Ignite Leadership

2010 Direction: The DNA of a Leader

igniteleadership@gmail.com (Ignite Leadership Conference 08) — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 10:54:00 -0800

We're really excited about where we're going this year for Ignite. We've got some great sessions and breakouts planned this year. And we're confident that they'll challenge and stretch your heart and the way that you think as a leader.

The DNA of a Leader: during our sessions we'll be exporing the key areas that make up a leader. The heart, head, hands, heel, and home of the leader. We believe these core areas will either spring board a leader to Kingdom impact or ground a leader and those who follow from experiencing the impact that God desires.

The Leader's Heart: led by Chris Spradlin, Lead Pastor @ Euzoa Bible Church in Steamboat Springs, CO

The Leader's Head: led by Jay Risner, Teaching Pastor @ Faith Bible Church in Edmond, OK

The Leader's (achilles) Heel: led by Lee Coate, Creative Arts Pastor @ The Crossing Church in Las Vegas, NV

The Leader's Hands: led by Mike Hickerson, High School Pastor @ Heartland Community Church in Rockford, IL

The Leader's Home: led by Casey Cariker, Teaching Pastor @ Rejoice Church in Owasso, OK

We're also very excited about one of the new pieces of our format. In the past we've randomly placed people in groups for conversation and community, but this year each participant will get to choose a breakout that they are interested in and would like to dialogue about. These breakouts for the weekend are called Ignition Points.

Ignition Points

Missional Communities: transforming broken areas thru grace, renewal, and an active presence--led by Jake Phelps

The Arts and the Local Church: empowering and releasing the poets, philosophers, and prophets to transform culture--led by T.D. Oakes, Worship Pastor @ Heartland Community Church in Rockford, IL

New and Improved: creating, leading, and launching innovative ideas, new ministries, and Kingdom projects--led by Scott Cornelius, Campus Pastor @ Lifechurch.tv in Yukon, OK

Shared Leadership: learning to lead leveraging conversation, collaboration, and a Christ-centered cause--led by Jeff Henson, Family Ministries Pastor @ The Crossing Church in Las Vegas, NV

Tipping Points: navigating thru strategic decisions that affect the health, direction, and impact of ministries and churches--led by Kent Sparks, Lead Pastor for Ministries @ CrossTimbers Community Church in Argyle, TX

Also, we're super stoked about having a weekend pastor available for all who attend Ignite. Kent Sparks, Lead Pastor for Ministries at CrossTimbers Community Church in Argyle, TX, will be leading this out. Our goal is to be able to provide someone with wisdom and ministry experience for the entire weekend that you can share with, ask questions too, and download situations and potential next steps with. We'll be unpacking this opportunity more fully as the time draws near.

Jeff Henson

Ignite Got Plastic Surgery

igniteleadership@gmail.com (Ignite Leadership Conference 08) — Fri, 5 Feb 2010 19:08:00 -0800

It’s that time of the year again when Ignite begins to send you emails concerning its yearly leadership gathering.

We’re very excited this year because it’s going to be a weekend of “new”. Although we’ve loved who we’ve been in the past and what we’ve brought forth to conversation, we’ve felt it was time for an Ignite face lift and with any cosmetic surgery—a new look will come forth.

Here is what’s new this year at Ignite:

New Location: we’ll be hosting our gathering this year at the Sullivant Retreat Center in Norman, OK—you can check out the retreat center at www.sullivantretreat.com Lodging, gatherings, and food are all centralized in one building—housing will be 4-5 per room with bathrooms, showers, bedding, and linens in each room.

New Format: our new format will consist of breakout groups that are separated by individual interest i.e. creative arts, church planting, youth ministry, etc… You will meet with these breakouts three times over the weekend. Also, the new format will have two focused times of worship and individual reflection. And an additional piece to the new format is having some organized activities planned for Friday after lunch for those who want to participate (golf, paintball, fishing, etc…).

New Opportunity: We are very excited about this opportunity that will be available to everyone that wants it and that time allows. We’ve felt over the past few years that each individual comes to Ignite carrying with him or her stresses, situations, or ministry restlessness that would greatly benefit from an impartial listening ear and a voice of wisdom. This year we will have an experienced ministry leader who will be with us the whole weekend solely there to listen, counsel, and pray for those who would love someone to talk to. I think we all could benefit from this opportunity.

New Cost: I saved this one for last. :) One of our financial objectives is to keep the price as low as possible so that all that want to attend can afford it and for the last 4 years we haven’t raised our price. But what we’ve created is an unrealistic revenue flow to match our expenses. In lieu of that tension, we’ve raised the price to $135.00 for the weekend. This price includes: lodging for 2 nights, 5 meals, free resources (new to this year), scholarships for attendees, and basic registration costs to cover weekend expenses. If money is an obstacle for you to attend we will do our best to remove it, so please let us know.

