Surface To Soul

Everyday Wellsprings

Jim LaDoux — Tue, 08 May 2012 21:11:01 +0000

I have the pleasure of being at Kanuga Conference Center for a fews days of renewal and dialogue with Lutheran and Episcopal chaplains. It’s been a time of rest, laughter, good food and good conversation. It serves as a reminder that we all need to find ways to weave into our daily routines times of prayer, rest, conversation with friends, and recreation. When I am at home, these mini-sabbaths include bike rides, kayaking, reading a good novel, listening to some of my favorite music, brewing french roast coffee, listening to podcasts while exercising on the elliptical machine, playing cards with my kids, journaling and writing letters. I’m curious what you’ve been doing lately to be centered in Christ, find delight in your daily routines, and rekindle your creative spirit. Please share one or more ways you experience pathways to renewal.

Surface To Soul

Jim LaDoux — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 14:51:12 +0000

This past week, I changed the name of my blog from Leading On Purpose to the name of my new coaching book, Surface To Soul: Coaching Spiritual Vitality in Congregations. The essence of my blog postings have focused on how we might go beyond scratching the surface of our faith formation principles and practices and learning to “go deep” in practicing our faith everyday, everywhere. This week I’ll be posting several TOOLS in the downloads section of this site that are designed to support you and members of your faith community in going deeper with faith formation. Please take time to see what new downloads are available to you and your colleagues in ministry.

So what prevents you from going deeper in your faith? What might you do differently in the future?

Leaders are Learners

Jim LaDoux — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 12:48:38 +0000

Over the weekend I was asked, “What have been the best books and resources I’ve read the past 90 days?” When formulating a response, I realize that I’ve read a wealth of books the past three months that have profoundly shaped me. I reread Faith Formation 2020 by John Roberto which always inspires me with new insights. I loved Dave Kinnaman’s book You Lost Me: Why Young Christians Are Leaving Church…and Rethinking Faith. I gained valuable insights from The Other 80 Percent: Turning Your Church’s Spectators into Active Participants by Thumma Scott and Warren Bird.

The question reminded me that leaders are always learning new ways of doing things and thinking about things. They are also “unlearning” – letting go of old assumptions and habits that no longer serve us and the ministries we represent. So what are you learning or unlearning these days? What books would you recommend that others read? What insights on life and ministry would you like to share?

Feel free to download my Recommended Resources and Links list found in the download section of this website.

Sticky Messages

Jim LaDoux — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 14:48:21 +0000

Wednesday morning Apple launched the new iPad. Following their announcement, Apple’s home page looked like the picture here. Please note that Apple deleted all unnecessary content that might distract people from focusing on the new iPad.

I think congregations could benefit from eliminating the “noise” that prevents people from focusing on what matters most. This assumes that we’ve already decided what really matters such as a congregation’s mission, vision and values or perhaps key messages such as “home is church too” or that “faith formation is a lifelong adventure”.

When writing we need to think proverb rather than novel. We need to use metaphors rather than lengthy narratives. We need to connect with the heart as much as the head. We need to inspire as much as to inform. We need mission statements that can fit on the front of a t-shirt and can be readily repeated by everyone. And we need to remove the forest so people can see the trees.

1. What do you want people to know, remember and repeat?

2. What “noise” gets in the way of people hearing these primary messages?

3. What might you do differently to make your messages more memorable?

Checking In

Jim LaDoux — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 17:42:35 +0000

A ritual I began at the last congregation I served included setting up ongoing monthly or quarterly check-ins with paid and volunteer team leaders. The purpose of the check-ins was to celebrate progress on goals, set new monthly or quarterly goals, and explore ways I could best support them in their efforts. The check-ins frequently involved collective brainstorming, learning new things about each other, wondering what God was up to in our lives, and a time of prayer. These sessions rarely lasted more than an hour but seemed to have an energizing influence on all participants. I believe they were a key to empowering others and developing great teams.

What do you do to bring out the best in others and build great teams?

What team members might benefit from regular check ins with you?

Jim LaDoux — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 21:19:28 +0000

Here’s a question for your ministry team as you gather around the water cooler. Vibrant Faith Ministries finds that congregations often fall into one or more of the following four types of congregations identified below (based on how closely connected they are to biblical Christianity):

1. The least connected is the country club congregation, a social unity that is all about its membership and contentment.

