Mark Waltz | ...Because People Matter

2012 Global Leadership Summit: Craig Groeschel

All photos and fact blocks courtesy Willow Creek Association: willowcreek.com

Every time I listen to or read from Craig, I learn. His humility about his own soul care and consequential leadership challenges help me relate to another human being willing to be real. And his astounding leadership impact compels me sit up and take notes. So, I did:

•  Craig's gratitude for those who've invested in him is inspiring. 
• Don't fear, don't resent, don't judge the next generation. They need our belief. They need our trust.  
• Don't delegate tasks and create followers; give authority and create leaders.
• Embrace the season you're in. Be yourself. Authenticity trumps cool - every time.
• Whatever category we're in (older / younger) - we need others to mentor and invest in us.
• When we feel a sense of entitlement, we overestimate what can be done in the short run.
• Show honor publicly and win influence privately; you earn the ability to lead up. 
• Our lack of honor of almighty God directly impacts our inability or refusal to honor up.
• Honor builds up. Honor calls out. 
• Don't confuse respect and honor. Respect is earned. Honor is given - period.

• Ways to invest, mentor and be mentored:
  • Create ongoing feedback loops.
  • Create specific mentoring moments.
  • Create opportunities for significant leadership development.

These questions aren't letting go anytime soon:

• Am I in the older generation with opportunity to invest in the next generation? Ok. I'm still sore that Craig pointed out that if I'm asking that question... I am.
• Do I fully appreciate what I have been given to invest in others? 
• How will I honor those (none of my current staff/teammates, by the way) who I don't have my respect? 
• How will I develop a pattern where feedback isn't just welcome, but intentionally asked for?
• What letter will I write, what time will I give, what call will I make to honor those who've gone before me, who have given for my sake? 
• How will my honor of God translate into honor of others?

 

2012 Global Leadership Summit: Sheryl WuDunn

All photos and fact blocks courtesy Willow Creek Association: willowcreek.com

Sheryl is leading a critical work raising the value of women in cultures around the globe where they are minimized and abused. Her compassion and education are being leveraged to call out the truth Condoleezza Rice spoke to earlier today: Everyone has worth. As Sheryl told stories of hope, I tuned in to this:

•  Just because I'm not aware of a global moral issue doesn't mean it doesn't exist. 
• In most of the rest of the world - outside the U.S. - births are not celebrated, especially female births. Additionally, the maternal mortality rate is critical.
• Finding small ways to give to address base issues (deworming so students stay alert and stay in school) creates life-changing outcomes.

2012 Global Leadership Summit: Marc Kielburger

All photos and fact blocks courtesy Willow Creek Association: willowcreek.com

Marc is smarter than me. A more brilliant visionary than me. Probably cares a whole lot more than me. He certainly has more energy than I do, even after a couple weeks away. But this isn't about me, it's about what Marc had to say today. Or at least what I heard him say. What stuck with me:

•  Ask people when they're young... not only in their second life chapter: What's the legacy you want to leave at the end of your life? 
• Alignment and communication are key to successful team leadership.
• Put your gift with the passion issue you care about - anyone can lead change.
• Getting out of our comfort zone is key to stepping out of apathy. 
• People don't turn 18 and develop a conscience or compassion. People must be trained, educated and given opportunity to serve early. 

Marc has me asking:

• How will I invest in a generation that eradicates poverty in my lifetime?
• How will we train our people within our 2016Vision to be the Church where they are? To tap and develop their missional impulse?

2012 Global Leadership Summit: Jim Collins

All photos and fact blocks courtesy Willow Creek Association: willowcreek.com

I love learning from leaders who've learned as students. That's what researchers do - they study. They think. We get the best of their focused intentionality. I'm listening. Here's what I'm hearing. Yes, Jim said more than this, and said it better. These are my take-aways. I just happen to be sharing with you. You're welcome. Ok... consider this: 

•  Why do some leaders, some organizations thrive in uncontrollable circumstances... and other fail miserably? This is the question of a 9-year study led by Collins and his team.
• The "X" factor of great leadership is humility combined with will - it's Level 5 Leadership. What else can we learn?
  • Fanatic Discipline
    • The "20-mile March" persists regardless of the circumstances. Easy. Difficult. 20 miles.
    • Consistency is the outcome of fanatic discipline.
  • Empirical Creativity
    • Fire bullets, then canons. 
    • Creativity isn't necessarily unique, untested, originality. Creativity based on time tested principles and experiences are productive.
    • The genius of the "and" is to combine discipline with creativity. Creativity isn't the difficult part; the discipline is. Creativity is natural; discipline is not.
  • Productive Paranoia
    • The only mistakes you can learn from are those you survive.
    • The "what happens when...?" paranoia compels us to be ready today for tomorrow. When we're needed tomorrow, we'll be there because we were faithful today.
  • What role does "luck" play? Is "good luck" a miracle?
    • The question is not how much "good luck" or how many "miracles" happen, the question is - what do we do when such events happen?

