SPRING/SUMMER 2009
04
UNCOMPLICATED RELATIONSHIPS
16
GETTING CONNECTED
22
ALL FOR ONE
26
REAL LIFE CHAMPIONS
Executive Publishers Kevin Gerald Sheila Gerald
Publisher Jodi Gerald-Cameron
Senior Project Manager Jen Kling
Art Director Sandy Roberts, Rusty George Creative
Marketing & Communications Tinia Nelson
Contributing Editors Kim Ludwick Raelynn Poulin Leslie Powell Judi Shackett
Contributing Photography J. Hobson Photography Bob Stack
Contributing Graphic Design Venessa Koehn Mickey Elliott
Contributing Writers Kevin Gerald Paul de Jong Sue Kahawaii Steve Shackett Brandon Stewart Tim Tolliver Pete Wingard Samuel Deuth
Distribution Kim Ludwick
Producer Champion Life Magazine is published by Kevin Gerald Communications (KGC). KGC is a department of Champions Centre in Tacoma | Bellevue, WA a non-profit organization.
Questions/Comments/Ideas/Email championlife@championscentre.com
Mail Champion Life Editorial 1819 E. 72nd St. Tacoma, WA 98404 Produced by Champions Centre Publishing Š 2009. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without expressed written permission is prohibited and a violation of applicable laws.
2009 copyright Printed by Capitol City Press
CONTENTS COVER STORIES
FEATURES
04 16 22 26
Uncomplicated Relationships Kevin Gerald
Getting Connected Paul de Jong
All For One Team perspectives from Champions Centre Staff
“Make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.” -Philippians 2:2
Real Life Champions Tim Tolliver & Pete Wingard
IN EVERY ISSUE
03 12 14 28
LET’S TALK
CHAMPIONS FOUNDATION UPDATE
CHAMPION FINDS
K. WISE
ABOUT US Champion Life Magazine purposes to equip people to live successful Christian lives.
S P R I N G /S U M MER 2009 1
Let’s Talk You and I are not meant to do life alone.
Especially if we intend to live our lives to the fullest and accomplish all that God created us to do. I’m convinced that it is impossible to get anywhere significant in life on your own. Just for one example, look at the world of travel. I cannot reach my destination without other people. There is the security team to keep all the travelers safe, the mechanics and pilots who are the experts, the flight attendants who help make the trip more enjoyable (hopefully!), the ground crews to keep chaos at a minimum, the list goes on.
Professional basketball coach Pat Riley said, “Great teamwork is the only way we create the breakthroughs that define our careers.” We can apply a statement like this to most areas of life – great teamwork is
“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work.”
It is the same in life. We must recognize God did not create us to be alone. In this extended issue of CLM we want to explore what it means to do life together. The Bible talks a lot about teamwork and the power of unity. Take a look at one of my favorite passages on this topic.
the only way we create breakthroughs that define our relationships… our experience at church… our family. You’ll read perspectives on teamwork from some of our team here at Champions Centre on page 22 so you can create breakthroughs in your life! I believe that uncomplicated relationships begin with uncomplicated people. Sometimes, difficult people end up in our world making our relationships difficult. I want you to look at a story in the Bible with me that I believe will help you handle the complicated people in your world so you can move toward uncomplicated relationships (page 4).
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for I’m excited to introduce you to a good friend their work: If one falls down, of mine, Paul de Jong, from New Zealand his friend can help him who will be with us this year at TC09 FUEL up… Though one may be Conference in August. Paul shares his heart overpowered, two can on what it means to get planted in a local defend themselves. A church, as well as talking about the benefits cord of three strands is that come along with that commitment in not quickly broken.” “Getting Connected” (page 16). You can read about the real life champion stories (page 26) of two great men who have been a part of Champions Centre for over 15 years and 25 years respectively. They each share their experiences of being planted in the house of God.
I hope you are encouraged and challenged by this issue of Champion Life Magazine. Action step for this issue: Take your commitment and involvement to the next level at Champions Centre or your local church. Choose to do life great today!
S P R I N G /S U M MER 2009 3
4 CHAMPION LIFE M AGA Z I N E
e n o d s a yh v a N s h te c a i t h S w d e w it o n n U k e o h t T e w n o i h r a n o m b studies o put in a su e wrong t h t e l e v p a o h t pe y o e o h f t f 0 I r. 56 e a h t n r i e e g e d l n to p u o et pe e f f o 0 e 0 r . s at 4 e e u mixtu b s s u i t s s u s e o l i r e w s e b d l windo u o c e r e h t r wate . In if ficult en’t to be d er e w v a it h on’t asy if d e s e ult b ip h f ns uld e dif ic Relatio tionships wo hips ar icult. In s n io t la fact, re le. When rela ke them dif f ficult a p dif for peo use people m ople mean s, e a p c 0 year , e 2 lt b r u it is r ove ed , dif fic o f v s r d lo r o t e o s b other w hips. As a pa ple need to a ns ed from all peo relatio d that eed to be lov and difficult e n r a ted I’ve le ople n mplica enjoy me pe too co with. I tantly e r s b ut so a ip y h e s h n T io ! o t e c ns distanc lose-knit rela hips, so I am c s ople. n e elatio ted pe r to hav a c d li e t p a plic com uncom okout for un lo e h t on
Gerald by Kevin
S P R I N G /S U M MER 2009 5
The United States Navy has done studies on how to know which people to put in a submarine together. If they have the wrong mixture of people in a 560 foot window-less tube at 400 feet under water and no easy escape, there could be serious issues. You don’t want to be in a submarine with just anybody! You want to be in a submarine with the least complicated, least difficult people possible. It’s the same with life in general. Even though the studies have been done and statistics have been shown – a lot of times difficult people can still end up in our lives. In the Bible, 1 Samuel chapter 25 tells the story of a very complicated, difficult guy named Nabal, his wife Abigail and David. As soon as we get introduced to Nabal we get a description of his temperament: harsh, rude, and even his name means “fool.” We also get a word picture about his wife Abigail who is beautiful and of good understanding. As the story unfolds we find that David’s men who were patrolling the borders of their nation came across Nabal’s shepherds and had shown them kindness by guarding their flocks and assisting them in their work. Instead of returning the kindness, Nabal is arrogant and harsh toward David and his men. As David was strapping on
6 CHAMPION LIFE M AGA Z I N E
his sword and readying to enter into a battle with his newfound enemy, Abigail intervenes and becomes an advocate for her husband and household. She helped David see that it wasn’t worth getting into strife with her husband, but rather he should let God deal with the foolishness of Nabal. On the difficulty richter scale, everyone provides some degree of difficulty but some people are almost impossible! The truth is, some people are more difficult than others. If you happen to be one of the difficult people, others will always find it hard to be in relationship with you. If you know difficult people then just face it, a relationship will never be easy with them. Here are examples of some of the most difficult people to have relationships with… The Volcano: they always have some steam in their belly ready to erupt. The Sponge: they constantly soak up your energy and life but never give back and they are always needy. The Gossip: they spread rumors and leak secrets any chance they get. The Cold Shoulder: they often disengage and avoid contact. You never know when they will shift from open hugs to shunning you.
st e g g i b t he f o e e k n a O m n ca e w s e k mista th i w g n i l ea d n e h s w i e l p o e p t l u c i n f f a c di e w t tha g n i m u ass m. e h t e g chan The Critic: they are constantly critical, looking for fault as if there is a reward for it. The Backstabber: they are your friend when they are around you and to your face but totally different behind your back. This person is two-faced. The Control Freak: they tend to be a poor delegator hanging on to projects forever. At work, they tend to alienate others versus being a team builder. It is hard to deal with difficult people without wanting to go into some kind of battle with them, but lets get back to our story in 1 Samuel and find out some things we can learn in dealing with difficult people. When David was on his way to battle, Abigail intercepts him to tell him some things that saved him from getting further involved with Nabal, here’s how they can apply to your life and mine:
High-maintenance or difficult people may look like those people we listed previously - someone who is always ready to erupt into drama like a volcano, or someone who is always needy, or someone who is two-faced, a control freak, or a constant critic about everything and everyone. I think you get the point.
Nabal is Nabal (a fool) One of the biggest mistakes we can make when dealing with difficult people is assuming that we can change them. I can’t take their difficulty personally, unfortunately that is who he or she is and as long as they are not interested in changing themselves they won’t change. The more experience you have in working with people the quicker you recognize their kind.
Don’t Dwell on Nabal
Show Mercy by Not Reacting and Entering Into Battle with Him
Just as Abigail encouraged David, let me inspire you – your time and energy are too valuable to exhaust on high-maintenance people. Don’t let your mind and eventually your life be taken over by the “Nabals” that may exist in your airspace. You have better and more important things to do.
What Abigail was conveying to David, which can apply to our lives today, is that even when you are right and the other person is clearly wrong – it is usually better to show mercy. Even when you could teach them a lesson… clean their clock… smash them… blow them away with the evidence against them – mercy
S P R I N G /S U M MER 2009 7
ick u q o s e r s we’ e m i wn t o e r u o Som o rs int e t t a m g i ve t ’ to take n o d t we a h t s d dle n a han h o t n ce a h e. f c i l a r u d o o G s in n o i t a u t i s difficult
toward them is a sign of greater strength in you. I’ve noticed some people come around churches looking for a fight. They have opinions about everything, they are theorists instead of practitioners and usually know just enough about scripture to be dangerous. Most of the time, even though I could chew up their argument with theology and knowledge of the Bible and spit them out for public embarrassment – I choose to show mercy.
Let God Handle the Difficult People
story. However, I am suggesting that when we trust God with difficult people and scenarios in our life, He can cause things to change for our good. Maybe a supervisor is transferred to another department or an obnoxious neighbor moves away. Let God handle difficult people while you focus your energy on better things.
In Holding Your Peace You’ll Have no Regrets and You Will Preserve Your Destiny.
As much as possible (for David then and us today), don’t get into conflict. Live in peace and out of strife. God can remove the difficult people out of your life. Within days after Abigail convinced David to show mercy on Nabal and their household, Nabal was removed from David’s life and need from concern (he died of a heart attack in his own home).
