Month: June 2017

Because of the GLS, a Church in Togo Starts Farming to Feed Their Community

Posted on June 26, 2017 by - Africa, Because of the GLS, Church, Church & Faith-Based, Stories

My name is Pastor Gambetta Azouma Dom, and I’m the Senior Pastor of EMIJA Church in Togo, Africa. After being positively impacted by The Global Leadership Summit, I’ve worked to mobilize over a hundred people to attend the Summit every year so their life can also be transformed.

Because of the GLS, I now work with a large team in our growing ministry. We started farming on many hectares, and every year God blesses us with a good harvest. After the harvest, we donate it to help prisoners and the poor in our community.

We are so grateful to God for this opportunity.

We pray that God will do mighty things through The Global Leadership Summit in Togo!

 

A Conspiracy of Love

Posted on June 26, 2017 by - Articles, Confidence, Conflict Management, Diversity, Leading Others, Servant Leadership

My father was in the top five percent of IBM salesmen in the world. With his success in Virginia, my dad was offered a promotion. He would be working in the IBM Office Products Division’s headquarters in New York City at 590 Madison Avenue.

My father began searching for homes and found that real estate agents kept directing him to the same few neighborhoods in Bergen County that had significant black populations. This injustice angered both of my parents, and they sought legal help. They were referred to Lee Porter at the Fair Housing Council.

With the council involved, they began to see homes in predominantly white towns around Bergen County, near Franklin Lakes, but they would be told that the homes had already been sold or been pulled off the market. So Lee Porter and the Fair Housing Council decided to begin to send out white “test couples” to see if indeed the homes were sold or off the market. They weren’t.

My parents visited a home in Harrington Park on Norma Road. They loved it, but as usual, they were told the house had already been sold. The next day, when the test couple was sent by the council, they too expressed interest. And to their feigned delight, the house was indeed for sale! With Marty Friedman handling all the legal details, the white couple put a bid on the house that was identical to what my parent wanted to offer. The offer was accepted. The white couple went to the real estate agent’s office and drew up the paperwork, but they did so without a lawyer. They claimed that they had to meet with their lawyer and would take the contract with them to get a legal review, and then they’d come back on Monday morning with their lawyer to finalize the contract. Marty and the test couple now had the evidence that they needed to prove that the house wasn’t already sold and the agent was in violation of New Jersey law.

On Monday morning at the time of the appointment, as the real estate agent was waiting to close on the house, the white couple didn’t show. Instead, Marty Friedman showed up with my father.

My father said he knew there would be trouble when he saw a large Doberman pinscher curled up in the corner of the office. What cut through the tension—and the ominous presence of the dog—was a sign hanging in the office that claimed they supported equal opportunity in housing.

The real estate agent looked up, more than a little surprised to see my father. Marty, having been part of sting operations like this before, didn’t waste any time. He marched right up to that agent and walked him through the fact pattern. He informed the real estate agent that he was in violation of New Jersey state law and his real estate license was at risk. The Bookers, he explained, would be purchasing the home.

My father said that Marty didn’t get much further in his speech. At that point, the real estate agent stood up and punched Marty in the face, then grabbed his paperwork, trying to yank it away and destroy the evidence. The agent called the dog’s name, yelling at the dog to “Get’ em! Get ‘em!” My father turned toward the dog as it ran at Marty and managed to corral it. He held the dog back as Marty and the agent fought. Things slid off desks, a table and chairs were upended, and Marty was shoved against a window, breaking it. When things settled down, the real estate agent began pleading with my father, swearing that if we moved into Huntington Park, we would wreck the town.

My father never complained to me in telling this story. He even told it with humor: We moved into Harrington Park and became four raisins in a tub of sweet vanilla ice cream. My father and mother often talked of it to make a point about people—not the bigots or those who in the face of bigotry did nothing, but those in Harrington Park who embraced us when we moved in. My parents used the story as an example of the conspiracy of love: lawyers inspired by Bloody Sunday; volunteers, black and white, who gave up hours and hours to help families like mine; leaders like Lee Porter, whose steadfast and tireless direction of a small organization has impacted the lives of thousands alive today and those of generations yet unborn. They told me the story to show me that good people doing the right thing can make a tremendous difference.

And this point would often be the launching pad for their discussion of my place in the world. Privileges and opportunities say nothing of character and honor, they would tell me. Only actions do. We are ultimately responsible for our actions. We are defined by what we do. Actions, small and large, radiate out into eternity. What we do or fail to do—to one another, for one another or with one another— leaves a lasting imprint beyond what we can imagine.

