the reluctant leader

Upper Room Joy vs Frontline Sacrifice

From Upper Room Joy to Frontline Sacrifice: 3 Essentials of Healthy Church Culture

One of the most important, but elusive, tasks of church leadership is creating and maintaining a healthy church culture. What I call church culture, some people call environment, atmosphere, or vibe. No matter what you call it, it is vital that church leaders create good environments.

No matter if you are leading a new church plant or an old established church, a mega church or mini church, a western church or third world church, an urban church or a rural church, an attractional church or a missional church... no matter what kind of church you are leading, if you want a healthy church culture you will need to constantly over-emphasize the following:

1. VIBRANT SPIRITUALITY. Seems silly to even list this one, but countless times throughout history organizations and churches that start out deeply spiritual end up spiritually dead. When I say spirituality I do not mean spooky, cooky, scary, or weird. Vibrant spirituality is Christ-centered and Spirit-empowered, not experience-seeking and out-of-control. Many churches have traded spiritual transcendence for cultural relevance or unbiblical mysticism. Both are bad trades.

2. GLOBAL MISSION. Yes, the presence of the Holy Spirit makes our meetings exciting, but that's not the point. The purpose of Holy Spirit power is to prepare us for mission. (see Acts 1:8) If we want healthy churches, we will have to lead people from upper room joy to front line sacrifice, from personal devotion to global mission. A healthy local church, requires a global mission. Jesus told his original followers to makes disciples, not just in their local communities, but in all nations. Jesus called them to a global mission, and he calls us to no less.

3. COMPASSIONATE COMMUNITY. I have observed some deeply spiritual people pursue a global mission, and leave piles of body bags in their wakes. This happens when we are more concerned about mission than people. Remember, Jesus died for lost people not for religious experiences and mission statements. The people are the mission.

When Leaders Refuse to Lead

I'm now in the Atlanta airport changing planes after two weeks in South Africa. On the Joburg to Atlanta leg I read the book of Numbers. Here are 2 leadership lessons from chapter 13, but first the story...

God told Moses to "send some men to explore the land of Canaan" because He was
planning to give that land to the Israelites. Moses was instructed to pick "leaders" from each tribe to spy their future land. (Num13:2)

When the hand-picked leaders got to the land, they were supposed to check out the security of the towns, the strength of the Canaanite people, and the fertility of the land. (Num13:18-20)

So far, so good.

Upon return, ten of the twelve leaders brought a negative report that filled the camp with fear and incited rebellion against God's will. These were ten leaders who refused to lead. Rather than leading the people into God's will, they convinced them that the task should be scrapped because it was too dangerous.

Two of the twelve, Joshua and Caleb, brought a good report. They inspired faith. They encouraged obedience. They led.

Here's what Leadership looks and sounds like: "Then Caleb SILENCED THE PEOPLE before Moses and said, 'WE SHOULD GO up and take possession of the land, for WE CAN CERTAINLY DO IT.'" (Num13:30)

When non-leaders are spreading unbelief and fear, good leaders:
1. SILENCE THE PEOPLE
2. SPEAK FAITH & HOPE ("We should go... We can do it.")

What kind of leader are you? Do you silence unbelief and speak faith? Are you a leader who leads, or a non-leader who embraces the comfortable?

4 Next Generation Leadership Tips

Moses was one of the strongest leaders ever, but occasionally the leadership burden got to him. At one particularly low moment he said to God, "I cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me." (Numbers 11:14)

Moses discovered that doing leadership alone is a heavy burden. He also discovered that equipping and empowering next generation leaders is the best way to lighten the leadership load.

