Jesus said “the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few” (Luke 10:2). If this is true, that the harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few, then it should be the job of the church to raise up the saints within the body. Seacoast Church takes this responsibility seriously and in response has created a 9 month internship to help develop and prepare laborers to send into the field.

Seacoast’s All-Access internship was created three years ago by Pastor Mac Lake in an effort to better equip and train future pastors and ministry leaders. Over the last three years, All-Access has continually grown and developed into an internship that specifically focuses on 8 core competencies of ministry, allowing each intern to not only gain wisdom on how to conduct ministry, but the experiences needed to implement the truths being learned.

As a part of the program, interns will participate in the following:

• weekly theological reading and discussions with other interns and pastors
• monthly mentoring
• weekly ministry experience within a specific ministry of choice
• weekly interviews with Seacoast pastors and other ministry leaders around the United States
• participation in special events and conferences
• opportunity to plan and execute a large community outreach as a team
• many other opportunities to learn and grow in a large, cutting-edge, multi-site church

If you believe that God may be calling you into full-time vocational ministry or have a desire to grow deeper in your leadership with the church, then we would encourage you to check out Seacoast’s All-Access internship. For more information, CLICK HERE or contact Pastor Ernest Smith at ernestsmith@seacoast.org or twitter: @Ernest_Smith

All applications are due by August 12th for the 2011-2012 program.

There is a bullish, uncompromising law that you cannot ignore as you consider building a leadership development culture:  the values of the leader become the values of the organization.  Now, I’m not necessarily talking about the values that are posted in the hallway by the water cooler, but the values the leader lives out on a day in day out basis.    (Unfortunately too often there is a big difference between the two).  A leader may order the execution of a new leadership development program, set an organization wide goal for the development of leaders or even assign a task force to develop solutions to the leadership development problem.  But if he himself is not involved in developing leaders then that organization will never cultivate a leadership development culture.

Don’t worry senior leaders, this does not mean that you have to suddenly put aside significant portions of your role to take on this new added responsibility.  No, it simply means you begin to invest in replicating yourself in at least one other person in the organization.  If you don’t model it yourself you can’t expect it from others.   But realize, It’s not the volume of leaders you reproduce that matters; it’s your voice and actions championing the cause that will lead others to follow your example and ultimately be the greatest contributing factor in building a culture of leadership development in your organization.

For years I used to set a goal of reading 52 books between January 1 and December 31.  And for several years I accomplished that goal.  I still think that’s a good discipline for a young leader, but as I grew older something inside told me to slow down.  I sensed I was at a stage where I needed to focus less on information and focus more on transformation.  So I started reading fewer books. But that still wasn’t having the growth impact I was longing for.

It took a while but I finally developed a 6 Question System for reading that seemed to take me deeper into the content and impacted my thinking in a more tangible way. Today when I read a book I start by reading the table of contents and dividing it into sections.  Sometimes a section is one chapter, sometimes it’s 2 or 3 chapters.  But I define the specific chunks in the book I will apply these questions too.  I find this more helpful than applying all six questions to every single chapter.  As I read here are the six questions that force me to read that section on a deeper level.  I hope you find this as helpful as I have.

