the reluctant leader

Corporate Culture & How We Do Church

Here are my thoughts about the role of corporate culture in the local church.

I am not suggesting that these 3 points should be the corporate culture of your church – every church needs to figure out what corporate culture serves their unique vision and values – but these 3 help us do what God has called us to do.

1. The passionate vision of a world-wide mission movement – a missional culture.
It all starts with a vision to reach our world and our neighborhood, to plant churches in every nation and small groups in every coffee shop, to send missionaries around the world and across the street. This is what we are called to do. Vision. Mission. I love both. But God loves people, so we must develop...

2. The caring atmosphere of a church family – a relational culture.
Now it gets difficult. How do I run with the vision, and not run over people? It is common for visionary movements to leave a trail of body bags dotting the path of their world-changing activities. It is also common for highly relational ministries to accomplish little. Is it possible to be visionary and relational at the same time? Vision & family - we have to be both, while also developing...

3. The organizational excellence of a multinational corporation – a professional culture.
Corporate excellence. Professionalism. In every area - accounting, IT, HR, graphics, facilities, communication - we must operate by the same standard as other institutions in our community. And that standard is different in every context. We reject the worn-out idea that giving God leftovers is acceptable. He deserves and demands our first and our best.

But, how do we keep a family/relational atmosphere and maintain professional excellence as we run with the vision and fulfill the mission? 

I must admit - it’s hard to hold to all three at the same time, because sometimes they seem to pull in opposite directions. But, I know that our success is, in part, dependent on creating and maintaining the right corporate culture. Yours is too.

Latest entry on my multiply site: "She Forgot to Say: 'World Peace'"

More Thoughts on Living Life as a Long-Term Project

Inspired by my Stupid Statement #1 blog and your responses, I’ve been thinking a lot about time and the future. Maybe that “live every day as if it were your last day” statement was not so stupid after all, since it inspired deep thought and meaningful discussion.

Question. Should we live in the past, for the moment, or for the future? Should we live as if today is our last day, or as if we have a thousand more today’s?   

My eclectic religious experience supplied me with the foundation to be either very balanced or very confused, because it enables me to do all three.

1.    My liturgical Episcopal experience taught me to appreciate the past. Gothic architecture. Gregorian Chants. Ancient rituals. Organ music. Ornate robes. Incense. Candles. Priests. Everything seemed to be about looking back and learning from the past.

2.    My spontaneous Charismatic experience taught me to savor the moment. Much of my varied experience in the Charismatic movement had little connection to the past or the future – it was about the moment, the divine touch that would knock you to the ground and change you forever, or at least until the next meeting.

3.    My Reformed Presbyterian experience taught me to prepare for the future… the eternal future and the temporal future. Thankfully, I am reformed enough to see the future through the filter of the sovereignty of God and the promises of Scripture. Therefore, I see time as my ally not my enemy. Real spirituality takes time.

I guess when it comes to time, I lean not to the inexplicable mystery of traditional liturgy, not to the instant cure-all of the charismatic zap, but to the slow and sometimes painful process of sanctification and discipleship.

From the Reformed perspective, time really is on our side, because God really is in charge.

Stupid Statement #2: Dogs with Guns?

American talk radio is an endless source of material for my Stupid Statement blog category. It’s hard to know where to start. How about yesterday…

While in my truck listening to a call-in discussion about what seems to be the biggest news item of the summer – millionaire pro athlete involved in dog fighting scandal – the callers kept comparing dog fighting to hunting.

In the middle of this heated hunting/dog fighting debate, one anti-hunt anti-gun caller uttered this soon-to-be classic Stupid Statement:

“I just think it’s wrong to shoot an unarmed animal.”

Huh? Are there other kinds of animals?

I can’t remember the last time I encountered an ARMED animal. I guess that’s why I haven’t shot one lately.

But, if I ever do see a deer, a duck or a wildebeest with a gun, a knife or nunchucks, then trust me, I’ll fire away like Yosemite Sam on a ‘roid rage.

Yea, I wouldn’t hesitate to shoot an armed animal. And, you shouldn’t either. No matter what PETA says about it. It’s kill or be killed, in this dog-shoot-dog world of ours.

A few leadership lessons from the "unarmed animal" stupid statement:

1. Don’t speak like an authority on topics that you know nothing about. Some people expect pastors and spiritual leaders to be experts on everything from real estate to relationships to politics to child-psychology. Most people can tell when you are just making stuff up, so don't.   

