This blog has been shortlisted by Premier Christian Radio for their New Media Awards within the "Most inspiring Leadership Blog" category.
I am chuffed with that.
Simply because if this blog is a blessing to people then it is doing what I set out to do.
Looking at the shortlist in my category I can see different Christians from around the country all using blogging to encourage others. In doing so we all make a small contribution.
It is interesting to see the different styles: some of us are blogging about preaching specifically, others, like this one, is more a diary entry/things going around in my head kind of effort.
Last year people like Dave Gilpin and Adrian Warnock were shortlisted, which kind of makes this blog look like a primary school kid scribbling on a scrap of paper, but there you go!
There is an awards ceremony in London for the top two in each section which sounds quite exciting.
Whatever happens moving forwards it has been a real encouragement.
Showing posts with label Leadership. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Leadership. Show all posts
Tuesday, 20 September 2011
Friday, 18 February 2011
I love my job...
What a day Wednesday was!
We started with checking my emails; you never know what surprises await!
A pastoral team meeting followed; which is where we consider how to best support those in the Church who need a little bit more support. The love and care shown within the Church continues to astound me, as does the faithful discipleship of those facing difficulties in life.
A few phone calls follow; including one with a local lady minister in training who is helping with a major outreach project I am involved with and a local baptist pastor. We're meeting on Friday to discuss future joint mission events in Shrewsbury.
Next up came a phone call with a local Church administrator I have much affinity with, having done a similar role here for years. We shared ideas, encouraged one another, and he gave me a useful press contact. We are working together; brilliant.
I had an appointment cancelled due to illness which was sad but helped me to catch up with all sorts of bit and bobs of admin. Urgent but not (that) important bits and pieces.
I found out that the council has allocated £2000 towards a Cage Football project I have been pioneering, giving us £11,000 towards a total cost of £12,000, and adding to the £3,000 I got from the Police. Yet I also received disappointment that further funding has been delayed, leaving me £1000 short. That is a bit gutting to be honest.
Next up came a 2 hour strategic meeting with my fellow elders and some very exciting ideas for the future. As a Church we are 25 years old and established in our town (having successfully planted 2 other Churches): the question now is what do we want to be in 25 years time?
I arrive home to find an email from a local businessman I know through the football club saying he is a trustee of a local charity and he has seen Cage Football in the local paper and wants to fund any shortfall, and if he can't through his charity he will through his business. Can you believe it? 3 hours after the bad news comes the provision. Jehovah is still Jireh yeah?
Back from that and a quick change of gear and a visit to a couple, the chap being the son of some of our Church members. They want a humanist wedding and they want me to lead it because of my positive relationship with him. It was great to spend time with them, affirm their desire to marry, and explain how my faith encourages me to consider all marriage as good. I also said how much I respected their authenticity by not wanting a Church wedding if they don't believe in God.
Back to our Church Centre for the Freedom in Christ course, except now I find that due to illness I need to help with an Alpha group instead. Wow! I have not led an Alpha group for a couple of years but it is goes great. Why did Jesus die? I mean, can you get a better thing to discuss with people on their journey towards faith? Dinner includes Cumberland sausages, what is not to like?
A lady member of our Church who has recently experienced a miscarriage tells me my blog posts on the subject have been a help to her; a precious moment.
As I leave a guy wants a private word and asks me all about the authenticity of Scripture regarding possible copying errors in response to my talk on the Bible in a previous week. Brilliant! Let's have a look.
Home I go, taking a lad home who expresses how helpful Sunday's "Steps to Freedom in Christ" day was for him.
I may be tired as I catch the tail end of the Champions League highlights, but God is good, all the time, but my gosh He is today.
We started with checking my emails; you never know what surprises await!
A pastoral team meeting followed; which is where we consider how to best support those in the Church who need a little bit more support. The love and care shown within the Church continues to astound me, as does the faithful discipleship of those facing difficulties in life.
A few phone calls follow; including one with a local lady minister in training who is helping with a major outreach project I am involved with and a local baptist pastor. We're meeting on Friday to discuss future joint mission events in Shrewsbury.
Next up came a phone call with a local Church administrator I have much affinity with, having done a similar role here for years. We shared ideas, encouraged one another, and he gave me a useful press contact. We are working together; brilliant.
I had an appointment cancelled due to illness which was sad but helped me to catch up with all sorts of bit and bobs of admin. Urgent but not (that) important bits and pieces.
I found out that the council has allocated £2000 towards a Cage Football project I have been pioneering, giving us £11,000 towards a total cost of £12,000, and adding to the £3,000 I got from the Police. Yet I also received disappointment that further funding has been delayed, leaving me £1000 short. That is a bit gutting to be honest.
Next up came a 2 hour strategic meeting with my fellow elders and some very exciting ideas for the future. As a Church we are 25 years old and established in our town (having successfully planted 2 other Churches): the question now is what do we want to be in 25 years time?
I arrive home to find an email from a local businessman I know through the football club saying he is a trustee of a local charity and he has seen Cage Football in the local paper and wants to fund any shortfall, and if he can't through his charity he will through his business. Can you believe it? 3 hours after the bad news comes the provision. Jehovah is still Jireh yeah?
Back from that and a quick change of gear and a visit to a couple, the chap being the son of some of our Church members. They want a humanist wedding and they want me to lead it because of my positive relationship with him. It was great to spend time with them, affirm their desire to marry, and explain how my faith encourages me to consider all marriage as good. I also said how much I respected their authenticity by not wanting a Church wedding if they don't believe in God.
Back to our Church Centre for the Freedom in Christ course, except now I find that due to illness I need to help with an Alpha group instead. Wow! I have not led an Alpha group for a couple of years but it is goes great. Why did Jesus die? I mean, can you get a better thing to discuss with people on their journey towards faith? Dinner includes Cumberland sausages, what is not to like?
A lady member of our Church who has recently experienced a miscarriage tells me my blog posts on the subject have been a help to her; a precious moment.
As I leave a guy wants a private word and asks me all about the authenticity of Scripture regarding possible copying errors in response to my talk on the Bible in a previous week. Brilliant! Let's have a look.
Home I go, taking a lad home who expresses how helpful Sunday's "Steps to Freedom in Christ" day was for him.
I may be tired as I catch the tail end of the Champions League highlights, but God is good, all the time, but my gosh He is today.
Thursday, 20 May 2010
Thinking
On Sunday evening we had a great members meeting during which we shared shared some opportunities that have opened up recently.
The overall response was very positive indeed and lots of people said they had "felt" over the last few years this was the kind of thing we are called to.
That led me to think. What other thing do we feel are on our hearts, or on God's heart for us as a Church here?
So on Tuesday night, at our cell leaders meeting, out came the flipchart and a pen. What is God saying? Where is he leading? What is on your heart?
Wednesday lunchtime, at our staff meeting, out came the flipchart and a pen. What is God saying? Where is he leading? What is on your heart?
The results of both discussions were fascinating, with both variety and similarity and a definite sense of God stirring up something amongst us.
On Tuesday the eldership is having a day away with much to ponder. The challenge now is to take all these great ideas and find God's heart for us amongst them. Please pray for us.
The overall response was very positive indeed and lots of people said they had "felt" over the last few years this was the kind of thing we are called to.
That led me to think. What other thing do we feel are on our hearts, or on God's heart for us as a Church here?
So on Tuesday night, at our cell leaders meeting, out came the flipchart and a pen. What is God saying? Where is he leading? What is on your heart?
Wednesday lunchtime, at our staff meeting, out came the flipchart and a pen. What is God saying? Where is he leading? What is on your heart?
The results of both discussions were fascinating, with both variety and similarity and a definite sense of God stirring up something amongst us.
On Tuesday the eldership is having a day away with much to ponder. The challenge now is to take all these great ideas and find God's heart for us amongst them. Please pray for us.
Wednesday, 13 May 2009
Before I am 40 (Part Two)
Matt Hosier linked to a good article by John Maxwell for young leaders here which is based on this.
In it there is a little nugget of 10 things to do before you are 40.
1. Know yourself
2. Settle your family life
3. Determine your priorities
4. Develop your philosophy of life
5. Get physically fit
6. Learn your trade
7. Pay the price
8. Develop solid relationships
9. Prepare for the future
10. Find purpose for your lifeTime for a bit of self analysis. I am aged 30, so have a decade to hit some targets, but why wait? I have already looked at the opening 5 in this post. Now it is time for the last 5.
6. Learn your trade
In it there is a little nugget of 10 things to do before you are 40.
1. Know yourself
2. Settle your family life
3. Determine your priorities
4. Develop your philosophy of life
5. Get physically fit
6. Learn your trade
7. Pay the price
8. Develop solid relationships
9. Prepare for the future
10. Find purpose for your lifeTime for a bit of self analysis. I am aged 30, so have a decade to hit some targets, but why wait? I have already looked at the opening 5 in this post. Now it is time for the last 5.
6. Learn your trade
- I have sat in elders meetings since the age of 23 and became an elder aged 29.
- I have served with Mum's & Toddlers, Senior citizen's, Cell Leadership, Cell oversight, Youth, Children's work, Words projection and more.
- I have preached on Sundays, Christian unions, Alpha Course, Freedom in Christ, Blowing your Cover and more.
