#495 - LEADERSHIP PIPELINE: TEAM MEMBERS (BE)

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Our leadership pipeline "levels" at theMOVEMENT are Team Members, Team Leads, Ministry Leads, Department Leads, and Organizational Leads.

At every level we have a "curriculum" of "Who You Need to Be" and "What You Need to Do" to succeed at the current level and be considered for advancement to the next level. 

For the purpose of this post, here is a snapshot of the "curriculum" for Team Members. 

WHO TEAM MEMBERS NEED TO BE

  1. Humble - Coachable?

  2. Hungry - Available?

    • Can you serve 1-2 times/month?

    • Can you be inconvenienced to serve if there is a "call out?"

    • Can you put thought/effort into the role during the week?

    • Resources

      • Book Excerpts

        • Bill Hybels on Volunteering (The Volunteer Revolution)
           

  3. Smart - Personable?

    • Are you kind?

    • Are you caring?

    • Are you calm?
       

  4. Healthy - Spiritual?

    • Are you seeking a relationship with Jesus Christ?

#494 - LEADERSHIP PIPELINE: WHAT DO I NEED TO DO?

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As we build out the "leadership pipeline" at theMOVEMENT we intend to provide knowledge, experience, and coaching for every level of leadership within the church.

Our leadership pipeline levels are: team members, team leads, ministry directors, department directors, and organizational leads. 

In the area of knowledge our goal will be to provide training around two specific questions:

  1. Who do I need to be?

  2. What do I need to do?

For the sake of this post, I want to think through the second question for each of the levels of leadership.

WHAT DO I NEED TO DO?

FOR TEAM MEMEBRS

FOR TEAM LEADS

  • Have Monthly 1-on-1's with Team Members.

  • Observe/Assess/Schedule Team Members.

  • Pursue/Protect vision of the ministry.

  • Engage in a discipleship relationship.

FOR MINISTRY DIRECTORS

  • Build a Productive Leadership Team.

  • Recruit Team Members.

  • Envision Team Members.

  • Equip Team Members.

  • Duplicate Yourself.

FOR DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS

  • Coach Ministry Directors.

  • Assess Ministry Directors.

  • Report on progress of Ministry Directors to Organizational Lead.

  • Ensure alignment amongst Ministry Directors with organizational Mission.

FOR ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERS

  • Seek first the Kingdom of God.

  • Engage the Leadership Team with the Mission/Vision/Values.

  • Reinforce the Mission/Vision/Values often.

  • Value the leaders you serve alongside.

  • Evaluate progress.

#493 - LEADERSHIP PIPELINE: WHO DO I NEED TO BE?

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As we build out the "leadership pipeline" at theMOVEMENT we intend to provide knowledge, experience, and coaching for every level of leadership within the church.

Our leadership pipeline levels are: team members, team leads, ministry directors, department directors, and organizational leads. 

In the area of knowledge our goal will be to provide training around two specific questions:

  1. Who do I need to be?

  2. What do I need to do?

For the sake of this post, I want to think through the first question for each of the levels of leadership.

WHO DO I NEED TO BE?

FOR TEAM MEMEBRS

  • Humble - Coachable?

  • Hungry - Available?

  • Smart - Personable?

  • Healthy - Spiritual?

FOR TEAM LEADS

  • Humble - Willing to deal with insecurities?

  • Hungry - Willing to increase involvement?

  • Smart - Willing to improve interpersonal skills?

  • Healthy - Willing to pursue intimacy with Christ?

FOR MINISTRY DIRECTORS

  • Humble -  Committed to dismantling pride?

  • Hungry - Committed to deploying people?

  • Smart - Committed to developing patience?

  • Healthy - Committed to discovering peace?

FOR DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS

  • Humble - Passionate about empowering leaders?

  • Hungry - Passionate about equipping leaders?

  • Smart - Passionate about engaging leaders?

  • Healthy - Passionate about enjoying grace?

FOR ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERS

  • Humble - Resolved to create and sustain a culture of humble leader development? 

  • Hungry - Resolved to create and sustain a culture of hungry leader development?

  • Smart - Resolved to create and sustain a culture of smart leader development?

  • Healthy - Resolved to create and sustain a culture of healthy leader development?

#492 - NO SHORTCUTS

You may have heard it said that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. Well today, I heard someone say...

The longest distance between two points is a shortcut.

