SpireLeader Magazine V3

rick rusaw

intersections

Enough has been said, written, blogged, and regurgitated about the change our world has been through the past few years. Unprecedented, Overwhelming, Radical, Disruptive, Accelerating and a long list of descriptors have been uttered so many times they almost are meaningless. The reality is leading, ministering, the past few years has placed you in a unique position to lead in a time of disruption, a time when the world has changed, a time of both challenge and opportunity. There are no roadmaps, no google assist, no experts on what to do or how to do it. Therein, lies the challenge and the opportunity. The apostle Paul who lived and led in “unprecedented” times gives some sage advice to navigate this climate change.

Ephesians 5:15-16 “Be very careful then how you live-not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.”

Paul was saying to the Ephesians the days are dangerous, the climate has changed, the world is not the same so . . . Be Careful, Be Wise, Be Judicious

As you lead be careful, pay attention, keep your eyes open. The first time I was driving with my Driver’s Ed teacher, I was approaching a stop sign and I am assuming a bit faster than he wanted me to- he yelled for me to stop. When he yelled, I panicked and hit the gas and blazed right through the intersection. I don’t remember much about him, but I do remember him saying to me, “Rick, pay attention to the intersections because good things or bad things can happen at the intersections.

Are you paying attention to the Intersections? There’s a long list but here’s a few:

The intersection of what we were doing before the pandemic and what we are doing now. Many of the ways we led the church before the pandemic are still needed and necessary, yet many of those things are no longer useful or productive. How are you evaluating, measuring- who are you leaning on for insight and guidance?

The intersection of the backstage and the front stage. Are you taking care of the backstage “you” or are you allowing your public presence to get disconnected from who you are in Christ. The stress and strain of ministry is tremendous and long before a leader’s fall becomes front stage it was happening backstage in small, incremental ways.

The intersection of the main thing staying the main thing and the distraction of all the shiny new things. There are so many options available today to “do” church, so many opportunities to increase influence of our ministry, yet it’s possible we lose sight of helping people discover grace, grow in grace, and live gracefully. As we embrace all the new opportunities and technologies let’s do so with a heart for lost people.

The intersection of culture wars

In a world that has grown increasingly polarized and more complex in the way issues present themselves in culture, your voice matters. You’re engaging in the issues of the day with grace and truth is critical. Doing that is incredibly challenging today, biblical wisdom is needed and necessary.

The intersection of choice

Leaders have the weight and responsibility of choice. Choosing what is a priority and what isn’t. Choosing what strategies to engage in. Choosing who and who not to invest energy in. Choosing what gets your attention and what doesn’t. As a leader you can either Act or React. Be judicious with your time, your investment of energy, with your choices.

In 1904 there were only two cars in the entire state of Kansas, and they ended up in a wreck! Intersections are dangerous but they are also where all the opportunity is. Paul’s encouragement is to make the most of every opportunity as you lead, just be careful, be wise and be judicious.

For more than 28 years, Rick Rusaw served as Lead Pastor at LifeBridge Christian Church in Longmont, Colorado. Rick has assisted churches and denominations worldwide in developing an external focus to ministry and has authored several books and resources including the best-selling missional-book Externally Focused Church, as well as Life on Loan, Externally Focused Quest, 60 Simple Secrets Every Pastor Needs to Know, The Neighboring Church and The Neighboring Life

Rick currently leads the Spire Network, a national digital engagement platform, conference and innovation community focused on equipping and inspiring Christian leaders. Rick also serves on the executive team at Gloo, a Boulder, Colorado data and technology company.

Rick and his wife Diane have three children and seven grandchildren who all call Colorado home.

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ACTIVITIES AND SERVICES

RESTAURANTS & LOUNGES LEVEL

Falls Pool Bar & Grill 1 Central Pantry

High Velocity Sports Bar 2

Latitude and Longitude

Lobby Lounge

Mikado Japanese Steakhouse

Siro: Urban Italian Kitchen

Starbucks®

RECREATION LEVEL

Basketball Court 1 Falls Pool 1 Fitness Center (24-hour) 1 Hawk’s Landing Golf Course 2 Indoor Pool 1

Jogging Trail (1.5 Miles) 2 Arcade 1 Sand Volleyball Courts 1 Tennis Courts

West Terrace Spa Pool 1 Separate quiet pool located outside the spa

KID’S COVE LEVEL Activities World 1 Scheduled activities throughout the week Plunge Zone 1 3 water slides Splash Zone 1 Kid’s zero entry pool with pop jets and water toys

GUEST SERVICES LEVEL

Bell Services 2 Concierge 2 FedEx Office

Full Service & Self Service Business Center Front Desk

Guest Laundry

Hertz Desk

Blo Blow Dry Bar

Spa

RETAIL STORES LEVEL

Hawk’s Landing Golf Pro Shop 2 Lobby Gift Shop

Resort Shop

Spa Retail Shop

MEETING SPACE

CONVENTION FLOOR LEVEL

Crystal Ballroom 1 Salons A-Q

Cypress Ballroom 1 Sections 1-3

Grand Ballroom 1 Salons 1-14

Hall of Cities 1 Anaheim, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, New Orleans, San Antonio, San Francisco, St. Louis, Tampa, Washington

Palms Ballroom 1 Canary 1-4, Royal, Sabal, Sago

NORTH TOWER LEVEL

Caribbean Ballroom 2

Aruba, Bahamas, Grand Cayman, St. Thomas, West Indies, Puerto Rico Florida Ballroom 2 Harbor Beach, Sawgrass, Marco Island, Vinoy

The Keys 2 Key Biscayne, Key Largo, Key West

EAST TOWER LEVEL

Emerald 4

Emerald, Emerald East, Emerald South Diamond 5

Diamond, Diamond East, Diamond South Jade 6

Jade, Jade East, Jade South Marriott Suite 11

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main session

1 tuesday main sessions

2 wednesday main session

3

thursday main session

Rick Rusaw Matt Reagan Ashley Wooldridge Gene Appel

Steve Carter Sam Allberry Jennie Allen Johnny Scott Shane Wood

Sydney Clayton Matt Reagan Darrel Land

Rick Rusaw

Bishop Claude Alexander Jim Putman

Matt Reagan Nikomas Perez

Jonathan Pokluda

Orpheus Heyward Matt Fogle

Pete McGowan

Shodankeh Johnson

Gene Appel

Lori Wilhite Trip Lee Jeff Walling Ben Stuart

HUDDLES: 1:30 - 4:30pm

DISCIPLEMAKING IN A GROWING CHURCH

Jim Putman – ANAHEIM

Jim Putman is the co-founder and Senior Pastor of Real Life Ministries in Post Falls, Idaho. Prior to his role as senior pastor, he served as a youth minister in two small churches. In college, Jim won three All American titles in wrestling and went on to become a successful wrestling coach.

THE POWER OF STRATEGIC RHYTHMS AND ROUTINES

Chris Nelson/Allie Bryant – MIAMI ROOM

Chris is the CIO and a Pastor at Traders Point Christian Church in Indianapolis, IN. For the last 15 years, Chris has led ministries for children with special needs, safety and security, first responders, veterans, technology, digital ministry, and strategic operations. Chris loves solving complex organizational problems and pastoring those dealing with trauma and PTSD. Chris is a recognized speaker on digital ministry, PTSD, and strategic operations.

Allie Bryant is the Strategic Alignment Executive at Traders Point Christian Church in Indianapolis, IN. She has been in ministry at Traders Point for 10 years with experience in Marketing and Communications, Project Management and Organizational Management. In the past 3 years she has focused her attention on organization systems and processes of the church by installing an operating system in order to provide rhythms and disciplines to keep Traders Point focused, aligned and accountable in order to advance their mission. She has been married for 14 years to her husband and they have a 4 year old daughter and recently added a miniature goldendoodle to the family.

DEVELOPING LIFECHANGING COMMUNITY IN A POST-COVID CHURCH

Erin Johnston – GRAND SALON 1 ROOM

Erin Johnston is the Pastor of Coaching and Family at Canyon Ridge Christian Church in Las Vegas. Part of her role is helping Canyon Ridge to strategically plan and implement a viral movement of disciple makers across the city of Las Vegas and beyond. She desires to multiply meaning in all different kinds of communities in her city. In her free time, Erin loves Dodger baseball, her black lab Sophie, a good burrito, and almost any outdoor activity!

DISCOVER FUTURE LEADERS: THEY ARE ALREADY AT YOUR CHURCH

Kristin Miller/David Miller – GRAND SALON 4 ROOM

Kristin now lives in Tacoma, WA but previously served on staff at churches in Denver overseeing Operations, First Impressions, and Global/Local Outreach. She’s also recruited students to ministry as an Admissions Director. She’s passionate about equipping young leaders to pave the way for others to meet Jesus. She’s a foodie, loves to cook and entertain with friends and family, and is a fan of words but can’t seem to find many who will play Scrabble with her!

Dave Miller is the Founder of Leadership Pathway. He served as a Worship and Creative Arts Pastor at churches in Las Vegas, Central KY, and Western MI has also spent the last fifteen years on the go helping churches on a variety of topics from strategy to technology and facility redesign. He’s most passionate, however, about helping young leaders take their healthiest first steps into ministry. He’s an avid cyclist, Cincinnati Reds fan, and Jameson’s “Poppi.”

REIGNITING PERSONAL EVANGELISM IN YOUR CHURCH

Garry Poole – TAMPA ROOM

Garry is the founder and lead advisor at www. OneLifeAdvisors.com, an organization designed to walk alongside church leaders to inspire, equip and mobilize believers to a lifestyle of effective spiritual influence. He’s a skilled outreach specialist, training facilitator, and strategic planning consultant for churches and organizations around the world. Garry is the author of numerous discussion guides and books, including the award-winning Seeker Small Groups. In the past, he planted and led an outreach-oriented church for 5 years in Indianapolis. And Garry also served on staff as Willow Creek’s Evangelism Point Leader in South Barrington for 18 years.

SOUL CARE: FRIENDS REQUIRED

Dr Alan Ahlgrim – ST. LOUIS ROOM

Alan Ahlgrim was the founding pastor of Rocky Mountain Christian Church in Colorado. With more than 50 years in ministry he now serves as the Chief SoulCare Officer of Covenant Connections for Pastors. Alan invests heavily in the hard work of heart work, helping other leaders serve well and finish well by connecting them in soul enriching Covenant Groups. Alan is the author of Soul Strength – Rhythms for Thriving published in 2022. www. covenantconnections.life

TOTAL TEAM ALIGNMENT: PUT YOUR TEAM ON THE SAME PAGE TODAY

Bart Rendel/Doug Parks – GRAND SALON 6 ROOM

Doug Parks, cofounder and CEO, Intentional Churches: Doug’s love and commitment to help churches comes from his own experience of being eternally impacted as a teenager by a committed church leader. He served for seventeen years as the executive pastor at Canyon Ridge Christian Church in Las Vegas, Nevada. Prior to Canyon Ridge, Doug was a Chick-fil-A owner/operator in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he won the coveted Symbol

of Success award. Doug and his wife, Jennifer, reside in Las Vegas with their two children, but he still finds time to follow sports, including his beloved Ohio State Buckeyes.

