Lessons from Life Church LEADERSHIP

All churches have leaders. But how do I hinder my leaders, business women and men, the entrepreneurs from joining me in the spreading of the Gospel? How do I tie their hands from sharing God's Call to come out of Confusion? Or am I asking them to do the wrong things?
I'm pondering this . . .

One glaring lesson about Life Church is the caliber of their leadership team. Each one is a successful, experienced leader in their industry / field from the business world. When I asked Pastor Craig to comment about this, his statement was that one of his God-given gifts is the ability to "see God's call" on someone's life.

Thus, Pastor Craig found leaders to lead, and he preaches. He continues to point them in the direction that God is leading (vision casting), and his leadership team releases the volunteers, hires the needed staff, and allocates the resources to realize the vision. Profoundly simple, yet to see the results of a decade of this practice brings praise to God. This reminds me of two concepts I've heard before:

• The Ministry of the Word is to be to focus of Ministers
  Acts 6:1-7 At that time, as the number of disciples continued to grow, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. 2 So the Twelve called together the community of the disciples and said, "It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to serve at table. 3 Brothers, select from among you seven reputable men, filled with the Spirit and wisdom, whom we shall appoint to this task, 4 whereas we shall devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word." 5 The proposal was acceptable to the whole community, so they chose Stephen, a man filled with faith and the holy Spirit, also Philip, procures, newcomer, Timon, premiums, and Nicholas of Antioch, a convert to Judaism. 6 They presented these men to the apostles who prayed and laid hands on them. 7 The word of God continued to spread, and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly; even a large group of priests were becoming obedient to the faith.

• Finances to Be Managed By Business Men
  It is a great mistake to keep a minister who is gifted with power to preach the gospel, constantly at work in business matters.
  He who holds forth the Word of life is not to allow too many burdens to be placed upon him. He must take time to study the Word and to examine self. If he closely searches his own heart, and gives himself to the Lord, he will better understand how to grasp the hidden things of God . . . . The finances of the cause are to be properly managed by business men of ability; but preachers and evangelists are set apart for another line of work. Let the management of financial matters rest on others than those set apart for the work of preaching the gospel . . . . Those in charge of the work have erred sometimes in permitting the appointment of men devoid of business tact and ability to manage important financial interests. A man's fitness for one position does not always qualify him to fill another position. Experience is of great value. The Lord desires to have men of intelligence connected with His work, - men qualified for various positions of trust in our conferences and institutions. Especially are consecrated business men needed, - men who will carry the principles of truth into every business transaction. Those placed in charge of financial matters should not assume other burdens, - burdens that they are incapable of bearing; nor is the business management to be entrusted to incompetent men.
  
  By Ellen White, published in the magazine, "The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald", October 5, 1905.

So what happens to God's Movement when this doesn't happen?

InMotion Break Out Question & Answer Session with Ministry Directors

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  Back stage tour with Desiree Good, Director of LifeKIDS Central Support
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  Under the Sea room
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  Lift High the Cross
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  The Jungle room
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  God saw that it was very good . . . LifeKids uses the Biblical theme of Creation as the theme for creating their worship experiences for the kids. Each room as the artistic theme of one of the seven days of Creation.

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  Baby bugs Created by Bruce Barry team from Wacky World Studios in Oldsmar, Florida.

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  Mega Church coming to your neighborhood What happens when a 5,000 pound elephant comes into your house?

Many pastors would have the same reaction of terror & fear to a mega church moving into their neighborhood.

For over 10 years the Hope Covenant Church has been building and growing. They started with about 50 people with a vision. And now they are at 500 in attendance.

But what happens when Life Church, also a affiliated with the Covenant denomination, plants their campus within 10 miles of Hope Covenant Church?

Is there turf protection? War over territory? You can't cross into my ZIP code?

Time will tell.

The team at Life Church says that they want to be team players. But what will that look like?

That's why the staff of Hope Covenant Church, and the denomination's president and other conference leaders came to In Motion - to work out the relationship with Life Church.  ¶ 7:00 PM 0 comments

  God In Motion at Life Church I first met Pastor Craig when he presented at Sprout Church Planter's Conference in Naperville, Illionois. We prayed together before he spoke, and I learned how God was In Motion through realizing His dream through Craig and his team.

For further information, check out these web sites:

• Life Church website
• InMotion Experience schedule
• The Evangelical Covenant Church is Life Church's denominational affiliation
• Church Planting web resources for this denomination

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