The dates for Ignite 2010 are May 6th-8th (Thursday night thru Saturday @ 12:00 pm)and you can register at www.igniteleadership.org

In our next email, we’ll be letting you know what the weekend will look like and who will be leading out each conversation. We expect a special and impactful weekend this year. Please be in prayer now for the direction, speakers, and those who might attend. We definitely want God’s movement and inspiration in everything that we do.

Ignite's Leadership Team

White Man's Overbite

igniteleadership@gmail.com (Ignite Leadership Conference 08) — Fri, 9 Oct 2009 11:52:00 -0700

So I was on vacation driving on Highway 101 north of San Francisco when in front of me I saw a car with its left blinker blinking continuously. Now when wondering what demographic the driver of that car might be I have to admit my thoughts drifted to one adorable demographic—old. And as I drive by I realize that my horrible stereotyping has been proven once again. And I’m like, “come on bro…do your sector a favor and stand against the stereotypes of the blinking blinker, but no, you’ve given further validation for stereotypes that fit.”

Why don’t I bite my bottom lip when rocking the baby on the dance floor? Why don’t I try to get rim in gym full of athletes? Why don’t I wear white tennis shoes with white washed Levi’s jeans? Why won’t I put polarizing Christian bumper stickers on the back of my vehicle? Because I don’t want to affirm certain misguided and categorizing stigmas that affect whatever demographic I might find myself in. I don’t want to give anyone any more ammunition to hold onto negative thoughts and presumptuous attitudes towards me and the group that I represent.

So here’s my question: Should the Church care about breaking down and avoiding certain stereotypes that are often attached to Christians or the Church? Should we be aware of what others think of us, expect from us, and the thoughts that they’re connecting with us? And if so, should we do things differently in order to combat those generalized stereotypes?

Let’s discuss.

Jeff

Assaulting Christoplatonism

igniteleadership@gmail.com (Ignite Leadership Conference 08) — Thu, 3 Sep 2009 10:46:00 -0700

Generally speaking, Western Xians are Christoplatonists, meaning they tend toward dualism. They bifurcate life between things physical and spiritual...material and immaterial, and like Plato exalt the immaterial while demonizing the physical. Xians shouldn't be dualists. It's a non-biblical worldview that fragments life and denies Christ's Lordship over all creation. This dualism impacts so many areas, but one important area of Xian teaching it has wreaked havoc on is the doctrine of the bodily resurrection.

One way to think about the Platonic influence is many Christians would say our souls are just occupying these bodies for a short time. And so most Xians look forward to being disembodied. They want to be done with the physical and move on to some wholly spiritual plane where there body isn’t measured in pounds and inches. These people will even say at the death of a loved one…”that’s not really him lying there.” Which is slightly true, but it also very un-true.

What am I saying? If you looked back to the Creation account in Genesis 2. Adam was not a human being until Adam became what the Hebrew calls nephesh…until God joined his body (dust) and spirit (breath) together. Which is to say Adam was not alive until he had both materiel and immaterial components. Your body is more than just a shell. Your body is a very real part of the real you…and it will join you, more alive than it’s ever been at the final resurrection. So what I am saying is when we die, it isn’t that our real self goes to the intermediate Heaven and our fake self goes to the grave; it’s that a real part of us goes to the intermediate Heaven and real part goes to the grave to await our bodily resurrection at the consummation of all things. I say this because a study showed that two-thirds of the people that believe in heaven don’t believe it’s a physical place.

So what's your view of eternal life? Some whispy, ethereal, spirit world existence where you get to be a wraith and float through eternity? Or is it physical? Eternal, physical life on a new redeemed planet earth?

Isn't the physical so much more exciting to think about? That's because it's true.

And why do I bring all this up? Well, if our vision of things to come doesn’t involve a new physical heaven and new physical earth that we’ll inhabit as whole, physical creatures then Satan wins. But if the physical world is made new and is redeemed then Jesus wins. So if we conceive a future where all things are indeed new—as Christ promised and Paul preached—then we are on our way toward holism. Which means we are moving away from Christoplatonism.

Jay Risner

Faith Bible Church--Edmond, OK

Good Summer Reads...

igniteleadership@gmail.com (Ignite Leadership Conference 08) — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 12:09:00 -0700

One thing I love about the summer is that it seems to always bring to the surface a good book or two. I've been struck and moved this summer by a book that I would have never picked at a conference or at Border's. The name of the book is "Why Revival Tarries" by Leonard Ravenhill. It's an old school book with a relevant punch. It really challenged me in regards to my prayer life as a leader and as a teacher. What book has moved and challenged you this summer?

I'm interested in knowing what's the most impactful book that you've read this summer.

List the book name and author and let us know why you were such a fan of it.

Jeff

Band-Aids, Lids, or Rubber Bands

igniteleadership@gmail.com (Ignite Leadership Conference 08) — Wed, 5 Aug 2009 00:26:00 -0700

Regardless of the place of leadership that we find ourselves at—we have a myriad of opportunities to influence and shape those that we’re leading. But how are we influencing and shaping them?