Bart Rendel, cofounder and CSO, Intentional Churches: Bart has dedicated his life to helping churches reach more people for Christ. His passion for serving churches comes from his upbringing as a pastor’s kid and learning from his parents about the intentionality of reaching and growing people in Christ. His conviction runs deep. Bart served as an executive leader for over eighteen years at Crossroads Christian Church in Lexington, Kentucky, and Central Christian Church in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he and his family remain deeply connected. He and his wife, Catherine, have two children. Bart occasionally plays a round of golf, but he always takes in Kentucky Wildcats games.

IS WORSHIP JUST 3-4 SONGS DURING THE SERVICE Andy Chrisman – ATLANTA ROOM

Andy Chrisman is a worship pastor, consultant, radio show host and artist, who has dedicated his life to helping others follow Jesus and worship God forever. He’s a full-time worship pastor at a very large church in Tulsa, OK (Church on the Move) for 21 years and counting. He has the heart of a shepherd and helps other worship pastors via coaching, mentoring and consulting. He is also the host of the internationally syndicated radio show “Worship with Andy Chrisman.” And….he was one of 4Him, a group that sold 5 million records, had 25 #1 hits, multiple Dove awards and Grammy nominations. https://www.andychrisman.net

TOP 3 REASONS YOUR MINISTRY LEADERSHIP WILL BE CUT SHORT Wes Bevis – SAN FRANCISCO ROOM

Dr. Wes Beavis is a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in helping pastors navigate the ministry journey and guiding church leaders through crisis situations. He has clinical expertise in diagnosing and treating the symptoms of ministry burnout. Wes is married to Ellie, a Marriage and Family Therapist, and their private practices are in Newport Beach, California. Wes’ interests include running marathons and creating content for his YouTube channel Making Life Better with Dr. Wes Beavis.

THE CHURCH YOU ALWAYS WANTED Carl Kuhl – SAN ANTONIO ROOM

Carl Kuhl is a pastor, entrepreneur, author, athlete, and adventure seeker who wants to help others find true freedom in Jesus. In 2008 he and his wife Lindsay started Mosaic Christian Church, which has twice been named one of the 100 fastest growing churches in America. He’s written two books on church leadership. In July of this year the Kuhls moved to Louisville, KY, as Carl accepted a role as an executive pastor at Southeast Christian Church. carlkuhl.org

RETHINK COMMUNICATION

Phil Bowdle – LOS ANGELES ROOM

For 18+ years, Phil has been serving in the trenches of creative ministry. Most recently, Phil served at West Ridge Church in Northwest Atlanta as the Creative Arts Pastor overseeing worship, production, video, and communications teams. Phil recently released a best-selling book “Rethink Communication: A Playbook to Clarify and Communicate Everything In Your Church” that has helped shape the communication strategy for churches all over the world. As a Senior Associate with Slingshot Group, Phil brings his creative and executive level experience in the church to make complex things simple and find clarity in the chaos.

THE INDISPENSABLE ASSISTANT: THE ULTIMATE SIDEKICK

Sheree Jablonski/Sara Whitbeck – BOSTON ROOM

Sheree Jablonski – Christ's Church of the Valley, Executive Assistant to Senior Pastor Ashley Wooldridge. Sara Whitbeck – Southeast Christian Church, Executive Assistant to Senior Pastor Kyle Idleman.

Huddles are a roundtable, interactive experience where you get to learn from experts but also have your current Church issues addressed and get to help speak into the lives of others by adding your own wisdom to the conversation.

BREAKOUT SESSION

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 27, 2022 – 2:30 & 3:30

MATT WRIGHT

Board & Staff Health + Culture – Key Principles for Leaders

DAVE & SYDNEY CLAYTON

Discipling Your Family While Leading in Ministry

MATT ENGEL

Discovering Ministry Innovation Through Healthy Experimentation

HOUSERIGHT

Strategy for Technology Upgrades - A Discussion on Vision, Capital Expenditures & Strategic Planning

WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP

Melissa Mashburn, Lindsey Harden & Kelly Dagley

MEL MCGOWAN

Storytelling Through Spaces

PULLING THE THREAD

Programming Moments For Great Conversations – Christ In Youth

TAX FREE MONEY FOR MINISTERS

Planning for the Road Ahead - Clergy Advantage

JESUS REVOLUTION FILM

A Film to Help Start a Movement -Daryl LeFever & Dave Stone

SPIRE Mixers

MIXERS SESSION

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 27, 2022 – 4:30

LEAD PASTORS

Ben Cachiaras (Host)

EXECUTIVE LEADERS

Matt Wright (Host)

WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP

Melissa Mashburn (Host)

CREATIVE ARTS & WORSHIP Danny Larsh (Host)

CHILDREN & STUDENTS MINISTRY Mark Kitts (Host)

DISCIPLESHIP MINISTRY Dave Stone (Host)

OUTREACH & ENGAGEMENT TBD

COMMUNICATIONS & ADMINISTRATION

Tash Johnson (Host)

JOEL COURTNEY JONATHAN ROUMIE KELSEY GR AMMERand KIMBERLY WILLIAMS- PAISLEY

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JOEL COURTNEY JONATHAN ROUMIE KELSEY GR AMMERand KIMBERLY WILLIAMS- PAISLEY

JOEL COURTNEY JONATHAN ROUMIE KELSEY GR AMMERand KIMBERLY WILLIAMS- PAISLEY

JOEL COURTNEY JONATHAN ROUMIE KELSEY GR AMMERand KIMBERLY WILLIAMS- PAISLEY

FROM THE CREATORS OF I C AN ONLY IM AGINE

FROM THE CREATORS OF I C AN ONLY IM AGINE

FROM THE CREATORS OF I C AN ONLY IM AGINE

FROM THE CREATORS OF I C AN ONLY IM AGINE

BA SED ON A TR UE MO V EMENT

BA SED ON A TR UE MO V EMENT

BA SED ON A TR UE MO V EMENT

BA SED ON A TR UE MO V EMENT

ashley wooldridge

leveraging vs. directing a team

Power is an intoxicating and deceiving thing. I can still remember the first time I was given the authority to lead a team. I was an 18-year-old lifeguard with blond hair, a tan, and some CPR training. The obvious choice to lead. The reality is, I was as clueless as a camel at the North Pole. But being given influence felt pretty good.

One of my biggest assumptions as a young leader was that to be effective, I needed to have all the answers. My assumption was, leaders didn’t spend a lot of time listening, they just pointed their fingers and started telling people what to do. So at 18, even if I didn’t know the answer, I acted like I did. I figured it was a sign of weakness to ask other people what they thought.

As you can only imagine, those early leadership years were a mess.

I’m still surprised no one has come back and said “At 18, you were one of the best leaders I’ve ever had.”

Power tends to reveal the worst parts of us. Like squeezing a piece of fruit, you see what’s really inside. I’ve found it often reveals an unhealthy desire for people to think we are someone we are not.

I’m glad Jesus has a thing or two to say about leadership and power.

In Mark 10, Jesus addresses power head on. James and John (and likely all the disciples) wanted power badly. They assumed Jesus would be an earthy King, so they bluntly asked for it. Jesus’ response is leadership gold.

“You’ve observed how godless rulers throw their weight around…and when people get a little power how quickly it goes to their heads.” Mark 10:42 (MSG)

Jesus’ next four words should be etched in every leader’s bathroom mirror.

“Not so with you.”

I picture Jesus saying this slowly and with force in his voice. And then Jesus goes on to give the leaders this mandate:

“Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant…” Matt 20 26-28 (NIV)

When’s the last time you observed a servant leader throwing their weight around and doing a lot of finger pointing?

I’ve learned (the hard way) that leadership is rarely about pointing a finger and telling others what to do. Sure, in a start-up company or in a crisis (think COVID) it can be appropriate for a short season. But once you’ve established values and expectations, it’s worth asking yourself, “How much finger pointing and directing should I be doing?”. If you feel you must point your finger at people to get things done, it may be time to assess where the breakdown is. Either your leadership isn’t effective, or you have the wrong people on the team. Either way, the problem is yours.

Jesus makes it crystal clear: Your first responsibility as a leader is to serve your team versus wielding power over them. That’s easy to say, but what does that look like practically? I think serving a team means making your values and expectations clear but then striving to bring out the best in them. It’s leveraging their strengths versus directing them to submit only to yours.

WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE PRACTICALLY?

Here are 3 suggestions on how to leverage a team vs. simply using power to direct them:

1. Lead from a posture of “I’m not gifted in everything, so I need a great team around me.”

• No leader is good enough on his own to have all the answers.

• There has never been a leader in history (outside of Jesus) that was good in every area of leadership.

So, every organization needs a team (not just an individual) at the top. Don’t get me wrong. I still believe in point leadership but in the context of a strong team. Within CCV, our top level Executive Team is made up of four individuals and a strong leadership team supporting them. I strongly believe with everything in my heart that any success we see is a result of the team, not me. My hunch is many churches are bottlenecked because they lack a great team at the top.

2. Surround yourself with a team of people you trust.

• The more you trust someone, the less you will feel like you have to direct them.

• Always lean in the direction of giving trust versus making people earn it. Trust is the fuel that propels teamwork.

3. Do more listening than talking at your leadership table.

• Ask questions like, “What do you think?”, “How would you handle this?” or “What are we missing?”

• If you don’t listen to the leaders around you, you’ll soon find yourself without any great ones around. That’s a dangerous place to be. “Followers tell you what you want to hear. Leaders tell you what you need to hear.” – John Maxwell

Around my top leadership table, all 3 leaders are stronger than me in various leadership disciplines; and that’s how it should be. Together we are better than any one of us individually.

Spire is all about leading a movement of healthy growing churches. Growth requires leaders do less individual directing and more leveraging the power of teamwork.

Sydney Clayton clear the fog

As leaders, our teams look to us for vision, direction, guidance, and encouragement. We feel the burden to lead with purpose. Often, we go to God asking and waiting for the “blueprints” for the next big mission we believe we are supposed to lead our team or our church towards. Sometimes it seems as if the Holy Spirit downloads that vision and purpose without question, allowing us to easily submit to His plans as He propels us forward. However, there are other times we feel the piercing silence that accompanies the lack of vision. We have all experienced clarity, and on the other extreme, the dense fog of leadership that settles in as we are waiting upon clear direction from God.

At times, I find myself straining so hard to see the next thing for our church, that I can easily miss what God has for me personally in the here and now. However, whenever I am able to still myself long enough to hear His whisper amongst the chaos, it’s clear He has abundantly more than I can ask or imagine.

Take for example Jesus’ rhythm of life. First, He retreated from the crowds to commune with His heavenly Father (Luke 5:16, Luke 6:12), then he taught and encouraged his disciples and followers (Luke 6:13), and then finally healed and redeemed the lost (Luke 4:40). Repeatedly I see Him cycle through this pattern again and again, but always retreating back to the Father (Mark 1:35).

In light of His rhythms, let’s examine our own. Do our habits draw us nearer to God? Do they leave room for Him to reign in our lives? Do we give Jesus our first fruits of each day, or do we squeeze him in as an afterthought? Do we press into one area of His rhythms and abandon the other two? Are we really good at loving our neighbor, but hold a longstanding grudge with an acquaintance we see every Sunday? Where might the Holy Spirit be convicting each of us to shift our daily practices to be more like Christ?

