3 ways to be a Generous Leader

If you are reading this, you are most likely a leader. If you're a good leader you are developing leaders under you to lead in ways you never could, or never would have time to lead. A great leader is always about identifying and inspiring other leaders to join his or her leadership team.

I sat back the other day and began thinking of all the leaders I've identified over the last few years, and how many of them no longer report directly to me. I was actually shocked, and wondered, "what have I done?!" Then I realized that they didn't leave the organization, they have all just moved to different roles within our staff. Then I got excited about all the people working in their passions and strengths who are growing in their leadership. So if you want to go to the next level to be a generous leader, just apply these three steps.

1) Care deeply about the leader's design & not your desires: It's easy to look for leaders to help you get your stuff done. And if you're a great leader, there's lots to get done. But when we put a leader in a place they are not designed for, we may be setting them up for frustration. Many will submit to your plans, but if you really care about the person, you'll listen to them and discover what they were designed for. And you may discover she is designed to do something other that what you desire. In that case, the most caring thing is to explore and ultimately get her in the right role on the right team.

2) Share your leaders with other staff: Your staff needs good and great leaders on their teams. When you discover a new leader or a new passion in a leader, get them aligned with the team they will thrive in. The reality is that they won't be on your team, which could be seen as a loss. But three wins happen: a) The leader gets to work in her passion b) You just helped your staff by giving them a winner c) you've scored some major points with your staff.

3) Live with open hands: If you have the belief that you "own" the leaders under you, you'll most likely not be willing to share. But the reality is you can't "own" anyone. You can try to possess them, keep them, incentivize them not to leave, but you can't own them. When you truly believe they are created in God's image, given special gifts, talents and passions, and that they truly belong to God, you can rest assured that He will lead them.

If you would like more leadership ideas there's more on soggythoughts.blogspot.com
If your church is ready to double your great commission impact contact me at dave.elshaug@intentionalchurches.com
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Multiply your gospel impact

Everyone wants to make an impact in their world. Think of some people’s great ambitions: save the whales, end homelessness, stop human trafficking, end hunger, save the planet! These are big ambitions in a vast world. Most won’t become a reality on a grander scale, but on a small scale, people are making an impact in all these areas. Here are four ways to Multiply your gospel impact.

Develop Great Strategies: Nothing impactful happens without a plan. Could the Olympics bring all those athletes together to one city to complete in hundreds of events that are televised throughout the world without a plan? No way. You’ve heard the preachers share the plan of salvation, which is a multi-millennial strategy to save man’s soul. God is a planner! I will share later how you can get help in developing great strategies.

Invest in Leaders: If you’re a decent leader, there’s stuff you do to make things happen. If you want to multiply, you need to infuse those character qualities, skills, and know-how into other leaders. Give them what they need to succeed. Mentor one leader, or start a training class for 12. Find a book that’s helped you, and read it through with some of your leaders and discuss it.

Pass it on: I work with church planters through a group called lovingutah.org. A pastor recently approached us to ask how to get his church to look outward. So we’ve planned a free ministry workshop and a few key leaders from 5 different churches will be passing on some strategies on how other churches can multiply their gospel impact by having evangelism mindset. Are you making an effort to pass what you know on to other church leaders? If you do, you will multiply your gospel impact.

Poor & Powerless: You can multiply your gospel impact by creating a strategy to reach the poor of your community. No matter what community you live in, you don’t have to look hard to find people who are hurting. Single moms, Military families, homeless, low income, battered spouse shelters, refugees, or even entire neighborhoods. Jesus said to go to the highways and byways and compel them to come in.

So are you having trouble with the strategy piece? There are some great leaders who are willing to help. Intentional Churches will partner with you discover the church God made you to be, and create strategies that will multiply your gospel impact. Whether your church is small, medium or large, the call of God to do fulfill the great commission still stands. Let’s do it!

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Is your church ready to grow in 2015?

Is your church ready to grow in 2015? In 2010 the founders of Intentional Churches, Doug Parks & Bart Rendel, helped the church I serve, K2 The Church, develop a plan for growth, discipleship, and reorganization. We are experiencing the fruit of that planning session in a many ways. Our discipleship is more defined and effective. We'll be moving to a new facility that will allow us to grow, and we have key people in positions like never before. And Doug and Bart have continued to be a source of coaching for K2 over the last 4 years. If you're interested, you can see some of this fleshed out on k2thechurch.com.

I believe 100% that your church could experience amazing results as you unpack who God made you if you would engage with Intentional Churches to discover together what He wants you to do next in your community. The team building and intentional process will lead your team to action plans that they can accomplish. And the IC coaching will guide your team with results-oriented skills.

I have teamed up with Doug & Bart and Intentional Churches in order to see 1,000 churches double their Great Commission impact! Take the first step to investigate intentionalchurches.com and discover if we can partner with you and your church leaders.

God has called you to lead! You have a unique church in a unique community! Make 2015 a turning point year for your church!