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Tag: Jimbo Stewart

EP 265 – Reframing Confrontation and Willingness to Confront

Replant Bootcamp
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EP 265 - Reframing Confrontation and Willingness to Confront
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For This episode of the Replant Bootcamp podcast I pulled the audio from a presentation I gave at the Replant Summit this year on Reframing Confrontation.

In this talk I dive into the dynamics of confrontation within church leadership, emphasizing the significance of approaching conflicts with a spirit-led attitude. The discussion highlights various types of confrontations, emphasizing motivations such as restorative versus competitive, and the necessary attributes to handle them effectively—rooted in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

We are called to lead like Jesus, confronting issues with humility and wisdom, and striving for spiritual maturity.

The necessity for leaders to address conflicts with love rather than ego is important, along with the pivotal role of unity within the church. The talk includes practical advice on conflict resolution, real-life examples, and prayers from Psalm 139 to guide and support listeners in dealing with challenges, ultimately showcasing how properly handled conflict can lead to growth and unity.

00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Message

00:40 A Different Approach: Reframing Confrontation

01:50 The War of the Peace Lilies: A Case Study

05:59 Lessons in Conflict Mediation

10:39 The Role of the Holy Spirit in Conflict Resolution

14:03 Leading Like Jesus in Confrontation

15:40 Commitment to the Holy Spirit

16:22 The Goal of Maturity in Christ

16:53 Unity and Reconciliation

18:18 Confrontation and Restoration

19:28 Characteristics of Effective Renewal Leaders

21:09 Navigating Conflict with Wisdom

22:22 Biblical Approach to Conflict Resolution

26:41 Prayers for Conflict Mediation

28:16 Conclusion and Podcast Information

Parenting With the End in Mind

Mom Parenting Son Using Tablet

Parenting is tough, and it’s even tougher when you don’t have a plan. Perhaps this is why the mother was so torn. Her family had been active in our church for almost eight years, but their child had started a new school and made new friends who attended a different church across town. That church had quickly become the trendy choice, with all the fun events, youth trips, and cool factors that a big budget could generate. The mother wanted to continue attending our church, but she also wanted to make her child happy. She insisted that nothing was wrong with our church, but she was torn because her child wanted to attend the other church with her friends. The father remained silent.

My advice wasn’t what they wanted to hear. I suggested that they should not leave a church they loved—and one that loved them—for another church’s appealing attributes. Instead, I encouraged them to evaluate each church’s ministry philosophy, mission, vision, and core values. I stressed the significance of making long-term decisions in parenting, rather than solely focusing on their child’s immediate enjoyment and friendships. I assured them that the church they loved offered valuable relationships that would contribute to their child’s long-term spiritual growth. I cautioned them that children’s interests and friendships change throughout adolescence. If they were to switch churches solely for their children to attend with their friends, those friendships might not endure through their teenage years. Instead, I emphasized the importance of their child having multi-generational relationships within a supportive church community that would last a lifetime.

While the father assured me that he was indeed the paterfamilias and wouldn’t dare allow his children’s whims to dictate his family’s spiritual decisions, they soon started attending the other church. My warnings came to fruition. Shortly after their departure, their child’s friendships dissolved, and they were again looking for another church to attend. This situation highlighted the crucial role of parents as spiritual leaders in their children’s lives, and the responsibility that comes with it. 

These parents weren’t selfish or immoral. They thought they were being sacrificial. They were willing to leave a church they loved because they believed their child’s enjoyment of church was paramount. Unfortunately, this had an unhealthy effect. Without intending to, these parents imparted an unbiblical and potentially toxic value to their children. They modeled for their child a consumeristic approach to worship and church membership. Their child learned from the parent’s actions that church membership was meaningless, especially in the light of comfort. 

Imparting Core Values

Parent Leading Child

Whether we realize it or not, we impart values to our children with each decision. The question parents must wrestle with is, “What values do we want to impart?” Biblically, we as parents are to “Train up a child in the way he should go” (Proverbs 22:6 ESV). The question we must discern is what this looks like in our context. Is it simply attending church with our children and reading the Bible as a family, or is there more to it? 

In episode 245, JimBo and Audrea Stewart tackle this parenting issue by sharing how they embraced core values to help guide them in discipling their children. While pastors engaged with replanting and revitalization are thoroughly familiar with the idea of imparting biblical core values into the church’s culture, rarely do we hear of parents approaching their family in a like manner. Discipline? Yes, indeed. Biblical education, of course. Love? Most certainly! But core values? It sounds a little too institutional for many parents.

