Orange Conference 2015

The Orange Conference 2014: Highlights from Orange on Vimeo.


This is my 8th year attending The Orange Conference.  If you are a teacher, pastor, leader, parent or just plain like kids, I can not tell you how much you would benefit from this event.  I mean it.  I have attended with a group, by myself, 8 months pregnant, and as a volunteer- no excuse keeps me from Atalanta in April.  You will NOT regret it!

If you would like to go but don't know how to make it work financially-contact me in the comments and I will help you figure you something out.

What is Orange?

Unfolding

I am not too hip on being surprised.
I kind of hate when things don't make sense.

So yeah, I will have a nice clear picture with a side order of predictability, thank you very  much.

You may not buy into this whole God thing...and to be honest, there are days that I get tired of the mystery that comes with all things christian.  There are times when I get tired of waiting on God and  just want to do my own thing.

The "problem" with that is, I just can't help myself!  I believe!

I believe in all of it-the whole thing.  Genesis to Revelation. From Creation to walking on water, from feeding the thousands with a little boy's lunch to parting dead sea.  I believe in the miraculous healing from making the blind see and the dead come to life.  All means all -all of it!

In my heart, at my very core, I just can't NOT believe that there are things about our lives that are bigger and better planned than what we could ever come up with on our own.

Out of the deepest, darkest, and most UNWANTED pain that we can endure grows wisdom.  Perspective that pieces the puzzle of our life together perfectly and dare I say beautifully!?

It's so annoying to almost all of us to hear "everything happens for a reason."

I don't like any of the reasons-especially when its painful.  There really is no reason or good that I want to learn from at the cost of losing someone I love or endure anything hurtful.

Betrayal.
Rejecetion.
Heartbreak
Injustice.
Failure.
Illness.
Depression.
Grief.


No thanks.  I would like to live in Pleasantville.

Growing up my dad would play Steven Curtis Chapman music in our van.  I grew up listening to his music and have always admired him from a distance.  6 years ago, one of his teenage sons was pulling into their driveway and in a horrific tragedy, accidentally ran over their youngest daughter, Maria, killing her.

.....I know, right?

I followed this story closely.  I watched  (and am still watching) as this family grieves.

I read the book,  "Choosing to See" that Mary Beth Chapman wrote about this and am inspired by her authenticity and strength...  She is wise.

I loved her response, in an interview, when she was asked about how she felt about others being changed and helped by their story.  In her raw mommy emotion she said:  I don't care about helping people-I just want Maria back.

She didn't try to candy coat it or over spiritualize her circumstances.. she was real.


Steven Curtis Chapman recently wrote a song called  Glorious Unfolding as a reflection of his grief journey and is quoted on his website as saying this:

“I’m very, very grateful to be given the opportunity to make music and share the things that I feel like God has entrusted to me,” Chapman says. “I don’t take it lightly. I pray: ‘God, I want to know You and I want to make You known.’ God has continued faithfully to reveal Himself through dark places and reveal His mysteriousness. I get the sense that He’s telling an amazing story. He’s not confused. He’s not biting his nails worrying if the plan is going to turn out okay the way I do. He’s fully confident of His plans and He’s in control. That’s been something that I’ve held onto.”




The gosh darn truth of the whole dang thing is that ....... things do happen that really suck.

It's easy to get mad at God or even decide that if following God means painful things happen, then we want no part of that.

Life is short.  You only live once. #yolo

Yes!  ....I just  can't...don't... won't.... believe that NOT believing in God is going to make our lives free of pain.


I guess what I am trying to say is that, when I look back on my lifetime, I want to know that there were low valleys and high mountain tops with windy unexpected blind curves of experiences and that every single one of them meant something.

Lessons were learned and are evident by our scars.  We earned those scars and lives were changed.

The picture became clearer the further forward we moved.

I like to believe that God gives us little clues and  with each experience, the picture keeps getting a little clearer.


...and that life is more than just living and dying, it is a glorious unfolding.

Restless Heart Syndrome

When I was pregnant with Cassity, I began experiencing a feeling as if my legs were trapped.  As it turned out, I was experiencing Restless Leg Syndrome . 

The only way I can explain it is when I was a kid and taking gymnastics, there was this "pit" of foam blocks that we could jump into for fun.  Once, I got trapped.  The pit was probably 6 feet deep and filled to the rim with foam and some how my legs got trapped so far down that I couldn't move.

I can remember feeling panicked and trapped.  It really felt like the walls were beginning to cave in on me.  If I could just move my legs I would be fine!

Back then, my RLS ususally came out of nowhere-but when it came, it usually came while I was in the car.

I can remember riding home one night from Adam's parents and making him pull over so that I could get out and pace until the trapped feeling that I was experiencing was gone.

Now a days, I experience RLS when I am the most tired and lay down to go to bed. 

I know, it makes no sense.

