Greg Atkinson

I think a healthy quality for all leaders is being able to laugh at one’s self. This video has rubbed some people the wrong way, but I think it is a funny and deeper look at what we as the Church do each week. This video was created by the talented team at North Point Church – that obviously is able to laugh at themselves. Take a look at this video and see if it upsets you or if you’re able to relate and laugh? More after you watch it…

“Sunday’s Coming” Movie Trailer from North Point Media on Vimeo.

As one who travels the country each week visiting, secret shopping and consulting with various churches, I think I can appreciate this video more than most. This video reminds me of my secret shopper report and the things I rate and look for – it’s amazing how well they captured what I see at 95% of churches in America.

You would think that is a good thing, and I used to, until I heard Alan Hirsch speak at the Velocity Conference back in February. He rocked my world. Alan, in his keynote address, taught on how the contemporary church model that is prevalent in America can only “appeal” to 40% of Americans – NOTE: not reach 40%, but has the ability to appeal to 40%. Meaning 60% of Americans will need to be reached in some other way- some new, unconventional, innovative way.

This past Sunday, I was with my friends at Mosaic Nashville. They had heard Alan Hirsch speak years ago and were already living out this different model of church. For example, this Sunday, I worshiped “in the round” and people were given instruments and encouraged to play along. There was no band up front on the stage – they were in a circle in the middle of the worship space. They are exploring new ways of doing life, community and discipleship together as a fellowship of believers in Nashville.

Is this for everyone? No. Maybe God is calling you to appeal to the 40% with the model we see in the video. BUT – for some of you (and if you get this, it will be revolutionary), you may be called by God to go after the other 60% in new, different and unconventional ways – thought to be strange by others. More on this in my new book coming out next year!

The following is an excerpt from LeadingSmart.com | by Tim Stevens, Executive Pastor at Granger. Tim is a friend and I pick his brain quite often. I, personally, love his perspective. Check out what he says:

Since co-writing Simply Strategic Volunteers with Tony Morgan, one question that always comes up is whether a church should require parents to serve in the children’s ministry. This sentiment was worded well by a recent commenter here on LeadingSmart.com. They wrote,

I am a children’s director who spends a lot of time recruiting parents to serve in our ministry. When I hear people say, “I’m just not cut out for it”– it makes me sick. We invest hundreds of hours in your kids a year, and you can’t give up an hour of your time to help kids begin and grow a friendship with Jesus. I think it is pathetic! The church is the hope of the world. Let’s act like it.

I totally get that frustration. I’ve heard it many times and know of several churches which have an expectation that all parents volunteer somewhere in the ministry where the kid is being served.

I have a little different take on that. Let me ask:

• Do you really want adults serving in your kids’ rooms who perhaps don’t even like kids?
• Do you think others on the team will enjoy it if some of your volunteers are there only because of coercion, not because of passion or interest?
• Wouldn’t you rather have adult volunteers who love kids and have a passion for using their gifts with your children?

It is my guess the children’s director who wrote that comment would say, “Of course I’d rather have passionate volunteers. But that’s not the world I live in. Every week I scrape the barrel to get enough volunteers just to have safe classrooms!” I may be putting words in his mouth, but those are the words I hear from many struggling children’s leaders.

The problem comes down to culture. It takes a volunteer-centric culture in the entire church, from top to bottom, to build a ministry that is truly focused on plugging people in positions where they are wired by God. Without that, a scarcity mindset takes over and we shift to turf-guarding and silo-building. And that produces frustration, bitterness and cynicism on a church staff–which no one likes to be around.

If it were me, and my only control was over the children’s ministry, I would focus for the next semester on transitioning my entire volunteer team to only people who loved kids, had a passion for the ministry, and were truly gifted in areas we needed in the classroom. Get rid of everyone else. In the short-term, it will be awful. You will be short-staffed and there will be many things you can’t do. But in the long-term, when you have classrooms full of happy, energized volunteers, you will see other gifted and passionate people lining up to sign up.

