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As Pastors and church leaders, it can be difficult to communicate to our people the difficult questions posed by natural disasters like those currently occurring in Maui. It is understandable that when we are confronted with tragedies, our first question is often, "Why would God allow this to happen?" Like you, I don't have all the answers, but in this week's blog, I want to offer some faith-based perspectives to help in communicating with our churches and prayerfully help our people process the events and how we can support those affected. The question of "why" is a natural response, a desire to understand the chaos and make sense of the senseless. And we often think that if we could comprehend a reason and purpose behind it, all the pain would somehow be easier to bear. However, this perspective, although common, does not truly aid us during times of crisis. For it is not in explanations that we find solace, but in strength, comfort, support, and the salvation our Savior offers. Even amid tragedies, our faith tells us that the primary concern of God is not to provide us with a rationale behind the tragedy but to encourage us to trust Him and live by faith. Through this lens, we must look at the disasters around us and our lives. Our ability to deal with crises is not rooted in understanding why these happen but rather in our willingness to trust God regardless of circumstances. We may still be left with questions and an aching heart, but we can take courage in the knowledge that God will never leave or forsake us. This does not mean the pain is any less real or the hurt is insignificant; however, it gives us hope to cling to when all else fails. Embrace Faith Even In Tragedy Experiencing tragedy can lead us on an unexpected journey of faith. This journey involves trust, surrender, and humility as we recognize that we cannot fully understand the complexities of life. Faith acts as a guiding light and anchor during difficult times. It does not ignore our pain but helps us accept it and grow closer to God. Faith is not about finding reasons for our suffering but seeking comfort, strength, and assurance from God. It encourages us to move beyond our doubts and fears and find peace in God's love and wisdom. Even in tragedy, we are never alone. God is there, shaping us into something new. Instead of questioning why we suffer, we should seek God's presence in our pain. Through this, we become vessels of love and grace and can support others through difficult times. Understanding faith in tragedy changes our perspective, shifting our focus from grief to God's goodness, doubts to His promises, and pain to His purpose for us. We often find ourselves trapped in the cycle of 'why,' seeking answers to appease the turmoil within us. Yet, this approach only distracts us from the healing process and may lead us into a more bottomless pit of despair. Rather than asking why, we should ask, 'How can I trust God in this situation?' or 'What can I learn from this experience?' By shifting our focus from understanding the reason behind tragedies to trusting God's sovereignty, we open ourselves to His healing and comforting presence. God's ways are indeed beyond our comprehension. As stated in Isaiah 55:8-9, "'My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,' says the LORD. 'And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.'" This truth reminds us that God's perspective is infinitely greater than ours. His wisdom and understanding surpass our human capabilities, making it impossible for us to grasp the magnitude of His plans and purposes fully. Instead of attempting to rationalize the tragedies we have in this world, we should focus on trusting God's unfathomable wisdom. His ways are not always clear to us, especially during times of crisis, but we can be assured that His plans are driven by love and designed for the ultimate good. Again, this doesn't eliminate suffering but offers hope that transcends our understanding. Embracing the mystery of God's ways can lead to a deeper reliance on Him and a more profound experience of His peace and comfort. The Role of Trust in Tragedy Trust is a central pillar of faith, a stone that builds our relationship with God. Trusting God means believing in His reliability, truth, and ability, even when our circumstances are challenging and our path is unclear. It means accepting God's will, even if it's different from our desires or expectations. When we trust God, we acknowledge He knows what is best for us and surrender our need for control. Trusting God is not a passive acceptance of circumstances but a bold declaration of faith in His love and wisdom. Living by faith means letting our belief in God shape the way we make decisions and take action. Instead of relying solely on our understanding and desires, we seek God's guidance and trust Him to lead us. We choose to do things that align with our faith. We trust God with our needs, dreams, fears, and future. Living by faith doesn't mean we never doubt or struggle but trust God even during those challenges. It's a constant journey of growth, surrender, and transformation. Trusting God is such a powerful way to find resilience when facing tragedy. It helps us process our grief and move ahead with hope. During pain, knowing that God is right there with us, loving and providing for us, gives us the strength we need. We might not always understand why things happen, but what matters most is having God's presence by our side. God's Comfort and Strength God's comfort and strength are incredible, especially when life deals with tragedies. They're like a guiding light, leading us through the darkest nights and reminding us of His love. When something tragic happens, it's hard to see beyond the pain. But remember, God promised to be there for us, to bring comfort in our struggles (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). His comfort isn't just a pat on the back or a sympathetic nod; it's a deep solace that helps us keep going when we feel like we can't. During all the chaos, God gives us strength. We can see His strength when we discover endurance we didn't even realize we had when we're going through tough times and feeling weak and tired. In those moments, we witness the fulfillment of His promise in Isaiah 40:29: "He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless." In tragedy, it's in our weakest moments God's strength shines the brightest. We can find the strength to keep going by holding onto His promises. His comfort helps us get through times of sorrow, and His power gives us what we need to face the challenges of a new day. God's comfort and strength don't magically make the tragedies disappear, but they do give the support we need to get through them. They remind us that we're not alone; our Savior walks with us every step of the way, even carrying us when we can't carry ourselves. God's comfort and strength aren't just abstract ideas but real experiences. They assure us of His love and presence. Even though we may not always understand why something has happened, we can trust that God is good and find comfort and strength in Him. Practical Ways to Help Those in Crisis It's not just about offering prayers and emotional support when tragedy strikes. We also need to take tangible actions to help ease the suffering of those affected. One of the most immediate ways to make a difference is by providing physical aid. This can be in food, clothing, shelter, or financial assistance. Donating to trustworthy relief organizations ensures that our resources reach those who most need them. One such group that I know and love is Convoy of Hope. They are an exemplary organization that reflects the heart of Jesus, bringing help and hope to those affected by tragedies. Founded in 1994, this faith-based, humanitarian-relief organization has worked tirelessly to feed the world through children's feeding initiatives, community outreach, and disaster response. Their mission is to bring help and hope to impoverished, hungry, and hurting people. Convoy of Hope has served millions throughout its journey, showing God's love in tangible ways to the needy and the distraught. They have been the hands and feet of Jesus to disaster-stricken regions, distributing food, water, and emergency supplies and conducting community events to help rebuild lives. In the face of the wildfires in Hawaii, as is the norm, they were one of the first organizations on the ground, providing immediate relief through the local church. Their teams work diligently to coordinate logistics, connecting with local churches to serve the victims effectively. Supporting Convoy of Hope is a practical way to extend our compassion and significantly impact the lives of those in the Maui crisis. By contributing to their mission, we join a convoy of love, service, and hope, bringing relief and transformation to the hurting of this tragedy. As we grapple with the harsh realities of the bad things that happen in this world, those going through them must know they are not alone. Amid the devastation, we can demonstrate God's love in practical ways; as we support and contribute, we partake in a journey of faith, trusting in God's goodness even in the face of adversity. We must remember that our faith is not about understanding every detail of the world's tragedies but about relying on God's comfort and strength. Even in the darkest times, God is working and calls us to join Him in that work. Let's answer that call with faith, trust, and action, knowing we serve a bigger God than any tragedy.

The resurrection of Jesus is not only the most significant event in Christianity, but Easter is one of the world's most celebrated holidays. We celebrate His resurrection. It's a fantastic opportunity for you and your congregation to reach out to those who aren't members of a church. They are more likely to attend a service with a friend or loved one. How do you get your church ready for Easter? The answer lies in preparation - preparation that starts now, long before Easter Sunday or Easter weekend arrives. Here are three keys to keep in mind as you prepare for Easter. First-time guests need to have an experience on Easter weekend that reflects your typical church weekend. Often the church goes all out for a special Easter weekend service that is much different from their normal weekend. The first-time guest recognizes this quickly, and they know that the church is unable to sustain these types of services every weekend. When they do come back to see the service, they're blindsided by a service they're unfamiliar with. Unfortunately, by doing this, we often play a part in people choosing to come only at Easter or Christmas. Plan on speaking to two audiences at the same time. This should be a regular occurrence every weekend. We should always be talking to the committed follower of Jesus as well as people who are just beginning or considering beginning their journey with Jesus. If speaking to both audiences is new to you, tell your people you're shifting and that they can know and trust from now on that you will be speaking to both. This is all about being aware of how much you may need to explain the deep things you teach for those who are new. Give them something to come back to next weekend. Easter is a great weekend to start a new series or end the series on Easter so that new guests come back to a fresh start. Choose a topic to teach that applies to everyone's life. For instance, currently, people are dealing with anger and frustration with others. Yet even through all of that, even though we all sin, Jesus gives us grace. He was willing to give up His own life for each of us and forgive us. Teach your congregation that we should be more like Jesus. We should accept His grace and freely give it to others. Need a place to start for Easter? Check out the free resource from One Voice! Easter is a great time to invite friends and loved ones who might not be part of the Church. Easter is also a wonderful opportunity for churches to plan ahead for Easter services and messages to make the most out of this momentous holiday that we celebrate every year. Easter allows you, as a church, to share Jesus' love and grace in ways that will leave people feeling welcomed and interested in knowing Jesus.

Leadership is a key component in any organization, and it is especially important in the church. Pastors are responsible for not only guiding the congregation spiritually but also for helping to develop the next generation of leaders. It can be difficult to know where to start when it comes to leadership development, but there are a few basic principles that can help get you started. One of the most important things to remember is that leadership development should be a continuous process. It’s not something that happens overnight, and it takes time and effort to truly nurture leadership potential in someone else. There are a few things you can do to help the Next Generation in your church grow up and be more productive leaders. Understanding the Basic Principles of Leadership 1. Develop emotional intelligence. Emotional intelligence is the basis for sound leadership. Every age group can work on accurately identifying specific feelings in themselves and others and managing them constructively. This way they'll solve emotional issues more easily, get along better with others and avoid destructive behavior. 2. Generate compassion. Keep the focus on caring for others. Jesus was clear that we are to "love one another". Let young leaders know that the purpose of becoming more influential is to have a positive impact on society for the sake of God's kingdom. God has made each of our lives to be full of opportunities to serve others with compassion. 3. Take personal responsibility for your life. Show the Next Generation they can take an active role in making things happen. Help them to understand that God has given them the responsibility to make their own choices and that He will guide them. Teach them that leadership starts with leading yourself first and foremost. Leadership Development Strategies Most of these go against our cultural norms. Following Jesus and His leadership typically does. However, to be great in His Kingdom as His leaders we need to follow His plan. These strategies are great for partnering with the parents in your church. Here are several leadership development strategies for parents of younger kids: 1. Delay gratification. There are valuable life lessons in learning to plan ahead and work for rewards. Jesus did this often when He said "my time has not yet come." He led the way in waiting for the Father's time. 2. Learn to read emotions in faces. It's important to become sensitive to non-verbal cues. Great leaders in life have to be able to read people. Parents of younger kids can play games with their own facial expressions or draw pictures. Discuss how someone may look if they were preparing to eat an ice cream cone versus being surprised by a loud noise. 3. Choose your words carefully. Parents and church leaders should encourage kids to select words that convey their affection for others. Ask them to talk about what they like about their siblings or friends. 4. Practice teamwork. Demonstrate that it's fun and effective to cooperate and serve with others. Provide opportunities for families to do service projects together in your ministry. Encourage them to serve along side their kids to help their kids learn the art of teamwork. 5. Mind your manners. This is a great way to challenge and partner with the parents in your ministry in how they are reflecting Jesus. Their kids are watching them to see how to act appropriately in different social situations. Encourage the parents in your church in this. And help them to learn how to encourage their kids for mastering these skills. Leadership Development Strategies for Preteens and Teens 1. Engage in conversation and public speaking. Communication skills play a big part in leadership. Provide opportunities for an in-depth discussion of current events with families. Simple questions to talk about on the car ride home about what they have learned at Church can go a long way in this. I like to call them "car questions". Teaching the same Biblical principle to all generations each week through "One Voice" helps perpetuate this time of communication. As a church and ministry, make opportunities for preteens and teens to speak in Sunday School or youth group meetings. Perhaps you as a Pastor can even give them opportunities in your sermon to share their testimony. 2. Set goals. Kids naturally become more motivated and accomplished when they take ownership of their own goals. Present options to your students but encourage them to choose the objectives they want to pursue. The youth ministry setting is a perfect place to empower students to do this. And it should always be shared with parents so they can be a part of this development process. 3. Think like a critic. Support your students growing capacity for critical thought. This is especially important regarding the application of scripture in their lives. They can evaluate how well they did in living out scripture in different situations to identify areas where God would have them improve or where they want to improve. Even TV shows can be a trigger to discuss peer pressure and making moral decisions. Use illustrations in your messages that parents will be able to talk about at home with their students. 4. Take on leadership tasks. Learning to motivate people and delegate tasks requires practice. When you as a Pastor talk about taking the initiative in the ministries of your church be sure to include and encourage students to do so. It could be as simple as putting together a potluck or family event as an outreach. 5. Develop organizational skills. Young people can hone their management skills by overseeing complex projects. Appoint your students to take charge of the logistics for summer camp or Vacation Bible School or all of the ministry for a few weekends a year. Help guide them in these projects and reach across the generations as a lead pastor. Getting the next generation in your church off to a good start with leadership skills can create a better life for them and help them to become positive influences on others. It will bring new life to your entire church. When the next generation learns to manage themselves and get along with others, they're better prepared for all that God has for them and for the church.

