#plileadership

If you really think about it, what exactly does it take to become a leader for God? Is it talent or skill? Maybe it’s knowledge? Well, the truth of the matter is that while those three aspects are important to becoming a great leader, it may be time to consider the role that character plays in the essence of leadership.

At the most basic level, character is a collection of personality traits each individual has that is a reflection of our behaviors to show who we are as a person. However, it is something that is also far deeper. In true essence, character is something that can be learned and taught as we grow and develop our own relationships with Christ, which is manifested back to Him, and then to others.

So how can a leader’s relationship with God be manifested to others? Through your own character, whether humility, responsibility, or urgency, it can be reflected in this five-step process.

1. Build Relationships With Individuals With Leadership Potential

Leadership training and development starts with the power of building relationships, and it’s something that should never be underestimated. Pastors and other church leaders need to devote time to getting to know church members one-on-one. Find out their hobbies and interests, what makes them happy, sad, or angry, ask what their goals are as a Christian, and other defining questions. After spending time with individuals, you’ll have a clearer view of which individuals may be interested in serving and also be able to see their true character. The result of building relationships is that once the time has been invested, those members will feel trust and a connection with you, making them more invested to accept your invitation to serve.

2. Assess and Identify People’s Gifts

Everyone has talents and gifts, of course, but do the individuals you’ve gotten to know showcase gifts designed for serving? Sure, you can conduct spiritual gift inventories or classes as a more formal route, but to be as organic as the relationships you built, simply paying close attention to a person’s strengths will work just as fine. Your ability to see the gifts in individuals will allow you to steer them towards opportunities for them to recognize their own gifts and tap into their strengths to see for themselves what they have to offer.

3, Train and Nurture Through Mentoring and On-the-Job Training

Have you ever worked a job where you felt you kind of just got “thrown in with the sharks” due to not being properly trained for the position you were in? Well, this same issue can happen in Christian leadership. Too often we see potential in individuals that we get overly eager and place them in roles with responsibilities they’re not equipped for or ready to handle. That’s the worst thing to do and the best way to overwhelm them. Simply take them under your wing so they can learn by doing. Observing an existing leader will “show them the ropes” so to speak, and can also be the foundation for reverse mentoring as well.

4. Extend the Invitation to Be Part of a Group

Books, podcasts, and seminars are great tools to utilize for Christian training, however, they don’t provide human contact. Forming Bible study groups, ministry teams, and fellowship groups can serve as “breeding grounds” for growing and emerging leaders. It’s in these groups that budding leaders are able to converse with others about how they put their faith to work. These groups essentially reveal the potential in some of the group members, which then leads to personal invitations.

5. Extend Personal Invitations Into Leadership

A personal invitation is framed around steps one through four and will feel more genuine, and even deserved because the individual will know and understand why they received a personal invitation to serve. The observations you make of the individuals and the relationships you built allow you to see their strengths and aptitudes. Based on that, you now have proof and experiences as to why you’re extending the personal invitation. For example, “Sarah, I’ve noticed how you love children and teach Sunday school lessons in a way that the youth understand. I think you’d excel at taking on a leadership role in our new afterschool program.” This type of personal invitation is one that Sarah will likely take and feel honored to take on such a role because of the time she’s invested and that she truly would enjoy serving in that way.

My sense is that it’s important today to simply say that your leadership is critical.

Who you are and what you do in the Kingdom is critical.

Most would say that it’s been a difficult year in which to lead.

Sadly, it’s been a year in which many have simply surrendered.

I recognize that you could be one of the 51% of pastors thinking of quitting at the end of 2021.

So, to you:

Thank you for leading with integrity. Thank you for maintaining your focus on the mission entrusted to us. Thank you for loving and caring and investing.

At the end of 2021…

If you haven’t already made a gift to support our work across the U.S. and around the globe, your gift would be a great blessing today. Thanks to a generous donor, your gift will be matched to extend the impact of your gift.

We’ve been sharing the posts from the Flourishing in Ministry series we did a couple years ago. This week, take a look at this post: There’s Still Good News in Your Congregation. I hope you find some encouragement in it.