So I get up and pace back and forth and it goes away, and back to bed I go.

In the last few years, it has felt like I have had restless heart syndrome.

God has planted this unrest in my heart and has given me very little guidance outside of it.  I am antsy to get to work.  I want to do every thing.  I want to volunteer in every thing.  I want start programs and new ministries and dream about what could be.  I do not want to be a generation that missed it's opportunity!

I am restless.

I feel trapped by my circumstances.

I try to pace.  I try to stay busy and I also try to rest.  I try to tell myself that maybe if I would just be still, that God would reveal to me what this is all about.

My heart seems steady but the direction seems blurry.

I am trying to keep my hands open with a posture of trust...I don't need to be in charge. (At least that is what I am telling myself.)

I know that God has called me to something.. I just don't see it yet.

So I wait.

Do you ever have those times in your life?  When you just don't know what God is going to do with you? 

How do you wait?  I'd love to hear from you!

Currently Listening to: We are

Catalyst 2014 Notes: CHANGE (pt 1)

Jennie Allen 
Catalyst 2014: Labs
IF: Gathering

IF: Gathering exists to gather, equip, and train a generation.

Numbers 13
Joshua
12 spies...



We {kind of} believe that God can use us for a purpose

...but there are Giants!

We {kind of} feel like a grasshopper.

We are grasshoppers and there ARE Giants ....

But-God!

We will lay down our grasshopper insecurities because..YOU.(God)

I don't want to be a generation that missed it.

Go fight the Giants! Take the land!

EVEN IF we don't think we can!

IF: Gathering Question

What could you God do in YOUR land for YOUR ppl?

{make a list}

Cute Quote:
We all think we are going to be janitors in Heaven

Mark Batterson
Catalyst 2014: Labs

Book: Grave Robber
We trust God for the BIG miracles
We need to trust him in the "little" ones.

We all want miracles-we just don't want a reason for one.

Thomas Jefferson cut out the miracles in the Bible....

What promises have you stopped believing?

How much better would you be if you would believe in a God who is bigger than your box?

Don't seek miracles
Seek Jesus

Never put a comma where God puts a period.
Never put a period where God puts a comma.

God can't bring back to life what is not dead.

Sometimes it looks like God is missing the mark bc we are too short sided of what what he is aiming for.

Maybe God is preparing you for something you haven't thought of.

Ie the Story of Lazarus.

Allow moments and space for God to show up.

Don't give up on something unless God releases you.

Exodus:
Stand still and you will
See the deliverance of the Lord

Don't Panic

If one thing doesn't die another thing can't come to life.

Be willing to look foolish
Take the risk!

Work like it depends on you
Pray like it depends on God

Andy Stanley
Catalyst 2014: Session 1

Q: who are you?
Q: what breaks your heart?

There is a correlation between leadership and change.

Great leaders make things better.
Status Quo drives leaders crazy!!!!!...

-leaders hate to see broken things continue.

Leaders don't blame.

Blame is the most effective change avoidance strategy.

Broken hearted leaders change things that go beyond their generation.

The thing that breaks your heart may be THE THING that God wants to do through you.

It is possible that what breaks yor heart is Devine Design

You have NO idea who/what hangs in the balance of your decision to embrace the burden on your heart.

Don't Fear!
Don't choose "purposeless" over fear.
Ie: don't think that you are not good enough to do whatever it is

Many years from now- what would you like for people to thank you for?

What God originates, God orchestrates.

HOW is not an issue

Who are you?
What breaks your heart?

Christine Caine
Catalyst 2014: Session 2

Change Yourself: Strengthen your core.

Love the Lord Your God with all your (core) heart, mind, and soul. Love your neighbor as yourself.

We love others as we love ourselves-we just don't love ourselves that much.

You do what you WANT in passion....
You do what you HAVE to out of obligation.

Skinny jeans and a ratio does not make you a leader.

Don't go from burn out to burn out fill yourself with Jesus.

Soul:

Our souls are damaged and it takes hard work to heal them.

We can't accelerate what takes work.

Ex. You may decide to follow Jesus and walk down the aisle to alter with cellulite on your legs but after you say amen, doesn't mean the cellulite will be gone!

You have to do the work.

We must go through the pain of recovery

We put on a good show.
(How you clean your house for guests. You hide the mess)

Same with our souls.

Same with church.
(Oh snap)

Mind.
Take control of your thoughts.
Fill them with the truth of God.

God has not given us a spirit of fear

Cancer is not terminal
Life is!
Christ is Eternal!!

If you see the devil tell him I'm
Going to bed bc God's got this!

Find HOPE in Gods Word!

SHIP Happens

There is a big difference in a Leader and a Manager. 

There. I said it.


Neither are more important than another-each have a very important role!

A Leader charts the course-they are at their best when  they are looking ahead and can see what is there.