No one wants to be on the team where the only requirement was the ability to make a baby. Everyone wants to be on a high-performing, fun-filled team. What say you?

Learn more from Tim about how to build thriving teams of volunteers at the Simply Strategic Volunteers Workshop at Granger next Friday, May 21. I strongly encourage you to bring a team to their workshop!

Yesterday I mentioned how pastor Ray Johnston brought the book of Philemon alive to me. Did you read it again? If not, go and read and come back. Basically, Philemon was a wealthy slave owner who had a slave (Onesimus) rip him off and run away. Onesimus met Paul and became a Christ-follower. Paul wrote a letter to Philemon (his old slave master) asking him to accept Onesimus back as a “son” and member of his family. Not only was he a slave (which were killed and treated as unhuman), but he had ripped Philemon off and ran away.

So, after reading Paul’s words to Philemon, do you think Philemon did it? Did he accept Onesimus back and not kill him for running off? For the answer we look to ancient Church history and letters written 50 years later by an early Christian leader (St. Ignatius of Antioch) to the Church at Ephesus. In the very first chapter of St. Ignatius’ letter he praises their “their wonderful bishop” (pastor) Onesimus. Think it’s a coincidence? Ignatius uses the identical phrase that Paul uses in verse 11 – “who formerly was useless, but now is useful.”

Say what? Onesimus – a slave, became one of the great leaders of the Christian church and most likely was the pastor of the Church of Ephesus. Many scholars point out that Ephesus was the center of where they met to choose the letters to be included in the Biblical canon and Onesimus might have had a hand in encouraging them to include his story (the book of Philemon) in our Bible. Have you ever wondered why such a strange and short book was included in the Bible? Maybe God wanted us to see the amazing story of a slave who became a pastor and leader in the early Church. What are your thoughts?

The following is a guest blog by Tom Harper, Publisher of ChurchCentral.com and President of the Society for Church Consulting.

Every leader needs to ask introspective questions. Several of the ones on the checklist below have caused me to reevaluate not just where I am, but who I am. They are in no particular order.

As this year unfolds, now is a great time to recalibrate yourself.

1.  Is narcissism 90% of Twitter?
I mean come on. How can I really follow and read what 1,736 people have to say? Isn’t it really all about having an audience of my own? So then, what is my motivation for doing it?

2.  Is social media your newest time-waster?
In a recent blog post, Seth Godin wrote, “I’d like to posit that for idea workers, misusing Twitter, Facebook and various forms of digital networking are the ultimate expression of procrastination. You can be busy, very busy, forever. The more you do, the longer the queue gets. The bigger your circle, the more connections are available.”

3.  Are we insulting Jesus with all the books and blogs denigrating his church?
I’m reading a thought-provoking book called “Why We Love the Church.” The authors ask this same question.

4.  Do you lead your organization too softly?
Humility is honorable, but is it time to shake things up and perhaps lose a few friends for the sake of the vision? Why not be bolder?

5.  Are you blinded by your own vision?
Is it time to get a new one, even if the old one was unique – though not yet achieved?

6.  Is it time for you to make a personal leadership change?
Maybe you’ve done your best and the ride has come to an end. Leaving may be exactly what you and your organization need for rejuvenation.

7.  If you were hired to replace yourself, what would you do differently in your job?
Zero-base your position. What would you do if you started from scratch? Why aren’t you doing it now?

8.  What excites you these days?
Why aren’t you doing more of it? Maybe your followers would be more enthused if you were.

9.  Do you need to be more accountable to someone?
Someone needs to know what’s going on in the world of your heart. God often speaks to me frankly through my wife and close friends.

10.  What do you pray about?
Is it the same thing all the time? Is it always about yourself?

11.  Is your near-term future one big question mark, or do you have a plan?
Our God is a God of plans. Think two or three years out – what’s your next destination?

12.  Who was the last person you witnessed to that accepted Christ?
We are called to make disciples. Is it time to hone your skills or simply step out of your comfort zone?

13.  Do you read enough books?
It’s hard to grow without putting new ideas into your head. I get inspired by books on leadership and management. They encourage me to try new things.

