2023 Spire Leader Magazine

INTO THE WILD

- page 4

Building Trust

- page 18

FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN

- page 20

The Wilderness Is No Excuse

- page 26

LIFE IN THE WILD

- page 34

Kyle Idleman

2023 SPIRE CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

Rick Rusaw

Into The Wild

“I will build my church and the gates of hell won’t prevail against it.”

I-My: The church is His not ours

Will: The church was coming - it hadn’t been launched yet Build: The church was designed to grow, expand, be built. Church: The church is God’s enterprise in the world, it’s His business.

If the church is God’s enterprise, then that makes those who serve the church, entrepreneurs in the enterprise. According to Webster’s: entrepreneur: one who organizes, manages, and takes on the risks of a business or enterprise..

Everyone who has ever led at a local church level knows that the challenges of that leadership come in a variety of ways and almost all those challenges - in one way or another - involve people. This business of Jesus’ to reconcile the creation to the creator, to redeem, restore and engage people in a bigger story than the one they are living is messy, complicated and inherently risky.

As leaders, we not only are taking risks ourselves but are inviting people to risk. At LifeBridge we would regularly say that we wanted the church to be a safe place to hear a dangerous message (stole that from Gene Appel). Church is a risky business. As entrepreneurs in God’s enterprise our responsibility is to take the gospel that never changes to a world that will never be the same. Change is risky.

To say we are living in a time of change is a gross understatement. The world is complicated, the challenges unfamiliar, the ground has shifted and in too many ways the message of Jesus has been diluted, convoluted and misrepresented. We live in a world where thousands of voices are competing for attention and all demanding that they are right. Every leader, entrepreneur on the face of the planet is facing change at a scale that has not been experienced before. Every leader has been thrust into the wild.

In the wild there are unclear paths, unchartered territory and unseen challenges. But there is also unprecedented opportunity. In uncertain times people need an anchor, they are looking for hope, for meaning, for a better story than the one they are living. While

how the “church” looks and functions and serves and preaches and teaches and engages God - is changing, the cornerstone-Jesus, remains the same. It’s not the “what” of the message that is changing - it’s the “how” that message is being delivered and received that has changed. No wonder you are feeling the burden of leadership. No surprise that ministry leaders are feeling tired, stressed and some (too many) ready to quit. Change is hard and hardest most on those leading through change.

It is into the Wild that you are being asked to organize, manage and take on the risks of the enterprise. But unlike many entrepreneurs, you are not being asked to do this alone, in your own strength, with your own wisdom, or in your own power. In this enterprise we get the added benefit of the Creator of the Universe leaning in. And you have the added benefit of knowing that no matter what Hell throws at it- the enterprise won’t fail.

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.

-Jesus

SpireConnect.Network is your connection, resource, and ministry innovation community where healthy growing leaders engage to Lead A Movement.

Spire Conference Map

Gaylord Conference Center, Nashville TN

Main Session 1

Tuesday Main Session 1 – Into The Wild – Hope Part 1

2

Tuesday Main Session 2 – Into The Wild - Hope Part 2

Wednesday Main Session 3 – Into The Wild - Life

Thursday Man Session4 – Into the Wild – Future

Rick Rusaw Matt Regan Ricky Jenkins Brianne Bookout

Rick Rusaw Savannah Kimberlin Kenny Jahng Brent Bramer Darrel Land

Randy Frazee Kyle Idleman Matt Regan

Jon Thompson Tim Lucas Brian Talty Nikomas Perez Dave Stone

Jordan Raynor Claude Alexander Jenni Catron Jesse DeYoung Matt Regan

Clayton Hentzel Chad Ragsdale Kadi Cole Sam Allberry Brianne Bookout

Andy Erwin Josh Burnett Chip Ingram Matt Merold Ashley Wooldridge

Ted Max Brian Taylor

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2023

2:00 PM TO 4:30 PM

FAITH? SHOULD THE CHURCH UTILIZE AI MAGNOLIA BOARDROOM B

Josh Burnett

In this huddle, we'll delve into how AI can be leveraged for ministry with tasks such as enhancing community engagement, personalizing spiritual guidance, and streamlining administrative tasks. We will also discuss potential risks with a goal of increasing your understanding of AI and providing guidance on the ethical adoption of AI in the church. And yes... AI did help write this description.

THE POWER OF STRATEGIC RHYTHMS & ROUTINES HERMITAGE B

Christian Nelson

The week to week of church leadership can create nearsightedness and confusion about what to do next. Discover how to develop a strategic calendar and rhtythms that keep your head above the water and your church on track day after day.

Christian is a Church IT consultant. He was the CIO 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. Christian loves solving complex organizational problems and pastoring those dealing with trauma and PTSD. Christian is a recognized speaker on digital ministry, PTSD, and strategic operations.

DEVELOPING LIFECHANGING COMMUNITY IN A POST-COVID CHURCH CHEEKWOOD GH

Erin Johnston

You've probably experienced the difficulty of creating and maintaining vibrant community via small groups especially now in our post-Covid world. It's time to re-think our strategies while focusing on key principles that will always be true to matter the size, context, or format of your church. Join us as we re-think this together and hear from leaders that are re-inventing this pivotal aspect of church. Our breakouts will feature huddles for various size churches, contexts and capabilities.

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!

REIGNITING PERSONAL EVANGELISM IN YOUR CHURCH HERMITAGE D

Garry

Poole

A church that wins in the future is one that trains every believer to develop frienships and simply share their faith. Join us as we practicly walk through a simple framework any church can use to reignite this fundamental aspect of Christ's Great Commission.

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 outreachoriented 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 HERMITAGE

E

Alan Ahlgrim

It's known among pastors that we are often the loneliest people in the church. Why? Because there's just some things you can't talk about with anybody else at the church. And that's why we need to be in a group with other pastors. Let's discuss together how this can really work. Your soul is at stake.

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

HERMITAGE C

Bart Rendel & Doug Parks

Does your team sometimes feel like each team member does what is right in his or her own eyes? Join us as we work to align your team and show you how to do the same for every team in your church.

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.

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.

IS WORSHIP JUST 3-4 SONGS DURING THE SERVICE? CHEEKWOOD ABC

Andy Chrisman

Worship is the ultimate priority of life and yet many have reduced it's meaning to "three songs we do during service." Let's discuss how we can create a culture of worship in our churches.

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 fulltime 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

THE CHURCH YOU ALWAYS WANTED BELLE MEADE CD

Carl Kuhl

Jesus was a magnet for the broken; is your church the same? In this session, we're going to discuss a key distinction that will make your church look more like what Jesus had in mind when he said, "I will build my church," and the risky role you play in making it happen. Come ready to discuss and do the hard work of gospel-centered vulnerability.

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 Lindsey 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 Kuhl’s moved to Louisville, KY, as Carl accepted a role as an executive pastor at Southeast Christian Church. www.carlkuhl.org

THE INDISPENSABLE ASSISTANT: THE ULTIMATE SIDEKICK - EXECUTIVE ASSISTANTS TO

KYLE IDLEMAN AND ASHLEY WOOLDRIDGE

CHEEKWOOD F

Sheree Jablonski and Ilaya Brubaker

If you’re a pro at calendar Tetris, love administrative work and optimizing your leader’s time, this huddle is for you! We’ll explore 'leading up' to help your leader best leverage your partnership, championing the heart of the church and its leaders and how to go above and beyond in your role. This brand-new huddle is hosted by the Executive Assistants of Southeast Christian Church, Louisville, KY and Christ Church of the Valley, Phoenix, AZ, but we need your voice, ideas, and questions to help us all grow in our calling and strengthen

your partnership with your leader! We promise three things if you attend: 1. It will be informative with resources and tools, 2. It will be engaging--offering ideas and inspiration to activate right away and 3. It will be fun, building new friendships and a community that goes beyond just an event!

Sheree Jablonski – Executive Assistant to Senior Pastor Ashley Wooldridge

Ilaya Brubaker – Executive Assistant to Executive Pastor Ben Gowell

Holly Stephens – Executive Assistant to Executive Pastor Jeff Osborne

Sara Whitbeck - EA to SP Kyle Idleman

Tessa Young - EA to XP Carl Kuhl

Jennifer Ballengee - EA to XP Steve Carter

Deedree Hall - EA to Associate Pastor Matt Reagan

Melanie Robb – Executive Assistant to Tony Burgarello (Executive Pastor)

HOW MATURE ARE YOU, YOUR SZTAFF & FUTURE STAFF? BELLE MEADE AB

Charity Byers, Brian Stone & Greg Weins

Be part of this unique Spire Huddle where you can take a new clinical assessment that actually measures emotional and spiritual health. You’ll see your private results immediately then discuss what it means for you and your staff. This theologically and psychometrically sound tool will help your team uncover emotional and spiritual health, track growth progress over time, make better hires, increase staff retention, reduce team conflict and cooperate more fully with the Holy Spirit. You will need a device that connects to theinternet to take the instrument as part of this huddle. This Huddle will be led by Blessing Ranch Ministries and Healthy Growing Leaders:

Charity Byers PhD serves asthe CEO and Psychologist for Blessing Ranch Ministries. Charity provides counseling intensives to pastors, missionaries and Christian Leaders. Coauthor of two books: Unhindered and Unhindered 30 Days, she loves continuing the mission that began with her father, Dr. John Walker, to help Christian leaders live well, lead well, and finish well.

Brian Stone is the Executive Director at Blessing Ranch Ministries. Brian also provides coaching and intensive services to pastors, missionaries and other Christian Leaders. He has over 25 years of local church leadership and coaching experience. Brian also leads retreats, housecalls and restoration teams for Blessing Ranch. Brian finished his PhD program and will graduate in October.

Greg Wiens PhD has been a creative assessment architect for over 30 years. He has worked with organizations that range in size and interest from Fortune 100 companies and public schools to non-profits. His passion is helping leaders understand how their unique wiring contributes to their productivity and sense of fulfillment. Healthy Growing Leaders grew out of Greg’s practice of helping leaders. He has authored or co-authored four books and developed twenty assessment instruments.

