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
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Awesome post and answers, again hunger, desire to learn and grow are so evident in your leadership, not only that your desire to help “others’ succeed is so strong your willing to go that extra step.
I’m about half way through “True North” enjoying it so far…
We are so excited about the global multi site challenges ahead of us whether they be dictators, disease, persecution…it’s inspiring to see and have a leader excited to meet those head on with a 1st Century mindset while the enemy would love us to just chill until buildings are built, until the money is all here, until, until, until …
What an honor to serve under such an awesome, obedient Pastor. We are going to take the Gospel to places you never thought or imagined! Thanks for saying yes to God and coming to Jacksonville! What a blessing!
Thank you Craig and Stovall, for your leadership, honesty and awesome sense of humors. You guys help me with my walk quite often and i really appreciate that. I will continue praying for the Church and its leaders. Thanks again Guys!
As always it is very inspiring to hear what Pastor Stovall has to say,i am encouraged also to, no matter what,keep my time with God, fresh and simple
Awesome! What a great joy to see God do amazing things in so many churches through leaders like yourself. So thrilled to be part of this great family. A simple fresh and clear relationship with Jesus is great fun!!