Rebuilding Your Life

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Who would have guessed 12 months ago that our lives would look so different today?

As we all begin rebuilding our lives and organizations post-pandemic, it might encourage you to allow two simple words to help guide creating your new normal: ​Fail Harder.

As Facebook exploded, founder Mark Zuckerberg realized he had to release more and more of the work to web programmers and developers. He couldn't do it all by himself.

Sometimes details fell through the cracks. Mistakes happened. And that's okay.

Zuckerberg knew that effective leaders cannot micro-manage people. You must give them freedom and margin to hit the wall and learn.

Fail Harder. T​hat's his mantra at Facebook. ​Move fast and break things.​ The same is true for you: your effectiveness at rebuilding your organization post-pandemic will INCREASE as the load on your plate DECREASES. For leaders, this means enabling more and more people.

The start-from-scratch labor of love that my wife and I began a few years ago, Life Church, has grown to be one of the fastest-growing churches in Michigan. As the founding pastor, my temptation is to try doing everything in the church. This would only lead to a bottleneck and stunt our organization’s growth.

What I have been learning as we bust through growth barriers is that as the leader ​I can have either control or growth, but I can’t have both.​ When I let go of control, our church experiences more growth!

I believe that this post-pandemic season will lead us all into a stronger future. ​We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations.​

As you release things in your organization that you’ve held onto tightly, you also unleash mistakes. And that's okay. Comedians get better and better every time they bomb on stage. There is no better teacher than making a mistake.

Wisdom is simply knowledge plus scars.​ We cannot microwave leaders. You have to give your team time to make mistakes. Crock-pots cook s-l-o-w-l-y.

Thomas Edison famously said, "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." Failure is the incubator of leadership. Failure says that we get to try another direction in solving this problem. Leadership is formed when we choose to fail harder.

Whatever happened before is now in the past. Following Christ is like an improv scene: you always get to start fresh. Dream big. ​Stand back up and stretch your faith further.​ That’s the beauty of following Christ.

Your vision is never too big for God. He forgives, He authors second acts, and He releases you from your past (see Romans 8:1).

Now be careful; ​don’t waste this fresh page.​

Don’t be obligated to ordinary. No one will ever follow you down the street if you’re carrying a banner that says, ​“Onward toward mediocrity.”

Instead, take risks. Paint a big picture of what could be and should be. And then do it.

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About the Author

Jonathan Herron is a former comedian-turned-author and the founding pastor of Life Church, the fastest-growing church in Michigan and 11th fastest-growing church in America according to LifeWay Research and Outreach Magazine.

His unique ministry approach has been featured online in Time Magazine, USA Today, The Detroit News, MLive and The Washington Times.

Married twenty-two years to his high school sweetheart, Herron has five adopted children plus a wiener dog with a nervous bladder.

Connect with him at JonathanHerron.com & on social media @HighFiveJon.

Connect on Twitter

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The most ENCOURAGING message I've EVER received from a Guest at our church!

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THIS is the most ENCOURAGING unsolicited message I've EVER received from a Guest!

It came in after yesterday's POWERFUL worship experiences:

Hey Pastor Jon,

I Wanted to let u know that the church's mission to reach people far from god is working well...
I seen that for myself today,...

I came in few mins late, like normal & found a seat for ---- and I.

Next thing I kno I get tapped on the shoulder, look around & it's someone I know...

Someone I never ever thought I would see at church.

I have known this person for many many year's..(dk if I should be telling a pastor this)

But Literally have committed crimes with this guy, ran from police wit this guy, tossed bodies with this guy and he's in church learning the gospel... And now he's in church with his wife and kids.....I personally thought that was pretty an amazing......

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Also I know you guys are needing volunteers for such.

I wanted to let you know that I would be happy to volunteer with wte the church needs a hand with..

I don't know how to a run sound board ect ect... don't know how to do very much there, but I'm an able body....

I jus wanted you to kno the church is reaching people,..& the fact that I sat rate in front of him I thought was pretty crazy....(he was asking me about the church)..........

Thanks again for the sermon today........

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GOD IS MOVING at LIFE CHURCH

Join the movement and see what God can do through YOU!

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An Amazing 14-Year-Old Kid

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Take a look at this amazing 14-year-old.

Over the past 8 months, he's watched grown men he looked up to disqualify themselves from ministry and literally quit on him... and then turn around to cause harm to and division in the only church he's ever known.