• What stood out to you the most? I don’t actually write the answer to this question.  But I answer this by using a highlighter to mark every sentence that stood out to me.  In a 10-page chapter this may be as many as 40-60 sentences that stood out as important or as key thoughts.
• What challenged your thinking the most? Now that I’ve finished reading the chapter I go back and read my highlights and put a “C” by no more than three highlights.  Next I write down in my journal (Evernote) the answer to what challenged me the most.  Narrowing it down to just three things that challenged me and writing the answer to that question makes me process the content at a whole new depth.
• What did you question or disagree with? It’s always tempting to skip over this question.  Many times we don’t pause long enough to question the content of what we just read.   So I look back over my highlights and put a “?” beside one or two things I questioned or disagreed with. Next I write in my journal what or why I disagreed.  Or if I didn’t disagree with anything I write out what questions were raised in my mind.  This forces me to look at the content from a different angle and process even deeper.
• What 3-5 action steps will you take as a result of your reading? Next I write down what I’m going to do as a result of reading the content of the chapter or section.  If you don’t put into practice the principles you learned those principles will never be translated into new behaviors.  So force yourself to find a few action steps you will take.  Remember there is no transformation without application.
• What area did my reading reveal where I need to grow? Now to really get the subject material into your soul think though an area of Personal Growth the reading revealed for you.  As I look back over my highlights I put a “-“ beside a section that reveals a needed growth area of my life.  Then I write out where and how I need to grow in that area.  So as you review your reading section ask yourself:  Did it highlight a specific area of weakness that I need to work on?  Did it reveal a poor attitude, an undeveloped skill, a bad habit, a relational roadblock that needs to be dealt with?  If we really want to change we’ll take the time to identify those specific areas of growth potential in our own life.
• What area of strength did this reading affirm about my leadership? Finally, I look for strengths that the chapter affirmed in my life or leadership.  As I read back over the highlights I put a “+” beside the section that revealed what I am good at. We become better leaders when we focus on developing our strengths. So make sure you allow the content you’re reading to affirm the positive aspects of your leadership.

So grab a good book that you think will challenge you to grow as a leader.  Buy a journal or open up your Evernote. And don’t forget, this method of reading requires greater patience but results in bigger payoff.  Hey, give it a try and let me know what you think.

“Is church planting for me?” A lot of young men are asking themselves that question today. Now days I get to spend much of my time interacting with men who have ambitions to start churches that advance the Gospel in unreached areas.  I have to tell you, it’s one of the greatest joys of my life, listening to, challenging, coaching and celebrating these young church planters.

So far in 2011 the LAUNCH Network has assessed 34 potential church planters.  Each time these young men and their wives come to our Assessment Retreat we love on them, encourage them, inspire them and help them build a personal growth plan. But we’re also very straightforward with them, warning them of the risks and dangers of starting a new church.  Church Planting Is Not Easy. That’s one of the messages we want them to hear loud and clear.

From my own personal experience as a church planter and from coaching others over the years, there are 3 things that have always rung true:

• Church Planting will cost you more than you think. When we planted in 1998 I did a rough estimate of what it would cost. But it didn’t take long until reality hit and I realized planting a church is an expensive endeavor.  You can do all the work of estimating your budget, raising funds, scouting for deals, but things always go wrong.  Someone doesn’t come through, a deal falls apart, or a promise is undelivered.  And suddenly the planter finds himself against the wall wondering how the immediate need is going to be meet.  Even with great planning things go wrong, but it’s the most wonderful opportunity of your life to watch the miraculous provision of God.  If you’re planting be ready to TRUST God for your provision.  Your faith will be put to the test, that’s just part of how God builds the man for the mission.
• Church Planting will take longer than you think. Leaders can be very impatient people.  And when a leader is good at casting a compelling vision the people who follow can get excited and become impatient to get the new church started as well.  They begin to push to move the launch date sooner against the better judgment of the planter.  “How hard can it be to start a church?  Throw out some signs, set out some seats, select some songs, preach and you got a church…right?”  Wrong.  If that were your plan you’d have a church service but not a church.  A Church is a community of believers who gather under a common mission, aligned with the same values, working toward the same vision for the sake of the lost of their community.  And if a church is going to be healthy it takes time for the DNA of that community of believers to grow, develop and solidify in the hearts of the core leaders. Not to mention there are systems and structures that simply take time to develop.  A baby who is born without the proper time for it’s systems and structure to develop will have long term health issues, if they survive at all.  In the same way,  a church without developed systems and structures will quickly show signs of being unhealthy.  Church planting takes time, don’t rush it.  Enjoy the journey and don’t miss the beauty of how God “knits together” the Body in the womb of the pre-launch stage. This is a tough one for us in America but…Slow is not unspiritual,  I’ve never met a planter who said, “I wish I would’ve launched sooner.”
• Church Planting is harder than you think. When I planted I envisioned myself as the next Andy Stanley.  I know many young guys see themselves that way but I was different…Someone told me I was the next Andy Stanley…well not in so many words, they said I was really great…or good…or something like that, BUT I knew in their heart they were saying, “Mac, you are the next Andy Stanley”.  So I knew once I announced I was starting a church multitudes of people would come and it would be easy once we had a crowd.  I guess it took about 2 months for me to realize, Andy Stanley I was not!! I learned two things:  1.  Starting a church requires it takes time, energy and personal sacrifice.  2.  Leading a growing church is hard.  More people = more money required.  More people = more expectations.  More people = more opinions. Bigger is not easier, bigger is harder.  So church planting can’t be something you’re curious about and want to take a stab at.  Church planting can’t be something you want to do because it’s the cool new thing.  Church planting requires a very specific calling and it will be that calling that will sustain you when thing get difficult. I always say church planting was the most difficult, challenging, frustrating, rewarding experience of my life.