RHYTHMS WITH GOD

Where is God drawing you deeper in relationship with Him? Perhaps He is calling you to dive deeper in the scriptures, fasting, or trusting Him with your finances. I experienced this first hand recently. This Spring I found myself reflecting on Jesus’ words “Who do you say I am?” I began to list out who I believed Jesus to be. I wrote down words like “friend, counselor, shepherd...” all titles that felt like a reflection of a parallel posture--a relationship of two siting side by side. Then the Holy Spirit directed me to flip the question. I took time to ponder what was missing. Suddenly it was glaringly apparent. The word leader. Leader was missing. I saw Jesus as my friend and companion, but not as the one I bowed my knee to each day. I was letting him come along with me, but not lead me. Immediately I repented and asked Him to show me where I was not trusting him to lead me, where I needed to submit to His authority in my life. One area He quickly pinpointed was our finances. I was still carrying the burden of finances even though He had been so faithful month after month, year after year to abundantly bless us. He wanted to free me of a burden that I didn’t need to carry.

RHYTHMS WITH EACH OTHER

Where is our Father encouraging you to press deeper into Christian community? Maybe He is nudging you to start a small group, volunteer on the set-up team at church, or link arms with other church leaders in the city. There are so many in our church body that just need encouragement. It may be for a season, or it may be a new friendship. For me, this fall, it’s an 8 week study of a book with some young moms in our church. It’s an opportunity to capitalize on face-to-face time with them weekly, pray over them, encourage them, equip them and just listen. It doesn’t have to be a grand gesture, it can be simple. The important thing is that it is obedient. Obedience to the call God is asking you to answer in your faith community.

RHYTHMS WITH THE LOST

Where has God positioned you to be love and light in a broken world? Possibly it’s the local elementary school, your work, your neighborhood, or the coffee shop you frequent. I am often inspired by the teachers I know who are working in the public school system. They are laser-focused on their mission. They live daily to love the kids in front of them well, to encourage their families, and to be a light in the school for other faculty and staff. They don’t go in ill-equipped, but they are intentional in prayer as they invite others to join them in praying over their school year. Or, I’m reminded of my friends who have immersed themselves in local refugee communities to love and serve in the name of Jesus. They have said "yes" to the call to love many who are lost, abandoned and lonely. They are serving as the hands and feet of Jesus in a broken world.

As we submit to our Father in a similar three-part rhythm as Jesus modeled, drawing near to the Father, pressing into our faith communities, and wading into a hurting world, He will guide and fill us. It is out of the over-flow of our joyful submission, that fresh vision to lead others will arise. We are only capable of leading others where we have first traveled ourselves. So, if this last season of leadership has left you feeling disoriented by the fog of leadership, then take a breath in the silence, step into the rhythms of Jesus’ life, and patiently wait to see how God will give you His heart to lead those around you.

Sydney is a disciple, wife, and mom to 3 young boys. Along with her husband Dave, she planted and helps lead Ethos Church, a young, urban church in Nashville, TN that is passionate about reaching the lost, making disciples, and releasing ordinary people to plant churches all over the world.

In addition, she is an adjunct college professor with a doctorate in Physical Therapy, and enjoys training disciple makers in a variety of contexts. Sydney is especially passionate about fostering her sons’ spiritual development and equipping a new generation of women to live as disciple-makers in all of the places where they live, work, and play.

Sydney and Dave will also be leading an important breakout during SpireConference: "Discipling Your Family While Leading in Ministry."

jim putman

two-fisted fighting (Spiritually): the importance of relationships aND truth

REMEMBERING THE OTHER FIST

Years ago when I made the decision to become a part of the church, it was with the understanding (at least in the circles I found myself in) that the church, as I understood it, was not using methods that led to real, mature disciples who could wrestle spiritually, beyond flesh and blood. Most of the pastors I knew held to the ancient faith as it pertained to doctrine, but they had eliminated the part of spiritual maturity that led them to embrace real relationships as Jesus intended (relational discipleship). Maturity in my mind meant more than just knowledge; maturity also meant real relationships.

“Most of the pastors I knew held to the ancient faith as it pertained to doctrine, but they had eliminated the part of spiritual maturity that led them to embrace real relationships.”

The methods commonly used to make disciples (as most church leaders defined what that was at the time) were not working to deliver what we needed. At best, these methods were delivering knowledgeable spectators who had few deep relationships at all. So, my emphasis has always assumed that what was needed now was an emphasis on relationships as Jesus modeled and taught (John 13:34-35) and as Paul described to us to in 1 Corinthians 13. My focus was the relational method for discipleship that would also produce a relational outcome (Jesus’ kind of love).

We are living in a different day now.

Not only do many people now have a lack of real relationships as God intended, but they also have given up on what Jude 3 calls “the faith,” that was once for all delivered to the saints. Christians are moving from what God’s Word clearly teaches in the areas of sexuality and gender, women’s roles in the church, divorce, what the church actually is, what the gospel is, etc.

WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO CHRISTIAN LEADERS?

So now, going back to the analogy of a two-fisted fighter or a wrestler who uses both sides of his body, we have to say that most Christians today are not fighting with either side or either fist very well. The problem, as always, starts with the leaders. As the head goes (the leader), the body follows (the church).

Why is it this way today?

Is it because the Bible isn’t clear on what the truth is—when it comes to doctrine or lifestyle? Is it because there’s some kind of new information that we have not had for 2,000 years but now have discovered? Not scripturally!

For many people, scientific findings and personal experience have become the new infallible word, yet these are far from infallible. We call new ideas theories, and those theories change over time as more information is discovered. Beliefs that scientists once thought were certain now they don’t believe any more. We also know that those with presuppositions and hearts set on specific things often discover what they want to. People can have darkened understandings and see through the eyes of a fool. I once believed many of the world’s lies only to discover that what I was told was absolutely true was actually only the ideas of a few and actually highly debated. It ended up being fake news. How many people have given up on believing God’s Word because of some new information that actually turned out to be false? I for one. Agendas shape what is shared and our ultimate enemy definitively has an agenda.

“Agendas shape what is shared and our ultimate enemy definitively has an agenda.”

The other day it happened again! I spoke with an influential leader who has now changed his view on homosexuality. When I asked him why,

he shared a new study that had come out. Not a new understanding of Scripture—Scripture wasn’t mentioned at all. He had started to judge Scripture based on human fallible findings that “proved” our historic understanding of Scripture could not be true. He then had an experience with a loved one which shaped his perspective. So now he was going to be affirming.

Yet real love does not rejoice with unrighteousness but rejoices with truth (1 Cor. 13:4-7). Somehow our believers today have replaced the Word of God with the “infallible” voice of our senses and experiences. Never mind that Scripture makes it clear that our flesh is broken and like a compass that no longer leads accurately.

So, the truth is, I cannot say there is anything new— except the fact that our people in America don’t like what was written down and understood in the beginning. Many leaders today have come to the conclusion that we should somehow not offend people with what they deem as their personal truth. On “secondary” issues, they suggest that it’s not that important to teach what Scripture has always taught because these secondary issues aren’t salvation issues. In other words, let’s just forget about nonsalvation issues and let’s get people saved. Except that discipleship is to teach people to obey all that Jesus commanded (Matt. 28:18–20). This includes truths that make for stable churches, faithful homes, holy sexuality, and so on.

HOW FAR WILL IT GO?

When our goal becomes not to offend people, how far will we go?

The gospel itself is offensive to the lost if it is properly understood. We are the stench of death to unbelievers (2 Cor. 2:16). If you teach that being saved means saved from hell, then you offend people who don’t like the biblical and historical truth concerning hell. If you claim that Jesus is the only way in a culture that says he is merely a way for some, then people are going to be offended. Objective truth is exclusive.

Again, what new truth from God have we been given? None. The difference is only that people in our day increasingly don’t like what God gave us because it will lead to unpopularity and a denial of our sinful impulses. Scripture tells us that in the end times people will be haters of the truth and lovers of themselves (2 Tim. 3:1-5; Matt. 24:10-13). We have been told to hold onto the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints (Jude 3).

“We have been told to hold onto the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints (Jude 3).”

TWO PROBLEMS WE CAN’T IGNORE

Relationships have already become optional for believers. It has become this way because following Jesus has become more of an idea rather than a lifestyle for believers. All the while, today in the church we have two problems that we cannot ignore. Until we get back to the historic understanding of Christianity as it was defined by the apostles of Jesus—in relationship and truth— we will not be the church Jesus intended and therefore will not prevail against the gates of hell. So, we must be two-fisted fighters, as we wrestle for the gospel.

My concern is that more and more do not believe in the truth as the Bible describes it doctrinally. I honestly do not want to invest time raising leaders if they don’t hold to a high view of Scripture or hold to a number of key doctrines. Cults have always been able to use some of God’s Word better than many believers have and so have been able to make disciples of the wrong kind. I do not want to contribute to that.

As disciple makers, we are told to teach people to obey all that is commanded, and the early church did so. The first disciples lived at a time when they could ask questions and have them answered by the apostles of Jesus themselves (Acts 2:42). They got to ask of those who got to ask of him! Because the world had messed up the design of God in every fashion, God desired to give us his design in every major sphere of our lives via the Holy Spirit through Scripture.

“God desired to give us his design in every major sphere of our lives via the Holy Spirit through Scripture.”

two-fisted fighting (Spiritually): the importance of relationships and truth (continued)

Jesus himself said that a man who builds his house on Jesus’ words (given to us by the apostles) was akin to building a house (a life) on the rock (Matt. 7:24-27). God’s plan included how to live out order within the church and the home, and well as how to function in the world as employers and employees. He even taught us how to defeat the devil as an army, a family, and a body, through prayer in Ephesians 6. In Scripture there is a design we are to follow for all these areas of life. These are best taught to us in the church as Jesus defined and modeled it: in relationships. Or, as we like to call it, “intentional relational disciple making.”

As we have long taught, you cannot divorce the teachings of Jesus from the methods of Jesus and get the results of Jesus. We learn best in relationship and we live best in relationship. Anyone who attends Real Life, where I pastor, has heard us say that many times. But it’s not enough just to prioritize the disciple making methods of Jesus. As a church, we have emphasized the methods of Jesus because we assumed everyone agreed to live out the teachings of Jesus.

We’re assuming this no more.

It takes a two-fisted fighter to beat the devil in our slice of history. It’s time to start fighting with both hands.

I am the lead pastor/minister of a church in Post Falls, Idaho, but many people who know me have heard about my past in wrestling. At the collegiate level, I wrestled in national championships. They also know I was an unbeliever who took my skills learned in wrestling to the streets. Unfortunately, fighting was a way of life for me for a time. But I turned to Jesus and eventually became a pastor.

I am glad that the apostle Paul used fighting as a metaphor for the spiritual life (1 Cor. 9:26).

As a fighter, I would never consider fighting with one hand tied behind my back. I would never consider wrestling an opponent with half my body incapacitated. Fighting or wrestling with all my tools was ingrained into me. After I became a believer and then a minister/pastor, that mindset permeated my ministry mindset as well. I see it supported in Scripture when we are told to put on the full armor of God (Eph. 6:10).

Jim Putman also writes for Renew.org and has shared this article from a recently published piece.

darrel land

relationships are the key to the great commandment

What makes an effective church leader? We could certainly say faithfulness. That is a fair statement. We could say gospel-focused. this is certainly a true key to effectiveness. Jesus said to “go and make disciples.” Sharing the gospel is certainly key in that pursuit. We could say vision is a mark of an effective leader. When you look at leaders from the Bible, as well as church leaders today, it is fair to say leaders are visionary. Those are all great marks of good church leaders.