You are aware of the generosity of the Martins and the Biblers to offer a place of rest and retreat, or a few days of vacation, as their gift… as a simple way to encourage and bless you and say thanks for leading. (Isn’t it amazing that people in the PLI family do things like this?)

You’ll be encouraged by Paul and Beth Schult in a few weeks as they share their story of being ready to quit ministry and how they kept going. Sign up here for the webinar and join us on January 19 at 10 am CT. You’ll identify with the struggle they experienced and you’ll be blessed by the journey out of it.

Be sure to invest in your own leadership in 2022.

Check out our new offerings of D2MC to create a congregational culture that disciples and sends disciples into the mission field. Take a look at Leadership Essentials that fastens down the core building blocks of biblical leadership. Or consider Senior Leader for those taking on the complexities of leading larger ministries and organizations.

1,000 Young Leaders and Multipli’s Genesis Leader are shaping people from knowing they should do “something” but doing “nothing,” to becoming confident and competent fearless impact makers and producing quick “wins” for congregations that could use them.

Thank you!

Are you a pastor? You might be in the 51% (Barna) that’s seriously thinking about leaving the ministry and taking on a new career path! (More on that next week!)

And just to remind you… Two of our folks in the PLI family, the Martins and the Biblers know how taxing leading in ministry can be and have graciously offered their lodgings for a season of retreat or vacation, a gift to you!

LET ME BRING SOME GOOD NEWS YOUR WAY!

If you’re leading in a congregation, you know there’s very little that’s going both easily and positively these days! Let me give you an easy winner that will have long term PAYOFFS…no matter your congregation or context!

You’ll want to watch the short testimony video below, but first let me tell you why this is an EASY WINNER!

You have folks in your congregation (and you might be one, too):

They know the world is a dark place and needs the “light” of the Gospel.

They know/have a sense that God wants them to do “something.”

But… they lack confidence.

But… they don’t know how.

So … they don’t do anything.

Except… to have a sense that God wants them to do “something” while they do “nothing.”

And no matter how much you tell them they “should”—even motivated with the Gospel of Jesus—they only take random, oftentimes disappointing, stabs at bringing “light” in the dark place.

Because… no one has invested in them to develop confidence and competence— complete with tools, resources, accountability and encouragement!

And, it doesn’t need to be that way!

So, now is a good time to watch the video!

From my seat, I get to watch the folks that have been pouring into Multipli’s Genesis Leader and PLI’s 1,000 Young Leaders.

They represent much of the above! And here’s what happens:

They enter into the 9-month, fully online training of Genesis Leader OR the 10-month, fully online 1,000 Young Leaders…

They engage in inspired learning with a weekly teaching they can capture any time of the week.

They mark out a weekly day and time on their calendar for a huddle with 5 or 7 other missional pioneers and a trained coach that brings accelerated learning in community with accountability and encouragement.

They venture into a weekly “put what you’re learning into practice” in small incremental ways that builds confidence and resilience.

And, you see, here’s the payoff!

There’s a breakthrough! A big breakthrough!

You don’t have to convince everyone in your church that…

The world has changed and doing what we’ve always done isn’t going to work next year.

God is quite capable in empowering His Mission in everyday rhythms of life.

That the Church biblically and historically and (currently!) globally has experienced rapid growth and impact through grassroots movements enabled by confident and competent baptized people of God.

Take a look at the picture here! These are some of the piloting “pioneers” of the very first Genesis Leader!

They’re fearless impact makers!

They have a vision of how God wants to use them that propels them.

They are doctors, retired folks, musicians, physical therapists—you name it—but they’ve built a mission rhythm that’s fun, rewarding and faith enriching.

(Last time I heard, 8 or 10 people had come to faith through these people. One was baptized. Several hundred are in these folks’ relational spheres to bring Gospel light into dark places!)

So… you know who your people are!

How about taking some action? (Who am I to tell you to take action, right?)

Forward this email to 10 or 20 folks that have “the sense” that they should do something!

Be bold. Tell them to watch the video! Ask them if they can see themselves in Kami’s story.

Tell them to request more information for Genesis Leader OR 1,000 Young Leaders for those in their 20’s and 30’s.