But why should it be? Establishing core values is essential in replanting churches because it eliminates wasted resources such as time, money, and effort. Would not the same be valid for the family? Without establishing core values as parents, how many missed opportunities have we experienced to better disciple our children? How much energy have we expounded on pursuing things that aren’t beneficial to our children’s development? By establishing these core values for parenting, our potential to raise godly children is greatly intensified. This should motivate parents to set clear core values in their parenting, giving them a sense of purpose and direction.

Parenting with core values is essentially beginning with the end in mind. Jimbo and Audrea Stewart adopted this approach to parenting, aiming to raise children into “adults [they] would enjoy being around.” They focused on instilling values of respect, integrity, self-control, and joyfulness in their children. This not only aligns with biblical principles but is also a strategic and intelligent parenting strategy.

While Stewart’s core values may differ from yours, parents should contemplate how to follow suit. A book called The Other Half of Church by Jim Wilder and Michel Hendricks may help you in this endeavor. Though this is not a parenting book, it is beneficial in understanding brain science and how to develop biblical character intentionally. 

The Need For Intentionality

Parenting through reading

Parents need to be intentional about their children’s growth and spiritual education. Bringing kids to church and reading the Bible together as a family are important habits, but young adults are leaving the church in alarming numbers, so these efforts may not be intentional enough. High school students are leaving the church after graduation at an alarming rate—66%, to be exact.

These are not unreached students. These students were actively involved in the youth ministry of an evangelical church for at least one year during high school but now do not attend church at all. Their church attendance declined at the same rate as Friday night football games and pep rallies. The church, once such an essential part of their lives, becomes as extraneous to them as a high school textbook in their college classrooms. The church is not merely losing ground among the unreached in post-Christian America—it is also bleeding out its own from internal wounds.

In their research project, Gen Zthe Barna Group presents extensive statistical data focusing on Generation Z’s worldview. According to research by Barna, the problem of students leaving the church comes down to a discipleship issue. Barna Group surveys, when compared with other research data, reveal an important lesson: the majority of young people who remained faithful to the church after high school attributed their faith to the influence of their parents. Those whose parents practiced intentional discipleship not only tended to follow biblical principles, such as attending church and embracing a biblical worldview, but also took their faith more seriously compared to those who simply attended church.

Even though children and adolescents seek independence, parents continue to be the most influential people in their child’s life. Even if youth leaders or children’s volunteers do everything right—building healthy relationships, becoming significant influences, and offering dynamic and relatable programs—they still won’t have nearly as much influence in a child’s life as their parents. Given that God designed parents to be the most influential relationship in their children’s lives, shouldn’t we acknowledge what a waste it would be to approach parenting without a strategy? Shouldn’t we recognize the importance of beginning with the end in mind and creating a plan to instill essential core values that contribute to long-term family discipleship?

Resources for the Replant Wife

“You can’t be a pastor!  That would make me a pastor’s wife!  And I am NOT a pastor’s wife.”  These were the very first words I said to my husband after he confessed to me that he felt God was calling him to be a pastor.  (Encouraging, I know… Bear with me.) Some women attend seminary and meet their future husband while he is studying for a career in ministry.  She’s prepared to be known as the “pastor’s wife” for their marriage.  That is not what happened to me.  I was completely unprepared to be a pastor’s wife– my husband was in logistics at a warehouse. I never imagined God would call him to be a pastor and I would be a “PW”– I didn’t even know what PW meant!

Thankfully, God brought me around and I joyfully accepted this new role. I looked at it as a big, new adventure we would go on together.  My husband and I, in ministry, doing the Lord’s work.  Proclaiming the Gospel to hurting and broken people, together! What could be better than that?

If you’re reading this and thinking, “Oh man… She might be in for a shock.”  You’re right.  I was!

After 16 years in ministry, I can honestly say it has been a big adventure– one that has included many wonderful, joyful mountains, but one that also included several painful and dark valleys. Most of those valleys have happened in the season of replanting/revitalization in our church.  In those valleys, it’s easy to feel isolated and alone in ministry.  Looking at other churches, I would think, “They have it all figured out.  They don’t seem to struggle the way we’re struggling!  Maybe we just aren’t called to this.” Perhaps you have felt that way, too. If you’re a pastor reading this, I can almost guarantee your wife has felt that!

On a recent episode of the Replant Bootcamp podcast, host Jimbo Stewart spoke with three replant wives (one of whom is probably his favorite guest of all time) to take a look at the resources available to the wives working alongside their husbands in church renewal.

The Replant Wife Experts

A woman prays alone

During those moments of isolation and loneliness, sometimes all we need is a small reminder that we aren’t alone. This is where I found myself at the first Replant Summit I attended with my husband.  We had navigated some very discouraging and hard times in our church and we signed up hoping to be refreshed and renewed.  I was burdened with many needs, some spiritual and some within our own family. When I saw a breakout session for “Replant Wives,” I thought, “Nope.” The last thing I wanted to hear was how amazing life was for all those wives and how wonderful their churches were.