The following is a guest blog by Blaine Hogan, Experience Engineer at Willow Creek Community Church where he creates contexts and spaces for people to experience God using video, multimedia, movement, and performance art.

A few months ago I got a call from a friend of mine asking if I’d consider applying for a creative leadership position at his church. The excitement of the opportunity was quickly overshadowed with a cloud questions.

Is this the right thing? Should we leave Chicago? What does my story have to say about all this?

I left home at 18 in search of risk and adventure. As such, I spent most of my life running around the country from one thing to the next. Some of it was circumstantial. Some you can chalk up to the “actor’s life.” But much of it was simply because I was afraid. Afraid that if I stayed anywhere too long people would find me out. And who wants that?

As Margaret and I contemplated the idea of leaving it became very clear we weren’t supposed to pursue the opportunity. At my most smug I triumphantly declared the reason for staying as: “I’m not done with this place!” And while some of that may be true, my smugness was wiped quickly from my face as the actual reality set in: this place isn’t done with me.

Something in me realized that staying would be far harder than going somewhere new where I could start over. Something in me realized that doing the harder thing would be the very best thing. Something in me realized I was to do a new thing that seemingly was not a new thing at all – stay.

Leaving is no longer the risky thing for me. The risky thing now is staying.

It is submitting to the painfully transforming process of community. It is doing a dumb thing at work and then having to show back up the next day to face those you’ve disappointed. It is telling the truth instead of protecting yourself. It is letting people love you in spite of your ugly and broken bits and then letting them gently guide you into the light. It is showing up to dinners instead of going home and feeling sorry for yourself. It is letting yourself go – in a good way.

For you the risky thing might be leaving. It might mean getting the hell out of dodge – and fast. But for others of you it might mean staying put…breathing…letting yourself go…and letting your community have its way with you.

Esther De Wall wrote about St. Benedict and his life as a monk. I’ll end with her words on staying put as she says it much better than I could:

“Instead of this bewildering and exhausting rushing from one thing to another, monastic stability means accepting this particular community, this place and these people, this and no other, as the way to God. The man or woman who voluntarily limits himself or herself to one building and a few acres of ground for the rest of life is saying that contentment and fulfillment do not consist in constant change, that true happiness cannot necessarily be found anywhere other than in the place and this time.” - Esther De Wall | Seeking God, The Way of St. Benedict

The following is a guest blog from Michael Buckingham, founder of Holy Cow! Creative and Creative Director for the Center for Church Communication

I’m a people watcher. I love to watch people interact, explore the world around them…my wife and I even try to guess people’s relationships when we’re out to dinner. When I had the chance to check out Hollywood Blvd…wow. For those of you who have been there you’ll remember the street performers in front of the Chinese Theater where you will see all the characters SpongeBob, Jack Sparrow, Elvis, Optimus Prime, Spider Man…you name it someone is there dressed up trying to make a living in Hollywood.

The difference between those who do well and draw a crowd and those who are wasting their time is all about their commitment to what they are doing. I saw it last time I was there.

Spider Man did okay, he got up on the light poles and did his thing, but his outfit looked like children’s pajamas…he found a shortcut, and it spoiled the experience. SpongeBob and Optimus Prime had the outfit, the costumes were hand crafted and very nice, but just stood there and waved. The best they got was a kid pointing and waving…from across the street.

Then there was Jack Sparrow. He went all in. He didn’t just put on a costume, he threw himself into the part. It was as if Jack Sparrow himself had jumped out of the movie and everyone wanted in on the action. I don’t have any doubt that this isn’t his ultimate dream, I don’t think he came to Hollywood to street perform on the strip…but he was committed to the craft and threw himself into the role.

Which are you? Who are your ministries, communications, preaching? Are you Spider Man who has the passion but has taken the shortcuts? The Transformer who has the flash but has no passion?

