Ron Edmondson

Grace Community Church and Cross Point Church

Ron Edmondson — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 01:56:37 +0000

Thanks to Cross Point Church for allowing our team at Grace Community Church to learn from them. Pete Wilson and Jenni Catron have assembled a superstar group of people that love Jesus and truly desire to reach their city for Christ. Today we brought our staffs together for a joint staff retreat.

Over the last few years, our two churches have formed a special relationship. Cross Point is twice the age of Grace, so there is much we can learn from them. Today it was confirmed that we share similar visions, challenges, and opportunities. We began with prayer, had some learning opportunities, broke bread together, let the big boys and girls beat us in a game of Cornhole, and ended with a time of worship and communion. It was an encouragement to our team.

There is something special about sharing life with others. It keeps an organization fresh, energized and challenged.

Would it benefit your team to spend some time with another team? Who is challenging you to stay the course and improve or simply offering you encouragement?

10 Questions With Leader Scott Hodge – Orchard Church

Ron Edmondson — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 12:01:55 +0000

I have written about leader Scott Hodge previously. (Read that post HERE.) Scott is pastor of The Orchard Community Church. He and his father are part of an amazing story of transformation in a church. I will say again, he is one of the nicest guys I have ever met. Scott is a creative, inspiring leader. He is highly connected and was recently seen as host of Ben Arment’s Story Conference. You can follow Scott on Twitter too.

Here are 10 Questions with leader Scott Hodge:

When you were growing up, is this what you thought you would be doing vocationally? If not, what did you want to do?

Interestingly enough, yes. I was raised in a pastor’s home and have been around church/ ministry my entire life. I felt “called” to ministry at a very young age. Of course, the way it’s played out looks pretty different than anything I would have ever imagined. But I think it’s safe to say that I’ve felt a drawing towards ministry and have seen myself being in some sort of full time ministry role pretty much since I can remember.

The thing I really appreciate is that neither of my parents overly encouraged me or tried influencing me towards ministry. They did a great job of letting God do the calling and gave me plenty of space to respond to that call. I’m really grateful for that.

What’s the most different job you’ve had from what you are doing now and how did that job help you with what you are doing now?

My sophomore year in college I had a job managing a telemarketing company. Looking back, I think that job actually gave me some pretty good experience in areas like hiring/firing, promoting events, creating processes, “reading” people, and helping draw the best out of the team.

Who is one person, besides Christ, who most helped to shape your leadership and how did they help you?

I’d say that would be my father. Not only was he my “dad”, but he was a my friend, my leader, and my mentor. He was a great voice of empowerment in my life. He encouraged me, he constantly pushed me outside of my comfort zones, he taught me how to lead and love people, but probably the greatest thing he taught me was the importance of hearing God’s voice in my life. I’d probably say that the majority of that mentorship came through me simply watching and learning from his life.

Besides the Bible, what is one book that has most helped to shape your thought process in life and ministry?

Just one!? Wow, this is a tough one… I’d probably have to say J. Oswald Sander’s, Spiritual Leadership is definitely one of the top books that have influenced me the most – especially when I was a young leader just starting out.

What are three words other people would use to describe your work style/ethic?

1) Attention 2) Deficit 3) Disorder.

That’s three words, right?
I’d say:
Hands off, Creative, Unpredictable

What is your greatest strength in leadership?

I’d say casting a compelling vision/dream.

What is your greatest weakness in leadership?

Managing people.

What is the hardest thing you have to do in leadership?

Tell the truth.

What is one misconception about your position you think people in your church may have?

Hmmm…. There may be some (perhaps who are new) who think that I’ve got it all figured out and don’t struggle like everyone else. I try really hard to be intentional about leading with a posture of authenticity and openness in regards to my own struggles and brokenness, so hopefully not too many people think this way about me.

I’ll add an addendum to this… Just asked that same question to three of my support staff and they all said the same thing: “There are a LOT of people who have the perception that you are available to talk or meet with them at the drop of a hat and about anything. Or who think they need to talk with you, when in reality there are others who are more informed about certain things, that would actually be more of a help to them anyway.”

I hate to admit this, but I had no idea that this was as big of an issue as they insist it is. So KUDOS to them for apparently doing a great job of keeping the pressure of that expectation off my shoulders!

If you could give one piece of advice to young leaders from what you’ve learned by experience, what would it be?

The most important thing you can do for yourself and especially for those you’re leading is to position yourself to hear God’s voice every day of your life. Start TODAY.

Thanks Scott! Hope to hang with you again soon.

Are you enjoying these interviews? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Sandra Bullock Oscar Acceptance Speech

Ron Edmondson — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 19:46:55 +0000

Supposedly this is the most requested video on the web right now…In case you missed it…

What did you think? Was she your choice? Did you tear up at her speech?

Monday Marriage Moment: When Your Spouse Doesn’t Measure Up

Ron Edmondson — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 12:07:12 +0000

The best thing you can do for your marriage is to find your personal worth first in Christ. When your spouse doesn’t meet your expectation, which many times he or she will not, you will still feel fulfilled.

When your worth is held captive by an imperfect person, you will find yourself facing unmet expectations throughout your marriage. While I believe strongly that each spouse has a responsibility to develop him or herself personally (You can read some of my thoughts in the marriage category HERE), the fact remains that your spouse will never totally meet all your needs, regardless of how mature he or she becomes as a person.

Are you holding your spouse to a standard he or she can never meet?

What if you found your worth first in Christ, would it release some pressure from the marriage and the spouse that doesn’t measure up to expectations?

What Is Worship?

Ron Edmondson — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 14:30:30 +0000

Last Sunday at Grace Community Church, I spoke about the real meaning of worship. Here’s the message in case you’ve missed it.

Saturday Dream Stretch: Local Church Vision

Ron Edmondson — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 12:40:34 +0000

I have enjoyed the dream series the past few Saturdays. Thank you to all those that have participated in these posts.

Today I have a fun dream stretch. I am curious what some of these dreams will be. At my church, Grace Community Church, we are seeing God do amazing things. This post was inspired a result of that activity of God. Somehow, I believe we have only scratched the surface of all God dreams for us to do. (I’d love our people to participate in this dream stretch, as well as other churches.) This dream is more specific than last week’s world problem dream stretch. I want to hear your dream for the local church.

Here is today’s Saturday Dream Stretch:

If money, time, or volunteers were no limitation, what would you have your church be able to do? What dream do you have for your local church?

Go ahead….DREAM BIG! I don’t believe for a second you can out dream God. As with previous dream stretches, please comment here on the blog, rather than to me through Facebook or Twitter, so everyone can read your response.

Are there any other dreams you’d like me to consider for a Saturday post?

You can still participate in past posts with the related posts links below this one.

My Top 10 Aggravations on an Airplane

Ron Edmondson — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 12:13:33 +0000

This post will make me feel better. I know…I’m supposed to be an encourager, not a critic, but sometimes things aggravate me too. The truth is that thankfully more people are considerate of others than not, but this post was written on a recent airplane ride after experiencing many of these aggravations at the same time. I honestly couldn’t believe the number of people on this plane ride that were so inconsiderate of those around them.

So, in honor of my worst plane ride, here are my top 10 aggravations on an airplane:

The person next to me who can’t sit still…
The person next to me who wears too much perfume…
The person in front of me who can’t decide whether to recline or not…
The person next to me who doesn’t understand “personal space”…
The person who can’t follow the rules…cell phones off…seat belts on…when instructed to do so…
The person who brings his or her own strongly smelling food onto the plane…
The one who becomes my “new best friend”…
The one who has to get a good view out the window…even though he or she doesn’t have a window seat…
The person who sings aloud to the music on their iPod, even while using headphones…
The person who ________________…

You complete number 10.What’s aggravates you on an airplane?

There…I feel much better. Before you lecture me and tell me how you witness to everyone you sit next to on the airplane…I love the person…I just get aggravated that he or she isn’t more considerate of others. In a back door kind of way I’m hoping some readers will consider others around them next time they fly.

Are you “that guy” or do you try to consider how others are affected by your actions?

Balancing the Big Deals Within an Organization

Ron Edmondson — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 12:12:53 +0000

As a leader, I have to consistently remind myself that one person’s big deal may not be another person’s big deal…

Those in finance and administration naturally think their role is critical to the success of the organization, which may lead them to think that attention should be given to finances above everything else.

Those in small group ministry naturally think their role is critical to the success of the organization, which may lead them to think that attention should be given to small group ministry above everything else.

Those in worship planning naturally think their role is critical to the success of the organization, which may lead them to think that attention should be given to worship planning above everything else.

Those in children’s ministry naturally think their role is critical to the success of the organization, which may lead them to think that attention should be given to children’s ministry above everything else.

You get the point. Of course, the ultimate “big deal” is the vision of your organization. As a church, we want to “lead people to become growing followers of Jesus Christ“. While everyone on our team agrees with that vision, they are also rightfully passionate about and actively involved in their specific role in accomplishing that overall vision. I wouldn’t want it any other way, but at times that focused passion for their role can cloud their ability to see the big picture.

From the overall leadership perspective, all areas have equal importance in accomplishing the organization’s objectives, therefore part of leader’s job is balancing all the big deals towards one combined big deal…the vision of the organization. We can’t spend all our energy, time, and resources in one particular area, as important as that area is to the success of the organization. Resources will always be stretched to meet the needs of the entire organization.

Frankly, finding that balance has always been difficult for me, and at times in the life of the organization, one area does require greater attention than other areas. The key for me is recognizing the individual contribution each area brings to that success, while always keeping the big picture in my mind of what we are trying to accomplish as an organization; not allowing any one area to dominate my heart and mind. I can never allow one area to cloud out my perspective of the other areas.