2. Don’t argue, blog, preach or call talk radio shows when you are emotionally worked up. You’ll probably say something stupid and regret it later. Follow the advice of James and try to be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. (James 1:19)

3. Ask God for wisdom before you open your mouth or click post. A little wisdom could stop a lot of stupid statements.  If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. (James 1:5)

4. Stay away from armed animals. However, if you do encounter an armed animal, shoot first and ask questions later.

Check out the new "accidental missionary" post -- Inspired by a Catholic Monk & Chick-fil-A.

Stupid Statement #1

While on the cross-trainer this morning, I was flipping channels and landed on a sports interview program.  The interviewee was the latest ubiquitous Eastern European teen tennis star/fashion model.

Since most top shelf tennis players/fashion models join the pro tour at 12, they unfortunately and obviously don’t get a lot of education. 

In response to a simple question about being a rich and famous tennis star/model, she spit out one of those pithy but profoundly stupid statements that they must teach at celebrity school, since 78% of all celebrities parrot it. 

I just couldn’t resist commenting on it. In fact, it inspired a new category of reluctant leader posts that I am calling "Stupid Statements."

Here’s the inspirational quote:

“I just live every day as if it were my last.”

What the heck does that mean?

What if you really lived every day as if it were your last?

-    You probably wouldn’t spend 2 hours doing hellish conditioning drills.
-    You definitely wouldn’t spend 2 hours working on your kick serve preparing for next week’s tournament.
-    You wouldn’t go to class or study for tomorrow’s exam.
-    Your diet would be over.
-    You wouldn’t worry about the price tag or your credit limit. (Probably don’t do that anyway.)

I suggest all leaders do the opposite of living every day as if it were your last, and do life and leadership as a long-term project.

Live and lead as if this is NOT your last day.

- Get the best education and training you can, so you can have a better future.
- Take your time and do things right, rather than speeding through life.
- Earn, save, and invest so that the next generation will have an inheritance.
- Invest in long-term relationships, because this is probably not your last day.
- Commit to the painfully slow process of training home-grown leaders. 

When we learn to think long-term, we will see that time is not the enemy. It is actually our ally.

Sometimes It Looks Like Unity, But It's Not

Had a good meeting the last 2 days with some old pastors and some younger campus ministers, and some admin people who are neither young nor old. We were making important decisions about how our churches and campus ministry will work together in the future.

No matter the topic, often these established leader/emerging leader meetings are fraught with misunderstanding and miscommunication. Not this time. 

During our meeting people boldly, passionately and bluntly disagreed - but they always did it respectfully and in a good spirit. Despite the disagreements, we walked out of the room at the end of 2 days in unity. We didn't all agree on everything, but we all left in unity. 

I have been in meetings many times when it looked like unity, but it wasn't. It looked like unity because no one voiced any disagreement. They disagreed. They just didn't say anything. At least not in the meeting. When this happens, we think we have unity. Until the whispers of disunity gradually become a shout.

I have also been in meetings where everyone felt the liberty to boldly and bluntly express their disagreement. Problem was it was done with little humility, respect or love. This obviously destroys unity.

To have real unity, leaders must create an environment - a moment - where people are free to disagree and to express that disagreement. That's the easy part. The hard part is making sure all who express disagreement do so in humility, respect and love - and in the appropriate setting. This is the only way I know to lead toward real unity.

I'm certainly not an expert at this, but I know this is what is required of leadership. And, I thank God for leaders who are bold enough to express their opinions and humble enough to realize that their opinions are sometimes wrong - leaders who know that, despite our disagreements, God expects us to make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. (Eph 4:3)

(New post on my accidental missionary blog with a link to "young Tim" with hair.)
 

For Those Who Hate Decision-Making

Too many leaders don’t like to make tough decisions; they prefer to pass the buck. I’m like that. I’d rather someone else - anyone else - make the difficult and unpopular decisions.

We all have to learn, that once the decision-making authority has been delegated to us, we must make the decision. We can’t just pass the buck back where it came from.    

During a recent meeting with Jerome Ocampo, the JesusRev guy, I realized that either I had not properly empowered some of our leaders, or that those leaders had opted out of leadership for the moment.

