From Sampler to Sower

At the risk of sounding like a complete Tim Sanders fanboy, I want to send you to his blog Sanders Says again.

Earlier this month I linked to an outline of a talk he gave about what it takes to lead your business out of the recession and suggested there might be some important implications for those of us in ministry.  This week, he’s is at it again, expanding on his thoughts about what it takes to find yourself on the leading edge of the recovery.

You really need to head over to Sanders Says to read the whole post for yourself.

But I’d like to reflect on some of his points from the perspective of ministry here. 

(The bold print points are his words, not mine.)

1.  Leadership balances reality with hope – They are practical, but foster a positive mood state which creates a good backdrop for innovation.

I could be wrong, but I think this is even more true for those of us in ministry than those in for-profit business.  Economic uncertainty often causes those who rely on the charitable giving to pull back from innovation.  On the opposite end of the spectrum, our audacious confidence in God’s provision inspires us to careless risks or keeps us from taking corrective action because we’re convinced “God will provide.”

Our budgets need to reflect realistic expectations about how giving will be effected by the economic climate, but ministry needs to continue to boldly innovate.  Uncompromising reality viewed through the lens of undaunted hope is precisely the perspective from which we ought to operate.

2. User experience is the unifying purpose that the entire company rallies around.

One of the most valuable lessons I took from my ministry internship at Lansing South Church of the Nazarene was something I heard at one of their board meetings.   The Board was discussing concerns that students who went into the gym to shoot hoops after worship might damage some of the tables and chairs that were still set up from Sunday School small groups which met in that room earlier in the morning.  The concern was how to keep students from shooting baskets.  It was then Dr. Demott, South’s senior pastor at the time, suggested that the real question should be how do we make sure the tables and chairs get put away after Sunday School.  “After all,” Dr. Demott said, “the church is in the business of people, not property.”

Recessions sometimes cloud our perception of this fact.  Properties cost money to maintain.  The more we can do to preserve our property, the less we have to spend on maintenance.  A mindset of scarcity makes that concern even more urgent.  But properties aren’t our calling.  People are.

4. Leadership cultivates a culture of execution.  Non promise keepers are excised out of the organization in favor of people that finish what they start.

There will always be times that events have to be canceled or plans need to change.  But making a habit of doing so robs momentum from your ministry.  I’ve seen first hand what happens when people get so used to plans being changed they no longer care to invest in anything you suggest.  Constantly changing plans trains our people to think:  “Why should I invest myself in this idea?  It’ll never happen anyway…”

Don’t use the recession as a convenient excuse to not follow through.

These are my thoughts on just three of Tim Sanders’ six points.  Be sure to visit Sanders Says to read them all.