January 15th, 2008
Last night I hosted our first annual Community Groups Current. Current serves as a vehicle to get everyone in the Community Groups Ministry together to cast vision and communicate important initiatives. About two weeks ago I was pouring through the Scripture looking for the perfect spiritual insight and couldn’t come up with anything I thought would work. I found loads of good stuff, just nothing that the group leaders needed to hear in this season. Then two things happened that set the agenda for what, I believe, was a great event last night.
1)Â Â Â Â Â I asked a trusted leader in the community groups ministry what his number one question was as a group leader.
2)Â Â Â Â Â I sat in on a meeting with a seasoned executive who imparted some practical wisdom.
The question that this leader gave me – and that echoed what some trusted others were telling me as well – was, “Who do I call when I (fill in the blank)?� What he was letting me in on was invaluable. He was showing me that as our ministry has grown rapidly – more than tripled since last year – some of the group leaders were left feeling like they were on an island with little to no support. If they were struggling with their group they didn’t feel like they could call me.
Here’s were the wisdom from the executive comes in because in hearing that some of the leaders were feeling isolated I began to list out all the things that I have been doing to communicate regularly. After all, I started a blog! This executive suggested that communication really comes in two forms: 1) Expectation and, 2) Understanding. He said that leaders either send memos with clearly defined expectations for what needs to be done. Or, they will continue to communicate with you until you get; that is until you buy-in!
Maybe you feel like I’m splitting hairs, and maybe this isn’t a big deal to you, but for me, I was floored. The combination of these two simple insights gave me all the fuel I needed. Last night I was able to confidently stand up and celebrate all that God has done, point out and apologize for the things we have not done well, and lay out the foundations of a plan to do better in 2008.Â
I’m not sure how it was received; although preliminary reports would suggest that it went over very well. There is one thing I am very sure about, however, even if I knocked it out of the park and scored a spot in the communicators hall of fame (allow me my day dream…) I’m not finished. If I really desire that the people I lead buy-in to the vision rather than just execute tasks then I will need to communicate for understanding not just expectations. And as a first step, I’m answering their question with all the horsepower I can muster!
John Bishop, Small Groups Pastor
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January 14th, 2008
Some of our staff just spent some time with some mentors and learned an important communication lesson.
If you have to ask an employee, friend, or even a spouse “Do I have to explain myself?��?, then you’ve probably already failed. In other words if they didn’t get what you meant the first time, then you probably didn’t do a good job communicating. They may have heard you but did they understand you?
The message is simple. Are you communicating in a way that is directive (Do this… Do that…) or in a way that is understanding? When people question decisions made by those in leadership it is often because they don’t understand why the decision was made.
An effective leader finds ways to get those under them to understand the “why��? and not just receive the order. Did they just hear you or did they understand you? Â
How committed are you to making sure that your staff, direct reports, and volunteers understand the vision? They can only have the vision if they catch it. And they can only catch it if you throw it right. Â
Chunks Corbett, Executive Pastor
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January 10th, 2008
About 3 weeks ago we had the opportunity to pull off the largest production to-date at Elevation Church.
We’re typically operating in multiple high school auditoriums with a seating capacity in the 600-900 range per auditorium, a couple cameras, 6-8 people in the band on stage and a few of key transitions. On this particular Sunday, which happened to be our Christmas worship experience, we were upping the ante all-around.We went to a local well-known city venue with a seating capacity closer to 10,000, which we cut down to around 6,000 with some well-placed house curtain. What was usually 2,500 people spread out over 5 services was turning into 5,500 in a single service. What was usually a 75-minute worship experience was turning into a 120-minute experience. What was one church doing its thing was turning into a multi-church event with different style collaborating to preach God’s word.Here’s what I discovered:
1.   Pray your face off. Ask God to move like He’s never moved, because it feels overwhelming to tackling such a daunting task the first time through. And if you’re going to find any consolation, find it in the One makes it all possible.
2.   Over prepare for the transitions. From a production perspective, I don’t think you can hit this one enough. If you think you’ve gone it over it enough times, do it one more time.
3.   Have one person on point calling the entire event. One person should be on an intercom system calling the show, from lights to video/audio to stagehands, it becomes exponentially more difficult to be successful when there is more than 1 person trying to drive the production.
Good luck in the future on all your big productions. And be encouraged about getting through the first one, regardless of how big it is, because they all get easier after that.
Larry Hubatka, Creative Pastor
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January 8th, 2008
Most church plants have a staff comprised of 2 kinds of people. The first group has been trained, attended seminary, and maybe even served on a church staff before. The other group is a bunch of fishermen who have no ministry experience and nothing more to offer than potential.Â
I’m a charter member of the 2nd group. I’m a physical therapist converted Executive Pastor. When Pastor Furtick asked me to be part of his life’s call, I had no idea what I was getting into.Â
Last Sunday we saw over 3500 people come to church. Just over a year ago, I was still working 33 hours a week as a bi-vocational PT. Well technically that’s not true, because the definition a of bi-vocation is to have 2 paid jobs and I was still a volunteer just 14 months ago (church planters are you with me?). In fact only 2 of our 19 current paid staff members were taking a salary from the church 14 months ago and it was peanuts.Â
But there have been some perks. I’ve had the privilege to be under not only one of the best preachers but also one of the most creative and innovative leaders of our time. Pastor Furtick does 3 things here at Elevation: He leads, casts vision, and preaches. My role as the Executive Pastor is to execute the tasks of the church. I am to execute the vision God’s gives His man (Pastor) and make things happen.Â
So in some ways, I am the ultimate plagiarist. I get to carry out the thoughts and ideas of Pastor Furtick. I guess I am also going through the ultimate church planting program. We’ve seen God-sized growth after starting with nothing. And you could also say that I’ve been going through the ultimate leadership training program too. I have been a working project as one of the greatest leaders of today has poured his life and heart into my development.Â
So I’m thankful that today to have an anointed leader and to be part of a powerful church poised to impact the city of Charlotte. I’m thankful to execute tasks and develop systems for Elevation Church. I’m grateful to sit on the front row and actually have a part in a real life move of God. May God never have to slap me across the face and remind me that it’s only because of him that I am able to do this.Â
Chunks Corbett, Executive PastorÂ
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