StrategicLeadershipTeamSession1withConsultantRonDonnini
6-9pmFriday1/29/16
Present:JasonCox,SamCatalona,MarkBoyd,MichelleFlower,GwenLenart,WarrenMorrow,Dennis
Lambes,ScottFausneaucht,VictorColaianni,CherylBalogh,CindyMathias,CaryDuckett
Absent:JeffShirkman
I.
Introduction:LeaningintoGodandbeingreadytoworkwithGodleadingtheway.Thereis
areasonwhythischurchexistsinGod’splan.Therewillbe“Godmoment”sometime
duringthisprocess.
Icebreaker:Whatwouldsomeonenotknowaboutyou?
Eachteammembersharedsothatotherswouldgettoknowoneanother.
PleaseprayforTevin,ScottandDebbie’sson-in-law,justdeployedtotheMiddleEastonaUSN
destroyer.
PrayforPastorCaryandhisfamily.PrayforPastorJasonandhisfamily.
WorshipisaboutuslayingourlivesbeforeGodandourrelationshipwithHim.Itisnotjustaboutany
onethinglikemusic.
Leadersneedtoleadwithopenhands.ThisisGod’schurch,todoHisworkHisway.Thefundamentals
ofthedoctrinewillremainstrongandunchanged.Weneedtobelistening,thinking,challengingone
anothertodotheLord’swill.Thisisaweightyresponsibility.GodwillchallengeyouthroughHisWord.
II.
III.
16churchanalysisquestions:Seethedocumentattachedhere.
Godputsdifferentpersonalitiesintoeverychurch.Weknowourchurchbest.
Ronsuggestedthatwepraythroughthe16pointsonthelist.
PrayerTeamwillleadbyprayingfortheSLT.
ImportanceofSpiritualFormation:Seethedocumentattachedhere.
TransformingusintoChrist’slikenessistheworkoftheHolySpirit.Eph.1:13
1. Ponderandacknowledgeyourpersonalsin.
2. ConfessyoursinandberestoredtoarightrelationshipwithGod.
3. Forgivethosewhohavesinnedagainstyou.
4. Spendtimeinintense,positiveprayerfortheministry,fortheelders,fortheSLT
members
5. Putoff“negativestuff”:gossip,unwholesometalk,bitterness,complaining,pessimism.
6. Pursuereconciliationwithabrotherorsister.
7. Becomeabetterlistener.
8. Speakthetruth.
9. SpeakthetruthINLOVE.
10.
11.
12.
13.
Don’ttolerateacriticalspirit.
Seektobuildothersup.
Adoptaservantattitude.BookbyMarkMillerTheHeartofLeaders
Offeryourselves,open-handed,toGodasinstrumentsofrighteousness.
BREAK
IV.
V.
VI.
BuildingChrist’sChurchinthe21stCenturySeeattacheddocument
Leadersinbotholdandnewtestamentsleadstrategically.
Churchesandchurchattendanceareindecline.
Cultsaregrowingveryrapidly.
What’stheheartoftheproblem?IthastodowithhowpeopleviewGod,Jesus,spirituality
andtheChurch.
VIDEO:SoWhatDoesItAllMean?Thedigitalagehasastaggeringrateofchange.
Weneedtobeopen-mindedaswelooktodothingsdifferentlytoreachthepeopleofNew
FranklinforChrist.Wearelookingforauniquemodelthatwilltransformthewaywedo
church.Wewillmovefrompreparationtoprocesstopractice.
Session1continuedSaturday,January30,20168amtonoon
PreparationinPrayer:SeekingGod’swillintheplaceandtime
Strategicenvisioningprocess:Wherewouldyouliketoseetheministryinwhichyouare
involvedgointhefuture?Wemustknowwherewewanttogoinordertogetthere.Ron
suggestedthatwelookatthetextofMartinLutherKingJr’s“Ihaveadream”speech
printedherebelow: http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkihaveadream.htm
[AUTHENTICITYCERTIFIED:Textversionbelowtranscribeddirectlyfromaudio.]
Iamhappytojoinwithyoutodayinwhatwillgodowninhistoryasthegreatestdemonstrationforfreedominthehistoryofournation.