In my short 10 years of ministry and leadership I’ve observed and identified three possible objects that we can find ourselves becoming as leaders. I know some of you might wonder where the “tool” object is, but will keep it to three.

BAND-AIDS: this place of leadership protects and covers those they’re leading to a fault. When you lead from this place you’re the great protector and defender of those you’re leading; covering up their weaknesses, fighting their fights, and deflecting any honest and healthy critique.

LIDS: this place of leadership suppresses potential and growth moments of those that they’re leading. When you lead from this place you rarely allow others to have “real” opportunities to grow, succeed, fail, and learn. Typically, excellence and quality control are the reasons given to justify few opportunities for those on their team to excel and grow.

RUBBER BANDS: this place of leadership releases potential, empowers others, and brings the best out of those that they’re leading. When you lead from this place you’re always looking for opportunities to share or give away to those you’re leading. This place of leadership cares more about the individual becoming what they’re supposed to become than the potential cost/loss of not so excellent endeavors. Intentionality is subtle, yet very present. Opportunities and exposure to failure become the norm in this place of leadership.

What’s humbling is the fact that I think any of us at any given season of our leadership can become band-aids or lids without fully realizing it. And in the process we’re hurting those we’re leading whether we’re guarding them or keeping them chained in their leadership. It's always a good reminder to evaluate where we're at and why we're there.

What are common situations/scenarios that you’ve seen played out in any of three styles of leadership?

And what do you believe are the underlying motives/emotional places that each of these styles of leadership is overflowing from?

What is the best “rubber band” like leader that you’ve been around? Why?

Jeff

Can You Pass The Margin?

igniteleadership@gmail.com (Ignite Leadership Conference 08) — Wed, 8 Jul 2009 10:30:00 -0700

Create space. Find margin. Manage discretionary time. Make room for life.

All of these phrases and statements are stellar in theory and desirable, but they seem to be very allusive when it comes to the reality in our lives as leaders.

The last few weeks I’ve had quite a few conversations about finding and keeping margin in the midst of tasks, responsibilities, expectations, and ministry pressure. We’ve talked about creating margin to make space for discipleship to occur. We’ve talked about creating margin so that we can lead others from a better place. We’ve talked about finding margin so that you don’t burnout and suffer ministry fatigue. All of these are valid and worth discussing and being mindful of. But what if the lack of margin in our lives is creating something within us that goes far deeper than what happens in our local contexts of ministry? What if our life minus margin creates something so catastrophic yet so subtle that it slowly and destructively affects our personal lives and the future potential of our own legacy and Kingdom impact?

You see, I’m fairly confident that Kingdom work will get done with individuals who have zero margin in their lives. I’m fairly sure that services will be orchestrated with few hiccups in Sunday morning services throughout the country. I’m certain that policies will be enforced, structures upheld, and meetings will continue to occur without leaders who have healthy margin in their lives. And that’s part of the problem. Ministry will continue to happen, applause can still rain on our leadership, and Kingdom moments will continue to be seen, as the margin in our lives vanishes like a shooting star. And the norm of our leadership is a norm that is without margin and space. So what’s the big deal? Our tasks are getting done and our people aren’t complaining. So what are we losing? I believe quite a bit actually. And what we lose within us is transferrable to what the faith communities we lead are not experiencing thru us.

When we lead and live with little to no margin for the spontaneous, the trivial, and the things that give us enjoyment and energy—I believe two major losses occur:

We’ll lose our joy in leadership. When we learn to lead without margin in our lives something slowly, but surely happens—our joy begins to diminish. The ministry moments that used to bring us to enthusiasm, courageous prayers, and that kept us up all night have led us to angst, frustration, and dutiful serving. The rich joy that should be in all of our lives has moved to a state of happiness, swinging to extremes as our settings and situations move for the better or worse. The ultimate destination for those of us called to vocational ministry is that we begin to see our work as a job and not a ministry.

What happens when we lead without joy? How do we know when our joy is beginning to falter? How do we regain our joy when it’s disappeared?

We’ll lose our dreams for the Kingdom. What is interesting about this major loss is that many of us have gotten so used to colorless dreams, small visions, and Sunday to Sunday task management that we forgot what it felt like to carry dreams that God has given us. We’ve forgotten about the “what if” conversations. We’ve forgot what it feels like to talk about dreams that leave us vulnerable and surface more questions than we have answers. I strongly believe that when our margin is limited that are Kingdom dreams will mirror that margin. Dreams are birthed in prayer and fellowship with Christ. And when that fellowship is forced and thrown on your calendar as a thirty minute appointment we’ll probably be hard pressed to hear His dream’s for our lives. Do you think the dreams God gave us at 20 where given because of our age? I don’t think so; we haven’t created enough space to hear all the hopes and dreams He continues to have for our lives. His dreams should stay within us and out in front us until we breathe our last breath. God, help us to dream again.