BREAKOUT SESSION

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 27, 2022 – BREAKOUT 1: 2:30

PM TO 3:15 PM - BREAKOUT 2: 3:30 PM TO 4:15 PM

AI AND CHURCH ENGAGEMENT - HERMITAGE B

Matt Engle

WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP - HEMITAGE E

Melissa Mashburn, Linsdey Hardin, & Dr Kelly Dagley

FIELD GUIDE TO LEADING A BUILDING PROJECT IN 2024 - CHEEKWOOD F

Dave Milam

REEDEMING YOUR TIME - HERMITAGE D

Jordan Raynor

TECHNOLOGY FOR MINISTRY - CHEEKWOOD ABC

Josh Burnett, Michael Boener, Kenny Jahng

CONFLICT RESOLUTION AND SOCIAL CONTRACT - HERMITAGE A

Ford Taylor, John Ramstead, Jackie Brewton

HOW IS YOUR CHURCH PREPPING NEW LEADERS FOR MINISTY - MAGNOLIA BOARDROOM B

Brian Leach

ORDINARY ANGELS FILM REVIEW - MAGNOLIA BALLROOM

Andy Erwin & Dave Stone

FREE MONEY FOR MINISTERS - BELLE MEADE AB

Clergy Advantage

WAIT! WHAT? NO ONE TOLD ME THAT!SEVEN THINGS THEY NEVER TAUGHT ME ABOUT CHILDREN’S MINISTRY - CHEEKWOOD GH

Justyn Smith

MIXERS SESSION

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2023 – 4:30 TO 6:00PM

LEAD & CAMPUS PASTOR - BELLE MEADE CD

Drew Depler (Host)

EXECUTIVE LEADERS - MAGNOLIA BALLROOM

Matt Wright (Host)

WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP - CHEEKWOOD D

Melissa Mashburn (Host)

CREATIVE ARTS & WORSHIP - DAVIDSON C

Danny Larsh (Host)

NEXT GEN MINISTRY (CHILDREN & STUDENTS) - TBD

Justyn Smith (Host)

DISCIPLESHIP MINISTRY - DAVIDSON D

Guest Host

OUTREACH & ENGAGEMENT - CHEEKWOOD E

Josh Finklea (Host)

COMMUNICATIONS & ADMINISTRATION - DAVIDSON B

Deedree Hall (Host)

PRECON SESSIONS

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2023 – 9:00 AM TO 3:00 PM WITH

1 DAY/1K - CHEEKWOOD GH

Shane Philip, Ben Cacharias

SPIREXP - CHEEKWOOD F

Bart Rendel & Doug Parks

WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP

- MAGNOLIA BOARDROOM B

Kelly Dagley, Lindsey Hardin, Melissa Mashburn

CHILDREN - CHEEKWOOD D Justin Halleck

STUDENTS - CHEEKWOOD E Michael Branton

WORSHIP - HERMITAGE B Jordan Howerton

CAMPUS PASTORS - DAVIDSON B Jesse DeYoung

CONNECTION & HOSPITALITY

- DAVIDSON D Greg Curtis

DISCIPLESHIP - HERMITAGE E Bart Shaw

Into The Wild

What if your first call into ministry sent you into the wild… to be tested by the devil? According to Matthew 4, that’s just what happened to Jesus. Hitting on the hot topics of Jesus’ time, the devil presents him with three tests. They probably seem a little random at first glance, but these three challenges have some major implications for how Jesus would go about establishing his new kingdom. First, the devil points out some stones and says (as interpreted by Brianne), “If you are the Son of God, just go ahead and make some bread for yourself, you don’t need to wait around for provision from your father” (Matt 4:3). Then, he takes him to a high place above the temple and says (again, as interpreted by Brianne), “You’re the son of God, right? Imagine how the people would trust you if you threw yourself down from this high place near the temple and angels rescued you? Then you could start your new kingdom!” (Matt 4:6). And lastly, overlooking all the kingdoms of the world, the devil gives his boldest challenge yet, “You see all this? It can be yours right. now. Just bow down and worship me” (Matt 4:9). With each alluring proposition, the devil tested who Jesus would depend on, trust in, and be loyal to.

Dependance Over Self-Reliance

The devil to Jesus, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread” (Matt 4:3 NRSV). Jesus to devil, “One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matt 4:4). Jesus’ points us back to a book called Deuteronomy and paints a much clearer picture of what this temptation was all about.

“Remember the long way that the Lord your God has led you… in order to make you understand that one does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord” (Deut 8:2-3 NRSV)

He reminds them that their God is bringing them into a good land where they will lack nothing.

The devil’s test was much less of a temptation for Jesus to break his fast or prove he was the Son of God. This was about dependance on God’s provision. Would Jesus obey? What was in his heart? In his refusal to the devil, Jesus emphatically answers those questions and so sets the standard for this new kingdom, it will be one that depends on the Father.

Have you ever found yourself there? On the brink of something you really want? I’m sure in that moment, a warm loaf of sourdough sounded pretty good to Jesus. But Jesus’ power would not be used in his own time and for his own gain. It would be wielded for better use, one that accompanied the potent words of his message that was for all people. You see, later in Matthew there are two stories of Jesus doing precisely what would have

been out of line for him here in chapter four: he makes bread… enough to feed thousands (Matt 14:13-21, 15:2939). The bread was not the problem. It rarely is. But will we depend on the Father enough to get the bread in his timing and for his purpose?

Trusting Over Testing

The devil gets really tricky in this next encounter. “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you’ and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone’” (Matt 4:6 NRSV)

Did you catch that? The devil used scripture back at Jesus! At the highest point of the temple, the devil quotes prophesy from the Jewish scriptures, enticing Jesus to be what the people wanted to see in a Messiah. To understand why this is such a manipulative appeal, we need some back story.

No one knew just how the long-awaited Messiah would appear, but it can be assumed that the people’s expectations were grand. “Some thought he would come from the skies, riding a cloud. Others expected him to be human-born but suddenly revealed in a decisive disclosure” (Kraybill 2018, n.p.). And where did these ideas stem from? The texts that were carefully studied and picked apart at the very temple Jesus was encouraged to create a spectacle from (Ezek 38:16; Kraybill 2018, n.p.). Jesus could avoid so much flak from the religious leaders if he convinced them of his messiahship first. Why go to the poor city of Galilee when Jerusalem and the temple, the crown jewel of the Jews, could be his?

It’s easy to see Jesus as not wanting approval from the religious leaders. After all, many of his words and parables were quite harsh on them (Matt 23, 16:6,11). However, can you imagine being rejected by the group of people who should understand you most? Maybe you can. Maybe it’s your childhood friend group, your family, or even your church community. You’ve longed for acceptance but not felt it in return. Jesus was not exempt from that pain. He taught and worshiped in the temple and studied the scriptures (Luke 2:46, 21:37). Jews were Jesus’ people. However, Jesus still refuses to appease them. He wouldn’t be their shiny sign, he wouldn’t passively accept their oppressive religious system by gaining their approval, and possibly most importantly, he wouldn’t use the Father in that way.

“Again it is written, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test,’” Jesus replies (Matt 4:7). It’s a mindset, the Lord did not owe him anything. The passage in Deut 6, which Jesus quotes here, is on the heels of Moses’ reminder to the people to not forget the Lord and all that he had given. True worship was resting in the path that would

be laid out in front of him, knowing God was in control, not asking God to prove himself in a mystical, magical act (Conville 1994, 208). It’s about trusting God instead of testing him (Turner 2005, 66).

At about 18 or 19 years old and in the middle of some big life adjustments, I vividly remember one specific night. I had grown up in church and always tried to do things “right.” But with that came a struggle, I wanted to see God “prove” himself. I grew up hearing crazy stories of encounters with God that others had, and I thought if I could just have my own it would validate everything. That night I remember the tears streaming down my face, laying on the floor, begging God for a sign. But nothing. After some time, I breathed deep, wiped my eyes, and said this prayer, “God, I’ll go wherever you want, I just want to see you.” Hardest but best prayer of my life. In the decade since, I will tell you, I still haven’t gotten my “crazy sign moment,” but you know what I have gotten? A tender and adventurous relationship with the God who is just as sweetly found in the trials and mundane as in the mystical or magical. A relationship that doesn’t equate to a flashy testimony or “proof” of the divine but one that has brought me more peace than I ever thought possible that night on my living room floor.

Loyalty Over Legacy

In their last bout, the devil lays it all on the table. He knows Jesus’ prerogative: to contest his dominion over the kingdoms of the earth (France 1985, 105). And here, the devil seems to give up the fight. He will hand it all over right there if Jesus will simply bow down and worship him. No tussle with the religious leaders, no upsetting Rome. “Just bow to me and it’s all yours” (Matt 4:9).

One thing a lot of people don’t understand about Jesus and his upbringing was the political chaos that was all around. We often picture Jesus growing up in somewhat of a fantasy world, like those pictured in the countryside on our favorite childhood movies. However, Jesus grew up in Palestine, the center of revolution that was full of violence, force, and bloodshed (Kraybill 2018, n.p.). This offer from the devil proposed that Jesus could take control back for his people and end the oppressive rule of Rome (Kraybill 2018, n.p.). The offer doesn’t sound so crazy now, does it?

For Matthew’s Jewish audience, two scenes would have come to mind as the kingdoms of the world were presented to Jesus on a mountaintop. Two characters have had this same encounter… but with YHWH (Turner 2005, 66). Abraham in Gen 13 and Moses on a mountaintop in Deuteronomy 34. Not only would have Matthew’s Jewish audience had this play in their heads, but Jesus himself. The Israelites, time and again, forgot their God, YHWH. They pledged their loyalty somewhere else, trying to forge a path to the promise outside of him (Exod 32:1-10; Num 14:1-2, 21:5). They knew the promise, they knew the YHWH God who would fulfill that promise, they just kept forgetting to keep their dependance on, trust in, and loyalty to him. With this

in mind, Jesus bluntly rejects the offer (Turner 2005, 67). “Away with you, Satan! For is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him’” (Matt 4:10). Jesus would not allow the end to justify the means (France 1985, 104). His commitment to serving the Father alone outweighed any desire to make things right on his own. If Jesus was going to see this new kingdom, he could not follow in his ancestor’s footsteps. They had tried the dominance, the testing, and the worship of idols. Jesus was ready to carve a new and better path (Turner 2005, 67).

The devil wasn’t asking Jesus to give up the cross or deny the Father in these encounters. Except for maybe the last challenge, these were seemingly harmless acts. And isn’t that like life? A lot of decisions you make are not going to be blatantly good or evil. That’s part of what can make Christianity seem difficult or confusing. But here’s what I know, the more you step into small decisions that show dependance on, trust in, and loyalty to God, the more you will see God.

This kingdom stuff is upside-down. Sometimes it’s so counter to the world that you will feel crazy but here’s what I know: The Father knows best. I think that’s what got Jesus through this encounter. I think he knew that the Father was good, faithful, and trustworthy. He knew the path of the Father always leads to victory and resurrection. The path of the Father will always outwit, outlast, outshine that of the devil… or that of ourselves. It is a path that leads to full life and a kingdom that will last forever. The path that leads us into the wild… in the best way.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Conville, Gordon. 1994. “Deuteronomy.” Pages 198–232. New Bible Commentary. 4th ed. Edited by D. A. Carson et al. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

France, R.T. 1985. Matthew: An Introduction and Commentary. Vol 1. Edited by Leon Morris. Downer’s Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press. Kraybill, Donald B. 2018. The Upside-Down Kingdom. Anniversary Edition. Harrisonburg, VA: Herald Press.