To be an effective leader in the church, it is vital to understand and implement situational leadership. Situational leadership is a style of leadership that is based on the situation that you are in. Jesus used situational leadership throughout His ministry, even though the term did not exist at the time. By understanding and using situational leadership, you can become a more effective leader in your church. Let's face it; a one-size-fits-all leadership style does not meet the demands of an increasingly diverse and growing ministry. Situational leadership offers a more flexible solution and builds healthy churches. What is Situational Leadership? The concept is relatively straightforward. Instead of sticking with what you know or think has always worked in certain circumstances, you adapt your leadership style to different circumstances. If you want to learn how to be more effective in your community, or if your church or ministry has plateaued, then situational leadership can help you. This approach has many benefits. Benefits of Situational Leadership There are four primary benefits of situational leadership. 1. It's More Effective The first benefit is that situational leadership is more effective than other leadership styles. This is because it is based on the premise that there is no one perfect way to lead. Each situation requires a different approach, and leaders must be able to adapt their style to the situation's needs. 2. It Builds Healthy Ministries The second benefit of situational leadership is that it builds healthy churches. This is because it encourages leaders to develop relationships with those they lead. When you take the time to get to know people, you can better understand their needs and how best to lead them. 3. It Teaches Leaders to Be Flexible The third benefit of situational leadership is that it teaches leaders to be flexible. This is a valuable skill because no two situations are exactly the same. Leaders who adapt their style to the situation's needs will be more successful than those who try to use the same approach in every situation. 4. It Is Christ-Centered The fourth benefit of situational leadership is that it is Christ-centered. This means it focuses on following Jesus' example rather than the world's view of leadership. Think about all the situations in which Jesus showed leadership, from clearing the temple, washing feet, turning water into wine, healing, and the list goes on and on. When you lead in a way that is based on Jesus' example, you will be more effective and build healthier churches. Situational Leadership - Assessing the Situation The first step in using situational leadership is to assess the situation. This means considering factors such as the person's readiness, ability, and motivation. 1. Readiness A person's readiness refers to their willingness and ability to do the task at hand. If someone is not ready to do something, then no amount of leadership will change that. 2. Ability A person's ability refers to the skills and knowledge required to do the task. If someone cannot do something, they will need help to succeed. 3. Motivation A person's motivation refers to their desire or drive to do the task. If someone is not motivated, they will not be successful no matter how much leadership they receive. Choose the Appropriate Leadership Style: Once you have assessed the situation, you can choose the appropriate leadership style. There are four primary leadership styles: telling, selling, participating, and delegating. 1. Telling The first style is telling. The leader makes all the decisions and tells the followers what to do. As a leader, you will need to assess others' abilities. Willingness only goes so far. Your team must also be able to do the required tasks. You may want to administer tests or ask for self-assessments. This style is most appropriate when the follower is low in readiness and ability but high in motivation. Think about Jesus with the disciples early on in their ministry. 2. Selling The second style is selling. This is when the leader tries to convince the follower to do something they may not be ready or willing to do. Evaluate how willing and enthusiastic followers are. Look for qualities like willingness to go above and beyond and enthusiasm for professional development. This style is most appropriate when the follower is low in readiness but high in ability and motivation. 3. Participating The third style is participating. This is when the leader works with the follower to make decisions and accomplish tasks. This style is most appropriate when the follower is high in readiness and ability but low in motivation. 4. Delegating The fourth style is delegating. This is when the leader gives the followers responsibility for a task and allows them to complete it independently. This style is most appropriate when the follower is high in readiness, ability, and motivation. There are many factors to take into account when you’re working with a group. That includes the nature of your team and what you're trying to accomplish. Understanding Your Options Unless you’re a monk, you will need more than one outfit in your closet. In the same way, expanding your leadership skills will prepare you for various opportunities you’re likely to come across in today’s environment. Depending on the situation, multiple strategies may be effective, such as: Provide direction Sometimes leadership boils down to giving instructions. That may be the case if your team is limited in willingness or ability. Offer to coach At the same time, you may be able to offer more support and less direction as your team acquires more significant experience and forms stronger relationships. Create a culture of constructive feedback, high standards, and ongoing learning. Delegate responsibility Identify which tasks you need to do yourself and which you can hand over to someone else. This may include recurring activities or those that give others a chance to upgrade their skills. As a leader, I hand off as much as possible. After all, leadership is getting things done through others, not doing things myself. Earn trust Even if your role carries a high level of authority, it’s beneficial to build trust. Don't simply lean on your title. A team is more likely to succeed if they feel secure and respected. Strive to be consistent and objective. Communicate openly and take responsibility for your decisions. Set an example What does your behavior say about your character and abilities? Your team will notice what you do as well as what you say. They will see more what you do than what you say. Honor your commitments and work on your listening skills. Build personal relationships Meaningful connections and shared goals turn a group of individuals into a team. As a leader, it’s vital to establish rapport and show appreciation. Stay positive and approachable. Identify talent Who are the shining stars on your team? Create future leaders by spotting talent and nurturing it. Pay attention to potential and current performance, so you’ll be prepared for emerging needs and opportunities. Successful leaders keep growing and applying what they learn. Developing your situational leadership skills can help you to advance your career while you help increase productivity and morale.