My husband convinced me to go, and I entered that room overwhelmed and anxious.  I sat at an empty table prepared to sit quietly and speak to no one. But before I could enact that plan, other women came to sit at the table.  These women were all so friendly and kind, and I found myself sharing some of my concerns with them briefly before the session even started.  They seemed to understand everything I had experienced.  They seemed like they “got it,” in a way that my other friends didn’t.  Those women were Audrea Stewart, Darlene Dryer, and Barb Bickford, the hosts of the breakout session and the spouses of Jimbo Stewart, Josh Dryer, and Bob Bickford, respectively.  Turns out, I hadn’t sat down at an empty table– I was at “their” table! (I had somehow missed the purses, laptop bags, and materials they had around the table.)

For the next couple of hours, I sat with many other women in the room as these three incredible women poured into us with biblical, practical advice for this journey.  They each shared their stories, complete with heartaches and struggles.  They were transparent and relatable, but also gently and wisely continued to point us each back to Christ and His leadership.  As we each began to open up with our own worries and anxieties, I realized I had been wrong. I wasn’t alone or isolated.  There were so many women struggling with the same issues I was– and these three “expert Replant Wives” had struggled with them, too!

I know these three women would object to being called “experts”– they are just wives who are doing their best to assist their husbands in this work of church renewal. But that day, Audrea, Darlene, and Barb gave us more than the resources of books to read, biblical passages to study, and tangible tools for problem-solving– they gave us the resource of friendship.  We were able to connect with each other, as women all over the room began to bond over shared trials, joys, and everything in between.  The connections I formed that day reminded me that I wasn’t alone.  The resource of friendship was something that I will never forget.

The Replant Wife Facebook Page- a Source of Connection

After the Summit, I went home and immediately joined the Replant Wife Facebook Group.  There, I get to interact with Audrea, Darlene, and Barb, but I have also met Replant Wives from the Midwest, the Pacific Coast, and the Northeast United States.  It is a closed group, so wives can be transparent without worrying about breaking confidentiality.  They can share their burdens and know that someone out there understands what they are going through.  They can share helpful articles and books they’ve read, but they also share prayer requests and biblical questions.  It’s a forum for pastor’s wives in church renewal, so there are even helpful tools for struggling congregations.

Some of the questions that are asked and answered are practical– “Has anyone done VBS on a budget?  What tools were helpful?” “Has anyone been involved in rewriting bylaws?  What did you run into that you didn’t expect?” “What is a great meal for unexpected company or for feeding a large crowd?”  These questions are answered by other women in the context of church renewal– churches with normative attendance, budgets, and resources.  Churches a lot like yours.

This online connection fosters a community.  Now, when I go to a replant conference with my husband, I can connect with the women I know from the Facebook page and get updates on their lives and ministries.  We look forward to seeing each other and catching up.  Our community has borne each others burdens and celebrated each others successes.  We are truly in it together.

The Replant Wife Website, Blog, and Podcast

women shaking hands in collaboration

Another important resource for Replant Wives is the website, which also houses the blog.  Audrea, Darlene, and Barb have all penned blog posts regarding common issues in this renewal life.  Audrea wrote on navigating the post-holiday blues, Barb has written a series on longevitiy in ministry, and Darlene is writing about finding joy in trials. Think of this website as the “landing page” for all things Replant Wife.  In addition to Audrea, Darlene, and Barb, there are also resources from Kathy Addis (wife of Andy Addis), Jeanette Pugh (wife of Colin Pugh), and Joyce Jackson (wife of David Jackson), each of whom bring their own stories of  ministry mountains and valleys.

In addition to the incredible resources the three women have cultivated, they also have links to NAMB’s replanting resources.  NAMB is consistently looking for ways to support and care for pastors in ministry and one of those focuses has to be the pastor’s family.  In a replant/revitalization, where there are potentials for seasons of change and conflict, this is even more important.  A pastor does not weather the conflict alone– his family will feel it, too.  His wife will need support and encouragement, and she can find it within those resources.

But I think the best resource the women leading this effort have cultivated is their podcast.  This podcast seeks to be a refuge for the replant wife to be equipped and encouraged for the work God has called her to do.  Listening to it, you feel like you’re sitting around with three friends discussing Jesus, the bible, ministry, and families.  There, the three women discuss their blogs and talk about important topics in church renewal. They take the time to really dive into scripture and give biblical, practical advice.  They remind the listener that she is not alone in this work.  But they also remind her that this work is God’s glorious calling.

For every replant pastor, there is a replant wife who needs to know she is not alone.  We are here for you and we want to hear from you!  The Lord has called us to bring dying churches back to life– that’s an amazing honor!

If you want to meet these amazing women in person, you can do so at the Am I a Replanter conference at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary April 5-6 or at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary April 12-13.  (And, yeah, their husbands will be there, too.)

The Power of Partnership

A few weeks ago, my husband Will and I attended the AMS Lab from NAMB in Atlanta, Georgia.  Hundreds of pastors and AMS leaders from across the country gathered together to learn more about partnerships and collaboration in revitalizing dying churches.  We listened to several leaders discuss ways their associations and churches had worked cohesively for the spread of the Gospel and each other’s benefit.  We heard testimonies of how these collaborations bore the fruit of faithfulness, health, repentance, and revival. The message was clear: There is power in partnership.

In Genesis 2:18, we read that God formed Man and then came to an important realization: “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.”  Now, we know that God then formed Woman and declared it “very good.” But the main idea was not merely for man and woman to be in partnership together– the main thought is that it is not good for man to be alone.  Over and over in God’s Word, He reminds us that collaboration is better than alienation

We often remind our congregations that God has formed our church like a body, quoting from 1 Corinthians and Ephesians.  We tell them that we all need each other, we all have different gifts, and that we all benefit from our unity.  And yet when it comes to churches partnering with other churches, many pastors neglect to foster and encourage partnership in their ministries.

On a recent episode of the Replant Bootcamp podcast, Jimbo talked with Mark Hallock, author and Lead Pastor of the Calvary Family of Churches in Colorado, and Brandon Moore, Replant Specialist at NAMB, about the benefits of radical collaboration.  When we partner together, ministries flourish, churches come back from the dead, and pastors are strengthened.  On His way to the cross, Jesus prayed that the church’s unity and partnership would display God’s plan and His love for the world to see (John 17:23). 

God’s Command to Partner

Here is the truth of the matter.  Pastors who neglect to partner with other churches are working against God’s plan for the Gospel.  You might not realize it, but God desires us to be in close collaboration with other churches– not competition.  Too often, we get wrapped up in the human desire to grow our personal kingdom and not God’s.  

Of course, that’s not the language we use.  Pastors would never say they desire their kingdom to grow over God’s.  But when we hoard our resources for our gain, when we disparage the church across town (especially from the pulpit), and when we isolate ourselves from other pastors, we’ve created a “my church, my growth” mindset instead of a “God’s church, His kingdom” mindset.

God commands us to work in unity with other churches.  Our passion must be for God’s Kingdom to grow, because His plan is to reach the lost world through people– not only your church but mine, too.  His plan is for all of us to cooperate so that His name is magnified throughout the nations.

Where do I start?

At the AMS Lab, one of the phrases we heard from pastors and AMS Leaders was, “Partnership sounds great, but we don’t have that mindset in our association.  No one seems to want to share or to cooperate.” What a missed opportunity!

When pastors alienate themselves and build walls around their ministry, it typically signifies an area of personal weakness.  Maybe they’ve been hurt by other pastors in the past and they are hesitant to be vulnerable again.  Perhaps they are afraid to be transparent or admit that something isn’t working.  Or maybe it’s just good, old-fashioned pride that makes them feel like they don’t have anything to learn from someone else.  Regardless of the root issue, a pastor who “Lone Rangers” his ministry may need to evaluate his behavior and repent.

Often, one of the first steps toward collaboration is one of embracing humility. It’s one thing to agree we need pastoral friendships for encouragement, but it’s quite another to be willing to share resources like money, time, and leadership with fellow pastors.  It’s one thing to say, “I’m willing to help the church down the street,” but it’s different to say, “I don’t care who gets the credit, I just want to see God’s Kingdom grow.”  Humility offers us a chance to let go of our ego and step out of the picture, and it allows God to step in and do radically transformative work in both our congregation and in the other church.  Laying down our pride for the Gospel reaps fruit we can’t even begin to imagine.

Once we’ve embraced the command to partner with fellow pastors and churches, and we’ve repented of any pride or fear standing in our way, it’s time to lean in and pursue partnership.  Now I wish this was as easy as simply passing a note to another pastor at the next Association meeting that says, “Do you want to partner with me in ministry? Check yes or no.”  Unfortunately, radical collaboration takes a little more time and effort! 

To start with, you need to actually attend association meetings.  Those meetings aren’t merely to give you information and discuss everyone’s budget and church attendance numbers.  Those meetings are opportunities for networking with other pastors and for encouraging each other! You have something to learn from them.  The Holy Spirit indwells them just as He indwells you!  God has given them unique perspectives, experiences, and giftings that can benefit you, even if they are different than yours. 