Yes, we drink deeply from wells of liberty and opportunity that we did not dig. We owe a debt that we can’t pay back but must pay forward.

We are the result of a grand conspiracy of love.

The preceding excerpt was from Cory Booker’s book, United Thoughts on Finding Common Ground and Advancing the Common Good.

Summit Scholarships for Airmen Develop Leaders at Strategic Air Force Base

Posted on June 26, 2017 by - Because of the GLS, Calling, Military, North America, Stories

Inspired by what The Global Leadership Summit could do for men and women in the military, a donor at Cheyenne Hills Church, our host site in Cheyenne, WY, provided 20 Summit scholarships for airmen from the nearby F.E. Warren Air Force Base. The church provided another ten scholarships.

With help from the Airforce Chaplain and the JAG, and a six month approval process, it was finally possible!

The volunteers at Cheyenne Hills rolled out the red carpet for the airmen, thanking them for their service to the country by recognizing them from the stage. Right after they were recognized, and to everyone’s surprise, the Grander Vision video about Mark Schmidt in the Air Force was shown. No one at the site knew it was coming!

It could be nothing less than a God-ordained arrangement.

As a result of these efforts, the Airmen felt very honored and excited to come back to the GLS next year. Several Air Force families started attending the church and new positive connections were developed between the church and the base. Only God!

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The church raises their sites

“This year we raised our sights and decided we would ask our congregation to help us get more airmen here,” says Georgeann Wearin, connections coordinator at Cheyenne Hills Church. “We had a goal of 50 scholarships in mind before we had our Summit Sunday last month.”

“We showed the Air Force video from Willow, and I interviewed a retired Air Force gentleman who was a volunteer at our site,” Georgeann continues. “He explained that the military is often forced to put young men and women into leadership positions they might not be ready for. The Summit is an opportunity to show them that compassion and grace can and will lead people.” Following the service the congregation could sign up to pay for scholarships.

“We were blown away when we reached 54,” says Georgeann. “Add to that tally the 10 scholarships the Chaplain usually donates and 20 from the couple who launched this initiative last year, and we are looking at a potential of 84 scholarships!”

5 Succession Mantras for an Uncharted Journey

Posted on June 26, 2017 by - Articles, Leading Organizations, People Operations

If you are a fan of professional basketball, in particular the Golden State Warriors, you would know that Mike Brown was declared “acting” head coach during the playoffs due to recent health issues concerning the contracted head coach, Steve Kerr. During the new administration, we have also heard regularly that “so and so” is the “acting” Secretary of “such and such.”

Most of the people I know of who are in roles where “acting” is attached to their title give 110% to their position.

They give wholehearted focus, energy and effort because they know they are under even more scrutiny. They want to do the best and be the best.

I believe most senior/lead pastors desire and work toward the very same outcomes, yet very few of us see ourselves as “acting.” Many might even begin to believe we are permanent. We carry out our God-given calling with this erroneous perspective.

I do not believe most of us consciously embrace or espouse this philosophical framework regarding our position at the outset, yet over time and years, we begin to do the exact opposite of what Paul says in Romans, “we begin to think too highly of ourselves (and our placement/ position).”

Unfortunately, this outlook leads to many detrimental and unintended consequences.

We hang on to our positions too long and one day we look around to see that our once vibrant church has aged around us. We hold too tightly to decision-making, which means we seldom say, “what do you think, you know best, you decide.”

Possibly out of an insecure spirit, we do too much hand holding and not enough “hand-offing.” This stunts our personal growth, our church’s growth and the growth of the next generation of leaders who believe like we did when we were young. Hopefully we still believe that God wants to do “more than we could ask, think, or imagine.”

Since founding The Crossing Church 28 years ago, I confess that too often I ashamedly held to or carried out these less than stellar displays of leadership. More times than not, it was subconscious stupidity on my part (so possibly a sin of ignorant omission). Yet, truthfully, upon reviewing more than 28 years of senior pastoral leadership, there were times when I displayed conscious acts of arrogant or haughty oversight. The latter was mostly, I think, because I began to see myself as “forever” instead of interim or “acting.”

These days I am regularly in touch with the reality that I must decrease, and others or one “other” must increase. This thought has become an ingrained belief. It has moved from a simple understanding to an executable plan and path of senior pastor succession at The Crossing Church.