That sounds simple, but how do we equip and empower leaders? Here are four leadership development tips from Numbers 11:

1. GROW YOUR OWN. Next generation leaders are already with you. When more leaders were needed, God told Moses to bring 70 of Israel's elders. He did not tell him to find some Egyptians. The future leaders were already with Moses, he just had not yet recognized them. (Numbers 11:16a)

2. LOOK FOR LOYALTY. Next generation leaders must be willing to "stand with you" for a season. If they are only interested in replacing you, and are not willing to stand with you, then they are not ready to lead. (Numbers 11:16b)

3. THE GOD FACTOR. Next generation leaders need the power of the Spirit. No amount of natural leadership ability, education, or charisma can replace the power of God's Spirit. You have your part to play, but only God can anoint leaders with the power of his Spirit. (Numbers 11:17)

4. THE NECESSITY OF COMMITMENT. Next generation leaders must consecrate themselves. You can teach them and you can train them, but only they can consecrated themselves. (Numbers 11:18)

If your leadership burden seems too heavy to bear, it's probably time to identify, equip, and empower a new generation of leaders.

Making Disciples or Gathering Crowds (& Celebrating the Insignificant)

I don't want to rain on anyone's post-Easter parade, but while I am happy for record-setting Easter Sunday crowds, I am afraid we might be celebrating the insignificant.

If that is indeed what we are doing, we would not be the first disciples to miss the point. When the original twelve expressed their misplaced excitement about casting out demons, Jesus told them they were celebrating the wrong thing. (Luke 10)

A basic leadership principle says that whatever leaders celebrate, followers will try to duplicate. If we celebrate big crowds, people who respect us will strive to make big crowds happen.

I am not anti-crowd, unless that crowd in in an airport. I prefer a crowded church to an empty one. But knowing the size of the crowd does not tell me enough to know if it should be celebrated.

We are called to make disciples, not to gather crowds. So before we celebrate a big number, we must ask ourselves if we have a plan to translate that crowd into disciples. If Easter has come and gone and we are not already executing and evaluating a plan to get church visitors in a discipleship process, then celebrating record numbers is missing the point.

Maybe we are confused about the task. It is not our job to build a church, and Jesus is no longer making disciples. If we attempt to do his job (building the church), he does not automatically switch and do our job (making disciples). If we focus on making disciples, Jesus will take those disciples and build a church that will cause hell major headaches.

If my job is building a church, then I might celebrate a record Easter crowd. Maybe. But, since my job is making disciples, I probably should evaluate how I am planning to get that Easter crowd involved in a discipleship process by establishing foundations, equipping them for ministry and empowering them to make disciples.

10 Things You Must Know to Succeed in Ministry

I landed in Manila less than 48 hours ago, and as usual I hit the ground running. Today, despite the jet lag coma, I taught six sessions at our ministry school. My students included future campus missionaries, future youth pastors and future kids ministers.

I love training and equipping next generation leaders. No matter how busy or tired I am, I always have time and energy for future leaders.

Here's what I taught in today's three afternoon sessions: TEN THINGS YOU MUST KNOW FOR LONG-TERM SUCCESS IN MINISTRY.

1. You must know that GOD LOVES YOU and accepts you because of who he is and what he did for you, not because of who you are and what you do for him. Otherwise you will live and die on the performance treadmill.

2. You must know that GOD CALLED YOU to do campus ministry. Once you know this is a calling and not just a job, then the option to quit is off the table.

3. You must know that GOD WILL PROVIDE for all your needs. No way around it; this is a trust (faith) issue, and he is trustworthy.

4. You must that know THE GOSPEL WORKS in all situations at all times, otherwise you will spin your wheels trying all kinds of gimmicks and flavors-of-the-month. Cool hairdos and designer jeans never transformed a life.

5. You must know HOW TO FORGIVE. More than any other job, ministry will provide countless opportunities to practice forgiveness.

6. You must know how and when to SAY NO. Rather than doing everything that can be done in the name of God, narrow the focus and you will accomplish more.

7. You must know how to ENGAGE your culture & community. This is the starting line for making disciples.

8. You must know how to ESTABLISH biblical foundations. This is the central core of making disciples.

9. You must know how to EQUIP believers to minister. This ensures that discipleship grows in quality as well as quantity.