Turner, David L. 2005. Cornerstone Biblical Commentary: The Gospel of Matthew and Mark. Edited by Philip W. Comfort. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

Brianne Bookout is the Kids & Youth Director at Shepherd Church and lives in Southern California.

Jenni Catron

5 Unexpected Trust-Building Behaviors

Trust. The elusive relational equity everyone longs for but struggles to know how to build. We take it for granted when we have it, and we are often surprised once we realize we’ve lost it.

The foundational element for every team is trust. Yet time after time when I’m working with leaders on their culture, one of the first issues they cite is lack of trust. They are quick to request a trust-building workshop or a staff talk on trust.

The problem with trust is that it isn't a one time initiative, but rather the outcome of ongoing behavior. The opportunity for every leader is that there are simple and consistent things you can do to build trust, and some of the most trust-building activities are things you can control.

At the heart of trust is the ability to depend on the other person. As a result, we quickly assume our character and integrity should be enough to establish trust. This is certainly a baseline and, without consistent character and a moral compass, trust will not exist. But frankly, in the organizations I serve, this is rarely the issue. Serving primarily faith-based or values-based organizations, character and integrity are typically prerequisites for the role.

With character and integrity assumed, we then jump to relational connection. To build trust we must have a relationship with each other. Again, this is an important part of trust-building but what I often see are leaders focusing on staff get-togethers and fun events, while undermining their trust-building efforts in other ways.

Effective delegation lands somewhere in between, where you are clear with expectations, define the key elements of the responsibility you’re delegating, and provide regular coaching for success.

Leaders who delegate well build trust.

2. Accountability

How well do you hold team members accountable for their responsibilities? When team members know what is expected of them and you consistently have conversations about their responsibilities, you build trust. When team members know what to expect, they can confidently engage in their work. Much like delegation, we tend to operate in extremes on this one as well. We either avoid having conversations to hold people accountable or, under stress, we intensely start checking in on things we feel uncertain about.

When you set up consistent processes for holding your team accountable, you build trust because you have created a predictable culture that helps team members know how to succeed. Accountability is fostered through having clear goals for each team member, having dashboards that show progress on those goals that are reviewed regularly, and having 1:1 meetings weekly where progress is discussed.

Leaders who create accountable environments build trust.

5 Subtle Ways You’re

Eroding Trust With

Your Team In organizational systems, there are behaviors that are critical to defining how you work together to achieve the mission. If these behaviors are inconsistent, nonexistent, or erratic you will erode trust. While character and relational chemistry are helpful to building trust, your leadership behavior does far more to build or erode trust.

1. Delegation

How effectively are you delegating to your team? Delegation is a function of empowerment and team members want to be empowered to fulfill the work they have signed up for. Delegation tends to have its extremes. We are either highly directive, which presents like micro-management, or we completely abdicate responsibility with no coaching.

3. Communication

Are you equipping your team members with the right information at the right time? Leaders often suffer from what one leader described as “in the know amnesia.” When you are in a senior leadership seat, you are privy to information and assume others are in the know as well. Being intentional and thoughtful to adequately inform your team is a critical trust-builder in organizational life. Good communication requires good systems. What do you need to communicate weekly in your all-staff meeting that is critical to every team member? What needs to be cascaded from your leadership team meetings, and do you have a process for clarifying who will communicate what and when? These simple practices of proactively thinking about what needs to be communicated to whom are essential for communication to flow well, and for team members to feel appropriately informed.

Leaders who communicate well build trust.

4. Decision-making

How do you make decisions, and does your team understand your process? When leaders are hasty, erratic, or indecisive in their decision-making it creates doubt, fear, and uncertainty, which erodes trust in a culture. The larger your team and the more complex your organization becomes, the more important it is that leaders don’t make “lone ranger” decisions.

When your team understands there is a process to how decisions are made in your organization, they can be much more confident in the quality of those decisions and more likely to trust those decisions.

Leaders who make consistent, thoughtful decisions build trust.

5. Self-awareness

Do you know what it’s like to be on the other side of you? Leaders are often derailed by their lack of self-awareness. It’s human nature to extend grace to ourselves because we understand our intentions and expect others to as well. That perspective is unfair and irresponsible.

As the leader you need to have the self-awareness to understand how you are perceived by your team. What habits drive your team crazy? What behaviors do you default to under pressure?

If you lack self-awareness your team will struggle to trust your judgment. They don’t need you to be perfect, but they need to see you humbly seek feedback and acknowledge the areas where you struggle.

Leaders who are honest about their shortcomings and demonstrate self-awareness, build trust.

Which of these five behaviors is the greatest struggle for you? I encourage you to pick one to focus on first. Seek out a few team members for feedback on how you could improve in this area and begin to give it conscious focus.

Trust is built by consistent behavior over time. Good organizational behavior is an extraordinary trust builder that requires patient and persistent commitment. Healthy organizational behavior fosters trust and builds great teams.

Jenni Catron is a leadership coach, author and speaker. Her passion is to cultivate healthy leaders to lead thriving organizations. She speaks at conferences and events nationwide, seeking to help leaders develop the clarity and confidence to lead well. As Founder and CEO of The 4Sight Group, she consults organizations on leadership, team culture and organizational health. With over 25 years experience in corporate and non-profit organizations, Jenni has a passion for helping leaders “put feet to their vision”.

Jenni is the author of several books including Clout: Discover and Unleash Your God-Given Influence and The 4 Dimensions of Extraordinary Leadership. She loves a fabulous cup of tea, great books, learning the game of tennis and hiking with her husband. Jenni can be found on social media at @jennicatron and at www. get4sight.com.

Curious about how well you’re building trust with your team?

Scan this barcode to download our free resource, My Trust-Building Checklist, designed to give you awareness of some of the simple things that could be unintentionally diminishing trust rather than building it.

Brian Taylor

The Fear of the Unknown

We'd likely all agree we're past "unprecedented" these days. Unprecedented has become the new precedent. Change has forced us out of our comfort zones and the tensions stretch our organizations to the max. In our team's work in staffing and coaching, we often find ourselves in the trenches with ministry leaders dealing with mounting challenges, disintegrated team cultures, burned-out staff, and organizations under the strain of carrying something they were not anticipating. The impact of the changing landscape of this age is tangible.

In all of this, I find comfort in knowing Jesus builds His church. His invitation to us is one of partnership, not pressure. Yet, I've also found that this invitation is often like the one God gives Abraham in Genesis 12 (in my own words): "Leave where you are and start going, and I'll tell you where you're going while you're on the way."

Many of us find ourselves there today. We sense God's call, and like Abraham, we've started on the journey as the Lord has told us. However, knowing we're on a mission doesn't make it any less intimidating. A lot can happen between a promise and its fulfillment, and that space in between can be harrowing.

Last year, I had the opportunity to go on a retreat hosted by a good friend. The trip took us deep into the mountains of Wyoming. I'm talking two flights, a three-hour drive, no cell service, and nothing around for miles but breathtaking landscapes. It would be a time to disconnect and recharge. This team had created a refreshing refuge for leaders to rest. It sounded like an absolute dream from the beginning, but that's not what I felt as I sat in my garage, bags packed, and calendar telling me it was time to head to the airport. I felt dread.

If I'm being honest, I don't do well with "the unknown." I'm a creative leader who loves a spreadsheet and a strategic plan. While I enjoy adventures, I felt exposed and vulnerable in that moment. There was too much that I didn't know. "What if I don't like it? What if I don't mesh well with the other leaders? What if I get hurt? What if something happens at home while I'm away? What if my wife or kids need me?"

On and on, the questions swirled in my mind as I struggled to put my car in reverse and get on the road. I'll spare you all the details, but when I arrived, I realized many of the guys had experienced the same thing I had that morning, and by the end of the trip, all of us had been profoundly impacted by the time away. It stretched me, but I would have missed out on so much if I hadn't taken the risk of going.

There's nothing like "the unknown" to stir up feelings that can cause anxiety and discomfort. It reminds me of Jesus calming the storm in Mark 4. The storm comes up, and the disciples are terrified, yet Jesus is somehow sleeping in the stern of the boat. They wake Him up and ask, "Don't You care if we drown?" If the disciples are anything like us, that wasn't a question. I think what they were really saying was, "If you cared, we wouldn't be here in the middle of this."

Have you ever been there?

"Don't You care that we don't have enough staff or resources?"

"Don't You care that I'm in transition unexpectedly?"

"Don't You care that I'm stuck and can’t figure a way out?"

"Don't You care that they hurt me?"

"Don't You care that I'm exhausted?"

"Don't You care that my marriage is struggling?"

"Don't You care that I had all this planned out, and now everything has changed?"

We often ask these questions because Jesus has not acted in a way that meets our expectations. Jesus is sleeping in the storm, but we'd rather see Him up with us. He's been silent, and we'd rather hear Him shouting from Heaven which way we're supposed to go.

He's got a plan, but we'd much prefer Him to adopt ours.

Imagine for a moment what it would have looked like if the disciples had taken their cues from Jesus. The same peace to sleep in the middle of the raging waves and wind was available to them. But they didn’t realize it.

As we live and lead in the unknown, what if we took our cues from Jesus instead of the storm?

Here are three ways to do that:

1. Remember that Jesus is in the boat…and this is not unknown to Him.

We "know" this, but sometimes, as we get buried in our circumstances, we can forget it. Jesus is in the boat with you, and He cares. For the disciples, the story started with Him saying, "Let us go over to the other side." He has the destination in mind and will get us there. What takes us by surprise is not a surprise to Him. He sees all, knows all, and holds all things together. It's this understanding that anchors us in the unknown.

2. Release the burden of your idea of perfection.

Take a breath as you read that one again. God cares about how we steward what He's given us, but it's not ours. It's His. To be effective, we must be willing to die to our references and preferences in service to His plan. Much of what has gotten us here has served us well. We will take some of it into what He's doing next. But we must be willing to take on Spirit-led risks to dream, to innovate, and to reach those who need this hope that we have.

3. Recalibrate your reality.

We're constantly building new roads and highways in North Dallas, where I live. The maps app on my phone struggles to keep up. Is there anything more frustrating than making a turn and realizing that the app thought you were on another road? Some of us are leading our lives and our ministries like this. We're basing our directions on outdated information. It's time to recalibrate. We must align our expectation with today's new realities. We can't play yesterday's playbook and expect to get to tomorrow's victory.