A Manager steers the ship-they are into the details, they are at their best when they are getting things done.


In leadership, it is so important to realize what you are good at and what you are not so good at.

John Maxwell says:


 "A leader is someone who surrounds themselves with people who are smarter than they are and gets out of their way!"

Just because a leader knows the direction the ship needs to go doesn't mean they know anything about steering a ship!

Leaders need to know when they are unequipped to do something and then find someone to help who is!

The truth is, EVEN if a leader could chart the coarse AND steer the ship, they couldn't do both at the same time.  Someone has to work ON the
route and someone needs to work IN it.

A good leader understands how to ride the waves of knowing when to get out of the way and when to throw someone a life preserver.

No micromanaging!

(Side note from my soap box:  if you are a leader and you HAVE to micromanage someone on your team, then you have either: A.  made the wrong hire.  Sorry- but it's true.  Hire HIGHLY CAPABLE people. Do not settle.  OR....B. you are a control freak and nobody likes to work with you. Truth hurts.)


Here are some questions that I believe a leader should ask their managers every single year.   (Thanks for asking...) #wink

(6 months out)  Brainstorm
-What is our  mission and how are pointing people to it?
-What is working well?
-What is working BUT could work better?
-What is not working and needs to "die" so that we can do the good stuff BETTER?
-How can I help?

BIG IDEA:  What is the ONE thing that we want people to take away from us this year?



(4 months out) Dream
-What do you wish we could do?
-What is keeping us from doing it?
-What do you wish you could ask  me about our organization?
-What do you wish I would ask you about the organization?
-What are you learning about yourself?  How are you liking your job?
-Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
-How can I help?

BIG IDEA:  How do you want your team to grow together and feel about being part of the team at the end of the year?



(2 months out) Goals-What systems/programs are returning next year and how will they work better?
-Who is on your team?
-How will you achieve your goal?
-How will YOU grow yourself?
-How will you connect with your team? How do you say "THANK YOU?"
-What is your budget and how do you plan to use it?
-Have you set dates for any events or programming for next year?
-How can I help?


BIG IDEA:  What is your strategy? How are you gonna pull off your goal?

  
VISION DAY!
Cast vision to the rest of the staff  and/or  board with what your ONE main goal and strategy is for the new year.  Negotiate dates and spaces for events that overlap on the calendar. Discuss as a staff how we can support each other as a united team.



Question:    I think leaders have to be good followers-kind of like the show "The Undercover Boss" where the boss sees what it is like to work for Him.  What kind of follower are you?  What is it like to work for you?

I QUIT!

Here is a question:

Is MORE better?

In your life, what does MORE look like?

MORE.... 

work

money

volunteers

kids

friends

time

sleep

programming

furniture

books

classes

clothes

shoes

chocolate

I don't know about you but I spend a ton of time dreaming about MORE, which I am realizing means I am not content with what I HAVE.

(This is not to sound preachy... at all.)

I love MORE MORE MORE!  I am the most guilty!

Is it me, or does it feel like the MORE _____________ you get, the MORE complicated life gets.

I think this is true for everything.

When I worked for church, I thought the more classes, more events, more outings, more volunteers, and more people that we had, the better our ministries would be.

What I learned was we burned out.

We did too much.

In doing too much, we didn't do a whole lot of anything with excellence, we just did it half way-for the sake of doing it.


I was tired, my team was tired, and we didn't have the energy to do anything anymore.

I spent a lot of time talking about how PRO FAMILY I was-and the church was, but everything we did cancelled out what we said and made it seem we were actually ANTI FAMILY.

The more programming and events we offered, the more people it took to pull it off, the people (the families) who worked so hard for us, never had a chance to be home together.

We were stretching them thin, rushing their time for dinner, for homework, time to just be in the same room together.


You can fill in the blanks of what MORE has done in your own professional and personal life.

I imagine a merry go round, spinning around and around, faster and faster, then realizing that it's going too fast and you are feeling "woozy."  It's hard to get the merry go round to stop, there has been too much force and momentum building up to where you find yourself.  There are other people involved!  They might be enjoying the ride and you feel bad about wanting them to stop-so you can get off!

Sure! You can stay on the ride...  but you will end up puking all over your friends and who wants to clean that mess up?  I would rather make some people mad, than have them clean up my mess.

Simplify.  Do just ONE thing (THE MOST IMPORTANT THING) with excellence, then add something else.

TIP:
Ask yourself what the most important thing in your life is and quit everything else until you are doing that one thing with excellence.

I recently decided to do this. For the last 6 months I have stepped away from everything on my calendar.  I am not committed to doing anything.  My life has been a big ball of clutter and it was wearing me down.  I has not been easy-in fact it has been one of the most difficult things I have ever done.  I am a YES person.  I never say NO.  .........and that finally caught up to me.

I can tell you that my time looks differently and that I am finally finding time do things that I love again.

