Have you Made the Most of Easter?

April 5, 2013 in Church, Ministry with 1 Comment *Pastor's Coach Article

Nearly all pastors and ministry staff, volunteer leaders too, lean a little more toward evangelism or discipleship (one or the other) in their personal bent and wiring. According to Matthew 28:19-20 they are both essential and should not be separated, so neither is better than the other.

I believe that The Church, (in North America for sure), naturally moves toward discipleship on its own, therefore we need to intentionally fight for evangelism, but that’s my personal opinion.

Easter is a good picture of the balance of both. For weeks we build toward Easter Sunday, we run a full court press for evangelism. Then what? Is it over? What’s your plan? Business as usual? Or do you take advantage of that great momentum?

Easter is still fresh enough. I want to lean into a Pastor’s Coach article I wrote about one year ago on this same topic. It was titled “After Easter” – I will repeat some content, because like the Gospel message, some things bear repeating, especially when we get close to the core of the Great Commission.

It is not uncommon for pastors and church staff to feel exhausted after Easter. But that’s not the time to take a vacation, even a mental one. The “harvest” is truly gathered in during the 4-6 weeks that follow Easter.  Don’t let off the pedal now. We’re not long past Easter; there is time to capture all that God has for you.

This isn’t the exciting part of ministry but it’s the part that brings strength to your church. It brings depth and stability. The following checklist (with adjustments and updates) is what I want to bring back to you. It’s a collection of essential elements you can use to evaluate your post Easter ministry processes. If you really believe you are late for this year, use this to be early and strong in your preparation for next year.

  •  New Converts

Everything on this list is important, but if I had to put one at the top, this would be it. Ultimately, new Christians are at the core of the purpose for the local church!  That is a bit over-simplified, but I can’t imagine a pastor that would disagree with the overarching idea. Do you have a plan in place? Is it working? How many of those who said yes to Christ are connected in some process of first steps in their faith?  These questions begin to get at what would be considered as an over-simplified or imbalanced ministry, if left to evangelistic efforts only. The beginning of discipleship is essential.

What about baptism? Did you have the privilege of baptizing anyone on Easter? Have you baptized anyone since Easter? Are you discovering people who are ready for baptism in your new Christian environments?

  •  Worship Services

You invested much time, effort, energy and money for Easter. Did you take some time to review your worship services?  Did they go as planned? Were you happy with all the elements?  Was the worship strong? Was the message clear? Did everyone hit the times? Were the ushers organized and helpful? Was the sound and video done with excellence? Was your advertising effective? There are so many questions you can ask, and the primary reason is to continue to get better. This isn’t meant to contradict the element of God’s hand, it is about doing your best to be fully prepared with confidence and excellence for what God wants to do.

  •  First Time Guests

There are several viable approaches to guest follow-up in the local church. They range from a full court press to nearly full anonymity.  Both can work and the size of your church matters. In smaller churches there tends to be a higher expectation for more personal touch in follow-up. The middle ground seems to involve at least some form of digital / social-media format of contact.

If Easter is your largest reach during the year, it seems like putting extra effort to seeing your guests return makes sense. This is back to the tension of event and process. You and the leaders in your church may have be drained from Easter and then jumped right into preparation for whatever is coming next. Because of time pressures, the net effect is that little follow-up takes place, at least in comparison to the number of visitors and potential new attendees. It doesn’t really make sense. The machine of “52 weeks” mows down the momentum that wants to come from Easter.

Consider repeating a series of high attraction messages / services you have done in the past for 2-4 weeks. This promises great services and you have more time to focus on gathering in many that came on Easter.

  •  Staff

Your staff and/or key volunteer leaders press hard for Easter and often put in many long hours. Make sure they get some time to rest and play. We’re in a crazy busy season here at 12Stone® Church and there wasn’t much of a break between Easter and now. I’m aware that some of our team is running a bit tired, but we are in full support of taking the time needed to rest! The trouble isn’t that we can’t take time off, it’s that we don’t.  We love what we do!  But back to the point, we need to rest and so do you. It’s more likely that for us, we need to tell someone to take a day off, so we do! I stated earlier that now isn’t the time to take a vacation. That’s different from taking a much-needed day or two off for some rest and play. How are you doing here?

  •  Vision-Casting

I love what our senior pastor Kevin Myers said the week following Easter. He said to the staff and congregation that many who were not quite ready to say yes to Jesus on Easter may be ready this week or soon!  Great vision-casting! That reminds us all of something we know, but can’t hear enough. If you’ll allow me a large margin of grace in terms of theology, every Sunday is Easter! Now don’t write me about that statement. I know there can only be one resurrection, but I’m talking about the ongoing celebration of God’s grace and mercy!  The invitation for salvation is available every day!