The church has a problem. The younger generation is walking away from their faith upbringing. This is happening for various reasons, but one of the main ones is that kids do not own their faith. They aren't taking ownership because they don't have the tools to do so. What's the solution? One of the solutions to this problem is to involve parents more in the discipleship process. Equip them with the tools they need to disciple their children. Then, everyone in your church is on the same page, making things much easier for parents and kids alike. Owning your faith leads to lifelong followers of Jesus Christ. "But wait, as a pastor, I don't have time for another program!" I understand, and as a Pastor, I don't either. And to be honest, neither do the families that are a part of your church. Still, the problem of kids growing up in the church and walking away from their faith is glaring. The solution is not just another program. The answer is in changing how you do church. As you do, you will empower and partner with the parents and families in your church to disciple their kids. A simple solution is to teach all age groups the same Biblical topic each weekend but in age-appropriate environments with age-appropriate Biblical teachings. All ages learn from the same primary scripture with the same main thought. For instance, all ages could be remembering this simple Biblical principle: "Don't be afraid, just have faith." The key verse for the weekend for all ages could be Jesus' words in Luke 8:50 "Don't be afraid. Just have faith…" Age-appropriate messages/lessons around this and the context in which Jesus spoke it. Changing the conversation on the car ride home and throughout the week. Imagine on the car ride home, at the dinner table throughout the week, in moments of stress and pressure that families are all talking and encouraging one another with One Voice. "Don't be afraid, just have faith." Imagine that the entire church is focused on this one thought for the other 167 hours a week, allowing God to transform them by changing the way they think. Imagine that every person of all ages would have a daily reading with a daily verse and a memory verse for the week. All pointing back toward the weekend talk of Jesus' words, "Don't be afraid, just have faith." Imagine that your small Groups material would point toward going deeper in living this out at all ages. The benefits of teaching with One Voice. When the church teaches all age groups the same thing in age-appropriate ways, it paves the way for parents to disciple their kids. Kids can own their faith and follow Jesus Christ when they have the tools to do so. In addition, unified teaching with one focus yet age-appropriate will bring unity to the entire congregation. As a result, you will save time for yourself, your staff, and your volunteers. At One Voice, we are passionate about helping you and your church deal with the problem of kids growing up in your church and walking away from their faith. That's why we do what we do. We come alongside you with unified Biblical teaching that is age-appropriate, so you and your church empower and enlist parents to walk successfully in their God-given role of disciplining their children.

Unless you're a low-life dictator, it's unlikely that you like telling other people what to do or correcting them. You probably don't enjoy being called out yourself, and you may even question your right to say to others what they're doing wrong. Good for you if you feel that way! You have what it takes to be a good leader! Power-mad dictators make terrible leaders. They often become unstable and lose control. There is no place for that kind of leadership in God's Kingdom. That would be the opposite of what Jesus said a great leader is. The truth of the matter is that leadership invites challenge. When you are in a position of authority, others will be naturally encouraged to challenge that authority, even in the church. And that means that: ● Sometimes, you're going to have to make difficult decisions. ● Sometimes, you'll have to have difficult conversations. ● Sometimes, you'll need to discipline your team. How NOT to Handle Discipline The worst thing you can do when disciplining your team members is to shout or lose your cool. This is a wrong move for several reasons: ● It makes you look like you've lost control. (They are leading when you lose it.) ● It invites further challenges. ● It makes you seem easily manipulated by others. The other key to remember is that being a leader does not mean you have a right to shout or reprimand. The more effective way to think about your relationship with your team is as a partnership. You are a part of that team and have entered into an agreement. Remember Jesus' words on leadership: "So Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you, it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant." (Mark 10:42–43, NLT) As a Pastor or church ministry leader, your team has agreed to follow your leadership as far as is reasonable, and you've agreed to the responsibility of leading them. You aren't in charge of them, you don't own them, and it's not your place to try and punish them or make them feel small. Instead, you express that they are violating the terms of your agreement or going against the vision and mission and that they should expect the expected results. Your job, then, is to remove emotion and any bias. This can be so hard in ministry. But for the health of the church or ministry, create a simple procedure for dealing with failure or purposeful disruption. Express this at the start of your relationship with team members, and then simply follow through as you have outlined. Guard Against Gossip The biggest reason not to shout at or embarrass your team is that you can't simply ignore the disruptive issues and hope they go away. Both these actions can cause the situation to fester and become worse. If someone is unhappy with your leadership, they may make their dissatisfaction known to others, and this can cause more of your team to become vocally unhappy. We know that God hates gossip. So as ministry leaders, let's not give our people anything that may tempt them to gossip. Over time, this unhappiness can spread through your whole team and be incredibly destructive. Isolating the individual, meanwhile, only causes them to become more set in their opinions and more disruptive when they return. So, what do you do with someone who is vocally critical and undermining your leadership? Let's do what Jesus said: "If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses. If the person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. Then if he or she won't accept the church's decision, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector. "I tell you the truth, whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven. "I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them." (Matthew 18:15–20 NLT) Go to them privately. If that doesn't work take one or two others with you. If that doesn't work take it to the entire church. Jesus has given us a great plan that always works. But we sometimes forget to use it in the heat of the moment. (It's heartbreaking that we use this verse to have a good prayer gathering. "If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you." When Jesus was talking about a leadership principle for church discipline.) When you, as a ministry leader, do what Jesus tells us to do as leaders, people will appreciate your willingness to confront the issues. At best, you may make a new friend who will have your back. You may even be able to give them a project to try and fix that side of your ministry. If you work together, you can show people that the situation is more complicated than it seems. This will make them stop criticizing you. You will need to work closely with them through this, which can help them understand what you do better. They may also start to respect you more and be more willing to work together as a team. It could be a win-win for the Kingdom! Try it and see how it works for your team!

