 July 2010 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
LEADERSHIP MOMENT I recall completion of my doctoral studies. After four-and-a-half long years of seminars, research, papers, examinations, a written dissertation, and unrelenting deadlines, there came that sweet day in July 1986. Just as I dreamed it would happen, I heard for the first time those words: "Congratulations, Dr. Chapman."
There’s every reason to celebrate when we move up the career ladder, complete our education, have something we wrote published, or realize some other personal goal. But, in time, regardless of the accomplishment, we’re likely to be brought back to earth. We haven't yet arrived. There's always room for growth; further goals await. It's no different in the more significant matters of life. As Christians and leaders, we have our spiritual pedigree and our spiritual accomplishments. We find great security in them. But can we afford to rest on those alone and really make the difference God wants us to make? When we think we’ve “arrived” in life, we stop growing. When we stop growing, we hasten our own demise – personally and professionally. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
REGISTRATION FOR FALL MINISTRY-TRAINING CLASSES UNDERWAY! Masters classes offered in Bluefield (new site) and Roanoke
For more information check our website, call 540.777.3014 (toll-free 866.223.9344), or email Gary Chapman, Director.
OTHER VIRGINIA BAPTIST EVENTS
MINISTERS’ FAMILY RETREAT Come experience the majesty of God's gift at an affordable cost this summer in the beautiful mountains of Southwest Virginia, including:
Information and registration can be found at the Ministers' Family Retreat webpage.
BIVOCATIONAL CELEBRATION A time for emphasis and appreciation for bivocational ministers. Lodging at Music Road Hotel and Conference Center. Registration is through the Tennessee Baptist Convention. For additional information, contact Darrell Fletcher at 888.674.4373.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
The only weapon the church has is prayer. Some aspiring leaders constantly seek “the big break.” They distribute their resumes, applying for important and prestigious positions. They use political tactics to gain friends and forge alliances. Sadly, those seeking to serve God often follow the same pattern. In so doing, they neglect the most basic lesson in spiritual leadership—if you are faithful in a little, God will entrust you with more (Math. 25:21; Luke 16:10). So, what business are we in? Well, we are not in the church business. If you think you are, or are leading like you are, here is a suggestion: stop it! We are not in the leadership business or the church business or the preaching business. We are in the Father's business of making disciples to Jesus and there is probably no more neglected task or activity taking place in the Western church today than disciple-making. Champions are champions not because they do anything extraordinary but because they do the ordinary things better than anyone else. Leaders strengthen credibility by demonstrating that they are not in it for themselves; instead, they have the interests of the institution, department, or team and its constituents at heart. Being a servant may not be what many leaders had in mind when they choose to take responsibility for the vision and direction of their organization or team, but serving others is the most glorious and rewarding of all leadership tasks. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Give Them a Hand A story told by Eastern Kentucky University President, Joanne K. Glasser, at December 2006 Commencement highlights the importance of investing ourselves in the lives of others and how “little things mean a lot” to so many. "The story is told of a schoolteacher who a few days before Thanksgiving one year asked her class of first-graders to draw a picture of something for which they were thankful. Knowing that most of her students came from economically disadvantaged homes, she figured that the children might draw pictures of turkeys or tables with food, so she was astonished when one of the pictures depicted a simple childishly drawn hand. "But whose hand? She put the question to the class. ‘I think it must be the hand of God that brings us food,’ said one child. ‘A farmer,’ said another youngster, ‘because he grows the turkeys.’ About then, Douglas, the young artist who drew the picture in question, sheepishly raised his hand. ‘It’s your hand, teacher,’ he mumbled. And the teacher recalled how at recess she had often taken Douglas, a rather scruffy, forlorn child, by the hand. She did that with many of the children, but for some reason it seemed to mean much more to little Douglas." Glasser goes on: “Minutes before they crossed the stage to shake my hand, I asked our graduates to promise me this—that they will take their hand, literally and figuratively, and reach it out to a world that so desperately needs and desires their touch."
Fewer Young Adults Attend Church A majority of young adults, age 18 to 29, don't pray, don't worship, and don't read the Bible according to LifeWay Christian Resources:
"We have dumbed down what it means to be part of the church so much that it means almost nothing, even to people who already say they are part of the church," says Thom Rainer, president of LifeWay Christian Resources. The recently released survey was based on telephone interviews in August 2009 with 1,200 18-to-29-year-olds.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Click links to read articles.
A series of articles by Jon Gordon, author of The Energy Bus and Training Camp:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
 The Christian Leadership Network Gary Chapman, Director 4845 Cloverdale Road, Roanoke, VA 24019 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Contact Us | Visit Website |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
But weeks later, I became despondent, wondering why I had pursued the degree at all. Later, I learned my response wasn't that unusual for post-doctoral students. What made the difference was to "get back in the game." It was time to move on to other dreams and goals. The absence of goals in life can lead to burnout and/or depression. As Helmut Schmidt has noted, “It must be born in mind that the tragedy of life doesn't lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy lies in having no goal to reach.” We need those goals to keep us going. We simply weren’t created to coast through life!