So poignant. And, in my experience, so true.

When it comes to the fulfillment of your purpose, calling, or any other major goal you may have, the shortcut is the long route.  The shortcut is the poor choice. The shortcut will cause the most delay.

Why? Because shortcuts sabotage.

Shortcuts sabotage the process. Shortcuts sabotage growth. Shortcuts sabotage maturity. Shortcuts sabotage development. Shortcuts sabotage learning.  

In the end, a shortcut will sabotage your ability to sustain the thing you took the shortcut to obtain.  

If you want to obtain good health, but don't want to sustain it, take a shortcut. If you want to obtain wealth, but don't want to sustain it, take a shortcut. If you want to obtain a leadership position, but don't want to sustain it, take a shortcut.

But, if you want sustained health, wealth, influence, and impact, say "no" to any shortcut you may be tempted to take and say "yes" to the process.

Say yes to earning. Say yes to deserving. Say yes to enduring. Say yes to experience. Say yes to withstanding the test of time. 

Your destination will be far more gratifying and longer lasting when you do. 

#491 - I AM ONLY A WINDOW

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I am only a window.

And my desire is that, through me, you would see the Son. 

As a window, If I'm doing my job correctly, through me, you will see the beauty of the Son. You will feel the warmth of the Son. You will experience the nourishment of the Son. It is my desire that, through me, you will fall in love with the Son. You will desire to worship the Son. You will long to be with the Son. 

I am only a window. 

I was created for the sole purpose of giving you a clear view of the Son. I'm just the humble means to a glorious end. Though you may appreciate me for revealing the Son to you in a way that the Son had not been revealed to you before, please keep your eyes on the Son.

If you take your eyes off of the Son and start to concern yourself with the window, the window will always leave you disappointed. The window will always leave you wanting more. The window will always leave you unfulfilled. Only the Son can satisfy.   

I am only a window. 

I will do my best to keep myself free of blemish and stain so that your view of the Son can remain unobstructed. I will do my best to remain clean and clear so that your enjoyment of the Son can remain unhindered. I will do my best to widen and grow so that your understanding of the Son can always be ever increasing.  

At the end of the day though, you must remember, I am only a window.

I am breakable. I am finite. I am limited. And there will come a day when my ability will wane and you will no longer be able to see the Son through me for I will be no more. 

But, the Son will remain.

And another window will appear....

#490 - MY SOURCE OF LEADERSHIP CONFIDENCE

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My personal obedience to God - that's where the confidence to lead someone else to be obedient to God comes from. My confession of sin. My repentance for wrongdoing. My steps of faith. My acts of obedience. My sacrifice. My surrender. Without it, I'm a fraud. 

My spiritual leadership is only as legitimate as I am obedient.

I cannot lead someone, with integrity, to trust God if I am not trusting God. I cannot encourage someone, with authenticity, to confess sin if I am not confessing sin. I cannot direct someone, with authority, to take a difficult step of faith if I am not taking difficult steps of faith.  

I cannot lead someone, with urgency, to do the last thing that God is leading them to do if I have not done the last thing that God has led me to do. 

The Church doesn't need another leader who is talking the talk but not walking the walk. The Church doesn't need another leader who isn't first leading themselves. The Church doesn't need another leader who has no personal experience with the Gospel in which they are leading people to receive.

The Church needs leaders who are, first and foremost, recipients of the grace they are distributing. The Church needs leaders who are well acquainted with the joys of following the commands they are encouraging others to obey. The Church needs leaders who are more committed to their sanctification than to the sanctification of others.

With all this in mind, if you are a Christian leader, I encourage you to be obedient God.

Whatever He is leading you to do...do it. Today.

The integrity and authenticity of your leadership is depending upon it. 

  

#489 - THE AMAZING THING ABOUT GRACE

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As I was reflecting on God's grace today, one thought made this grace that is already so beautiful to me, even more glorious than it already is. Though this already may be obvious to you, the thought was this: God does not owe me this grace.

This grace that created me. This grace that provides for me. This grace that sustains me. This grace that saved me. This grace that forgives me. This grace that sanctifies me. This grace that gives me a purpose. This grace that gives me gifts, talents, and abilities to carry out my purpose. This grace that promises to reunite me with Him. God does not owe me this grace.

I have not earned it. I have done nothing to deserve it. Absolutely nothing.

Yet He gives it to me anyways.