I'm still wondering about: 

• Collins' "20-mile March" and Hybels' "6x6 Bursts" present a consistent leadership pattern. How will I apply these principles to our 2016Vision? To our multisite strategy? To our effort to help every Granger attendee connect meaningfully with God and others on their journey?
• How will I live out the "20-mile March" in my marriage? With my family? 
• In what areas will focused discipline break open creativity that produces tremendous outcomes in our vision?
• How does Collins' reference of spiritual "seekers" as spiritual "explorers" help us better understand all of us as "explorers" on a great journey? How might it help us better address and serve others?
• What discipline am I exercising when I experience favor, miracles, or even a bad experience beyond my control? 
  • How am I leaning into Romans 8:28? 
  • If God is choosing to use everything for my good and his glory, what am I doing to participate in his work?
  • How responsible will I be?

2012 Global Leadership Summit: Condoleezza Rice

All photos and fact blocks courtesy Willow Creek Association: willowcreek.com

Before you read further - regardless of your political loyalties or how you think they line up with biblical values, you can always learn from leaders. Period. Set the campaign aside. Here are my take-aways from this respected leader:

• Freedom is not the same as democracy. Inextricably linked, but not the same. Freedom comes with responsibility. Responsibility of every individual.
• Government cannot put into the human heart the value of responsibility. Nor can it deliver compassion.
• The strong must not only not exploit the weak, but they must raise up, support, be responsible to them.
• Every life is worthy and capable of greatness. Period.
• The Church brings compassion into the world. It is the character of Christ. It is the character He longs to form in us. In me.
• Others will never see their own capacity for greatness, if those leading them don't believe the value of personal worth to their own core. 
• Today's headlines and tomorrow's judgments are rarely the same.
• Out of struggle comes victory. It is the central message of our faith: after Friday came Sunday. It is indeed a privilege to struggle.
• Team tensions will rise. Differences in perspective will exist. But, respect that comes from "every life is worthy" will keep the team focused on common objectives and vision.
• Friendships as teammates provide a foundation for honest, respectful truth-telling.

I'm exploring these questions:

• Do I see every person - whether or not they are at my church - as worthy and capable of greatness? How am I influencing and calling out that potential in those around me?
• Is one of the central traits of my spiritual transformation a growing other-focused compassion?
• What current "headline" am I so focused on that I cannot see the preferred future in spite of it?
• How do I continue to build friendships with my teammates that creates space for honest truth-telling and the celebration of their life worthiness?

2012 Global Leadership Summit: Bill Hybels

All photos and fact blocks courtesy Willow Creek Association: willowcreek.com

Regardless who the additional faculty members are for each Summit, I always look forward to Bill's opening talk. Always raw and refreshing, Hybels shares where's he's been, what he's been learning lately. When a leader speaks about what he/she is learning, I pay attention. Great leaders are always learning. 

I'm certain there were other important things Bill said today, but I'm not offering up a report. Here are the things that had most traction with me:

• On planting seeds:
  • Before Bill really started his topic he reminded us that everybody wins when a leader gets better. Influence matters that much.
  •  In he parable Jesus told in Luke 8 about the farmer who threw seed on four types of soil, only 25% of the seed produced a fruit-bearing tree.
    • In order to see more "trees" - people following Jesus - I'll need to plant more seed. 
    • We'll need different types of seed to reach people who matter to Jesus.
  • Become an incessant tinkerer. 
• On leadership work habits:
  • I am the most difficult person I will ever lead. 
  • One of the most important aspects of my leadership is how I energize others around me.
  • Six weeks isn't magical, but its a season to sprint. I cannot sprint for six months. I can live with urgency and focus for a month and a half.
  • Schedule meetings and focus blocks around those six initiatives. Live in the energy bursts.
  • Manage staff aroaund 6x6 bursts of seed planting - in addition to the "regular" job tasks already expected. Faith is required. Prayer is critical. 
• Leadership requires moving from "here" to "there."
  • First - always identify and clarify why we can't stay where we are.
  • The most vulerable space in the vision process from "here" to "there" is at midpoint - past the space where everyone is sprinting from "we can't stay here" and just before the space where everyone can see the finish line of "there."

