October 2015

Vol 15, Issue 10

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STORYLINE: Tom Garasha Transitions

For nine years Tom Garasha has graciously, warmly and effectively cared for and coached many of the pastors throughout EFCA West in his role on the EFCA West team. In addition, Tom and Lynn have hosted pastors and their families at their home as an important part of their ministry. Tom's last day on the EFCA West team will be October 31. Beginning November 1, Tom will transition into spending more time in other ministries including his role as chaplain with the Sheriff's Department in Yavapai County, AZ. Tom has been an invaluable member to the EFCA West team and a blessing to pastors throughout the district.

Last Call for Rebound 2015

Rebound is a four-day retreat (November 13-16) designed for EFCA youth workers and their spouses (if applicable) to get away to reconnect with God, one another, their calling and their identity. The worship gatherings, schedule and environment are all designed to facilitate these "renewal reconnections." This is not a training conference; it is a renewal conference. Cost: $425 couple; $385 single. Registration includes three nights, three breakfasts, two dinners at the Melbourne, FL, Hilton. For more information or to register, go to the Rebound page at EFCA.org.

Challenge 2016

It is not too early to begin planning for youth from your church to attend Challenge 2016, July 3-7, in Louisville, KY. Challenge Conference is a catalytic environment challenging students to live on mission with Jesus every day, everywhere and with everyone. Check out the Challenge 2016 website for more information.

Something to Talk About: The Importance of the DTR Conversation

In this month's Something to Talk About, Bob Osborne uses the analogy from dating about the important DTR conversation--Define the Relationship. It is a conversation that is often dreaded but most often necessary if the couple is going to move forward in a healthy relationship. In the same way pastors and church governing boards need to have the DTR conversation regarding the roles the pastor and the governing board play. Click here for DTR: Supervisor or Teammate?

How Marginalization Can Empower Christians On Mission

Recently Trevin Wax used InterVarsity as an example of how churches and para-church ministries can respond to America's increased marginalization of Christianity. In his post on the Gospel Coalition site, How Marginalization Can Empower Christians On Mission, Trevin highlights the steps InterVarsity took in responding to being removed from some campuses in America.

Seven Habits of Highly Ineffective Church Leaders

Paul Alexander points out those things that consume time and destroy teams and their mission. The seven include: crosstalk and triangulation (staff talk about one another instead of to one another); hiring friends; and lack of moral authority (i.e. a pastor says it's important for everyone to be in a small group, but isn't in a group himself). You can read all seven here.

Unplug and Become More Productive

Last June in Inc., Jeremy Goldman shared 10 Ways to Unplug and Become More Productive from Jess Davis. The ideas include removing the cell phone from beside your bed and trying not to have your phone in your pocket or within arm's reach at all times. "Studies are consistently proving that the 'always on' mentality leads to diminished productivity. When you leave work, leave work."

Overrated vs. Underrated

In his article Overrated vs. Underrated: Common Beliefs We Get Wrong, James Clear suggests that often we accept cultural beliefs about work that are simply not the best for long-term impact. For instance, we overrate discovering the "new" thing and underrate mastering the fundamentals. With each comparison in Mr. Clear's list there is a link to an article for further reading.

The Top 25 Questions Great Leaders Ask

While the list compiled by Bob Tiede came from leaders in the business world, many of the questions should also be asked by those who lead churches. A sampling of the questions include:

"What can I do to make sure my employees are consistently acknowledged and appreciated for what they do?"
"What is everyone thinking, but nobody has the courage to say?"
"Why?" (Several sources suggest that asking "why" five times will get at the root of any problem.)

First Impressions

Kevin Stone shared in a September post on Executive Pastor Online quotes from Mark Waltz's book "First Impressions." Mark suggests that the labels we use for those who are not yet part of our church often colors how we interact with them and how they perceive themselves. Read the extended quote here. As the brief description for his book points out, "Guests in church often decide whether to return or not before service even starts. It's crucial to create a welcoming environment for guests of your church--to ensure that their first impression is the best impression."

Men's Ministry Resources

Once again, Steve Hopper has provided an excellent list of resources for ministry to and through men in the local church. Click here for his current list.

Something to Think About

"The Christians describe the Enemy as one 'without whom Nothing is strong.' And Nothing is very strong: strong enough to steal away a man's best years not in sweet sins but in a dreary flickering of the mind over it knows not what and knows not why, in the gratification of curiosities so feeble that the man is only half aware of them, in drumming of fingers and kicking of heels, in whistling tunes that he does not like, or in the long, dim labyrinth of reveries that have not even lust or ambition to give them a relish, but which, once chance association has started them, the creature is too weak and fuddled to shake off.

"It does not matter how small the sins are provided that their cumulative effect is to edge the man away from the Light and out into the Nothing. Murder is no better than cards if cards can do the trick. Indeed the safest road to Hell is the gradual one-the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts..." Screwtape's advice to Wormwood in The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis