Looking for a New Adventure?
Are you looking for a new adventure? Is it finally time to make the change? In the past two weeks, I have spent several hours on the phone talking with pastors or leaders who are looking to make a change. Many of them are approaching the job search not knowing that there is help! In every conversation, I have encouraged them to not do it alone but partner with someone who can connect them to the right fit for their next ministry. The firm that I highly recommend is the Vanderbloemen Search Group.
Why use a search firm? Here are a few reasons that I gave to my friends:
- Support: Let’s face it! Finding a new ministry is not easy. A search firm can offer support and help for writing your cover letter and resume to preparing you for your first interview, and even 10 Tips for Landing the Ministry Job of Your Dreams. They are there to help educate and encourage you in the interviewing and transitioning process.
- Networks: Yes, it may be who you know or better yet, who they know! Search firms are connected and they know and understand the uniqueness’ of different ministries. With their personal knowledge of many pastors, leaders and ministries they have the insight to know which ministry or organization may be just the right fit for your giftedness, abilities and experiences.
- Experience: William has over 15 years experience in large church environments and was mentored by one of the top leaders of executive searches. With his experiences and the experiences of his top-notch team, it ensures that you as a client or a ministry will be served by the best search firm available. I am truly impressed by the “Dream Team” that he has put together: Tony Morgan, one of the most strategic thinkers in the church today; Preston Mitchell, one of the founding families and formerly the Executive Pastor of Fellowship Church in Grapevine, TX; Jay Mitchell, who served as Executive Coach and Communication Consultant to CEO’s and management teams at EBay; Tammy Kelly, who served on the senior leadership team at Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, IL; and several more talented team members there to help uniquely assist you.
William Vanderbloemen and his team offer their ministry support, massive networks and unbelievable experience to connect high-capacity leaders with healthy ministries. So, if you are in the season for searching, connect with William and his team to help make your next transition experience a pleasant one!
Small Group Vital Signs: Michael Mack
Have you ever wondered how healthy your Small Group is? Now you can know! Michael Mack’s latest book Small Group Vital Signs points out seven important characteristics to help you diagnose how healthy your small group really is! It not only guides leaders through the seven vital signs but it also allows the leader to utilize a practical assessment tool: Healthy Small Group Evaluation, and as many of us already know…
Healthy Small Groups lead to a Healthy Church!
Here is a little sneak peek into this new book:
“Why do many small groups settle for average or ‘just good-‐enough’ meetings led by ordinary leaders who have a listless spiritual life? I can only imagine you understand what I’m referring to here. These are groups that have a typical Bible study on comfy couches, while the members engage in the usual and expected conversations about the text. Truth be told, many small groups have drifted into mediocrity and have settled in as a “nice little group” for armchair Christians.
I have to say I have read several books on small groups and I am not exaggerating when I say this is the best small group book yet! Mike nails it when he gives his personal observations concerning the state of so many small group ministries that make up the church today. His insights point us back to what is most important and foundational to the health of not only our small groups but also our church. So, if you are ready to get off that “comfy couch” we call small groups and become the “healthy” small group that God has intended, then pre-order your copy of Small Group Vital Signs TODAY! Small Group Vital Signs is a must read for every Small Group Pastor and leader!
Michael Mack is Life Groups Minister at Northeast Christian Church in Louisville, KY. Go by and “LIKE” the new Small Group Vital Signs Facebook page.
Need Leaders? Build a Pond!
Probably one of the most asked questions I have received as a leader is “How do you recruit other leaders?” It is a very good question because we all need leaders…good leaders. So, how do you recruit them? Over the past several years, I have tried several different ways but probably one of the most effective ways that I have found to recruit great leaders is to: BUILD A POND! Okay, so you are asking, “What does that mean? How do you build a pond?” There are several ways to this leadership process but here are a couple of ways to help get you started in a Small Group Ministry:
- BUILD A POND: What I mean by building a pond is creating an environment where you can gather people together allowing you to fish for new leaders. One of the ponds I have created in Small Group Ministry is by creating an On-Campus Group. An On-Campus Group is a 6-8 week intentional study where people are invited to come and learn and develop community. I use the Large Group/Small Group strategy. Once you have all the people in your pond, then you…
- ALLOW FOR OPPORTUNITIES: Leaders naturally want to lead. So, give them opportunities to lead. Here is how we create the room: The first week of the On-Campus Group, I do a large group teaching and then turn them into small groups of 8-10 people. But before we turn the discussion over to the small group, we recruit what I like to call a HOST. The HOST will facilitate the Small Group discussion and take lead in their newly formed small group environment. It always amazes me that the natural leader tries to raise his/her hand first. Why? Because they are natural leaders. They like to take charge.