I'm mulling over these questions:

• What different types of seeds will be required in the Granger/South Bend area? In LaPorte? In Elkhart?
• What experiments do we need to go for? Who'll help us lead new initiatives to plant new seeds?
• How do we connect relational groups (small groups, missional communities) to the weekend service? What might happen if we explore every potential for full integration of our values and venues?
• Is ours a culture where everyone is encouraged to be "better?" A better spouse, better parent, better leader, better Christ-follower, better human being.
• Bill's question: What unique half dozen contributions could I make in the next six weeks that would have exponential impact? 
  • What half dozen contributions can I make? Does God want me to make? 
  • Who will I need to energize?
  • What if my team all led with this 6x6 focus? What if we stopped responding more than leading?
• At 50, there's a 20-year (at least, right?) finish line for me. How do I run this space of leadership and relationships so that those who lead after me can soar? How do I set up others to lead with their best?

He's Here. He'll Be There. Will You?

That's right - our new GCC-LaPorte County pastor is here. He arrived late last night. I'm looking forward to spending the day with him today. Of course we're starting the day at Starbucks. 

Tonight we'll meet for our sixth PreLaunch gathering in LaPorte county - at the Blue Chip Casino & Hotel in Michigan City. He'll be there. Nyke will be there. So will Mark Beeson. So will I and my family. And, yes, Jesus will be there too. 

Will you? 

Don't miss the opportunity to be among the first to meet Nyke Gatlin, hear a bit of his story, and celebrate Jesus through worship.

This evening.

6:30pm Central. 

Bring your Bible, a pen, and some friends.

See you there!

Volunteer Culture: It Won't Just Happen, Part 5

In the last post and next couple posts about creating and cultivating a volunteer culture, I’ll pull from my second book, Lasting Impressions: From Visiting to Belonging, to review some common myths that prevent people from stepping up to serve in the local church (or any organization).

Myth #2: “Volunteering Requires Too Much Time.”

• This myth may or may not be true in your church. If the only way to volunteer at your church is by serving every week for hours at a time, the above statement may not be a myth; it may be an unfortunate reality.

• Debunk MYTH #2

•  
  • Create first serve opportunities. We picked up this concept from Willow Creek Community Church. At Willow first serves are “one-time serving opportunities offered at a variety of times and tapping into a wide range of skills and areas of interest.” Their mantra is “Come once and check it out. No strings attached.” People are invited to help prepare the auditorium for weekend services, care for cleanup during services, assist with maintenance projects and more—one time. It’s a first serve.
  • Provide a variety of schedules for serving. There are roles in our children’s ministry that require a weekly serve for sixty—ninety minutes each week, so that our children experience consistency with the adults and students who lead them. There are other volunteer roles in children’s ministry and almost every other department that are as infrequent as once a month. Volunteers can serve in some areas on a seasonal basis, such as our Green Thumb teams who spruce up and maintain the landscape of our campus during the spring and summer months (We’re in the snow belt of Northern Indiana. There are other unique and courageous teams who clear snow and de-ice pavement during the other months.).
  • People make assumptions. People know people who serve 2, 5, 10, 20 hours a week. They assume that's what's required to volunteer - so they don't. People will live their assumptions as reality unless you say otherwise. Find creative ways to allow people to serve without requiring them to quit their jobs to do so.

Adapted from Lasting Impressions, Group Publishing

Read Part 1,  Part 2, Part 3, Part 4

_________________________

Of course, while you're waiting for the next post, you should pick up THE handbook on all things volunteering by Tim Stevens and Tony Morgan: Simply Strategic Volunteers (also here).

And then, hop over to ENGAGED (Verb), the blog of Kim Volheim, our director of volunteer involvement at Granger Community.

Volunteer Culture: It Won't Just Happen, Part 4

For the next several posts about creating and cultivating a volunteer culture, I’ll pull from my second book, Lasting Impressions: From Visiting to Belonging, to review some common myths that prevent people from stepping up to serve in the local church (or any organization).

MYTH #1: “There’s no room for me; it’s all being done already.”

• You and I know nothing could be further from the truth. Unless it's really true, of course. Maybe your staff is doing it all. Maybe you've structured things in such a way that there really are not new opportunities for new peeps. True or not, people tend to believe the myth.

•  
  • For instance, at Granger our guests and returning guests pull into the parking lot where they are directed by a traffic team to an open parking space. At the front door of the building they are greeted by one or more volunteers who welcome them to the service. A team is ready at the children’s check-in area, with campus guides available if the family needs assistance getting to children’s launch zones or rooms. There are friendly teams of people throughout the children’s center and each classroom with a prepared room for the session’s activities. When they visit the restroom they discover that someone has cleaned the space, stocked tissue and deodorized. 