There are several principles I have sought to follow in this uncharted journey of handing off the leadership baton at The Crossing. They have become my succession slogans or my morning mantras, if you will:

1. I will approach my position with the understanding that I am the “acting” senior/lead pastor of The Crossing.

Jesus is permanent. He is the Head, not me. He is the Cornerstone. I am one of many stones who have come before and have had the privilege of partnering with the Chief Builder. It is His Church, not mine.

Practical suggestions:

  • Believe God wants the best for His church. Don’t forget in that the day-to-day, God builds the church.
  • Communicate the temporary reality of your tenure to your board or leadership team early—and often in your ministry. Skillfully inviting others into this reality communicates confidence and humility.

 2. I will operate with a spirit and attitude of faith, not fear.

Everything about succession is emotionally tenuous. If we have not planned well, or we have given significantly to courageous eternal capital investments over the years, then there is financial apprehension. Simple conversations in boardrooms or executive team meetings can cause anxiety just because there are more unknowns than knowns.

Most of us senior leader types want to be in control. Most everything about succession can feel like a free fall, or at the very least, like precariously climbing a steep mountain with no clips or ropes.

 Practical suggestions:

  • Be humble. God exalts the humble. Read together and lead discussions with your board over books like, Transition Plan by Russell, or Next by Vanderbloemen and Bird, or The Elephant in the Boardroom by Weese and Crabtree. Our board did. The discussions were invigorating and at times scary. But the payoff for me, our board and our church’s future is large because of the dialogue.
  • Seek out others who have tread down the succession path before you. I have interviewed outgoing and incoming senior leaders from various churches. The findings have been both rich and depressing. Someone told me early in my ministry, “You don’t have all the time to make all the mistakes yourself, so wise is the person who will learn from the experiences of others.” This has served me well over the years, but nowhere is this more true than in the realm of this crucial leadership hand-off.

3. I will communicate a clear path and plan with a concrete time-frame.

Frequently, I have heard from senior pastors who have tried and aborted the succession thing because of a “failed” or “flawed” successor. As I listen, often there is no plan, the path is not clear, the communication lacks repetition and the time frame is murky. 

Practical suggestions:

  • Put a plan and path in place. In so doing, realize it’s not always an exact science; there is an art to a transition of any kind. However, a plan and path helps everyone.
  • Select a definitive time frame. Without a conclusive time frame, it is too easy to hold on and not let go.

 4. I will demonstrate rigorous commitment to and trust in my successor.

Much of the success of the transition rests in the attitude, belief and commitment conveyed and demonstrated to the incoming lead pastor by the outgoing lead pastor.

Practical suggestions:

  • Cultivate a culture that is readying for the new person. Many liken a succession in the secular or sacred world to an organ transplant. Medical journals are filled with volumes of input and advice on how the recipient of a new organ can ready themselves for the successful adoption of the new body part. I sense the same is true for our churches. We have proactively been preparing at the board level, the staff level and the church level. The preparation process has been filled with much prayer and has led to fresh perspectives. This has resulted in a church that is prepared for the deliberate and delicate action of incorporating a new senior leader.
  • Create early wins for the successor. Allow the transitioning and incoming lead pastor to experience multiple and frequent successes. They need to gain early traction regarding vision-casting, preaching, strategic planning and decision-making.

5) I will invest relationally and experientially in the life of the incoming successor.

We are people who believe deeply in the Word of God. The Bible is packed with examples of men and women who filled the cup of another, not just logistically or tactically, but relationally and experientially. For example, Moses and Joshua, Jonathan and David, Jesus and the disciples, Paul and Barnabas, Paul and Timothy, etc.

Practical suggestion:

  • The outgoing senior leader and their spouse must spend significant intentional time with the incoming senior leader and their spouse. The incoming leader will soon be in a new position with both the joys and sorrows, the ups and downs, of being in the driver’s seat. They might need a coach to guide them when their plays aren’t going so well. They might need a relational cheerleader when the rigors of being the point-man seem daunting. They might need an active listener when no one else seems to fully understand. This gets developed during the transition process. It’s part of the preparation for success, both now and in the future.

The Crossing has undergone significant transitions at multiple junctures over the 28 years of its existence. The diversity of our community has changed radically. The spiritual climate has waned. Unlimited amounts of unchurched, non-believing people exist around every corner. In the midst of each of these changes and challenges, The Crossing has walked toward each transition with bold and unwavering faith. It is with eager anticipation that we look forward to what God has in store for the soon-coming transition of senior leadership of The Crossing.