I am by no means saying that church planting is a miserable experience because if you’re truly called and you have a strong coaching network beside you it will be one of the biggest highlights of your life, it certainly was for Cindy and me.  So if that question is echoing in your mind, “Is church planting for me?”  Count the costs, right size your expectations and make sure you have a firm confirmation from a group of godly friends who love you.

If you are looking for confirmation and coaching I encourage you to go to our website www.launchstrong and sign up for our next Assessment Retreat in Atlanta, GA on October 17-18.  Space is limited and will fill up quick so don’t delay.

Finding a new job in this economy is difficult. So if you’re dissatisfied where you’re at instead of trying to find a new organization why not try a new outlook. Here are four steps you can take that might help you find greater satisfaction right where you’re at.

Clarify your strengths. The Gallup research shows that employees who operate in their areas of strengths are more satisfied and engaged in their work. If you’re struggling knowing what your strengths are read: Now Discover Your Strengths by Marcus Buckingham.  On page 79 the author provides a link to the strengthfinder assessment which will help you identify your top 5 strengths.

Identify your weaknesses. When we’re working primarily in your weaknesses it’s difficult to find momentum or satisfaction. Sometimes simply writing down the things you’re not good at can lead to a productive plan for change. If this seems to be your challenge I recommend you read another book by Marcus Buckingham, Go Put Your Strengths To Work,.  This book also offers an online assessment that helps you measure how engaged you are at your current job.

Clarify your outcomes. Progress and productivity feel good. If you’re working day in and day out and not feeling like you’re making a significant contribution then it’s time to rethink your outcomes. What do you want to see happen as a result of the 40-50 hours a week you invest at work? Write down some specific goals that you can aim toward over the next 90 days. If you don’t like goal setting I recommend you read Stop Setting Goals by Bob Beihl.

Connect relationally. It’s difficult to find energy when you feel isolated and alone. Again, Gallup’s research shows that people are more engaged and productive when they feel like they have a friend at work. Sometimes people are unable to connect at work because they’ve never developed the people skills they need to make friendships.  If you’re struggling with feeling isolated I recommend you read Relational Intelligence by Steve Saccone.

So if you’re struggling with your job, before looking in the classifieds give a few of these suggestions a try.  A change in your situation is not always an option, but a change in your attitude always is.

In today’s busy world we have to look for solutions to deliver training for the Small Group leader in our churches.  Small Group pastors grow frustrated when they offer training classes but few people show up.  Well, what if there was a solution that enabled you to train leaders any time, any place, at any pace?  Over the past year I’ve had the opportunity to work with the great team at Right Now to help develop Right Now Training for Small Group leaders.  This online training enables you to deliver specific training modules of your choice to your leaders, check on their progress, communicate with them AND add your own training modules.  Join the hundreds of churches that are already using the Right Now Training and help us add even more content that will serve churches all around the world.