Fivescoreyearsago,agreatAmerican,inwhosesymbolicshadowwestandtoday,signedtheEmancipationProclamation.This
momentousdecreecameasagreatbeaconlightofhopetomillionsofNegroslaveswhohadbeensearedintheflamesofwithering
injustice.Itcameasajoyousdaybreaktoendthelongnightoftheircaptivity.
Butonehundredyearslater,theNegrostillisnotfree.Onehundredyearslater,thelifeoftheNegroisstillsadlycrippledbythemanacles
ofsegregationandthechainsofdiscrimination.Onehundredyearslater,theNegrolivesonalonelyislandofpovertyinthemidstofa
vastoceanofmaterialprosperity.Onehundredyearslater,theNegroisstilllanguishedinthecornersofAmericansocietyandfinds
himselfanexileinhisownland.Andsowe'vecomeheretodaytodramatizeashamefulcondition.
Inasensewe'vecometoournation'scapitaltocashacheck.Whenthearchitectsofourrepublicwrotethemagnificentwordsofthe
ConstitutionandtheDeclarationofIndependence,theyweresigningapromissorynotetowhicheveryAmericanwastofallheir.This
notewasapromisethatallmen,yes,blackmenaswellaswhitemen,wouldbeguaranteedthe"unalienableRights"of"Life,Libertyand
thepursuitofHappiness."ItisobvioustodaythatAmericahasdefaultedonthispromissorynote,insofarashercitizensofcolorare
concerned.Insteadofhonoringthissacredobligation,AmericahasgiventheNegropeopleabadcheck,acheckwhichhascomeback
marked"insufficientfunds."
Butwerefusetobelievethatthebankofjusticeisbankrupt.Werefusetobelievethatthereareinsufficientfundsinthegreatvaultsof
opportunityofthisnation.Andso,we'vecometocashthischeck,acheckthatwillgiveusupondemandtherichesoffreedomandthe
securityofjustice.
WehavealsocometothishallowedspottoremindAmericaofthefierceurgencyofNow.Thisisnotimetoengageintheluxuryof
coolingoffortotakethetranquilizingdrugofgradualism.Nowisthetimetomakerealthepromisesofdemocracy.Nowisthetimeto
risefromthedarkanddesolatevalleyofsegregationtothesunlitpathofracialjustice.Nowisthetimetoliftournationfromthequick
sandsofracialinjusticetothesolidrockofbrotherhood.NowisthetimetomakejusticearealityforallofGod'schildren.
Itwouldbefatalforthenationtooverlooktheurgencyofthemoment.ThisswelteringsummeroftheNegro'slegitimatediscontentwill
notpassuntilthereisaninvigoratingautumnoffreedomandequality.Nineteensixty-threeisnotanend,butabeginning.Andthosewho
hopethattheNegroneededtoblowoffsteamandwillnowbecontentwillhavearudeawakeningifthenationreturnstobusinessas
usual.AndtherewillbeneitherrestnortranquilityinAmericauntiltheNegroisgrantedhiscitizenshiprights.Thewhirlwindsofrevoltwill
continuetoshakethefoundationsofournationuntilthebrightdayofjusticeemerges.
ButthereissomethingthatImustsaytomypeople,whostandonthewarmthresholdwhichleadsintothepalaceofjustice:Inthe
processofgainingourrightfulplace,wemustnotbeguiltyofwrongfuldeeds.Letusnotseektosatisfyourthirstforfreedombydrinking
fromthecupofbitternessandhatred.Wemustforeverconductourstruggleonthehighplaneofdignityanddiscipline.Wemustnot
allowourcreativeprotesttodegenerateintophysicalviolence.Againandagain,wemustrisetothemajesticheightsofmeetingphysical
forcewithsoulforce.
ThemarvelousnewmilitancywhichhasengulfedtheNegrocommunitymustnotleadustoadistrustofallwhitepeople,formanyofour
whitebrothers,asevidencedbytheirpresenceheretoday,havecometorealizethattheirdestinyistiedupwithourdestiny.Andthey
havecometorealizethattheirfreedomisinextricablyboundtoourfreedom.
Wecannotwalkalone.
Andaswewalk,wemustmakethepledgethatweshallalwaysmarchahead.
Wecannotturnback.