- I don't see being a Christian leader as a "Trade" as such but there are not many "jobs" in Church life that I have not been willing to do myself, from clearing up sick to preaching at a Carol Service.
- I gave up a graduate job with Accenture to follow my call into serving the Church
- I am learning what it means to help people through the hardest times, and the personal cost of other people's pain
- I am also learning how to take harsh criticism from people who are projecting their own sadness onto you
- I am continually trying to lay down my desire for more stuff, for status, for wealth, to be comfortable and am choosing a generous way of living, while trying not to be being jealous of people with more than me
- Friendships matter. I have some real friends. Some proper "ring them up at 3am because your car broke down" kind of friends. The kind who stick up for me and tell me when I am out of line
- Esther is my key friendship: if our friendship is not secure then there is trouble ahead
- We have a plan. It involves kids at some stage if possible. It involves jobs, especially Esther qualifying as a Social Worker in about two and a half years
- We are open to God to open new opportunities for us
- We are looking for a future here that does not just look like what today looks like, but presses into what God has in store in an exciting way
- If I had any more "purpose" at the moment I think I might pop!
- What I need is time to fulill the purpose, wisdom to prioritise the purpose and grace walk the journey
Monday, 4 May 2009
Before I am 40
Matt Hosier linked to a good article by John Maxwell for young leaders here which is based on this.
In it there is a little nugget of 10 things to do before you are 40.
1. Know yourself
In it there is a little nugget of 10 things to do before you are 40.
1. Know yourselfTime for a bit of self analysis. I am aged 30, so have a decade to hit some targets, but why wait? I will start with the opening 5.
2. Settle your family life
3. Determine your priorities
4. Develop your philosophy of life
5. Get physically fit
6. Learn your trade
7. Pay the price
8. Develop solid relationships
9. Prepare for the future
10. Find purpose for your life
1. Know yourself
- On the one hand I am extrovert, relational, a bridge builder, communicator, humorous, sensitive, outward looking, fun, relaxed. I am an ideas person, creative, thinker, problem-solver.
- On the other hand I am sometimes a bit too outspoken, and need to ensure my humour is not allowed to go too far. Friendships need to be more than just having fun, and my sensitivity means I need to develop in my ability to confront and to challenge, as well as receive criticism. I don't mean fair words showing thing I could do better, but I mean the unfair criticism you get from people with an agenda.
- Married to a wonderful woman and building what we both want to be a strong and healthy marriage. Not at the kids stage yet so one step at a time.
- Relationship with God, encounter with God
- The kingdom of God expressed through the local Church
- Sharing, giving, empowering. Justice, trade justice, green issues, depth of relationships, hospitality, having fun.
- Big question! Love Jesus, worship Him, preach Him, follow Him.
- Still in incubation stage of how that translates to the rest of life.
- Five a side once a week, squash once a week, gym once or twice a week.
- Got a weight target and on course to reach it by the summer.
- Lowered my cholestrol: blood pressure etc all fine.
Monday, 6 October 2008
Gathering Leaders
On Saturday we gathered the general leadership team of the Church for a time of worship, prayer, and discussion of the key challenges facing our Church as we seek to develop and reach more people.
We are happy where we are, but we are getting too full, with Sunday attendances averaging over 300 in a hall that can only realistically take 350 comfortably, even though one Sunday this year we had 417 at a baptism service!
So the question is: how can we change things to allow more room for more people?
The discussion was wide ranging and covered lots ideas, but especially the potential to develop a second sunday service which would create space to add new people to.
Lots of questions were posed - morning, afternoon or evening?
Aimed at families? Older people? Young adults? Everyone?
There were lots of ideas, and lots of potential to develop, but what really impressed me above all other things was the attitude of our leadership team:
1) Standing still and looking after what we have is not an option
2) We want to reach new people with the gospel
3) We realise that there is a cost to this and yet we are still up for it
I left the meeting knowing we really have to hear from God about the future, but absolutely convinced that together we can achieve something for Him.
We are happy where we are, but we are getting too full, with Sunday attendances averaging over 300 in a hall that can only realistically take 350 comfortably, even though one Sunday this year we had 417 at a baptism service!
So the question is: how can we change things to allow more room for more people?
The discussion was wide ranging and covered lots ideas, but especially the potential to develop a second sunday service which would create space to add new people to.
Lots of questions were posed - morning, afternoon or evening?
Aimed at families? Older people? Young adults? Everyone?
There were lots of ideas, and lots of potential to develop, but what really impressed me above all other things was the attitude of our leadership team:
1) Standing still and looking after what we have is not an option
2) We want to reach new people with the gospel
3) We realise that there is a cost to this and yet we are still up for it
I left the meeting knowing we really have to hear from God about the future, but absolutely convinced that together we can achieve something for Him.
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