Are you an inspirational leader?
There are three steps you can take right now to become more inspirational:
#1 = Lead with the why
People need to know the purpose behind the work. Particularly over the past few years, team members have determined that they want to give their lives to something that matters.
#2 = Celebrate progress
Look back. Make sure everyone on the team knows that you see what they’ve done well.
It’s easy to point out flaws (and, for certain, we should coach our team and help make everyone better at what they do), but true leadership entails so much more.
#3 = Encourage the team
That is, breathe life into them. Be the wind in their sails.
Remind them that you are for them— both personally and professionally.
4 THINGS WE OWE OUR TEAM
We often think about what our team owes us -- what we expect from them.
But there are four things we owe them, as well:
1) GRACE: Not expecting them to be perfect.
2) HONESTY: Shooting straight and being transparent.
3) PROPER PLACEMENT: A place where they can thrive.
4) PRAYER: This opens our hearts to them and provides wisdom and insight to love them.
IMPROVISE - ADAPT - OVERCOME
Marines get stuff done.
They face impossible missions yet always prevail.
2 Timothy 2:1-6 tells leaders to think like a Marine.
During a recent Leadership Coaching Session, I shared 8 Leadership Lessons from the Marine Corp: Common Sense Principles for Success.
I hope these 8 Leadership Lessons encourage you and your team to fearlessly lead your church to grow!
KEEPING IT R.E.A.L.
KEEPING IT R.E.A.L.
I recently learned this acronym from a leader I’ve looked up to for as long as I can remember. He says that everything he does, he does through the lens of R.E.A.L. It stands for Relationship, Equipping, Attitude, and Leadership. Let’s explore how to lead and live life through this lens.
R - Relationship
VALUE YOUR RELATIONSHIPS
All of life flows from relationships. You can’t do life RIGHT if you do people WRONG. Protect your relationships, treat everyone with kindness, and make it easy for others to be your friend.
E - Equipping
LIVE A LIFE OF EQUIPPING OTHERS
Your values must be aligned with your behavior. You can say equipping people is your value, but how are you showing it? Remember, you are equipped to resource people!
A - Attitude
SURRENDER YOUR ATTITUDE TO JESUS
We’ve heard it before, but it’s so true - your attitude determines your altitude. Ask yourself today: am I known for having a great attitude?
L - Leadership
BE A LEADER THAT EMPOWERS OTHERS
Everything rises and falls on leadership. Work to build leaders, not followers. Leaders are built when they are empowered and given authority. Successful leadership says more about the leader when they are gone than when they are present.
Ask yourself: how am I doing in these 4 areas?
I know I have work to do in each one, but I’m making the choice to lead from the lens of R.E.A.L.!
WHAT IT TAKES TO BUILD SOMETHING GREAT
Are you ready to climb the mountain again?
Maybe you've set goals for yourself or your business. Maybe you've decided to take a risk.
Whatever it may be, I know this much to be true: with a little hard work and consistency, anyone has the ability to build something good.
But what does it take to build something GREAT?
1. A PACE THAT WILL LAST A LONG TIME
I recently heard this quote about money that has stuck with me: “Money is like water, without boundaries, it will go anywhere.” This is true about your finances but also your TIME!
Can you keep up with the current pace you're living?
BUILDING SOMETHING GREAT requires telling your time where to go.
2. AN OBSESSION WITH IMPROVEMENT
If you are only obsessed with perfection, you are always going to be frustrated and short with people. If you are obsessed with improvement, you will make small improvements that lead to big change.
Wanting to improve is a sign of wisdom.
If you correct a fool, they will get defensive. If you correct someone wise, it will be met with gratitude.
BUILDING SOMETHING GREAT includes welcoming correction that allows us to improve.
3. A COMMITMENT TO ADDRESS WHAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED
A team that is dysfunctional will avoid conflict at all costs.
Great teams address things! It is impossible to be great without honesty.
This doesn't mean you need to go out and look for conflict --- but you have to have the backbone and emotional maturity to deal with conflict in a productive way.
BUILDING SOMETHING GREAT demands having difficult conversations.
4. A SACRIFICE TODAY FOR WHAT YOU WANT TOMORROW
This means doing things I don’t WANT to now, so that I can do what I want LATER.
Greatness will require more from you than others.
Greatness is on the other side of your decision to sacrifice today.
BUILDING SOMETHING GREAT means making calculated sacrifices with the end goal in mind.
5. A PROTECTION OF WHAT AND WHO YOU VALUE
Protection of your calling and your relationships requires both great discretion and stewardship.
Loyalty is not proven in your presence, but your absence.
BUILDING SOMETHING GREAT means protecting the important things.
6. A LOVE FOR THE JOURNEY
I enjoy what I do because PEOPLE are what excite me!! It's not about stats or reports (although those are necessary) it's about peoples journey. You can't quantify that. What excites you? What fuels you to be great?
