Leading Where You Are

Some Thoughts
This last week, had the opportunity to attend a conference hosted by Willowcreek Community Church called Lead Where You Are. It was mainly great towards church leaders an staffers, but there was plenty of application for anyone in leadership positions both in ministry and business.

The content was filled with speakers from breakthrough churches and leaders of ministries that were making a difference in the darkest part of the international world. Some of my favorites were the following:

Bill Hybels, Willowcreek Commmunity Church
He says decisions are often made by aking four questions:
1) Does the Bible say anything about it?
2) What would smart advisers say?
3) What do my pains, gains, and experiences teach me?
4) Is the Spirit prompting/ Does it lead to life & peace?
But he says, don’t stop there, use axioms (sayings or quotes) that have been informed and tested to guide you. Examples: ”this is church!”, “get the right people round the table”, “facts are your friends”

Gary Haugen, International Justice Mission
He asked the question: “Are Jesus and I interested in the same thing?” God’s passion is for the world. Some question if God is good, and ask for God’s plan. We are the plan, and there is no other plan!

He said we should lead in the things that matter to God. We often choose ministries that are cheerful, safe, and easy. Often, we are needed in the places that are hopeless, scary, and hard! Focus on God and His plan. Jesus came to make us brave, not safe. Pursue spiritual health, excellence, and joy.

Craig Groeschel, Lifechurch.tv
Some churches have “IT”, and others don’t. We need to do these things:
1) Stay lazer focused on our goals
2) See opportunity when others see obstacles
3) Be willing to fail – don’t play it safe
4) Have IT, your team should have IT

He shared a Franciscan prayer that goes like this:
May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half truths, and superficial relationships, so that you may live deep within your heart.
May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that you may work for justice, freedom and peace.
May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation, and war, so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and to turn their pain in to joy.
And may God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in this world, so that you can do what others claim cannot be done.

Catherine Rohr, Prison Entrepeneurship Program
She gave up everything to minister to these prisoners.
Risk everything for the calling.
We are ok with old school murderers, but not todays.
God is passionate, He is responsible (feeding 5,000).
Wow them.
Don’t be satisfied in the visitors center!

So......
In my ministries, I sometimes tend to take the safer road since I am diplomatic in nature, but that is not always best. I need to be driven to prayer by the overwhelming the nature of the things I am taking on. I am not there yet.