Here’s what happened. Jerome asked me if Victory – my local church in Manila – would promote some upcoming JesusRev events. I told him that I do not make those decisions for Victory, that Victory has twelve congregations in Metro Manila and that each pastor is empowered to make decisions for their congregation. And, I told him that we have two national youth organizations that may be willing to promote the events, Every Nation Campus Ministries-Philippines and Every Nation Youth-Philippines, but again, I don’t make those decisions.

Jerome told me that he had already spoken to a couple of these Victory and Every Nation leaders and was told that they would have to talk to me about it.

I thought I had clearly delegated the authority to them, but they told Jerome that they needed my permission. Either I had failed to communicate clearly or someone had decided to pass the buck back to me. Either way, I recognized a leadership development moment. 

Like many, Jerome assumed that in order to get something done, he had to go to the top – that would be me. But, I refused to usurp the decision-making authority I had already delegated. I guess I could have saved Jerome the trouble of tracking down twelve congregational pastors and two national directors by making the decision myself. But in the long run, every time a leader delegates authority, then makes the decision himself, he creates confusion and kills morale.

Here’s the deal: once you delegate, you gotta get your hands off. It's not the end of the world, if a young leader makes a dumb decision. Every emerging leader needs the freedom to make some bad decisions. Every established leader needs to get out of the way long enough to let next generation leaders make some bad decisions.

All next generation leaders need to boldly make the decisions that have been delegated to them. Don’t pass the difficult or unpopular decisions back to the top. Make the decision. If it turns out to be the wrong decision, admit it and learn from it. If it is right, thank God for his wisdom.

So, which was it - did I fail to communicate clearly, or did those I delegated to pass the buck back to me? Probably a bit of both.

Can Established Leaders & Emerging Leaders Work Together?

My old friend, Jerome Ocampo, dropped by my office yesterday. When I first met Jerome in 1984, we were both in our 20's, both trying to plant churches, both broke and clueless.

We both had big vision and little training. We made up for our lack of experience with faith and zeal. Neither of us knew how to plant a church, but that didn't stop us from trying.

Jerome is the founder of the Jesus Revolution Now! movement. No one believes in the next generation more than the JesusRev people. I like the way they talk about bridging the spiritual generation gap in their vision statement: "We are a catalyst for the mobilization of two generations to hunger for revival..."

...the mobilization of two generations...

Can two generations really be mobilized together? Can established leaders and emerging leaders really work together? Can current leaders and next generation leaders really lead together?

Or does there have to be a passing of the baton, so they don't kill each other?

The "pass the baton" concept of leadership transition, where one generation sits and serves - waiting for the "man of God" to transfer his mantle or die - is not what we are after. Since most visionary leaders are never quite ready to retire to South Florida to eat Jello and play shuffle board, they are never quite ready to pass the baton - until one month after their funeral.

I have seen situations where the next generation leader is in his 40's, and he's still considered a "young leader" not quite ready for the big game. He is still waiting for his turn. Problem is that by the time he finally gets the baton, he will have to run with a walker.

Most next generation leaders get tired of waiting. And waiting. And waiting. Eventually they leave, so they can lead. Sad. Two generations should be mobilized together.

Established leaders and emerging leaders are supposed to walk together. Work together. Lead together. Do life together. Change the world together. Cross the finish line together.

I know that leading together is the hard way. But the option - losing the next generation - is even harder.

A few years ago I wrote in my Evangelicals Today column about two generations crossing the finish line together. If you want a good picture of two generations running together, check out this 2 minute video. The vid will make more sense after reading my ET column at the above link.

(I fly to Nash in 12 hours. Better go pack & sleep. Will see some of you soon.)    

All We Need is Love

A couple of weeks ago, 14,000 people from 43 nations gathered in the Araneta Coliseum in the Philippines for the 2007 Every Nation World Conference, nicknamed EN.07.

Great conference, but what was the take-home? Here's my 5 point answer to that question:
    1. We are called to the ends of the earth.
    2. We need the power & presence of the Holy Spirit.
    3. We must remember the poor.
    4. We must empower the next generation.

And finally, point #5. 

    5. "All we need is love."

Points 1-4 outline the type of MINISTRY God has called Every Nation to be.
Point 5 describes the type of PEOPLE he has called us to be.

Points 1-4 describe what we are supposed to DO.
Point 5 describes who we are supposed to BE.

Love. Agape. Much more than a feeling. More like a sacrifice.

Matt 22:36-40. Jesus summarized the Old Testament with 1 word: LOVE.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind... Love your neighbor as yourself...

John 13:35. Jesus summarized discipleship with 1 word: LOVE.
all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.

