As I stated earlier, nothing is off limits to discuss. But we'll aim at deciding on a primary direction and then can add secondary conversations from that.
Be aware that all of these are related. Of course we can hit money in all of it. And "Systems and Structures" in all of it.
The PRIMARY topics (choose 1):
ONE > Mapping Momentum (a guiding framework for what your church does)
Momentum is more like an ocean wave you surf than a ripple on a pond you create on your own. Most miss this and it’s why even after big events, you’re still back to the same place in energy and expectation but now with less money and belief. If events were all you needed for momentum, every church doing a Trunk-r-Treat or Revival would be running 10,000.
I help you map natural momentum so you position your church on the waves coming at you. Just like legendary surfers on the north shore of Hawaii, paddling faster doesn’t make the wave bigger. And the waves don’t start at their discretion but at God’s.
It’s a paradigm upgrade everyone needs and I’m certain you’ll appreciate as it makes you more effective and efficient on your mission.
TWO > Leadership Development (sourcing and deploying leaders)
Development is a buzz word in church. But why is every church seemingly still in desperate need to “find” more leaders, hire more staff, and constantly tweaking the all-important “leadership pipeline”?
Perhaps development is instead a champion’s mindset and posture that encompasses defining leaders in your context, identifying candidates by more than the typical 3 traits, assessing the risks associated with any and every person, and deploying them with intention, not just “raising and releasing” them into the wild with hopes and wishes.
I walk you through this minefield with eyes open and a sense of urgency.
Leadership development isn’t the mission of your church, it’s a necessary skillset required of the leadership in your church so that you can advance the mission of reaching, serving, and connecting people to the ongoing story of God.
THREE > Giving and Finance (funding the mission)
Money is the easiest thing to come by in ministry. Yep, I said it. And it’s not the linchpin variable to success. We can all name at least one church with more money but a worse experience, lower attendance, or even one that’s failed with millions in the bank. So why is this such a stressor?
The Bible has reminded us of it for thousands of years. But simply put, money is a tool to leverage, not a source of fruit or fulfillment. It makes a terrible god but a phenomenal weapon in the hands of God.
The Church must stop using words like “fundraising” or “campaigns.” That language is weak and thirsty. God will always source a good vision. Always has.
Money is attracted to clarity, passion from preparation, aligned values, and proven vision (not wishful thinking masquerading as vision).
I show you how to increase income without having to pay a “Generosity firm” $40,000 or more. I coach you on how to activate generosity in everyone, not unlock generosity in the wealthy few. This goes far beyond simply branding a Legacy campaign for rich people or those who “self-identify” as givers. I can tell you stories and transferable principles that fund millions of dollars a year in outreach, campuses, planting, and other ministry without having to ever use the word “campaign.”
Are you God’s weapon to advance the Kingdom? Will He not provide and direct?
Or are you a political party doing fundraising events, slinging campaign slogans, posting funding updates, and making promises if and only if “people set the pace” to the “leader sets the vision” cliches? Surely you’re not in politics.
FOUR > Church Planting and Multisite (expanding beyond your comfort)
This may sound funny but… these are mostly the same thing.
The faster multisite churches realize this, the better they’ll be at it. And the faster church planters see themselves as founders and CEOs, not broke college kids hoping for a benefactor, the better they’ll be at it.
The main differences are the size of the team around you, the swagger from experience you operate with, and the isolation you feel … which is usually self-inflicted.
As an experienced Expansion Pastor who built more than half of the Elevation Church campuses (including the leaders at them) and can speak to every aspect of multisite from finance to teams to branding to programming, I can lead you effectively down this pathway IF it’s your calling. And having been through the church planter process as well as having coached planters around the world for 10 years, I can provide cheat codes you haven’t seen or thought of.