how do you know you’re leading effectively…and that you’re not, well, just a jerk?

You’re in charge…at least you’re in charge of something or hope to be one day.

I mean we’ve all been around leaders who are extremely difficult to be around.

Think about how badly leaders are often viewed.

Over the years, boss has even become a bad word. If you’re a pushy kid, you get labeled as bossy and people stay away. Hollywood simply needs to put the word “horrible” in front of the word “bosses” in a movie title and everyone smiles because they can relate. Who hasn’t had a horrible boss?

And yet, sometimes there’s a fine line between being an effective leader and being a jerk. The strength required to be a leader can sometimes push you up against the hard edges of your personality.

When you reach that point, you fail. You not only destroy others, you ultimately destroy yourself.

Here are 10 signs you’re actually just a jerk, not a leader.

1. You’re just a jerk if you’ve made the organization all about you.

Hey, there’s no doubt your leadership gift probably brings something to the organization or church in which you serve—maybe even a lot.

Leaders, after all, make things happen.

If you want to be a jerk, make the organization about you.

Make sure you’re front and center all the time. Think about how grateful people should be to have you.

Be incredulous at why more people don’t thank you for your leadership. Imagine that you should be paid more.

Just think of yourself as undervalued and indispensable. Jerks, after all, think it’s all about them.

2. You’re just a jerk if you think that people work for you.

If you’re a jerk and not a true leader, you’ll believe people work for you.

Contrast that with what the best bosses do. The best bosses think of themselves as working for the people around them.

They prefer to serve rather than be served.

If you keep thinking people work for you, few people will want to work for you.

3. You’re just a jerk if you never say thank you.

Jerk leaders rarely say thank you. After all, why would you say thank you when people are just doing their jobs?

Jerk leaders rarely take the time to tap someone on the shoulder and tell them they noticed the difference that team member made today.

And why thank the employee who worked late to get the project done? After all, shouldn’t they just be grateful to get a paycheck?

Great bosses often take the time to hand-write a thank you note.

They high-five people.

They look team members in the eye and tell them how much they appreciate them.

They put their arm around people and say thanks.

Great leaders realize nobody has to work for them. Which is why people do.

4. You’re just a jerk if you’re demanding.

One sure way to be a jerk is to demand things of people.

It’s one thing to have high standards (great leaders have high standards), but to remain a jerk, make sure you always communicate those standards in a way that demeans people.

Always focus on what you want from people. Never think about what you want for people.

4 Tips to Help You Navigate Through Complaints About Your Ministry

Justin Knowles

August 5, 2018

I know it’s hard to believe, but sometimes what we do, what we plan and what happens is not liked by everyone at our churches, by some staff members and some parents. I know for me as we are transitioning some things and restructuring our ministry that it is going to (and has) rubbed some people the wrong way. Sometimes when you change things up, it’s going to get in the way of how people have done some things in the past, and they are troubled when now poses a “threat” to what they have known. They start blaming things on your ministry and tell you how to do things.

I love what Andy Stanley said at Catalyst: “Blame is just a change-avoidance strategy.” I know that the Lord has called me and our ministry to a certain vision for our ministry, and I know the way I am going to go about certain things will make people uncomfortable, and I have to be OK with it. It’s how you handle the confrontation and conversations that follow. I have had to have chats with my supervisor, with staff members, team members, volunteers and parents, and I feel we have been able to move forward in doing what God has called me to do.

Here are a few things to keep in mind while navigating change and tough conversations:

They just want to be heard—Be a great listener. Regardless if you agree with what they are saying, affirm their concerns, because when they feel like they are being heard they are more likely to hear what you have to say as well. I had a parent not too happy with our change in summer camp, and I just got to hang with, listen and have a conversation, and we walked away feeling really good about our route.

Most of the time, there is something more behind the complaint—From all of the conversations I have had, usually the initial complaint is not the real reason behind the complaint. Usually there is something more behind it, and having a conversation will help you get though it and move past it.

Let your supervisor know—If they are good, they won’t care. You need to have good communication and you need to have their trust in order for this to work for you. I let my supervisor know about any email he will be getting or conversation coming his way and I know he loves it. He doesn’t like to be surprised, and I’m assuming yours doesn’t either.

Respond gracefully and explain the “why”—When people don’t agree with you, we need to respond in a way that gives God glory, as hard as that is sometimes. Also when we respond, instead of saying, “Well that’s just what we are doing,” explain the why behind what you’re doing. Simon Sinek says, “People usually don’t buy what or how you do things, they buy the why.” Usually when people understand why you are doing a certain thing (because usually they assume and are wrong), they are more likely to understand and get behind you on it. I have had staff members and parents who were against me at one point turn to be my biggest supporters because they got the “why.” Sometimes they won’t be on board and you have to be OK with that, and all you can do is respond gracefully and with love.

An Animated Explanation of Sacrifice and Atonement

Megan Briggs

August 5, 2018

The Bible Project video on sacrifice and atonement answers the questions: What was the purpose of sacrifice in the Old Testament and what does it mean for us today?

If you look at the first couple books of the Bible, you will quickly come to the conclusion that “If God is going to rid the world of evil, he’ll have to get rid of us.” Us meaning humanity, who can so easily side with evil.

However, as the following Bible Project video explains, “This is the story of the Bible: Not only is God going to rid the world of evil, he’s going to do it without destroying humanity.”

In the Old Testament, we are told about one of the devices God used to cleanse his people from evil: Animal sacrifices. Animal sacrifices represented atonement, a word which means to cover over someone’s debt. But there is also the “vandalism of relationship” that evil causes. It puts us at odds with our fellow man and God himself. It muddies the waters of relationships, so to speak. So, in addition to sacrificing animals, the priests would also sprinkle the animal’s blood (which represents life) in the temple. “The sprinkling of blood is this representation of how God is cleaning away these indirect consequences of evil in their community.”

The people of Israel experienced God’s love and grace through these animal sacrifices, and ideally, they would have in turn shown love and grace toward other people. However, we are told the Israelites didn’t always do this. The book of Isaiah contains the message that Israel’s sacrifices were no longer acceptable because of all the evil they were committing. The prophet also speaks about the coming Messiah who would deal with evil “in a surprising way.”

The Messiah would become a servant, and not just serve but also suffer and die for the evil committed by his own people. Jesus’s death was an atoning sacrifice and a source of purification. But Jesus’ sacrifice is unique from the animal sacrifices because his sacrifice broke the power of death and evil. “He is the perfect sacrifice to which all the previous sacrifices were pointing all along.”

Now that Jesus has come, instead of the ritual sacrifices, we have other rituals. Namely: baptism and communion. These rituals serve to remind us of the atoning and purifying sacrifice Jesus made for us and his ability to overcome death and evil.

Six Reasons Newcomers Should Get Plugged In

Rick Warren

August 5, 2018

The difference between being a church attender and a church member is commitment.

Attenders are spectators from the sidelines; members get involved in the ministry. Attenders are consumers; members are contributors. Attenders want the benefits of a church without sharing the responsibility.

One of the biggest hurdles you will face as a church leader is convincing attenders they need to commit to their church family and become members. Today’s culture of independent individualism has created many spiritual orphans without any identity, accountability or commitment.

God is not silent on this issue. The Bible offers many compelling reasons why every believer needs to be committed to and active in a local fellowship.

1. A church family identifies you as a genuine believer.

I can’t claim to be following Christ if I’m not committed to any specific group of disciples. Jesus said,“Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples” (John 13:35 NLT).

When we come together in love as a church family from different backgrounds, races and social statuses, it is a witness to the world. No one believer can be the body of Christ on his own. We need others in order to fully express the shape God has given us. It is when we are together, not when we’re separated, that we are his body.

2. A church family moves you out of isolation.

The local church is the classroom for learning how to get along in God’s family. It is a lab for practicing unselfish, sympathetic love.

As a participating member you learn to care about others and share the experiences of others: “If one part of the body suffers, all the other parts suffer with it. Or if one part of our body is honored, all the other parts share its honor” (1 Corinthians 12:26 NCV).

Only in regular contact with ordinary, imperfect believers can we learn real fellowship and experience the New Testament truth of being connected to and dependent on each other.

Biblical fellowship is being as committed to each other as we are to Jesus Christ. God expects us to give our lives for each other. Many Christians who know John 3:16 are unaware of 1 John 3:16: “Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers” (NIV).

This is the kind of sacrificial love God expects you to show other believers—a willingness to love them in the same way Jesus loves you.

3. A church family helps you develop spiritual muscle.

No one will ever grow to maturity just by attending worship services and being a passive spectator. Only participation in the full life of a local church builds spiritual muscle. The Bible says, “As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love” (Ephesians 4:16 NLT).

Over 50 times in the New Testament the phrase “one another” or “each other” is used. We are commanded to love each other, pray for each other, encourage each other, admonish each other, greet each other, serve each other, teach each other, accept each other, honor each other, bear each other’s burdens, forgive each other, submit to each other, be devoted to each other and many other mutual tasks.