- MODEL LEADERSHIP: Over the next few weeks, you will continue to give opportunities for the new HOST to lead and facilitate their group and also allow you the opportunity to model healthy leadership. You may also ask the HOST to come to a Leadership Meeting about 30 minutes before the rest of the Group arrives. This allows you to pour into their leadership and mentor them in their leadership abilities.
- EQUIP THE LEADER: Immediately after the series, we will have a formal time of leadership training. This is known as New Leader Orientation and is a focused time to give the new leader tools to help them be a healthy leader.
- RELEASE: It is time for the new leader to branch out on their own. They may continue to lead their new small group that they have spent a few weeks getting to know or we hold a connection event for people who are looking to join a new small group.
- FOLLOW-UP: Don’t leave them high and dry! New leaders need continual encouragement and your continued leadership. Maybe a personal hand-written card, a one-on-one coffee, or just a phone call. Reach out to them and ensure that they are on the road to a healthy leadership!
Remember, no matter what you do as a leader, one way to effectively find and recruit leaders is to BUILD A POND? I am not sure what your pond will look like but make sure you are intentional in recruiting great leaders and creating room at the top for your current leaders! What are some creative ways that you are recruiting leaders?
Want to Start an Online Ministry?
Ever wanted to start an Online Ministry but didn’t know how to do it? Here is an amazing tool to help you reach people by way of technology! If you have any questions before you launch, you may want to read a great interview by Chris Surratt from Cross Point Church In Nashville. Chris was just named their first Internet Campus Pastor.
A Few Characteristics of a Great Leader
Some of you know that my word for the new year is “Healthy” and one area that I would like to become healthier in is in my personal leadership. A few days ago, I started researching “What Makes a Great Leader” and came across several insightful and challenging reminders of how to lead people well and what individuals are looking for in their leaders. Here are some of things I will be working on this year to help me be a healthier leader to my team:
- Integrity Yes, integrity does matter! In the book, What People Want, author Terry Bacon says, “90 percent of workers rank honesty, fairness, and trust as their top three needs.” Above all else, I believe people want leaders and pastors who keep their word and who are trustworthy. Think about your leadership: Have you been honest even in the little things? Have you told someone you would do something and you haven’t done it yet? It may be a little thing to you but trust me on this, it is probably a big thing to your team. It is never to late to keep your word. Matthew 5:37 says,
“Just say a simple, ‘Yes, I will,’ or ‘No, I won’t.’”
- Appreciation People want to know what they do is being valued and appreciated. I have a statement that I like to say and use in my leadership, it is “what you value is what you praise!” It is so true! As a leader you may say you are valuing a particular person or area but if you do not give praise to that particular person or area, then it is truly not something you value. In your next few team meetings, listen to what you praise and you will have a sense of what you truly value. The amazing thing about praise is that it cost you as a leader nothing to execute but the returns are priceless. Take time in the first part of 2012 and give value and appreciation to your team. Here are some simple ways to appreciate your team: a simple word of thanks, a note, a phone call, a text message, or even a raise. At our all-staff meeting, we have what is called the “U-ROCK!” Awards. Once a month, we give out a “U-ROCK!” Award to someone who has gone above and beyond the call of duty. This is just a simple way to recognize and appreciation your team. Colossians 3:15 says,
“And always BE THANKFUL.”
- INVEST No, I am not talking about money. I am talking about YOU investing in your team’s personal growth. Think about how are you investing your time and energy into making your team member’s successful? How are you growing their leadership? Jenny Floren, founder of Experience Inc., states “Eighteen- to 30-year-olds are characterized by their desire to receive training, take on new challenges, expand their capabilities, and as a result, advance to new, more highly compensated roles.” Ask your self as a team leader, “How do I provide training opportunities to my team? Do I provide opportunities for growth? Am I as their team leader investing in their personal growth? If you do not invest in their leadership growth, your team will eventually become stagnant and lose their effectiveness to lead in fresh and new ways. Some simple ways to invest in leadership growth is: Have a “Blog Tour” Take two weeks and challenge your team to read some new leadership blogs and at the end of the two weeks, have a “Blog Tour” Party. At the party, have your team what new and creative things they learned from the new blogs that they have followed for the past two weeks. This can be fun but also very rewarding! Here are a few leadership blogs that I can recommend: Jud Wilhite, Jenni Catron, Rhonda Baker, Pete Wilson, Dan Cathy, Steven Furtick, Perry Noble, and John Maxwell. Take a field trip. Here is an article that will let you know the value of taking your team on a filed trip to learn some new and creative ideas. Challenge the team to read a new leadership book every quarter, but also take the time to download with them about what were some of the new things that they learned from their reading. One suggestion for a book study would be Tony Morgan‘s book, Developing a Theology of Leadership. Another way is to encourage and pay (if your budget allows) to send your team to a conference or retreat. This will grow your team not only in their leadership but it will also help your team grow in their relationships. Some of my best memories and closest relationships I have, came from spending time together at conferences and retreats. If you are on the West Coast, here is a great conference that I will be attending this year: Catalyst West Coast. Look at your calendar and see what you have scheduled to help intentionally grow your team this year. Another simple way is to schedule a quarterly leadership retreat. This can be done at someone’s home or a friend’s beach condo or mountain retreat. Have the team supply the food and do the cooking your self. During the retreat find a book or leadership training DVD’s for you and your team to study. Don’t make it all about the study. Enjoy the time with your team by planning some activities and just HAVING FUN!
- CARE People want to know you really do care about them as an individual. ”People don’t leave their personal lives at the door when they come to work”, says Lyn Freundlich head of Human resources at Third Sector New England. That statement is so true. Yes, we should care about the personal ups and downs of their lives and yes, it does take time on our part but again , it will bring huge dividends if you truly take time to care for your team members. Here are some ways to care for your team: Have a monthly one-on-one lunch or coffee break with each of your team members. Of course, if your team members are 10+, you may have to stretch it out to 1x a quarter or even a year, but it would mean so much if a leader sat down with team member and spent time building a relationship and actually knowing what is going on in their personal life. Never be too busy to care for your team!
“Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.”
Leadership and Resolutions
Over 300,000 people filled the Las Vegas Boulevard this year to say “farewell” to 2011 and “hello” to 2012. One of our family “Vegas” New Year’s Eve traditions has been to watch the firework celebration over the Vegas Strip. If you have never seen it, it is an amazing sight. Another one of our traditions as a family is to gather around our family room and reflect on what we have to be thankful for in the past year and then we tell one word of what we would like to focus on for the New Year. My word this year is “healthy”. Not just “healthy” in a physical way, even though it is part of it, but healthy as a husband, a dad, a leader and even as a follower of Christ.
Over the past couple of days, I have tried to put some details to that word to help me be healthier in the New Year: Here are some tips that helped me and may can be of help to you to make sure we grow healthier in 2012:
- REFLECT: Look at the past year and reflect on your growth. How have you grown as a believer, a husband, a dad, and as a leader? How have you been intentional in your health in these different areas? Write down a list of the areas you have seen some obvious growth.
- PLAN: Yes, if we are going to be healthy, there must be a plan. As a believer, I am going to read more of God’s Word without the study notes and without reading it just to plan for another message to give to someone else. I am going to read it as His Love Letter to me. As a husband, I want to be intentional on having a Date Night. Not a double date but a date where I can spend some alone time with the love of my life. As a dad, take “tech-no breaks”. ”Techno-breaks” will be times where we ALL take a break from technology. I spend much of my time talking with families who don’t know one another because they have not been experiencing meaningful communication with one another. Most of the time it is TV, Facebook, Blogging, and video games that have just separated families and they have drifted away from each other. As a leader, I have been challenged to think about three words: New, Simple, and Creative. These words and the challenge have given me focus in my area of leadership. Read more, create more, simplify more, and gain insights and input from some new leaders and new blogs that you would normally not follow. Find a few words to help guide you as you launch into a new season and a new year. Be intentional with a plan.