When was the last time you dreamt something God-sized? What would happen in our local context of ministry if we began to dream again?

How do we maintain margin? Can healthy margin be attained with the common pressures, expectations, and responsibilities that modern day Christian leaders carry? And do you have any other major inner losses that we suffer when margin is neglected?

Chime in...let's discuss this ongoing wrestling match...Jeff

Facebook or Sit On The Couch

igniteleadership@gmail.com (Ignite Leadership Conference 08) — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 13:54:00 -0800

What if we spend more time to know than to be known? This is something that I’ve wrestled with in my mind, but have had a hard time articulating. We have so many outlets in which others can hear our words, see our status updates, twitter with us, and feel and process thru our angst. From blogs to twitter to YouTube to facebook—there are many opportunities to be heard and known. But what can all this lead too? I think there is an allure to build our own kingdom, create our own groupies, and strive entirely too hard to be known. I’m not sure this is a new issue, but with the technology that is now readily available to anybody, it’s becoming drastically obvious. One of my co-workers, Lee Coate did a blog post on the Christian Celebrity Syndrome and I think there is something to that on why we do what we do with technology and networking. I’m not anti-technology by no means, but with all things there should be appropriate balance and a motive check regularly. I’m not sure any of us would jump up and admit that we’ve got some weird agenda with what we’re doing, but I think it lies deep within most of us.

The sole reason why I’m writing this is because I just put my daughter down for a nap and my son is sleeping as well. For the first time all day I’ve got some peace and quiet. My initial reaction was to open up facebook and see what’s going on and if someone has commented on my status or some of my pictures. And in that moment I realized—I’m always struggling to get some time alone with God. I’m always griping about my schedule or the pressures of ministry that make things difficult for me to connect with Christ. But here I am logging in on facebook—when I’d be much better off to sit on the couch and know God a little better than I did yesterday. Not to know God so I write a real engaging blog piece, but to know God because He is God and for a very strange reason He freaking loves me to pieces. I think we’d all be better to know Him than for others to come to know us.

Bottom Line: Spend more time knowing Him than having yourself be known.

Jeff

Register for Ignite 2009

igniteleadership@gmail.com (Ignite Leadership Conference 08) — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 08:07:00 -0800

Fill out my Wufoo form!

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Fanny Pack's and Sweater Vests

igniteleadership@gmail.com (Ignite Leadership Conference 08) — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 22:27:00 -0800

So I’m super stoked because I got to wear a new pair of shoes that I got for Christmas today. I know it’s not Christmas yet, but me and my wife exchange gifts early. They’re Steve Madden’s, which I highly endorse and wear. And I am a little bias, but they’re sweet, cool, and any other adjective you’d like to throw out there. But as I stare down at them I begin to wonder why do I really care about what kind of shoe’s I wear? I mean I do love shoes, but there has got to be a deeper reason. And there is—I want to dress in a way that doesn’t look outdated, disconnected, dorky, and irrelevant. I work with teenagers and the last thing I need working against me is irrelevance, right? I want to be relevant. And for whatever reason I believe that my shoes might help me in that pursuit. But as I think about relevance and the importance or unimportance of it I automatically think about the local church. I’ve seen many things done in the name of relevance that make sense and that cause cultural laughter. I’ve also seen many ministries sacrifice many essentials and sound truth in pursuit of being “cool” or progressive. Don’t get me wrong I’m the one buying Steve Madden’s to appear to be relevant to teenagers, so I don’t necessarily disagree with engaging culture in a relevant way, but at what cost? What I’ve seen in leadership and I strongly believe is that we in the church are pretty good at preoccupying ourselves with things that tend to drift us away from the “main thing”. I guess for me it is trying to live in the tension of when it matters to be relevant and when it doesn’t. And I’m pretty sure Jesus has some very glaring examples and ways of life that would be “relevant” to this discussion.

Does the local church need to buy sweet Steve Madden’s to help their image to the culture and society around them? Does relevance matter? And can there be a marriage between cultural relevance and biblical faithfulness? Can the church be irrelevant to culture and be highly effective in reaching cities, communities, and families for Christ? What could relevance look like beyond expensive sound equipment, cool architectural design, and highly produced services?

Dictionary.com / Relevance: applicability and pertinence.

Let’s Discuss.