(BTW - This is why so many pastor's kids get angry and rebel later in life... They grow up watching church people choosing gossip over the Gospel and throwing stones at their dad. Is it any wonder why so many p.k's leave the faith?)

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Over the past 8 months, 14-year-old Josiah has shown up every single Sunday morning and asked where he can help fill in the gap to serve others, even when he's learning how on the fly.

  • Video Production? Check.

  • Stage Lighting? Check.

  • Livestream Camera Operator? Check.

  • Bass Guitarist? Check.

  • Acoustic Guitarist? Check.

  • Merch Counter? Check.

Tomorrow will be the very first Sunday since July 5th that he will have 'off.'

I am so stinkin' proud of him.

This 14-yr-old shy kid has shown more integrity and servant-leadership than grown men who get paid money to do ministry.

If this is the type of young men Life Church is discipling and producing, then put me in, Coach.

Every story matters? His story matters.

Integrity matters.

Truth matters.

Christ matters.

"And don’t be intimidated by those who are older than you; simply be the example they need to see by being faithful and true in all that you do. Speak the truth and live a life of purity and authentic love as you remain strong in your faith."

(1 Timothy 4:12)

#ProudDad #2Samuel17 #GloryToGod

You Are Not a Failure

I get it.

Life hurts sometimes.

That’s why I did this recent YouTube Live.

If you don’t see the details of YOUR story intersecting with God’s Story, life can feel very disappointing and frustrating.

That’s why I love Genesis 37 - 50.

Joseph is the Rejected Brother who becomes the Rescuer.

Dig into some Raw Encouragement today.

If you like what you see, Subscribe to my new YouTube Channel.

And if you want more free online resources from the life of Joseph, just go here.

You are not a failure.

ABOUT JONATHAN HERRON

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I am the founding pastor of Life Church, the fastest-growing church in Michigan and 11th fastest-growing church in America. 

I am focused on strategic leadership and engaging teaching, all fueled by a gnawing passion for reaching people far from God. 

My unique ministry approach has been featured online in Time Magazine, USA Today, The Detroit News, MLive and The Washington Times. 

Married twenty-two years to my high school sweetheart, I have five children plus a wiener dog with a nervous bladder.

IF YOUR CHURCH IS DRIFTING AND STUCK, SHOULD YOU TRY TO CHANGE FROM WITHIN?

What do you do if you’re a frustrated support staff member of a visionless church?

Do you try to change things from within?

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Recently this question came to my inbox:

Hi Jonathan,

I was at the Youth Workers Retreat that you spoke at last weekend, and I had a follow up question for you. First of all, thanks so much for your honest words and practical advice. I had a lot of great takeaways from the retreat and really appreciate your perspective!

My husband is the youth director at a 100+ year old church, and I am his most faithful volunteer leader (whether by choice or not :). We’re also on the worship team and a part of an effort to grow the young adult population in our church (we’re both in our mid-twenties).

As many very established churches are, ours is an “insider” church full of church politics and stagnancy.

The building itself is in a rich mission-field, directly across the street from a very high-poverty inner-city high school, but most of our members don’t live in the community and are primarily middle- to upper-middle class, white, grew-up-in-the-church Christians (not much diversity).

We felt a strong call to become members of the church and for my husband to take the role of youth director a couple years ago. Probably the largest factor in that decision (and our decision to stay at the church since then) is our intention to try to make a change within the church.

We often feel like all of our energy spent in relation to our church is pushing and pulling the congregation to think and act less self-centeredly and more missionally.

My husband has been pushed in his job as youth director to focus more on making other church members happy than to focus on outreach.

It’s frustrating to say the least, and we consider leaving the church just about every week, to be quite honest!

After hearing everything you had to say about deciding who you’re willing to lose (Christians or non-Christians) and how in most circumstances, the only people that get mad about things in the church are other Christians, our feelings of “what are we doing here!?” are especially strong.

In your opinion, do you see any value in having a personal mission of trying to open the eyes of the insider, self-centered culture of an old church like ours…or are we just wasting our time?

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MY ANSWER:

Hey there!

Thank you for your email — I completely understand what you’re saying because my wife and I have been in your exact shoes!

Let me cut to the chase: In church-world, you can either resurrect the dead or birth a new baby.

Birthing a new baby is easier (that’s why my family sacrificed everything to start Life Church Michigan from scratch).