We must take the time to gather fresh perspectives and vision, gain buy-in from our key stakeholders, and then follow the plan God has given us while holding it loosely. The path may need to change. The methodology may need to be adjusted. The goalpost may need to move. This route takes courage, but He has called you to it. When David stepped onto the battlefield with Goliath in 1 Samuel 17, he did what no other leader had been willing to do until then. Verse 45 says, "David replied…" We must be ready to speak up and step forward when others shrink back. Silence suffocates hope, but strength comes when we take courage and be the leader God has called us to be.

Don't allow fear of the unknown to keep you from experiencing the favor that comes with obedience. God is not just able; He is willing. He is here to help you navigate the right path. He is ready to give you the strength and capacity you need. It's time to hit the road and confidently head out into the unknown with Him.

Brian Taylor has served and equipped the local church for nearly 20 years. His background spans various denominations, cultures, church sizes, and settings. As a worship pastor, he loves creating transformational worship environments. As a member of senior leadership teams, his mission has been to help clarify vision and strategy, cultivate healthy team culture, and develop strong leaders. He is also passionate about resourcing churches and leaders called to multicultural and multiethnic ministry, helping them embrace and empower diverse teams.

Brian brings all this to his role as Vice President of Worship & Creative Arts at Slingshot Group (slingshotgroup.org), helping churches build remarkable teams through staffing and coaching in Worship, Production, and Digital/Communications. He and his wife Lauren also serve as the Worship & Creative Pastors at Covenant Church (covenantchurch.org) north of Dallas, Texas, where they live with their two beautiful kids

A Helper in the Wild

Imagine this: you find yourself dropped in the vast Alaskan wilderness with no trace of civilization in sight. Your survival hinges solely on your expertise and ten essential survival tools strapped to your back. How long would you survive?

I've personally considered this scenario for myself! It’s the premise of my favorite History Channel show, "Alone." I wonder if I could match the impressive 77-day survival feat of Jordan Jonas in Season 6? That man was a survival beast!

There’s a small part of me (the part that lacks self-awareness) that believes Jordan’s instincts exist somewhere deep inside of me. But that’s far from reality. I’m barely surviving Midwest suburbia! Field dressing a thousand-pound moose with a pocket knife? Unlikely. I’m still cutting 8oz steaks with the side of my fork. Repelling a wolverine with a hatchet? I'm still not sure whether Bear Repellent is meant for my clothes or the bear itself. Packing a hundred survival tools would do me no good. My only hope would be to bring Jordan himself!

Tools for the wild.

Being dropped into the wilderness is not as far-fetched of a scenario as you'd think. It's not hard to see that the American church is heading into a wilderness. I wonder, as a leader, if you have what it takes to survive? You're self-aware enough to know that you don’t, at least not on your own. Isn't that why you attend leadership conferences? You're collecting tools. You're hungry for expertise. You're filling your pack with the latest trends and insights. Maybe you're hoping to find a 5-year roadmap out of the wilderness, or at least enough inspiration to get you through the next year.

One of the biggest mistakes church leaders make in the wild is relying solely on the latest tools. We assume survival comes by building buildings or joining TikTok and Threads. We put our hope in online campuses and navigating ChatGPT. (Perhaps in ten years we’ll read this paragraph again and realize how silly this all sounds). It’s true, conferences, cohorts, and colleges will load your belt with a myriad of shiny tools. And that's great! Tools are needed! But, when it comes to braving the wild, tools alone won't do. What you really need is a guide, a helper, to navigate the wild ahead. And you know someone with more experienced in the wild than Jordan Jonas.

A Helper in the Wild.

One of my favorite descriptions of the Holy Spirit comes from Jesus. As he was telling his disciples that they would be leading the church into the wild, he emphasized that would not be able to survive alone; they would need “The Helper.” The Holy Spirit is not called that pejoratively, as if he were some kind of part-time help for busy leaders. It’s the opposite! He’s called The Helper because we are a lowly people in desperate need of help.

If you are going to survive the years ahead, you’ll need to rely on The Helper more than the latest tools you’ve acquired along the way. It’s the power of an experienced Helper that leads to survival. And there is no one more experienced than he.

He led Abraham through the wilderness of Canaan. He led Moses through the wilderness of the Sinai. He led Jesus through the wilderness of temptation. He led the early Church through the wilderness of Rome. And he’ll lead you through any wilderness ahead. The Holy Spirit is more experienced in the wild than we’ll ever be. So bring your tools. But follow the Helper.

When uncertainty clouds your next steps, turn to The Helper. When he moves forward, set forth. When he sets up camp, settle in. When challenges arise, seek refuge in his presence. When words fail you in prayer, let him intercede through your groans. When you sense that he’s chopping down idols, don’t get in his way. And when you encounter death, let his breath refill your lungs.

I'm not sure how you feel about the challenges ahead, but you can be confident of this: you have a Helper. You don’t have to go alone. If you're feeling drawn to the wild, it’s not because of the skills, talents, and tools you possess. It’s because of the Holy Spirit that possesses you.

Lead well. And don’t leave him behind.

Nikomas Perez is the Lead Pastor at Harvester Christian Church (St. Louis, MO). He has also ministered in Chicago and Ferguson. He has one wife, three kids, and a motorcycle. Nikomas has not written a book, but has read a handful. They were pretty good.

Nikomas Perez

Convergence

When I was an eighth grader. I said to my pastor, “Where’s all the cool stuff?” He answered, “What are you talking about?” I tried to explain to him that as I read the New Testament I realized even at my age that the amazing stories on the pages were not replicated in ways I could see around me among Christians.

Jesus and His followers had all these cool things happen around them. I wanted to know where all the cool stuff was today! He then said, “Jon, Jesus was God; you’re not God. Your expectations have to change.”

I had already accepted the fact that Jesus was God, so I reluctantly changed my expectations. Years later, I understood why he responded the way he did, but I came to realize that though his basic statement was true, it didn’t go far enough. As God come in the flesh, Jesus isn’t just our Saviour and our Lord; He is also our model.

That might not sound all that earth-shattering to you, but I believe you’ll realize as you really reflect that Jesus’ role as our model should have just as much impact on our lives as the fact that He is Lord and Savior. This is because Jesus, though always God, deliberately chose to limit His divine attributes and power in order not only to show us who God is but also to demonstrate for us what the normal Christian life should look like.

Jesus used spiritual disciplines to walk with the Father, and develop and learn as we do: “Jesus grew in wisdom and stature and in favour with God and man” (Luke 2:52).

Jesus also used spiritual gifts (not His inherent power) to actually carry out His ministry while on earth. And He used the promptings He received from the Father and the Spirit to lead His disciples into moments of revival. His life is the ultimate example of convergence.

You see, convergence is when three unexpected things come together. Spiritual gifts, spiritual disciplines (or practices), and unusual works of the Spirit (revival) converge to form the authentic Christian life.

These are signs of the living Church; the one Jesus founded and that He promised would prevail even against the gates of hell.

Perhaps many of us live out our spiritual lives in ways where those three things aren’t taught or practiced. Sometimes we tend to focus on one of these and exclude or minimize the others. Sometimes we make

spiritual practices the central point of discipleship. Or, other times, we emphasize spiritual gifts as the main thing. Convergence describes believers determined to see all three come together. If Jesus provided that model, that should be the walk of every believer, no matter how we might differ in other ways. If Jesus provided that model, that should be the walk of every believer, no matter how we might differ in other ways.

Though spiritual gifts are normal and assigned, and though the spiritual disciplines are normal and should be practiced by everyone, during times of revival/ renewal there is a greater openness to what God is doing. This leads to heightened awareness and prayer to recognize and encourage gifts that have not been seen before. It’s not about the giving of the gifts, but fanning them into flame.

Remember when Jesus talked about wineskins? Many attempts at adaptation by local churches have focused only on changing models, but Jesus said, “And no one after drinking old wine wants the new for they say, ‘The old is better’”(Luke 5:39).

Convergence recognizes the usefulness of new “wineskins” and new “wine” but doesn’t lose sight of the “old wine.” If it’s hard for you to imagine what I’m describing in today’s setting, here’s how I’d put it: If we could get Tim Keller, John Wimber, Dallas Willard, and J.I. Packer to take turns speaking, while we sing Bethel and Hillsong worship music and celebrate communion like Anglicans!

There’s no scarcity of fine “old wine” and very good “new wine” too. You see, the various “streams” of old and new traditions I just mentioned seldom converge in one place—but they should.

I remember sitting in a class when my professor pointed to a three-legged stool and changed my life forever. He said, “See that stool? Take away one leg and what happens? If you’re sitting on it, you’ll fall over.” That is what’s happening in hearts all over the world. Having a clear view of Jesus doesn’t in itself ensure personal discipleship. We can know a lot of truth about Christ and still live ineffective, disobedient, and powerless lives.

Jon Thompson

The first leg of the stool represents allegiance, primarily faith in Christ as Lord and Savior. This is faith as an active verb as well as a body of belief. It is a growing trust that allows God to do His saving work on our behalf completed in Christ on the cross and continued by the Holy Spirit daily. This matches up with Jesus’ claim in John 14:6 to be the Way.

The second leg represents truth. This is the teaching of the whole counsel of God, continuously displacing lies and training followers of Jesus to greater understanding of God’s will and God’s ways.

Though we come across truth and insight continuously throughout life, the Scriptures, as stated, are the Supreme Court in our quest for truth and present the final word.

Jesus told us in John 16:13 that the one He would plant within us would guide us into all truth. That is why, in Acts 2, the first description of the early church starts with the Apostles teaching.

It’s also why Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 3:16, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.”

Jesus also called Himself the Truth (John 14:6).

The third leg of the stool represents spiritual power. Because every single one of us is a part of the fallen human race and can be under the influence and power of the devil, it is crucial that we depend on the power made available to us by Jesus and the Father sending the Holy Spirit to indwell His people. Jesus is not just our Savior and Lord; He is our model.

We are not just talking about the correct doctrine of the Holy Spirit as the third person in the Trinity, but also the active, immediate, promised, and experienced work of the Holy Spirit in this messed up place we call the world.

Asserting the power of the Holy Spirit as a line in the Apostles’ Creed is not quite the same as relying on and seeing the Holy Spirit very much at work in a myriad of ways in people’s lives, much as we see happen in the pages of Scripture. This matches up with Jesus’ claim in John 14:6 to be the life.

Jesus is not just our Savior and Lord; He is our model.In Him and through history, though under many different names, we see convergence happen again and again, with world-changing results.