Sometimes, you just gotta rebuild yourself.

There was a book mark I had when I was in middle school that said

"THE MAIN THING IS TO KEEP THE MAIN THING, THE MAIN THING."

What is it for you?

Maybe it's your health.
So drop everything that is cluttering up your ability to focus on diet and exercise, so that you can focus on it!

Maybe it's your time-maybe you feel like your calendar is running your life.
So cancel appointments, quit signing up for things, get yourself in control of your time, THEN add to
 it.

Let's stop the glorification of more.

Currently listening to: CONSTANT

This Is Today..

(This is not my picture, I do not own it.)

I have grown up watching The Today Show.  I remember Jane Pauley, Bryant Gumble, Matt Lauer, Katie Couric, Ann Curry, Willard Scott, Al Roker, and the whole he-haw gang that have followed.  

Over the last year, I have been watching how The Today Show has been transforming how they do the news.  It is my understanding that ratings have been down and they are trying some new approaches to grow their audience.

I have noticed these 3 things.

1. ENVIRONMENT. They changed the entire set- what use to be a more library feel,is now a modern and colorful stage, with several elements.  The big  window, where fans stand out and wave at people back home.  The new "Orange Room" that is made especially to catch up on social media buzz with one time time host of MTV's TRL (Total Request Live) Carson Daly.  

2. AUTHENTICITY/CONNECTION. The broadcasters engage with each other, with the viewing audience, and with the crowd outside differently than they have in the past.  I have noticed that everyone seems to be less uptight and rehearsed.  Each person on the show seems to have a refreshing authenticity about them. Each, having their own personality and style.  They seem like real life people instead of robotic talking heads.
They laugh!  They are willing to do things that they aren't comfortable doing- they talk about their personal lives such as weddings, marriage, parenting, pregnancy, childhood memories, personal experiences that we, the viewer can relate with!

I trust them more knowing that they are everyday people like you and I.

3. FIRST IMPRESSION. 

 Listen, as I type this, I am wearing a sweatshirt that has survived at least 2 of my pregnancies.  Its old, stretched out and ugly.  I have no reason to judge how anyone dresses, but I can tell you that, I will connect to someone wearing fashionable trendy clothing over someone wearing a suit.  

Every single time.

As church leaders of the next generation, there is something that we can learn from watching how The Today Show is rebranding.  They are trying to reach a new generation.  They see that our generation has razor sharp "fake indicators."    We are craving authenticity.  We want to learn and grow from hearing other's stories.  We want to know that we are all just people and none of us actually know what we are doing.

Researchers show that somewhere between 60-80% of my generation has left the church.

I believe it.

....and I love the church.

We/they left because we/they are sick and tired of legalism and fake people.  This generation sees that the church is swarming with those kind of people.


The church is losing their audience.

But, hey! I think there is good news! Aren't WE the church?   The church isn't a building-the church  is people!  

Buildings can't make changes and pick up their crosses and carry it with them daily!  Buildings can't be  the hands and feet of Jesus...but people can!

Can we make church a place where un churched people like to come to?

Is it worth it? (the answer is yes.)

It is not about our personal preference.  It's about our hands and feet reaching out to those who haven't heard, haven't seen, haven't tasted the good news of Jesus!

To those of us who are already followers of Jesus: it's our responsibility to grow OURSELVES.
 Jesus didn't say
"Hey, those of you that are in this with me, all you need to do is go to church on Sunday, sing songs  that you prefer, drink coffee, eat cookies, dress up and only hang out with other Christians. It will be like a fun social club! Oh! ...and  make people who don't believe in me, feel really uncomfortable when they visit your church. Your only job is to be comfortable until you die."


Instead he said GO!  GO tell people!  He even showed us how!  Jesus  never sat around and waited for people to come to him, Jesus went to them! Jesus knew that people connect best with stories and so he told them RELEVANT stories that they could relate to.

If  He were here today, I believe Jesus would take a look around the community that he was in, and figure out the best way to relate to those people-then he would do it.

Case and point: THE WELL 

How do we do that? Well, it's not going to be by the way we did in the past.

(Insert the definition of insanity here.)

I think that we start by removing our preferences and creating a place that is not intimidating and doesn't feel like a funeral home.

Lastly, the one thing I notice the most about The Today Show transformation is that their message is still the same.  They are still giving us the news...  they have just packaged it differently.

We need to carry the next generation on our shoulders and cheer them on!  Make banners that say

"GO do whatever you need to do to tell others about Jesus!  We support you!"  

It's worth it.

It's not about me-or you.
Steal my show.

Tuesday Tip: Orange

Occasionally I will get a Facebook message or email from a friend in ministry asking my advice on how to implement ORANGE at their church.

I have had experience leading the Orange Strategy in small churches, church plants, and large churches.

Whether you have been at your church for years or weeks one thing seems to ring true in all scenarios-

I was once asked:

 "If you had all the money you ever dreamed of, in your budget, what would be the first thing you would do?"

For those who have never worked much in Children or Student ministry, you might think my answer is really boring....but the truth is...what we as leaders need the most is something that money can not buy...

What we need is passionate, equipped, empowered leaders and parents!


Listen, you could be sleeping  in a bed of money when it comes to your  ministry, but if you don't have leaders... you got nothin.

YOU CAN NOT DO IT ON YOUR OWN.

You  might say:  "But, Leslie...."

NOPE.

"But...."

 STILL NOPE.


If you want to be an ORANGE church...

You better be ready to put your money where your mouth is.

When you commit to being an ORANGE THINKER what you are saying is

WHAT HAPPENS AT HOME IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN WHAT HAPPENS AT CHURCH.

Think about it:

On average, the church, the light, YELLOW will see a child 40 hours a year

the parents, the heart, RED, will spend close to 3,000 hours with their children a year at home.

YELLOW & RED= ORANGE

What you are saying is 

2 COMBINED influences are greater than JUST TWO influences.

When you think ORANGE you are saying to parents:

 "Hey!  We got your back! We have a plan-are you in?"

How?

Well, the church can give a child a consistent small group leader, a small group of kids their own age to do life WITH, resources for parents to know what to ask their kids about during the week.

Thinking Orange will sound VERY scary to some parents...they'll be the ones that thought the church should influence their children's faith... that's why they were bringing their kids to church in the first place!  It's our job to usher parents into the assurance that they do not have to be a theologian parent and have all the answers.  NOPE.

Instead, you are elevating the parents influence by encouraging them to invite their kids to grab a seat in the front row of their life and allow them to watch them follow Jesus...

It's not scary!  It's refreshing!

Empower parents to invite their kids to  watch as God grows them.....  and in return, their kids will grow.

More is caught, than taught.


(This is true for you if you are new to faith or a life long follower of Christ.  We are ALL taking NEXT STEPS.)


Find out more about ORANGE here:  www.whatisorange.org

ALSO!

 I can not encourage you enough to get your tails up here to Indy for the ORANGE TOUR 

OCT 16-17

If you need a place to stay while you are in town... I might know a way to help with that.

Contact me at lesliegalema@me.com

p.s.s Tuesday's Jam:
Write Your Story

Interrupted: PHASE ONE

"I couldn't have been more floored if I'd come home to find Jesus Himself making salsa in my kitchen."

-Jen Hatmaker, Interrupted (page 39)

Week 1 of The Leslie Galema Unofficial Book Club 


Interrupted by Jen Hatmaker

Have you ever felt God ask you to do something that you felt like you were already doing?

In Phase One of this book Jen (and her husband, Brandon) write about her experience with God impressing on her heart to "feed his sheep."

We have all be there.

Those moments when we feel like there is more to what we are doing...Sometimes we get busy doing the WHAT we do and forget WHY we do it.

Can I get an amen?

Amen!

In her case, it was the church and how they were doing it.

I love what she writes on page 30:

"..I basically considered the church campus-Sunday morning the entry level-as the location and means to transform the average seeker into a believer.  In other words, if you need something spiritual, some help, some guidance, understanding, then come to us. We'll build it, and you come. Once you do, we will pour out our lives attempting to disciple you and build spiritual health into your life. My husband Brandon and I spend every waking moment with Christians.

We were servants of the weekend attendees."

Well dang.

She recalls praying for God to raise up in her a Holy Passion thinking that she meant "God, give me happy feelings" and not for an intervention that would require anything of her!

She felt drawn to John 21 when Peter declared his love for Jesus three times after His resurrection.

Like Peter, Jen was stunned by what Jesus was asking her.  Hadn't she been pouring herself into "Jesusy" things at church?  Hadn't she been planning small group discussions, sermons, and writing books about God's love?

Jen, if you love me, feed my sheep. (John 21:17)

It was then she realized what Jesus meant.  She saw her reflection in Peter: devoted but selfish, committed but misguided.

And deciding that's not going to be good enough.

"I meant well" is note going to cut it-not with God screaming, pleading, urging us to love mercy and justice and feed the poor and the orphaned, to care for the last and the least in nearly every book of the Bible.

  
TALK TANK:

What is the purpose of the local church?
 ...and what does that mean for YOU personally?

The Leslie Galema Unofficial Book Club

Join me, every Friday this September for my very first

Unofficial Book Club

Study of Jen Hatmaker's book:  Interrupted





Week 1: Friday, August 29    PHASE ONE
Week 2: Friday, September 5  PHASE TWO
Week 3: Friday, September 12  PHASE THREE
Week 4: Friday, September 19 PHASE FOUR
Week 5: Friday, September 26 PHASE FIVE

Stop the Train!

Simply put: A train wreck is the aftermath of a train crash.