Jeff

The Evolution of Angst

igniteleadership@gmail.com (Ignite Leadership Conference 08) — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 12:11:00 -0800

As a young Christian leader I've felt that I've been around many of my beloved peers who have an unbelievable amount of angst towards the Church. I have to admit there are many reasons why one would find themselves a little frustrated about certain realities of the condition of the Church. But what has become increasingly worrisome for myself is that those who live with such angst usually resort to one of two options to resolve it: leave the church (the institution) or go plant a church. It's almost like when you went to a friend's house and you brought the cool toy and whenever you weren't able to play with it as much as you wanted--you'd rip the toy out of your friend's hands and you'd take your toy and go home. It's almost as if the angst has taken many of my dear friends to a place of "I'm taking my toy and going home" and I may never come back. Or they resort to planting a church. Out of the many conversations I've had with friends who want to plant a church--there is only one individual who actually desired to plant a church due to the leading of God to do so. All of the others flowed out of their frustration with their local church and their great desire to find a good reason to leave. Scary you ask--very much so.

So what's up with the angst? When is it healthy? When is it lethal? Where is the line when it gets very close to resulting in bitterness?

Let's talk about the evolution of angst amonst young leaders.

Jeff

Eat & Drink--For Tomorrow We Die

igniteleadership@gmail.com (Ignite Leadership Conference 08) — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 09:56:00 -0800

It's been a too long since my last post. I have a good reason though. It's been 70 days since my son Carter was born and he's finally home with us. Thank you God and thank all of you who have lifted him up in your prayers. It's been a blur, but a good one. So I've been thinking...

There is a statement that I’ve heard over a thousand times in which I fully agree with: “you have to learn how to lead and love of out of the overflow of your life”. And I feel with some exceptions that most ministry leaders not only understand the importance of this principle, but also shift their life accordingly to uphold it.

There is another statement that I’ve heard hundreds of times that I fully agree with as well. But this principle I haven’t heard in staff meetings or ministry conferences as of late—I hear this every time I board an airplane. “In case of a sudden decrease in cabin pressure an oxygen mask will drop for you to place on your nose—if traveling with children please make sure to place your mask on first then place their mask on them.”

This statement covers the first ministry principle that we led off with, but speaks to one that I’m not sure we’re fully executing and talking about anymore. We’re very good at putting our own oxygen mask on while those around us are gasping for air.

This all hit me when I was reading this short book in the Bible without any chapters named Jude. It’s nestled in between III John and Revelation, a very precarious spot for this little book. In this book Jude is warning followers of Christ against godless men who are perverting, twisting, and manipulating the Gospel message for their own gain. They were taking the truth and coercing it into a compliant, self-preserving faith. (another post for another day)

But the verse that really struck me and convicted me was found in verse 12, “These men are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm—shepherds who feed only themselves.” They are airline passengers who only give oxygen to themselves.

This wouldn’t be a big deal for me if it didn’t seem to be within my selfish and impure reach. It’s so easy to pursue personal growth, spiritual development, and a myriad of ministry visions and convictions. And what’s even more difficult about these endeavors is that we get applause, affirmation, and ministry credibility for almost all of these pursuits. And to be clear—these are God-honoring pursuits when the motives are pure and the impact gives glory to God. But unfortunately, I find within myself an ever constant battle brewing between pure and impure motives—between impacting God’s Kingdom and building my own—between investing and feeding those around me or hoarding the grain for myself.

And the scary landing point is that we become shepherds who only feed ourselves. We become consumed with our own stomachs being filled beyond what’s normal and healthy. We begin to see people as objects instead of people. We begin look for ladders to climb and agendas to fulfill. We belly up to the spiritual and ministry buffet and eat all we can. Simultaneously, those who are in our leadership wake are weak and malnourished. They keep following, wandering, and hoping for food and feasting from the ones who were called to be suppliers, developers, and shepherds.

And the end of the day there is a fine line for all of us leadership between being the one that is warned and being the one that is warned about.

Questions To Discuss:

What are the ripples of those in leadership who are only concerned about feeding themselves?

What are some personal and ministry indicators that we’re not feeding those that we’re leading?

What are some practical and realistic ways that we, as leaders, can pour into those that we’re leading?

Justice For The Sake Of...In The Name Of...not sure.

igniteleadership@gmail.com (Ignite Leadership Conference 08) — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 15:23:00 -0700

Joseph Bottum has written a recent article in First Things (its a journal you can’t find at the Christian bookstore) about the death of protestant America, underscoring the overwhelming decline of the mainline church in the last 50 years. One thing he does is relate the mainline’s exchange of theological conviction for the sake of social/political action as a source for the decline. It is without debate that the mainline church’s welcome embrace of liberal theology contributed to its demise, but Bottum goes a step further and says when they gave more attention to social action than they did theological conviction they not only loss numbers they became less and less relevant.

The quotation from Joseph Bottum that I’d like for us to chew on is this one:

“The churches’ desperate hunger to mean more in politics and economics had the perverse effect of making them less effective opponents of the political and economic pressures on the nation. They mattered more when they wanted to matter less.”