10. You must know how to EMPOWER disciples to make disciples. This enables discipleship to multiply exponentially.

Another episode of Man vs Jet Lag continues tomorrow. Stay tuned. Bye.

No One Wants to Follow a Slave Driver Leader

While reading Exodus on my recent Manila to China flight, I scribbled some notes contrasting the leadership styles of Moses and Pharaoh.

Here's how Moses led:
1. Moses called God's people to a "festival" which is like a party. Good leaders know how to mix work and fun. (Ex5:1)
2. Moses called God's people to "sacrifice." Good leaders are not afraid to lead people to greater sacrifice. (Ex5:3)

And, here's how Pharaoh led:
1. Pharaoh leaders constantly demand, "Get back to your work!" (Ex5:4)
2. Pharaoh leaders produce underlings who are "slave drivers." (Ex5:6)
3. Pharaoh leaders are obsessed with "requirements" and "quotas." (Ex5:8,17)
4. Pharaoh leaders look for ways to "make the work harder" rather than looking for ways to lift the burdens of their workers. (Ex5:9)
5. Pharaoh leaders will never "reduce the work" load. (Ex5:11)
6. Pharaoh leaders "beat" their people when they don't produce enough. (Ex5:14)

What type of leader would you rather follow?
What type of leader are you?

Self-Absorbed Leaders

Self-absorbed leaders cannot build multi-generational ministries or businesses. In fact, they repel potential next generation leaders.

The ancient prophet Isaiah tells a sad story about a self-absorbed one-generation-wonder named Hezekiah.

In many ways Hezekiah was a good king. But when it came to next generation leadership, he failed royally.

Here's what happened:

1. DISASTER. The prophet boldly warns the king that A DAY IS COMING when everything he owns will be stolen by his enemy, the evil Babylonians. (Isaiah 39:6) Hezekiah sees no problem since this refers to a future disaster.

2. DESCENDANTS. The prophet also warns that the next generation, Hezekiah's descendants, will be kidnapped and dragged to Babylon. (verse 7) Again, no worries since this affects future generations not Hezekiah himself.

3. DECEPTION. You don't need a prophetic interpreter to tell you that this is bad news, yet the king responds: "The word of the Lord you have spoken is good, " For he thought, "There will be PEACE AND SECURITY IN MY LIFETIME." (verse 8)

Self-absorbed leaders only concern themselves with their own lifetime, and that is why they will never build multi-generational ministries. They sellout future generations for momentary glory rather than sacrificing now so that future generations can succeed.

(WARNING: short political rant... And that is exactly how American political leaders think as they accumulate astronomical debt, selling out future generations for temporal peace and security and entitlements and votes...)

I Have Accomplished Nothing

Some of you reading this blog are in the process of becoming successful. Some are already successful. Others are... VERY successful.

Think with me for a minute about some of your accomplishments. From the sandlot to the board room. From kindergarten to grad school. From diapers to the marriage altar.

Academic excellence. Athletic victories. Political power. Business connections. Wealth accumulation. Social justice. Ministry growth.

Maybe your greatest accomplishment is that you are still married to the same person after all these years. That accomplishment alone gives you superhero status in today's world of disposable relationships.

Even on a bad day when we feel like total failures, if we stop to think about it, we realize we have actually accomplished some important things.

Or, have we?

A few thousand years ago a wise old long-bearded white-haired prophet had an interesting perspective on success and human accomplishment:

"all that we have accomplished, You have done for us." (Isaiah 26:12)

In other words, all I think I have accomplished through my cleverness, discipline and superior intelligence actually had little to do with me. God did it all. And he did not need my help, my cooperation or my permission.

The only question that remains is will I acknowledge his role, or will I continue to pretend I do it all on my own?

Stupid Leaders

Because of their positions, all leaders know stuff that others in the organization do not know. Thus the need for professional confidentiality.

I recently had to correct a colleague who inadvertently leaked some confidential info during a meeting. He responded to my correction by saying, "You're right, I should not have said that. I don't get corrected very often, but I need it. Thanks."