The term often serves as a metaphor for any disaster which is large in scale and readily seen by public observers.

We all have "train wrecks" in our lives.  Sometimes we are in the middle of it and other times we are the spectators.  Although I am not sure which is worse-to be part of it or to watch it happen? Both are equally painful.


Watching a "train wreck" is difficult because you are helpless.  The people involved usually are completely unaware and by the time they figure it out-it is too late.


Damage is done.


I have been thinking a lot lately about how we, as leaders, can prevent the "train wrecks" on our teams we lead?  I don't have the right answers and don't claim to be an expert-but I wanted to share what I have been pondering..


Below are 5 ways I believe we can STOP THE TRAIN before it crashes!


1. LISTEN. If we want to lead a healthy and successful team, I believe we must be able to see outside of ourselves.  Most of the time, the way we see outside of ourselves is by getting another perspective.

What would a spectator want to tell the train conductor?

Slow down! Stop! Pay Attention!

It is easy to get comfortable with our day to day routine that we forget to pay attention! Outsiders could give us the kind of feedback that could prevent train wrecks!


2. MOVE!  Once you have received feedback about potential "danger" then MOVE!  Leaders can't just pretend there is no threat on their teams!  Leaders, we must face it and address the issue quickly.  Sometimes this means having a heart to heart with another person on your team and while believing the best in them, raise the bar of accountability and give a timeline to see results.  If you don't move-then others on your team will not only lose trust in the "weakest link" but also in you and YOUR LEADERSHIP!


3. SAY SOMETHING!  As a leader, your team knows how the train is moving. Sometimes, your team might be aware of what is going on before you do-they are waiting for you to notice.  The longer you take to acknowledge "danger" the less they will trust you.  You can not ignore the pink elephant in the room!  CALL IT OUT!  Your team wants to know that you see the problem and they also want to know that you are working on it-and that you would love to hear their ideas on the matter!



4. CALL FOR HELP!  If the problem is too big for you to handle on your own, then call in reinforcements. A neutral third party is a great way to get your team around the table and coach you in a better direction.  This is not a sign of weakness but a sign of good leadership and how much you value everyone's perspective around the table.


5. PASSANGER SAFETY.  There is a clear difference in those who are on your team and those who your team are there to serve.  As a train conductor, you can not let your ego get in the way of protecting your passengers. Those on the train don't care who stops the train-they just want the train to stop!  As a leader, you need to recognize that there will be people on your team that will question your decisions and have better ideas than you-and if your ego gets in the way, then you know who looks bad?  YOU. 


Church leaders, leading a church has nothing to do with our preference and our ego.  Like conducting a train, our job is to see that our "passengers"  reach their  final destination.

Preface:

So in 2005 we were attending a church in Indianapolis and one Sunday after church there was this booth set up in our lobby.  There was a table with a sign that said "THINK ORANGE" with red, yellow, and orange construction paper circles cut out and hanging from  drop ceiling. I walked straight over and asked what "THINK ORANGE" meant.

The volunteer at the booth recited a simple strategy that has influenced my life's direction ever since.

She said: "Well when you COMBINE yellow and red you get orange and we think that in Children's ministry, when yellow (the church) and red (the family) work together, we make orange (kids.)"

It was like my whole life made sense!



I signed up to lead the 1st grade girls small group and went on my merry way.

Through this time, I decided to go back to college and get my degree in ministry and in doing so, I found out about a church across town, that could be in need of leadership in the Children's Ministry department... and so began my internship as a Children's Ministry Director.



 I googled "Think Orange" regularly.  I was craving more information about this strategy.  I called Children's Pastors and asked what they knew.  I watched as this company,
The reThink Group evolved.  I bought the curriculum with my own money, I read the books, I listened to the podcasts, I purchased the training videos, I trained my team, I pitched the vision...and in 2008, I heard about The Orange Conference in Atlanta, GA.

By attending this conference, I  have grown in my own leadership and have been challenged in how we should lead the next generation. Ask anyone who knows me, and they we will tell you, I am all in!  I have spent the last 8 years attending The Orange Conference and have never walked away from it disappointed.



Like, ever.



This year, through a "Hustle" assignment lead by Jon Acuff,  I mustered up the courage to make a large request. Working for The reThink Group would be a dream come true.  With Jon's push,  I identified someone with whom I had a connection at "Orange" and asked if there was any way that I could spend this year's conference watching how it all worked. From set up to tear down and all that was in between.

I hit send on the email and held my breath....

and wouldn't you know it, she came back with an offer to "shadow" her throughout the conference and take it all in!


Over the next few days, I will be recounting my time and the things I learned along the way.