What I have earned is death. What I have merited is separation from God. What I deserve is punishment for sinning against fellow image-bearers of God and for sinning against God Himself.

But what I'm given...is grace. 

Though there are countless implications for how this amazing grace that I have received should impact how I treat others, the one at the top of my mind is this:

Grace is most authentic when the recipient is least deserving.

#488 - THIS MAKES WORRY IMPOSSIBLE

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You can't simultaneously worship and worry. You just can't do it.

You can't be in awe of God's mercy towards you and worry about your money.
You can't be amazed by God's grace towards you and worry about your goals.
You can't be astounded by God's love towards you and worry about your living.

When being perfectly loved and accepted by the Infinite is real, being stressed out and worried about the finite is rather ridiculous. 

When enamored by the epic truth that you are God's creation, you will cease to worry about whether or not you are under God's care.

When enthralled by the sovereign reality that God opened up your eyes to your need for a Savior, you will cease to worry about whether or not He can open up the doors to fulfill your need for a salary. 

When enlightened by the glorious fact that God has forgiven you of your transgressions, you will cease to worry about whether or not He will with you in your transitions.

You can't simultaneously worship and worry.

So worship God today. For what He's done. For who He is. And for where He has brought you. Thank Him. Reflect on His goodness. Praise Him for His faithfulness to His promises. Lend your best words, thoughts, and emotions towards making much of the only One worthy of making much of. Do this.

And watch your worry disappear.  

#487 - LEADING "FROM" VS. LEADING "FOR"

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Lead FROM not FOR...

God's approval.
God's acceptance. 
God's affirmation. 

God's pleasure. 
God's promises. 
God's provision. 

God's grace. 
God's goodness. 
God's gifts. 

In Christ, you are ALREADY infinitely loved. You are ALREADY eternally accepted. You are ALREADY forever forgiven. How well you lead DOES NOTHING to change how God ALREADY sees you.

You can't lose what Christ has earned on your behalf.

Now lead like that's true. Because it is.

Risk greatly. Love deeply. Challenge strongly. Repent consistently.

I dare you.

#486 - LEADERSHIP PIPELINE CONFERENCE DAY 2

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Though there were many insights that I enjoyed from the 10 different communicators who spoke on the subject of leadership/discipleship over a span of 12 hours, one of the most impactful ideas that I want to immediately apply to my life is to implement 3 prayers/confessions that Paul Tripp prays every morning.

The prayer/confessions are these:

  1. I am a person in desperate need of help today.

  2. Please send Your helpers my way.

  3. Grant me the humility to accept Your help when it comes.

These prayers will keep me aware of two very important truths (Hebrews 3:12-13), that if unattended to, will be the downfall of my life and my ministry:

  1. There is a presence and a power in remaining sin.

  2. Sin is deceitful.

I refuse to be blind to the sin that can/does so easily ensnare me. Praying these prayers will help towards that end.

I encourage you to pray them too.

#485 - LEADERSHIP PIPELINE CONFERENCE DAY 1

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Be an equipper not a doer. 

The greatest contribution you can give is not in what you do it is in who you develop. The best use of your time is not in completing tasks but in providing training. The highest value that you add is not in what you finish, but it is in who you help flourish!

Be an equipper not a doer.  

Equip staff to lead leaders.
Equip leaders to lead teams.
Equip teams to lead people.

Be an equipper not a doer.  

Increase knowledge.
Provide experience.
Give coaching.

Be an equipper not a doer.

Equipping others will multiply your influence.
Equipping others will increases your organization's capacity.
Equipping others will add value to your people's lives. 

Be an equipper not a doer.

Because...if you don't commit to equipping over doing, in due time, the effectiveness of your organization will. be. done. 

#484 - AN UNLIKELY THIEF OF JOY

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Joy and dishonor cannot co-exist.

I have never dishonored my parents, teachers, civil authorities, friends, family members, and/or enemies and been simultaneously filled with joy. It just hasn't happened.

I have never spoken ill of someone and felt well. I have never belittled another person and felt my heart grow. I have never criticized and felt content. Dishonoring another person has always left me wanting more.  

There may be satisfaction for a moment, but it's a satisfaction that makes me feel small, weak, and immature. There is absolutely nothing Godly about dishonoring another person.  