John 21:16. Jesus summarized ministry with 1 word: LOVE.
...do you truly love me?...Take care of my sheep.

Jesus' 1 word summary of the Law, discipleship and ministry was love. My 1 word summary of EN.07 is love.

One word. Two applications: Love God. Love people.

Easier said than done.

 

Leading WITH the Next Generation

A few blogs ago - seems like a month ago - I summarized the 2007 Every Nation World Conference in 5 statements:
    1. We are called to the ends of the earth.
    2. We need the power & presence of the Holy Spirit.
    3. We must remember the poor.
    4. We must empower the next generation.
    5. "All we need is love."

Here are my quick thoughts on point #4...

We must empower the next generation.

There seems to be an endless debate on the culture clash between established leaders and emerging leaders, especially in the church world. (If this "emerging leader" phrase is new to you, think "spiritual generation gap" - to the 10th power.)   

Some of the stuff I read makes the situation look pretty hopeless. But when I read the Bible, which says there is nothing new under the sun, I find hope that 2 generations can work and lead together.

Paul & Timothy. Elijah & Elisha. Moses & Joshua.

And there was King Saul and David, at least for a couple of chapters. I know we don't usually hold King Saul up as a model leader, but when in terms of empowering next generation leaders there is much to  learn from him. (See 1 Samuel 17:38-40) 

Saul gave David his armor to fight Goliath. David's generation had their own way of fighting giants - sticks, stones and slings. That was OK with Saul. So, with a stick in one hand and a sling in the other, David planted a stone in Goliath's head.

Here are some leadership lessons established and emerging leaders must learn if we hope to slay the modern giants that mock our God:

- Like Saul who thought he was helping and protecting David, established leaders often force our armor on the next generation.

- Like most emerging leaders, David was not comfortable fighting in Saul's armor.

- Unlike many established leaders, Saul actually LISTENED TO the next generation's complaints and EMPOWERED David to choose a style he was comfortable with.

- Unlike many emerging leaders, David RESPECTFULLY declined Saul's armor. David did not sarcastically blog about and trash the armor. He simply said HE was not comfortable in it. 

My generation knows how to teach and lead the next generation. If we are serious about reaching the ends of the earth, we can learn much from Saul & David about how to LISTEN TO and LEAD WITH the next generation.

The fact is, emerging leaders will be established leaders sooner than later, and they will have to figure out how to LEAD WITH the next group of emerging leaders, who will probably think the old way of doing church is irrelevant and outdated.

--------------
This blog made me laugh.
This site really made me laugh.

Remember the Poor

I have heard over and over that one of the highlights of the 2007 Every Nation World Conference experience was our "compassion ministry" focus.

During the conference we featured 5 different Every Nation ministries that serve the poor. Each  compassion segment included a video and an interview. All 5 were inspirational and emotional. Hopefully, the video images and the interviews will make it easier to remember the poor.

When the Apostle Paul was explaining and defending his ministry to the Gentiles, he concluded with these words:

Galatians 2:10 - All they (Jewish bigwigs in Jerusalem) asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do. 

Paul was called to the Gentiles. That was perfectly OK with the Jewish church leaders, as long as he was willing to remember the poor.

As an apostle, Paul was supposed to reach the Gentiles. As a follower of Christ, he was supposed to remember the poor.

As a ministry, Every Nation is called to do church planting, campus ministry and world missions. As Christians, we are all called to remember the poor.

So, how does this apply to us today?
    As we plant churches, we must remember the poor.
    As we do campus ministry, we must remember the poor.
    As we go the the ends of the earth, we must remember the poor.

We can't read too many pages in the Bible without coming face to face with our responsibility toward the poor and needy.

Proverbs 14:31 - He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.

Proverbs 21:13 - If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered.

Proverbs 28:27 - He who gives to the poor will lack nothing, but he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses.

Proverbs 31:9 - Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.

To help us remember the poor, here are links to the 5 EN compassion ministries featured at EN.0 7:

Thembalitsha - holistic community development in South Africa
Youth Life Learning Center - after school program for inner-city kids in the USA
Baby Haven - serving abandoned and orphaned children in South Africa
House of Hope - caring for orphans and refugees in a restricted Asian nation
Real Life Foundation - educational assistance for underprivileged Filipino youth

Please keep these compassion ministries in your prayers and in your budget.

(Podcast of my Thursday conference message to pastors & staff is posted HERE.)