I bring this up for a couple of reasons. One of them was because of my experience with the Leadership Summit. I loved the Leadership Summit, but I am developing an hypothesis about something I observed there. Almost all the speakers at the Summit championed some form of social justice cause, and from my understanding Willow has really tuned in to the social justice and human rights need’s around the world. This is a good thing, maybe the best thing the influential mega-church has contributed up to this point. Justice is important to God, and to seek his heart through prioritizing these causes is crucial. BUT, when theological convictions are lacking it is quite natural to rally around social agendas. Further, this is often done at expense of strong, stated theological convictions. Everyone would get on board with feeding the hungry, basic human rights, AIDS in Africa, etc... You could even get a seeker to do that.

Now, at a place like Willow, which has a wonderful heart for Evangelism, but wouldn’t be known for its deep theological conviction or strong gospel proclamation you have to wonder if they will naturally gravitate toward social justice issues. I am not calling Willow Creek liberal, I just think the slope is slippery. When you begin championing causes in Christ’s name without boldly exalting and proclaiming Christ’s gospel you can look up in 15 years and be running purely social ministries with no great sense of what you actually believe and proclaim about Christ and his finished work on the cross.

It goes back to how I introduced my talk at ignite. “An assumed gospel is a non-transforming gospel.” Without a robust, full, stated, continually proclaimed gospel in your ministry (whether social or not) real change simply will not happen. Because ONLY the gospel can change a man’s heart. It only has the power and sufficiency to set captives free.

Therefore, what the quotation from Joseph Bottum is really saying is...if churches try to incite change through the political process, social agendas, human rights initiatives (all good things to do) without a sense of strong theological conviction—conviction oriented toward the sufficient power of Christ crucified, buried, and resurrected (the ultimate thing), then 1), you are not ultimately solving problems because the gospel is holistic and without a proclaimed gospel you are simply doing charity and 2), in the long run unregenerate people cannot sustain such activity, thus the death of the mainline church. Therefore churches are actually serving the culture better by changing people’s hearts rather than raising the banner for social/political causes.

Now, I agree with a both/and approach. There is no reason to give in to the fallacy of the excluded middle.

Tim Keller summarizes it well: “A church must be more deeply and practically committed to deeds of compassion and social justice than traditional liberal churches and more deeply and practically committed to evangelism and conversion than traditional fundamentalist churches. This kind of church is profoundly counter-intuitive to American observers. It breaks their ability to categorize (and dismiss) it as liberal or conservative. Only this kind of church has any chance in the non-Christian west.” - Tim Keller

I think it’s crucial to maintain such balance. I just hope others do as well.

Jay Risner

The Grass Is Greener In Ethiopia

igniteleadership@gmail.com (Ignite Leadership Conference 08) — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 17:07:00 -0700

Just recently I read an article in Time magazine that was speaking about the current situation in Ethiopia. The article was talking about how green and lush the plants and vegetation are as you stroll into the country. And it would seem plausible because of all the money and aid that has been poured into Ethiopia. But there’s more than meets the eyes as one foreign worker said, “It’s very bizarre—it’s so green. But you have all these people dying from hunger.” A country that has been receiving over a billion dollars years internationally for years, yet people are still constantly dying of starvation. What appears to be so healthy and right, isn’t?

In 2008—the U.S. will give more than $800 million dollars to Ethiopia—breakdown:

460 million—food
350 million—HIV / Aids Treatment
7 million—Agricultural Development & Creating Infrastructure

What’s so alarming about this breakdown is that there is a lot of money being thrown at the problems at hands, which I understand are huge issues, but the money being given to actually allow the Ethiopian people to develop themselves and their country is way out of proportion to what’s given to the two other areas. Development was at the bottom of the rung when it came to where the money was being directed. When in actuality, its development that will help their country stabilize, grow, and be self-feeding.

What hit me about this article is the close parallel it runs with the American Church.

Have we spent more money, time, and effort meeting short term needs or desired wants that in the process we’ve neglected the underlying issues of spiritual growth and development? Are we spending more on giving away fish and not teaching others how to fish?

Are our budgets and resources in the local church aligned and proportionate with the spiritual development that is needed? Are they aligned and proportionate to what the Scriptures would deem valuable and worthy of our investment?

Has the competition mentality within the Church led to quick-fix’s and band aids that bring people in the door and meet desired needs, but we've neglected to create and fund a sustaining and developing environment that grows, nurtures, and empowers followers of Christ?

Now I know things aren’t as simple as they sound. Almost everything is more complicated underneath the surface. But are we really directing our resources to the places that we would say promote and produce the most life transformation?

How would injustices be impacted for the Kingdom? What kind of followers of Christ would come forth? What kind of community involvement and partnerships would take place?

If we looked at how churches are staffed and how budgets are separated—I don’t think it would take very long to see most of our resources are geared towards the Sunday morning service. I was asked yesterday what would you do with more resources for development if they were there. I can’t say that I’ve got that figured out, but I would love to start a conversation thread about it. Let’s talk

If the resources were redirected proportionally to spiritual development and discipleship what specifically would the money be spent on?

