One Prayer Interview - Benny Perez

Benny pastors The Church at South Las Vegas. He’s a very compassionate, wise leader. Here’s what he had to say…

1. What is the biggest leadership lesson you’ve learned over the past year?

The biggest lesson is When and How to have staff move on. It has been very difficult this year having Pastors leave the staff and some staff members leave the staff.

2. What is God showing you personally?
To truly trust in Him and Him alone. I can do all the study and bring in all the consultants but I must go back to the place of prayer, solitude and trust in the Lord that He will help me during Transition.

3. What is the top ministry challenge you’re currently facing?
Balancing a budget with an ever-increasing church. What is faith and what is presumption.

4. What do you do for fun?
I love to golf and ride motorcycles. Also love to walk around the mall with my wife.

5. What books are you reading?
Death By Meeting – Patrick Lencioni; It by Craig Groeschel; Missional Renaissance by  Reggie McNeal.

3 comments

One Prayer Interview - Buddy Cremeans

Buddy’s the Senior Pastor of Northway Church in NY. He’s an amazing man of God and a great friend. He writes…

1. What is the biggest leadership lesson you’ve learned over the past year?

The biggest leadership lesson that I am learning is how to navigate through the dark side of leadership. I am learning how to become emotionally intelligent. Northway Church started 6 years ago, but this past year I hit the wall. I experienced a threshold of emotional pain that I couldn’t sustain. In the past, I could just suck it up, push and break through, but this time I just broke down.  It’s been said that the emotional price for success is depression.  So true!  God has guided me through a difficult season of depression and has revealed to me that no leader is immune. Every leader will experience depression sometime in their life, if not multiple times. The question is not if, but when, and will I be prepared? Did you know that 80 percent of all suicides are men? If you are over 35, congrats, your chances increase 3 times! If you are over 65? 7 times! Moses, Elijah, David, Peter, Paul, Abraham Lincoln, Wesley, and Spurgeon all battled the dark side of leadership, and God used them to change history. The biggest lesson I have learned this past year is to lose the curse and stigma of depression and raise my E.Q. (emotional quotient) to become an emotionally smart and healthy leader. I believe we have a tremendous opportunity to equip and empower the church on this! So much so, that I’m in the process of writing a book about this.  (Shameless plug? Maybe!)

2. What is God showing you personally?

God is showing me to guard God’s voice in my life. I’m lost without His still, small voice.

3. What is the top ministry challenge you’re currently facing?

The top ministry challenge that I am facing is trying to build a building while the economy is imploding.

4. What do you do for fun?

I love playing hoops! Yes, I still have game! In fact, I think we should have a pastor’s playoff tournament. I enjoy kayaking, biking, swimming, boating and traveling with my bride. I love to hang out with two of the greatest people on the planet… My 17-year-old son and 13-year-old daughter!

5. What books are you reading?

I am currently reading “A Whole New Mind”, which is about why right brainers will rule the future.

27 comments

One Prayer Interview - Stovall Weems

I met Stovall several years ago, and we’ve become good friends. He pastors a church in Jacksonville, FL called Celebration Church. Here’s what he said…

1. What is the biggest leadership lesson you’ve learned over the past year?

That I need to take every opportunity I can to share and reinforce our church vision and values, especially amongst staff and key leadership.  This is crucial to help get the DNA of our church into the third and fourth tiers of our leadership.  I used to think it was enough to teach on vision 3 or 4 times a year, but now it’s almost every other week.  I’ve learned that when you’re sick of talking about it, people are probably starting to get it for the first time.

2. What is God showing you personally?

That I need to keep my relationship with Jesus simple and fresh.  What I mean by this is that I can’t allow my personal time with Jesus to get mundane or get caught into a routine that could easily become stale.  I need to follow God in my following God, and this helps to keep my time with Jesus as the thing I look forward to the most every day.  If I start to feel as if it’s more of a discipline than a “want to” then something needs to change.

3. What is the top ministry challenge you’re currently facing?

Well, it seems like there are always so many challenges.  But I guess the main thing right now is to continue to create and adapt to a global multi-site model.  It’s been very exciting to see what God has done so far.  We now have several campuses, some of which are international and it seems the international opportunities are opening up for us very quickly and expanding very quickly as well.  The challenge is to keep the model adaptable on a global level.  We are also building a new auditorium for our main campus which is a challenge in the current economy.
 
4. What do you do for fun?

Honestly, I need a hobby!  I really do enjoy working out and I fish when I can, but really, my favorite thing to do is just to hang out with my wife and kids.
 
5. What books are you reading?

True North by Bill George
Desiring God by John Piper

6 comments

One Prayer Interview - Dino Rizzo

Dino pastors Healing Place Church in Baton Rouge, LA. He’s also a member of our Board of Directors. His servant leadership is like no other. His thoughts…

1. What is the biggest leadership lesson you’ve learned over the past year?
Early in 2009 I really began dealing with unavoidable changes that come with preparing to move into a new facility in regards to staffing, budgeting, leadership development and so many other church decisions that all lead pastors deal with.  There is a lesson I am still learning that came from an incredible teaching by Paul Scanlon - it is that our challenge is really the transition from the old way of doing things to the actual new way.  How will people respond along the journey?  Can our staff go to another level?  Are our volunteers ready?  Am I ready to lead at another level?  Like I said, I am still learning this leadership lesson.

2. What is God showing you personally?
God is showing me how important it is to be a steward of my heart, my family and the assignment or mission He has given me personally and HPC as a church.  I want to be faithful and true to each of those areas of my life.  God is showing me how to avoid distractions that will cause mission drift in my life and in the vision/purpose of our church, which is to help the poor and hurting all around us and to champion the cause of the local church.

3. What is the top ministry challenge you’re currently facing?
The top ministry challenge I am currently facing is how to continue to help lead the fight to help the poor in a world full of economic challenges.  Another challenge is continuing to place heavy emphasis on the next generation.  In all these areas I am trying to discover and walk in that Spirit-led place between having margin and wisdom, but continuing to take faith risks into uncharted territory.

4. What do you do for fun?
I consider myself a simple man…I love spending a great day with my wife and family, going shopping, hanging with several of our staff guys, good lunches (really, I enjoy eating in general).  I have also had a blast being a much-sought-after football/basketball/baseball coach for my son’s sports teams…watch out Pete Carrol, watch out Coach K!!

5. What books are you reading?
In the Name of Jesus by Henry Nouwen, Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell, Beyond Basketball by Coach K, the book of Romans for my personal, non-preaching Bible study time with Christ…and Servolution…HAHA!!

17 comments

One Prayer Interview - Marty Grubbs

I’ve been friends with Marty for a long time. He’s a true man of God. He pastors Crossings Community Church in Oklahoma City. He writes…

1. What is the biggest leadership lesson you’ve learned over the past year?

The biggest leadership lesson I’ve learned is to do whatever you do with excellence, and if you can’t do it with excellence, don’t do it at all.  It may mean you delay doing it until you can do it with excellence, or it may mean you never do it because it is not in your DNA to do it well.  But don’t do something you cannot do well.  No matter your age, your demographic, your skill set, your audience, etc. do whatever it is that you do with excellence.
 
2. What is God showing you personally?

God is showing me personally that he can use me at every stage and season of life.  I can’t look back, and it is not for me to look forward.  He knows the future.  Looking back is good only if I learn something.  God is showing me that he can use me today if I will trust him, if I will do what he has equipped me to do with excellence, and if I will refuse to compare myself to others.  I don’t have to look like someone else, sound like someone else, do what someone else does.  I am to do what God has called me to do wherever He has called me to do it as well as I can do it.
 
3. What is the top ministry challenge you’re currently facing?

My top ministry challenge is to prepare my congregation for a future when I will not be their leader.  That day will come, even though I don’t know when, and I hope not soon.  But it will come.  My church must be effective long after I am no longer its leader.   That means I must broaden the base of influence in the leadership both on staff and in volunteer leadership on a continual basis.  It requires leaders who value where the church has been, where it is, but also see where it can go.  I have to embrace changes that I may not appreciate or understand.  That is challenging but necessary if this church is to have staying power beyond my own tenure.
 
