6 Must Haves as a Leader Right Now
from CatalystSpace | Catablog

1. Leaders must have courage- the ability to risk and actually make a decision and do something. Quick to action.

2. Leaders must have conviction- a strong and compelling vision, and passion to pursue it.

3. Leaders must have a clear calling- understand how God has wired you.

4. Leaders must have authenticity- honest, humble and sincere. Willing to sacrifice. Willing to protect their teammates and take the fall.

5. Leaders must be willing to learn- leaders are readers. and have an insatiable desire to know more.

6. Leaders must be in touch with reality- ability to understand the context of our day. Plan for the future while leading in the present. Informed enough to make the tough decision.


This is a guest post from Brad Lomenick, the director of Catalyst. See more of his thoughts on leadership & innovation @ BradLomenick.com

Love Costs Everything

Praying for the Persecuted Church
Wed., Feb. 22nd @7pm

Tithe Rap

An addition to Financial Peace University.

Simple Christmas

"Next Step" Foundation

Making Disciples

This is Discipling from The Foursquare Church on Vimeo.

What would it look like if, as leaders, we focused less on the things that make our churches entertaining and more on making disciples?

As shown by Kelly Tshibaka at Foursquare Connection 2011.

Unleashing Everyday People into God's Mission

Jeff Vanderstelt

Does Jeff's vision of "taking Jesus into the world" reflect the vision and passion of our ministry?

Wrong Worship

Dust...

God Doesn't Take Risks--John Piper

Risk is “an action that exposes you to the possibility of loss or injury.” (“Risk Is Right” in Don’t Waste Your Life, 79.) “Possibility” is a key word. If you know what you will suffer, it’s called sacrifice, not risk. God requires both from us. God demands a life of intentional sacrifice (Philippians 2:4-8), and he demands risk for the gospel—in smaller ways of dying daily (1 Corinthians 15:31), and possibly in the bigger way of martyrdom (Luke 14:26).

Post from SermonCentral.com

Joplin Before and After



In a moment, our lives can change! Are you prepared?

Rick Warren: 8 Innovation Questions for Better Ministry



Are you asking the right questions to foster innovative strategies in your ministry?
Check out what Rick Warren's thoughts as he encourages leaders to know the right questions for better ministry strategies.

10 Ways to Improve Your Relational Ministry
from [TerraceCrawford.com]

One of the best investments you will ever make in youth ministry is the time spent on developing relationships with your students. I speak with youth workers all the time who get caught up in programming or administrative duties and have a hard time connecting with teens. My hope is that this post will help provide you with some practical ideas that will enable you to fight the paperwork and will empower you to lengthen your relational stride.

I want to share with you 10 ways you can improve your relational ministry:

1. Personal invite - We send out our fair share of mass mailings and texts but there is nothing like a personal invite. Take a moment before your next event and personally text your students. You might be surprised at the response you get.

2. Worship together - If you are not leading on-stage during your next worship service take the opportunity to sit with your students. You'll never know how much worshiping with your teens will mean to them.

3. Meet the parents - There doesn't seem to be as many youth workers making home visits these days as there use to be, but arranging a visit to the home of your student will go a long way in building a relationship with both the parent & the student! You'll learn a lot about the family dynamics too by showing up on their turf. (Note: give the parents a heads up that you plan to stop by. Most people don't like surprise guests)

4. Host a group - I frequently have groups of teens in my home. I love to host bible studies or impromptu fellowship opportunities. Why not host a small group or invite a group of teens to your home (with appropriate adult-to-student ratio) and share life together.

5. Visit them at work - You can show your support for teens on the job! Find out where students work (whether that be a fast food restaurant, clothing retailer, or coffee shop) and when they work, and drop by for a quick visit.

6. Waiting period - Arrive early or plan to stay late after your next event to spend some time to chit-chat with teens on-site. Making the most of this time to have intentional conversations with students will go a long way in growing your relationship with them.

7. Prayer - I love praying for my students and I take the opportunity very seriously. Offer to pray for your students and then make sure to follow-up later to see how God worked through prayer. The prayer investment will prove very meaningful to your relationship.

8. Social media - Comment or reply on your student's facebook page, twitter, or whatever social medium they use. You can learn a lot about a teen by what you read on their facebook, but take a few extra moments to make some comments on their wall (whenever appropriate).

9. Hobbies - Attend a sporting event, concert or do some other activity together with your teen. This opportunity will not only help you do something fun with the teens in your ministry but it will help improve your relationship with them.

10. Sharing - Take some time to share with your students. Give some focused attention to a teen and get to know them. Be willing to share your story with them too. When you hear them out you might find that you have a captive audience to be able to share more about your life. Most teens want to get to know you as much as you want to get to know them.

What might you add to this list? I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

from TerraceCrawford.com

Beth Moore: Seek God's Direction

Beth Moore encourages leaders to seek God's direction and not their own plans for the future.
Practical Idea: Watch this video and spend time in prayer asking God to guide you to His plan and not your own.

Catalyst East 2010: Beth Moore from Catalyst on Vimeo.

from SermonCentral.com

Who is Jesus?

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. (Col.1:15-20)

You do not want to miss this HUGE Outdoor Outreach Event featuring Dj Promote and Talain Rayne in the South Honey Creek Mall Parking Lot (In front of Honey Baked Ham).

This amazing day is hosted by Agape’ Christian Church, YFC of Wabash Valley, ISU BCM, Christian Student Fellowship of ISU, Xposed2Jesus.

Invite Friends and Neighbors to this one-day FREE Back-to-School Celebration-- to ECHOLOUD!

There will be Activities, Back-to-School Back Pack Give-Aways, Free Hot Dogs and Refreshments, and much more!

Oh yeah, did we say it’s FREE!

Louie Giglio on Acts 2

We Have the Same Power of the Acts 2 Church.
What are you doing with the Power you possess?

Catalyst East 2010: Francis Chan

Francis Chan says that his life is not radical, but weird compared to the lives in the Book of Acts. How do others define your life?

Sunday

Angels and Demons on the Feud!

This clip is extremely funny; however, it exemplifies the failure of society and the
financial priorities of today's culture.