Being a good partner in ministry means being a good friend.  When you’re at the meetings, ask good questions of your fellow pastors.  Pray over their churches.  Have someone from your church send them a card to encourage them.  Some of our best partnerships have come from having close friends in ministry.  Last year when we were gone on a mission trip, we needed help with our worship service– we were short a pastor and a worship leader.  We were able to call our best friends in ministry and ask for their help– and they sent a worship team over to lead our service, even though it meant their church struggled a little that morning.  Why?  Because we aren’t in competition, we’re in cooperation.

Maybe not everyone will understand your desire for partnership.  That’s ok. Start with a few guys who do.  Plan a night of worship and combine your campuses. Look for ways your church can help with their VBS (or vice versa).  Do you have a couple of talented musicians while their church struggles to have live music? Ask one of your people to serve there a couple of weeks a month. Not because you don’t love your church and your people, but because you’ve taught your church to love other churches. And before you know it, a funny thing happens when other people see radical partnership thriving… they’ll want to join, too.  That’s where you see the culture change.  That’s where the goal of “church growth” becomes “Kingdom growth.”

The Superpower of Partnership

Hopefully, by now you’ve realized that we need to partner with fellow churches for one very good reason: God commands us to!  But partnership isn’t merely a rule to follow.  Radical collaboration is a superpower.  Once we tap into it, the benefits to our ministry and our personal walk with Jesus are huge!

One of the main benefits of partnership?  We are better together! Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 reminds us, “Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.  But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.”  There will always be times when ministry is a struggle.  I have a friend who swears her husband quits ministry every Monday morning.  Discouragement, disappointment, and feelings of frustration with church members or church politics can feel overwhelming.  But partnerships with other churches mean your problems aren’t just your own to solve.  You have helpers to pick you up and raise your arms, as Aaron and Hur did for Moses (Exodus 17).

Another benefit?  Faithfulness in the ministry. A recent Barna study found that 65% of pastors reported feeling isolated or alone in 2022… that’s up from only 42% feeling that way in 2015. It seems many pastors are feeling like Johnny Cash when he sang, “I’ve got no one to tell my troubles to, no one to care to call my own. It seems that I must always be alone.” And when pastors feel isolated, they are more susceptible to temptation, hip-shot decisions, and leaving the ministry altogether. When you partner with other pastors, you have built-in encouragement, but you also have built-in accountability.  Your partners are also pastors who can tell you, in humility and love, where you might be going off-track.

Lastly, there is the benefit of having a cohort to help you navigate the complexities in the culture and society we face today.  We are dealing with aspects of culture that society has not wrestled with before and in our digital and technologically advanced society, these complex questions do not stop at the church’s front door.  Increasingly, these cultural issues are encouraging pastors to take a new look at their by-laws, their polity, and even their own personal beliefs. Having other pastors beside you as you walk through these decisions gives you a plurality of educated leaders that you may not yet have access to within your own congregation.

The Superhero of Partnership

 

I hope that you now see the superpower of partnership and the ways collaboration benefits your ministry.  Now, allow me to introduce a superhero who can help you in your quest for partnership– your local AMS.  

Hopefully, the local AMS at your association has been there long enough to have the one gift you need– the power of connection.  The AMS has an acute knowledge of not only the churches in his association, but of each pastor, and each congregation.  When you need ministry partners, there is no better place to start than your AMS.  Have a music/worship need?  He knows of a local cohort of worship leaders you can join.  He also knows which churches have large choirs and an abundance of musicians who may be able to join you for a while.  Have a question about polity?  He knows which church recently rewrote their bylaws, and what roadblocks they ran into, and he knows who you need to call at the state level for assistance.  Need help with VBS?  He knows the church doing theirs weeks before yours, and he’s happy to put you in touch with them so you can borrow their decorations when they’re done.

If you’re interested in hearing more ways your AMS and your local association can assist you in radical collaboration, the Replant Bootcamp has a podcast and blog on the partnership between pastors and Associations.  

Opportunities to Partner with Us

When we talk about partnerships between pastors and associations, there is no better place to explore that than at the Replant Bootcamp events.  We have several coming up, from two Am I a Replanter labs in April, the Revive Summit in May and September, and of course, through our website and archives.  

Don’t forget to let us know how much your ministry partners have helped you by suggesting them as future guests using the “Suggest a Guest” button!  We would love to hear your stories!

What is Working Genius and How Does it Work for You?

Over the past eighteen months, our church has been revising and rewriting the church bylaws.  This has been an arduous, complicated process that took much longer than anyone expected.  The team that took on the project was coed and economically and generationally diverse. We expected to have disparate opinions and different ways of looking at many of the same issues.  We expected to have different strengths and weaknesses as we worked through this important project.