Unless you're a low-life dictator, it's unlikely that you like telling other people what to do or correcting them. You probably don't enjoy being called out yourself, and you may even question your right to say to others what they're doing wrong. Good for you if you feel that way! You have what it takes to be a good leader! Power-mad dictators make terrible leaders. They often become unstable and lose control. There is no place for that kind of leadership in God's Kingdom. That would be the opposite of what Jesus said a great leader is. The truth of the matter is that leadership invites challenge. When you are in a position of authority, others will be naturally encouraged to challenge that authority, even in the church. And that means that: ● Sometimes, you're going to have to make difficult decisions. ● Sometimes, you'll have to have difficult conversations. ● Sometimes, you'll need to discipline your team. How NOT to Handle Discipline The worst thing you can do when disciplining your team members is to shout or lose your cool. This is a wrong move for several reasons: ● It makes you look like you've lost control. (They are leading when you lose it.) ● It invites further challenges. ● It makes you seem easily manipulated by others. The other key to remember is that being a leader does not mean you have a right to shout or reprimand. The more effective way to think about your relationship with your team is as a partnership. You are a part of that team and have entered into an agreement. Remember Jesus' words on leadership: "So Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you, it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant." (Mark 10:42–43, NLT) As a Pastor or church ministry leader, your team has agreed to follow your leadership as far as is reasonable, and you've agreed to the responsibility of leading them. You aren't in charge of them, you don't own them, and it's not your place to try and punish them or make them feel small. Instead, you express that they are violating the terms of your agreement or going against the vision and mission and that they should expect the expected results. Your job, then, is to remove emotion and any bias. This can be so hard in ministry. But for the health of the church or ministry, create a simple procedure for dealing with failure or purposeful disruption. Express this at the start of your relationship with team members, and then simply follow through as you have outlined. Guard Against Gossip The biggest reason not to shout at or embarrass your team is that you can't simply ignore the disruptive issues and hope they go away. Both these actions can cause the situation to fester and become worse. If someone is unhappy with your leadership, they may make their dissatisfaction known to others, and this can cause more of your team to become vocally unhappy. We know that God hates gossip. So as ministry leaders, let's not give our people anything that may tempt them to gossip. Over time, this unhappiness can spread through your whole team and be incredibly destructive. Isolating the individual, meanwhile, only causes them to become more set in their opinions and more disruptive when they return. So, what do you do with someone who is vocally critical and undermining your leadership? Let's do what Jesus said: "If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses. If the person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. Then if he or she won't accept the church's decision, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector. "I tell you the truth, whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven. "I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them." (Matthew 18:15–20 NLT) Go to them privately. If that doesn't work take one or two others with you. If that doesn't work take it to the entire church. Jesus has given us a great plan that always works. But we sometimes forget to use it in the heat of the moment. (It's heartbreaking that we use this verse to have a good prayer gathering. "If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you." When Jesus was talking about a leadership principle for church discipline.) When you, as a ministry leader, do what Jesus tells us to do as leaders, people will appreciate your willingness to confront the issues. At best, you may make a new friend who will have your back. You may even be able to give them a project to try and fix that side of your ministry. If you work together, you can show people that the situation is more complicated than it seems. This will make them stop criticizing you. You will need to work closely with them through this, which can help them understand what you do better. They may also start to respect you more and be more willing to work together as a team. It could be a win-win for the Kingdom! Try it and see how it works for your team!