Therearethosewhoareaskingthedevoteesofcivilrights,"Whenwillyoubesatisfied?"WecanneverbesatisfiedaslongastheNegrois
thevictimoftheunspeakablehorrorsofpolicebrutality.Wecanneverbesatisfiedaslongasourbodies,heavywiththefatigueoftravel,
cannotgainlodginginthemotelsofthehighwaysandthehotelsofthecities.Wecannotbesatisfiedaslongasthenegro'sbasicmobility
isfromasmallerghettotoalargerone.Wecanneverbesatisfiedaslongasourchildrenarestrippedoftheirself-hoodandrobbedof
theirdignitybysignsstating:"ForWhitesOnly."WecannotbesatisfiedaslongasaNegroinMississippicannotvoteandaNegroinNew
Yorkbelieveshehasnothingforwhichtovote.No,no,wearenotsatisfied,andwewillnotbesatisfieduntil"justicerollsdownlike
waters,andrighteousnesslikeamightystream."¹
Iamnotunmindfulthatsomeofyouhavecomehereoutofgreattrialsandtribulations.Someofyouhavecomefreshfromnarrowjail
cells.Andsomeofyouhavecomefromareaswhereyourquest--questforfreedomleftyoubatteredbythestormsofpersecutionand
staggeredbythewindsofpolicebrutality.Youhavebeentheveteransofcreativesuffering.Continuetoworkwiththefaiththat
unearnedsufferingisredemptive.GobacktoMississippi,gobacktoAlabama,gobacktoSouthCarolina,gobacktoGeorgia,gobackto
Louisiana,gobacktotheslumsandghettosofournortherncities,knowingthatsomehowthissituationcanandwillbechanged.
Letusnotwallowinthevalleyofdespair,Isaytoyoutoday,myfriends.
Andsoeventhoughwefacethedifficultiesoftodayandtomorrow,Istillhaveadream.ItisadreamdeeplyrootedintheAmerican
dream.
Ihaveadreamthatonedaythisnationwillriseupandliveoutthetruemeaningofitscreed:"Weholdthesetruthstobeself-evident,
thatallmenarecreatedequal."
IhaveadreamthatonedayontheredhillsofGeorgia,thesonsofformerslavesandthesonsofformerslaveownerswillbeabletosit
downtogetheratthetableofbrotherhood.
IhaveadreamthatonedayeventhestateofMississippi,astateswelteringwiththeheatofinjustice,swelteringwiththeheatof
oppression,willbetransformedintoanoasisoffreedomandjustice.
Ihaveadreamthatmyfourlittlechildrenwillonedayliveinanationwheretheywillnotbejudgedbythecoloroftheirskinbutbythe
contentoftheircharacter.
Ihaveadreamtoday!
Ihaveadreamthatoneday,downinAlabama,withitsviciousracists,withitsgovernorhavinghislipsdrippingwiththewordsof
"interposition"and"nullification"--onedayrightthereinAlabamalittleblackboysandblackgirlswillbeabletojoinhandswithlittle
whiteboysandwhitegirlsassistersandbrothers.
Ihaveadreamtoday!
Ihaveadreamthatonedayeveryvalleyshallbeexalted,andeveryhillandmountainshallbemadelow,theroughplaceswillbemade
2
plain,andthecrookedplaceswillbemadestraight;"andthegloryoftheLordshallberevealedandallfleshshallseeittogether." Thisisourhope,andthisisthefaiththatIgobacktotheSouthwith.
Withthisfaith,wewillbeabletohewoutofthemountainofdespairastoneofhope.Withthisfaith,wewillbeabletotransformthe
janglingdiscordsofournationintoabeautifulsymphonyofbrotherhood.Withthisfaith,wewillbeabletoworktogether,topray
together,tostruggletogether,togotojailtogether,tostandupforfreedomtogether,knowingthatwewillbefreeoneday.
Andthiswillbetheday--thiswillbethedaywhenallofGod'schildrenwillbeabletosingwithnewmeaning:
Mycountry'tisofthee,sweetlandofliberty,oftheeIsing.
Landwheremyfathersdied,landofthePilgrim'spride,
Fromeverymountainside,letfreedomring!
AndifAmericaistobeagreatnation,thismustbecometrue.
AndsoletfreedomringfromtheprodigioushilltopsofNewHampshire.
LetfreedomringfromthemightymountainsofNewYork.
LetfreedomringfromtheheighteningAllegheniesofPennsylvania.
Letfreedomringfromthesnow-cappedRockiesofColorado.
LetfreedomringfromthecurvaceousslopesofCalifornia.