  •  Gratitude

Each time someone says yes to Jesus, though we all work hard to prepare for the worship services, I know that the mystery of the Gospel is in play. The Holy Spirit is at work. Ultimately, there isn’t anything we do that results in someone’s salvation. We simply prepared the way for God to do His work. This year, Easter 2013, hundreds came to Christ at 12Stone Church. I stand amazed and utterly grateful. God takes delight in our thanksgiving and praise for His grace and mercy. Your personal prayers of gratitude for His saving grace are vital, but equally important is gathering with your leaders to give thanks as a group.

I hope this list is helpful to you. How’d you do? Got all your bases covered? If so, good for you, and keep up the great work. If not, choose the ones you most need to shore up and go for it!

40 Years of Grace

April 1, 2013 in Spiritual Life with 3 Comments

My longtime friend, ministry colleague and prayer partner Charlie Wetzel texted me yesterday wishing me a happy 40th birthday. I thought—40? WHAT?  He reminded me it was 40 years ago on Easter Sunday, in 1973, at Skyline Church near San Diego, that I gave my heart to Jesus.

I’ve been reflecting on that and several thoughts have come to mind.

  •  For 40 years God has kept every promise He’s made.
  •  For 40 years God has faithfully answered my prayers.
  •  For 40 years God has given me good and perfect gifts that I don’t deserve.
  •  For 40 years God has loved me unconditionally.
  •  For 40 years God as granted me peace even in troubling circumstances.
  •  For 40 years God has granted me wisdom and insight from His Word.
  •  For 40 years God has be kind to forgive my sins.
  •  For 40 years God has answered other’s prayers for me.
  •  For 40 years God has placed incredible leaders and mentors in my life.
  •  For 40 years God has allowed me the privilege to serve in the local church.
  •  For 40 years God has blessed me with friendships that are priceless.
  •  For 40 years God has surprised me with joy and laughter.
  •  For 40 years God has accepted my imperfect worship.
  •  For 40 years God has helped me become the person He wants me to be.

There is no end to God, and almost no end to what I could write about His kindness to me. What a great God I know and serve.

40 years of grace is an extraordinary gift that no matter how much I might write I could not do it justice.

Thank you Jesus, and receive this as a prayer of thanksgiving. Please use this as an encouragement for many other church leaders.

The “Foul Four”

March 25, 2013 in Leadership, Staffing with 1 Comment

Have you ever opened your refrigerator and said with passion, “Whoa, what IS that smell?! I have and it’s no fun. I quickly launch a breath-holding expedition to find the source of the foul smell that is making everything stink too.

We don’t just leave it there do we? We get rid of it. We agree that it’s unacceptable and do something about it.

There are things that can make your leadership team or staff “smell bad” too.

I call them the foul four. I recently checked my thinking by doing quick interviews with a half dozen “bosses” of church staff asking the question: “What are the characteristics of staff you like the LEAST?  The four held steady.

They are:

  1. Excuse makers
  2. Complaint givers
  3. Negative thinkers
  4. Entitlement believers

Notice that all four are attitudes, not skills. That’s a major insight!  It is also insightful that I don’t need to write a paragraph about each one. I could, but you already know exactly what each one means and you can name people you know that fit in each category. The question is, will you allow that on your team?

The good news, though we are all susceptible to at least one of these, we don’t have to live in any of them. I know which one is my weakness, so I watch for it. By being aware I’m in the game to intentionally not live there.  Yes, I might slip, hopefully very briefly, and then quickly rise above.

Attitude is always a choice. In fact, Paul writes in Philippians 2:5 that we should have the same attitude as Jesus! If that seems impossible, the Holy Spirit will help you.

I trust there is a leadership fragrance about you and your team that draws people toward you. And if something “smells” bad, you will do something about it.

5 Top Energizers for Leaders

February 22, 2013 in Leadership with 1 Comment

We recently had the “Bennett Boys” over while their parents David and Heather went out for a birthday dinner. We love those boys! Austin is 12, Hudson is 8 and Jackson is 7.  They are great kids. They’re smart, love Jesus, and lots of fun! One thing they all have in common is energy. Lots of energy! Our little dog Nacho is a play machine. He never tires of playing with anyone who will give him attention. Well, he met his match that evening. The boys wore that pup out! Nacho slept great that night!

I’m a high energy and long endurance guy, but when I see kids play I think, “Wow I’d love some of that energy!”  Like the Energizer Bunny! (My favorite one… with Darth Vader!)