Now is the time to return to the only place of guaranteed power, of guaranteed transformation, and guaranteed life change–the place where the world truly is changed and where the kingdom comes on earth as it is in heaven.

Lord hear our prayer, and make us like this. Amen.

Jon Thompson is the Senior Pastor of Sanctus Church, a multi-site church in the Greater Toronto Area where he has been on staff for 25 years.

Jon has a Master of Theological Studies from Tyndale Seminary, Toronto and a Doctorate of Missiology from Fuller Seminary, California. Jon is husband to Joanna and father to three kids—Hannah, Emma, and Noah.

Jon speaks and teaches globally on spiritual conflict, spiritual gifts, spiritual practices & spiritual experiences in the life of the believer and the local church. He also speaks on pastoral leadership and long-term ministry experiences. He is the Author of Convergence, Deliverance and Perseverance and ispassionate about engaging seekers, skeptics, and believers about the Christian faith. Jon has authored two best-selling books: Convergence and Deliverance.

The Wilderness Is No Excuse

'A year after Israel’s departure from Egypt, the Lord spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai. In the first month of that year he said, “Tell the Israelites to celebrate the Passover at the prescribed time, at twilight on the fourteenth day of the first month. Be sure to follow all my decrees and regulations concerning this celebration.” So Moses told the people to celebrate the Passover in the wilderness of Sinai as twilight fell on the fourteenth day of the month. And they celebrated the festival there, just as the Lord had commanded Moses. ' Numbers 9:1-5 NLT

What should have been an eleven day journey from Egypt into the land of promise is now in its second year. Far from being in the comfort of Egypt and in the promise of Canaan, God’s people are in the wilderness of Sinai. It’s one thing to face a delay in arriving at your destination. It’s another thing to face the delay within the context of a wilderness. Of the many places that you may choose to spend time, the wilderness would not be among your top five. The wilderness is a dry place. It’s an empty place. It’s a barren place. It’s a lonely place. It’s a place of vulnerability. It is the abode of the wild and the venomous.

Entering their second year of freedom in the wilderness of Sinai, God tells Moses, “Tell the Israelites to celebrate the Passover at the prescribed time, at twilight on the fourteenth day of the first month. Be sure to follow all my decrees and regulations concerning this celebration.” I was struck by this because God demands that they celebrate the Passover at the set time on schedule following all of the rules. He does not say wait until they get into the promised land. He says at the set time on schedule. They are to follow all of the rules. He does not lessen the requirements.

You would think that God knowing what He knew about the people would give the people a break based upon their being in the wilderness. He knows that they’re in a rough place. Why doesn’t He cut them some slack and let them off the hook for the Passover that year? If He’s going to require it, at least He should let them do it a little later. However, it doesn’t. Perhaps the reason why it doesn’t is that God is sending the message that the wilderness is no excuse.

This is a tough pill to swallow. All of us have had times when we felt or feel that God should not expect as much from us. We are prone to feel that God knowing

who and where we are should understand that some periods in life should exempt us from worshipping and serving. Certainly, the dry times, the lonely times, the empty times, the harsh times, and the times when we are in the midst wild and savage circumstances should be times when we receive excused absences from God. God should give us a permission slip to be less dedicated, less committed, and less faithful. While we may feel this way, God continues to speak to us and call us up to the standards and expectations that He has set for us as His people. In so doing, He tells us that the wilderness is no excuse.

The wilderness is no excuse because worship and service a re relational, not locational. The people of God are in the wilderness. Yet, they are told to celebrate the Passover because, while their location may have changed, their relationship had not changed. They are still the people of God. The status of their location had not changed the status of their relationship.

Our being in the wilderness does not change our being the people of God. Our worship comes out of our relationship with God. God still claims us as His own and we are still able to claim Him as our own. We are still His sons and daughters.

Leading people into the wild necessitates maintaining the focus of who we are in relationship to God being unchanging despite the changes in our location. Our identity has not changed. Our connection has not changed. We are in the wild with a relationship with God. The wilderness is not an indication of a relationship change because God has not changed. We’re in a different location with the same God. God is who He is with us having the same power in the wilderness.

The wilderness is no excuse because worship and service are response to what God has done. They are told to celebrate the Passover in the wilderness. They are told to celebrate an objective reality in a changing environment. The Passover was an objective reality. God delivered them from Egypt by the death angel striking the first born of Egypt who did not have the blood of the lamb upon the door posts and passing over those who did. God used this to bring them out of bondage in Egypt. God redeemed them. The wilderness did not change that. They were still the people whom God redeemed from the hand of Pharaoh. God tells them to celebrate His redemption in a dry place. The drought didn’t cancel their redemption. Likewise, the wilderness, the dry seasons don’t cancel our redemption. We are among the redeemed in the wilderness.

The celebration of the Passover anchors them in the reality of the power of God. It reminds them that God brought them out of bondage. It assures them that if God brought them out of bondage then surely God can see them through what they are currently facing. The

Claude Alexander

wilderness is not permanent. The God who brought them out of Egypt is the God who is able to see them through the wilderness. In fact, He brought them out of Egypt to take them somewhere. They have yet to reach their destination.

Like Israel, we have objective celebrations; the death and resurrection of Jesus. Through Baptism and the Lord’s Supper, we recall the power of God in Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. Our celebrating both Jesus’ death and resurrection and our dying and rising in Jesus should anchor us upon the power of God when we’re in the wilderness. The God who brought us out of what was in our past is the God who is able to see us through the wilderness that we currently face. It’s looking back at our track record with God and celebrating the fact that if God brought us out of that, then certainly God can see us through this. In fact, God didn’t bring us out of that for this to be our final end. Too much was invested when God brought us out for the wilderness to be our last stop. Every time that we celebrate what the Lord has done, we are reminding ourselves that the current wilderness is not the end. It is not over.

The wilderness is no excuse because worship and service of God in the wilderness is possible because of the supply of the Lord. God tells them to celebrate the Passover in the wilderness. In doing so, God is also saying that they will have what they need in the wilderness. Rather than the wilderness being their excuse not to worship and serve, the wilderness will be their reason for worshipping and serving. God is supplying their need in the wilderness. God is making ways for them in the wilderness. God is keeping them in the wilderness. God is feeding them in the wilderness. God is growing them in the wilderness. God is multiplying them in the wilderness. Their shoes have not worn out in the wilderness. Their clothes have not worn out in the wilderness. Their flocks have not died in the wilderness. They are in the wilderness with animals and grain to offer.

This challenges us to flip our scripts. Rather than using the wilderness as an excuse not to worship and serve God, God would have us look at what He’s been doing in our lives in the wilderness as the reason to worship and serve. He’s been taking care of us in the wilderness. He’s been watching over us in the wilderness. He’s been sustaining us in the wilderness. He’s been holding us together in the wilderness. He’s been keeping us sane in the wilderness. He’s been fighting our battles in the wilderness. He’s kept lions and wolves away in the wilderness. He’s provided water for our thirst in the wilderness. He’s been bread for our hunger in the wilderness. He’s been light for our darkness in the wilderness.

As we lead people into the wild, may we lead them into thanksgiving and praise with the wilderness not being an excuse, but motivation. We enter the wild with thanksgiving, with praise, with awe and wonder. God is God in our wilderness.

Bishop Claud Alexander Jr. serves as senior pastor for The Park Church in Charlotte, NC. He is past president of the Hampton University Ministers Conference, and currently serves on the governing boards of Christianity Today, GordonConwell Theological Seminary, and Wycliffe Bible Translators. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from Morehouse College (1985), a Master of Divinity Degree from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary (1988), and a Doctor of Ministry Degree from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (2004). He and his wife Kimberly have two daughters, Camryn and Carsyn

Coffee with a Cause

“Faith is a journey, not a guilt trip.” That’s the tagline for Liquid Church in Parsippany, New Jersey. Launched in 2007 by Lead Pastor Tim Lucas, the name “Liquid” was chosen for a simple reason.

“Jesus calls himself the living water, and we believe church should be the most refreshing place on the planet,” says Lucas.

Roughly 5,000 people attend services weekly, more than half of whom have been baptized at Liquid. According to Lucas, both churched and unchurched individuals are thirsty for the same thing—a life-giving relationship with Christ and the community. This is why the church’s other saying is, “Teamwork makes God’s dream work.”

Liquid Church has both a global and a local signature mission. Their local mission is to serve families living with special needs. Their global mission is to bring clean water to families in Africa and Central America. To date, the church has donated $3 million to drill 360 wells, which equates to bringing clean drinking water to 130,000 people in nine different nations.

As for their local mission, New Jersey boasts robust educational and social services opportunities for kids with special needs, which entices people to move to the state to access these resources. Every week the church serves more than 100 children with autism, Asperger’s, Down syndrome, ADHD and other special needs. They have found, however, that as children age out of traditional learning environments, the supports that the teens had grown accustomed to fall away. Additionally, the majority of these young adults are unemployed, lacking the opportunity to land meaningful work.

“We asked, ‘What can we do as a church to marry our two signature missions, special needs and clean water?’” says Lucas.

The millennials in the congregation—whom Lucas refers to as the heartbeat of the church—recognized the importance of a one-on-one “buddy system” for the individuals with special needs. Therefore, they came up with an idea to open the Clean Water Café—a full-service coffee house located inside the church that would employ people with special needs and give proceeds to help provide clean water for the world’s poorest.

“It’s a win-win,” says Lucas. “It’s a not-for-profit, but it generates a social profit.”

When the idea for the café was pitched to the congregation in 2018, they were immediately on board, donating $400,000 to make this dream a reality. The café opened in October 2022 with 20 staff members who work as baristas, cashiers and waitstaff to serve breakfast, lunch and specialty drinks.

“Customers pass by Dunkin’ and Starbucks to come to Clean Water Café because it’s coffee with a cause,” says Lucas. “[The purpose of] this business is not to earn money but to change lives.”

“We are so proud of our café staff, who have learned their responsibilities well and are so encouraging that they not only provide excellent service to each customer,” says Executive Pastor Dave Brooks, “but they are also working hard to make the café the happiest place on the planet.”

Sydney, who was born with developmental delays, says that when Pastor Lucas announced the café, she and her mom grabbed each other and started sobbing. “I just hope to have a purpose every day, and to lead a normal life,” says Sydney. “I feel for individuals who are like me. This café will give them the chance to prove their self-worth. It’ll impact not only the families, but it’ll impact the customers because they may come in having a bad day and when they grab a cup of coffee, they may leave thinking, it wasn’t such a bad day.”

Jaxon, who is on the autism spectrum, graduated high school but doesn’t have the ability to enter mainstream employment.

