Tomorrow I have a meeting with a group of people from our church about the immediate and distant future of our church. I am excited about this meeting, but I am also quite nervous. It is my feeling that some of the people in the room will be on different pages and of different visions for what needs to happen!
As way to preparation for myself and just to give an insight to my thinking…Here’s my challenge(s).
1. I think that I have to convey the vision of the pastor to the people. Honestly that might be hard. I first need to pray about this. For all I know I could have it totally wrong. I hope so. But I think that even when a pastor casts vision for the church that many people develop their own “vision” to how it needs to happen. This tough part for all of us will be to leave “US” in the car/parking lot, and bring a “Kingdom Mindset” to the meeting so that way we do what’s best to help God’s Kingdom grow…not what’s best for us (or to keep money in the pot).
2. Be Christlike before I be a bully! Being a leader is never easy, but if you lead without people in mind, then it becomes all about “me” instead of “we.” I know that there will be comments, ideas, discussions made that will light a fire in me. But that is the moment when I have to ask myself…is right now about me or about we? I dont want to bully people in to my way of thinking…but I sure dont want to shy away and cower down when I know there may be a moment when we need to follow Christ well before anything else.
3. Be decisive. Indecision kills! Simply does. Together, as a team, we need to begin to make decisions that will begin to push the church into the future! A friend calls this “forcefully advancing the Kingdom!” That is what we need to be doing…advancing the kingdom! And let me be clear…we can do that…without people feeling manipulated or devalued. Christ did it all the time…got people to where they needed to be…not necessarily wanted to be…and it did it with love, compassion, and at times…straight up discipline!
Like I said, I am excited about this meeting…and I am PUMPED about the future beginning to take shape. But I want to do it the right way…God’s way! And I pray that my actions and attitudes tomorrow will encourage people to grow in Christ, not hinder them!
Here’s to talking Future!