In the auditorium they discover that someone has prepared a printed program, while someone else has prepared the space with seating, lighting and ambient music. During the service it’s clear that there were teams of artists who practiced and presented music, media and drama. The pastor was prepared with a message relevant to their world. Everything was thought of; everything was covered. “They must have all the volunteers and staff they need,” thinks the normal Granger attendee.

My guess is this is a common myth in your church as well. Every staff and volunteer leader knows it’s a myth. There’s always room for more volunteers.

• Debunk MYTH #1  

•  
  • Talk about it. Don’t assume people will figure this out on their own. They won’t. Say the myth aloud from the platform. At Granger it’s a myth we frequently speak to, directly and simply: “There are abundant opportunities to make a contribution. There’s room for you.” And then we’ll point to the variety of areas where our people can jump in and make a contribution. It seems too simple: talk about it. But the simple is easy to overlook. So, I’ll say it again, talk about it. 

•  
  • “Chunk” new roles: In their book Simply Strategic Volunteers, Tony Morgan and Tim Stevens use this phrase to talk about breaking any volunteer project or role down to its many parts. If you have one volunteer responsible for getting the toddler space ready for the weekend, chunk the responsibilities to include more people: toy washers, floor cleaners, people who copy, cut or collate activity sheets. One person doesn’t have to do it all. As roles are chunked you create more opportunities for volunteers. 

•  
  • Make sure it’s a myth. If I hear a ministry area in our church boast of having enough volunteers, there’s generally a “come to Jesus meeting” called. If you have teams who can’t find ways to involve more people it needs to be addressed. In more cases than not, that team has stopped dreaming, become cozily settled in their “we four and no more” team of friends or hit a lull in their creative approach to include more volunteers. Only in our band where there are limited instruments do we occasionally find ourselves in a season of “enough.” Tony Morgan puts it this way: “The church can’t afford to have “Not Hiring” signs posted at the door.”

Adapted from Lasting Impressions, Group Publishing

Read Part 1,  Part 2, Part 3 

_________________________

Of course, while you're waiting for the next post, you should pick up THE handbook on all things volunteering by Tim Stevens and Tony Morgan: Simply Strategic Volunteers (also here).

And then, hop over to ENGAGED (Verb), the blog of Kim Volheim, our director of volunteer involvement at Granger Community.

Welcome Our GCC-LaPorte County Pastor!

We've been praying and processing about our next multisite campus since we launched our Elkhart campus in the fall of 2008. The recession impacted our ability to move as quickly as we would have liked, but with the surge of our 2016VISION over the past 18 months, the search for our next site was in full swing. We had believed that our next site would be in or around the Granger/South Bend area, until a couple of phone calls this past spring turned our attention to the west - to LaPorte County. 

After a couple of months of hundreds of us praying, asking, "God, is this your lead? Do you want us to start a ministry of Granger Community Church in LaPorte County?" we believed the answer was "yes." So, this past month we began meeting in the Blue Chip Casino & Hotel in Michigan City... praying for a pastor to lead the launch sometime this fall. 

Nyke Gatlin [pictured here with his wife and ministry partner, Nichole, and their daughters Bethany (12) and Karlye (8)] is the answer to our prayers. The Gatlins are joining our staff team from Chandler, AZ. He has served in four churches as student pastor for the past 15 years in churches as "small" as 3,000 and as large as 13,000. Nyke believes in and has practiced disciple-making. He gets reproduction as the outcome of spiritual maturity. His heart and lifestyle are knit with our 2016VISION. 

Our team has spent more than 60 hours of face time with Nyke and his family. We're convinced he is the right leader, the right pastor for our LaPorte county site! I'm personally looking forward to working with him. 

By God's grace, he'll be joining us this next Monday evening for our gathering at 6:30pm Central at the Blue Chip. He's driving across the country this weekend - pray  for safe travel. He'll return to AZ toward the end of the month to move the whole family to the LaPorte county community. 

Invite your friends who are still waiting to see what's going to come of this GCC-LaPorte County thing. There's nothing else to wait for - it's happening now! 

See you Monday - with Nyke!

Volunteer Culture: It Won't Just Happen, Part 3

When your church decides to intentionally develop a culture where it's normal to volunteer, where it's natural to serve, it's easy to make it all about the task. And when it's all about the task, we can make it all about our church. It's all too easy to forget that it's first about Jesus and people. I know - shocking. Earth-breaking. But true. Here are a couple examples.