Leaders need energy to lead. Stress and pressure drain energy, and it’s important to know how to restore and refuel your energy reserves. The following are among the best ways to recharge!

  • Accomplishment

This may seem counter-intuitive. More work?! No, the idea here is not more work, but finished work. Much of what we do is never done. At the core, ministry is relationship-based with a goal of changed lives, and that is never done. But there is a fair amount of stuff like writing a lesson, an important phone call or a difficult meeting. They can be completed! Sometimes it’s smart to just get some things checked off your list! It’s a real energy boost.

  • Exercise

We’ve long known this is true, but many busy leaders make excuses for why they don’t exercise. I hope you are not in that group. But if you are, let me encourage you. Even just 3-4 times a week for 40 minutes can make a huge difference! Start small, don’t kill yourself. Do something that works for you and keep at it. You’ll be amazed at the results – it’s a major energy giver!

  • Helping someone

You help people every day. But I’m talking about helping someone that isn’t directly related to your church or ministry. Helping a neighbor move a piece of furniture in their home, driving a friend without a car to the airport, or giving a financial gift to someone in need. There are nearly limitless ways to help others. It makes you feel good and your energy level increases!

  • Laughter

We all need to smile more, laugh more and enjoy life. Leaders spend so much time facing conflict, solving problems and managing tension that the importance of laughter becomes critical. You obviously can’t add this to your to-do list or schedule it like exercise! But your attitude and perspective about life and how you see it is in your control! You can choose to see the bright side even in tough situations. Most days are filled with opportunities for a good laugh; it’s up to you to be receptive.

  • Vision

Few things in life produce more internal energy than knowing that what you’re doing truly matters. When you are on purpose and in passionate pursuit of a vision, you generate tremendous amounts of energy for your mind, soul and body. I serve as the executive pastor at 12Stone® Church and the vision has me so fired-up I can hardly stand it!

What’s interesting about this short list is that none of them include a nap or caffeine!

So, how are you doing with your energy levels? Need more? Try these! Are you doing well with energy?  Then please leave a comment on what works best for you, especially if it’s something not on this list!

3 BIG Reasons People Leave Your Church

February 2, 2013 in Leadership, Ministry with 2 Comments

Why do you think people leave your church?

Why do you think people leave churches in general?

We’ve read reasons (and I’ve written about these too) like:

  • “I just didn’t get anything out of the messages.”
  • “The church let me down in my time of need.”
  • “My kids didn’t feel like the student ministry was working for them.”
  • “The worship music wasn’t the style I like and it was too loud.”
  • “The pastor seemed too busy for me.”

Candidly, comments like these come from churched people who at some point might consider looking beyond their own wants and desires and begin to invest in the lives of others.

Don’t get me wrong. Churches do let Christians down, and you and I need to do our best for those who call our churches home.

But people who don’t go to church much (or at all) typically don’t make those kinds of comments. People who are far from God or disenfranchised from the church aren’t picky. In fact, they want to know what we stand for and love bold leadership. They come hungry, or hurting, or hoping. Maybe a friend nagged them for months, and they finally came. They aren’t worried about masterful communication of the message. They are wondering if the whole thing will be weird or the people are strange, or if they’ll be embarrassed.

When it comes to people who are not highly churched, I think three big reasons they leave (or don’t come back) are:

  • Apologetic Expressions.

At 12Stone®Church we get many emails weekly from people who are considering whether or not they will come, and from 1st time guests who have attended. They want to know what we believe, if they will be accepted, and they test us about our resolve. Not everyone will come to our church or yours, but those who come don’t want soft answers or apologies. They are looking for people who really believe what they are selling. They want bold leadership. They want to know if we’re the real deal and if we’ll drink our own cool-aid!

  • Tentative Impressions.

First impressions are everything. When people drive into your parking lot, meet a greeter or experience an usher the whole thing may be over already. Not to mention what may or may not have happened in the nursery. First impressions should not be allowed falter, be uncertain, or be timid because of lack of training or passion for mission. Your first impressions need to be sharp, energetic and cause people to feel like they made a good decision to get out of bed and come to your church that morning.

  • Insincere Connections.

Good first impressions are vital, but they must move quickly from a warm smile and a cheerful welcome to genuine messages about how to connect with new friends. I’m not suggesting that you should be overly aggressive. People need time to find their way. Sometimes the next step is just offering a cup of coffee. But your leaders need to have their hearts ready to receive new people just as much as you need structures like a new comers class or small groups for the people to make genuine relational connections.

How would you evaluate your church in these three areas?

Where do you need to improve?

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