For David, he preserved his destiny the day he walked away from a frivolous battle with Nabal. Think of it this way, if you react to the difficult people in your world you tamper with your destiny. It would be like filling a glass of purified water with rocks, dirt and debris. Frustration, vengeance, bitterness and the like will corrupt your life and ultimately disqualify you from the place God has planned for you.
Sometimes we’re so quick to take matters into our own hands that we don’t give God a chance to handle difficult situations in our life. Now, I’m not saying that a difficult relative or boss or employee will be “removed” like Nabal was in our
David blessed, praised and thanked Abigail for her wisdom and he listened to her advice. He left with no regrets, preserved his destiny and was a better man because of it.
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When relationships are difficult it is because people make them difficult. The next time you are face to face with a difficult person in your life – remember this story of David. Your destiny is tied to your response. Choose to show mercy and trust God to handle the difficult people you encounter. I’m a firm believer that uncomplicated relationships begin with uncomplicated people. Start with making yourself uncomplicated and your relationships will follow.
Author Bio: Kevin Gerald is the lead pastor of Champions Centre in Tacoma and Bellevue, WA. For great resources from Kevin, visit kevingerald.tv.
Champions Foundation Update
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COMPASSION Champions Forever Home in Johannesburg, South Africa is providing a permanent home to HIV/AIDS positive, orphaned or abandoned children. There are an estimated 4 million children in this region alone who have no place to call home. The Forever Home offers not only shelter, but a loving home and environment, education and full medical care to those who come to live there.
Dolla rs Count When we mu ltiply ou r effort s tog ether we can ach ieve big thi ng s. When thousa nds of people ma ke a pledge of even a dol lar a week, we mu ltip ly the impact that our own contribution ma kes. A five dollar bil l on its ow n is not goi ng to ach ieve much, but when it is pai red wit h thousa nd s of other five dol lar bil ls from people bei ng consistent and gen erous, we can ma ke sig nif ica nt thi ng s hap pen for God. It’s rea lly easy to donate on line at ww w.cham pionsfou nd ation.com .
HOPE The Justice Project is the umbrella under which our locally based programs operate. Through alliances and partnerships with other organizations, we are actively seeking to fulfill Jesus’ command that we love our neighbors. Operation Blessing, JAM Street, and Street Team are a few of the projects we offer, in addition to partnering with Habitat for Humanity, the Tacoma Rescue Mission, Greater Lakes, and Lakewood Area Shelter Association.
Habitat for Humanity Seeks to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the globe. Volunteers come together to help fami lies in need strengthen their lives and communities giving shelter, self respect and the hope of a better life.
Need A Break Services Need A Break Services is devoted to helping people who have a legitimate need that they cannot fulfill on their own. Need A Break serves elderly, single parents and emerging poor in Pierce County and the surrounding area.
Air Mileage By donating your unused air mile age, you are helpi ng us send team s to work in the various parts of the world wher e we have initia tives operating. It’s fast, easy, and simple to do. Go to championsfoundation.com and click on the link to the Million Miles campaign to down load a form. We work with all airlines and all majo r plan s.
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pion
s Fo r
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Ho m e Helpi n g Ch i ldren vict im w s in Joh of the A I ho are DS ep annes idem burg, P u rc h ic So a Hom se items fo uth Afric e k ids a. r the F in South o Afric Johannesb rever a. T h whole u rg , ro y prese ear we sen ughout th nts, b d uy Ch them bir e provid thda rist e so mu school su mas gifts, y ppl ies ch mo , and re!
EDUCATION We believe that education is the practical tool that brings about the greatest good. Through sponsorships and scholarships we are providing schooling opportunities at the American English Academy in Bulgaria, Wisdom for Life School in Manila, Philippines, and Wisdom for Life School in Tacoma, WA. FAITH Outreach Media promotes television programs that reach millions of people weekly with the gospel message. Our support of affiliated churches also helps to provide faith opportunities literally around the world to thousands of people weekly.
W W EE (Was hington Wom en’s Employmen t & Educati on) Addressing th e needs of wom en wanting to ge t off welfare and become selfsuff icient. W W EE’s vision has give n over 13,000 families the op portunity to create a better life fo r themselves and break the cycl e of povert y. S P R I N G /S U M M E R 2009 13
1 People-ology: A Study of People (3 CDs; DVD) GOD LOVES PEOPLE. People-ology is all about relationships and how people work. Hear talks on: People don’t know what people don’t know, We’re all the same – just different, and Relationships would be easy if it weren’t for people. Don’t miss this one!
3 Trip to Tahiti (4 CDs; DVD) Life is more fun when you know where you’re going! In this motivational series, Kevin talks about your undiscovered place of purpose, how to get there, who to travel with and how to succeed once you get there.
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3 1
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contact
2 Fuel Conference TC’09 (CDs; DVD – available August 2009) Fuel your vision. Fuel your passion. Fuel your life. You’ll get an insider’s look at teamwork in action. Hear the inspiring, motivational sessions from world-class leaders.
4 The Proving Ground (Book; 4 CDs) God will require each of us to prove our potential at one level before being promoted to the next. In this book (and audio series) from Kevin Gerald, discover the nine tests that prove your personal potential.
Local
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Online
253.475.6454 ext. 361
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Go online to find a wealth of resources, including MP3s of messages and free video messages from Kevin Gerald. Free podcasting is available on iTunes. Search for “Kevin Gerald” or “Champions Centre” in the iTunes store.
