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Got Focus?

August 17, 2010 in Leadership with 0 Comments

I think Jim Collins say’s it something like this. “If you have more than 3 major initiatives, then you’ve really got none.”

In the context of a metro student ministry with 15+ campuses, where every other day we are invited into a new ministry opportunity, we have decision after decision of what to say yes to. If we say yes to everything, then we really say yes to nothing. (Keep in mind we don’t always say no, sometimes we say, “not yet.”)

But the reality is, this is true wherever you are in ministry right? I didn’t forget about you Pullman, Washington and Bozeman, Montana! You’ve got more job security than you can handle right?! You have so many things tugging for your attention, so many plates spinning it could drive you crazy.

Stop it! Stop trying to do it all. Instead start to….

bring clarity. You can do this a number of different ways, but you must have organizational clarity. In other words, your team needs to know where you’re going and what you’re doing for significant periods of time to get there. You better have the lens of your vision, top goals and top strategic path-steps for the year clear, because you’re about to filter a boatload of ministry opportunities through that lens. I mean come on, we’ve all experienced those crazy-maker ideas that freshmen in your small group has to reach people in Kentucky for Christ (Sorry if you’re from Kentucky…I’ll send that freshmen your way).

If you want to see where you’re at with the clarity issue, just ask your team “what is it that we do best, what is that drives us and that we are deeply passionate about?” In other words, what is it that only you can do? You, your team and your organization need to be able to answer that question because…duh, you should do that. Live in your strengths and your DNA, it’s way more fun.

Once you know what you and your team does best then you can answer the question, what do you need to stop doing? Regular evaluation of this for you, your staff team and your organization will lead to greater effectiveness and less burnout.

Just a little glimpse into what we’re thinking about over here in Portland. Enjoy!

What about you, what are some of the best resources, tools for bringing clarity to your team you’ve used?

Launching at Portland State University

August 16, 2010 in Leadership, Uncategorized with 2 Comments

Today was a historic day.

We got about the business of launching the ministry at Portland State University today. By the way, PSU is the largest university in Oregon and the third largest in all of our Campus Crusade region, behind U. of Washington and U. of Utah. Didn’t know that, did you?

We started with a short discussion on this powerful article by Tim Keller to give us a framework for our heart to see this urban campus transformed. Keller’s stuff is what pushed me toward making the decision to move to Portland. For Keller fan boys, here’s a link to all his stuff.

Then believing God to breakthrough on campus in powerful ways we braved 97 degree temperatures and pounded the streets for information. Joined by five of the regional office interns today that will be working with us 1 day a week this fall we gathered information that will shape our initiatives, outreaches and strategies.

Looking forward to the day when at PSU there is a community where the gospel captures hearts, transforms lives, and launches men and women into a lifelong adventure with Jesus Christ.

**I stole that last line from another Cru ministry somewhere. I’m pretty sure they don’t mind.

***I love my job

Web wanderings last week.

August 9, 2010 in Innovation, Leadership, Technology with 3 Comments

Just a few items of note from the interwebs last week.

Social Networking icon Chris Brogan writes about his interactions with Lifechurch.tv. Authentic insight from a new perspective on internet church.
Campus Crusade staff member Tim Casteel wrote a great post about being able to communicate better including a short and powerful clip from Seth Godin on why blogging helps. Can’t tell you how much this post resonates with me, especially as we launch partnerships and mobalize volunteers. The ability to communicate what I do is so critical.

What’s your context?

August 4, 2010 in Leadership with 0 Comments

Just read a fascinating article by LV Hanson on the Church Marketing Sucks blog about Catalyst’s experience in the Northwest. These are my highlights of the things Catalyst has learned about ministry in Northwest:

Innovative and trendy branding coupled with a shotgun appeal to the masses is not as effective in the Northwest as they have been in other areas of the country. Relationships reign, and trust is not easily given.
A brand will not win influence, a relationship will.
People very much identify with authenticity and trust, and that must be the vehicle of biblical truth.
We must ask the question of ourselves and our teams, “are you willing to share your life and your message?”

Getting a leading Christian organization’s perspective on our region was extremely helpful. Identifying the difference is a much needed step toward increasing effectiveness.

The biggest takeaway for me is that a general distrusting culture (non-believers and believers) is a significant barrier for us to overcome as we seek to grow movements and communicate the Gospel. Authenticity must reign in our ministry culture!

What context are you in? If you’re in the Northwest do you agree with these statements?

Action Method App – Your GTD Resource

July 30, 2010 in Technology with 0 Comments

I’m quickly becoming a fan of anything related to Scott Belsky’s book Making Ideas Happen. Scott’s company Behance has a line of products based on the Action Method that he lines out in his book. It’s basically his productivity method for helping creative type people accomplish ideas they have.

I discovered the Action Method iPhone Application recently and so far I haven’t looked back. It’s simple, beautiful and customizable. It allows me organize action steps any way I want, plus it allows me to mark things as focus items for the day as I plan my priorities. Here’s a screen shot.

Item of note:

The application is free for the iPhone and it synch’s to an online backup, but to use the online version extensively it’ll cost a monthly subscription which is available for a discount to non-profit organizations.

I need to be able to write down action items instantly otherwise they’re in one ear and out the other. This app makes it so easy.

What about you? What are you using to get things done?

On my bookshelf (summer edition)

July 28, 2010 in Leadership, Uncategorized with 1 Comment

We’re in Prineville, Oregon this week connecting with some of the families that partner with our ministry. This means limited internet access, so I brought along all the books that I’m working through right now. Here you go…

God Space – Doug Pollack This was a freebie at our national staff conference that I’m just getting around to. I think the evangelism principles could be helpful as we launch a ministry in post-Christian Portland. Brian Barela just happened to post an interview by Doug here.
Making Ideas Happen – Scott Belsky This is the book of the summer for me. I can’t get enough of the principles in this book, but I’m also wired to eat this stuff up. I think every operations minded person should read it…scratch that, every person who leads a team should read this.
The Speed of Trust – Stephen Covey This is the son of Stephen Covey of 7 habits of highly effective people fame. Staff in our region are about to start discussing this book via a private facebook group, should be fun! So far in the first 30 pages I’ve had multiple aha moments.
The Narrows – Michael Connelly Crime thriller fiction scariness.

There you have it! What are you reading this summer?

Why I do what I do

July 18, 2010 in Innovation with 2 Comments

I was looking back at a couple of video’s while brainstorming for the future of the Campus Crusade for Christ ministry in Portland and this one jumped out. Feel free to use it for ideas. I helped make it a few years back while I was on staff at Montana State University. I am so blessed to see lives changed and more than ever I’m committed to reaching students for Christ.

How do I respond to the brokenness?

July 12, 2010 in Uncategorized with 0 Comments

I live in the city…

I pass people that are homeless everyday. I overhear conversations about addiction. I pass people on the street that look a little scary to me and sometimes act a little scary. I hear about the sex slave industry that’s taking place at the mall up the road from my house. Humanity is definitely broken.

How do I respond to these things? How is being exposed to these things shaping me? Here’s what I’m learning after two months.

I must guard against ever being hardened to the reality of how broken humanity is…because then I’ve forgotten how great my Savior is.
Caring for people means I throw my Getting Things Done mentality out the window.
I’m thankful to raise a kid in this environment. The conversations we’ve had already are gold.
My conversation with my neighbor might not mean much to the city, but it might mean a lot to my neighbor.

After two months in the city, I can already see the Lord at work in my heart. There is adventure outside my door everyday. All I have to do is step into it.

Reminds me of this poem I heard at Catalyst this spring. Check it out.

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