I’ve asked Jason Hatley, my Pastor of Worship Arts at The Journey and founder of WorshipLeaderInsights.com, to share some thoughts today on a topic that affects many pastors AND worship leaders every day:

What are your Pressure Points?

Jason Hatley here . . .  Pastor of Worship Arts at The Journey Church.

“Pressure Points” is a phrase I use in my Worship Pastor Tele-Coaching Networks to describe any area of your ministry that is putting extra pressure on you right now.

It could be the pressure of adding a new service, dealing with a difficult team member, needing to add new volunteers to your team, implementing a new system in your team, or a rift in your relationship with your pastor.

(If you have all five of the above I would say you have more than a Pressure Point . . . you have a Pressure Cooker in the works).

Pressure Points can be new initiatives, current challenges, or old problems that won’t go away.

We will always have Pressure Points in ministry. And some are better than others. Let me explain.

For many pastors and worship leaders their greatest pressure points come from old issues that haven’t been dealt with. For instance, the member of your team who is wrecking your sanity, your leadership and your team culture that you just haven’t had the hard conversation with yet. It creates undue amounts of pressure on you and your team and left unchecked will blow up on you.

Not to be overly obvious, but that’s the kind of pressure point you don’t want.

However, some Pressure Points are good. They are new ideas that you are trying out. It’s causing some extra stress, but you know when you get through it your team and your ministry will be better for it.

You will never eliminate Pressure Points from your ministry. Like the human body, you must have some good ‘stress’ in your life because that’s what allows your muscles to work and literally hold you upright. This good stress is called “eustress”.

However, what we want to try to do in leading our teams is eliminate the bad stress, or what we call “distress”. (Just saying the word adds stress to your life).

So – here are 3 ways to overcome your Pressure Points.

#1 – Confront Your Pressure Points.

I’m sure I don’t have to tell you this, but some people in ministry deal with Pressure Points by running away from them. It could be avoiding a difficult conversation with a staff or team member. Or putting off finding a solution to a difficult challenge indefinitely. Some even try to escape the pressures of ministry through wasting time on less important matters.

As those in my coaching networks have heard me say many times before, we have to “Run to Conflict” and deal with our Pressure Points head on. The longer you ignore a Pressure Point the more difficult it will be to solve.
#2 – Grow Through Your Pressure Points

The reason your current Pressure Points exist in your life right now is because God wants you to grow through them.  As Rick Warren said in The Purpose Driven Life, “God is more interested in your character than your comfort.” So look at your current Pressure Point as an opportunity for spiritual, personal, and ministry growth.

These leadership and growth challenges are areas that the professors in my Sacred Music program didn’t prepare me for in college.

But they are at the very heart of leading thriving worship teams in our churches.
#3 – Get advice from someone who has been where you are . . . and succeeded through it.

One of the best ways to grow through a Pressure Point is to talk to someone who has “been there, done that.”

This is something I find myself doing regularly. After all learning from the mistakes and successes of others is far less painful than learning the same lessons on my own.

And then be ready to return what you’ve learned to others who may find themselves in the same place down the road. That’s the kingdom mindset that I have used for the past 5 years as I have personally coached nearly 200 Worship Leaders through my Worship Leader Tele-Coaching Networks.

You see, every year I personally coach a select group of worship leaders and for 12 months we work through how to implement proven systems to help you overcome the major Pressure Points and challenges in ministry that we face. Challenges like:

- Personal Growth and Leadership Development

- The Pastor / Worship Pastor Relationship

- Systems for planning God-honoring, life-transformational worship services

- How to double your worship team and lead them at the next level

- And many others.

It’s a fast-paced and fun learning environment with a great group of growing leaders. It’s not right for everyone, so you will have to decide, but if you are interested in learning how you can join the next network starting on Friday, October 14 the complete details can be found here – www.worshipleaderinsights.com/coaching.

Your partner in ministry,

Jason

P.S. Now is the time to apply for my new Worship Pastor Tele-Coaching Network – for all the details and to apply now, visit:

www.worshipleaderinsights.com/coaching

I just read a new book from Brian Tracy, called “Full Engagement” and I recommend that you pick up a copy.