• The objective, the task alone drives the recruitment of volunteers. 
  • Often churches look at the ministry goals in front of them and go into recruitment mode to get the task of ministry done. And why not? We do have a mission. We have an agenda. There are clear goals with distinctive objectives that must be accomplished. However, even with clear vision cast, the task shouldn't be the lone motivator for inviting people to serve. 
  • People matter. Inviting them to serve is an opportunity to invest in their personal development, their spiritual growth. Their participation on the team should encourage new friendships, invitations to take steps in their journey, and constant learning to live out the character of Christ as a servant.
    • Make it normal for people to connect outside of their serving time. Time to share a meal, play a game, enjoy worship, just be. 
    • Encourage conversation beyond the task: what are some steps toward Jesus we can take together as a team? What is God up to in our personal journys? Provide space for that dialog. 
    • Create intentional systematic ways to share prayer concerns. Follow up with cards, phone calls and emails. Build a culture of care in your serving environments.

• Leaders appear arrogant about their church. 
  • Sometimes our promotion of our teams, our ministry objectives, our volunteer opportunities can sound like they are somehow more important to the kingdom than the volunteering our people are already doing in their kid's school, their neighborhood association, the Red Cross or the community soup kitchen.
  • This past week I learned of another woman in our church who I didn't know as a volunteer. She wasn't part of any team. She didn't appear to have lifted a finger to help our ministry. I was so wrong. Since being diagnosed 10 years ago with cancer, the local oncology clinic has called on her to sit with, listen to, provide encouragement to new patients who'd learned they have cancer. She's been pulling people back from the edge of hopelessness for the past decade. She's loved like Jesus, prayed with people, shared scripture and hugged new friends. She has volunteered her time. She's given her life. That counts for the Kingdom. It is the Kingdom.

 Recap:

• Invest in people; don't merely expect them to invest in your ministry.
• Celebrate every expression of servanthood for the Kingdom - even if it's not in your local ministry.

Read Part 1 here and Part 2 here...

_________________________

Of course, while you're waiting for the next post, you should pick up THE handbook on all things volunteering by Tim Stevens and Tony Morgan: Simply Strategic Volunteers (also here).

And then, hop over to ENGAGED (Verb), the blog of Kim Volheim, our director of volunteer involvement at Granger Community.

Oh, and I did write more about this topic in Lasting Impressions (also here).

 

Volunteer Culture: It Won't Just Happen, Part 2

In our local churches we sometimes operate in a fantasy land, ignoring the reality that our people are living outside the four walls of the church. We create programs, activities, and opportunities for people to volunteer their time and talent as though our people are sitting around with nothing to do.

When we do ask them to step up and participate, we're often vague, and sometimes shaming.

It's as though we think people walk through the front door of our church saying, "I want my life to count. I want to make a difference. Everything I'm doing now, I'll stop to be involved here." I wonder if we see a blank slate in the lives of our members and attendees and think it's our job as pastors and staff to "fill 'er up!" Really?

None of us really thinks that. We know better. But sometimes we don't lead like we know better. 

• The weekend bulletin/program is filled with a menu so large people are overwhelmed looking at it.
  • We forget that people already have a full menu. They work jobs that already require more from them than they feel they can give. They are the taxi service to get kids to school, soccer practice, school games, dentist appointments, shopping and over-nighters. They have their own doctors' appointments, gym schedule, cleaning and social lives. People are busy! Aren't you?
  • Then on top of that menu - not in place of it - we lay out an extensive array of opportunities for involvement. We tend to categorize the options: volunteer opportunities, Bible studies, group life, weekend services, etc. However, not all, but many people see the menu as a whole. "I can choose to volunteer, attend a class or be in a group. I can't do everything." Meanwhile the local church is communicating, "You need to be in a group, attend midweek classes, volunteer through a church ministry, be in the weekend service and spend time with your friends who need you to be Jesus in their lives. And don't forget your family. Oh, and here's one more all-church project we need everyone to prioritize." Really? How'd we come to think people live a 9-day week? 
  • Trim. Trim. Trim. Here's the simple truth: too many options on the menu means people won't choose. It stresses them out. They're paralyzed. Or they'll choose and end up backing out. "Buyer's" remorse. 
• People can't figure out how to volunteer.
  • People want to help. They want to be involved. They want to make a significant contribution with their time and talent. 
  • If you want them to help, you'll need to make onramps visible and easily accessible. Host a ministry fair, a volunteer expo. a VolunTour or Backstage Pass. Make a clear pathway through your website. 
• The what - the task - is communicated without the why. 
  • I just wrapped up a lively lunch meeting with four men from our Elkhart campus. The focus was connecting new people. The foundational conviction was people must hear and embrace the vision to make a connection at all. All four of these men spoke from their own experience. The why behind the what at Granger Community hooked them. Knowing why, the what was easy. 
  • If people are going to give up time in the middle of their work day like these men did today; if they're going to give time on the weekends; if they're going to stay late and show up early - they deserve to know "why." It informs and motivates the activity of serving.