There are so many things in life that bring people together. Things like movies, music, vacation, sporting events, theme parks, etc. No matter the age, we come together and have commonalities. One of my favorite things to do with my family growing up was to go to the movies. That might seem like a no-brainer, but my family had 6 people in it. There are four kids and an age gap of 13 years. Yet, the movies brought us together. But the movie was not the best part of the experience for me and neither was the popcorn or candy. The best part was when we all got in the car together. The movie gave us all something we could talk about. We would laugh at the funny parts of the movie and retell the jokes. We would all talk about the parts we did not like or that we enjoyed. We would talk about the parts that confused us and work together to resolve the confusion. The same was true for my friends. If we all saw the movie on different days and in different theaters, we could still talk about it. The movie gave us all something in common to talk about and we could all connect. Why doesn’t the church do something similar? You might be saying “it does – we are Christians coming together to learn about Jesus and worship Him.” And I agree, we do that at church. But why doesn't church give us something we can all talk about together from grandparents to two-year-olds? We come to church together, but once everyone is inside and the kids are checked into class, we all learn something different. We learn about Jesus, but we all learn different principles or topics. The adults might be learning about generosity, the teens learn about purity, and the kids are simply learning a Bible story about Jonah and the whale. When that family comes back together in the car and the famous question is asked, “what did you learn today?” The answers are all different. They range from “I don’t know” to “some guy lived in a whale.” There’s no commonality. Why not? Because we have missed what church is all about. It is about discipleship and building each other up. We can not do that with excellence when we are all on different pages. How do we experience church together? We have to align the teachings that each age group learns on the weekend. At One Voice we are committed to helping churches align the Biblical principle or topic that each age group is learning at an age-appropriate level. We want to join with you and your church to change the conversation on the car ride home, around the diner table, and throughout the week. Many churches have tried to tackle this problem by bringing everyone into the same room for the same teaching. Unfortunately, kids are bored listening to a teaching for adults and adults don't get much from kids teaching. If adults are learning about generosity and tithing, teens and kids should be learning about generosity at their level. When the family gets in the car, they can talk about the things they learned. There is so much the church can learn from the movie theater experience. It's an opportunity for discussion, growth, and unity. If the Church can do this, then we are truly partnering with parents and bringing families together.

It is our tendency as humans to coast through life. We take the easy way out whenever possible and avoid anything that requires effort. Unfortunately, this can lead to us coasting and never improving. Jesus has a plan for us in our lives, and we don't want to miss it because we are coasting. God's plan is good, pleasing, and perfect; living His plan is the most fulfilling and satisfying life possible. Just taking it easy or coasting is not your best life. Not because of just being productive but because it is what you were created for. Romans 12:2 says, "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." Ephesians 2:10 tells us that "we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." (NLT) When we live according to God's plan, we will find true satisfaction and meaning in life. So let's avoid coasting through life and instead pursue God's masterpiece life for us! Here's how: 1. Make learning a priority. It is essential to make learning a priority in our lives. When we stop learning, we stop growing. And when we stop growing, we start to coast. Coasting is not an option when it comes to our lives. We need to learn and grow to fulfill our purpose in life constantly. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, "All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work." (NLT) When we read and study the Bible, we are equipping ourselves for His good works. We are preparing ourselves for all that God has planned for us. If we want to avoid coasting, we need to make learning a priority in our lives. In addition, we need to constantly expand our knowledge and grow in wisdom. That way, we will be prepared for all God has in store. Pray for God to help you to be passionate and motivated to make learning and growing to be more like Jesus a priority. When we become lazy and complacent, we start to coast. We need to avoid this by staying motivated and excited about life. We need to pursue our goals with passion and determination. Philippians 4:13 says, "I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength." (NLT) We must remember that we can do everything with God's help. When we are passionate about our goals and pursuing them with God's help, we can avoid coasting. Making learning a priority means being proactive about learning rather than reactive. John Maxwell talks about growth in this way: "We learn when we hurt enough, we have to or when we learn enough, we want to." Unfortunately, if you are coasting, you will only grow when you are hurting enough that you have to—what a miserable way to exist. Indeed not a way to live in the God-given potential that He has placed within you when He formed you in your mother's womb (Psalm 139). 2. Stay active and engaged. It is also essential to stay active and engaged in life. We will lose our edge if we sit back and take things easy. We will lose our ability to contribute positively to society. But if we stay active and engaged, we will continue to grow and learn. We will be able to make a difference in the world. Philippians 2:3-4 says, "Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don't look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too" (NLT). We stay active and engaged in life when we focus on others instead of ourselves. As a result, we are constantly learning and growing as people. 3. Get out of your comfort zone. We often find ourselves in a comfort zone where we are not challenged and not growing. This can be a dangerous place because when we stop growing, we start to coast. We must get out of our comfort zone to continue growing and learning. We need to be challenged to improve. The Hebrews writer tells us to: "think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds" (Hebrews 10:24 NLT). When we are around others who are better than us, it encourages us to do better. We become more active and engaged in life. We want to be around those who can help us grow and learn. If you are living in your comfort zone and never being challenged, you are settling for mediocrity. Our God deserves our best. He is worthy of much more than a life lived in mediocrity and comfort. If you live in your comfort zone, you settle, and you stop growing and learning. You become content with where you are and quit striving to improve. Get out of your comfort zone. Push yourself to be all that God created you to be. Challenge yourself to learn new things and grow in your knowledge and understanding. Don't coast through life; make the most of it! Pursue God with all you are. He will bless you beyond measure. Get very familiar with the words of Paul in Ephesians 3:20 - "Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think" (NLT). 