In case you haven’t heard, CLI is currently running a HUGE Easter Sale!

We are offering dozens of resources at up to 50% OFF, including many of our most popular downloads and CD Sets.  In fact, all of our $23.95 downloads are only $12.00!

These deals won’t last, so here’s the link:

https://nelsonsearcy.infusionsoft.com/cart/store.jsp?view=1&i=53

I just finished the video shoot for the Easter message. . . we filmed the entire message from start to finish at noon today.  I’m feeling good!  I sorta wish I had the pressure to finish my message by Tuesday noon each week (OK, not really).

But it does feel good to know the manuscript is done and there’s a (pretty) good video in can.

We did the video shoot of the message because we are beginning monthly services at a new location this week (Journey-Queens) and we wanted the first message to be via video since the location is a video venue.  Hope that makes sense.

All other locations will be live this weekend.  But. . .if anyone gets hit by a bus we have a video back-up!

I’m praying that none of you are hit by buses on Easter Sunday

Nelson

Q: I’m trying to get my leadership system in place and I need to rework how I set my weekly meetings up. Would you mind sharing how you guys do it at The Journey?

A: Here’s an overview of our weekly meeting schedule:

Monday:
10:30am -11:30am: Individual meetings with direct reports
11:30am-Noon: Location Service Debrief’s (R/W/M/C of services)
Noon-2:00pm: Strategic Team Meeting (Nelson’s direct reports)
2:30-3:00pm: All Staff Meeting
3:00-4:00pm: Worship Planning Meeting

Tuesday:
9:00-11:00am – Location/Teaching Pastors Meeting
11:30-12:30am – Assimilation Meeting
1:30-2:30pm – Ministry Meeting

Wednesday:
10:00-11:00am – Growth Group Meeting
1:30-2:30pm – Stewardship Team Meeting (every other week)

Thursday:
11:00am-Noon – All Staff Book Learning Meeting (every other week)

P.S. Running out of hours each week? Check out Time Management for Busy Pastors here:
https://nelsonsearcy.infusionsoft.com/cart/store.jsp?view=4&i=p257&navicat=33

“Today I will do what others won’t, so tomorrow I can accomplish what others can’t.”
– Jerry Rice, Football Player

This morning I’d like to start a new series of posts about something I have been thinking about for a while. In coaching, training, and observing hundreds of church planters over the years, I have noticed a few things that all successful church planters have in common.

It’s not going to be a series of posts about worship styles, haircuts, or how many people are following them on Twitter. No, the commonalities I’ve seen across the board in church planters who are knocking it out of the park deal with matters of the heart.

I’m calling this “The Four Loves of a Church Planter,” and the first love of a successful church planter is:

GOD

Simple, right? It seems so elementary, but the drive to plant a church that will make disciples and expand God’s Kingdom has to begin with a heart fully devoted to God. In an era when church planting has become the popular thing to do in many circles, we can never lose sight of this fact.

Even in the most “successful” new churches there will be days when the only thing you can fall back on is your love of God and your desire to obey Him. A successful church planter makes his relationship with God first priority and leads out of the overflow.

Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.”   – Matthew 22:37-38 (NLT)

Church Planter:
- What is your motivation to do what you’re doing?
- Who is behind your drive to succeed?
- What do you need to do today to be sure that you aren’t “forsaking your first love”?

Check back next week for Love #2 (between now and then see if you can guess what it might be)…

P.S. Speaking of what church planters love, don’t forget that we love church planters.  That’s why we offer over $75 of resources for FREE to church planters.  Here’s the link:
http://www.churchleaderinsights.com/resources/church_planters.php

This is Kerrick Thomas – Executive Pastor at The Journey.  Nelson asked me to share this recent question and my answer about the role of an Executive Pastor:

Q: Would it be possible to send me your Staff Expectation Sheet for your position (Executive Pastor). I’m working on that right now with my two executive staff members and it would be very helpful.

A: We don’t have a specific position description for me, because I sort of grew into this role instead of being hired into a pre-existing position.

An Executive Pastor’s position description will vary from church to church depending on the type of church and the relative strengths of both that person and the lead pastor.

Some questions to consider:

1) What are your strengths? What responsibilities that you now carry would you delegate to the new XP?  Do you need someone that can implement and create strategies for the big ideas you have?  An administrator?

2) Are you looking for an XP of ministry (leads staff and oversees different ministry areas) or an XP of finances or both? I serve in some of both – although recently I have moved out of financial more and am just there in more of an oversight role rather than hands on every day.

3) Do you want someone to be a teacher? I serve as the 2nd teacher after Nelson.  Do you need someone to fill that role and to be a #2 to the lead guy so that he can help shoulder some of what to this point have been lead pastor responsibilities?

4) Does he need to have a pastors heart (counseling/marriage/public) or be a behind the scenes administrator?

An XP can look different depending on what your needs are and what your strengths are.  You want someone who will complement your strengths, make your job easier so you can focus on what is most important for you to focus on and who is comfortable speaking his mind and is equally comfortable if he speaks his mind but you go in a different direction.

These are some of the questions I would ask myself as I filled the role and I would look for someone who fits.  Don’t use someone else’s position description if they are looking for a different type of person.

I hope this helps!

Kerrick

P.S. For help in setting up your church’s policies and structures, consider investing in The Journey Church’s Policy Manual, available here:
https://nelsonsearcy.infusionsoft.com/cart/store.jsp?view=4&i=p109&navicat=33