#hustle

The Slow Fade: Moving the Line

High School Graduation, 1999

Join me this month on orangeleaders.com as I write a 4 week study of

The Slow Fade by Reggie Joiner, Church Bomar, & Abbie Smith 




Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4

YouLead

Sometimes I look at my house and the disaster our family of five made by leaving toys, dirty dishes, backpacks, laundry, and endless stacks of papers our  kids bring home from school and feel completely overwhelmed.  I see EVERYTHING there is to do around me and am paralyzed by where to start! 

Leadership can be like that at times.  Not necessarily disastrous or messy, but definitely overwhelming!  We look around and see all the things that there are to do and try, the meetings that need to be had, emails to be checked and returned, the teams to be recruited and it before ya know it, you are starring at a computer screen with absolutely no idea where to begin-much less what to say.

It's easy to feel overwhelmed and not know where to start!  If you are like me, you know the importance of developing yourself AND your team to ensure that you are aligning everyone from those you are on staff with to volunteers and parents, in such a way, that the vision of combining influences to make a GREATER impact on the next generation doesn't dull or burn out! 

The team at Orange feel the same way and they want to help leaders be the best we can be!

Join me this year in a subscription in YouLead - and say goodbye to those "stare at the computer screen" moments!
 

Developed by Orange, YouLead is designed to develop the leadership skills of yourself, your team and your volunteers. It centers on answering three basic questions: What can I do to continue learning as a leader? How can I be intentional about connecting with my volunteers consistently? What can we do to stay on the same page as a team?  Click here to learn more about a subscription to YouLead.

 

Not only that,but the folks at Orange have been generous enough to give me a discount code for $50.00 off a subscription of YouLead for those who read my blog and are interested in subscribing! The code is:  YLBLOG149Let's do this!

3 Things I wish I knew as a Rookie Pastor

Several years ago, I had the chance to do an internship for a dying church.  The church had lost all of their founding pastors and had gone almost 2 years without a leader. After finally hiring a Lead Pastor, a friend of mine, who attended this church knew that I was looking for an internship for college,  and asked if I would be interested in helping them out with their Kids Ministry .  I was young, inexperienced and had no idea what I was getting myself into.  I had passion and energy for Kids Ministry and lots of "great" ideas!  I went in, looked around and identified what needed to be done and immediately started making changes. While my perception of what needed to change was accurate, I learned that when those you lead do not know you, they will not trust you, no matter how great your ideas are.  The things  I learned during this season has shaped my leadership and I want to pass along with you, what I wish I had known before I started!


Leverage the "White Horse."  Something that has proven true in every church I have ever been part of is when you first join the team people treat you like their knight in shining armor, riding in on a white horse.  Everyone wants to take you out for coffee, and invite you over for dinner.  Your social calendar is packed for months!    While their intentions are meant well, what I have found is that these are the people who have the biggest expectations for you and how you will lead this ministry.  Now, if you have been in Kids Ministry longer than 10 minutes, you know that it is like pulling teeth to get your team to attend trainings or appreciation events, so this is a vital time in your ministry, while you have their attention, to share your heart and your journey with as many people who will listen-and as often as they will listen!  It has been my experience that when people know you and what you are about, trust begins to build. Focus less on what you are going to do as their leader and more on letting them get to know who you are!

Listen and Watch. The first year you are in ministry, your main goal should be to assess the situation.  Sure! You might already have an idea of the direction you are going to lead this team, but it is more important to understand how everything is structured and why.  The first year is like drinking from a fire hydrant and it is your job to soak in as much as possible.  Avoid the urge to prove yourself and implement new programming or new events.  It is not your job to prove yourself, it is your job to lead a group of people into a growing relationship with God.  You can not do that if you do not know who you are leading. Identify people who are the key influencers on your team. Find the people that everyone listens to, and get them on your side!  Build relationships with those who have most influence on your team, and cast vision to them first!  Ask for their advice, their worries, and their concerns.  Listen to them. Consider their advice.  Remember! A this point, these are people who have more influence than you do and there is a reason for it!  When it comes time to make changes, these influences will go o bat for you with the others, and it will make all the difference!

Cast Vision-Create a Culture. Once you have identified your key leaders and have worked out a strategy together, it will be time to implement.  The key to casting vision is to help your team understand WHY staying "here" is no longer an option and why moving forward is the only solution!  Paint a clear picture! Tell stories!  Give your team a clear and exciting mission and repeat it as often as possible!  Creating a new culture will take time, and while you have been working on this strategy for a year with your key influencers, your team is hearing it for the first time!  The most important part leadership strategy is your energy-if you aren't excited, nobody will be.  It will take time, don't be discouraged!  While you feel like a broken record, repeat your strategy-your team should be able to repeat it back to you!  Celebrate wins!  When you see someone on your team connect with they strategy, then AMP IT UP!  Tell everyone!  What is rewarded gets repeated!




What are some lessons, in your first years in leadership, that you had to learn the hard way?

On your mark!