But...when I honor another individual, whether they "deserve" it or not, something incredible happens on the inside of me. I am filled with a sense of "having done the right thing." I am overcome with peace. I feel obedient. I have joy in knowing that in honoring a fellow image-bearer of God (all human beings), I am honoring God Himself! 

Irrespective of whether the person I am honoring knows it or appreciates it, every time I speak highly of, show respect towards, and am grateful for another person (especially someone who is difficult to honor), I can go to sleep confident that I have done right. 

With all this in mind, I encourage you to give honor to someone who you've historically dishonored.   

Give honor to your underserving parents.
Give honor to your inconsiderate boss.
Give honor to your unrepentant "haters."
Give honor to your unrelenting accusers.
Give honor to your difficult co-workers. 
Give honor to your "suspect" presidential candidates. (Yikes!)

Slander, gossip, belittling, vilifying, criticizing, and condemning is doing nothing beneficial for your soul.

Dishonor is a posture of the heart that, if not attended to, will kill you like an undetected cancer.  

GIVE HONOR.

Your joy is on the line.

#483 - PREACHING EVALUATION WEEKEND

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This Saturday, I have the privilege of gathering with the guys on the preaching team of theMOVEMENT to discuss how we can become better communicators of God's Word. The following post is just a "brain dump" of the things I'd like to accomplish on that day.

  1. Want to have a "learning moment" around preaching/teaching.

  2. Want every communicator to walk away with their current strength.

  3. Want every communicator to walk away with their current growth area.

  4. Want to discuss 2017 Preaching Calendar.

  5. Want to divide teaching for first 3 months of 2017.

Potential Schedule:

  1. 8:00-8:30 | Breakfast/Agenda/Learning Moment

  2. 8:30-9:30 | Watch/Evaluate Christopher's Message

  3. 9:30-10:30 | Watch/Evaluate Glen's Message

  4. 10:30-11:30 | Watch/Evaluate Spencer's Message

  5. 11:30-12:00 | Lunch Break

  6. 12:00-1:00 | Watch/Evaluate AJ's Message

  7. 1:00-2:30 | Discuss/Divide first 3 months of preaching for 2017  

#482 - A GROWING AREA OF MY LEADERSHIP

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For the most part, people are only going to do the things that are most comfortable for them to do. Very few people are actually wired to push themselves. Very few people are actually self-motivated enough to do the uncomfortable things that would cause them to grow. Very few people "lean into" the "tough stuff."

Sometimes this is because of fear. Other times this is because of a lack of accountability. And then there are the occasions where people don't stretch themselves because they don't know how. There are actually many situations where someone is not pushing themselves because they have no clue in regards to the best way to do it.

With all this in mind, over the last several weeks, I have found myself growing in my ability to ask questions to identify where someone is at, make a recommendation on the "tough thing" I believe they should do next, gain their agreement on doing it, and hold them accountable until they do. 

When my life is all said and done, one of the things I want people to say about me is that I pushed them to do things that they would've never done without my encouragement. 

At the end of the day, isn't that what a leader does? If a leader isn't doing that, then what is it that is making them a leader? If a leader isn't helping someone accomplish something that they could've accomplished without them, then why is the leader there?

I encourage you to push the people you lead towards the "hard thing." Push. Prod. Persist. You will be a better leader because of it, and the people you lead will be better people because of your commitment to their potential. 

#481 - THE KEY TO CONTINUED BLESSING

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For whatever reason, over the last year, God has been sending our church "ready-made" leaders...one right after another! Leaders who love the Lord deeply. Leaders who have previous ministry experience. Leaders who are mature in their walk with Jesus. But, he is not just sending us individuals, he is sending us families who are bought in to the mission and the vision of theMOVEMENT and want to "roll up their sleeves" and get to work! It is incredible.

I am overwhelmed by how God would move upon people's hearts in such a way that they would not only join our church, but, in doing so, make personal sacrifices to make it possible. There is no greater joy than seeing God do things that only God can do! 

But with all this taking place, if I'm being honest, as the Lead Pastor of this church, I feel very responsible for not messing this up! I desire to lead in such a way that keeps our church in a position to continue to receive God's blessings. I don't want to be a hindrance!   

As I've reflected upon what I can do to lead well during this time, this phrase seems to keep coming to my mind,

Steward those you've been sent.

Steward them. Care for them well. Love them where they are, and lead them to where God desires them to be. Don't love them for what they can do for you, love them for who they are to God. Help them to fulfill the purposes for which they've been created. Do what's best for them, not what's best for the church.