Leaders, do you share this dilemma? How do you balance the big deals within your organization?

10 Characteristics of a Healthy Organization or Team

Ron Edmondson — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 12:15:12 +0000

I love organizational leadership as a subject and I am happy to serve on a healthy team. It’s amazing how many church leaders I know that say their team is not healthy. Recently I started wondering why it is that I claim our team is healthy and it led me to this post. Here, in my opinion, are 10 elements of a healthy organization/team:

A shared vision is held by all team members.
Team members and their individual ideas are equally valued.
Leadership development is a part of the strategy.
The organization readily embraces change and risk taking is encouraged.
Team members are continually energized and encouragement flows freely.
It’s a fun place to hang out…people enjoy their work and relationships are deeper than just the professional environment.
Mistakes are considered part of the learning process.
The structure doesn’t limit growth, but provides healthy boundaries.
There is a freedom to offer constructive criticism, even of top leadership, without fear of retribution.
Conflict is not discouraged, but used to make the team better.

What would you add to the list?

Do you serve on a healthy team?

10 Questions With Leader Jenni Catron – Crosspoint Church

Ron Edmondson — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 12:13:54 +0000

I consider Jenni Catron a friend and ministry partner. Jenni serves as the Executive Director at Crosspoint Church in Nashville. The church’s proximity to our church helps me learn from their success. Jenni is a hard-working, genuine leader. I love the transparency she shares through her blog and the intentionality she brings to her ministry. I am fully convinced that much of the success of Crosspoint is due to Jenni’s leadership. You can follow Jenni on Twitter also.

Here are 10 questions with leader Jenni Catron:

When you were growing up, is this what you thought you would be doing vocationally? If not, what did you want to do?

I grew up attending very small rural churches so the idea of a role like the one I serve in now never even occurred to me. I thought people who worked in church were either pastors or secretaries. While I was very involved as a volunteer doing everything from leading worship to running the children’s ministry to speaking at youth group, it didn’t occur to me to pursue ministry vocationally.

I actually had my sights set on the music business. I think somewhere around middle school I learned about the Christian music business and I started pursuing a career in that industry.

What’s the most different job you’ve had from what you are doing now and how did that job help you with what you are doing now?

When I was 15 I applied for my very first job at our local ice cream shop. The owner of the store really took me under her wing and gave me huge opportunities and responsibilities. By 16 I was named manager of the store and directly managed 3 other employees. Little did I know the leadership and management lessons I was learning with that opportunity. I’m incredibly grateful to Bonnie who invested in me in a huge way!

Who is one person, besides Christ, who most helped to shape your leadership and how did they help you?

I’ve been privileged to work with some amazing leaders both in the music business and in my role at Cross Point, but one of the greatest leadership influences for me has been my friend Kat. Kat and I were in our early twenties working together at ForeFront Records. Both of us recognized our need to develop as leaders and so we started meeting every Friday for lunch to read and discuss various leadership books. Those lunches were instrumental in helping me process my leadership strengths and weaknesses.

Besides the Bible, what is one book that has most helped to shape your thought process in life and ministry?

The first book that Kat and I discussed together was John C. Maxwell’s book “The 21 Most Powerful Minutes in a Leader’s Day”. This book is still one of my favorite leadership books.

What are three words other people would use to describe your work style/ethic?

Driven/Focused/Responsible

What is your greatest strength in leadership?

Oh man, this is a tough one. I think my strength in leadership is in my ability to “put feet to vision”. I’m a second chair leader. I think I’m at my best when I’m working alongside a visionary leader and helping that person put structure and plan around the vision.

What is your greatest weakness in leadership?

My greatest weakness is my impatience. My driven/focused nature causes me to move fast – oftentimes so fast that I forget to engage the people around me. I can easily put task before people and I have to constantly evaluate how I’m doing in this area.

What is the hardest thing you have to do in leadership?

The hardest thing I have to do in leadership is self-management. There is always another email to respond to, another task on the to do list, another conversation to have, another blog post to write, another event to plan, etc. Giving myself permission to disconnect and rejuvenate is very difficult for me.

What is one misconception about your position you think people in your church may have?

That’s a great question. I think sometimes people assume I only care about numbers, systems, details – the business of the church. I love ministry. I love seeing life change. I love knowing that by helping us steward our resources, people, facilities, etc I’m helping to create environments that allow ministry and life change to happen.

If you could give one piece of advise to young leaders from what you’ve learned by experience, what would it be?

I would encourage young leaders to seize the moment, whatever situation you are in. If you don’t feel like you have the leadership responsibilities that you would like, take the time to evaluate, study and learn from the leaders around you. Take notes on every leadership situation you observe. Someday you’ll be in the same situation. Leadership is a journey. Make it a point to learn every step of the way!

Thanks Jenni for your work and ministry and for sharing from your experience.

Who else should I attempt to interview?