Church, where is our relentless pursuit?
I was talking to some Student Ministry folks a couple of weeks ago who were frustrated with their current enviornment in their church. They felt like the overall church culture didn't give them enough freedom to make some of the changes they wanted and needed to make in the student ministry to reach their desired vision EVEN THOUGH it was killing their ministry.
I'm not much of a people pleaser at times so I told them, get with your team, get with your leadership, get with your supervisors/elders/etc. and explain to them that you feel like these are the changes that need to be made in order to reach the vision you all say you want for your students. Then YOU just have to make the call and make the changes you feel are necessary to bring about the agreed upon vision...which, might I add in both cases, was TOTALLY in line with what they church
SAID they wanted.
I've found that, as leaders, sometimes what we SAY we want and what we're willing to do to get what we want are on two totally opposite ends of the spectrum. odd...but common!
I wish I would have had this quote when I was talking to them because you know sometimes you can say something profound to someone and it doesn't produce the motivation you anticipated because it's a tough reality to deal with. YET, the moment it's backed up by other brilliant leaders we all look up to, the motivation to "go do it" kicks in.
Here's the quote:
"A leader has to be able to change an organization that is dreamless, soulless, and visionless...SOMEONE'S got to make a wake up call." - Warren Bennis
I'm praying that anyone in the shoes described above, will have the courage to make that tough/challenging wake up call to reach the vision God's planted in their organizations mind. If the vision is that compelling, shouldn't our actions DRIVE US toward fulfilling it at all costs?
Churches...where is our relentless pursuit of bringing the Kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven?