Random Reads

OAG Leadership Team: You're the best!

I read several blogs every week to keep up with what God is blessing, as well as to sharpen myself. Here are some tidbits from some blogs I've read this week:

Jim Wideman recently wrote a blog series highlighting four areas that ministry leaders should regularly evaluate. Here’s a summary:

Your Attitude

Do I have the heart of a servant?
Am I an asset or a liability to my pastor?
What is my attitude about others around me?
Am I grumbling and complaining?


Your Priorities
It’s one thing to know your priorities, it’s another thing all together to live according to those priorities.


Your Time Management

How am I spending my time?
Am I spending time daily with the Lord?
Is my family suffering while my ministry is flourishing?
Am I making time for personal growth and development?


Your Performance

Am I being a team builder or a one person show?
What am I doing that someone else can do?
Have I communicated clearly to all my workers what they are to do?
Can I be relied on to complete assignments and keep commitments?


3 leadership lessons I have learned from mistakes I’ve made:


Keep God before ministry.

There have been times in my life when I have put too much of my focus on doing ministry and not enough focus on my personal relationship with God. It is a dangerous habit to develop because our personal relationship with God gives us the spiritual strength needed to pursue our ministry calling to its full potential.


Be a custom leader.

When I began leading my first team of several volunteers, I interacted with each worker the same way. The problem with this is that people are very different and very unique. Different personalities interpret the same leadership differently. What works well for leading one person may be less effective for leading another. Over the years, I have tried to improve my ability to recognize different personalities and know how to best lead each one. I’m still far from perfect, but whenever I have the opportunity to lead someone one-on-one, I try to customize my approach for the best results.


Know your limits.

The first ministry I worked for never tested my limits. The work was tough, but we had a great team and always met our deadlines. The second ministry I worked for was understaffed and underresourced. It quickly taught me my limitations. Even with extended work hours and extra manpower, it was impossible to do what needed to be done. I made the mistake of assuming that I could achieve unrealistic goals because I always made tough deadlines before. Understand that you are human and have limitations. Know your limitations. Plan realistically. Otherwise, you will burn yourself out.



Leading Through Change

1. Pray and get clear direction from God.

2. Consider the needs of the people you are leading.

3. Find out what is best for the organization.

4. Get input and wisdom from your key leaders.

5. Make sure your key leaders are unified and understand why the change is occurring.

6. Get wisdom and counsel from mentors and friends.

7. Communicate the vision and direction clearly at all phases of the organization.

8. Be confident and positive about the new direction.

9. Lead strong. Don't be a wishy washy leader. LEAD WITH BOLDNESS AND HUMILITY, MY FRIEND!



Early Christmas Advice

1. Don't go into debt because of Christmas. When January rolls around, you will regret it.

2. Forgive family members of past hurts so that you can enjoy Christmas together.

3. Be generous to others. Click here right now to nominate a needy family for our $10,000
Holiday Giveaway.

4. Don't envy other people's blessings.

5. Be truly thankful for what you have.

6. Establish a budget of what you can afford to spend on Christmas gifts and don't go over it.

7. Have your kids give away some toys to kids who are less fortunate than them.

8. Remember the reason for the season; the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!!!



Be Generous Because

1. Your heavenly Father is generous

2. It's more blessed to give than receive

3. You could be the answer to somebody's prayer

4. God will bless you

5. It's the biblical thing to do

6. It advances the Kingdom of God

7. It provides for those who are less fortunate

8. It destroys greed and materialism