One of the most important responsibilities of a leader is the development of other leaders. Too often we’re guilty of expecting our team members to grow, but we do little to help them in the developmental process.  If those on my team aren’t developing their leadership capacity then I have to ask myself, “What do I need to do differently?”  I must assume the proper stewardship of my team and do my part to contribute to their growth.  But unfortunately many team leaders neglect getting involved in their team members development.

Here are 5 Non-Negotiable actions I would require as a team leader that will help build a culture of leadership development among your team.

1. Require written goals - Have the individuals on your team turn in a one page written summary of their goals for the next 4 months.  This lays the ground work for shared expectations and gives you a basis from which to coach their performance.
2. Require regular 1-1′s. Meet with each person on your team at least once a month if  not twice a month.  During those meetings review their goals, ask what problems they are encountering and use it as a time for individual coaching.
3. Require reading – A team that reads together learns together.  Reading a leadership book and discussing it during team meetings creates an atmosphere of shared learning and development.
4. Require reproduction – Leaders should be producing leaders.  Ram Charan in his book Leaders at All Levels recommends that everyone in your organization have “raising up new leaders” as a part of their job description.  When someone is teaching others to lead it reinforces those principles in their own life.
5. Require evaluation – Have times of regular evaluation as a team.  Ask them:  What have we been doing well?  What can we learn from that?  Where do we need to improve?  What can we learn from that?

Remember leadership development is a discipline that we must exercise everyday.

This morning I counted over 25 verses in the New Testament that refer to leaders being a “servant of God.” Paul, Peter, James, Jude and John, each great leaders and each called a “servant of God. “  I don’t know that I always like that title.  I want to be “Leader for God” or “Go to Guy for God” or sometimes I even want to be “Consultant to God”.

Come on admit it…aren’t’ there times you find yourself questioning God on His decisions, resourcing, timing or outcomes?  If left up to me I would do things differently, faster, bigger, simpler or flashier. It’s not easy to take on the disposition of a servant. To often, I think I know best and I find myself acting like a consultant to God rather than a servant of God.  As a consultant to God I urge Him to move according to my timeline, advise Him on the next “best” move, warn Him about potential obstacles and recommend preferred outcomes.  A consultant to God “tells”.  A servant of God listens.  A consultant to God says “God, do this or that”.  A servant of God simply says, “Here I am Lord, send me.”

Are you living as a consultant to God or a servant of God?

A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to visit one of our LAUNCH Network partners, Life Point Church in Fredericksburg VA. I was blown away as I watched the LIfe Point team transform a local high school and pull off the best executed worship service I have ever witnessed in a portable environment. In the past 5 years, under pastor Daniel Floyd’s leadership, LIfe Point has grown from a small group of people dreaming about a new church to over 1400 worshippers meeting each week. His team is not only passionate about reaching their community but they are also passionate about serving other church planters. So I am thrilled to announce that they are offering a FREE one day church planting conference on Saturday August 27th called REACH.

REACH is a one of a kind church planting experience – portable church in a portable setting. It is not about theory based on assumption, but practical nuts and bolts learning based on the proven experience of the Life Point staff and volunteers. REACH is five and a half hours packed full of the answers to your questions, during which you will get a hands-on feel for operating successfully in a portable church setting.

Every participant will leave with a USB drive loaded with all the Life Point ministries documents and forms, a list of vendors, and a link to access sermon series graphics/splashes. They will also have special giveaways throughout the day, including an iPad 2 loaded with a leadership book library. Ultimately, Pastor Daniel and his team want to motivate and inspire you to follow hard after the dream God has placed in your heart and the vision He has given you.  SIGN UP TODAY AT www.reach2011.tv

I was in Fredrickberg VA recently speaking to a passionate group of leaders at Lifepoint Church. Pastor Daniel Floyd and his team have done an amazing job creating a strong culture that enables them to move their vision forward.  In this short video Pastor Daniel shares his insights for church planters on discovering and developing your organizational culture.