However, when we look at the teachings and daily life of Jesus’ ministry, we see another important quality — a character trait — I believe is, maybe, the most necessary of all to lead the church and to help the church be as effective and on mission as possible.

This quality flows out of the Great Commandment Jesus gave to his disciples. In Matthew 22:36-40 Jesus says to love God. Then he follows that up and says to love your neighbors as yourself.

LOVE GOD. LOVE PEOPLE.

That sounds good and we probably all agree with the idea. Love God and love others. The question is, how do we do this? I am afraid we make this more complicated than we need to. Jesus says to love our neighbors. Neighbors are people we are near, people we work, live, and recreate with. Jesus commanded us to do this and he mastered it himself.

Look through the gospels. Jesus was always interacting, sharing meals, and genuinely engaged with everyday people. Jesus interacted with followers (church people) as well as those who were not yet followers. In fact, one of the religious leaders’ big criticism of Jesus was that he hung out with sinners.

Jesus was always with people and building relationships. One of the best examples of this was Jesus’ interaction with the woman at the well.

Jesus went out of his way to have an unlikely conversation with this woman. He met her where she was and it opened doors of tremendous conversation.

This is still our calling as pastors and ministry leaders today. Relationships are the most important ministry tool to loving people today.

I am afraid, for many, it has become a neglected thing. In my experience, many ministers and church leaders have become more like leaders of corporations rather than being relationship focused. We have too many CEOs instead of pastors living life with everyday folks. We have too many ministers who spend the majority of their time within the walls of the church offices — rather than spending time with people. It seems the biblical model of the pastor as shepherd has been replaced with the model of the pastor as manager.

Certainly, there is a business side of church and sometimes our roles involve overseeing business matters. However this should never dominate our time and change our focus from building relationships with everyday people, both inside the church and outside the church. We cannot make a heavenly impact on earth if we are stuck in our C-suites. If we truly are going to live and lead like Jesus, then we must be doing life in everyday relationships with our communities.

In his book, “They Smell Like Sheep,” Lynn Anderson makes the point that good shepherds spend so much time with the sheep they are shepherding that they end up smelling like sheep. I believe he was on to something Jesus lived out. Think about it. Jesus left the comforts of heaven, came into our world to be with us and save us. Anderson would say he came into our pasture and smelled like us.

Why is this so important? Is it just because Jesus did it and commanded us to? Obviously, it is always important to do what Jesus did and what he said to do.

However, there is something more. I contend his way is truly the most effective way to win and lead people. It is the only way to tangibly love them.

I have said for years, leadership is not about position, but influence. People don’t follow well because of titles or mandates. They follow because they want to follow. Look at the most successful leaders — be it in sports, business, or the church — and you will find a great percentage of the time leaders have such buy-in from the people that they are leading that they would run into battle with them. That type of buy-in comes from relationships that develop influence. How can we do this?

WE MUST BE INTENTIONAL ABOUT BEING WITH PEOPLE.

Let’s look back to the example of Jesus with the Samaritan woman at the well. Jesus was intentional. He had to go out of his way, off the normal path to be there. He also was the first to strike up the conversation.

If we are going to build influential relationships we must be intentional about getting outside of our offices to meet and talk with people.

For me, this means not camping out in a backstage green rooms on Sunday mornings — except when getting ready to preach. It is important to be in the lobby or somewhere accessible to people and able to meet new people.

This means I am going to volunteer — something outside of my job responsibilities — in an area in the church. I volunteer as a youth coach in our student ministry and have had the pleasure of walking with 20-plus students every year throughout the course of their middle and high school years.

It means I am going to continue to make some hospital calls and funeral home visits. We are at the size where I cannot make every one of them, but I can take my turn. It is amazing to me how we often completely stop doing the things God used to help get us where we are.

It also means I am going to find some ways to get into the community where I live. I am going to go to festivals, ballgames, community functions, and school events. One of the greatest things I have been able to do to connect and meet people is to

coach youth sports. The number of kids, parents, and grandparents I have met is staggering.

Find some way to be present in your community and in your neighborhood.

Not only must we be intentional, but we must be real and accessible.

I have seen too many churches — both small and large — where the lead pastor is seen more as a celebrity. We are often viewed as above everyone else. Jesus certainly was above everyone else and he had celebrity appeal, but he lived the exact opposite. He dined and hung out with anyone and everyone. He didn’t demand to be served, but instead served. He was nothing if not real.

We are not Jesus. We are imperfect, so it is all the more important that we are real, transparent, present, and accessible to people we are hoping to reach and influence.

Darrel Land is the founding and senior minister of Redemption Christian Church in Jasper, Indiana, a small rural town with a population of 15,000. The church started in 2000 with 12 people and has grown to average over 1,800 people.

In December of 2016, Redemption Christian Church opened its second campus in Loogootee, IN.

Darrel and his wife, Holli, have been in ministry together for over 16 years and they have a daughter, Livia, and son, Jace. Darrel is a 1995 graduate of Kentucky Christian University and previously served in ministries in Marengo, Ind., and Gosport, IN. Darrel loves preaching the gospel and pouring into others that do.

lori wilhite

pastor to pastor

A few years ago, my daughter, Emma, made me a jar of the “Reasons Why I Love You” filled with scraps of paper. On each one, she wrote something she loved about me. Some were silly and others were serious.

Here are a few of my favorites:

“You’re my best friend.” “You help me not want to give up.” “You’re amazing.”

I was supposed to read one scrap of paper each day, but once I read the first, I just settled in to read them all. One by one, I read the reasons why my daughter loved me. I laughed, and I cried. She saw things in me I didn’t see in myself.

Most of the time, I don’t feel like I’m amazing. Sometimes, I’m the one who wants to give up. But that’s how my daughter saw me. Reading each one of those bits of paper made me want to do better… to be better. I wanted to live worthy of all of the reasons why she loved me!

Paul says, “As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love” (Eph. 4:1-2).

You have a calling on your life. Even if you feel unqualified, unworthy, or unprepared, God has given you a calling, a ministry. When you follow God in obedience, you are leaning into the calling He’s put on your life. It’s not about titles or roles; it’s about God letting you in on what He’s doing.

It might be the wonderful ministry of parenting. It might be the wonderful ministry of preaching. It might be the wonderful ministry of working at a church. It might be the wonderful ministry of sharing Christ with your neighbors. It might be the wonderful ministry of your marriage. It might be the wonderful ministry of the small group you lead. It might be the wonderful ministry of the non-

profit you run. But what do you do when the calling is weighty? When that ministry doesn’t feel wonderful? When joining God in what He’s doing seems overwhelming?

What do you do when the wonderful ministry of parenting involves arguments and slammed doors? Or your teaching feels overrun by mounds of paperwork and difficult parents?

Or there just isn’t enough of you to go around at the church and you’re spread too thin to be effective? Or your coworkers make fun of you because you’re a believer? Or your marriage is hanging on by a thread and communication has pretty much shut down? Or there is friction in your small group? Or you don’t know how you’ll keep your non-profit going financially?

WELL. WE LIVE WORTHY.

Walking worthy in the calling God has given us isn’t contingent upon it being easy or trouble-free. It’s not dependent upon confidence in our own strength, power, or success. It isn’t so that God will love us. We live worthy because He already loves us. When we realize the depth of God’s goodness and love, it makes us want to do better, to be better. To live worthy.

What does it mean to live worthy? Do we need to work harder? To hustle more? Do we learn new things? Or hone our craft? Do we need to get it right all the time…no mistakes? No failure?

Let’s hope not. Like my friend Hosanna Wong says: Walking worthy isn’t about what we’re doing, it’s about how we’re living. We live worthy when we recognize that God is the one who’s worthy.

When we dive back into Ephesians 4, Paul says, “Be completely humble…”

We are called to walk worthy in humility remembering it’s God’s name that’s worthy, inclining us to change our posture, turning our faces upward and lifting our focus. Living worthy causes our heads to be held high.

Our name isn’t as important as God’s name. Our fame isn’t critical like God’s fame. Our acclaim isn’t essential like God’s acclaim.

We don’t demand honor; we honor God.

Our position is irrelevant compared to God’s position.Our personal glory pales in comparison to God’s glory.Our reputation doesn’t matter when side-by-side with God’s reputation.

We are forgiven because God is forgiving. We are loved because God, Himself, is love. We are worthy because God’s name is worthy.

Paul doesn’t just say to be humble, in Ephesians 4:2, he also says we need to be “gentle.” Gentleness comes from knowing that God’s plan is sovereign.

As much as we love being in control of our lives and circumstances, we know the One who is ultimately in control. God is the One who is sovereign. The One who’s all-knowing and allpowerful. The One who’s so much bigger than any teeny-tiny box we try to fit Him in.

When you need to have a hard conversation with your spouse, be gentle. Trust that God’s plan is worthy.

When you have to address the issues going on in the hearts and lives of your teens, clothe yourself with gentleness. Believe that God’s plan is worthy. When you feel overcome with disappointment or discouragement, be gentle with yourself. Have confidence that God’s plan is worthy. When life isn’t working out according to your carefully laid out plan, walk in gentleness. Be assured, God’s plan is worthy.

Walking worthy isn’t about what we’re doing, it’s about how we’re living. We also need to remember that God’s kingdom is worthy. After all, the goal is not for our pleasure, but for peace—among and between all of us.

Paul goes on in verse 3, “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” We live in a culture where we want a trophy if we make any effort at all. We want a prize if we held back our nasty comment on Twitter, but we also held back our forgiveness. We want an award when we stay silent instead of jumping into a pointless argument, but we also don’t speak up for those who have been silenced.We want a gold star when we avoid a confrontation, but we won’t have a conversation that will bring actual healing.

There is no participation ribbon for half-baked effort or just doing the littlest bit that depends on you. Living a life that is worthy isn’t about what we’re doing, it’s about how we’re living.

Every effort. As much as it depends on you. Because God’s Kingdom, His people are worthy. The unity in His bride, the church, is worthy.

God’s looking for people who believe His name is worthy. God’s hunting for people who are confident that His plan is worthy. He’s keeping an eye out for people who know His Kingdom is worthy. God is seeking people who will live worthy.

We live worthy because Jesus is worthy. Let’s live worthy of the calling we have received

Lori Wilhite is the founder of Leading and Loving

It— a ministry dedicated toequipping, connecting, and impacting pastors’ wives and women in leadership. She is the author of Rise Up: Lessons from Ezra on Walking with Your Head Held High and My Name is Victorious: Find Strength, Freedom, and Joy innWho You Are Created to Be.

Lori serves alongside her husband, Jud Wilhite at Central Church in Las Vegas, NV. Together they love watching God change Sin City into Grace City. They have twohilarious and amazing kids, Emma and Ethan.

shane J. wood, ph.D.

art and leadership: the intersection of the internal and the external

Leadership is an art. Not a science. And that’s frustrating. Terrifying, even. That is, if you truly understand what art is, and as a result, what it reveals about what leadership requires.

Art is done at the intersection of the public and the personal. Most artists describe the process of writing or sculpting or painting as an unearthing of the self. As an act of vulnerability, where the emotions of the inner world are reflected, however subtle, in the outward product of their creation. Which can be painful. As Red Smith quipped in his book To Absent Friends, “Writing is easy. All you have to do is sit down at the typewriter, cut open a vein, and bleed.”

The sentiment is quite clear: art requires an unearthing of the artist. A pouring out of the private, the personal, the self. The artist is producing something to be encountered by another, but art is first an exercise of the inner journey. A wrestling with past wounds. A euphoria of healing. Tears of trauma untransformed.

Art is a creation that begins internally before ever transferring to the external world. Sometimes quite literally. According to Walter Isaacson’s magisterial biography on Leonardo Da Vinci, the Italian artist spent obsessive amounts of time with cadavers, studying the internal to perfect the subject’s movements in the external. Da Vinci intuited that the internal offered nuance often overlooked in the mirror or the world around. The combination of the muscles in the neck; the ripple of the skin with each step; the slight pull in the corner of the eyes that communicates approval however slight. Insights separating his art from others more concerned with what they can observe on the surface.

Da Vinci’s macabre methods reveal what leaders often fail to embrace: the internal always shapes the external, regardless of how hard we attempt to ignore and conceal what lies beneath. Like art, leadership is done at the intersection of the public and the personal, the stage and the private recesses of our hearts. This is probably why so many leaders—whether inside or outside the church—crave cookie-cutter leadership methods celebrated at conferences or delivered in the latest best-seller. We prefer science over art; the predictable over the Spirit. The latter simply asks too much of us. Science rewards predictability and efficiency; yet the Spirit moves like the wind, only detectable to those fully present and aware of the slight movements therein, rewarding the patient not the proud, those more adept at paying attention than performing.

It’s easier to get attention than to pay attention. To pay attention to the movements of our heart. To the pitfalls of our character. To the complicated question, “Am I truly connected to the vine?” Yet, when getting attention and paying attention collide, the latter is always the casualty.

Consider the vogue preaching tactic of vulnerability. In a world desperate for authenticity, preachers are re-crafting their sermons to appear vulnerable onstage, even if the internal is ignored or mocked offstage. Preachers fabricate vulnerability by conjuring countless illustrations of “personal failures” or even inserting “umm’s” so as not to appear too polished. Why? To simulate vulnerability. To appear genuine. Yet the difference between Michelangelo’s Moses and a cheap garden statue from Hobby Lobby is that one emerges from the internal world of the artist and the other merely mimics masterpieces of old. One is fit for a museum and priceless attempts to preserve its glory for posterity; one is reserved for bird droppings and replaced at $49.99 when it deteriorates beyond the threshold of “ornamental.”

True vulnerability, like true art, simply can’t be fabricated without the hard work of unearthing the self. When leadership is more about getting attention in the external world than paying attention to the leader’s internal world, it becomes a brittle and frivolous imitation of something quite precious. Something life-changing, revival-igniting, and Christ-honoring.

Still further, to hold back the revelation of our true self to those we lead and even to ourselves is more demonic than God-like. Let me explain. Demons go to great lengths to conceal themselves, hide themselves in others or among the gravestones in isolation (Mark 5:1-5). Demons are strategically shifty, preferring the shadow instead of the light, deception instead of vulnerability. The goal is to control what others see, convincing image bearers there is no God, there is no hope, and, at times, there is no evil or demons at all.

Yet, throughout Scripture, God goes to great lengths to reveal Himself, all of Himself, to all of His creation (Rom. 1:20). He created the heavens and the earth to unveil Himself, a gift not expunged at the Fall in Genesis 3 (Psa. 19:1-6). He revealed his name to Moses through a burning bush (Exod. 3:1-14). He voiced His heart to Israel through His law (Exod. 20:1-21), which He would one day carve onto the tablets of their hearts (Jer. 31:33-34). When Israel forgot who He was, He sent His prophets to declare, “I am the one who brought you out of Egypt” (1 Sam. 10:17-19; Amos 2:10). He became flesh, born in a manger as true God and true Man to reveal Himself to us (Jn. 1:18), so that if we have seen the Son, we have seen the Father (Jn. 14:9). So that through the Son, we can glimpse the image of the invisible God (Col. 1:15)— the image boldly emblazoned on humanity “in the beginning” (Gen. 1:26-27).

Time and again, the Scriptures unveil a God intent on revealing himself to those who follow Him. Not through cheap tricks or mere imitations employed in pagan temples with idols carved from stone (Isa. 44:9-20). But through bearing all of Himself in a variety of ways so that all of humanity would have the greatest opportunity to reach out and touch him (Acts 17:27).

Leadership should be no different. At least for Christians. For like the master artist, Christian leadership requires the unearthing of the self (the internal) on behalf of the other (the external). Which is why I marvel and lament the Christian leader’s aversion to Paul’s brazen command to: “Imitate me as I imitate Christ” (1 Cor. 11:1). I find it strange that Christian leaders neither onstage nor in writing ask their followers to do the same: “Follow me as I follow Christ.” Instead, we hide the “me” from ourselves and others.

We disparage acts of unearthing like professional counseling or prayerful meditation, dismissing each as either unnecessary or too “new age” and hiding behind Scripture citations and Christian quotes to boot. Yet the last 50 years has seen the meteoric rise and cataclysmic fall of Christian leaders whose legacies are now enshrined in fledgling churches, institutional lawsuits, or episodic podcasts. Leaders who publicly taught the importance of understanding integrity—who we are when no one is looking—failed to do the hard work of vulnerability in their inner journey. Maybe this is why Jesus put so much emphasis on the prayer closet (Matt. 6:6); he knew that without the internal, the external is not just a mirage but a demonic ploy to disparage the gospel and dismiss the church as not just hypocritical but predatory on the truly vulnerable.

As leaders, we need to spend less time asking the question “How do we find new ways to multiply?” and more time asking ourselves the question “Am I worthy of being multiplied?” For if the congregation is the crossroads of the internal and external worlds of the leader, the most important thing Christian leaders can do for the church and the gospel as a whole is ensure that if the leaders are multiplied, the body of Christ won’t be ravaged with cancer necessitating chemotherapy. For better or worse, people in the pews reflect what they see on the stage.

Thus, more than church growth tactics or cookie cutter methods promising to increase tithing and attendance, our churches need leaders who understand that vulnerability is not a preaching strategy to feign authenticity. No, vulnerability is the legacy of David sung in the Psalms, the legacy of Solomon lamented in Ecclesiastes, the legacy of Paul celebrated in 2 Corinthians 12:10: “When I am weak, I am strong.” Vulnerability— the unearthing of the self at the intersection of the public and the private—is the legacy of Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane, who in the shadow of the cross still cried out, “I don’t want to do this! Please take this cup from me” (cf. Lk. 22:41-44).

What the church needs today is not more methods and mantras crafted with the guarantee of multiplication. The church needs leaders willing to walk their own inner journey. The church needs leaders who go to counseling to confront the wounds of their past with the wounds of the Crucified King. The church needs leaders disciplined in the art of listening—to themselves and others—more than speaking three points and an application. The church needs leaders not ravaged by unsustainable rhythms or enamored with metrics more fit for Wall Street than the via Dolorosa. What the church needs is leaders who are holy, vulnerable, worthy of being multiplied, who can honestly pronounce, “Imitate me as I imitate Christ.” Leaders worthy of a legacy to be preserved like a priceless piece of art.

May it be so in me. May it be so in you.

Shane J. Wood and his family live in Joplin, MO, where he is the Dean of Graduate Studies and Professor of New Testament Studies at Ozark Christian College. He completed his Ph.D. from the University of Edinburgh, UK. Shane offers a plethora of free resources for the church on his website, shanejwood.com. It features video and audio of sermons, class lectures, and a weekly scripture study community. An 11-Week Revelation Study and a study over his most recently widely acclaimed book, Between Two Trees, can be found on RightNow Media. Between Two Trees: Our Transformation from Death to Life (Leafwood, 2019), received endorsements from Scot McKnight, Leonard Sweet, Richard Rohr, Kyle Idleman, and many more. Other publications can be found on his website. Additionally, Shane was recognized by Theology Degrees Online as one of the “100 Remarkable Professors & Scholars Theology Students Should Know About,” and he was also a featured scholar in The Armageddon Code: One Journalist’s Quest for End-Times Answers by Billy Hallowell (Pureflix.com, Faithwire. com, and TheBlaze).

two-fisted fighting (Spiritually): the importance of relationships aND truth (continued)

jonathan pokluda busyness & rest

I don’t know about you, but I have to operate every day with an awareness of my calendar. All day every day, my calendar is updating me and telling me when my next thing is, how far away it is, what time I need to start driving there, and any other details I need to know. I’m only able to focus on the next thing, then the next thing, then the next thing. I have learned that I work best that way, which always makes January a bit of a struggle. I am not sure what your workplace is like, but for me the beginning of the calendar year symbolizes a busy season. The new year begins, and I feel like I hit the ground running every time. Each January, I find myself in retreat mode. We have a staff retreat, a leadership team retreat, an elders retreat, and then a sermon planning retreat where we map out the entire year. And don’t let that word retreat fool you, because nobody’s retreating; it’s all just planning out the upcoming year.

My Mondays start with a management meeting in which I gather with the people who report directly to me to game-plan for the week ahead and debrief from the week past. It’s the time of week I feel like an air traffic controller, and I love it. One Monday morning in January I was prepping for that management meeting. I arrived at one of my favorite local coffee shops a bit early so I could think a little beforehand, and I was pondering how I wanted to be a better encourager to our team in this new year. I knew that good leaders are great encouragers, and I was resolved to devote more time to brainstorming how I could encourage those around me. I began thinking through each person whom I was about to meet with and the words of encouragement I wanted to speak over them. But you know how it goes. In the middle of that exercise, I began to think about all the things we needed to do.

I thought about all of the things from the previous Sunday we needed to talk about. Not to mention the fact that we had another Sunday coming up around the corner. The thoughts just flooded my brain as I sat on the beat-up leather couch in the corner of the coffee shop. Then I had this thought: Busyness is the enemy of encouragement. Think about it—it makes sense, right? It felt divinely inspired. I wrote it down and waited for the team to get there.

Once everyone arrived, I started us off by saying, “Hey, this is a thought I had this morning that I want to share with you guys: ‘Busyness is the enemy of encouragement.’” I expected them to grab their phones and tweet out my Monday morning wisdom, but they didn’t. In fact, someone said, “Hey, think about how many things you could put in that blank.”

“What do you mean?” I asked. “Well, busyness is the enemy of ___________. You could put so many words there.” And so, we did that exercise. We went around and began to fill that blank with different words. Think about how you would finish the thought: Busyness is the enemy of ___________.

The truth is, we could fill in that blank with any number of words. Busyness is the enemy of happiness, because it steals joy from us when we’re so occupied doing other things. Busyness is the enemy of relationships, because we can’t go deep with other people when we don’t have time to prioritize them. Busyness is the enemy of compassion, because we don’t allow ourselves the opportunity to stop and serve those around us. Think about yourself. What is busyness robbing you of?

A PERMISSIBLE SIN

I love what my friend said. It shows how inoculated we are to busyness. It is one of those sins that we have let creep in and become so mainstream that we don’t even see it as a big deal—and all the while it is robbing us of the lives Jesus intended us to live. We accept it as a given, as if we have no choice but to live this way. Even worse, we wear busyness as a badge of honor, like it elevates our importance.