Many have asked, “What will you do? Aren’t you too young? Don’t you have enough in the tank?” These questions will get answered, but for now, after a break, I plan to continue to attend The Crossing. Even though I am not waiting until the baton gets handed off to say it, you can count on one thing being said publicly and with certainty: “It is with excitement and gladness I say, you are my senior pastor and I fully support your leadership.”

Three Life-Changing Words to Overcome Implicit Bias

Posted on June 26, 2017 by - Articles, Conflict Management, Diversity, Leading Others, Relationship with God

Two weeks after the Los Angeles Holocaust Museum opened, I went with some friends to tour the museum. There were 50 people waiting in the lobby area when the tour guide walked up and said, “Before we begin the tour through the Museum, I want to ask a simple question. Do any of you have any bias, any way you prefer one race over another, any stereotyping, prejudice or racism in your life? If you do, would you please walk through Door #1. If you don’t, would you please walk through Door #2.

Fifty people, just stood there looking at each other before 48 of them quickly went through Door #2. A buddy and I stood there reflecting, “Man, any? Any bias in us?”

Everything in me wanted to suppress the word “any” and follow what everyone else was doing. But I just couldn’t because I knew in my heart that I do have some implicit bias in me. So did my buddy. We walked through Door #1, half expecting to end up in the parking lot. To our surprise, the door led to a room where the other 48 people were.

The tour guide declared, “Every one of you has bias. And if you are not aware of your implicit bias, your subconscious bias, you might find yourself being part of something that caused the Holocaust.”

In the Book of Acts, before Jesus ascends to heaven, he describes where the gospel will take the disciples.

Acts 1:8 says, You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

How would a first-century disciple have understood these four places?

For them, Jerusalem represented the familiar. It’s what they had become accustomed to. It’s what they knew. Who they knew. It’s what made them feel safe and comfortable.

Judea represented all the people who were seen as less civilized. They didn’t have the schools. They didn’t have the institutions Jerusalem had. They didn’t have the temple. The disciples heard Judea and thought of people who were less-than. Do you have any of those people in your life? Any people you just look down on?

Jesus is not just trying to get us to Judea; he’s sending us to Samaria. And Samaria is not the people we look down on as less-than; Samaria is the people we can’t stand. The Samaritans were the half-breeds. They were half Jewish, yet they were Gentile. Do you have any of those people in your life who are kind of like you, yet they’re different—and you just can’t stand them? They’re American, yet they watch CNN. They’re American, yet they watch Fox. They’re American, yet they’re Ohio State fans. And you simply say: I can’t stand you.

Jesus is not done yet. He’s still inviting us to Judea, Samaria and now to the ends of the earth. It is not just people who are less-than or people you can’t stand. The “ends of the earth” are the people we have no desire to understand. Inside us there’s a wall that gets built where we willfully choose to become indifferent. Turn on the news and notice what gets stirred up in you when you hear words like “Aleppo, Isis, Immigration and Muslim.” Chances are it’s apathy. Or it could be fear. Guess what? Apathy plus fear equals a phobia. These unchecked phobias have a power over us that God wants to break.

God has a bias, too. Do you know what it is? It is love, grace and peace. He invites us to receive it, to live it and to give it. But that can’t happen if we find ourselves stuck within our comfort zones and refusing to venture outside of what’s familiar.

If you decide to stay only in the familiar, you’re missing out, because this invitation from Jesus’ is preparing you for what eternal life will be.

But how do we do it? How do we overcome implicit bias and break through to reach Jesus’ vision?

Let’s look at three words. Okay–four.

  1. AWARE. You must be aware. You must learn to be aware whenever you find yourself thinking someone is less than. Get curious and spend time reflecting on why you have those feelings. Become aware of that person.

But it has to go deeper than just being aware.

  1. INVEST. The second word that will lead us to breakthrough is invest. Many of us know what’s happening in Syria, but we haven’t invested any of our time, talents or resources into alleviating the suffering that’s running rampant in that part of the world. When you’re invested, you become an actual advocate for the people because they are your friends and not some news item you’ve read about.
  2. SUSTAINABLE FLOURISHING. Lastly, work toward sustainable flourishing. Do things that are going to last—and flourish over long periods of time. It’s not just us trying to teach them; it’s us also receiving and learning and becoming.

We have the chance to bear witness to what God is doing in us—not just in Jerusalem, but in Judea, Samaria—and the ends of the earth.

May we Love Everyone, Always.