I will be spending the next two days (today and tomorrow, Dec. 14/15) on a prayer and planning retreat as I look toward leading Creekstone into 2012. Pray for me if you think about it—not only that I would be given a clear vision for the ministry and receive wisdom for leadership, but also (and primarily) that I personally would come alive to the wonder of the gospel like never before. I hope to share some of the fruit from this time in the coming week.  

Perimeter Church distinguishes between three kinds of items on the agenda for a Pastoral/Elder Team meeting. I recently "re-discovered" these and found the break-down helpful.

1. Items that are FYI

2. Items that need input/discussion

3. Items that require a decision (ideally, items should have been previously discussed with all members of the team, with advance notice that a decision needs to be made at the meeting)

How does your team divide the discussion? As a pastor who appreciates collaborative leadership, your input is valued. Thanks!

Before my family moved to Dahlonega, GA, to plant a church, a friend of mine told me not to plant a church. He wasn't saying for me not to move to Dahlonega or that he didn't want a new church established there. He simply said, "Go live the gospel (teach it and preach it as the solution for my own need, not just theirs) and just maybe a church will spring to life around you." 

"The person who looks for quick results in the seed planting business... will be disappointed." These are the wise words of a seasoned pastor, Eugene Peterson, in his book, Traveling Light. This applies to church planting, parenting, friendships, and new endeavors of any kind. The truth is that we live in a "just add water" culture with five minute, quick rise recipes. But we know that muffins with real eggs and butter are much more satisfying, even if they take longer to bake. Just a reminder for all of us in the seed planting business.

Mark Driscoll has produced a number of vodcasts dealing with various issues in church leadership. One segment describes the different phases church plants go through as they grow. According to Driscoll, in order for the planter to be effective in leading the church through these transitions, he needs to know which game he is playing: golf, basketball or football. That got me thinking about how this could be fleshed out a bit and put into a grid. Here is what I've come up with (see below). It's not inerrant, but may provide some helpful context for both leaders and members as churches experience growing pains, helping planters know how to function in their changing role and helping others have appropriate expectations for the planter as the church experiences organizational change.

I don't like broken stuff. I want it either fixed or thrown out. But God loves broken stuff. King David knew this when he wrote, "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise." And the way we get "broken" usually hurts.

Applying this concept to leadership in Leading with a Limp, Dan Allender says,

"For most leaders, humility comes only by wounds suffered from foolish falls... We achieve brokenness by falling off of our throne. To be broken is not a choice; it is a gift."

I suppose it is only when I am conscious of my brokenness as a leader that I am genuinely equipped to lead as an ambassador of Jesus. I have some stories of epic failure in my life and ministry. Not until later could I see them as gifts. But now I am so grateful that the Father let me fall as I learned to walk as a leader.

You know, Paul led as the chief repenter in his day—as a big sinner who had an even bigger Savior. He refused to be the hero, because that role was reserved for Jesus. So that's what I want today: a consciousness of my cracks that, although I would not have chosen them, are present as gifts. Wounds through which humility and wisdom are created and through which grace can now flow.

I received Covenant Seminary's quarterly magazine yesterday, appropriately titled, Covenant. In an article on pastoral ministry, the author quoted Charles Spurgeon, who told his ministerial students in the 19th century:

That is the article I am deprecating, that dreadful ministerial starch. If you have indulged in it, I would earnestly advise you to "go and wash in the Jordan seven times," and get it out of you, every particle of it. I am persuaded that one reason why our working men so universally keep clear of ministers is because they abhor their artificial and unmanly ways. If they saw us in the pulpit and out of it, acting like real men, and speaking naturally, like honest men, they would come around us... We must have humanity along with our divinity if we would win the masses. Everybody can see through affectations, and people are not likely  to be taken in by them. Fling away your stilts, brethren, and walk on your feet; doff your ecclesiasticism, and array yourself in truth.

Yesterday at the ATL Church Planting Network (CPN) monthly meeting for coaching, prayer and training, Rod Entrekin offered some helpful information concerning leadership (especially in a new church context). Here is a bit of what I got out of our time together. By the way, I probably say things differently here than Rod said them (or even intended them). So please do not blame him for how I interpreted his presentation. As my wife correctly reminds me, sometimes my "hearer" is broken. :)

1. Do not just train leaders. And do not just delegate. Create a leadership culture where everyone sees themselves as potential leaders.
2. Help leaders see that the ministry is not mine, it is ours (and ultimately Jesus'). The point is that we are a team of leaders on mission.
3.  Encourage leaders to own their ministry, not just to "help out" with something. 
4.  A church must lead with mission, and then add the "home" component. If we begin with a home, we will not be able to add mission.
5.  Church planting pastors need to resist the pull to put most of their time into "shepherding and care" needs. They need to equip others for that vital and important ministry so that they can continue plowing forward with vision, outreach, and... developing leaders. 
6. Be willing to give ministry away and to trust the Holy Spirit as others own various aspects of the ministry. Resist the temptation to control and micromanage. 

I'm in the Creekstone office tonight, and one of our team leaders, Jim Keane is in the next room laminating photos for our information kiosk tomorrow. He has been up here the past two Saturdays. But he is only a representation of the many folks giving a great deal of time and energy toward advancing the mission of Creekstone Church, which is to glorify God by helping people come alive to the wonder of the Gospel.  So as I sit here thinking about just what it takes to make Sundays happen at Creekstone, I want to thank some of our leaders who serve as volunteers.

Matt Stevenson serves as my Pastoral Assistant and handles a lot of administrative details that, if he quit, would put me under my desk in the fetal position.

Jesse Turk serves as Worship Arts Coordinator. No way to calculate the hours he has put in. 

Elijah Merrett serves as Ministry Coordinator, overseeing all of our Sunday ministry teams. Without him, we would not be meeting on Sunday mornings.

Jay Smorey is the new coordinator of our Sound and Light Ministry. He defines professional.

Kira Barcus leads our Children's Ministry. Enough said!

Jim Keane, and his wife, Janet, oversee our Facilities team. They are behind the scenes ministry gurus.  

Tommy Jones oversees the collection of our Offerings and Keeping in Touch forms. Needless to say, that is a vital detail on Sundays.

Robin Howell coordinates our Greeter Team. These are the first faces folks see on Sundays. Thanks for being there, y'all, and for coordinating, Robin!

Joan and Alex Flewelyn coordinate our Hospitality Ministry, which provides coffee and snacks on Sunday mornings. Without y'all, most of us would be asleep!   

I wish that I could name everyone who serves on these various teams and all of our musicians. Please know that I appreciate each and every one of you, and can't wait to celebrate the gospel with you in the morning!