This is biblical membership! These are the “family responsibilities” that God expects every believer to fulfill through a local fellowship.

4. The body of Christ needs you.

God has a unique role for every believer to play in his family. This is called your “ministry,” and God has gifted you for this assignment: “A spiritual gift is given to each of us as a means of helping the entire church” (1 Corinthians 12:7 NLT).

The local fellowship is the place God designed for his children to discover, develop and use their gifts. Even those with a wider ministry need to understand that their first responsibility is to the local body. Jesus has not promised to build anyone’s ministry; he has promised to build his church.

Something Essential to Give the New Pastor

Joe McKeever

August 5, 2018

The new pastor looks out at the congregation. He’s acting confident and looks the part. The search committee did a good job from all appearances. The pastor speaks well and seems to know what he’s doing.

But wait…

Has someone removed the pulpit from the platform? And is that a rowboat the preacher is standing in? What is going on here? Am I in the right church? Have we entered the twilight zone?

I know of a pastor who did that on his first Sunday.

Is the new pastor not wearing a suit? Oh my, is he wearing jeans and sneakers? Whatever is our church coming to? What was the search committee thinking to bring in such a person to pastor our great church?

Sound familiar to anyone?

Was the new pastor right in introducing some changes immediately? I don’t know. It depends on a hundred things. Suffice it to say, most times the new pastor gets it right. However…

Sometimes new pastors goof up. They get off on the wrong foot. Sometimes they misspeak. Or they call an important person by the wrong name. New pastors have been known to introduce change abruptly when a more thoughtful thing would have been to prepare the congregation and transition slowly.

In every case, beginning pastors need one huge thing from the congregation.

Space

They need time. They need slack. Some room. They need a lot of understanding.

New pastors need time to adjust, to learn you, to make connections, to find the path, to hear the heartbeat of the congregation, to learn the history of the church, to decide what God wants, to receive the vision from Heaven, and to make a few mistakes.

How’s that? New pastors make mistakes?

Yes. The new pastor needs time and room—the freedom, actually—to make a few mistakes.

Someone reacts, “The new pastor will make mistakes? Horrors! We cannot have that.”

Count on it, my friend. If the minister tries anything at all out of the ordinary, chances are some actions may be wrong-headed or ill-timed or misinterpreted.

Why would he do this? Answer: Someone told him, “If you’re going to make changes, start off with the big one. Then everything afterwards will be easier.” Soooo foolish. Or, someone has advised him, “Better let them see from the get-go that you are not the old guy. So, play your Ace card first.” Equally unwise.

But, we pastors don’t always know. Sometimes we take bad advice. And when we do, we hope we have a congregation that gives us a little wiggle-room.

So, we the members of the congregation will do well to expect it and to plan from the first to cut him some slack.

How we react

Nothing will tell the story on your congregation more than how everyone takes it when the new pastor goofs.

To be sure, some people will go ballistic and shift into critical mode. These are the people who were “just looking” for some fault to point out. They’re secretly delighted that the pastor has handed it to them on a silver platter.

An immature congregation will expect the pastor to be perfect from the first. Listen closely and you will hear this: “We deserve better.” I suggest that such a statement deserves a response, particularly if several voices are insisting that they deserve the finest. Try this…

You say: “My friend, I don’t think we want God to give us what we deserve. The way I read my Bible, if we got what we deserve, we would all be in hell.”

We want grace, yes? Then, extend it to one another, and to the new shepherd of the flock.

I’m thinking of the first mistake I made on a new job and how my boss reacted.

I was 22 and fresh out of college. We had married and were trying to save a little money before heading to seminary. The Lord had given me a wonderful position as secretary to the production manager of a cast iron pipe factory just outside Birmingham. One of my assignments was to take the purchase orders sent down from the sales office and retype them into a work order for the production department. The shipping department received a copy so they would know what to send and where.

In typing up the order, there was a tiny detail which I was told would make a great deal of difference in the pipe manufactured and shipped. If I typed in the letters EN, the pipe was to be “enamelined.” Without that, the foundry would know the pipe was to be tar-coated. Those two little letters made a huge difference.

An entire truckload of pipe had to be returned from California because I had failed to type EN into the work order. The cost to the company ran into the thousands of dollars.

I was mortified. My boss pointed out what I had failed to do and what it cost the company. He gave me a moment to digest this, then said, “Joe, don’t let it happen again.”

That’s all he said. And you can believe I didn’t.

That has forever stood in my mind as the proper way to deal with a new employee who has made a bone-headed error. Show them grace but hold firm as to how it should be done.