6 MESH Relationship Conference
5 Blessed (3 CDs; DVD) God wants to bless you. That’s right – you and your family! In this series, you’ll hear about living the blessed life and how to position yourself for God’s blessing.
(4 CDs; DVD) We are designed for relationships – you were never meant to go it alone. And, if we want to live successful Christian lives, purposeful relationships are essential. In this conference series you will be inspired, get wisdom and see God’s plan intertwined in all levels of your relationships. (Tracks for singles or married couples.)
4 5
6
S P R I N G /S U M M E R 2009 15
? e if L l fu it u r F , g in h is r u Seeking A Flo Transplant yourself from containment to connection and see the difference.
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rch is about bei ng in an ne of the key roles of Chu s. For developing relationship env ironment of hea lthy, gly sin rea inc r eve an e hav to too ma ny of us we desire ’t can we ’t under sta nd that fru itfu l fut ure, yet don rld s ing in ou r ow n litt le wo ain rem ach ieve that by not t bu ent nd epe and ind where we’re safe, sec ure others. of es liv the in ned intert wi one it is to be pla nted with We need to lea rn wh at live to and nnect ion culture” another, to develop a “co interdependent ly. for t com mitted to security, com When a person remains to le ugg str We . ned contai and contro l, the y rem ain a whole for y rne jou ’s life in rea lly engage with others yet it is when we do life nu mber of rea son s, and
great our potent ial. There is a together that we release the es tim me “So l: Vei d Pai nte line from the movie The people.” o tw en we bet ce tan dis greatest jou rney is the ll say s, “The rig hte ous wi In Psa lm 92, the Bible ue tin con e, and the y wi ll flo uri sh like a pal m tre are o wh se Tho of Leban on. to gro w like the ced ars the in sh uri flo ll sha d the Lor pla nted in the house of fru it in r bea to ue tin con ll wi y cou rts of their God. The sh.” fresh and they wi ll flouri old age, and they wi ll be en d in relationships, and wh God is ultimately intereste ll wi we sed mi ers, it is pro we con nect to God and oth is e relationship with God tru A it. fru r bea flourish and d ate cre nta l. Everyt hin g God bot h ver tica l and hor izo to ng pti ndenc y. It is tem wa s created for int erdepe es sometimes because it’s selv our on ent remain depend ken e all felt the pai n of bro com for table, and we hav growing. p kee to er ord in es lin trust, but we need supply
ther in hen we get planted toge fits: the body there are bene
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Continual Supply
d w, provide for others an A pla nt is des igned to gro eco an est’s com mu nit y is reproduce itself. The for ich wh , als im an organ isms and system of pla nts, trees, d nte pla e Onc ut. abo se thi ngs together help to bri ng the
S P R I N G /S U M M E R 2009 17
in it. No tree ever took adequate root without being completely committed.
and established, the tree takes up through the root system all that the forest supplies; this is called the “tight nutrient cycle.” If we remain independent we will get left out.
Storm Security All of the roots of trees together in the forest provide strength as the roots go deep and even intertwine. Some people don’t want others to touch their roots and have nowhere to draw strength in times of challenge. The more established the ecosystem, the better the protection for the individual tree, as less-mature plants are sheltered by the stronger, older trees.
Long-term Sustainability
Too many Christians jump from church to church and fail to realize that will stunt their growth. When a tree experiences “transplanting stress,” it can cause a stunting of growth for a period of a couple of years. Satan’s attack is to create a transient Church population and so negate what God’s trying to do. We’ve got to learn to let the little things that annoy us slide.
“It’s not enough just to come to church for the show when it is convenient. Submerge yourself in it.”
Research shows multiple crops in the same area, or “poly-culture”, bring strength and protection against disease. It takes all sorts of relationships — involving not just the people you’re comfortable with — to produce the best in us so we can go the distance. A common complaint with people is, “I got hurt in the Church,” but when you’re planted next to other plants, you can be assured some of them will be weeds, and you’ve got to learn to live with them as well. It is only in doing life together that we can ward off disease.
S
o how do we get planted?
We’ve Got to Settle in Fertile Soil Remain, embrace and commit to Church (planted in the house). It’s not enough just to come to church for the show when it is convenient. Submerge yourself
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I find it interesting that we are to be planted in fertile soil. Commit to a place that is fertile for you. It’s possible to be incredibly faithful for years, but in a non-fertile environment. Once you’ve found the right place, stay there and commit to a future of God’s promised blessing.
Embrace the Value of the Orchard
Understand that Church brings value to the purpose of God. When we come together, the enemy hates it, because we are united and something special comes about. God is raising up all sorts of orchards all over the nation and the world. If you’re planted, you’re a part of that. It’s not just about what you get out of it, but what you bring to it. It’s about an active application in God’s orchard. Put your roots down in the orchard and settle there. The value of the tree is not more important than the orchard it’s planted in. Try to see the big picture — build the kingdom first and you’ll be built in the process.