This is one of those issues that seems to impact each generation too. College students, young adults, singles, newlyweds, families, empty nesters . . . everyone seems to willingly jump aboard the busyness bandwagon. All of us have a limited amount of time, and we all have the same amount of time. And life is really full. The Pokluda family has three kids in school, playing sports, and that would be enough to occupy most of our weeknights right there. Factor in work, extended family, our small group, friends to see, sermons to write, and meetings to be at, and the hours in the week disappear really quickly!

But don’t for a second think I’m trying to sound important, because I know you have all your own stuff to do. I know, as I am describing my life, that you are thinking about yours. Yeah, practices, assignments, work, studying for the LSAT, family, fixing up the house . . . We all have some sort of working to-do list flooding our minds right now. Some of us are hyperventilating, and I get it. I get it. We are all too busy. But here’s a grim reality that becomes more and more clear to me with each passing year: I don’t like myself when I’m busy. I become a version of myself that I don’t much care for.

And I have a hunch that you also would not like me very much when I am busy, and I probably would not like you very much when you are busy either. When we are moving fast, we don’t love people well. When I am busy, what falls off first is kindness. Then my ability to focus wanes. I may physically be with you, but my mind is writing a sermon or figuring out where I need to be next, and I am not being a good follower of Jesus with you at that moment. I also lose empathy when I am busy. I don’t have time to care.

But what I lose most is my peace and joy. I have noticed that I take on a victim mentality. Don’t you get it? I’m busy! I’m really busy. You just need to understand that I’m busy! And I turn outward and begin to lash out at others because I am a victim of my own busyness. It’s not like I have cancer or some incurable disease. I just didn’t manage my time well. I just didn’t say no to some things. I got myself in this situation that I’m now projecting onto you.

Andy Crouch, a Christian author, says this about busyness:

I have to say “no” to requests many, many times a day. Almost always people are understanding. They often say, “I know you are very busy.” The truth is I am NOT very busy. I try not to be busy at all. But in order for that to be true, I have to say “no” many, many times a day.

We have to discipline ourselves to say no to all sorts of things—even good things—because busyness is a tool the enemy will use to kill our intimacy with Jesus.

Jonathan “JP” Pokluda is the Lead Pastor of Harris Creek Baptist Church in Waco, TX. He was formerly the leader of The Porch in Dallas, TX which grew to be the largest weekly young adult gathering of its kind in the country. JP didn’t come to understand the grace of the Gospel until his early twenties after being involved in different denominational churches his entire life. This ignited a desire in him to inspire young adults to radically follow Jesus Christ and unleash them to change the world. His best-selling book, Welcome to Adulting, offers millennials a road map to navigating faith, finding a spouse, finances, and the future. Following the release of Welcome to Adulting, he wrote Welcome to Adulting: Survival Guide, which provides a 42-day guide to surviving adulthood. JP’s most recent release, Welcoming the Future Church, inspires ministry leaders to attract and retain younger generations as they are the future of the church. Without them, the church has no future. JP's partner in ministry is Monica, his wife of fifteen years, and together they disciple their children Presley, Finley, and Weston.

spire conference exhibitors

a6 Technologies – Booth 18

A6 Vision is a new, cutting-edge solution that utilizes Artificial Intelligence and Computer Vision to provide churches with deep insights into the demographics and types of people who regularly attend or visit the church. We make attendance tracking possible by using an automated process that analyzes the live video streams of your existing security cameras using our proprietary AI technology. By providing actionable insights into the number of regulars, first-time, and repeat guests attending each service, including demographic data for age and gender, A6 Vision gives churches a clear picture of who their congregation is and how it is growing.

Accelerate Group Booth 34

Accelerate Group focuses on two initiatives: helping pastors and their spouse lead through various seasons of ministry while maintaining a healthy and thriving marriage, and equipping church leaders with coaching and tools from our expert team.

Baker Publishing Group Booth 27 Baker Publishing Group offers a wide variety of titles that represent all aspects of Christian life and leadership. Our titles span all levels of interest and understanding, from practical books that help bring the Christian faith to everyday life covering topics such as discipleship, spirituality, and the intersection of Christianity and culture, as well as ministry and academic resources. Some of our authors include Jim Putman and Kyle Idleman.

Blessing Ranch Ministries Booth 47

The Unhindered Life was created by Blessing Ranch Ministries (A Christian Leadership Intensive Counseling Center) founded by Dr. John Walker & led by, CEO, Dr. Charity Byers. After using the Unhindered Life model in intensive counseling sessions with thousands of leaders, Dr. Walker & Dr. Byers released their knowledge and expertise through their book, Unhindered: Aligning the Story of Your Heart. TUL is meant to further & multiply the mission of BRM & help leaders continue to live well, lead well, and finish well.

Cass Commercial Bank/Gyve Booth 42

Cass and Gyve help faith-based organizations thrive by providing tailored solutions and financial guidance sharing a common purpos. Cass Commercial Bank has been a long time lender with specific expertise from decades of working with faith-based organizations. We help our clients assess their financial status and build financial strength so they can sustain and amplify their ministries. Gyve is owned by Cass and is a dedicated generosity platform. It is designed for faith-based organizations and non-profits. Gyve has powerful reporting and

insightful analytics to foster a culture of generosity within faith-based and non-profit organizations. With four specific giving stages and six ways to accept donations, Gyve, with a Round Up feature, makes it easier for individuals to live generously and empowers churches with the resources they need to pursue their missions.

CDF Capital – Booth 46

Since 1953, we have helped Christians and churches embrace their part in this story by providing the three kinds of capital every congregation needs for growth—Financial Capital, Leadership Capital, and Spiritual Capital. Church growth is about more than just attendance—it also involves congregational spiritual maturity, a culture of healthy leadership, discipleship-making, and more. At CDF Capital, we care about each of these components. When a church is properly resourced financially, spiritually, and in leadership, lives are transformed. We call this Transformational Capital. Chaplaincy Endorsement Commission – Booth 8

Many of our Chaplains continue to develop their skills in Clinical Pastorial Education. Many local ministers use chaplaincy to bring them into contact with people in the community through ministry in hospitals, hospice, police departments and fire departments. Those contacts are developed and hopefully brought into the church.

Chemistry Staffing – Booth 20

We help churches find the right fit for their open ministry positions and come alongside ministry leaders in transition to help them find their next ministry role.

Christian Churches Pension Plan

– Booth 10

We provide peace of mind in a financial world that can potentially create confusion and stress for those serving in ministry and mission. We offer those we serve the opportunity to build a future monthly income that can serve both Plan participants and their family for a lifetime.

Christian City – Booth 23

Christian City sends a monthly newsletter to pastors and church leaders with links to topics relevant to leadership, the state of the church, along with research and statistics related to contemporary cultural issues. Also featured are national and global leadership and church growth conferences, often offered at no cost online. Christian City offers meaningful mission trip opportunities for churches who choose to serve within the United States.

Christian Financial Resources Booth 40

Christian Financial Resources (CFR)

Is a not-for-profit organization with a mission of "Funding Ministry... Changing Lives." CFR assists independent

Christian Churches and their associated ministries. Since 1980, hundreds of ministry projects have received funding through CFR. These projects include land acquisitions, loan refinances, and the construction improvement of church buildings, parsonages, schools, and various other facilities operated by those congregations. CFR currently manages more than $800 million in total assets while serving roughly 7,000 investment accounts. In addition to loans and investments, CFR offers stewardship services: donor advised funds, legacy planning, life income agreements, capital campaigns, and generosity initiatives.

Christian Standard Media Booth 49

At CSM, we believe leaders grow through networking. That’s why our mission statement is “leveraging the power of our unity.” Leaders grow when they are connected to other leaders, sharing best practices, exploring innovative ideas, and sharpening our focus. Christian Standard exists to provide that very thing for leaders. The Lookout exists to give leaders a platform of comprehensive discipleship for the whole church through which leaders will rise up. We provide connectivity to our movement’s history and provide a wide-angle lens through which a leader’s team can see a more panoramic view of our movement as a whole, eliminating mission drift and sideways energy. While Christian Standard is targeted for leaders, The Lookout is designed for the rank and file of church members, and leaders can share it in whatever form they wish. It provides discipleship through the best in teaching, in application for small group study, in personal Bible study, and in a daily reading and a prayer plan. This is key for a leader’s church to grow.

Baker Publishing Group Booth 27 Baker Publishing Group offers a wide variety of titles that represent all aspects of Christian life and leadership. Our titles span all levels of interest and understanding, from practical books that help bring the Christian faith to everyday life covering topics such as discipleship, spirituality, and the intersection of Christianity and culture, as well as ministry and academic resources. Some of our authors include Jim Putman and Kyle Idleman.

Blessing Ranch Ministries Booth 47

The Unhindered Life was created by Blessing Ranch Ministries (A Christian Leadership Intensive Counseling Center) founded by Dr. John Walker & led by, CEO, Dr. Charity Byers. After using the Unhindered Life model in intensive counseling sessions with thousands of leaders, Dr. Walker & Dr. Byers released their knowledge and expertise through their book, Unhindered: Aligning the Story of Your Heart. Since the release, Blessing Ranch Ministries has been determined to find a way to be hands-

study, in personal Bible study, and in a daily reading and a prayer plan. This is key for a leader’s church to grow.

Clergy Advantage – Booth 33

Clergy Advantage specializes in strategies for the ministry professional to fully optimize his unique tax advantages through holistic tax and financial planning and execution of strategic positioning through the different stages of the ministry career.

CMF International– Booth 36

As a leader in a U.S. church or organization, we partner with you to develop specific strategies and projects for Christ-transformation both within and through your local community. By connecting you with missionaries and holistic ministries throughout this world, we introduce opportunities for you to be involved in God's mission through prayers, financial support, encouragement, equipping new missionaries for the field, and providing opportunities for your faith communities to experience international missions first-hand.

Educational Opportunities Tours

– Booth 28

EO's Christian journeys provide leaders a unique hands-on learning experience for themselves and the people they serve. Leaders will enrich their knowledge and understanding of the Bible which will inturn increase the effectiveness of their preaching and teaching. People that join them on a Christian journey will have an inspirational learning experience that will inspire their faith and enhance their Christian walk as disciples of Jesus. Christian journeys will change the Church, the Ministry, and individual lives.

FAME – Booth 35

FAME brings simple access to Church Leaders to move people from Attenders to Engaged Disciples. While bringing solutions to the crisis of global healthcare access, the local engagement also increases. Partnership can be church-wide excitement for a new hospital or clinic, in the form of handson small group projects, or direct contact trips to global partners. Since we are serving over 70 global partners this year FAME can assist your church to grow healthy partnerships with your existing or new global partners.

Financial Planning Ministry

– Booth 30

FPM offers your members peace of mind. While no one can predict the future, you can make a plan to take care of your family and honor God. Over 60% of your members have no end of life documents (wills, trusts, guardianship for children, conservator, POA, etc.)

People find rest when they finally finish their estate plans. Planned giving is a

decision today to give a gift tomorrow. We can help you in biblical stewardship and generosity education. FPM exists to fund ministry by educating families and facilitating generosity through planned giving. For 40 years we have served over 39,000 families with 1.9 billion in planned gifts to churches and ministry. Currently serving over 140 churches and ministries.

Full Strength Network – Booth 41 Full Strength Network exists to help ministry leaders discover full strength in wellbeing in areas like richer spiritual health, deeper relationships, and increased leadership capacity. We provide safe and affordable well-being resources.