And then—since you’re being bold anyway—tell them to enroll in Genesis Leader or 1,000 Young Leaders (enrollment link)

And, by the way… before you finish your giving in 2021, please include a gift to accelerate the movement of the Gospel through PLI.

I am so excited to wish you a blessed Thanksgiving… and to share this gift with you!

You know that the PLI family places great value on you and loves you. Two of our generous partners have again offered you a getaway as their gift. One in Texas. One in North Carolina.

They know its been a “COVID year.” And they also know your faithful leadership for the sake of the mission. It’s their hope that they might be a simple blessing in your life as their gift in a very practical way say “thanks” for your leadership and ministry! If you’re interested, please seek them out as noted.

The Biblers in Texas

The Martins in the Smoky Mountains

I’m a pastor, a leader.

For 25 years, I was a pastor-leader. (It never fully occurred to me that I, with our team, shepherded an entire generation in that congregation into heaven over those years until Gail mentioned it!)

But, for more than a few of those 25 years, I suffered from “let down Monday.” Monday! Depressed. Disappointed. A bit defeated.

The natural culprits:

Attendance wasn’t as good as I thought it should have been, no matter how good it was.

The preacher (me!) not as inspiring as he wanted to be.

The nagging comment…always the one unhappy customer…that trumped the bunches and bunches of gracious and affirming words.

But my chronic culprit for “Let Down Monday”…

As much as I had preached that our people make the pivot as an ambassador of Good News from sanctuary to where they worked and where they lived, it just didn’t happen very much. The blog last week can explain the gap.

It’s an enormous leadership challenge, not just a preaching challenge.

So, I’m not the first. And you’re not the last…

…to wish, to tell, to challenge, to Gospel-motivate, to connect people to their calling in the Great Commission and to embrace their places of work or their neighborhoods as representatives of Jesus.

So, I may be your best friend. (Or, maybe not!?)

We have a Genesis Leader webinar coming up in a few days that will give you lots of help.

Want to hear more about PLI’s new companion organization, Multipli and it’s first offering Genesis Leader? We invite you to a webinar to get inspired, learn more and get your questions answered! Pick the date that works best for you: Tuesday, September 28, from 12-12:45 pm CDT or Thursday, October 7, from 12-12:45 pm CDT. Use this Zoom link to join us, and RSVP to Nate Guelzow.

We also invite you to watch this short testimony from a couple in California that piloted Genesis Leader this last year. (The next cohort starts November 7.) Once you match voices and faces, close your eyes and imagine 10 or 15 people in your own congregation this time next year sharing their own stories. Do you think that would start to change your “Let Down Monday?”

Imagine neighborhoods around you with those 10 or 15 folks who are cultivating relationships. Praying for people that are becoming friends. Building trust. Being ready to give the reason for the hope that is within them! And, experiencing excitement and joy in ways that have eluded them for years.

Here’s more information about our companion ministry Mulitpli and Genesis Leader.

You see, much of the frustration we feel doesn’t have to be! And much of the disappointment congregation members experience doesn’t have to be. What if a growing number of your folks became grace-filled, confident, fearless, impact makers?

So, why not make a quick list of those 10 or 15 folks and forward this blog to them and simply tell them why you thought of them. And invite them to check out the webinar?

I have 4 things I’d like to share with you today! And be sure to see the pictures below of some of the leaders who attended the St. Louis D2MC immersion last week.

Multipli & Genesis Leader

Multipli, our companion ministry, is launching Genesis Leader to train the people of God so anyone can encounter the Good News of Jesus. One pastor said: “The people I have in mind have always been looking for this but didn’t know they were looking for it.” Send Nate Guelzow an email to RSVP for the webinar on Thursday, October 7, from 12-12:45 pm CDT, to learn more! And if you haven’t yet, watch this video for an introduction to Multipli.

Return to In-Person Learning Communities

Fall learning communities kicked off in person in St. Louis last week. Discipleship to Missional Community returns in person in D.C. this week. See the pictures below of some of the leaders.