4. What do you do for fun?

I try to take two  days a week where I don’t go to the office, where I spend time at home with my wife and kids, hang with friends, leave town, ride the bike, work in the yard, head to the west coast to see family or Colorado to decompress.  It’s important to spend a few days every month away from the office and preferably away from town to read, think, study, in order to stay fresh and able to effectively communicate to the church.
 
5. What books are you reading?

I’m currently reading “Wide Awake” by Erwin McManus and “9 Things You Simply Must Do” by Dr. Henry Cloud.

1 comment

One Prayer Interview - Chris Hodges

Chris is one of my good friends. He pastors Church of the Highlands in Birmingham, AL. He’s also a part of the LifeChurch.tv Board of Directors. Here’s what he had to say…

1. What is the biggest leadership lesson you’ve learned over the past year?

To give special attention to my schedule.  I’ve realized the importance of observing a true “Sabbath” - a day of distinction where I get away from what I normally do and rest, celebrate, and honor God.  And for the six days that I work, I’ve learned the importance of prioritizing the most important activities so that I get maximum results without burning out.  I’ve also spent quite a bit of time teaching this to my team.  I’ve realized that I have attracted people around me with the same tendency to do too much.
 
2. What is God showing you personally?

To focus on my heart in three areas.  Love for God - all ministry flows out of my love relationship with Jesus.  Love for people - never lose my compassion for what people are going through.  Love for life - enjoy every day with a good attitude like it’s the last day I’ll live.
 
3. What is the top ministry challenge you’re currently facing?

The greatest challenge is balancing the numerous opportunities we have for growth with the limited resources.  We are spending a lot of time praying and learning from others to try to discern what we should and when we should do it.
 
4. What do you do for fun?

Spending time with family and friends.  Nothing energizes me more than being with the people that I love so much.
 
5. What books are you reading?

Nothing worth bragging about right now.  Any suggestions?

5 comments

Communicate in 45 Languages with New Group Chat Tool

We’re excited to launch a brand new group chat tool called BabelWith.me that lets you communicate with anyone, anywhere in up to 45 languages. BabelWith.me is a simple, free group chat that automatically translates your conversation as you type. It’s built on Google App Engine and uses Google Translate, making it possible to enjoy real-time conversations with people around the globe, no matter what language they speak.

BabelWith.me is a web-based tool, so you won’t need to install any software to use it. Here’s how it works:

1. Go to BabelWith.me.

2. Start a conversation. This takes you to your own group chat area with a unique URL.

3. Invite people to the chat. It’s as easy as sending them the URL, and even easier with our Twitter, Facebook, and email integration.

Our Digerati team created BabelWith.me to help LifeChurch.tv connect with people throughout the world. We’re thrilled to share it with businesses, churches, missions organizations, and individuals who are looking for a simple way to communicate, whether it’s  in one language or 45 languages.

In our increasingly global society, language barriers have been some of the last hurdles to overcome before we could connect seamlessly. Our hope is that BabelWith.me will set conversation free by empowering communication between different cultures and creating new opportunities for important discussions.

17 comments

One Prayer Interview - Toby Slough

Toby pastors Cross Timbers Community Church in Argyle, TX. He writes…

1. What is the biggest leadership lesson you’ve learned over the past year?
That culture change takes time and I must be patient and celebrate the small wins along the way.

2. What is God showing you personally?
He is showing me that many times the most important ministry I do is the ministry that no one sees.  He is leading me in the discipline of secret serving, giving and praying.

3. What is the top ministry challenge you’re currently facing?
Building a heart for service in our CT family  and developing a discipleship plan or track are the two things that keep me up at night.  We are also looking at opening new campuses in the next 12 months, and the challenge of moving from three campuses to four, five and six is stretching us.

4. What do you do for fun?
I play golf very poorly, but I play a lot.  It’s the one thing I do outside of ministry where I can really forget everything else going on and just focus on trying to hit the ball. 

5. What books are you reading?

• A Testament of Devotion by Thomas R Kelley
• Axiom by Bill Hybels
• Servolution by Dino Rizzo
• The Hole in Our Gospel by Richard Stearns

4 comments