God provided an awesome experience for me this week. Though I hated to leave home, I got to spend a little over a day in Houston with some dear ministry friends and some new ministry friends. I also got to spend some time with my sister-in-law (wife's sister) and niece so it was all good.
The time was made possible by John Maxwell, Kirk Nowery and Tim Avery, good friends at Injoy Stewardship Services. The day was a "roundtable"; monies went to benefit the awesome ministry of EQUIP , an organization that I'm priviledged to serve as an Associate Trainer in Kenya..John Hull (President) and Doug Carter (VP) were there as well. Thanks John, Kirk, Tim, John and Doug!
SO much happened in the time there...if you want one more perspective, see what Perry Noble wrote here...Perry Noble Blog
Here is the first "layer" of what I saw and heard in this roundtable featuring the pastors and Joel and Victoria Osteen, Bill Hybels, and John Maxwell. The event was held at Lakewood Church...oh my goodness---unbelievably amazing facility and people. Here are just a few of the nuggets I'm going to be "pondering":
-Keep Your heart pure, stay grounded one day at a time(Osteen)
-Victoria studied Joel's routine and learned how to best support him and how to best influence him with her heart! (she was really gracious and amazing).
-Everything in Joel's role is about the weekend or long term vision. All else is run by the 4 family members who report directly to him (these are both loyal AND qualified family members...former surgeon, political media consultant, etc.)
-You will not be blessed being what God did not make you to be (Osteen)
-Make sure your spouse is in their strength zone. You can take someone out of their comfort zone, but you should NOT taken them from their strength zone (Maxwell)
-Focus is a great gift. Ask what season is your church in and who do you need most to energize on your leadership team? (Hybels)
-Leaders have all kinds of responsbilities. But one of them is a great freedom...the ability to determine direction and timing (Maxwell)
-What definitions of success are no longer important for you? What are you now willing to lay aside? (Hybels)
-Influence can be loaned, but never given. There is a time when they (staff/leaders) either produce on their own or they stumble (Maxwell)
-NEVER get to the point of being unapproachable...both Bill and Joel concurred and talked about ways they try to be accessible even given their huge roles
-TV and Marketing was local and presence 1st and then expanded from there. People often watch TV 3-6 months before they attend Lakewood (Osteen)
-Spiritual Health Assessment is a key concern...Willow is working on that...I've also been saying this is key for years...glad to see several churches tackling this... (Hybels)
-Do NOT lead where your heart is not. Many leaders make a serious mistake of leading out of obligation or a false sense of "ought" (Maxwell)
-Senior Staff costs you more than you think! Put the staff members name to key initiative and harness their gifts and energies...and make them accountable!...what are they doing? What is the trend line for their area? What is the measurement? Is it clear? (Hybels)
-Used phrase "pastor cuss" (not real cuss...just pastor mumbling--hilarious!)...Hebrews 13:17 is a terrifying verse...we will give an account to God for our leadership. To redeem and restore is the mission of the church! (Hybels)
-It is "pastoral malpractice" to strive to lead something less than a fully functioning Acts 2 Biblical Community...which should be living out the heart of God in ALL its dimensions (I felt like Bill was singing the song I've had in my heart the last few years!) (Hybels)
-Daily humility (30 minutes at the beginning of every day!) is key to being clean with God. When sin looks good to you..you are in trouble! We sometimes mis-identify the deficiencies/hungers in our lives (e.g. sleep, emotions, spiritual, relational, etc.). I personally believe that Bill was amazingly prophetic for much of the afternoon...and I realized that he was sick and has been tired...but his words were ANNOINTED! (Hybels)
John Maxwell was clearly broken and humble before the Lord and led an amazing Spirit-filled prayer at the end...weeping and powerful...it was a HOLY MOMENT I pray that I'll not forget.
Joel Osteen (and Victoria) was genuine, humble and VERY gracious. This man is clearly a gifted Christ follower and I was glad to have the opportunity to be in the same room. I predict his leadership will continue to grow and develop in the years ahead...and God will do EVEN MORE amazing things!
Thank you Lord for the opportunity...I am humbled and awed...I was truly a "gnat" in a room full of ministry giants...and thankful for the priviledge....