Here's the recap...

• Reduce the menu. Don't overwhelm your people with too many choices. 
• Make onramps to volunteering visible and easily accessible.
• Cast vision. Explain the why behind the what. Give context for the task.

Next post...

• Invest in people; don't merely expect them to invest in your ministry.

_________________________

Of course, while you're waiting for the next post, you should pick up THE handbook on all things volunteering by Tim Stevens and Tony Morgan: Simply Strategic Volunteers (also here).

And then, hop over to ENGAGED (Verb), the blog of Kim Volheim, our director of volunteer involvement at Granger Community.

Oh, and I did write more about this topic in Lasting Impressions (also here).

You Need a Vacation - But Why?

I'm writing from our dining room table, watching over 2,000 family vacation photos scrolling on our TV screen. Yeah, we go a little camera-happy. These photos bring back fond memories of treasured get-aways. Our family has been planning another season of time away for awhile now. 

Earlier today I read an article at FastCompany.com that cited 10 reasons you need a vacation. Appropriately, the list was focused on leadership and the corporate world. All 10 reasons apply to any of us. Moms who care for their families. Individuals who work in the marketplace. But, substitute church for company and the list speaks wisdom to pastors who lead people in local churches. 

Here's the fine list that Patty Azzarello compiled: 

• Going on a vacation shows you are competent.
• No one is impressed if you don't.
• Your team is motivated.
• Your team gets more productive.
• Being unavailable helps people develop.
• You will be more productive.
• You will prioritize better.
• You let other people be "important."
• Your company benefits.
• You need a break, whether you know it or not!
  • (Read Patty's full article here)

As strong as this list is, I find that there are additional reasons for taking some time to get away. 

• I need the extended Sabbath. I honor God's wiring of me for rhythm. On and off, on and off. Work and rest, work and rest. Focus and renew, focus and renew. A day off, a week off can just be time off. No renewal. No restoration. That's not a Sabbath. It's helpful, but not a Sabbath.
• I need to connect with God in my Sabbath. A true Sabbath is about intentionally creating space to not only disconnect from the norm, but to reconnect with my Creator. Restoration comes from engaging my body and mind in activity that rejuvenates me, while I engage my spirit with God.
• I need to prioritize the relationships that matter most. For me those relationships are my immediate family. I need quality time and quantity of time. Sure, a moment can be a quality moments, but don't pretend that a moment here and a moment there is sustaining investment in your key relationships. Quantity of time matters. 
• My family needs me to take vacation. Yes, they need the time - quality and quantity - with me. But, they need me to unplug. They need me to rest. They need me to be restored. I'll invest, nurture and love them best as I take time to "be." 
• God desires my time away. God is a relational God. The scriptures tell us that he delights in us. He treasures me. He thinks you're it! Apparently He delights in this renewal and rest as much as I do. Probably more.

By the way I noticed that some of these memorable pictures were taken right here in our home town. During "stay-cations." Whether you leave town or not, get away...from the norm, the routine, the responsibility. You need it. And everyone around you needs you to.

 

Volunteer Culture: It Won't Just Happen, Part 1

I’m often asked what it takes to move a local church from staff-led ministry to ministry led and carried out by teams of volunteers. It's certainly not an overnight process to make such an intentional change. 

Here’s part one of several responses to the question: how do create a culture of volunteering where people choose to step up and serve?

It starts with vision. Someone with respected voice and leadership must cast vision for volunteering, for volunteers serving. That someone will likely be the senior communicator, lead pastor - whatever the role - the person leading the church. Our founding pastor Mark Beeson has taught and practiced for years that the people of the church are the ministers; pastors and other staff empower and equip them to do so. Mark has taught, cast vision, and ramped up volunteer leaders. He has led the way.

I’ve seen a number of churches claim a desire to empower volunteers, but apparently it’s all supposed to be managed behind the scenes through a leader who’s charged with the new initiative: involve our people. However, without vision being cast to the entire church, it will not happen effectively. If it’s a paradigm shift, the senior leader must paint the picture: both why the current strategy can’t continue like it is, and what benefit comes from this new preferred future.

Just in case the senior leader is at a loss for how to teach this value, the scriptures paint quite a convincing paradigm for volunteer-driven ministry. Just sayin’.