But there was one thing we didn’t expect– some of us felt excited during the same phases that left others feeling overwhelmed and frustrated. For several of us, the project’s initial phase was the most exciting– we loved asking questions and defining what needed to happen.  The possibility of creating a new document for our church that would be used for years to come was so inspiring! The lack of structure and organization during this time felt time-consuming and unproductive for others.  Likewise, some of us felt energized toward the end of the project as we saw all of the hard work come together, and we began to encourage our church about some new directions and ideas.  Others were ready to move on to the next project and wished we could move quicker to the next thing.

Did these differences mean that our team was unsuccessful?  Not at all. These differences are necessary and beneficial!  On a recent episode of the Replant Bootcamp podcast, Jimbo and Bob walked listeners through a new tool called “Working Genius” by Patrick Lencioni.  Though the premise may sound similar to other personality tests and quizzes, the “genius” behind Working Genius is finding out where your team’s skills lie and which parts of a project line up with those specific gifts.

six types of working genius

The Good News: We’re All Geniuses!

One of the best aspects of Working Genius?  We are all geniuses!  It’s true– we all have an area of uniquely talented gifting.  We are more fulfilled and happier when we can work within what we are naturally good at.  In addition to seeing what our skills and gifts say about us, we can also find out where we fit within our team and project phases.  

The Six Types of Working Genius

According to Lencioni, the six types of Working Genius are:

  • The genius of wonder: The natural gift of pondering the greater potential and opportunity in any situation.  People gifted in this area love asking questions and feel creative in ambiguity.
  • The genius of invention: The natural gift of creating original and novel ideas and solutions. People gifted with this genius find joy in taking the challenges and generating solutions. They enjoy innovating from scratch and love a blank whiteboard piece of paper with which they can brainstorm.
  • The genius of discernment: The natural gift of intuitively and instinctively evaluating ideas and situations.  People gifted in this area are good curators of what’s going on around them and can recognize patterns. They know how to connect the dots and give people good feedback across a broad range of topics.
  • The genius of galvanizing: The natural gift of rallying, inspiring, and organizing others to take action.  People with this genius love to get things moving. They’re great at pushing people out of their comfort zones, inspiring them to get started, and moving them in the right direction.
  • The genius of enablement: The natural gift of providing encouragement and assistance for an idea or project.  This genius is people-oriented– they want to help realize a vision and provide the support needed to move.
  • The genius of tenacity: The natural gift of pushing projects or tasks to completion to achieve results. People gifted in this genius are task-oriented.  They love to take things across the finish line, and they ensure that a project is going to have the impact it’s supposed to have.

Project Stages

Every project has a workflow structure that follows a specific pattern.  The initial stage, where we are asking questions and answering with possible solutions, is called “ideation.”  This is the stage where people with the workplace geniuses of Wonder or Invention will feel energized, focused, and most productive.

In the next stage, we have answered our questions and have decided on a possible course of action.  But we are still getting ready for the next step.  We need people whose workplace genius is Discernment or Galvanizing to help us move into activation.  They will help us create “buy-in” for the ideas and ensure we move in the right direction.  The people with these geniuses will be excited to engage others in the work and cooperate with every team member.

Finally, after we ask and answer all the questions, cohesively move toward solutions, and ensure we are heading in the right direction, we are ready for the final stage of the project: Implementation.  In this stage, people with the working genius of Enablement or Tenacity will find joy in checking off boxes, encouraging others in their work, and getting the project to completion.

The Bad News: We’re Not Always Geniuses!

A name tag that reads "Hello I am a Genius"

Lencioni states that each person has two geniuses that fit them well– these strengths allow them to feel the most joy while at work on a project. Each person also has two Working Competencies.  These are the areas where we can perform the work, and we may even find satisfaction in it.  While we might be somewhat gifted in these areas, they do not bring us joy.  We also have two areas that are working frustrations.  These areas bring us– you guessed it– frustration.  These are the areas where we just really don’t enjoy this aspect of a project.  

Unfortunately, we are not always able to avoid those Working Frustrations.  As Replant Pastors, we are often called to work on a project from start to finish, regardless of which stage of the project brings us joy. So, how do we work within those moments of frustration without getting… frustrated?

Finding Einstein

A picture of Albert Einstein

There is this temptation, especially as a Replant Pastor with limited resources and limited people, to believe that you have to do it all.  Everything rests on you.  Each project is for you to accomplish from start to finish, whether rewriting bylaws or redoing the children’s classrooms.

Pastor, here is some truth: You can’t do it all.  If you thought you could, you would quickly discover that road leads to exhaustion, discouragement, and burnout.  (See last week’s podcast episode and blog for some tips to avoid burnout.)  You need other people.  You specifically need other people who aren’t just like you.  You need other geniuses in the room!

