Hopefor09.com: Church Unique Snapshot
It was a thrill to work Sal Sberna and team at a church called the MET in North Houston (Metropolitan Baptist Church). They contracted with Auxano two years ago to do vision clarification and continue to use us for sub-ministry alignment and vision-based stewardship development. Their mission is to connect people each day to the real Jesus in a real way. Recently they began an initiative called HopeFor09.com. Its a way to take a sermon series to the next level by providing a series-based blog, videos, bible resources and e-vite online. Check it out here.
Biggest Ministry Mistakes
Blogger Tony Morgan just asked his twitter followers to write in about their biggest ministry mistakes. In the list below you will see the mistake that fuels our ministry at Auxano: Mistaken Identity
- @gsligon - “trusting a volunteer with too much influence in my ministry. can you say sabotage?”
- @menatpausecoach - “thinking that one would be ‘closer to God’ by leaving secular world for full-time ministry.”
- @teddywinter - “thinking that I can sustain it all. The need for a team is incredibly necessary.”
- @jodyearley - “calling a Jr. High event SNR (Santa’s Not Real) and then promoting in the worship guide for the little kids to see.”
- @michaelharrison - “not delegating or empowering others to serve”
- @chuck_scott - “procrastinating and calling that relying on the Holy Spirit for prompting.”
- @youcanknowgod - “student ministry services that compete with weekend services”
- @jasonsalamun - “Not raising funds prior to launching our church.”
- @kellyadkins - “caring about something less than God does. also, caring about something more than God does.”
- @dale_schaeffer - “Changing who we are as a church to fit the demographics of a community…lesson: just be who you are and watch God work.”
- @kentshaffer - “Trying to take an old school projector down from the ceiling by myself. It broke, and I almost did.”
While some of these are humorous, the idea of "changing who we are as a church" can be very dangerous. When I worked with Max Lucado at Oak Hills Church, I ripped a phrase from his book, The Cure for a Common Life, and use it for churches: "Your church can't be anything you want it to be, but it can be everything God wants it to be."
Growth Challenges Audio
While at Group Publishing today I saw the link to an audio I did with Alan Nelson a few months ago on the topic of growth challenges for the Rev magazine audio resource. In it, I share my philosophy of thinking about growth challenges, and two common systemic challenges: 1) the redemptive passion of the congregation, and 2) centralized leadership development. On the latter topic I share a little bit about the leadership development process of two churches I am close to in Houston- Clear Creek Community Church and Faithbridge UMC.
Mind Stretch by Group
I was at Group Publishing today in Loveland Colorado to dialogue about the condition of vision and leadership development in the church. I had a great morning with Thom and Joani Schultz (Thom founded the organization 35 years ago.) The facility is impressive with 350 employes and two notable accomplishments: 1) The sell more VBS curriculum than any other publisher, 2) They are repeatedly mentioned as a great place to work from folks who measure those sorts of things. What I liked best about the place is that you could sense the ministry-corporate culture they have created.
Defining the Essence
On my way to the airport today for my next two days in Denver and then Tampa, I realized that I left my computer at home. Losing 30 minutes compromised my finely tuned planning, which has developed over 8 years of departing from Houston’s Hobby airport. After my time loss, I knew I could still make my flight but not check-in my extra bag. There was only one solution-eliminate and do it quickly. The next 20 minutes of driving I went through the “essentials only” mental checklist. In the parking garage I rearranged and eliminated until my bulging carry-on could take no more.
Interestingly it was a satisfying experience because all the essentials made it. Once again I felt the complexity and weight of allowing non-essentials into my mind and ultimately my suitcase. The forced “concentration by elimination” exercise was ultimately refreshing though initially frustrating.
This is the exact kind of exercise that individuals and organizations can go through to clarify and apply the essence of their calling or their mission.
As coincidence would have it I started a new book on the plane- The Power of Less by Leo Babauta (2009). What’s his first principle? “By setting limitations we must choose the essential. So in everything you do learn to set limitations.”