Here's what's coming in future posts on creating and cultivating a volunteer culture:

• People are busy with a full slate of family activity, personal priorities and work. How and why would people alter their schedule to volunteer, to serve through the local church?
• The church calendar is full. How easy is it for people to make a significant contribution?
• Meaningfully involving professionals in the church community is especially challenging. How do we leverage their leadership as volunteers?
• Serving with friends matters. Task is important; so are relationships. 
• What role does serving play in spiritual formation? 

_________________________

Of course, while you're waiting for future posts, you should pick up THE handbook on all things volunteering by Tim Stevens and Tony Morgan: Simply Strategic Volunteers (also here).

And then, hop over to ENGAGED (Verb), the blog of Kim Volheim, our director of volunteer involvement at Granger Community.

Change & Transition Pulling You Under? 5 Handles to Stay Afloat.

Lately my role at Granger Community has seemed to be in almost constant transition. I doubt it's much different for you. Seems it's often about seasons. Not weather-related seasons, but church-life seasons. Bible studies, groups, campus initiatives. building projects, discipleship, long-range planning, volunteer ramp-up, back to school...you know the seasons. And they don't have clean stopping points. There's tremendous overlap. One season or initiative begins while the former is still going strong.

This past weekend I taught about how change and our stress inside of change requires a look under the hood. We end up ignoring God and what he's up to because we become so self absorbed. You can check that out here. 

However, the focus in this post is about actually navigating the change you're facing. Maybe you're in overlapping seasons. Or perhaps you're transitioning responsibilities and your plate is full. Here are a handful of quick thoughts to help you steer your way through the choppy waters of change without falling out of the boat. 

Embrace the change.

• It’s here. You’re in it. Accept it. More denial won’t make it go away. Blaming someone else won’t deflect it. Being angry at your spouse, your employer, your kid, your parent, yourself, or God won’t alter the past and erase the transition you’re in.
• Know it’s a human experience. You’re not the only one facing change, being forced to live out of your comfort zone. Look around. Everyone around you is in it. Everyone.

Don’t go it alone.

• If it’s a change at work – include the team. If it’s a change in your family, involve other friends and family members. If it’s private and personal, be vulnerable enough to confide in a trusted friend.
• As you include others, empower them. Particularly if they can help you. And they can. Let them.

Position yourself to win.

• This is not about making sure you win and everyone else loses. It’s about accepting that there are things only you can do in this process. Only things you can choose, you can act on and lean into. Your perspective, your attitude, your sense of trust will position you to navigate the change a step at a time, a day at a time.
• This is not about playing hero. Not about defying everyone else to make a point. It is about knowing what you must do, what you can do that no one else can do for you.

Look in the rearview mirror.

• Pay attention to the landmarks and signposts behind you. Notice God’s faithfulness in other transitions. This is not the first time you’ve experienced change. Find hope and confidence in God to sustain you through the place you find yourself now.
• Project the mirror months and years from now. What will you want to see as you look back on this season? What will you want to be true about your relationships? About the people you love? About the lessons you’ll have learned and the legacy you’ll have established? What or who will be left in your wake?

Guard what’s important.

• Whatever the change, regardless the transition - not everything has changed. 
  • For instance, the nest in our home may be empty, but I’m still married to Laura; she’s still the love of my life. I need to guard that relationship carefully.
  • I’m still serving as one of our pastors; I still have responsibility. I need to maintain focus.
  • Even though Liv is away at school most days of the month, most days of the year – I’m still her dad. How do I navigate that relationship and nurture her even though we’re in a different season? I have to pay attention to what’s important.
• In change there's never enough time. So, it's easy to let scripture lose it's significance. Our time with God is a quick "Help me, Jesus" rushing out the door. Your pace requires more prayer. Prioritize your connection with Jesus.

What else would you add to this list to navigate change and transition in a healthy manner?

GCC-Elkhart: Summer Mornings & Fall Saturdays

Meat & Potatoes: Up in Your Grill

You likely saw this at GCCwired.com, but here's our current weekend focus: 

It’s summer. It’s time to dig in. To something hearty. Satisfying. Preferably something that’s been flame-broiled to perfection. So we’re going to dig in together…sitting around one ‘table’ for six weeks as we unpack a feast for the soul. We’re taking the dog days of summer and opening up the Bible to hear from some of our teaching pastors about some incredible, juicy morsels of truth that they’ve been discovering. So get ready to take a heapin’ helpin’. Good stuff is coming. (WARNING: We may get a little up in your grill.)

Jason Miller launched us with strength last week. If you missed it, check it out here.

The scriptures have centrality in our lives because Jesus is the Word. These few verses from Psalm 119 in the media below sum up the central message we're after in this series.