Will you be Jack Sparrow? Will you fully commit to what you do and how you do it? Will you push against the ‘just get it done’ attitude and the acceptance of ‘good enough’? We’ve all done it, I’ve done it. In the busyness of our days mixed with limited resources we’ve turned ministry into a list of to do items, trying to get each of them checked off with the least amount of effort. It’s not a lack of passion, it’s a lack of focus on our passion.

It often will mean avoiding the path of least resistance and will likely require sacrifice, but the good news is that you don’t have to go it alone. Look at Greg as an example, reaching out to friends to guest post (thank you, truly an honor) so that he can be fully committed to the book, fully engaged in his passion. Who has God set in your path to help you pursue your calling?

The great news is that when we are committed and fully engaged in that which God has called us to do, lives are changed, marriages are saved, people find hope…our light shines bright.

The following is a guest blog by Rich Kirkpatrick, Worship Pastor at Sunridge Community Church – Temecula, CA

Art by committee comes out rather ugly, but art by collaboration shines.

One of the biggest frustrations in any creative endeavor is dealing with committee-driven process. This is not the same as collaboration. Its one thing to sit in a group that nit picks rather than team together to create. Let me contrast the two.

Committee vs. Collaboration

The following is a guest blog by Scott Williams, campus pastor at LifeChurch.tv Northwest OKC

Leadership is the most commonly used word when it comes down to the success of an organization, product, group or team.  No matter how you slice the success pie, the pieces all boil down to leadership.  There are countless books about how to be a successful leader, 21 laws of leadership, how to go from good to great and the list goes on and on with John Maxwell’s books alone.

There are many reasons that leaders are successful and just as many for why they fail.  I am a firm believer that you can learn as much from your failures and working with poor leadership as you can successful leadership.  I previously wrote about this in a post entitled Stop Complaining and Start Learning.  We know there are many reasons that contribute to a leaders success, What about why they fail?  Below is a list of 4 memorable reasons leaders FAIL in an easy to remember acronym FAIL.

Fake-  A leader who attempts to be someone they’re not instead of simply being themselves has a difficult time succeeding, at some point it just catches up to them.  This also applies to the leader that has a different face, different persona, different tone, different everything… when certain people are around.  In other-words when the big boss comes around they put their fake-face on.  Not to say a leader might not make some adjustments when company comes around; however the super-fake-face comes from insecurity of how they act normally.  Remember: Don’t be fake, be yourself… “Do You! It’s A Statement… Not A Question!” Fake Leaders Fail!

Attitude- One of the primary reasons that a leader fails is because of a poor, negative or a no-can-do attitude.  If a leader thinks he can fly and has a positive can-do attitude; even though they may not be able to fly they will come darn close.  The reason why attitude is important is because that leader’s attitude will rub off on their team members and their followers. Remember: “Attitude reflects leadership, Captain.” ~Julius in Remember The Titans

Integrity- If a leader doesn’t exhibit a high degree of integrity they will fail.  The integrity issues will either catch up to them (what’s done in the dark, will come to light) or those that follow them won’t respect them.  If team members or followers don’t respect the a leader, it puts the leader in the place of pushing a snowball up hill… it’s a difficult task.  These integrity issues run the gamete: profanity, lying, cheating, stealing, affairs, flirting, yelling, substance abuse, pride-filled decisions etc.  I have worked with many high capacity leaders in both the secular world and ministry that have failed because they allowed their integrity to get off track.  Remember:  Integrity is doing the right thing, even if nobody is watching.

Lacking-  Although I believe that everyone has potential for some degree of leadership in them; the bottom line is that some leaders fail because they are either: a.) Not the leader they think they are, or b.) Promoted above their leadership capacity/leadership role has outgrown them, or c.) Not a visionary, or d.) Not a leader at all!   They are lacking what it takes!  Remember: Just because someone has an office, role, title or responsibility doesn’t mean they are a leader.  Leadership is an art, a skill, a craft, a gift… and it must be developed!

Share your thoughts or add some additional reasons to the list?