In Ephesians chapter 5, from verse 25, it says: “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself for her. That He may sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of the water of the Word, that He might present her to Himself, a glorious Church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.” So if there’s one thing God has committed to, it’s a relationship with the Church. He loves the Church as a husband loves his wife. Church is not about a service
or a style, it’s about Christ released in relationship. God’s purpose is not just in the vertical, between you and Him, but in the horizontal, between you and people. Never speak negatively of the Church; you’re pulling down the bride if you do. If you’ve been hurt, the “Church” hasn’t let you down, individual people in the Church have. Church is what makes it all happen — the “ecclesia” where we leave our homes and come together, commissioned by God to do something fantastic.
Determine to Grow Strong Roots The level of our commitment up must be mirrored by the level of our commitment down, below the surface. Fruit has to come from a root system; it can’t just come from what is on top. When you go through a tough time, the roots are tested, but pressure is often what is needed for us to grow stronger roots.
So how does He prune us? He uses things such as parents, oversight, those in committed relationships with us, and circumstances. You can sit in church your whole life and never be pruned because you’ll never allow anyone else to have the secateurs. Sometimes when we can’t see the outcome, we run away from God’s pruning, but don’t jump off the table just before the surgery takes place or you’ll never get breakthrough. Did you ever pray to God to use you? If so, you’ll get pruned.
Realize Everything we Produce is Produced for Others Ever felt like sometimes all you do is give? We are fruit trees, and to be like God we are to be giving. So many Christians are willing to serve, but only in an advisory capacity. We need to be serving in a producing capacity. Your fruit is for others, not for yourself, and even if there is not a lot of thanks, just consider the last time you thanked a fruit tree for its fruit. WE are positioned to give more than receive and by doing so we unlock a divine law of a flourishing future. Bear fruit for others.
“Too many Christians jump from church to church and fail to realize that will stunt their growth.”
In Isaiah 61, it says that the Spirit of the Lord is upon Jesus because He was anointed to do many great things for people. Why? Verse 3: “…that they may be called trees (or ‘oaks’ in the amplified version) of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.” An oak tree has one of the deepest root systems. Roots know they are needed; they don’t stop at anything because their purpose is to establish the tree. God is going to allow lots of challenges in your lives to produce the right kind of roots and it’s the roots that sustain you and produce the supply.
In Romans 5:3, we read we are to glory in tribulations, knowing that they produce patience, character and hope. If you have character (or strong roots), you’ll have hope. But if you have shallow roots, you’ll be conditioned by what happens at the surface of your life. Some of us have to grow up. But how do we grow up? We grow down.
Allow the Required Pruning John 15 says that every branch that’s in God that does not bear fruit, He takes away… and every other branch He prunes. Every year you’re going to be pruned. Pruning is basically a removing of the past.
If we want to flourish and bear fruit, we have to be close to God, planted in the Church and in relationship with others. In a word, we have to be connected. It was, is and will always be God’s plan.
About the Author Paul de Jong is the Senior Pastor and founder of LIFE in Auckland, New Zealand. Paul’s ability to tackle real issues in a fresh and down to earth style has made him a popular speaker in meetings throughout the world. Both Paul and his wife Maree, together with their three sons Luke, Nathan and Daniel believe the local Church is the hope of the world and a place where we all learn to do life in a real, honest and God-centered environment. S P R I N G /S U M M E R 2009 19
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Making TEAM Work by Sue Kahawaii, Champions Foundation Director Jesus didn’t travel alone. The first disciples didn’t travel alone. It’s not God’s plan for us to travel alone either. Learning how to build teams and learning how to be a team player is not only important for us personally, it’s important for the health of any organization. I want to focus on teamwork principles within volunteer teams, but these principles not only apply to church teams, but also to other areas of our lives, including business, family, and networks. Most of us know that as Christians our mission is to lead other people to Christ. But we often stop there, at the altar, and think our responsibility ends. It doesn’t. We are called to take people with us along the pathways and this journey of life we are on. Here are some keys we’ve learned to help you build successful teams: Everyone belongs on a team, but not every team is for everyone. Often, people will become frustrated because they try joining a team, and it doesn’t work out. Or, leaders will add people to a team and then scratch their head a short time later and wonder why the new team member suddenly left. It’s really pretty simple. Wrong positioning is the single biggest reason that volunteers don’t stick. Good leaders know to be careful in how they position people on the team. Great leaders know that not everyone belongs on their team. But great leaders don’t stop there. Great leaders help the volunteer find the right team, the right fit. Their concern is not just with the team they manage. It’s with the volunteer or worker, and making sure that they are successfully placed on the right team. The size of your dream should determine the size of your team. If you are thinking that you don’t need other people to make your dream come to pass, then your dream simply isn’t big enough. God did not place us on earth to walk in solitary isolation, working alone. Alone we are limited in what we can do. When we partner with even one other person, we double our capacity. Add a third person, and we triple our capacity. If you are dreaming big things for your life and for the Kingdom of God, teamwork is essential. You cannot achieve the dream without the team. It is better to have many people doing less on a team than it is to have one or two people doing a lot.