Virtual D2MC

A virtual offering of D2MC is starting November 4. You may want to consider attending yourself or with some others. If you’re curious about D2MC but feel uncertain, then join us for the first immersion to take a Closer Look at what D2MC is all about. For $100 a person, experience an immersion so you can see first hand what D2MC is all about. Raechel can help with questions. The virtual offering seems to attract:

Larger D2MC churches looking to send another team of leaders and grow the impact.

The folks who say: It’s too difficult to get leaders to take personal time from work to travel to the East Coast or to Texas next year.

The crowd that thinks: I’m not quite sure if this is the right investment or if we’re ready to take on the challenge.

The pioneering types! They see that God is up to something and know we need to remember what we’ve forgotten from centuries ago.

The empathetic types! “6 churches closed in our district already this year. We have to give them new tools that can change lives.”

1,000 Young Leaders

Phil Klopke, Co-Director of 1,000 Young Leaders, and I met with 1,000 Young Leader participants and those thinking about being participants in Wisconsin last week. What a difference, before and after!

These are gifted, thoughtful, godly young women and men. Spend some time with any of them and you’ll be encouraged. But there seems to be a common thread and here it is:

1 – They feel left on an island by themselves. There aren’t a lot of other young followers of Christ to grow with.

2 – They sense a calling to do something…somehow. But they’re not sure where to start. They see a dark world and want somehow to make a difference.

I had this inkling inside of me. There was this fire brewing in me but I had no idea what to do or where to go with it. My dad took me out to breakfast a year ago. He was ready. “I think you should do 1,000 Young Leaders. “ He was ready with information… print outs! I didn’t have a chance! I’m a different person today. I have clarity. I’m on fire.

3 – The sad thing? It just doesn’t need to be this way. They shouldn’t have to have it all figured out and they shouldn’t have to do it alone without peers their age.

4 – Most of us, to be honest, know what it’s like to not have someone help us with big questions.

5 – The participants talked about the power of the simple weekly rhythm of “teach it – train it – try it” modeled in the fully online training. They talked about the power of community together.

6 – They talked about discovering who you are. Having friends and growing together. Having an impact in their neighborhoods or congregations.

7 – They talked about the resilience they experienced from being fearless, confident, impact makers in ways that would prompt you to be 27 all over again and sign up yourself! It was amazing.

Before 1,000 Young Leaders I was busy. Just busy. Church. Elsewhere. 1,000 Young Leaders helped me clarify my purpose, my gifts. Gave me a focus on the mission of God and starting community. I’m doing less. Having more fun. Living on purpose. We’re hosting our first block party to start reaching our neighborhood.

Jesus came to transform the world. How did it happen that as His followers, when faced with adversity, we drift away from transformational influence and simply aim to survive? To take care of ourselves?

Bottom line: When congregations face change, they need leaders who have the character and capacity to face resistance.

In most congregations the very thing that we want and need, we line up to oppose and sabotage.

As a leader, you must be willing to face downright rejection sometimes.

What about your church? Is it a transforming influence in your community? Or inwardly focused on caring for those within?

When most folks get anxious, when they fear they’re going to lose something they love and value, they reach for status quo. They reach backwards to something warm and familiar from their past.

Let’s be honest! Even the so called “best of us” bristle to have our own values, or lifelong habits, challenged. We view as dangerous anyone who dares to challenge.

You’re Not Alone

So, if you’re in the PLI family, you have a whole host of folks that are trying to lead with courage and resilience for the sake of the mission. They know your pain. They feel your frustration. Just like you, they lead in places where the prevailing wind is to look backwards, to simply settle, to seek to care for themselves. But these leaders refuse to allow those winds to prevail. They step forward. They lead.

Most churches? They don’t know how to connect with their communities. They don’t know how to make a difference post-COVID. They feel too weary to crank up another program that fails to produce.

There’s been an interesting discovery around the PLI family! If you boost a few folks to learn the simple practices to start community and lead community, it will energize an ailing bunch.

My vote? Recruit a couple of folks—maybe to join you—and look at Genesis Leader from our companion ministry Multipli. Sign up for the 9-month, fully online experience… and see if you don’t become a fearless, world-changing follower of Jesus who’s making a difference? You can register here.

OR, if you’re in your 20’s and 30’s? Do the same! Give our 10-month, fully online 1,000 Young Leaders a try! Register here.