The following is a guest blog from Eric Bryant, Navigator at Mosaic

In an article called “More Minority Babies Will Be Born In 2010 Than White Babies, Demographers Predict,” Hope Yen writes:

Minorities make up nearly half the children born in the U.S., part of a historic trend in which minorities are expected to become the U.S. majority over the next 40 years.

In fact, demographers say this year could be the “tipping point” when the number of babies born to minorities outnumbers that of babies born to whites.

The numbers are growing because immigration to the U.S. has boosted the number of Hispanic women in their prime childbearing years. Minorities made up 48 percent of U.S. children born in 2008, the latest census estimates available, compared to 37 percent in 1990.

“Census projections suggest America may become a minority-majority country by the middle of the century. For America’s children, the future is now,” said Kenneth Johnson, a sociology professor at the University of New Hampshire who researched many of the racial trends in a paper being released Wednesday.

To read the rest of the article, go here.

Rather than fighting this diverse future, we should be at the forefront of our quickly-changing world to love, serve, and create diverse communities.

For more thoughts, check out “The Human Mosaic,” “Enjoying Diversity,” “Loving Foreigners is Hard for Former Foreigners,” “The Minority Majority,” and the posts filed under diversity on my website.

The following is a guest blog by Cynthia Ware, Executive Director of the Center for Church Communications

“The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results”. – Albert Einstein

This past week concludes one of the busiest weeks of the year for many of us who are church staff members.  It takes work to pull it off all the things associated with Good Friday and Easter.  When you put a lot of effort into something, it helps to define how you’ll measure your success right? It’s foolish, for example, to go to all the trouble of going on a diet but never weigh in and see what your progress has been!  I read that in a book.  So, does your church put effort into whatever they communicate during Easter?

Great communicators want results.  So, great communicators measure. They are constantly re-calibrating their message so they can connect with their intended audience and produce a result. This doesn’t mean the message changes; this means the message is specifically tailored for a particular audience. And then, the astute communicator will consider whether the message accomplished its intended purpose. Think of all the letters the Apostle Paul wrote to different audiences based on unique circumstances and particular needs.

As a person who helps churches communicate as effectively as possible, I’ve got a vested interest in understanding what tools help us communicate effectively.  And these days churches are beginning to embrace a somewhat holistic approach to communication involving many channels and many tools.  By evaluating both their online and offline communication resources, churches are ensuring a consistency of message and the possible complementary use of multiple communication platforms to accomplish the task of addressing those who have ears to hear.

We know that offline communication resources have been used by churches for years. These channels include word-of-mouth, traditional print (newspaper articles & ads, Yellow Pages ads) media, billboards, flyers, posters, banners, postcards, bumper stickers, radio, tv, etc.  Newly popular online communication channels would include e-mail campaigns, websites (with SEO positioning), webinars, blogs, micro-blogging, RSS feeds, podcasts, livestreaming and Internet Campuses.

When a church is using (and measuring) both off and online communication, it’s known as an integrated communication program.  The goal of selecting certain elements of a proposed integrated communications program is to communicate effectively and consistently across media platforms.

There are several macro-trends your church leadership could be aware of in order to communicate more effectively via an integrated communication program.  Note these shifts:

• From “traditional media” to multiple forms of communication (everything from webinars & podcasts to micro-blogging & vidcasting).
• From limited internet access to 24/7 internet availability and access to messages and services across any mobile platform.
• From a big business dominated culture to a user-generated content & consumer-influenced culture.
• From a “we take care of our own” mentality to a refocusing on benefits for the common good (community).
• From broadcast-style media to more specialized narrow-casting or niche media, often centered around specific target or need-defined groups.

Following last weekend’s Easter services, I recommend debriefing with all those who helped your church communicate over Easter.  Did you use an integrated communication program?  Whose attention were you trying to attract?  Was your communication directed towards those who attend your church services or towards those who don’t?  Was your message tailored to fit a particular group or was it generic?  Did you see results from what you communicated and how?  Did you measure your success? Will you do the same thing for the next church event or will you make changes?

And most importantly, if your church excels in communicating with excellence, please speak up.  The Center for Church Communication is searching for great church communicators to showcase.