One more thing…

When the new pastor does something unexpected that is clearly unwelcome, when everyone is going ballistic, you be the one who speaks up for him. Even though you were surprised, maybe disappointed or offended, shocked or amused, even so speak up in his defense.

“Let’s give him time, folks. Pray for him and love him.”

But if he continues in that vein, that’s another story altogether. And another article. Smiley-face here please.

This article originally appeared here.

The Hundred-Year Influence of Henrietta Mears

Matt Brown

August 5, 2018

Throughout this year, I’ve been engaging with four very large biographies. In Light of Eternity: Leonard Ravenhill, Just As I Am: Billy Graham’s autobiography, DL Moody: A Life, and Dream Big: The Henrietta Mears Story. Along with some other reading, including anything I can get my hands on by Francis Schaeffer, and Jerry Bridges, this has made up the bulk of my reading time. The four biographies together comprise over two thousand pages, rich with stories of faith and God at work in our world through individuals.

THE WAY GOD CAN USE ONE PERSON FOR HIS GLORY IN SUCH SIGNIFICANT WAYS SURPRISES AND OVERWHELMS MY SOUL.

I’ve begun to see so clearly that God is not looking for people of great talent, wealth or notoriety, but simply for ordinary people full of faith and the Holy Spirit. He loves to use ordinary people, NLT). God essentially says, I have come to rescue them, now go for I am sending you as My rescue. When God is looking to move in new ways, He always looks for people who are committed to Him, to use in powerful ways.

I’VE BEEN FASCINATED FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW BY THE STORY AND LEGACY OF HENRIETTA MEARS. HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF HER?

I believe many Christians have not, and yet her influence has likely affected nearly every single one of you reading this. Let me tell you some of her story…

Henrietta’s roots actually go back to Minnesota (where we are from), where for many years she taught in the Minneapolis public school system, while also serving at First Baptist Church downtown in Sunday School. In the middle of her life, she took a year off, and during some time down in Southern California was tapped to be the Christian Education Director at Hollywood Presbyterian Church. This proves to be a significant turning point for her, as God began to use her in the lives of young people in the region.

The group, consisting of young people and college students at that time was several hundred students, but quickly grew into the thousands of young people who gathered to hear her teach the Word of God. She had an extraordinary gift of teaching the Bible and guiding people in practical ways to follow Jesus.

A significant part of her influence in ministry was through the lives of those young people she mentored and discipled:

Bill and Vonette Bright – Founder of Campus Crusade for Christ, which has ministered to millions of people through 25,000 missionaries in 191 countries, including ministries at 1,700 college and university campuses.

Dawson Trotman – Founder of the Navigators, which now has 4,600 staff in 103 nations.

Jim Rayburn – Founder of YoungLife, which now represents more than 700 ministries in 324 cities around the world.

Richard Halvorson – who went on to serve as the U.S. Senate Chaplain for 15 years, as well as the chairman of World Vision for 20 years.

Ronald Reagan – who became the 40th President of the United States.

Billy Graham – who went on to communicate the gospel of Jesus to more people than anyone in human history. She played a key role in Billy’s life right before the famous 1949 crusade which led to the conversion of Louis Zamperini and other famous people in the area, and catapulted Billy’s ministry into the national spotlight. I shared a short video earlier this year about this significant moment when Henrietta impacted Billy’s faith.

Lynne Hybels Is an Author

Lynne Hybels Is a World-Changer

Here are four ways a leader becomes controlling:

1. Get both sides of the story.

2. Affirm the things your volunteer did right.

3. Get on the same page as your volunteer.

4. Know when to step in.

Your Love Is Greater

1. You Think You Can Do It Better

Why pastors shouldn’t say it publicly:

1. Strong sexual connotations with the phrase in our culture.

2. Focuses on the wrong thing.

Here are 10 signs you’re actually just a jerk, not a leader.

1. You’re just a jerk if you’ve made the organization all about you.

2. You’re just a jerk if you think that people work for you.

3. You’re just a jerk if you never say thank you.

4. You’re just a jerk if you’re demanding.

THE WAY GOD CAN USE ONE PERSON FOR HIS GLORY IN SUCH SIGNIFICANT WAYS SURPRISES AND OVERWHELMS MY SOUL.

I’VE BEEN FASCINATED FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW BY THE STORY AND LEGACY OF HENRIETTA MEARS. HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF HER?

Finding Your Preaching Voice

1. Reps, reps and more reps.

2. Watch and listen to your own sermons!

3. Get feedback from someone who knows good preaching.

4. Listen to a variety of preachers.

5. Be consumed with the truths of Scripture, not the delivery styles of men.

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