4. Practice, practice, practice. It is important to practice if we want to improve. We need to be constantly practicing if we want to be the best that we can be. Psalm 119:99 says, "Yes, I have more insight than my teachers, for I am always thinking of your laws. I have more understanding than all my teachers, for Your testimonies are my meditation" (NLT). When we meditate on the Word of God, we gain understanding. We become better equipped to do good work. We also need to practice living according to God's plan. When we pursue God with all we are, we will find true fulfillment in life. We find hope and a future when we live according to God's plan. We don't have to coast through life when God has a plan for us that is so much better! We should pursue Him with everything that we have. And let's practice, practice, practice so that we can become all He has created us to be. There is the adage that "practice makes perfect." That is just not true - "Perfect practice makes perfect." Have you ever heard a child learning to play an instrument repeatedly practice the same sour notes? They get perfect at playing the wrong notes. That's why it's essential to make sure that you live out the next step as you practice, practice, practice. That is to be coachable. 5. Be coachable. The greatest and highest-paid athletes in the world have coaches. The most successful business leaders have coaches. Actors who are in high demand have coaches. Still, how many of us as Pastors and church leaders have coaches? If you are a Pastor who preaches or teaches, when was the last time you sat with someone you trusted as a coach and watched through or listened through one of your sermons? For that matter, when was the last time you watched or listened to one of your sermons on your own? You might be surprised to find areas you are coasting in your presentation. And they are costing you a great deal. More importantly, they may not be landing with your audience and cost the Kingdom of God a great deal. Peter tells those of us who are speakers to "speak as though God himself were speaking through you" (1 Peter 4:11b NLT). That should give us great pause every time we go to provide a message or a sermon. Am I prepared to speak in such a way? Not just that. Do you know the content or have a great understanding? Are you ready to present the content and the message so that it is engaging enough to the crowd that they can hear and sense God speaking to them? Peter ends that verse with the results when we do this: "Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen" (1 Peter 4:11 NLT). Whatever area of ministry or business you serve in, this principle applies. What does it look like for you to be coachable and to get coaching? As a leader, I continually have coaches in my life, and coaching is a budget item that I make sure we have each year for our staff. Encourage and empower your team to get coaching. 6. Surround yourself with People who are better than you. One of the best things we can do is to surround ourselves with people who are better than us. These people can be mentors, coaches, or simply friends and family members who have a better perspective on life than we do. James 1:5 says, "If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking" (NLT). When we surround ourselves with people who are wiser than we are, we can learn from them. We can gain wisdom and understanding that will help us in our lives. We can also learn how to be better people. Proverbs 13:20 tells us to, "Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble" (NLT). As we walk with wise people, we will become wiser. However, as we walk with fools, we will only suffer harm. Therefore, we must choose our companions wisely and surround ourselves with those who will help us grow and become the best we can be. Don't hang around people who just want to coast through life. While Jesus was available to minister to all people, He chose His inner circle. He had many conversations with the disciple that we have the privilege of reading now only because they wrote them down for us. The general public at the time did not. Why is that? It's because Jesus was getting them prepped to lead and continue the mission and ministry He brought to this Earth. We should be careful who we surround ourselves with in our inner circle of influence. Surround yourself with those who know and love you and want all God has for you in your ministry, business, or personal growth. These are people who will be brutally honest with you while at the same time assuring you are living your potential in Christ. Surround yourself with people who want to see you succeed. Surround yourself with people who encourage you to live at the very peak of your gifts and talents. Most Important of all: We cannot afford to coast. Whether we are in ministry, business, or leadership, if we do not continually work to improve ourselves and grow in our knowledge and understanding, we will eventually lose what ability we have. We must be willing to be coached and surround ourselves with those who are better than us if we want to reach our full potential. As Jesus said, "Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing" (NLT). Most important of all, let's stay connected to God so that we may reach our fullest potential in all areas of life.

We have a problem in the church; an entire generation has learned about the Bible but didn't learn how to apply it. This is a problem because knowing about God is not the same as knowing God. The results are a generation walking away from their childhood faith. Why is this important? When Jesus told us to make disciples, He was clear: "Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age" Matthew 28:19–20 (NLT). The problem we face is that we are under the impression that, as Pastors, Youth Pastors, and Children Pastors, when we teach them "what" His commands are, they will "obey." A philosophical shift is needed from teaching people to know the Bible to teach people to live the Bible. We have to move from information teaching to application. This will lead to transformation as followers of Jesus. "Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect." (Romans 12:2) Disciple all generations. All age groups in the church need to learn how to apply the Bible to their lives. This will significantly impact the next generation and help reverse the trend of young people walking away from their faith. Not only do they need to be taught application, but they also need to see adults applying God's Word to their daily lives. Our current model of doing church is to silo the generations for one hour a week and teach them about God. This model may have worked in the past. However, the statistics of the kids who grow up in the church and walk away from their faith show us it's time for a change. (According to a Barna study 64% of kids who grow up in the church have withdrawn from church involvement after having been active as a child or teen.) The siloes model of kids going to kids classes and youth going to youth classes while the adults learn in an adult setting is understandable. After all, kids would be bored with adult teachings, and adults would be craving more from a kid's teaching. So what's the solution? We have a part of this model, right. We all learn best in age-appropriate environments. However, we must have unity in our teaching. The entire church learns the same Biblical principles while in their age-appropriate environments. This will involve parents more and equip them to disciple their kids throughout the week. This will help the kids to own their faith as Jesus followers and help them to challenge their parents in their journey. Creating unity in families, couples, friendships, and the entire church. The church living out the words of the apostle Paul in Philippians 2:1-2 "Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose." And yes, that includes the kids and youth! Getting and keeping all generations on the same page Biblically each week is a big job. As Pastor, you are often just trying to get through the weekend. But, after you do, you realize that you'd better be getting ready for next week cause Sunday is always coming. That's why One Voice exists. We are here to help you live out making disciples" successfully. We exist to help you and your church staff to "Teach these new disciples to obey" Jesus' commands. Don't go it alone. You don't expect your music team to go it alone. They don't write every song every week and arrange them by themselves. And yet, many pastors think they should have to do it all alone—an impossible task, especially when you are looking to unite your church under one biblical teaching but age-appropriate.