Any meaningful change within a church HAS to be birthed out of the heart of the senior pastor.

If the senior pastor is not the one leading the change, the change will not happen.

Period.

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Your job is to support the leadership of the lead PASTOR CALLED BY GOD TO LEAD AND LOVE YOUR CHURCH.

Hebrews 13:17 says,

Be responsive to your pastoral leaders. Listen to their counsel. They are alert to the condition of your lives and work under the strict supervision of God. Contribute to the joy of their leadership, not its drudgery. Why would you want to make things harder for them?

My advice?

If you cannot 110% support and champion the vision of the senior pastor, quit.

Today.

Flip burgers for six months until God brings you to a church where you can completely champion the vision, love the senior pastor and have his back, and use your gifts to further the Kingdom through the local church.

Your job is NOT to create change from within. 

God did not appoint you as senior pastor.

I’ll take it a step further: even if your senior pastor were a Disney Villain, it is not your job to challenge him and try to hijack the church.

David was given the opportunity to kill King Saul and stage a coup d’etat, yet he didn’t:

For I said, ‘I will never harm the king— he is the Lord’s anointed one.’

God will always honor leaders that can submit to authority and be in harmony with the church’s vision.

If you can’t do this at your current church, leave quickly and quietly. 

Don’t stick around for a paycheck (wrong heart motivation!).

God does not bless sin, but He does bless humility and patience.

He will direct your steps and it is ok to work at the local video store or pizza delivery for a season.  (I have literally done both in the past 15 years!).

At the end of the day, you have to ask yourself, “How big is my God?”

Hope this advice helps!

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ABOUT JONATHAN HERRON 

I am the founding pastor of Life Church, the fastest-growing church in Michigan and 11th fastest-growing church in America. 

I am focused on strategic leadership and engaging teaching, all fueled by a gnawing passion for reaching people far from God. 

My unique ministry approach has been featured online in Time Magazine, USA Today, The Detroit News, MLive and The Washington Times. 

Married twenty-two years to my high school sweetheart, I have five children plus a wiener dog with a nervous bladder.

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Nashville Artist ERSKIN on How to Be Brave

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THE FEARLESS PODCAST

Jonathan Herron is a former Comedian turned Bestselling Author + Entrepreneurial Pastor who brings YOU insanely-practical tips for YOUR LIFE & ORGANIZATION plus inspiring interviews from current thought leaders.

ABOUT THIS EPISODE

The Nashville-based and Texas-born talent known as Erskin is an artist of many passions. He is a Singer-Songwriter, Diversity Spokesman, Adoption Advocate, and music Co-Producer. He can captivate an audience through his energetic personality, musical artistry and lyrical truth. Whether across the country or around the world, Erskin’s focus is to strengthen ministries, engage the culture and create impactful art.

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With culturally relevant singles such as Black and White and the upcoming song Life Matters, Erskin tackles long-standing issues of race and religion in his music. He has recently finished recording his sixth album entitled Love Moves, which upon full release will feature the songs Grace Made the First Move and Only Love. Discover his music on Tidal, Spotify, iTunes, and ReverbNation.

Erskin currently resides in Nashville, TN, with his wife Kelli and their two children. Their heart for orphaned, abandoned and vulnerable children has led Erskin to become an advocate for the non-profit organization Holt International.

DISCOVER MORE at ErskinMusic.com!

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NEVER MISS AN EPISODE

Discover more insights and resources at JonathanHerron.com.

GRAB JON'S BESTSELLER

'Holy Shift: Laugh Your Mass Off and Use Comedy Principles to Quickly Reach More People Far From God'

Available NOW on Amazon + ChurchLeaders.com!

How Our Church Start-Up Grew from Zero to 1,200 People in Just 5 Years

I get emails all the time from church leaders asking about our church.

Recently I had the opportunity to encourage and equip church leaders at a Detroit-area Conference.

Here's my session on How Our Church Start-Up Rapidly Grew from Zero to 1,200 in Just 5 Years.

Recorded Live at Converge Conference in Detroit, Michigan

(ps - If you find this video to be helpful, then you're going to LOVE these videos too!)

Go Further, Faster.No Egos or Swagger or Comparison Games.Just Raw Encouragement + a Proven Strategy for Breaking Your Next Growth Barrier.

Go Further, Faster.

No Egos or Swagger or Comparison Games.

Just Raw Encouragement + a Proven Strategy for Breaking Your Next Growth Barrier.

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