I can remember when I was preparing to move away to college, wishing that I had some cool middle name that I could start going by instead of Leslie.  I pictured starting a fresh new life where nobody knew me and thinking about how awesome it would be to just start all over from scratch with some exotic name like "Alexandra."  Who would know?!  ONLY ME!
As luck should have it, my middle name is Rae and I didn't see that as a suitable name for my new alias....  so I stuck with good ol' Leslie.

There is something so exciting about starting over! When we start over we get a chance to do new things we never thought we could!  Starting over also gives us a chance to do some of the things we have always done, only better!  Starting over provides prospective and possibilities!

When I think about new leadership opportunities, it reminds me of a blank canvas. 

I am no artist, but I imagine that when an artist is looking at a blank canvas they are able to see the picture they want to paint in their head.  They see the colors they want to use, the different styles of brushes, and techniques to create the contrasts that will make that picture take life!

THIS! is the same as leadership!

Leaders see the "picture" already in their heads/hearts.  Its learning what the right steps are that makes the process challenging!

As a leader, it has always been my experience that the first step is "painting a clear picture" to your team.

You have the vision and only you can cast it! Nobody can do it for you and unless Sylvia Brown is on your team, NOBODY CAN READ YOUR MIND!

I have never seen any team leader come in and start barking orders and be able to retain any followers for longer than a year. 

John Maxwell says it like this: "People don't quit organizations, they quit people."

When your team doesn't know "the why" behind "the what," then they are not bought in!  What is a deep burning passion in your heart, is not in theirs! Why?  Because they don't know WHY they are doing WHAT they are doing!!!

When your team can see the colors, taste the tastes, smell the smells, feel the texture of your picture, they feel ownership in it and want to see it work! 

People do not feel significant until you give them something significant to do.

How are you encouraging your team?  Do they know your heart as their leader?  Do they know the WHY behind what they are doing?  Do they even know what they are supposed to be doing?

It's dangerous to assume.

It is one thing to manage a team, which is important, but it is another thing to lead them! 

Managers keep things running the same, leaders influence growth!

The Happiness Advantage

Dream jobs DO exsist!  I got the HONOR to be asked to write a month long book study of
THE HAPPINESS ADVANTAGE by Shawn Achor, for the orangeleaders.com blog!!!!

This is week 1

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4

Week 5


I will be back on orangeleaders.com blog in July to study The Catalyst Leader by Brad Lomenick --that gives you some time to order it and read along with me!

LIFE TOGETHER



There has been a lot of talk lately about making church intergenerational.  When I think of church I tend to D I VI D E everything up in in ages and stages of life. Kids go to KidsMinistry, Teenagers go to YouthGroup, and so on.  I use to roll my eyes at parents who would say "I want my kids to be in service with me so they can see me worship."

In a very snarky and under my breath tone, I would ask:

 "Well, then what are you doing all the other days of the week?" 

I won't lie, there is a part of me that is still not sure I have bought into the idea, but on the other hand, I never want to be considered unteachable or close minded.

So here is my thought.

If a church is going to be intergenerational, I think it has to go beyond having a kid take up offering, or leading a couple of songs with the worship team.  I think that being intergenerational is more than throwing a clip board with a coloring sheet and crayons to a kid so he or she has "something  to do" during the service that keeps them quiet.

I think that having kids serve is absolutely necessary, because that is what being the church is all about. 

I buy into the idea that people don't feel significant until
 you give them something significant to do!

If we serve in leadership, it is not about WHAT we do, it is about WHY we do it.


For me, Intergenerational Worship takes effort.  It is about people from all seasons of life coming together as a community and sharing life together.

LIFE TOGETHER.

It's a small group that meets in some one's home that consists of a couple in their 70s, a newly married couple, a family with teenagers, and a family with a newborn that are sharing life together.  It's telling stories, giving advice, feeling supported, by a diverse community of people that share one goal in common, to love each other like Christ loves the church.

It's a group of widows asking to come and visit a jr high girls small group and share in their lives with their stories and experiences.

Intergenerational does not mean PROGRAMMING, it means seeing a bigger picture.  It's about ending the segregation of the ages and stages of life and seeing that there is more to this life than our comfort and our desire to surround ourselves with the people we are most similar to.

If your heart is still beating, God is NOT done with you.

 Just because you have retired doesn't mean you stop being the church. Just because your kids have grown up and gone to college doesn't mean you don't have a lot of parenting advice to share.  Just because your kids are little and life is busy doesn't mean you can't ask for help. Just because you are single, doesn't mean you have nothing to offer married couples.  Just because you're young, does not mean you don't have a voice.

God uses us in every stage,when we are intergenerational we ask the question:

 "What am I doing to pour into the generation that is directly behind me?"

I think that makes us intergenerational.

I think that makes us intentional.

I think that makes us strategic.

I think it makes us THE CHURCH.

It's more than programming.  It's a lifestyle.