“He’s had verbal developmental delays and couldn’t make eye contact or talk to strangers,” explains Lucas. “But after just a few weeks behind the counter, he became one of the most outgoing of our baristas who now can make eye contact and speaks people’s names with confidence. He realizes that when he hands lattes to customers, they get so happy.”

It pleases Lucas to see these special-needs individuals grow by leaps and bounds in their relational skills as they fulfill their purpose and use their gifts for Christ.

“It’s been a thrilling adventure,” he says.

This article was originally published online by Outreach Magazine on April 3rd, 2023. Author: Christy HeitgerEwing.

Tim Lucas

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Jesse DeYoung

The Significance of Staff Values and 5 Guidelines for Establishing Them

In a thought-provoking anecdote, a seasoned business leader from our church shared his experience attending a small roundtable event many years ago, featuring none other than Jack Welch, the renowned former General Electric (GE) executive of the turn of the century. Surprisingly, Jack Welch disclosed that he dedicated a staggering 80% of his time to focusing on culture. Eighty percent.

This revelation by Welch in the 90s presaged a realization now gaining traction among post-pandemic leaders—culture stands as your organization's most potent asset. A robust culture stands as the dividing line between highly motivated team members and those who exert the bare minimum effort. It distinguishes between departmental isolation and cross-departmental collaboration, and it plays a pivotal role in either high or low employee retention rates. Forbes reports that when employees are content with their organizational culture, a striking 77% of them are inclined to stay with their employer, compared to a mere 24% in less favorable cultural environments.1 According to Glassdoor, culture trumps leadership, advancement opportunities, worklife balance, and compensation in importance.2 Culture is, unequivocally, your organization's paramount advantage.

Culture permeates your organization, even if it remains intangible, indescribable, or undefined. It leaves an indelible mark on your team, influencing their experiences within the office, during team meetings, informal office conversations, and even when they return home. Culture has an impact on everyone, every day.

Culture is essentially the set of behaviors that emerge when a group of individuals spends an extended period together. It can arise from shared philosophies and perspectives among the group, or it may be the result of a dynamic leader drawing like-minded individuals into the organization. However, unless this culture is meticulously defined, described, and systematically integrated into the organization, it can never reach its full potential. Clarity is the lifeblood of a thriving culture.

If your goal is to cultivate a healthy culture, your starting point should be the establishment of staff values. If a robust culture is the destination, fully implemented staff values serve as the waypoints along the journey, translating broad cultural objectives into specific behaviors.

Staff Values represent the traits that define how a team interacts—the labels may vary, from staff values to cultural values or behavioral values. These values constitute a list of the team's finest attributes, focusing less on what they do and more on how they do it. They serve to provide clarity across all organizational levels, ensuring that every team member comprehends the expectations.

To establish clear staff values, assemble a group of no more than 15 individuals for a brainstorming session. It is often beneficial to involve an impartial facilitator from outside the organization to provide fresh perspectives. Together, you'll brainstorm the characteristics exhibited by your staff when they are operating at their best.

Here are five guidelines for crafting effective Staff Values:

Keep it Collaborative: This discussion shouldn't be limited to the Lead Pastor, Elder Board, or Executive Team. In fact, relying solely on senior-level input to define your culture can result in a disconnected view. As you ascend within your organization, your visibility into lower levels diminishes. Therefore, engage key stakeholders from various levels to participate in the brainstorming process.

Keep it Realistic: Avoid the common pitfall of organizational leaders imposing values on their team without any input or discussion. Such values might not align with the team's true identity, likely reflecting the leader's desires instead. Not all values should be aspirational; some should represent enduring qualities deeply ingrained in the organization's history.

Keep it Simple: Aim for a concise list of 7-10 values. Some may be readily apparent, while others may require more effort to articulate. Ask questions like: What defines us at our best? What do we appreciate about our colleagues? What aspects of our culture need improvement? Consider the opposite of what frustrates you about your culture or other organizational cultures.

Keep it Clear: Ensure that each value is unambiguous and leaves no room for interpretation. Ambiguity can lead to varying interpretations, potentially causing issues within the team. Describe each value thoroughly, including what it means and what it doesn't, along with questions to gauge adherence.

Keep it Consistent: Values need consistent reinforcement to become embedded in the culture. They should be incorporated into celebrations, evaluations, promotions, and corrective actions. Additionally, use these values as a filter when hiring new team members to ensure alignment with the organization's culture.

I have a theory: 10-20% of your team naturally embodies your organization's values, while another 10-20% resists any cultural change. However, the majority, comprising 60-80%, simply desire clarity regarding expectations. Concentrate your efforts on this third group, as they are the ones who, once enlightened, will adjust accordingly. Your team can only embrace what you've explicitly defined, and they can only steward what they've embraced. Offer them clarity, and create the kind of organization you relish leading. Define your values, transform your culture, and cherish your team.

Jesse DeYoung has been in ministry for 19 years and currently serves Flatirons Church in Denver, CO as the Executive Lead Pastor, where he helps leaders and ministries have a significant impact through developing and equipping teams to make high-level strategic decisions. He’s especially passionate about staff culture, rebuilding teams, and the relationship between the Lead Pastor and Executive Pastor. Known for his discernment, and self-deprecating humor, Jesse is always looking for opportunities to develop and challenge the people around him, making him a reliable sounding board for all levels of the organization. When he's not developing his staff, you can find Jesse playing ping pong, enjoying coffee, and exploring the outdoors with his wife Kara and four kids

Andrew Erwin

The Future of Faith-Based Filmmaking

Faith-based filmmaking has come a long way since its inception, driven by a deep-rooted desire to share timeless spiritual messages through the medium of film. While this desire has fueled Christian storytellers across the centuries, the particular ways in which that desire interacts with the wild world of Hollywood has provided it’s own unique challenges. Christians have been navigating the ever-evolving landscape of Hollywood from the very beginning, and have broken through the haze of valueless entertainment time and time again: from the biblical epics of the 50s and 60s, to Mel Gibson’s groundbreaking Passion of the Christ, and now to the successes of these past few years with The Chosen, Jesus Revolution, and Sound of Freedom, among others.

I believe the future of faith-based filmmaking is a bright one. But for us to capitalize on the opportunity that has been laid before us with these recent successes, we must lean into the enduring nature of the gospel message, embrace new technologies for gospel purposes, and seek out cultural relevance. Christians and benevolent skeptics alike are hungry for the gospel message - let’s give them a future filled with it.

The Unchanging Gospel Message

The foundation of faith-based filmmaking, like the Christian faith itself, remains rooted in the unchanging gospel message. However, while the central tenets of Christianity have remained steadfast for centuries, the methods by which this message is spread have transformed and will continue to do so. The essence of the Christian message—salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, love, compassion, forgiveness—will never change; however, how this message is conveyed can and should adapt to the changing cultural and technological landscape. In the past, faith-based films often focused on retelling Bible stories in a straightforward manner. While these narratives remain valuable, the future of faithbased filmmaking must find innovative ways to communicate these age-old truths in a manner that resonates with contemporary audiences. If we truly want to spread the gospel, we need to make it accessible to those who spend more time in the movie theater on Saturdays than in a church pew on Sundays.

Embracing New Mediums

One of the most transformative forces in faith-based filmmaking's future is the rapid advancement of technology in entertainment. Just as evangelist Billy Graham recognized the power of radio and television in spreading the gospel to millions, faith-based filmmakers today must harness the potential of emerging technologies to reach a broader and more diverse audience.

In Graham's era, radio and television were revolutionary mediums for connecting with people, enabling him to bring the message of Christianity into countless homes. Today, movie theaters and streaming platforms are the digital frontiers that the church should be taking advantage of to reach the culture at large. These platforms offer unprecedented opportunities to engage with people of different backgrounds, cultures, and beliefs.

Streaming services, in particular, have become a dominant force in the entertainment industry, allowing faith-based filmmakers to distribute our content on a global scale. With platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney+ accommodating faith-based content alongside mainstream productions, filmmakers have a chance to reach a vast and diverse audience long after the films leave theaters. When the church votes with their ticket at the theaters, Hollywood responds, and more opportunities for faith-based content result. These platforms offer the possibility of creating content that speaks to different segments of the population, allowing for nuanced storytelling and diverse perspectives within the realm of faith-based cinema. People respond to stories. We need to continue to show that there is a demand for the stories that reflect our God.

Cultural Relevance and the Peril of Isolation

While embracing new entertainment technologies is essential for the future of faith-based filmmaking, it is equally crucial to remain culturally relevant. Historically, one of the challenges faced by faith-based filmmakers was their tendency to isolate themselves from broader cultural trends and influences. As a result, they risked producing films that felt disconnected from the realities of contemporary society, and therefore came across as cheesy and preachy.

To thrive in the future, we must engage with the culture around us. This means portraying characters that resonate with the diverse experiences of today's audiences. It also means collaborating with a broader spectrum of talent, including writers, directors, actors, and producers who bring diverse perspectives and experiences to the table. We can do so much more together than we can alone.

Let me be clear: cultural relevance does not mean compromising on the core values of our faith. Instead, it involves finding common ground, emphasizing universal themes of love, hope, redemption, and the human condition that resonate with people from all walks of life. By engaging with the culture and tackling contemporary issues through the lens of faith, faithbased filmmakers can create works that speak directly to the hearts and minds of modern viewers - viewers that have shown a desire for this type of content over and over again in the past few years.

At Kingdom Story Company, we have been blessed to be a part of this exciting time in faith entertainment. We’re striving to share our values - rooted in our faith - through the stories we tell and the voices that we champion. By surrounding ourselves with and empowering passionate and talented storytellers, we are fostering a community driven to share the gospel message through the mediums of our contemporary age. With upcoming films such as Ordinary Angels from Jon Gunn and Unsung Hero from for King and Country, we’re putting the pieces in place to blaze our way into this wild future and make an impact for the kingdom.

Christians have been speaking up and showing upleading to groundbreaking successes that have forced Hollywood to take notice. Projects like The Chosen, Jesus Revolution, and Sound of Freedom are revealing another shifting landscape in entertainment: a wild future in which faith-based filmmaking is not niche, but mainstream. Now is the time to ensure that future, to lean into the opportunity present before us, and to establish a world in which the gospel message flows freely through the gates of Hollywood entertainment to the world.

Andy Erwin is a director, producer and editor who, along with his brother John and Kevin Downs, and Tony Young, founded Kingdom Story Company - an exclusively partner with Lionsgate which creates lifechanging content from a variety of talented storytellers.