I know there are so many other angles that one could take in regards to why we resource like we do, but let’s spend this conversation on working thru the question above.

Jeff Henson

The Pope or The Band of Brothers

igniteleadership@gmail.com (Ignite Leadership Conference 08) — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 22:26:00 -0700

I had the privilege of growing up with a very tight knit group of friends who were all followers of Christ and who strangely enough all went into full time ministry. A centerpiece of conversation would always be around the idea of all of us coming together and doing ministry together at the same place. It could have been a church plant, an existing church, or any other place that would allow us to work and serve side by side. This is a dream I know is shared by many other individuals who long to do ministry with those in their close inner circle.

But one of the interesting snags that we would always ponder or chew on was who would be the “lead guy”? Who would be the one with the “Senior Pastor” name placard? When the buck needed to stop, who would stop it? When the red button needed to be pushed, who would push it? I know, you get the point. So we would always go round and round on who that might be or who it would probably be.

All of this leads me to what I’ve been thinking about a lot lately. Why is it needed in a community of faith to have that guy? Does the local church need the hierarchal leader or does the leader need the hierarchal structure? Is it possible for called individuals to share the burden of strategy, teaching, and vision and then be specialists in different areas?

I think it is. You can put four (for the sake of understanding & visualizing) individuals on a flattened plane of leadership. They come together to discuss strategy and the future direction of the church. They share the teaching load. I’ve always believed a fresh voice that has ample time to prepare is always better than the primary teacher model doing 80% of the teaching. Each time I teach for our main service, I’m reminded of the unbelievable amount of time needed to accurately handle the truth of God. Its takes so much time during that week that any other areas of giftedness barely see the light of day. My leadership gift is minimally used and my shepherding gift stays in the gift wrap. This concept would allow all gifts to be exercised and fully used. Shared leadership also decentralizes leadership from being on any one person. Whether its vision, innovation, or pastoral care—these don’t have to come from the same person. So if someone is stuck in a rut for a season, it’s ok. It’s a team effort. This team approach also minimizes any transitions in leadership. If someone goes off to another ministry or church—it can be celebrated and the proper sending off can be given, because the local church will move forward because it’s not grounded upon one individual, but on a team. This destroys the personality driven churches and ministries that happen intentionally or by accident. The accountability bar would be raised significantly as four would converge in sharing life and ministry together. All significant decisions would be shared by all on the leadership team. Each person on the team would be a specialist in an area or focus. For instance you may have one whose focus is student ministries, one whose focus is spiritual formation, one whose focus is creative arts, and one whose focus is children’s. The church’s strategy would dictate what those areas would be, but that gives you an idea of what I’m speaking of. So, each person apart of the team has a ministry focus to lead and an area to devote a majority of their gifts to. This leadership structure would have to be based upon trust, honesty, and true calling. And I believe those involved would have to have a strong leadership gift and ideally a majority of those on the team should have a teaching gift as well.

I have to admit that I’m at a church in which the leadership is healthy, grounded, humble, and of strong integrity. So I’m not writing this in response to a bad situation that I’m experiencing. Even though I know many who will read this are in very difficult situations caused by egotistical and unhealthy leadership. And I’m not even trying to presume that this way of structuring things is the only way, but an avenue to be contemplated. This has really been provoked by thinking of what could be and possibly what should be. And just maybe this is a glimpse into the future of the local church.

Where did the existing structure of what most local churches have in place begin?

I’ve always wrestled with this question and really never thought it mattered to answer it. I’ve come to the conclusion I’d rather figure it out than blindly moving forward accepting ecclesiastical norms. It’s very apparent in the Old Testament we had the “lead guy”: Moses, Abraham, David, and the list could go on and on…But when we look to the New Testament it’s not that clear. Sure there are leaders present and there should be—it’s a spiritual gift given by God. But can we really come to a genuine confidence in seeing the hierarchal structure in place through the New Testament Scriptures? What we do see is a community of faith that is constantly leveraging each other’s gifts, resources, and meeting the needs of those who had need. It’s interesting in the epistles of Paul that he wrote them to the Church at Philippi, Galatia, Ephesus, and Colosse. They were known by their location and their church community more than by the individual who was their leader. If there was such an individual.

I have a sneaky suspicion that the modern day model of the hierarchy of the local church began and became normal due to insecurities and sinful reasoning, not pure and holy motives. A leader's fear of being imperfect or held accountable. A leader's desire to control and manipulate. A leader's desire to be the man and to have all things fall and rise upon them. A leader's lust to build their own kingdom and promote their own agenda, not God’s. And even possibly a community of faith's artificial need to want a king and a kingdom to build eventhough the King and the Kingdom is already present.

A couple push back’s that I’ve received in regards to New Testament biblical examples of a hierarchal way of doing things.

The Trinity.