Butnotonlythat:
LetfreedomringfromStoneMountainofGeorgia.
LetfreedomringfromLookoutMountainofTennessee.
LetfreedomringfromeveryhillandmolehillofMississippi.
Fromeverymountainside,letfreedomring.
Andwhenthishappens,andwhenweallowfreedomring,whenweletitringfromeveryvillageandeveryhamlet,fromeverystateand
everycity,wewillbeabletospeedupthatdaywhenallofGod'schildren,blackmenandwhitemen,JewsandGentiles,Protestantsand
Catholics,willbeabletojoinhandsandsinginthewordsoftheoldNegrospiritual:
Freeatlast!Freeatlast!
ThankGodAlmighty,wearefreeatlast!
VII.
VIII.
Stages1,2,3Prayer,OpencommunicationandTransparency,Trust,Commitment,Unity,
SupportandPatiencearekeystosuccessfulimplementationofGod’swillforGraceBible
Church.EmbraceaBiblicaltheologyofchange.Changedoesn’thappenovernight.Itwill
taketime.
ChurchMinistryAnalysisSeeattacheddocument
Whoarewe?Wheredowewanttogo?Howwillyougetthere?
Howarewedoing?Evaluationbasedupontheanswersof13membersofSLT
4VitalSigns:
1. Worshipattendance(notmembership):Downwardtrend
2. Giving/stewardship:Downwardtrendpercapita
IX.
Thischangeseverythingcampaign:Avisionforgrowthandimpactingourcommunity
andtheworldforChrist.
3. Strengths:Sr.Pastor,Elderboard,Preaching,Children’sMinistries,Friendliness,
Leaders,Fellowship,Worship,Teaching,andNursery.
4. Challenges:YoungMarriedCouples,LotsofMinistries,Change-Oriented,Visionand
direction,Mission,Communication,Evangelism,CommunityMinistries,Morale,Men’s
Ministries,Unity,andGiving/Stewardship.
5. Discussion:Transformationisneededtoaddresschurchgrowth.WhatdoesGodwant
GraceBibleChurchtobe?Whatarewewillingtochangeorgiveupintermsof“howwe
dochurch”togetdifferentresults?Grandparents,parentsandchildrenarealllistening
todifferentkindsofmusic.Havingmulti-generationalinfluenceisimportantinthelifeof
thefamiliesofthechurch.Arewewillingtoputourpreferencesasideandpursue
what’suncomfortabletoseeourchurchrenewitself?WhatisGodtellingustoletgoof
inordertotransformourchurch?WhatisGodtellingustoimplementinourlivesandin
ourchurchtoliveforHim.
ImplementationProcess:WeareaccountabletoeachotherandtoGod!Seeattached
document
A. Mission:Whatwedo?
B. Values:Whoweare?
C. Strategy:Reach,Make,Mobilize,Build,Assess,Rai$e
1. Problems
a. Side-tracks
b. Personaldiscipline
c. Time
2. ImplementationTeams:
a. LeadTeam(Cary,ScottandCindy)
b. AnSLTmemberortwoand6to9memberstobuildstrategies.(inpartnership
withStaff)
1. Whatareasdowehaveapassiontolead?
2. Mustseizetheopportunitiestoleadastrategyandchooseothersto
minister.
3. Barrierscanbepeople,prideinpast,contentmentwithstatusquo,comfort,
inwardfocus,pessimism,self-focus,anger,complacency,committees,
distrustofleadership,stressofchange,sacredcows,negativeemotions,
vestedinterests,poorcommunication,policiesandtraditions.
4. PracticeofImplementation:
a. LeadTeam
b. PrayerTeam
c. Communication
d. CommunityOutreach
e. MakeDisciples
f. Mobilization
X.
g. Locationandfacilities
h. Finances
i. CreativityandInnovation
j. LeadershipDevelopment
5. SelectionofTeammembers
a. Spiritualgifts
b. NaturalTalents
c. Passions
d. Nurturingthatgiftedness
D. Vision:Whatwillwebe?
1. Keeptheendinmind
2. Reviewministryobjectivesandgoals
3. Recruitleadersandteams
4. Decidedeadlinesforgoals
5. Don’tforgetthevision
6. Determineresources
7. Heldaccountabletofollowthrough
ClosinginprayerseekingGod’swisdomanddirection.