It contains a great deal of wisdom for any leader who’s looking to get the most of the people they lead.

Here’s one quote I found to be powerful:

There are two simple rules for success as a manager: Rule number one says, “Your life only gets better when you get better.”

Rule number two: “Your people only get better when you get better.”

- Brian Tracy

Good stuff!

P.S. For more insights into making the most of your leadership, check out Leadership Skills for a Growing Church.

I hope you and your church had a great day yesterday.

Since it’s Monday (and I’m sure you’re busy), I’ll be quick:

Our “End of Summer” Clearance Sale at Church Leader Insights (CLI) is winding down this week and we’re almost out of many of the CD resources I’ve been telling you about.

Again, we’re trying to clear off our shelves and help as many churches as possible, so you can pick up some of my most powerful resources (while they last) at HALF OFF!

Click the link below to see what remains at 50% off:

CLI Summer Clearance Sale – CD Resources for HALF OFF

But hurry – the sale ends this week and when the CD’s are gone… they’re gone!

Have a good week!

Nelson

P.S. Here are just a few of the resources still available at Half Off:

• Breaking the 250 Barrier
• Financial Freedom Full Church Campaign
• Improve the Financial Fitness of Your Church
• How to Double Your Worship Team in a Day
• Leadership Skills for a Growing Church
• Breaking Growth Barriers Workshop
• Time Management for Busy Pastors
• And dozens more!

Here’s the link to see everything on sale now:

CLI Summer Clearance Sale – CD Resources for HALF OFF

“The prospects never looked brighter and the problems never looked tougher.  Anyone who isn’t stirred by both of those statements is too tired to be of much use to us in the days ahead.”
- John W. Gardner

Thought I’d take a moment this morning to share something I’ve been watching lately on TV.

For a full hour of business lessons and leadership insights, check out the CNBC series Titans.

It’s documentary-type biographies of some of the biggest business leaders of the modern era - I especially enjoyed (and learned from) these three:

• Steve Jobs
• Jack Welch
• Ted Turner

It appears that most of them are in re-runs so set your TiVo.  Enjoy!

Nelson

Today is a big day for me – a day I’ve been looking forward to for months now…. it’s the first session of my brand new Senior Pastor Tele-Coaching Network!

Coaching other pastors is tremendously rewarding and fulfilling to me because it’s an opportunity for me to add value to others and multiply my Kingdom impact.

I watched a great video from John Maxwell recently about what it means to be a coach and thought today would be a good day to share it:

Couldn’t have said it better myself, John!

Will you take a moment right now to pray for me and the great group of pastors I get to “add value” to over the next 12 months?

Thank you & God bless,

Nelson

P.S. If you’re a Senior Pastor and you are reading this before 2pm EDT, there’s still time for you to join!

Click the link below to Apply Online Now:

http://www.churchleaderinsights.com/telecoaching

For several I’ve been inviting you to apply for my new Tele-Coaching Network for Senior Pastors.

Now is your last chance to take action as it starts TOMORROW and I have only a handful of spots left.

To see complete details and apply online in less than ten minutes click here.

I don’t want anyone to miss out.  I hope to review your application ASAP.

BTW – here’s what Devon Davoux of Cornerstone Church in South Dakota said about the network:

“I can be a tight wad and was very relunctant to join. Our church had gone nowhere in years, really lacking the systems to get from point A to point B.

Since I joined our church has been totally transformed, we have a strategy and systems that are getting in place. Our attendance has probably doubled, our finances have grown and people are excited about what is going on. It has brought a tremendous clarity in my leadership and people can see where we are going.

I would highly recommend giving yourself a year of super charged growth.”

Devon Davoux
Cornerstone Church
Vermillion, SD

If I don’t receive your application today, you’ll miss out on:

• Monthly hands-on coaching from me
• Over $1679 in free resources from Church Leader Insights (CLI)
• A proven coaching process that leads to growth and health
• Unlimited email access to me and the CLI team
• A monthly coaching environment where everyone is focused on a Kingdom agenda
• MP3s of each session for your review. Remember: Even if you miss the exact date, you can listen to the network at your leisure
• FREE attendance at all live or web CLI training events during your network
• Private “call-in” times with me to have your specific questions answered in more detail
• A private day-long meeting with me, exclusively for tele-coaching participants (location TBD)
• The chance to grow and take your church to the next level
• Plus much, much more!

