More from our off-site leadership day at Mountainview.
What are the stakes?
Why does it matter if we as a ministry team function properly? I reminded our staff that the stakes are different for us in ministry than if we were selling used cars. We are dealing with the lives and destinies of people.
Learning from obstacles.
Not surprisingly, we as a church currently face many obstacles as we seek to move the Kingdom forward. Money is tight. Facilities are limited. People are busy. In fact, we generated a rather lengthy list of very real obstacles.
Yet, according to James, these same obstacles can become great opportunities:
When all kinds of trials and temptations crowd into your lives my brothers, don’t resent them as intruders, but welcome them as friends! Realize that they come to test your faith and to produce in you the quality of endurance. But let the process go on until that endurance is fully developed, and you will find you have become men of mature character with the right sort of independence.” (James 1:2–4, J. B. Phillips translation)
Personal growth time.
Next, I walked our staff through a simple worksheet about how to approach a personal growth issue. You can download the document here (note: this is a Word document).
The laws of teamwork.
Jim Phillips, our senior pastor, and myself tag-teamed a section on principles of teamwork. The basic thrust was this: every healthy team abides by certain principles. As we continue to build a positive, enthusiastic work environment, the concept (and reality) of team becomes critical.
Dave Ramsey’s theory of momentum.
We closed the day looking at Dave Ramsey’s theory of moment: Focused intensity over time multiplied by God equals unstoppable momentum.
I challenged the staff on two fronts: to pick 2-3 things they will focus on intently over the next 60-90 days. The second challenge was to really believe God can create unstoppable momentum in their personal lives, ministries, and in our church.