He not only admitted his mistake, he embraced correction and he thanked me for it. I am thankful I get to work with such humble and wise people all over the world.

How do you respond to correction? Do you accept correction, or get offended? Do you love correction, or do you hate it?  

A long time ago a really wise man wrote: "he who hates correction is stupid." (Proverbs 12:1) Sadly, that verse describes many leaders today.

Wanna be a smart leader? Make peace with the fact that you are often wrong and need correction, then surround yourself with people who are willing to "speak the truth in love."

I'm Not Really A Pastor, But I Sure Need One

I write a column for Evangelicals Today magazine. My assigned topic this month is "Pastor Appreciation." Here's what I submitted to my editor. 

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Even though lots of people call me "Pastor Steve" I don't think I'm really a pastor. I do not have the title "pastor" on my business card, and every time I take one of those spiritual gift surveys I score almost zero on the pastor part. So, I guess it is only natural that none of the "pastors" who have been major contributors to my spiritual development are real pastors either. They are actually evangelists, teachers and prophets - not pastors.

Whatever I have become as a Christian, a missionary, a church planter, and a leader, I owe a debt of gratitude to three "pastors" who helped shape my life and ministry. I'm scared to think what I would be doing today if these men had not stepped into my life when they did.
 
In the fall of 1975, I was a sixteen-year-old high school kid running from God. By the end of that year, I was no longer running from God; I was following Him. What happened? Ron Musselman, youth pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Jackson, Mississippi happened! For some reason unknown to me, Ron adopted my high school as his mission field, and he picked me as his evangelism project. After mocking Ron and his disciples from a distance for a few months, he finally cornered me and I heard the gospel for the first time in my life. I did not want to repent and surrender my life to Jesus, but Ron continued to pray for me and engage me in God conversations. After a few months, I gave my life to Jesus and the discipleship process shifted into high gear. For the next 18 months, Ron met with me and a few classmates weekly for Bible study and prayer. He established strong biblical foundations in our lives. For the past thirty-six years, I have built my spiritual life on the foundation laid by Ron Musselman. I am forever grateful that Ron picked my high school, that he boldly preached the gospel, and that he faithfully established foundations in my life.
 
In the fall of 1977, I was a freshman business student at Mississippi State University in Starkville, Mississippi. One of the first people I met on campus was Walter Walker. I came to Starkville get a degree. Walter came to Starkville to plant a church that would reach students. For the next four years Walter equipped and empowered me and other MSU students to do ministry. In 1981, when I was one semester from graduation, Walter moved to Nebraska to plant a new church and left me—a twenty-year-old student—in charge of our little church. I constantly thank God for a campus pastor who believed that God could use young people for his purpose. And I thank Walter for not waiting until I graduated to give me an opportunity to minister.
 
In January of 1990, I was an accidental missionary, a reluctant leader, and a clueless church planter in Manila, Philippines. Emanuele Cannistraci (aka "Pastor C") was a traveling minister who made an annual trip to the Philippines. The mission organization that sent us to the Philippines in 1984 had recently disbanded. Seeing we were clueless and alone, Pastor C took us under his wing, treated us like family, and helped us every way he could.  He mentored us—teaching us by word and example how to do ministry with integrity, how to do life with joy, and how to do family with no regrets. He often visited us in the Philippines, and we stayed in his home in California. It would take a book for me to write all I learned from Pastor C. Today he is 79 years old and still circles the globe preaching the gospel and mentoring next generation leaders.
 
I am thankful for the three "pastors" who helped me at important stages in my life, even though they were probably not really pastors. Ron was an evangelist, Walter was a teacher, and Pastor C was a prophet.  But to me they were my pastors.
 
This Christian life was not designed to be a solo journey. That's why we need "pastors" even if they are really evangelists, teachers or businessmen. I have been fortunate to have three great ones in my life at just the right time. How about you?