2. The next level of living out the mission of the church is the convenience store congregation. In this scenario, people come to be personally filled spiritually but then walk away from any real outreach to others.

3. The third is the foreign missions congregation that writes checks so that others can do the ministry for them, including the work of children, youth, and family ministry in the life of the congregation.

4. The last type of congregation, and the one most resembling the biblical church is the missional congregation. It sees its life as forming faith in all generations and equipping.

How would you describe your congregation based on these four descriptions?

What are the pros and cons of each description?

What do you celebrate about your current setting?

In what ways might you need to change?

Leadership Worth Replicating

Jim LaDoux — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 15:23:21 +0000

In Christian Smith’s book, Soul Searching, he reminds us that “we get what we are,” serving as a reminder that young people model the faith lives and practices of our parents, grandparents and other elders. I’m reminded that the same thing happens when we have current leaders train a new generation of leaders.
One congregation I served had an usher named Gary who was responsible for training all new ushers. Gary taught new ushers how to introduce themselves to visitors, strike up friendly conversations with them, and then say, “I’m glad you could worship with us – please join us next week” before they left the sanctuary. He shared how he kept a list of visitors’ names and even when he wasn’t ushering, he’d look for them on future Sundays to deepen a budding friendship. He shared how he remembered where they sat and would ask them if they’d like to sit in the same area again. In this situation, Gary knew how to extend hospitality and was the perfect candidate to train other ushers. This congregation was known for its extravagant hospitality and it was Gary and the ushers he worked with that reinforced that reputation.
When we accept mediocrity and complacency, it gets passed on to others. When we raise the bar and model effective leadership, that gets passed on too! In essence, what we accept is what we teach. You and your leaders are the primary curriculum for living a vibrant faith and modeling effective leaders. What might you do differently in the future to ensure that your leadership and faithfulness is worth replicating?

Answering the “Why bother?” Question

Jim LaDoux — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 10:07:15 +0000

A pastor called me last week to find out how I could help their congregation grow. I asked him two basic questions, “What kind of growth are you looking for?” and “What does your congregation offer people that would compel them to want to participate in its mission and ministries?” This led to a great conversation about “why should people bother” being part of the church.

As leaders, we must first answer this question for ourselves. I’m looking for a faith community where I find hope and experience belonging; where I can learn how to extend and receive forgiveness; where I can discover a sense of purpose and direction; where I can learn more about who this Jesus is and how I might follow him more intentionally.

What serves as the “goal post” or primary purpose of your ministry? What do you want people experience when they walk into your home or your congregation? How would you answer the “Why bother” question for your congregation? Your youth group? Your small group ministries? Your home as a mission outpost? Please share your wisdom.

It’s Time to Quit Caring

Jim LaDoux — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 11:31:09 +0000

One of the roles of a coach is to help leaders determine what they need to focus on and what they need to quit doing. In these cases, we’re usually talking about activities to add or remove from our lives but it’s also important to consider what we need to let go of mentally. These beliefs and assumptions can serve as chains that hold us back from doing our best work. I think it’s time for congregational leaders to stop caring about . . .

1) What other people think of us (Do you want to be liked or make a difference?)
2) What other people want for you (Don’t waste your time living someone else’s life!)
3) What other people have (Quit comparing yourself to others.)
4) Trying to be perfect (Avoid getting carried away by perfectionism.)
5) Being right (Quit defending your positions; spend time seeking to understand.)
6) Trying to control things (Don’t worry about things you can’t control!)

By finding ways to quit caring about the things that aren’t important, we’ll have more time to care about the things that do matter. So, what do you need to quit caring about?

Navigating Change

Jim LaDoux — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 12:17:48 +0000

Navigating change begins with identifying a congregation’s most pressing issues. Time is then spent visualizing God’s preferred future which is summed up in a brief narrative. Then 30-day, 90-day and 180-day and 360-day goals are created that will lead to the fulfillment of the vision. The list of goals include who’s responsible for each action step. Finally, goals and action steps are monitored regularly, with leaders taking time to celebrate their progress, address shortcomings and learn from their mistakes.

Most congregations struggle with defining their current reality, articulating their preferred future, and with having a roadmap to guide them in their efforts. Where does your organization struggle when navigating change? What do you need to pay closer attention to in the future?