A big mistake that inexperienced leaders make is relying on only one or two people to get a job done. When only one or two people are on the team, you have big problems if they leave for some reason. Burnout happens when leaders continue to pile things upon the faithful volunteer or worker who never says no, until the day comes where they suddenly quit the team altogether. Keeping a team small also does not allow others to share in the joy of serving. Great leaders recognize that part of the purpose of having a team is to expand opportunities for others, and to encourage friendship and fellowship to occur as the team grows and expands. Not all positions on the team are equal, but all people are equal. Title and talent, temperament and availability are all part of the placement on the team. For example, you might have a very talented speaker, but their style and temperament are not a good fit for teaching in junior high. The fact that they are not the leader of the team does not make them less valuable. It makes their position on the team different, but as individuals they are every bit as valuable as everyone else. Treat everyone with respect, regardless of the position they hold on the team. It doesn’t matter who has the title, the person who has the most influence, is leading the team. In the best scenarios, the person with the most influence is the designated leader. But often what happens is that the “faithful” volunteer or worker who always shows up is put into position as the leader, when in reality, they are simply a good worker. Simply put, true leaders are the people with influence, either positive or negative. In building successful teams, it is important to place people into roles that fit. Equally important, you need to periodically assess the teams you manage, to find out who is the influencer. It’s not always the person with the formal position. The future growth of your church or business is totally dependant upon your ability to grow your existing teams. Stagnating growth should indicate that it’s time for a change. A failure to grow can almost always be traced to the leadership. Everyone on the team should be fully engaged and involved in helping to expand the team. In fact, a person’s value to an organization is largely linked to seeing the numbers of people they are leading. If a worker or designated leader does a good job in the role they are assigned, but aren’t leading growing teams of volunteers, it’s time for a change. They may be offering a set of skills, but not a lot of value. Valuable people are those who have proven track records of being able to build teams and influence others to follow them. Teamwork makes any task easier and a whole lot more fun. It doesn’t matter what the task or job is that needs to be done. It’s always more fun when you don’t have to do it alone. Life is like that too. When we recognize and realize that it is our responsibility to take others with us on the journey, we are opening our world up to a lot more fun. Healthy teamwork always makes the job easier. Partnerships always help to share the load. Lasting relationships and warm memories are created when a group of folks get together for a common purpose. Embrace the call to be a team builder. Teamwork always wins.
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Number One Fan by Brandon Stewart, Champion Life Group Director One of my greatest passions is the local Church. Having grown up in Church (the same Church!) my entire life, I can say that I have grown an addiction to being in the House of God. I love the Church. I believe in the potential of the Church. I believe that the Church represents the plan of God for our lives, our communities, and the globe. Within the power and strength of the Church lies hope and answers for a world that desperately needs to know their creator. Ephesians 5:25 shows us that “Christ loved the Church and gave Himself up for her.” There is no time we are more like Christ than when we are building what He is building… His Church. I often think about it like this… If all it took to build a great church were beautiful buildings, great music and the right programming… then the Church would be booming! I see many Churches doing these things well. And if this is all it took, we’d have everything we need, and the House would be full every week. However, I believe it takes something more than all of this to move the Church forward (and don’t get me wrong…all of these things are important!). I believe the greatest need in the Church today is a proper understanding of how we can relate to our senior pastors, and carry out the vision that God has placed in their hearts. As John Maxwell says in his book the 360 Degree Leader, most people will never find themselves leading at the top of an organization. Most people will find themselves leading from the middle. I’d like to refer to these people as support leadership. Support leaders carry a vital, and often misunderstood, role in the Church. Support leaders are people who are responsible to carry forward the vision of their pastors. These leaders are on the ground with the Church every weekend, moving things forward. Some of these support leaders are on staff others are faithful volunteers. I am a support leader on our team at Champions Centre. I believe support leadership in the Church has the capacity to either help or hinder the vision of a senior leader in a significant way.
“On each side of the pass that Jonathan intended to cross to reach the Philistine outpost was a cliff; one was called Bozez, and the other Seneh. One cliff stood to the north toward Micmash, the other to the south toward Geba. Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, ‘Come, let’s go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised fellows. Perhaps the LORD will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the LORD from saving, whether by many or by few.’ ‘Do all that you have in mind,’ his armorbearer said. ‘Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul.’” This story is about a prince and an unknown, unnamed man. While we know much about Jonathan, we know nothing about his armor-bearer’s identity. Since the role of the armor bearer was to completely lose their identity for the sake of the person they were serving, this verse could have easily read, “Jonathan went over to the Philistine outpost…” An armor bearer was responsible for protecting and fighting on behalf of the person they served. The armor bearer’s success was tied into the success of his senior leader. Imagine with me the potential of the Church if every support leader understood and valued the role they play to their congregation. Imagine the incredible heart and passion support leaders would live their lives with, if they truly stewarded over the opportunity presented to them in the Church. I am a third generation leader in our Church. There are two natural generations who have gone before me and paved the way for me and others to have what we enjoy today. I am a support leader. I love this role. Every day, I understand in a greater way it’s value and importance to the plan of God and our senior pastor. I’d like to share with you some thoughts that are strong in my heart, toward my role as a support leader. I hope that these thoughts will inspire you to greatness in your own role. 1. I am at my best when I release my senior pastor What kind of senior pastor do I want to serve? Do I want to serve a pastor that is tired and frustrated? Do I want to serve a senior pastor who must constantly check-up on me and micro-manage what he has instructed to me? Or do I want to serve a senior pastor that is released and blessed with competent, capable and responsible leadership around him? 2. I am at my best when I represent my Senior Pastor well One weekend, my wife and I walked into a local store that sold running shoes and clothing. A woman introduced herself to us, and spent about 10 minutes introducing the store to us. We weren’t planning on purchasing anything, and yet we experienced outstanding customer service. As we ended our conversation, the woman introduced herself to us and told us that she was the store’s owner. We were overwhelmed by the service we received, and it left me wondering, “At church, am I an owner or just an employee?”
