Hazards of Leading through Transition

Leading a church through a time of transition is hazardous! Followers are known to question a leader's spirituality, motives, methods, and performance (check out Moses as he led the Hebrew nation in Numbers 14:1,2,4; 16:1-3, 41). The questioning can turn toxic.  

   So how can the hazards of leadership be navigated? Moses' leadership is amazingly...    

1. steadfast, even stubborn, in the way he follows God,   
2. resilient in his love for the people entrusted to his care,
3. patient (most of the time) with his critics, and 
4. humble and teachable -- able to accept helpful correction without being overwhelmed with whining and complaining. [By the way, no leader is above being appropriately challenged.] 

   This is a tall order for mere mortals, but it's what God calls some to, equips them for, and supports them through.   

   In fact, a critical level of needed support for today's church leaders can be found in Converge's family of churches and leaders. Any leader experiencing the atomic fallout of a critic's attack, or the threats of a factious mob, needs God's support often provided through ministry partners.   

   Presently, over 60% of CPW pastors are involved in LEAD Teams! LEAD Teams can serve as a Hazmat Crew bringing a needed shower of subjectivity, stability, safety, and prayer. In addition, CPW leaders and churches can avail themselves of CPW's Ministry Trainings and reconciliation services to help develop leadership teams and to sort out relational and organizational tangles. 

    Biblical leaders constantly led people through change and to a better future. Then and now, it is hazardous duty, but God continues to call leaders to lovingly lead people to grow in the grace of the gospel, and not to settle for slavery to this world's patterns and systems.  

Honored to serve, support, and lead with you in CPW, 

David Yetter     

Pastor Mike Casey from Berean Bible Fellowship in Atascadero shares from a trip with a team to Haiti last month: "I just got back from Haiti with the FaithCare medical team. We had 5 from our church go as the spiritual counselors. We saw 1,220 patients and prayed with all but one. The FaithCare team did 42 surgeries and we had 128 decisions for Christ.  I met with a neighboring church that will follow up." A team led by Jeff Ashlock of New Covenant Community Church in Fresno also spent a week in Maissade, Haiti, offering encouragement and support to God's work through First Baptist Church of Maissade.

Crosspoint Community Church of Santa Maria is having their final service on Sunday, March 25. They have been serving with Converge for 19 years. Their one and only Lead Pastor, Tim Pettey, planted the church. We praise God for all He accomplished and all the lives that were changed over the last two decades of service through Crosspoint!

The Caregivers Outreach Team of New Covenant Community Church
in Fresno, is holding a Caregiver's Support Conference. This event is scheduled for Saturday, March 24, 2012, at New Covenant Community Church, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. 

Pastor Jason and Laura Helveston of Willow Glen and City Church in San Jose, are thrilled at the birth of their daughter, Glori Elizabeth. She was born February 25th at 6:13 AM. Congratulations to all the family!

 CPW 3D (see picture in the top banner of this e-newsletter) is your opportunity to make an impact here, near, and far away! We are seeking 800 Local Partners who will donate $25 in 2012 to start and strengthen churches here, near, and far away. The $20,000 raised will be divided between five geographic regions to train, mobilize, and support national church planters and church planting projects. Give online today!