I can tell you from experience it isn’t easy to work with someone with a different genius.  If you have the genius of Wonder, you’re going to frustrate someone with the genius of Tenacity.  While you’re asking all the questions, they’ll just want to push forward to the part where they can start doing something.  If you have the genius of Invention, you may feel unsupported by someone with the genius of Discernment who doesn’t think your idea is a perfect one.

But we must recognize that those differences, however frustrating they may be, allow us to work better. Romans 12:3-8 reminds us that God, in His grace, gives us different gifts– but just as important, it reminds us that we aren’t to think more highly of ourselves because of our specific gifts.  We cannot envy someone else’s unique gifts or judge their gifts as somehow less than ours.

I recently attended a symphony concert with my daughter.  As we listened to the incredible music, I never thought, “Man, I wish this was just 150 trumpets all doing the same thing.” As much as I might love to hear the trumpet, the music was beautiful because every instrument was playing its part at the perfect time and volume.  The trumpet player wasn’t jealous of the violinist because it took both of them to create the symphonic sound.  Likewise, the trumpet player didn’t look down on the harpist because a trumpet couldn’t make that sound, which was necessary for the piece. 

Find the other Einsteins in your congregation with a genius that is different than yours– and then work with them on projects to make sure you’re all playing your part cohesively and beautifully for the Gospel.

If you want to take the Working Genius test or purchase it for your team, you can find more information here: https://www.workinggenius.com/about. And if you’re interested in other resources for team building and team strategies, check out our podcast episodes on Leadership Judo by searching the term or by looking at Les McKeown’s work on Predictable Success.

EP 225 FUNDING MINISTRY PT. 1

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EP 225 FUNDING MINISTRY PT. 1
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Hey there Bootcampers, we are tackling an important issue in this EP-funding your ministry. There are a lot of opinions on funding and we break down some basics. In future EPs we’ll take the opportunity to dig a little deeper into some of the ins and outs of making ministry possible financially.

Let’s start with the basics: Funding Ministry

  1. Single source – one church pays your salary

The elders who are good leaders are to be considered worthy of double honor,[b] especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. 18 For the Scripture says: Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,[c] and, “The worker is worthy of his wages.”  1 Timothy 5:16-18

  1. Missions and ministry support

“And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel when I left Macedonia, no church entered into a partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. Even in Thessalonica, you sent me help for my needs once and again. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases your credit. I have received full payment and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God.” (Phil 4:15-18)

  1. Self-Funded – You work a job, if married your spouse may work a job to be able to do ministry
  • How many Pastors are bivocational? 60-80%? Our best guess
  • Today it is estimated that 60-65% of Southern Baptist churches are served by bivocational pastors.  Founders Blog
  • Though we don’t have precise data, we estimate that there are over one million bi-vocational pastors and church staff in North America alone. Rainer – Church Answers
  • Bivocational – two jobs as a necessity to support your role as pastor not to burden the church
  • CoVocatioal – intentionally choosing to engage in a dual vocational role 

“And he [Paul] found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. And he went to see them, and because he was of the same trade he stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade.” (Acts 18:2-3)

“Or is it only Barnabas and me who have no right to refrain from working for a living?… If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we reap material things from you? If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we even more? Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ… What then is my reward? That in my preaching I may present the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.” (1 Cor 9:6, 11-12, 18)

Here’s a great quote from a fantastic article by Dr. Geoff Chang:

Spurgeon: The most practicable remedy is to find volunteer laborers who will not need maintenance from the people. This admirable remedy is already largely used, but not so largely as it might be. We have among us numbers of brethren engaged in handicrafts and professions who are endowed with gifts at least sufficient for the gathering of moderate congregations, and some of them display ability equal if not superior to the average of stipendiary pastors. It is an exceedingly great gain to the community when these brethren addict themselves to the ministry of the saints.

Are you serving as a bi-vocational or co-vocational pastor? We’d love to hear from you!

 

Get the web help you need from our great friends at One Eighty Digital, they’ve got the expertise to get your church’s social media and web presence heading in the right direction.

 

 

 

 

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EP 224 EIGHT QUESTIONS FOR 2024

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EP 224 EIGHT QUESTIONS FOR 2024
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Happy 2024 Bootcamp crew!  Welcome to the beginning of the new year, we’re praying for you!  Check out this list of 8 critical questions you can ask as you plan for the coming year. We’d love to hear from you!  Drop us a line, send us some feedback and submit your own questions!