Take a look at this story about Jonathan and his armor bearer:
As support leaders, I believe we best represent our senior pastors by owning the vision. I often ask myself, “At church, am I carrying myself like an owner?” Do I approach ministry with this spirit and heart, or do I simply show up, fill a role, and keep things functioning? Do I truly have the stewardship mentality that represents my pastors well?
1 Samuel 14:1-7 NIV
3. I am at my best when I have a “Whatever It Takes” spirit
“One day Jonathan son of Saul said to the young man bearing his armor, ‘Come, let’s go over to the Philistine outpost on the other side.’ But he did not tell his father.”
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A “Whatever It Takes” spirit breathes life into everything I do. If a broken spirit dries up the bones, then a full and life-giving spirit is one that will breathe success into every aspect of life and ministry. Just like the armor bearer that served Jonathan, I want to respond to my senior
leaders with a “Whatever it Takes” spirit. “Do all that you have in mind… I am with you heart and soul!”
life to this work. I will work, regardless if I get the credit. I will not pursue positions or titles. My goal is influence for the cause of Christ. To see His Kingdom come and His will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.
The vision of Champions Centre is my vision. I own it. The success of the Church and my personal success are inseparable. I will not seek personal success at the risk of a team defeat. But the opposite is true. I will die a thousand deaths if necessary to see the Church move forward. In a world where Christian leaders all over the world are imprisoned and tortured as they advance the Kingdom of God, I will give every ounce of my
Let’s never grow weary in this incredible mandate we have to build the Kingdom of God here on earth. It is my honor and privilege to serve on the awesome team at Champions Centre… with the great men, women and young people who give selflessly of their time and talent every weekend to see people reached with truth and salvation. If you’ve ever wondered if your life would serve a significant purpose… look no further than what you are doing within the local Church week in and week out. Your labor is not in vain. It is a great day to be alive and serving in the House of God!
No Doubt by Steve Shackett, Operations Director “If a team is to reach its potential, each player must be willing to subordinate his personal goals to the good of the team” ~ Bud Wilkinson. That statement in and of itself is so accurate and truly epitomizes my experiences throughout my time in church ministry and honestly in life. It has been said that the way a team plays as a whole determines its success. The Champions Centre has been truly blessed over the years to have very gifted and talented volunteers and staff who have learned the lesson that taking on something as a committed team is so much easier than addressing the challenges as an individual. Our church is noted around the world, but especially in the Northwest, as a ministry that elicits superb teamwork to accomplish a specific task. In some respects, we are an event driven church as well as having a gifted teaching ministry through Pastors Kevin and Sheila. However, I watch in amazement when we have conferences like Mesh Relationship, Oxygen for Women, Team Church and Bold Conference for Men. These annual conferences minister to thousands each year and the work that it takes to “pull everything together” is astounding.
Sue Kahawaii Champions Foundation Director
There was one event that as an example brought out the very best in us. Recently, at our summer Team Church Conference, we hosted the United Band from Hillsong, Australia. The Tuesday evening concert was held at the Western Washington Fairgrounds, which is about seven miles from our main campus. This event required months of preparation with regular meetings with the fair representatives, police and fire individuals, as well as city leaders to ensure that all requirements were being met. The thing though that stuck out in my mind, was the unbelievable efforts that were made by our staff and volunteers. A veritable army of over 500 volunteers descended upon the fairgrounds to make sure that everyone who attended had a memorable evening. Ushers, greeters, clean up teams, security, sound and lighting tech teams, media personnel and our retail staff and volunteers were all there. I could go on and on, but the point is that the 10,000 people in attendance had an incredible evening, which was only made possible by this army of dedicated volunteers and staff. A better illustration of Teamwork cannot be found! This is just one event, but what really happens to make church such a welcoming and enjoyable experience for the thousands that attend on our weekend services? It’s all about teamwork! As we all know, teamwork is collaboration or a joint effort by many to accomplish a common goal. I have always enjoyed the quote by Benjamin Franklin that says, “We must all hang together or most assuredly, we shall hang separately.” Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful and committed people can change anything. At Champions Centre, we strive for excellence in all that we do. Excellence, however, can only be achieved when teamwork is applied in our every day lives.
