1. Read
2. File
3. Think
4. Ask Questions
5. Write

Though I do not have an ambition to write 70 books in my lifetime, I do believe that coming up with a “Rule of Five” of my own is a necessary step in reaching my full, God-given potential as a pastor. With that said my “Rule of Five” that I will execute everyday from now until the end of the year is:

1. Pray
2. Read
3. Write
4. File
5. Determine “Top 3″ (List of 3 most important things I must get done each day.)

What is your “Rule of Five?”

We watched a message together on the topic of Love, Sex and Dating and after the message was over, the plan was to discuss the content.

But after the message was over, I was faced with a leadership challenge.

Do I break the young adults up into smaller groups and have them facilitate a discussion on their own, or do I lead a discussion amongst the 20 of us?

Though it might seem like an easy decision for you, it was a hard one for me.

It was a great message and I wanted to hear what everyone thought. Not only did I want to hear what everyone thought, but I also figured that I would be the best one at asking the right questions in the right way to get the discussion going in the best way.

I am so thankful I decided otherwise.

In allowing the group to break up into three smaller groups, three things took place that wouldn’t have taken place if we were in a large group.

1. The three facilitators I chose to lead the groups had an opportunity to step up.
2. Everyone had more of an opportunity to share within their groups.
3. I was able to trust that God could work within the group without my facilitation! (I’m so arrogant, I know.)

The leadership lesson I learned, though it may already be obvious to you, was this: Let go. God doesn’t need you as much as you think He does!

How/when do you struggle with “letting go” within ministry?

I can’t talk about what the goal is just yet, but I did want to blog about today because if it is God’s will for this goal to come to pass, I want to remember that it was on October 8, 2012 that we first placed our faith in God for this God-sized goal!

Stay tuned!

THE Event.

Towards the end of this past summer, in an effort to jump start our Fall program, God gave me a vision to execute the biggest, most highly anticipated and most highly attended event in the 2+ year existence of our high school ministry!

And this past Sunday, by the grace of God, that vision came to pass!

Under the leadership of our 12-person leadership team and over 20 other recruited volunteers, we hosted 90+ high school students at our “carnival style” event that included minute-to-win-it games, sumo suits, a pizza truck, dancers, a live dj, a dunk tank, free caricature drawings, a photo booth, cotton candy, popcorn, an awesome raffle and dancing!!!

Being that we had never had over 50 high-school students at an event hosted at our church before, this was a huge success!

“THE event” will be a great memory for us to share for many years to come. I am so proud of our team and how we worked together to pull off this event, but I am even more thankful to God for answering our prayer that this event be our biggest and best yet.

Only time will tell how many students will continue to attend our ministry as a result of coming to this event, but of this one thing I’m sure – we were obedient in carrying out the vision that God placed on our hearts!

What is a God-sized vision that God has given you that you are currently carrying out?