Don't miss week 2! See you this weekend.

GCC LaPorte County Pre-Launch

Pre-launch. It's everything that happens before the launch. 

Since 1958 NASA has been launching aeronautic and space exploration initiatives. Before every launch - manned or unmanned - there is pre-launch work to be done. The launch is strategic and noteworthy. So is every pre-launch initiative, but fewer people are aware of the work at that level.

Granger Community Church is going to launch a new work in LaPorte County. It's coming. It will be a definitive, significant initiative that will be known throughout the county. But first we have some pre-launch work to do. It's critical and just as strategic as the launch.

• We must come together as one team.
  • None of us can do alone what all of us can do together. Have you heard: The team out-performs the individual in the long-run every time. 
  • We need to invest in each other. We need to build community. We need each other. 
  • We need to focus around a common mission and vision. We're not merely friends huddling up for a nice stroll. There's work to do. We need a team.
• We must center around Jesus and His agenda.
  • This launch may be a GCC launch, but make no mistake: It's Jesus' work. His agenda. He's doing the sending. 
  • We're called to be witnesses to his love and grace in the world. We're called to give our lives living in and among people who need to know they matter to Him, so they see Jesus and experience his love through us.
• We must be clear on our mission.
  • We're not creating a holy huddle to isolate and find refuge from the culture or world we live in.
  • We're not creating "church" to appease our own expectations and desires for engaging religion or even God. 
  • We're learning to live as the body of Christ. Learning his character. We're committed to follow Him. To go where He went; to go where He goes. 

Because the pre-launch, preparation season is as strategic and critical as the launch, we've chosen a meeting location that expresses our mission. 

We'll be meeting at the Stardust Event Center located at the Blue Chip Casino and Hotel in Michigan City, LaPorte County.

Why? Because this launch isn't just about us. Because following Jesus means going where He goes, immersing ourselves in culture, being the salt of the earth.

John tells us, "The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood." (John 14.14)

Paul tells us that we are the "body of Christ."  Church is not a building. It's not a location. It's not a sacred space in and of itself. As the body of Christ, we redeem every place, every space as sacred. Work, gym, school, home, neighborhood, casino. Where we are - that's where the church is. We are the Church.

We've made this commitment in our 2016Vision:

The number of people being the Church in their neighborhoods, schools, cafés and communities seven days a week will outnumber the number of casual Christians just going to church. 

I hope you'll join us in this pre-launch season. If you've attended any of the previous meetings in LaPorte County, if you live in or around LaPorte County, if you're willing to make the sacrificial investment of travel and time, if you're interested in being part of something new, something significant to advance Christ's kingdom in LaPorte County - join us.

• Mondays, beginning this next week - June 4
• 6:30pm
• Bring your Bible, a pen and your friends
• Arrange for childcare 

Now is the time. You in?

Mutiny. Your Fight. My Fight.

If you haven't read it in a while, grab your Bible or read Romans 7 here. It's Paul's classic dipiction of our struggle to be okay, to be right, to be whole. Paul says there's a mutiny inside. Each of us. 

This video we experienced this past weekend brings Paul's words to visual impact.

Now go read Romans 8.

Disciple-making: How Would You Answer These 10 Questions?

At Granger Community we're a year-plus into our 2016Vision. Within our vision to embrace the AND (both attractional and missinoal in our approach to reaching and growing) we've committed to the following disciple-making reality:

We will raise the temperature for life-on-life discipleship so it is normal for people to become reproducing followers of Jesus by owning their personal growth. Consumer-oriented Christians will, by design, not feel comfortable long-term. 

Here are some questions we're using to inform and guide our conversation about spiritual transformation as we continue to implement our vision:

1. What does a win look like in spiritual transformation?
2. How is spiritual transformation expressed in our mission, vision and values?
3. How is spiritual transformation defined in our church? By our people?
4. How are we trusting or not trusting the Holy Spirit to transform the lives of our people?
5. Will whatever we do simply feel like an “add-on” to everything else we’re doing? Or will we stop some things to do this? Will what we do be the focus?
6. What’s keeping our people from engaging spiritual transformation as a lifestyle?
7. What key words, what important concepts will we use to cast vision and create a culture of spiritual transformation that is embraced by our people?
8. What environments will we intentionally create to help our people engage the story of the Bible in their journey of spiritual transformation?
9. How do we help our people engage spiritual disciplines as pathways rather than task items to mark off their to-do lists?
10. How will we measure and celebrate spiritual transformation in the lives of our people?

What does spiritual transformation look like in your church? How are you defining it?

Here's another question: What does my personal spiritual transformation process look like? …and is it worth modeling?