Brandon Stewart Champion Life Group Director
Steve Shackett Operations Director
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Real Life Champions TIM TOLLIVER I’m proud to say that I have just celebrated my 10th year of being plugged into the culture and community of Champions Centre. I first came to Champions Centre in February of 1999, as a result of the Wisdom for Life* television program. I knew less than 10 people in the area and only one of them attended church. By a God assigned coincidence, I was reconnected with a family that I went to church with in Alaska, and inevitably they asked the million dollar question; “Have you found a church?” I responded by telling them that I was trying to find “this guy,” I knew the address of the church was 72nd and Portland and told them I thought the guy’s name was Kevin Gerald. Wide eyed they exclaimed, “Oh, you mean Covenant Celebration**, that’s our church!” I came from a much smaller church and was dumbfounded by everything that the Tacoma campus had to offer, even still, I was happy just to be back in church. God spoke right through Pastor Kevin to me about the “Principles of
Effective Prayer” and I knew that I was not in the house by accident. I kept coming back, and it took a while for me to get planted but I finally made the decision and was confirmed as a member on my birthday, November 24, 1999. I was hooked. I knew I was in the right place. Even though I moved away for a short while and attended a great church in Denver, in my mind I always saw myself integrated on the team at Champions Centre. Today, I’m so glad to say that the threads of Champions Centre are woven throughout the fabric of every one of my closest relationships, and what’s more, they have all come as a result of serving on a team. I met my wife, Amanda, and started my family here, and we have built an incredible inner circle of friends that love and support us tremendously.
Currently, I serve as a volunteer on the worship team and together we volunteer with our Current Events team. As we look forward from today, we’re excited to build and grow with the house, to see the Champions Centre vision move forward into the world. We love being a part of the Champions Centre and can honestly say that we have seen our lives steadily increase and expand as a result of being members of such a vibrant community. If you haven’t figured it out by now, Champions Centre is a great place to plug in. Membership definitely has its privileges.
*Now Kevin Gerald TV **Now Champions Centre
PETE WINGARD My connection with Champions Centre is the single most contributing factor to all of the successes that I’ve had in my life. Being a part of Champions Centre has been like being a part of the healthy, nurturing family I never had. Don’t get me wrong, I love my family; they’re great individuals but, we didn’t come together as a family with a single purpose, guided by lifechanging, never-ending principles. I have a great mom and dad, they just weren’t together. My loving mother, whom I lived with, was drunk, every day. In spite of that, Champions Centre has helped me to live a successful Christian life. When I came to church, I was a young husband and already a father to my wonderful little girl Niki (Tera). She was just a little over a year old and my wife Teresa and I had been married all of 8 months. I was failing in my duties both as a husband and as a father. Champions Centre provided me with a basis from which to develop both these roles and much more. First they provided a place of salvation. I received Jesus as my personal Savior, was filled with the Holy Spirit and baptized in water all on the same day. I, along with my young family, was taught the basics in Godly living. I was taught everything from tithing to teaching. Early on, I decided to serve as a volunteer in the children’s department and have been serving there for over 20 years as well as behind the scenes teams for productions. So much good has come from staying committed in the house of God. I’ve learned how to be a faithful husband, father and a most excellent worker. I also learned of the awesomeness of God. I got to see Him in action. I was able to learn His principles and how to put them into
practice. I learned how to pray and how to listen to the still, small voice of God. Through the teaching of Kevin Gerald, I was able to identify what my life mission was. Through Kevin and his staff, I was encouraged and motivated to stay on task; to never give up and always carefully apply God’s principles to all areas of life. I learned how to cooperate with others towards specific goals; how to be a part of something bigger than myself. I learned how to be a leader and how to mentor and train others to lead.
Kevin Gerald, his staff and the wonderful group of volunteers at Champions Centre have been unselfish and very generous in their love for and commitment to my family and me. They have been there for us in our times of need and in turn have accepted our love and support. They have welcomed and encouraged our participation towards meeting the goals of God’s church. The loving, nurturing, family environment at Champions Centre is the primary reason for all of my success and the success of my family. My family and I are truly blessed.
K.Wise God’s Team I grew up playing team sports and love to look at life through the lens of that experience. It’s amazing to me to see how teams and teamwork are encouraged throughout the Bible. One of the first things Jesus did in His ministry was recruit a team. In Matthew 4:19 He says, “come and follow me… I will make you fishers of Men.” What was Jesus doing? He was recruiting others to join Him on His mission and encouraging them to recruit even more, naming them the church. This was the beginning of what I call Team Church. I like this acronym for TEAM to describe what I believe God saw for all of us on Team Church:
An Enlarging Church: God saw a team of people supporting one another. Superbowl MVP quarterback Kurt Warner is known for his willingness to go above and beyond – mentoring his teammates’ growth. Much like Warner’s devotion to younger players, I believe the church will grow by thinking beyond today and becoming mentors to younger generations. An Adaptable Church: “Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape.” A man explained to me that he didn’t go to church because it wasn’t the same, even though it is actually doing much better than before. It’s easy for some to dig in their heels and refuse to adapt to progress in God’s Kingdom. The more adaptable, at ease, and flexible we are, the more God can use every situation to do His work in us!
“Come and follow me … I will make you fishers of Men.” – Matthew 4:19 A Tenacious Church: Think of a salmon pushing against an almost impossible and often bruising current to produce new life. People of the church who are fully committed and assertive, despite encounters of resistance, prove that God’s purpose will prevail.
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A Mission Conscious Church: There is a difference between a group and a team. A team is a group whose members are on a mission together and unite around a cause. In the case of the church we are spokespeople who promote God’s purpose.
If you are a believer, you belong in God’s house on God’s team. The difference in believing and belonging is whether to believe in the head coach or join His team!