The journey gets fun when you LOVE what you do.
BUILDING SOMETHING GREAT includes enjoying the process
YOU are called to be GREAT. The greatest day to start is today.
HOW TO QUICKLY REACH PEOPLE FAR FROM GOD
I’m not concerned about being criticized for taking risks to reach people far from God. I’m concerned about not being criticized.
Recently I was invited to teach a breakout session at a conference in Chicago based on my book, Holy Shift. The topic was so popular among church leaders that we ran out of seats!
I had fun sharing my journey in comedy and ministry, the unique story God is writing atLife Church Michigan, and equipping church leaders in my jam-packed breakout with comedy tools that will help them reach more people far from God.
Because I love church leaders and I want to see you go further, faster, here is the full video as a free resource to your team!
2 Questions to Ask When Your Church Feels STUCK
SERMON ON THE DUGOUT
SERMON ON THE DUGOUT: LIFE CHURCH HOLDING SERVICE AT DOW DIAMOND
Sunday morning's event is free and open to public
by Jon Becker, for the Midland Daily News | May 19, 2022
MIDLAND — Baseball, hot dogs, apple pie and … church? Yes, you read that right. America’s pastime is not normally associated with passionate preaching, live bands and a worship service, but that’s exactly what’s going on Sunday, May 22 at Dow Diamond.
Life Church, a Great Lakes Loons 2022 partner, is holding its weekly church service at the Loons' home stadium beginning at 11 a.m. The event is free and open to the public.
The nondenominational church likes to get creative in its approach to inspiring people to become engaged in their faith.
“We believe that faith is a journey, not a guilt trip,” said Jonathan Herron, founding pastor of the nine-year-old church. “We take our faith seriously but don’t take ourselves too seriously.”
Since Life Church is sponsoring Faith & Family Nights throughout the Loons’ 2022 season, “We thought it would be fun to actually hold a church service along the first base line,” Herron said. “We’re always brainstorming for new ideas for engaging our community at Life Church. We love bringing families together.”
Minor League Baseball is noted for its family-friendly game experiences. The Loons, who hosted their second School Kids Day of the year on Tuesday, are all in for a Sunday sermon at the ballpark.
“Faith and Fellowship Nights has been a staple at the ballpark for well over 10 years,” said Tyler Kring, the Loons’ assistant general manager of business development. “Faith is part of the journey for many of our players. We’re excited to be partnering with Life Church this season.”
The church’s house band, Kingdom Sound, will lead modern worship songs outdoors, followed by Pastor Herron sharing scripture from atop the first base dugout. The pastor also plans to interview some current Loons players about their faith journeys.
“Through this event, we hope to engage more Midland and Sanford area households as we gather a core group to launch our Midland campus this September,” Herron explained. “The plan is to become one church in two locations. We’ll have worship Sundays at 9:30 a.m. via Northwood University’s Griswold Theater, followed by worship at our Saginaw campus at 11:15 a.m.”
Michaela Yenior, of Midland, attended her first Life Church service about a year and a half ago and was quickly captivated.
“They’re on to something here,” Yenior remembers thinking. She added of Sunday's plans, “This event is really exciting and works within the scope of Life Church’s mission: reach the lost at any cost. The church is willing to think outside of the box.”
“We’re kind of known for doing things big,” said Herron, noting the church’s annual Easter Egg Helicopter Drop as proof positive that Life Church will pull out any and all stops to advance its mission.
“Pastor Herron is an incredible guy,” said Life Church parishioner Arnel Hipolito. “He’s selfless. The church has been through some ups and downs, but he’s kept going forward. He’s done a lot of outreach in the community. It’ll be interesting to hear him preach gospel from the dugout. He’s a passionate, fired-up guy, but it’s his leadership acumen that really stands out.”
Hipolito, also of Midland, plays drums and guitar in Kingdom Sounds. He played at Dow Diamond a couple of times last year and really enjoyed the experience.
“It was hot and a lot of work, but fun,” he said. “You’re outside and you’re watching baseball. Who doesn’t enjoy watching baseball?”
On another occasion, the Greater Midland Tennis Center (where Hipolito works) treated a group of its employees to a Loons game.
“It’s great family entertainment,” Hipolito said.
Sunday will mark Life Church’s first foray into serving the Lord at Dow Diamond, so Herron is unsure how many people will show. However, “According to our Facebook Page, over 300 people have indicated that they are planning on coming.”
“Hopefully, we’ll get enough people to reopen our Midland location,” Yenior said.
Life Church in Midland closed during the pandemic. This Sunday’s morning event is part of the plan to relaunch Life Church’s Midland campus this fall, Herron said.
Herron encourages people to invite neighbors and friends for church at the ballpark and to then to stick around and purchase tickets for the ballgame that follows. At 1:05 p.m. Sunday, the Loons will conclude a six-game home series against the Lansing Lugnuts.