Leading a growing and successful ministry can sometimes involve long hours, late nights, and sacrificing personal time. This can lead to burnout, feelings of exhaustion, and disengagement with work. Achieving sustainable success is not about working harder or faster but instead striking a balance between the demands of life and work for the long term. In this article, we are not talking about time management, although that is important; we all have the same hours in the day. Time is a fixed commodity. With excellent management, you cannot create more hours. However, when it comes to our energy, the amount available to us and the quality of that energy is still being determined. And we alone are responsible for how we manage it and how that allows us to live the purpose and plan God has for us in leading and living as ministry leaders. The key to this balance is having a clear cycle for refueling your energy. We must ask ourselves, "Do you know what refuels you?" It's a legitimate question. Most people cannot answer right off the top of their heads because they accept what someone else says about refueling energy. When they feel tired or burned out in ministry, most people say, "I need a day off" or "I need a vacation." In reality, that is only true if those things refuel your energy. Let's be very clear about this. We live in a culture that pushes and tells us we need more time off. We already have more days off than at any time in history and more than God designed us for (one day a week of rest). And yet we as a culture are drained. It's not time management but energy management. Are you doing things on your days off or vacations that give you energy or drain your energy? I love my days off and vacation time with my wife and family. But that is not what refuels my energy in and of itself. What you do on your days off, or vacation, is the key to being energized! That is different for everyone. To grab hold of sustainable success, we must figure out what personally refuels our energy. Filling Your Energy Tank with the Right Stuff When I was in college, a friend got a job refueling semi-trucks with diesel fuel. On one of his first days on the job, he filled a diesel semi-truck with a full gasoline tank. That meant they had to drop the fuel tank, empty it and clean it out because diesel engines cannot run on gasoline. Wrong fuel! We often fill our tanks with the wrong fuel to get energy. Instead, we are told to take a vacation, have coffee with friends, or binge-watch some TV show. These things may be enjoyable but have different results for everyone. Let me illustrate. I will go with my kids and grandson on a trip to Disney. I love being with them and value our time relationally. However, being around crowds drains my energy. I wouldn't trade that time with them, but I have to plan a few days after the trip to do the things that give me energy before I return to my office for work. It might be surprising for some, but what refuels me is being productive through spending time at my easel painting. Identify Activities You need to identify what activities do energize and refuel you. In contrast, identifying what drains your energy is a critical element of doing so. With this understanding and thinking, you can create a life rhythm of managing your energy through expenditure and refueling, for some Pastors preaching on the weekends drains the energy out of them. That doesn't mean they shouldn't do it. They can be great at it. While others, preaching gives them energy. In either case, it is a part of being a lead or senior pastor. And can be rewarding to both those it drains and energizes. It's not right or wrong. It is a matter of understanding how to manage your energy. As a pastor, I get a lot of energy from weekend preaching. It energizes me. However, the study and prep work needed to prepare for those same sermons drains my energy. One of my solutions for dealing with this is ensuring all of the prep work is done on Monday - Wednesday, knowing that it will drain energy. I take my days off on Thursday and Friday after the study is behind me, and I refuel during that time to prepare to preach and be with my people. My refueling is usually time in my studio painting, out in nature on the golf course, or doing an activity with my wife or kids - all those things are refueling for me. For some, it might be reading a book or having a day of rest. It is not and cannot be prescriptive. You have to get clarity on what works best for you. We are all created very differently. The bottom line is that finding a balance between the demands of ministry and life means understanding what refuels your energy and then making time for it (Time Management). When you can find the activities that refuel your tank, you won't have to rely on a quick-fix solution or wait for those vacation days off here or there. With the right balance of refueling activities, however, it is possible to maintain a healthy state of mind and keep your ministry running smoothly over time. By understanding what refuels you and sticking with those habits, you can ensure that your energy levels will remain high and that you can achieve sustainable success in both your personal and professional life. The key is: Filling up your tank with the right stuff! What refuels you? Are you doing it? How to discover what refuels you. 1. Start with a list of things you may think to refuel you. If the concept of energy management is new to you, you may have to go through the cycle of a week or month to be aware as you are doing things. Does it give you energy or drain you? Make a note. 2. Clean up the list. Start taking things off the list as you realize that they drain you. You will want to end with a short list of 3-5 things that refuel you. You will still do the things that drain energy. Still, you will begin managing them differently to sustain energy. 3. Now get specific. This takes some thought and energy in and of itself but will pay off in significant ways in life. Let me illustrate my life. I said earlier that painting energizes me. Getting specific now for creating a "cycle of refueling," I need to say how much painting or what kind of painting refuels me. For instance, if I paint for 12 hours a day, I usually hit a point of diminishing return on energy. Painting a commission painting does not refuel me as just deciding what I want to paint. If you say something like "hiking," refuels me, get specific. How often do you need to go hiking to be refueled? "Hiking once a week for an hour refuels me." That is the specificity you need for your "cycle of refueling." Then when you go a week without it, you know you are not refueling. You should get this specific with the 3 to 5 things that refuel you. 4. Measure how you are doing. Are you faithful to live out and do the things that refuel you? I love using the red, yellow, and green method for doing this. Red, you are not doing it. Yellow, it's hit or miss. Green, you faithfully live out this piece of your "refueling cycle." If you are the once-a-week hiker and last went out 6 weeks ago, that's red. Suppose you are making it out every other week. In that case, that may be yellow - be aware you are probably not being refueled enough to have sustainable success. If you are hitting the trails weekly, you are solid green. You get the idea. Do this with each of the 3 to 5 things that refuel you. In summary, sustainable success is not about working harder or longer hours but about managing our energy levels and finding a balance between the demands of ministry and life. To achieve this, we must identify what activities refuel our energy and make time for them. It's not enough to take a day off or go on vacation; we need to be intentional about doing things that give us energy and recognize the ones that drain us. By creating a refueling cycle specific to our needs, we can sustain our energy levels and achieve long-term, sustainable success in our personal and professional lives. In doing so, you will live more fulfilled, energized, and productive lives. And that continuously adds value to your leadership and your relationships. Let's prioritize energy management and fill our tanks with the right stuff!