Steward those you've been sent.

Nothing in this earth is my own. Everything and everybody is the Lord's. Created by Him, for Him. I am just a steward. A caretaker. A manager. Caring for the blessings of God in such a way that they can be a blessing to God. As I care for them, God will care for me. 

Steward those you've been sent.

Because if I can do this well, God may be pleased to send me more! 

#480 - 200+ SERMONS PREACHED. 10 LESSONS LEARNED.

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My preaching experience includes 100+ sermons in my 2.5 years of being a pastor to high school students/young adults in Fremont and another 100+ sermons in my first 3 years of being the Lead Pastor of theMOVEMENT Church in Oakland.

Many pastors have preached many more messages than I have, but in an effort to become a more effective communicator (and maybe help a few other preachers who may come across this post), I thought it would be beneficial to reflect on some of the lessons I have learned over the last 5+ years of preaching the good news!

  1. Good News > Great Advice. Though I want my messages to be helpful, I am more concerned with my messages being powerful. With that in mind, for me, if a message doesn't conclude with extolling the finished work of Jesus Christ as the true source of power for all life change, I have not preached...I have, merely, given a talk. (Romans 1:16)    
     

  2. Find energy in text. Bring energy to text. My best energies in my message should not be given towards jokes, illustrations or personal anecdotes. Instead, in my study, I must find where there is energy, movement, and momentum in the text of Scripture and then I need to bring my energy, creativity, and enthusiasm to that text of Scripture. The source of life is not in my stories, the source of life is in the Word! (Psalm 119:25)
     

  3. No burden. No bueno. The more in tune I am with the consequences of not obeying/applying/understanding what I am about to preach, the more ready I am to preach. The more my heart is broken for the people who need to hear the message I am about to bring, the more ready I am to bring it. If I am not aware of the sense of urgency to my message there will be no sense of urgency in my message. No burden. No bueno.
     

  4. Build tension. Earn attention. The greatest books and movies I've ever read and watched build a tremendous amount of tension and suspense in the beginning causing me to "lean in" to find out how the problem is going to be resolved. In preaching, the better I can craft a tension-building question (a problem that the audience wants the answer to), the more engaged the listener will be. Don't assume interest. Build tension. Earn attention.    
     

  5. Be affected. Be effective. When I have already been affected by the truth of the text that I am going to preach, I find myself being more effective in preaching it. When I have already inhaled the truths from God's Word that I am going to proclaim, I find it so much easier to exhale them. Truths that have not been first received by me will not be easily accepted by others. Your audience knows if you've been where you're trying to take them! Therefore, go there first! Smoke what you're selling! Be affected. Be effective. (Titus 2:7)
     

  6. Your weakness. God's strength. I connect best with the audience through stories of how I have failed, not how I have succeeded. Vulnerability and transparency with my sin and my shortcomings creates an authenticity in communication like nothing else. One of the greatest gifts a preacher can give to their listeners is the comfort that, though they are the preacher, they are working out their own salvation with fear and trembling just like their audience is! Lean into your struggle. Your weakness. God's strength. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)  
     

  7. Absent Spirit. Impotent Word. My words have absolutely no power to transform a life. None at all. Only the Holy Spirit of God can convict a heart. Only the Holy Spirit of God can cause change. Only the Holy Spirit of God can bring salvation. Know your role. We prepare. The Holy Spirit brings the power. We talk. The Holy Spirit transforms. We communicate. The Holy Spirit convicts. Plead for God to do what only God can do. Absent Spirit. Impotent Word. (John 16:7-15)
     

  8. Teach Less. Teach More. If I have taught everything in a particular text, but I have conveyed nothing, I have failed. With that in mind, I find communicating one big idea from the text to be more effective than communicating every single point of the text. If there are multiple points in a text, I don't try to preach it all in one sermon, I try to preach it all in one series of sermons. Most times, when less is taught, more can be understood (and applied!). Teach less. Teach more.     
     