Eight questions to ask as you plan your projects and priorities for 2024

  1. Have we prayed about this? 
  2. Is this a really big decision? (See our previous episode on weighing big decisions)
  3. Is this just something I want or is it something that is good for the church? Are you alone in this idea, or have you run it by others? (See our previous episode about formal and informal permission) – notes below
  4. Is this the right time to be making this change? Do I have the leadership capital for this change?
  5. How does this project or priority help our church grow in love, unity, or maturity? 
  6. Are our priorities and projects focused more on God’s people and purpose or programs?
  7. Is the issue at hand a biblical command or a missional context issue? (Think front seat of the car [identity] or back seat of the car [infrastructure] – see our previous episode on spiritual and organizational church health)
  8. Does everything on our list of priorities, projects, and programs have a current value and purpose or are we just re-doing things because that is how we have done them before? 

You might have questions about your website, check out what our good friends at One Eighty Digital can do to get you up and running.  They have the know how and expertise to get you up and running and connecting with your community.

 

 

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EP 222 – MERRY CHRISTMAS BOOTCAMPERS

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EP 222 - MERRY CHRISTMAS BOOTCAMPERS
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Hey there Bootcampers!  We know this week has you busy wrapping up all sorts of things as you get ready for those Christmas Eve services and family gatherings. In this short EP the guys reminisce about some good ole 80s Contemporary Christian Music, share a few laughs and listen to Bob lament about his old BMW.

We pray that thru all the days ahead you feel the joy of the Lord, knowing that God sent his son, Jesus, to redeem and restore us into a right relationship with him.

Merry Christmas from the Bootcamp!

 

 

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EP 221 – SHARING THE PULPIT

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EP 221 - SHARING THE PULPIT
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Hey Bootcampers, thanks for joining us this week! Today after Jimbo recounts his misadventures with “hot chicken” the guys get down to the serious business of speaking about an important leadership move, sharing the Pulpit.  Do you share preaching responsibilities in your church?  How would you start? What is the benefit?  Listen in and follow along and be encouraged to take steps to add to your preaching team.

 

Why should you share the pulpit? 

    • Gives your congregation a diverse diet of preachers
    • It is an avenue for raising up, empowering, and sending out new leaders
    • Helps keep you in a humble posture
    • Creates space for personal renewal

Gives your congregation a diverse diet of preachers

    • Sometimes it can be helpful to hear from different but unified perspectives or styles 

Avenue for raising up, empowering, and sending out new leaders

    • Move toward decentralized leadership 
    • There is a shortage of pastors right now – there is no better place to raise them up than in local churches – normative-sized local churches
    • There is no better way to help raise up preachers than to let them preach 
    • It is a blessing to see others thrive in their God-given gifts and passions 

Helps keep you in a humble posture

    • Makes sure Jesus is the main hero
    • Sets the church up better for your eventual exit via death, retirement, or resignation. Every pastor is an interim pastor

Creates space for personal renewal

    • As wonderful as the opportunity and blessing to preach are it can become burdensome (6 weeks seems to be a consistent pattern from people I have talked with)
    • It can be very refreshing and encouraging to sit under preaching
    • It frees you up to spend more energy on other pastoral tasks instead of prep

Get the help you need Bootcamper with your digital presence. Our good friends over at One Eighty Digital can get you up and running in the right way. Contact them today and let them know you are a listener.

 

 

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EP 220 SHARED LEADERSHIP

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EP 220 SHARED LEADERSHIP
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We hope you are well Bootcampers! Jimbo has been released from his quarantine and Bob is feeling a little under the weather, but do not fear loyal Bootcamper we held forth and produced another EP for you that is an important listen.

Leadership is often lonely and challenging, that’s why it is vitally important to learn how to share the burdens and blessings of leading the local church. In this EP we remind ourselves of Ezra and Nehemiah and how they each played an important role in leading God’s people.

Ezra is a pastor/priest who seeks to get others to take the Bible seriously, and live faithfully. Nehemiah is essentially a visionary who sees the need for the rebuilding of the ancient walls of Jerusalem.  Tim Mackie 

This restoration required, first of all, the rebuilding of the temple and the reinstitution of ceremonial worship. The two accomplished a lot, both had frustrations with those they led, some success and some failure – a real story of the reality of leadership.

Leaders, keep this in mind:

God uses Pastors and Civic Leaders

Both are needed for Kingdom work

Both are valued by God 

Each has an important task, a divine gift set, and a specific calling

Working together for Kingdom purposes

  1. Value each other’s gifting, call
  2. Collaborate and Compliment rather than compete
  3. Lead and follow – the best leaders are also great followers
  4. Recognize that absolute success is often measured in many cycles of victory and setbacks
  5. Keep the big picture in mind – Your God-given assignment is faithfully fulfilling the assignment God has given, success is being faithful.

Get the help you need for your website and branding by calling one of the industry leaders, One Eighty Digital. They do great work dear Bootcamper, call them and let them know you are a good Bootcamp listner.

 

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