GuideStone – Booth 37

GuideStone seeks to partner with churches, Christian schools, Christian colleges, and other evangelical “likeminded” ministries to repurpose ministry dollars for greater impact, by reducing the health care and ancillary benefit plan costs for these organizations. GuideStone has recently developed a new portfolio of solutions, bringing unique innovative strategies and reimbursement methodologies to bear on the market.

Go Ministries – Booth 16 GO Community Development renews and advances communities through the establishment of educational opportunities, small business, and international partnerships. We work in five areas: GO Kids program; GO Kingdom Business; Community Construction projects; GO Short-term Teams and Internship program. GO MEDICAL: GO Medical empowers local medical professionals to provide quality healthcare to the vulnerable and the hurting, creating opportunities for healing and gospel transformation. GO Sports empowers local coaches to disciple athletes who influence their community as leaders of the next generation. We have six academies: baseball, girls volleyball, girls and boys soccer and girls and boys basketball. Each academy is led by passionate Dominican coaches. We help our athletes grow through mentorship and Bible and English classes. Our goal is to develop Dominican youth into more than great athletes but also into leaders and workers in the Kingdom of God. GO Church Planting movement is led through the empowerment of local leaders in more than 70 communities. Our vision is to see 1,000 churches begin. Learn – Creating theological and practical learning environments via Seminary based Bible college; training quarterly church planting sessions; and yearly Global Conference held in the DR Launch – Catalyzing the movement through multiplication via Residency (6 months practice and theology living at the LDC); New Churches (the

developing and sending out of leaders); Network (care, accountability and communication); and Movements (the start of a new work in a new country).

Goff Companies – Booth 39 Goff Companies serves exclusively churches providing strategic planning for facility expansion, design/build and construction management services and project financing consultation. Our uniquely gifted team brings experience in not only church design and church construction, but also pastoral ministry and church financial leadership. We bring a comprehensive approach to Church facility expansion by looking at each church's needs through the eyes of ministry, design, funding, real estate and construction. Our calling is to assist churches to realize the vision God has given and express it through a planned and built environment. Our proprietary planning process has provided critical decision-making information and analysis for churches across the country and has resulted in over $600 Million of Worship Facility construction across the U.S.

He Gets Us – Booth 4

He Gets Us is a campaign designed to create cultural change in the way people think about Jesus and his relevance in our lives. It all started with a diverse group of people passionate about the authentic Jesus of the Bible. He Gets Us is an initiative of Servant Foundation, a designated 501c3 organization with a 100/100 Charity Navigator rating. We’re not “Left” or “Right.” We’re not affiliated with any church or denomination. We simply want everyone to understand and relate to the authentic Jesus as he’s depicted in the Bible -- the Jesus of radical forgiveness, compassion, and love.

HouseRight – Booth 1

Encouraging church leaders and helping them discover solutions that equips them to share the gospel to their community is what we are all about. Our team is full former XPs, worship pastors, technical directors who's passionate about serving the local church. We love what you guys are doing to help inspire local churches, and if we can play a small part in helping to inspire and equip we would be glad to.

Hope International University

– Booth 50

HIU adds value to those attending Spire through graduate level ministry programs. Both the MA and the MDIV offer practical ministry training. Additionally our online Master's in Counseling allows pastors to learn vital skills related to spiritual and emotional health. Our President, Dr. Paul Alexander will be there as well. Dr. Alexander is a recognized national leader in pastoral health.

spire conference exhibitors

Intentional Churches – Booth 5

ChurchOS is a comprehensive leadership system that’s rooted in biblical principles and is applicable to any church. It translates well in any context or denomination as a system that you can use for years to come. We use team-based strategic conversations to change behaviors and lead to confident decisions. These decisions will unleash the Gospel potential of any church and help it reach the lost and grow more and better disciples. ChurchOS was designed as a solution that any church can use to get back to the basics of church leadership and stay encouraged and clear about how to lead His church.

Interim Pastor Ministries – Booth 9

The value of IPM's ministry to a church between ministers includes providing a seasoned, skilled and strategic interim minister who will give a church a stable environment in which to thrive during its ministerial transition. The IPM minister will lead the church in transition through a five-stage process that begins with the IPM minister connecting to the people, assessing the church, developing action steps to address issues in the church that should be addressed prior to the arrival of the next minister, assisting the church in reviewing/revising their mission statement and developing a short-term strategic plan, and finally, coaching the ministerial search team. The value of IPM's ministry to an older minister thinking of their "encore career" includes giving them a ministry to retire to not just retire from. IPM provides its ministers with training, placement and coaching.

International Conference on Missions – Booth 38

We will offer information to all your attendees about our conference in November, how they can get their whole church family involved, of all ages in all kinds of ways of doing missions.

Intulse – Booth 44

Intulse as an organization loves to live where ministry and technology intersect. With the Intulse hosted VoIP solution that integrates with most of the top ChMS solutions, we are facilitating the staff/volunteers of the churches that partner with us in providing the best opportunity to deliver excellent and highly informed community care relative to all phone & SMS communications. We also offload the burden of phone system set-up, maintenance, programming, and updating from the IT staff and become an extension of their organization fully supporting their voice & texting needs. We listen to the needs & desires of our partners and add features to our solutions that overtime continue to

facilitate their ability to focus on people and less on fixing, maintaining, and being distracted by technology.

Johnson University – Booth 11 Johnson University's mission is to educate students for Christian ministries and other strategic vocations framed by the Great Commission in order to extend the kingdom of God among all nations. These students are the Spire Leaders of today - the lead pastors, worship pastors, nonprofit directors, missionaries, and business leaders making a difference in our movement and beyond. The young people on our campuses in Knoxville and Kissimmee come from around the country and around the world. Each student explores God's Word (the Bible), God's World (the arts and sciences), and God's Work (their professional major). Students of every age leave Johnson University not only ready to serve as the leaders of our churches and organizations; they leave ready to live with purpose, wisdom, and kingdom impact in every sphere of life.

Legacy Deo – Booth 52

Legacy Deo is a $60 million charitable foundation that manages more than 400 accounts in a trustee capacity. We do this for churches, Christian schools, ministry organizations, and individuals. For more than sixty years, we have helped God's people leave a legacy for faith and family. We provide value to churches through two primary vehicles: endowment funds and custodial accounts. We design endowment funds that provide perpetual funding for ministry endeavors, scholarships that enable church leaders and ministry teams to continue their professional and/or general Christian education, and financial support for the church's general operations. Custodial accounts operate like a bank savings account. They are an excellent resource for churches that desire to be better stewards of their excess operating cash. Collectively, we oversee more than $10 million of endowment assets that benefit churches and their personnel. These endowments have distributed more than $3 million over the past two decades.

Lifeline Christian Mission

– Booth 43

How many times does it feel like "missions" takes away from the mission of your church? It doesn't have to be that way! Lifeline creates solutions to connect your church and your community to your mission! Lifeline creates opportunities for your church to be engaged in outreach! We come alongside your church to customize experiences that align with your mission. What does that look like?

It could be ... Creating meal packing events that engage all generations in your church. Developing a Container Outfitting project that connects with your community. Designing mission trips (domestic and international) that

use the skillset of your team. These tools connect your community to your church, your church to serve together, and individuals to take the next step in their walk with Christ. It's all part of creating a spark to live a life on mission for God!

Lincoln Christian University

– Booth 2

LCU's new educational model - LCU to You - serves the Spire Leader, the Spire Leader's Team, and the Growth of the Spire Leader's Church by offering for-credit and non-credit biblical and ministry educational opportunities with convenient, affordable course and training offerings in on-campus and online classrooms and through partnerships with a number of churches across the country. Students can pursue undergraduate and Seminary degrees, or non-degree education from experts in biblical scholarship while learning the practical side of ministry at their church or parachurch organization.

Marble Retreat – Booth 32 Ministry is difficult. A lot of pressure and expectations to be excellent at a lot of responsibilities. Then add in your own personal brokenness, woundedness, and sin and ministry can become over-whelming and burnout a risk. Burnout, if not addressed, typically leads to stagnating, medicating, or quitting. Marble Retreat opened its door in 1974 to provide a place for Christian leaders to come for intensive counseling. The ministry of Marble Retreat is to provide a transformational counseling and hospitality experience so that Christian leaders can lead, live, and love out of wholeness and wellness.

Milligan University – Booth 6 Milligan University and Emmanuel Christian Seminary at Milligan provide value for Spire Leaders, teams and churches through Christian education and an emphasis on service to Christ and His Church, ministry preparation, continued ministry training, and ministry resources. For over 150 years, our commitment to Christ-centered liberal arts education has led Milligan to become a growing, well-respected liberal arts institution that emphasizes scholarship, community, and faith. Christian Education/Emphasis on Service to Christ and Church: Milligan offers more than 100 majors, minors, pre-professional degrees, and concentrations in a variety of fields, along with graduate and adult degree completion programs. On the undergraduate level, our Ministry Leadership Program offer 6 majors for ministry students- Biblical & Theological Studies, Children’s Ministry, Church Leadership, Intercultural Studies (Missions), Student Ministry, and Worship Leadership. The Seminary offers 3 Masters programs, a Doctor or ministry, and two certificate programs.

Operation Parent – Booth 21 Operation Parent's resources (webinar's, handbooks, and Bible study) help Leaders have a jumping off point when it come to tackling some big issues our students and families are facing. Some of the issues we cover include mental health, substance abuse, and technology use. Church's have to encourage parents to be active in having these PROVENTITIVE conversations, instead of REACTIVE conversations! Operation Parent wants to help parents feel equipped to have tough conversations, that could be life-changing!

Ozark Christian College – Booth 13 One of the core values of the Advancement Department of Ozark Christian College is to “help leaders lead better longer”. By allowing OCC to be an exhibitor at Spire Conference 2022, we will introduce Spire Leaders to quality biblical education, offer Christ-centered events and materials to encourage, equip and train them and connect leaders with current students who can potentially serve in their churches for internships or as a part of their ministry staff.

Pension Fund of the Christian Church – Booths 31 Pension Fund originated in 1895 as the Board of Ministerial Relief, serving pastors in dire financial need. Beginning with our first Pension Plan payment in the Great Depression — and throughout the market ups and downs since — we’ve honored our commitments to our members. Today, we administer one of the strongest, fully funded pension and retirement systems in the country. Over the years, we’ve listened to our members’ needs and added to our products and services. Our goal is to offer comprehensive products and services for all life stages and income levels.

Point University – Booth 15 Deeply embedded in the heart of Point University as an academic institution is that we are called by God to create a learning environment rooted in the great redemptive theme of Scripture and accessible to contemporary humans. We are committed to providing an education that makes a difference – whether that difference impacts an individual student’s life, the culture in which we currently live, or a local body of believers determined to be fruitful and fulfilled. Our mission is to lead students to discover what Jesus meant by “life abundant,” and how to talk about that kind of life in the public square in compelling ways. An education at Point University enables kingdom leaders to better understand the culture around us and its desperate need for life beyond our imagination in Christ. Point can help kingdom leaders, ministry teams, and local churches discover the authentic answer to the “who is Jesus?” question in ways that transform each of these roles as we seek abundant life in our work for Christ.

