Who Are You Focused on Leading?
- Posted by: Todd
- Posted on: Wed, June 04, 2008
- Viewed 45
- (4) comments so far
Of course, you can read all of Scott’s post here at Livin’ Venti.
What do you think?
Scott Hodge had a great post yesterday about focused leadership. He said that one of the most empowering moments in the turnaround and transition at his church was when someone said to him this:
"Until you get your focus OFF of the people who are disgruntled, unhappy, unsupportive, and resistant to the direction God has called you to go, and ONTO those who are excited, supportive and on board, you will NEVER gain momentum and see a new culture created in your church."
For those of you who are in a turnaround situation, these are great words. I'm wondering... for those of you who have seen transition and turnaround in your situation: what was the tipping point? when did you finally say to yourself, 'this just might work?'
Comments
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Leonard Lee on Wed, June 04, 2008
This was really good, thanks for posting it. I find I can get distracted at… is that a new tv clicker?
Peter Hamm on Wed, June 04, 2008
“Until you get your focus OFF of the people who are disgruntled, unhappy, unsupportive, and resistant to the direction God has called you to go, and ONTO those who are excited, supportive and on board, you will NEVER gain momentum and see a new culture created in your church.”
WOW! Good one!
I think he’s saying… Stay AWAY from the “life-suckers” as much as you can. I’m not talking about not counselling people in need. No, I’m talking about the people who complain, resist any and all change, and just basically try to make your life difficult for no good reason. You need to spend SOME time with them, but invest your life in the people who make a difference for Jesus in your community.
I don’t have very many of those here, thank you JESUS!
Jan on Wed, June 04, 2008
“for those of you who have seen transition and turnaround in your situation: what was the tipping point? when did you finally say to yourself, ‘this just might work?’”
When we finally had more excited people who wanted to grow the church and see God move, then the unhappy and same old never change ones. At that point, the difficult ones became powerless and they eventually moved on.
I think this article is saying that you focus not on putting out the fires that are started by the discontented, but on sparking the flame for those who wanted to see HOLY fire.
Of course you have to be very wise in how and when to do this.
Stacy on Sun, December 27, 2009
I am a church memeber. How can I, deal with an unsupportive pastor?
He does not allow me to do anything besides children sunday school. there are seven singles, I am the only female. He caters to them and bonds with them but is indifferent with me.
I feel that he is trying to culture me. I mean, I wanted to be a reader and he called me into his office to read the Bible in the native language. I did well but he mocked me and got upset because I didn�t read the KJV and asked me if an �American church will allow a member who did not know English to speak up front?� I didn�t answer the question but told him that I DO have a KJV at home and that I speak, read and write the language better now than five years ago.
When I first came to this church, they (he and his wife) allowed me up front to sing in English. As I started to become immerse via church and taking classes, they stoped. I wanted to know why b/c I wanted to worship God via song and testimony but was not allowed to b/c I am not fluent and that I need to learn how to be humble and do what the pastor says without question.
I know that God is no respector of persons and as for the American Church, I came from a church b4 God moved me here where anyone could get up and give God glory wether English was their first language or not.
I want to do more for God, but there is no place for me to use my gifts here. I have an opportunity to go to Brazil but he will not even read the letter. He told me that he will not be responsible if anything happens to me and told me I can not ask the members of the church for help with fund raising.
How am I supposed to deal with an unsupportive pastor who I feel is turned off byu me b/c he realises that I will not conform (I ask to be involved and keep doing so until I am granted) and now he is threating to take away my spritual covering b/c this missions trip is not part of our �umbrella�. I asked to be placed on the missions board opportunity with this congreagation but I feel that he is not recommending me even though I am fully bilingual….
OH!!!! He told me one time angrily that, �God will speak to the pastor and tell him when it is my time to leave. If I leave his church I am acting in disobedience…� I reminded him that God spoke to me about leaving my old home to come to this place. Kind of like Abraham. I have no doubt that God has b/c he has and still provides for me…...and that my previous pastor, God parents I call them, assisted me b/c they believe that if God speaks, He will provide and God surely did and still does. Anyway, my pastor didn�t sit well with me after this.
Also, we are not allowed to visit or support any other christian church or organization UNLESS it is his cause, like in the case with a special offering for the last five years of believing God for a temple to hold 5K souls.
When I first joined the church in my early days, I missed Friday and Saturday service to go to a conference of a Christian leader. He told me that we are not allowed to do that when we have service. I agreed. Then an exmember invited me to a church dinner at her new church on a day that we didn�t have service. I was told then that we are NOT allowed to visit other churches. Something about staying in one place and being grounded. I understood that. I was invited to a dinner with an exmember who was going through a divorce and I wanted to give support. I wasn�t church hopping….
I think he can not think out side of his religious and cultural box. Women, especially single women need to be humble and submissive to men, and I need to become one of them culturally speaking….I purposely wear my hear in a different way now which is acceptable but non reversable and I think that he sees it as a sign of rebellion. In a way, it is b/c I am tired of conforming. All my life I tried to measure up and it got me no wear. I woke up one day and told God that I am going to embrace the way that He made me. I still have an answer if anyone in this church family asks me about my hair but no one has of yet. In fact, one of the single guys told me that he likes it. I took it as a way that God was comforting me. In fact a couple of them like it. I know that pastor doesn�t by the way he looks at me…
Anyway, PLEASE respond…...I don�t know if God is hardening this mans heart towards me to tell me its time to move on or to sit in that church and quietly pray and watch God do something but in the mean time i have to take the heat…....
Thanks, PLEASE respond, via email if you need to.
Thanks and God Bless!
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