Here’s your link to Apply Online Now:

www.ChurchLeaderInsights.com/telecoaching

Nelson

This is the week I’ve been waiting on for months!  My new Senior Pastor Tele-Coaching Network begins THIS THURSDAY and I’m excited about the great group of pastors who are signed up.

I just want to give you a heads-up though – I only have room for a few more Senior Pastors, and you must Apply Now for consideration.

One of the reasons I’m so passionate about the network and adamant about you prayerfully considering it is because I get to see and hear first-hand how God uses the network to grow churches, reach more people for Christ and re-energize pastors!

For example – here’s an email I got from George Hege (a Coaching Alum and Pastor of Muhlenberg Area Community Church in Reading, Pennsylvania) recently about his experience and results in the network:

Hi Nelson:

I trust that you are doing well and enjoying today, as you so often encourage others to do.

This is just a short note to thank you for your part in my personal growth and the growth of Muhlenberg Area Community Church.

When I joined your Sr. Pastor Network MACC was averaging 24 people and I was feeling the weekly pressure of Sunday acutely.

MACC had 96 people at our Easter Celebration this year (2011) and we are averaging 75 a week since then.  I am enjoying ministry immensely and look forward to Sunday mornings.

You are one of the many people the Lord has used to help MACC become what it is today.

Thank you for providing me with systems for ministry.

Yours by God’s Grace,

George Hege
Muhlenberg Area Community Church

Thanks for sharing George – it’s great to see what God is doing at MACC!

How about you?  Are you ready to grow personally and lead your church to grow?

Do you want to do everything you can to make the next year of ministry your BEST year of ministry?

My new Senior Pastor Tele-Coaching Network starts in just two days – THIS Thursday, August 25 – and there’s just a few more spaces available for pastors like you.

For more information and to Apply Now, visit:

www.ChurchLeaderInsights.com/telecoaching

“Inspiration does exist, but it must find you working.”
– Pablo Picasso

With the end of summer comes the end of “seminar season” for me and the Church Leader Insights team. It’s been great to get out on the road and meet so many people at our “in-person” events.

Now that we’re off the road, we have a load of display resources that I’m making available at HALF OFF!

Dozens of people picked up resources at these live events, but we shipped what remained back to our office via UPS.

As a result, some of these resources have been opened, are missing the shrink wrap, or even have scratches or dents on the outside. But they’re in 100% perfect condition inside the cases.

When I found out about the damages (cosmetic only), I talked to my team about a special “End of Summer Clearance Sale.”

So we’re clearing out these CD resources (and a few others that are overstocked). They’re not doing any good for the Kingdom sitting on a shelf somewhere – I’d much rather get them in your hands so that you can make a greater impact

You’ll find Over 60 different CD Sets available for HALF OFF in the Summer Clearance Sale!

You can pick them up for the next week OR until we run out of CD’s!

Here’s the link:

https://nelsonsearcy.infusionsoft.com/cart/store.jsp?view=1&i=82

NOTE: Each CD set is in perfect condition inside, but the packaging may be scratched or missing the shrink wrap.

You’ll find dozens of Sermon Series, plus Systems Seminars, Single CD Resources, even longer workshops – all on CD and all at unprecedented savings!

DON’T FORGET THE 100% MONEY BACK GUARANTEE

No matter what the packaging may look like on the outside, each of these resources come standard with our 100%, 365 Day, No-Hassle Guarantee!

If you have any problems or if these resources aren’t the right fit for your church, you can return them at any point within the next year for a complete, 100% refund – NO QUESTIONS ASKED.

So, what are you waiting on? Here’s your link one more time:

https://nelsonsearcy.infusionsoft.com/cart/store.jsp?view=1&i=82

* Hurry – Unlike our Downloadable Resources, when these CD Sets are gone… They’re gone!

BTW – If you’re ordering more than 2-3 of these resources, feel free to call the office at 1-800-264-5129, ext. 1. My team will put together an even greater discount for you.