- CONNECT: Make sure you are connected with other leaders. Not leaders who drain you but leaders who inspire you. Sit with your team and dream again. Never get to a place as a leader of isolation. God truly did create us for relationships with others. To be healthy, we must be connected with other people. Be a part of a Small Group, a Leadership Network, an online leadership community, and make sure you have a mentor that you respect and you can learn from this year. Get connected and stay connected.
- LIVE: Many times leaders forget to LIVE…especially church leaders! Spend time outside of your leadership responsibilities and have FUN! If you do not have a hobby, get one. A few of my favorite things to do are to explore new places and experience new adventures. Whether it is hiking or driving, I love to experience new places and new adventures. New places give me new perspective and for some unknown reason to me, it always clears my head. It helps me keep “healthy”! Also, spend time with “unchurched” people. It really gives you a different perspective on what others really think about the church. Hollye and I intentionally spend time with several families that are unbelievers. It has been great to see a couple of those families come to church for the very first time. We didn’t love them because they were our “project”; we loved them because we really love them. Find some people (maybe your next door neighbor) that you can love in the New Year.
I have no idea what adventure God has for me in 2012, but I truly want to be used by God to impact the world where He has placed me. My verse for this new year is Ephesians 3:20:
Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or even think.
I would love to see Him do more than I can even IMAGINE for 2012! I want to be healthy not only physically but also spiritually: a healthy believer, a healthy husband, a healthy dad, and a healthy leader. Praying you have a wonderful 2012 and that you and I will embrace His adventure in a healthy way!
The RESCUE: Chelsey’s Story
This past week, we started a series entitled: THE RESCUE. Most of us know what it means to be in need of a rescue, but what do we do with that rescue. The word rescue is used almost 400 times in Scripture and can be simply defined as needing help when we need it the most. As I was reading this morning in Jude, I came across a verse that somewhat summarizes what we do as pastors, small group leaders, and as believers. We haven’t just been rescued to be free; we have been rescued so that we may rescue others:
Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. Show mercy still to others, but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their (our) lives.
Chelsey’s story is a real story of a girl right here in our city who was in need of a rescue. God used Central and several people here so that she could experience the joy of being rescued. Amazing how God allows us the opportunity to have a front row seat and allows us to participate in the rescue of others. Aren’t you thankful that someone was there to rescue you? I know I am. If you have a rescue story that you would like to share or you would like to thank someone for being there for your rescue, let me know.
Looking for an Amazing Opportunity in Vegas?
Looking for an amazing opportunity working with Young Adults in Vegas?
Central Christian Church, a rapidly growing church in the Las Vegas Valley, seeks a full-time Young Adult Ministries (18-29) Pastor.
We are seeking someone who is:
- Fired up to reach young adults
- Gifted in leadership
- Has a passion for Small Group ministry
- Is excited to live and minister in Las Vegas
- Has the ability to communicate in front of groups
- Flourishes in serving with a team
Our ideal Young Adult Small Group Pastor will possess leadership and equipping gifts, administrative and communication skills, and a practiced knowledge of church leadership and adult education. He/she will serve in helping advance the Kingdom of God through Central’s mission, core values, purposes and strategic plan. We prefer someone with at least three years of small group/pastoral experience, have biblical education and be a licensed or ordained pastor.
For more information, please visit our website at www.centralchristian.com
Please send resume’s to:
tracey.smith@centralchristian.com
Looking for a Way to Help Others this Thanksgiving?
Are you or your Small Groups looking for a project to partner with this Thanksgiving? This November a friend of mine, Kyle Costello is running the NYC Marathon to support First Descents. First Descents is an incredible organization that seeks to “shatter the illusion that cancer makes people fragile.” They take cancer survivors on trips all over the United States and seek to inject humanity and passion into their life. To help Kyle as he helps others or to support FIRST DESCENTS directly, click the following link. teamfd.firstdescents.org/2011/fd/NYCMarathon/kyle/
FREE MP3 Download New Song: “TORN”
I know Pastor’s always like things that are FREE! You are going to love this new song! Click here for a free mp3 download of our new original song “Torn” inspired by @JudWilhite’s book! ”TORN” is performed by Drew Bodine and the Central Band. Let us know your thoughts!
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Tracey Smith
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