Kyle Idleman

Life in the Wild

The word “Wild” is not a word I remember using as part of my regular vernacular four or five years ago. I think I’ve used the word more in the last few years than all the previous years of my life combined. Here’s how it usually comes out – I look down, raise my eyebrows, shake my head in disbelief and say, “It’s wild”. It’s become my go to descriptor for life as a pastor because so much has changed so quickly. I’ve learned that the more wild the challenges, the more I look for complicated solutions. I can become obsessed with consuming content thinking that the way out of the wild is going to be found in metrics, podcasts, books, or better understanding neuroscience thanks to Andrew Huberman. But in Matthew 4 Jesus begins his ministry by spending some time in the wilderness and he reminds us of some familiar paths to successfully navigating the challenges of life in the wild.

In Matthew 4:1, Jesus is led into the wilderness. The Greek word translated wilderness is erēmos, which refers to a solitary, lonely, desolate place or a desert. I’ve been there. Every pastor has. Leadership is lonely. It may be that nothing grows in the arid landscape of the desert, but it’s a fertile place for temptation.

In the emptiness of the erēmos, Satan unleashes a series of temptations against Jesus and Jesus shows us how to survive in the wild.

Remember what’s truest

“The tempter came to him and said, ‘If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread’” (Matthew 4:3). Most say the initial temptation is to turn stones into bread, but I believe the first and foundational temptation comes before that. Satan starts with IF. “If you are the Son of God.” Remember, Jesus had just been baptized. God spoke from heaven, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). But, as he did in the Garden, the devil questions what God has said.

What does he question? Jesus’ identity. He knows if he can get Jesus to doubt His identity, He’ll be more susceptible to every other temptation.

Your identity is that you are a child of God. If that’s in question, you will feel desperate and foundationless. Every change will seem threatening. Every temptation alluring.

But when your identity as a child of God is not just a theological belief you affirm, but an ever-present, soul-filling, controlling reality in your life, every other temptation loses some luster. David Lomas defines identity as “the truest thing about you.” There are a lot of things that are true of you, but your identity as a child of God is the truest.

What could you do to more firmly tattoo your identity as a child of God onto your mind and heart so it’s a pervasive first thought guarding you against Satan’s first temptation of “if”?

Find your Strength in Scripture

When I was a kid, my grandma would go to Olive Garden where they would give her free breadsticks. She would put them in her purse, order more, then put those in her purse. Then she would come to our house and ask, “Kyle, you want something to eat from my purse?” I’d be hungry, so I would nod yes, and - that’s right – your grandma gave you old hard butterscotch candy, mine gave me warm breadsticks! Those breadsticks from Olive Garden are hard to say no to, even when they’ve been stored in my grandma’s purse.

Jesus hasn’t eaten in forty days. Matthew notes that “he was hungry” (4:2). Yeah, I imagine He was. So, Satan temps Him to turn some stones into bread. Satan appeals to Jesus’ physical appetite, the “lust of the flesh” (1 John 2:16).

When you feel you lack something, there will be an internal drive pushing you to get it. Or it may be less about what you want to get and more about what you want to avoid. You turn to an illicit something to soothe pain in your life. Pastors certainly aren’t exempt from that, so how do we overcome this lustfulness? Trust is the antidote to lust. When satan points out what Jesus doesn’t have, Jesus answers, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (Matthew 4:4) Jesus is saying, “I can trust God to meet My needs in His timing.” He quotes a passage in Deuteronomy where God provided food for His people in the wilderness at the right time.

Jesus is telling us: God will meet your needs and your desires in His way and in His time. Trust Him.

Focus on pleasing God

“Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. ‘If you are the Son of God,’ he said, ‘throw yourself down. For it is written:

“‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” (Matthew 4:5-6).

Satan asks Jesus to throw Himself off the templetempting Jesus with pride – provoking Him to prove Himself instead of pleasing God. Jesus responds to Satan, “It is written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test’” (Matthew 4:7). We test God with our pride.

We don’t throw ourselves off a high point, but you may:

• Throw yourself into your work because you’re A trying to impress people with how important you are.

• Throw yourself into making money because you’re trying to impress people with how successful you are.

• Throw yourself into your appearance because you’re trying to impress people with how good you look.

• Throw yourself into your education because you’re trying to impress people with how smart you are.

There’s nothing wrong with doing any of those things, unless they become part of our identity - how we want others to perceive us and how we measure ourselves. That’s when pride takes over; a pride that will edge God out and set us up for a fall.

Do you see signs of that pride creeping into your life?

• Are you obsessed with numbers (attendance, social media followers) that “prove” your importance?

• Have you quoted yourself or do you regularly repost the awesome things other people say about you?

• Have you surrounded yourself with people who are paid by you and always agree with you and always laugh at your attempts at humor? You think you’re really funny until you try some of you humor on people who don’t work for you.

• Do you have a sense of entitlement? You’ve worked hard, impacted many people, and now feel like you are owed the better things.

• Or you may have a sense of resentment. You don’t understand why other people don’t recognize how special you are or feel like you should be getting more attention or more rewards.

• Do you have people to whom you confess your worst sins? Or do you keep them secret to protect your image?

One more temptation. The devil takes Jesus to a high mountain and shows Him the kingdoms of the world. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me” (Matthew 4:9). This is the temptation of the short cut. Satan was offering what Jesus would have without Satan’s help, but ... he was saying Jesus could have it without going to the cross.

So many of the temptations we face are short cuts.

• Instead of serving them and thus earning their loyalty, we overpower our team members, leading as CEO more than as servant.

• We bypass the hard work of growing intimacy with our spouses and settle for the short-term gratification of pornography.

• Perhaps we’ve found ways to short cut integrity when it comes to how we handle finances or how we report the numbers by which others judge our success.

Jesus responds, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only” (Matthew 4:10). Taking short cuts is a form of idolatry. I wonder if really there are a hundred million temptations, but all of them are rooted in idolatry. Jesus exposes the façade and make it clear this is really about worship.

Don’t overcomplicate life in the wild, instead follow the way of Jesus in wilderness. Remember who you are, find your strength in Scripture, and focus on pleasing God.

bKyle Idleman is a bestselling author and the senior pastor at Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, Kentucky, one of the largest churches in America. He’s most widely known for his award-winning book, not a fan., which has sold more than 1.3 million copies and has sparked a movement among believers.

Kyle has authored other books including: When Your Way Isn’t Working, One at a Time, gods at war, Grace is Greater and Don’t Give Up.

Kyle and his wifeDesiRae have four children and live on a farm where he does no farming.

Faithfulness > Success

I’m finally learning when life backs me into a corner, rarely do I need to hear something new. I need to hear something old that I’ve forgotten. Allow me to confess—I love success. And I love being successful. Deep down I should think all of us share in that sentiment or come awfully close to it. Not one leader doesn’t want to do well, and that convincingly, in our leadership. Here’s our problem—I’m not sure if we’re really called to it.

Indeed, I don’t think anyone is. Don’t get me wrong. I’m working awfully hard to be successful and so should you. Like me I imagine you’ve done the schooling. You’ve invested years behind the scenes earning your stripes. You’ve made connections. Forged key relationships. You’ve honed your craft to be as sharp as you can as a communicator and shepherd. And, like me, I bet you’ve assembled the best team you ever have to work alongside you. And I pray your labor will prove successful.

However—and I’m borrowing from Rich Villodas now: “At the end of it all, Jesus will not say ‘well done good and successful servant’ or ‘well done good and influential servant,’ or ‘well done good and high-capacity servant.” He will say, “well done good and faithful servant.” Why? Because true success is being faithful to what God has called us to do.

Here’s the thing—I know you already knew that. But it’s when things get stressful. When people around you become irritating. When the obstacles in front of you seem insurmountable. When what seemed so doable a year ago now feels impossible. That’s when we forget this essential truth of being a Christ follower: God just wants us to be faithful. I speak of Job who couldn’t get anything done in his moment of travail but be faithful. I speak of Moses who, when he failed to turn the hearts of his stiff-necked countrymen, could only remain faithful. I speak of Paul who while lamenting the retreats of Mark and Demas and others had only faithfulness as his constant service to God’s Kingdom. I speak of our Lord Christ, hanging on a cross, perhaps displaying to those around him what they must’ve deemed as the most unsuccessful sight they’d ever seen. Yet His faithfulness shook up the whole world and delivered hope to a lost world. My point? Faithfulness works way better than success.

That old wisdom was again cemented into our hearts during the onset of the pandemic. Remember? As leaders all that mattered in those days was literally keeping it together. Our congregations were separated by donkeys and elephants, vaccines and non-vaccines, and every other division that continues to divide the culture. So

we worried less about our growth track. We worried less about our year over year attendance numbers. We worried less about one of the slides having a misspelled word. We worried less about what our people were saying on their emails and concerned ourselves more with our people. We focused on preaching the truth and left the results up to God as he weened us off of the fanfare of platform and reminded us that the only applause needed emanates from an audience of One. Hallelujah.

They were tough days. Scary days. But laying head to pillow every night you knew you’d done ultimately the only thing that mattered—you were faithful to HIM.

But crises move on and muscle memory takes over again. And before you know it you’re right back into the rigmarole of the next event and the next Fall launch and the next ministry initiative. Worthy conversations to be sure. But they’re not the fat of the bat for the leader.

Faithfulness is

If you’re reading this article it’s because you’re a leader of something. And you’ve got work to do and that work is important. But God is reminding you that your FAITHFULNESS in that work is even more important than the RESULTS of that work. So breathe. Grab a sabbath. Read something that restores your soul. Invest time with loved ones. And enjoy the ride even more so than that so difficult to reach destination. Because God is not just at the end of the journey. He’s holding your hand along the way.

Ricky Jenkins is the Senior Pastor of Southwest Church in Indian Wells, CA. From his beginnings in Pearl, Mississippi, all the way to Oakland, California, to Memphis, Tennessee, and Chicago, Illinois, Ricky has been preaching the gospel for over 20 years. Fueled by Acts 20:28, Ricky is called to pursue God passionately and pursue God’s people compassionately for the glory and honor of Jesus Christ.

Ricky is married to the light of his heart April Jenkins. Together they have three beautiful children. Ricky is currently pursuing a Doctor of Ministry with a focus on reimagining spiritual formation. Ricky is currently writing his first book titled ‘What They Taught Us: Enduring Wisdom for Changing Times’. The Jenkins’ have been serving in the Coachella Valley since January of 2018.

