Last week, I attended a leadership summit organized by the Willow Creek Association. It was an excellent experience. The list of motivating speakers included General Colin Powell, John Ortberg, Marcus Buckingham, Floyd Flake, Carly Fiorina, Harvard Professor Michael Porter, Filmmaker Richard Curtis, former President Jimmy Carter, and of course Bill Hybels. Attendees were entertained and inspired, but mostly challenged by these leaders. While I didn’t fully agree with some of the speakers, I was blessed by the message from each one.
Dr. Porter spoke on one of my favorite topics – strategic planning. Yes, I understand that you probably do not have the same level of fascination that I do concerning this subject. However, I have been involved in strategic planning for 15 years (out of a 32 year military career). And yes, I should probably listen to my wife and get a life. The fact remains that I believe this is a valuable subject. Anyway, my point is that Dr. Porter is a world renown expert on strategic planning
I didn’t fully agree with Dr. Porter on every point. Our differences probably were due to his approach which viewed the church as purely an organization to address the depravities of society (poverty, disease, injustice, etc.) and not the depravities of the soul. However, his observations were insightful and useful to Christian leaders. Let me share a couple of poignant take-aways that I gained from his address.
First, Dr. Porter said that he had analyzed the programs of several churches as he prepared for this conference. What he found was astonishing energies and commitment of local churches to address needs of the congregation, communities, and the world. The spirit of volunteerism and the unselfish contribution of money impressed this man who works with nations to build strategies to address their social ills. He said the many efforts that he observed were very impressive, but their results were not very effective. Then he asked this audience of Christian leaders, “how do you do well to do good?” Rephrased, our strategic challenge is how to do good – well. Pause and consider this question. Reflect on you own church. Look at the programs your congregation manages. The question is not, which causes are better than the others. They are all good causes. However, we tend to think more is better and spread our resources too thin. The results are that nothing is really effective.
Finally, I came away convinced that we must include God in our goal setting process. The way we do good well is by focusing on where God is leading us. Dr. Henry Blackaby suggests that God reveals Himself, His purpose and His ways through 4 avenues; Bible, prayer, church, and circumstances.
Christian leaders must be prayer warriors. Communications is a two-way street. Prayer is an untapped power source for too many Christians. We let our schedules get in the way. The great hairballs of life become counterfeit priorities and we sacrifice what is really important. God wants to commune with His people. Prayer provides strength to the one who prayers. I relish the picture given in Revelations where our prayers are of such value to God that He stores them in golden bowls and entrusts them in the safekeeping of the elders in heaven (Revelations 5:8). I have changed the way that I pray. I realize that I am actually entering my words into the throne room of God. I praise Him and lay my concerns out for His consideration. I then mentally turn them over to Him. His plans and timing are perfect. He will do what He has purposed and He has purposed to love even me. What a relief! Then I pause and try to clear my mind for His gentle whispers, His nudging. Prayer provides me what is promised in Isaiah 40. As I wait for God, my strength is renewed.
In Him,
Dan
www.noblepurposeministries.org