Rapha International – Booth 48

The cornerstone of Rapha’s work is the protection of children. Policies, practices, and culture that promote transparency and accountability protect everyone- both children and adults. Rapha’s Culture of Care program is a workshop and development package for churches that prepares staff, volunteers, and congregations to prevent and detect abuse, to build policies that promote safety for all, and to care for those who have experienced trauma. Churches have special advantages when it comes to detecting abuse, but they may also face special challenges. The Culture of Care program addresses those challenges while working with church leadership to mobilize the advantages- in order to build a culture of protection and safety. We believe that the leaders of today’s churches are ready and eager to take a deeper look at the church’s role in child welfare and how they may stand out as safe havens. The Culture of Care program is designed to offer up-to-date information and expert advice for church leadership, and to offer support for ongoing growth.

Re|engage // re:generation

– Booth 12

The re:generation and re|engage ministries provide a structure and process for your church body to safely heal in authentic peer groups, and equip your members to bear burdens across a wide variety of struggles affecting lives and marriage. They also serve as great side doors into your church as you effectively care for hurting people in your communities. These turn-key ministries are available for your church to run free of charge and include startup and onboarding resources as well as leader training and coaching support to your key lay or staff leaders. Our goal is to put useful tools in your hands that will allow you to more deeply disciple your people.

RENEW.org/Discipleship.org

– Booth 26

RENEW.org delivers tools and resources promoting, what many feel is, the very best of Christian Church theology. The RENEW.org network provides senior church leaders with opportunities to equip, encourage, and engage each other to lead revival of healthy, biblical churches, and still provide cultural relevance that is inviting to those seeking truth. It does this through a monthly leader’s learning community featuring some of the very best disciple making leaders. RENEW. org hosts live events and training tools to equip your staff with good biblical theology to fuel disciple making.

Rescued Not Arrested – Booth 53 Helping churches incorporate prison ministry outreach in their congregations using our national letter writing outreach program, assisting church leaders understand how to welcome the lepers of todays society into their congregations using a safe and effective model RNA has used at Christ Church of the Valley for over

12 years now and many other like minded churches nationwide. Sharing successful ReEntry programs for released inmates with church leaders to incorporate in their communities. We also counsel pastors and elders and security teams with difficult situations dealing with sex offenders, murders etc who want to attend church.

Slingshot Group – Booth 22

Founded in 2007, Slingshot Group has grown to over 50 associates and served over 2,000 churches and nonprofits. We do staffing and coaching different than the rest. With transparent service fees, guaranteed placement, and coaching embedded throughout our staffing experience, you get our entire team of practitioners. From church staff to nonprofit staff, our team has been where you’ve been. We know what it takes to hire great staff. Our passion is serving churches and Christian nonprofits. We don’t just give you a standard, corporate solution. Instead, we get to know your leadership and the community you serve, and build a personalized plan just for you. and build a personalized plan just for you.

The Solomon Foundation – Booth 54 The Solomon Foundation’s 4th Core Value is to Help Churches Get to the Next Step and we provide tools to build strong leaders and solid partnerships. Our yearly Pastors Conference provides innovative ideas for growth, equips them with tools to manage the daily challenges and also serves to encourage them. In addition, we have an excellent program that offers leadership development with one on one training with Ken Idleman and mentorship and coaching program by our Board of Directors comprised of top mega church pastors. We also offer them a free membership to the Center for Church Leadership where they can use many resources that empower them for growth and allow them to thrive in their ministry. We believe in supporting the staff at church and offer a yearly conference for Executive Pastors and Financial Managers. Sessions are created and centered around practical ministry application that they can use day to day, give them opportunities to grow, network and learn from one another and provide them encouragement for their work. 3) Help a leader’s church grow – We provide a boots on ground approach with our partnership. Our staff is excellent at connecting our churches together so they can network, learn, share and grow together from churches like them or that have gone before them. We provide guidance, support and connectivity.

spire conference exhibitors

StoreHouse – Booth 45

Our mission is help churches reach more people and connect with their community while at the same time growing their church body. We want to offer a superior CMS at an affordable price so that church leaders can spend more time in front of people and less time behind a computer screen. By offering an all in one solution for the management of the church. Many churches pay for 3-5 different softwares that do different tasks while StoreHouse delivers almost every solution within the same software and at a more than reasonable rate.

Thrivent – Booth 24

Having a sound financial plan as a leader is important but equipping your team and the members of the church with a sound financial plan will help everyone in the church Thrive. No matter where you or those you server are on their financial journey, we can meet them where they are and help them achieve financial clarity. We offer free advice, financial coaching for basic saving, debt management and budgeting and additional workshops on a variety of topics and life stage events such as planning for college, retirement strategies, or estate planning. At Thrivent, extending generosity isn’t an afterthought. It’s a core component of our culture—a key piece of what we’ve delivered to our clients for more than 100 years.

True Charity Initiative – Booth 25

We equip churches with models for more effective ministry to the poor so they don't have to reinvent the wheel on how to design empowering, relational programs. All our member benefits are listed here, and we think that they are all valuable to leaders and their teams: https://www. truecharity.us/membership/

Versatile Solutions – Booths 51 Versatile Solutions is a Christian-based AVL company based in Lincoln, NE while servicing the entire US and founded on the principle that the products in churches used to teach the Word of God, serve their communities, and retain their congregation are just too costly. This is why we provide top of the line Broadcast Quality HD LED Video Walls at the most competitive prices available. LED Video Walls are here to replace outdated projectors and last up to 100x's longer, in fact 100,000+ hours! We are here to help you get your messages across clearly to not only your congregation but your online viewers as well!

Webholdingusa – Booth 17

Our Organization will deliver value by providing assistance to users in managing the tools required to engage and support congregation members. Our system includes a fully integrated database for tracking and connecting with members of the community and users. Users may also create a church intranet to share

data and photographs, collaborate, and send internal communications among administrative members. A calendar is also available on the intranet to help with the management and booking of people and resources. Using the contributions module, you may collect payments and donations from members of the community while keeping track of and reporting any financing expenditures. We also have a comprehensive social media platform available within our system to assist the organization's members in communicating and building deeper community relationships. We also offer custom developed websites to our ministry community and clients. Our CRM is a revolutionary management platform available to all organizations and private parties. It can be used by your entire company to manage all financial obligations and to virtually grow the community. Our system offers a fully integrated database for tracking and communicating with community members and users. Users may also have access to a church intranet for the purpose of storing data and photographs, as well as collaborating and exchanging internal messages among administrative members. The intranet also includes a calendar to aid in the management and booking of people and resources. You can collect payments and donations from members of the community while keeping track of and reporting any financing charges using the contributions module.

World Communion Cups – Booths 3,29

We provide premier communion products and services which streamline the serving of communion and help churches focus on their core objectives and mission. Our communion solutions address a whole range of issues which churches maybe faced with when deciding how to serve communion. Examples of this include: how to serve communion safely and in a sanitary manner; how may we serve the freshest, tastiest communion products available; how will we, as a church, minimize resources necessary to provide and serve communion; how will we minimize waste; and, how will the church serve communion as efficiently as possible with minimal disruption and maximizing time for the remainder of our service? World Communion Cups eases the management burden on the Leader(s) of the church by providing turnkey communion solutions, thus negating the need to seek and organize volunteers to facilitate communion. Our products and services make communion as efficient as possible, allowing more time for teaching and worshipping during services. Church members truly enjoy our unique, clear, unmarked, pre-filled chalices containing the freshest of products. And, there is minimal waste with the use of our products. All of this leads to good financial stewardship on the part of the church as well as more time for church leaders to focus on growing their churches and fulfilling their mission.

meeting parents beyond the

to know the

is equipped and ready to partner with

tough issues are spreading throughout the Church. The Bible equips

even today, to have the tough

hesitant to bring up these topics in the

there is no better place for them!

have the conversations

its

research and

for the

mission is

hand-in-hand with the Church

families.

Our services:

 Estate plans and administration

Charitable trusts

Gift annuities

Endowments

Custodial accounts

Our clients:

Individual donors

Congregations

Nonprofit organizations

Our legacy:

Founded: 1960 Assets: $60 million Distributions since 1960: over $66 million  Distribution reach: 32 states

Gifts to Legacy Deo, a 501c(3) organization, are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

We inspire giving that impacts life forever.

CHRISTIAN HIGHER EDUCATION — ON CAMPUS AND ONLINE.

Equipped to impact the world around them, our students and alumni live, love and serve in a way that makes the cross visible to a world in need. With more than 40 programs of study and growing, Point University is training the next generation of Christian leaders to take their faith to more job sites, churches, industries and nations than ever before. Visit our website to learn more!

Wisdom from the past.

for the future.

retirement.

For over 125 years, Pension Fund of the Christian Church has served ministries, colleges, seminaries, and universities with a solid, time-tested funding formula and commitment to support members spiritually, physically and financially. Our members benefit from comprehensive and competitive retirement and savings options, robust financial education, and a partnership with financial wellness expert, Pete the Planner® . With over 14,000 members and more than $3.9 billion in assets, rest assured we’ll not only manage but securely grow your retirement savings–worry and hassle-free.

CLERGY & MEMBER RESOURCES:

Connect What Matters

A Flexible VoIP Phone System that Keeps Your Faith Community Connected

Stay in touch with your church using powerful integrations for the most popular ChMS solutions and the Intulse VoIP phone system. Automate workflows and update your member records with ease based on calls and text messages. Contact your congregations quickly using their preferred methods

click-to-call or our native SMS text support.

Intulse integrates

church serving together!

CHANGES

CHANGES

Changing Lives. Making History.

Just imagine all the good that can be accomplished if only the necessary funding was in hand. Countless lives could be helped now and far into the future. Financial Planning Ministry can help you get a little closer to that vision.

By preparing meaningful estate plans for over 40,000 families, FPM has exceeded $2.1 billion in planned gift designations. As a Partner, your ministry can benefit and have a profound impact on the Kingdom for generations to come.

Equipping

and wives to

Dr. Don and Sue Wilson started Accelerate group after faithfully serving at Christ’s Church of the Valley for 35 years. Their desire to see ministry leaders thrive is apparent in everything they do.

The team has served over 300 couples representing churches from Denver to D.C. and all the way from L.A. to Australia. Don’t miss the opportunity to connect with us today!

Transformation for Christian Leaders!

Located in the beautiful Colorado Rockies, Marble Retreat has provided a peaceful haven for those in Christian ministry to find life-changing healing, transformation, rest, and communion with God. Since 1974, over 4,000 people have benefitted from Marble Retreat’s unique program, which consists of a purposeful and professional combination of individual and group counseling with ample time for relaxation, reflection, and world class recreation. Marble Retreat is an excellent choice for Christian counselors, pastors, missionaries, or other Christian workers with marital problems, compassion fatigue, anxiety, depression, life transitions, or other issues. We can help! Check out our website at: www.marbleretreat.org or call (970) 963-2499.

PORN & ANXIETY affecting students in your church? we can help.

marriage ministry that works.

Financial clarity for a meaningful life

Right now, a strong financial foundation feels more important than ever. For over 100 years, Thrivent has helped people build their financial futures and live more generous lives.

Start creating healthy money habits today

Money Canvas™ from Thrivent is a free online financial coaching program to help you gain confidence and control over day-to-day money decisions.

Scan the QR code to learn more.

Encounter the Holy

the Bible to Life in the Holy Land

the Bible Lands