The other is the biblical text concerning husband and wife. There is obviously a hierarchy spoken of with the man being over the wife and Christ is over the Church. But can we really transfer what should be in the marriage relationship to the local church?

I’d love to hear your opinion on this subject and any insight or scriptural direction to the leadership structure of the church.

Jeff Henson

Check it Out

igniteleadership@gmail.com (Ignite Leadership Conference 08) — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 08:14:00 -0700

“Well intentioned Christians, armed with the latest insights in organizational theory, let their pragmatic and utilitarian hearts delude themselves into thinking they could organize, measure, and control the mystical working of the Holy Spirit in community in order to consistently reproduce disciples in other contexts.”
“Then these people starting writing books and hosting seminars. And then church leaders like you and me bought into what they were saying because we didn’t recognize that the same faulty worldview that produced a mechanized approach to Christian community fostered a ready-made market in our hearts to consume their quick-fix solutions.”

*Brian Jones

To Read the rest of his article go here

The blog by Brian Jones is an interesting perspective that I believe will definitely provoke good discussion. But I do believe that saying we should euthanize the role of small groups in our churches is sensationalism at its finest. The structure of small groups within the context of the local church have impacted many lives, provided much needed Christ-like care and encouragement, and in many cases became an entry point for Christians to be transformed into passionate and obedient followers of Christ. So for me the idea to throw out the baby with the bath water is a stretch. Now I do agree with Mr. Jones in the sense that Evangelicals have jumped on this structure to be the cure all for spiritual health, spiritual growth, and community. Like all things—something good led out by those who have ulterior, selfish, and lazy motives will lead to an impotent and lifeless end. And I think much of the frustration that we feel towards any structure that “ensures” spiritual growth is that we’ve seen Christian leaders who manipulate and use it for their own name and church not for Christ’s name and His Church. But we can’t allow those observations to skew the reality of life-change and transformation that is happening within many small groups across the country.

Personally, I do think we’d like to think that spiritual transformation could optimally happen within one structure and context. But I believe that someone becoming like Christ is going to be transformed into His likeness through many avenues, structures, and experiences. Small groups may be one of them—a Sunday morning Bible study may be one of them—a men’s retreat may be one of them—becoming like Christ is a very blurry and unpredictable thing to pin point. And because of that it does make us as leaders; vulnerable, fearful, powerless, and God-reliant. And for whatever reason, that’s a place most of us don’t like being in, but it’s the very place where God wants us---humble and reliant.

There is nothing that we do that can replace the powerful, life-giving Spirit of God. And it is very easy to rely on the structures that we construct to produce results that may be shallow and unstable. But I do think a selected structure can coexist with the mighty Spirit of God at the core and freely moving. In Acts 6 we see the disciples who had to resort to creating a structure to meet the needs of the widows and to execute the daily distribution of food. With their leadership they developed a plan with the agreement of the Holy Spirit and reflect the heart of God to those in need.

Those of us who are pursuing Jesus need to be in community, we need to be growing in our understanding, knowledge, and application of the Word of God. Wherever and however this happens doesn’t really matter as long as these things are being weaved into a believer’s life. But as a leader this doesn’t give me the freedom to neglect my gift of leadership, become passive, and to not create environments where individuals can encounter Christ—that’s negligence.

*Jeff Henson

Session 4

igniteleadership@gmail.com (Ignite Leadership Conference 08) — Mon, 5 May 2008 12:41:00 -0700

Shield:
Protecting Yourself As A Leader
Casey Cariker
Rejoice Church
Owasso, OK

Session 3

igniteleadership@gmail.com (Ignite Leadership Conference 08) — Mon, 5 May 2008 12:37:00 -0700

Spread:
Multiplying Your Leadership
Jeff Henson
The Crossing Christian Church
Las Vegas, NV

Leadership Roundtable

igniteleadership@gmail.com (Ignite Leadership Conference 08) — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 20:39:00 -0700

Leadership Roundtable
Mike Hickerson
Heartland Community Church
Rockford, IL

Session 2

igniteleadership@gmail.com (Ignite Leadership Conference 08) — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 20:33:00 -0700

Stoke:
Developing Yourself As A Leader
Jay Risner
Faith Bible Church
Edmond, OK

Session 1

igniteleadership@gmail.com (Ignite Leadership Conference 08) — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 20:27:00 -0700

Spark:
Identifying Your Leadership Potential
Scott Cornelius
Willow Creek Community Church
South Barrington, IL

Topics for This Year's Conference

igniteleadership@gmail.com (Ignite Leadership Conference 08) — Tue, 8 Apr 2008 16:06:00 -0700

Hello everyone,

Thursday thru Saturday–April 17th - 19th at Jacob’s Ladder Retreat Center

Spark:
Identifying Your Leadership Potential

Stoke:
Developing Yourself As A Leader

Spread:
Multiplying Your Leadership

Shield:
Protecting Yourself As A Leader