Hier kommt spontan noch ein letzter inhaltlicher Beitrag 2018 auf dem Leiterblog, der nicht im Redaktionsplan stand. Aber er ist so gut, dass ich ihn mit euch Lesern doch gerne teilen möchte. Das Leadership-Network hat nämlich 10 richtig interessante Fragen an Matt Chandler, Steve Stroope, Carey Nieuwhof, and Craig Groeschel gestellt, die viele Gemeindeleiter bestimmt spannend finden. Der Beitrag setzt voraus, einigermaßen Englisch zu verstehen. Aber es lohnt sich. Im Fall des Falles kann man auch den DeepL Übersetzer verwenden 😊

Ron Edmondson, der neue Leiter des Leadership-Network

hat sich die Fragen für die prominenten Pastoren überlegt.

Hier die Möglichkeit, sich etwas mehr zu den Personen zu informieren.

• Matt Chandler, Leiter des ACTS 29 Netzwerkes und Pastor der Village Church, TX
• Steve Stroope, Lead Pastor of Lake Pointe Church, Rockwall, TX
• Carey Nieuwof, Autor, Rechtsanwalt, podcaster, blogger und founding Pastor, Connexus Church, Kanada
• Craig Groeschel, Pastor Life.Church, Autor, podcaster …

10 spannende Fragen …

Jetzt übergebe ich an Ron: After 16 years as a pastor, I know there are “top of the mind” questions pastors have from other pastors they respect. With this in mind, I decided to ask a few of them from some of our Leadership Network pastors. I thought these might be interesting and, hopefully, even helpful.

Thanks to Matt Chandler, Steve Stroope, Carey Nieuwof, and Craig Groeschel for taking time to answer these questions.

What are the times of your Christmas services this year?

Craig: 4 days of services—263 services.
Carey: 4 cities, 11 services: December 23rd 5 & 7 pm in 3 cities. December 24th broadcast location: 11, 1, 3, 5 and 7
Steve: Dec 22 6pm.  Dec23 4&6 December 24 12,2,4,&6
Matt: 1 PM, 3 PM 5 PM and 7 PM Christmas Eve, Regular services on the weekend before and after

What is you first series about in the new year?

Craig: Habits
Carey: The sovereignty of God. It’s called „It’s the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine). Tackling global chaos, the end times, the rise of AI and a dystopian future. Tag line: „How to keep it together in a world that’s falling apart.“
Steve: Schemes
Matt: Prayer, we do a yearly month on prayer in January.

What are you most excited about for your church in 2019?

Craig: Working with people I love and experimenting on a couple of new ideas.
Carey: I know it sounds cliche, but seriously, continuing to reach new people for Jesus. 2018 has been a year of big momentum and growth for our church, and we hope that escalates in 2019.
Steve: New Co-Pastor
Matt:  We have a Multiply Campaign we’ve been in for the past year and will continue to be in for the next 5 years. It’s exciting for all the campuses and the church body.

Tell us one book you read last year you would recommend pastors read.

Craig: Atomic Habits, Power of Moments, Never Split Difference
Carey: Totally off many church leader’s radar, but 10% Happier by Dan Harris will give you some great insight into the post-Christian, post-modern mind.
Steve: Scary Close  by Donald Miller
Matt: Emotionally Healthy Spirituality by Pete Scazzero

If you had to encourage pastors to be intentional in one area next year, what would it be?

Craig: Don’t just respond to those who want to meet with you. Intentionally seek out those you want to meet.
Carey: Self-care. Too many leaders are dropping out or fading out. Learn how to live today in a way that can help you thrive tomorrow.
Steve: Small groups
Matt: Racial Harmony

How many weeks a year do you currently teach?

Craig: Last year 39 weekends. Plan to do one or two fewer this year.
Carey: I taught 28 Sundays in 2018. I anticipate a similar teaching schedule for 2019.
Steve: 26
Matt: I try to teach at least 40 weeks out of the year or more if I can

How many hours per week do you spend in sermon preparation?

Craig: 15 give or take.
Carey: These days that’s really hard to measure. I usually start working on my ideas months (and sometimes years) in advance and often very randomly. I’m looking for insights and fresh angles, not so much detail. I never just sit down on a Monday and see what comes out. I’m totally guessing, but adding up all the time over days/months etc likely 10-15 hours per message like most other preachers.
Steve: 12
Matt: Around 5-8 hours

What are the three most important metrics you are using to measure the health of your church?

Carey: I would say the number of first time guests, the number of people serving, and the number of people in groups. For us, those are the key metrics around who we reach and how we engage them in the mission. Obviously, attendance and giving still matter, but if those first three numbers are strong, attendance and giving will be growing healthily too.
Steve: Baptisms, Small groups, and number serving in and outside the church
Matt: Baptisms, Serving and Giving

Name one thing you are intrigued about or watching as a future opportunity for your church or for the greater Church.

Craig:  How people engage in content, how they relate to each other, and how we get people engaged in church as the church.
Carey: The interplay between digital and analogue. We are in a very encouraging position at Connexus of seeing both in person attendance and online numbers grow healthily. As long as we keep our online strategy focused on making online a front door and side door for our church (reaching people and supplementing in-person attendance), rather than a back door (watching people disengage), I think great things can happen.
Steve: Technology
Matt: The Multiply Campaign

If you weren’t called to ministry and were doing something other than ministry, what would it likely be?

Craig: Probably teaching leadership.
Carey: I think I’d detail cars, mow lawns and cook brisket. Or maybe podcast or write books or something like that. Oh wait….
Steve: Consulting
Matt: At this point, I would likely own a farm and raise cattle or something totally different, I don’t have many skills outside of preaching.

I thank these pastor friends for taking time to answer my questions.

Thank you for the positive feedback I’ve received on these LN Advances over the last few months. I hope you are enjoying the Christmas season. Please let us know how I may serve you.

On behalf of Leadership Network, I hope you have a Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year!

God bless you!

Ron Edmondson