  9. Let it out. Let it go. I will drive myself crazy if, after I preach, I worry too much about how "good" I did or how "effective" I was. I will become too self-absorbed if I find myself unhealthily looking for affirmation or approval from my listeners. With that in mind, my mantra when I finish a sermon is, "Because I let it out, I can let it go." All I can do is be obedient to what God was leading me to say. If I did that, I can rest easy. The results are up to Him. Let it out. Let it go. (Isaiah 55:11)
     

  10. Son first. Preacher second. My identity is not in what I say about God. My identity is in what God has already said about me! I am a prodigal who has already been received before I am a preacher who longs to be accepted. I don't preach for God's approval, I preach from God's approval. If I am preaching to "become somebody," I am not going to help anybody! Son first. Preacher second. Don't get it twisted. (Ephesians 1:3-5)

I'd love to hear about the preaching lessons you've picked up along the way! Feel free to share them in the comments below!   

#479 - MY NEXT SEASON OF WRITING

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I wish I could give it up. I really wish I could. But, my conscience won't allow me to!

I have to write. I have to process my experiences and put them into words. I have to create content that is simple and helpful for leaders, pastors, and anyone else who wants to fulfill God's purpose for their lives. It is a burden and a passion that I cannot ignore.

Unfortunately, I have not been writing as consistently as I would like to. Many experiences have gone by that I have not synthesized. Many books have been read that I have not reflected upon. Many writing ideas have crossed my mind that I have not acted upon. This is not OK. 

With that in mind, I am going to enter into a season where I need to write not to "be read," but I need to write to "have written."

No sharing my posts on Facebook. No promoting my posts on Twitter. No concerning myself with how many page views my blog is getting. No grandiose announcement about what I'm going to do. I am just going to write. Every day.

#478 - THE PASTORAL TEAM I SEE

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I am a big believer that a clear, compelling vision is a major catalyst for effective leadership. 

A leader has to have, to the best of their ability, a vivid, desirable picture of where they are headed if they want people to follow. But this picture cannot just be in their minds, I believe it is a must that this picture be put into words. 

It is for that reason that I have invested the time, effort, and energy to create a vision for both the church I was privileged to start and for the staff team that I am privileged to lead. These written-out visions have been very helpful in providing a "northstar" for measuring success and determining direction.

With that in mind, as theMOVEMENT enters its fourth year as a church, we are being more intentional about making sure that our community understands that we are led by a team of pastors - not just myself! In an effort to lead the pastoral team as effectively as possible to serve the church, I have recently come up with this vision that I hope inspires us and guides us for many years to come.

THE PASTORAL TEAM I SEE

LEADS TOGETHER

The pastoral team I see leads together. We gather a sense of where God is leading and we lead our church in the same direction. The pastoral team I see leads with faith, conviction, and boldness. The pastoral team I see is convinced that the height, depth, and width of our faith-filled leadership decisions will determine the height, depth, and width of the faith of those who call theMOVEMENT their church. The pastoral team I see is unified in our leadership and we refuse to move forward on a decision or a direction until we all have a sense of peace and rightness about where we believe the Lord is leading our church community.   

SHEPHERDS TOGETHER

The pastoral team I see shepherds together. We understand that no one pastor can single-handedly care for the needs of the entire flock. The pastoral team I see invests their time with the individuals and families within the congregation to the point where, as a team, we have a strong handle on how the majority of our community members are doing with their personal walks with the Lord. The pastoral team I see shepherds towards obedience in every area of a person’s life, and we do so with grace and with truth. If given the choice between speaking the truth and being liked, the pastoral team I see speaks truth every. single. time. The pastoral team I see also shepherds each other giving special attention to the health and well-being of the Lead Pastor.   

TEACHES TOGETHER

The pastoral team I see teaches together. We buy in whole-heartedly to the truth that the proclaimed Word of God is central to the health of the church and the responsibility for that teaching lies squarely on our shoulders. The pastoral team I see is united around what is being taught and how it is being taught. The pastoral team I see is aware of the spiritual needs of the congregation and ensures that many of those needs are being met though the teaching. The teaching of the pastoral team I see is characterized by a sensitivity to those who are far from Christ and an emphasis on the finished work of Christ being the power for salvation!    

PRAYS TOGETHER

The pastoral team I see prays together. We know that apart from the power and presence of God, what we are endeavoring to accomplish is impossible. The pastoral team I see is simultaneously humbled by the enormity of the task yet hopeful and reliant upon the Holy Spirit of God to empower us for every good work to which we’ve been called. The pastoral team I see adds fasting to our prayer because we are more hungry for God’s power than we are for our comfort. The pastoral team I see prays for the will of God, we pray for the miracles of God, and we contend for the vision God has given us until it comes to pass!