Ricky Jenkins

FUNDING MINISTRY... CHANGING LIVES

The world needs the love and hope of Jesus more than ever, and the local church is the solution. At Christian Financial Resources, we are passionate about seeing people who are far from God come to a relationship with Him. Our vision is to help churches carry out their God-given calling by providing responsible funding to help ministry grow and thrive, changing lives for all of eternity. Every day, local churches are healing marriages, teaching children to love and serve their neighbors, feeding the hungry, and taking the Good News to the ends of the Earth. Those churches are also baptizing new believers in facilities that were built and financed by CFR’s family of investors!

Ways CFR can serve your church

INVESTMENTS

When you and your church invest with Christian Financial Resources, you invest in more than interest. You invest in more changed lives. More ministry. More transformation.

LOANS

Whether you plan to construct a new building, renovate an existing facility, or refinance into a lower monthly payment, we are here to make the process hassle-free. Our loan team includes a highly qualified construction management team that works with you to help protect your ministry from unexpected expenses and common pitfalls throughout the construction process.

CAPITAL CAMPAIGNS

As a ministry leader, you understand that giving is an act of worship to be celebrated. We grow closer to God when we are generous with our time, talents, and resources. If your church is in a season of growth or looking for revitalization, we can support your goals through a capital campaign.

spire conference exhibitors

Accelerate Group — Booth 115

Kevin Segal

kevinsegal@accelerate. group accelerate.group What We Do: Couples Retreats: Pastors from all over the US bring their wives to this unique 3-day retreat that will breathe life into ministry and marriage. Whether you are a Lead Pastor or hold an Associate role, this is a can’t-miss opportunity! Elder/ Board Development: We work diligently to understand your current governance structure as no two churches are exactly alike. Our goal is your long-term success as we help you define roles, responsibilities and overall Board structure. When the church is organizationally sound, it is able to be more effective in reaching people for Jesus. Lead Pastor Coaching: Don and the team will come alongside you to identify and address your unique needs in ministry. We take the time to listen and observe, then help you devise a strategy to get to the next level. Breaking through growth barriers, developing a transition plan, or staff and facility utilization are just a few areas we address. Trips & Events: Accelerate Group is able to create opportunities to honor those who are faithfully serving in the local church. From Leadership Events to Holy Land Trips, we’ll provide encouragement and tools to help “keep you in the game” and maximize your impact.

Asbury Theological Seminary

— Booth304

BGW Architects — Booth 121, 123 Derek Johnson djohnson@bgwservices. com bgwservices.com The Building

God's Way concept was born out of a calling to help ministries address the fundamental flaws in the design and construction process, in which poor stewardship and conflict are far too common. We believe there is a better way; one focused on delivering the highest level of stewardship, Godhonoring relationships and intentional ministry focus. Our exclusive approach has been proven through 1,000+ ministry projects nationwide since 1998. There are many architectural firms that can provide creative design solutions. However, creative design alone can be problematic if it is simply an exercise to show fantastic possibilities that have little chance of getting funded. At BGW, we are invested in the buildings we design and want to see them built. Our mission is to not only translate the ministry vision through architecture, but to continually seek value and savings throughout the design process so that the project will move forward into construction.

Blessing Ranch Ministries

— Booth 129

Hope Karabensh hope@blessingranch. org blessingranch.org As the innovator in Christian Leader care, Blessing Ranch Ministries offers Intensive

Counseling, Coaching and other professional services that create healthy leadership. Healthy leadership results in a healthy culture which results in a healthy organization or church. We are passionate about helping Leaders so they can bless others. With over 25 years in successful ministry and over 4,000 worldwide Leaders served, Blessing Ranch Ministries' mission to restore, renew and equip Christian Leaders for effective Kingdom service is being realized! Blessing Ranch Ministries' professional programs, services and resources provide unhindered methodology to help Leaders understand and then transform the roots in their hearts that weigh them down and hinder healthy and effective leadership. Whether a Leader is in crisis, facing burnout, transitioning in ministry leadership, or desiring to take the next step in living unhindered, our trained experts will not only diagnose the core matter, but will work with the Leader to create action steps that will lead to heart transformation and lasting change. Our team includes a Licensed Psychologist and trained Coaches who are equipped to expertly guide Leaders and who also deeply understand ministry life. We hold a high standard of excellence for care that integrates and blends the best of Psychology with God’s Word and Truth in ways that prioritize God’s Word and will for Christian Leaders’ lives and ministries. Blessing Ranch Ministries offers multiple ways for Leaders to live well, lead well, and finish well. Whether an individualized, group, or team experience is desired, we have an option to help Leaders live and lead unhindered. We also have books and other resources to compliment all professional services. Blessing Ranch Ministries cares for the Pastor and builds up the Leader, keeping them healthy, living abundantly, and empowered to lead in their Kingdom role.

Cass Commercial Bank/TouchPoint — Booth 125 Mark Benten markbenten@cassbank. com cassbank.com/touchpointsoftare. com Our mission is to help church leaders, the team and the church thrive by giving counsel, and providing value for the faith-based and nonprofits served by providing Kingdom First products and services and software to help ministries manage their church and thrive.

CCG — Booth 320 Christian Nelson cnelson@cnelson. me ccg.us Technology is complex and expensive. Often, the Spire Leader has a significant tech problems they can't pinpoint OR they want to innovate and they don't have the leadership or infrastructure to do so. They are looking for expertise that understands BOTH tech and ministry. CCG canhelp them by focusing on ministry outcomes. We can coach staff that needs to level up their

skills (both tech and executive function) as well as being the bridge between high capacity pastors and the technologists they need to understand.

CDF Capital — Booth 205

Sierra Jackson sjackson@cdfcapital. org cdfcapital.org Since 1953 CDF Capital has helped church leaders and individuals bring light to the world through the thoughtful stewardship of their capital. The Church, including your church, requires more than just financial capital, it also needs spiritual and leadership capital. While separate in purpose, these three forms of capital are intertwined and inseparable for the cause of kingdom growth. Together, when we partner with the Lord to bring spiritual, leadership, and financial capital to a church, the results are transformational.

Chaplaincy Endorsement Commission — Booth 113

Kal Alexander chaplainec@gmail.com cec-chap.org The contacts made while serving as a chaplain often lead to relationships that develop into church membership. Chaplains come in contact with a much wider variety of people on a much larger scale than the typical local pastor. Chaplains meet people in their times of greatest need when they typically are looking to God for comfort and answers to prayer. Chaplains are given opportunity to introduce people to Jesus Christ during their time of deepest need. The chaplains ministry is immediate, where the individual is at, often being on the scene as it unfolds. In many cases the ministry expands from the individual in crisis to family and friends. The ministry is not only to those in crisis but also to the professionals dealing with the crisis.

Christian Churches Pension Plan — Booth 110 Reggie Hundley admin@ccpension.org pension.org The mission of the Christian Churches Pension Plan is to improve the overall financial future of those serving in ministry, world missions, and Christian nonprofit service. By helping these servants create a brighter financial future, we seek to lift burdens that typically discourage leaders and leadership teams in these helping professions.

Christian City, Inc — Booth 117

Dan Garrett dgarrett@christiancity. org christiancity.org Christian City is committed to the growth of the Church and its leaders. We provide resources for personal and professional development through Ministry Leader Forums, The Connector newsletter, individual counseling and church consulting. Our Director of Church Relations serves as a supporter and networker for the churches in Georgia and the Southeast.

Christian Financial Resources

— Booth 128, 130

Daniel Patterson daniel@cfrministry.org cfrministry.org 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 $880 million in total assets while serving over 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 Missionary Fellowship

International — Booth 124

Michelle Smith michellesmith@cmfi.org cmfi. org We want to connect you to God’s mission to transform the world. Whether it is through planting churches, training leaders, serving the poor, reaching college students, or engaging the marketplace, your partnership with CMF will grow the vision of your church while having a worldwide impact.

Christian Consulting Group

— Booth 320

Christian Nelson christian@ccg.us ccg. us We help church leaders break through operational and technology challenges that are holding them back to get real results. We care about the people that your organization serves and want to help align all of your operations and your technology to impact their life. Leaders come to us when they aren't sure how to staff their team appropriately, or when they know they don't have the right people in the right seats but aren't quite sure what to do about it. Other times they come to us when they have tried lots of different technology solutions and the tech just isn't helping them achieve real-world ministry results. Whether the leadership team needs coaching and consulting with a technology perspective OR they need a full team that can execute a large-scale project, CCG has them covered. Our passion is the intersection of people and technology.

Christian Standard Media — Booth 204

Allison Harris aeharrischristianstandardmedia. com christianstandardmedia.com How

Christian Standard Media will deliver: 1. Help a leader grow – At CSM, we believe leaders grow through networking. That’s why our mission 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. 2. Help a leader’s team grow – CSM comes

alongside the church’s key leader to facilitate growth in both the paid staff and the volunteer difference makers and elders. 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.

3. Help a leader’s church grow – CSM knows that the content and tools we provide will be shared. That’s why we’ve made it free for anyone who would like to have it in a virtual form. 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.

Christ's Church of the Valley Leadership Institute Residency Program

— Booth 111 Brian Leach brianleach@ccv.church ccv. church The CCV Leadership Institute Residency program will deliver value to all three objectives. We equip leaders with tools that enable them to be prepared for all that ministry can throw at them. We train future leaders to help meet the growing need for staffing, with hands on experienced leaders. We also help teams grow because their incoming staff will be team players, have high self-awareness, and are coachable and want to stay in ministry for the long haul.

Clergy Advantage — Booth 132, 133 Cynthia Brandt cynthia@clergyadvantage.com clergysupport.com Our clergy tax specialists and our clergy retirement specialist work synergistically to bring a wholistic financial plan that focuses on simplifying clergy tax complexities, identifying savings and implementing the unique benefits of the ministry professional to helps them on the road to success and financial independence.

Educational Opportunities Tours

— Booth 105 Mark Yeh myeh@travelwithus.com eo.travelwithus.com EO Tours provides leaders easy access to the disciple making tools of Christian travel. EO helps leaders select the journey that fits their ministry goals and needs. Leaders can use our time-tested journeys or customize a journey to meet their needs and goals. EO provides support in setting up the journey and handling all the back-office duties and logistics. Our guides, drivers, and hospitality teams help the journey go smoothly for the leader and travelers. Our flexible financial arrangements make our journeys a great value for the travel while providing free travel options for the leader(s).

FAME— Booth 131 Jeff Coon jcoon@fameworld.org fameworld. org 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 church engagement also increases. Partnership can be church-wide excitement for a new hospital or clinic, in the form of hands-on small group projects, or direct contact trips to global partners. Since we are serving over 60 global partners this year FAME can assist your church to grow healthy partnerships with your existing or new global partners.

Financial Planning Ministry — Booth 114 Dave Hess dave@fpm.org fpm.org Peace of mind: 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 65% 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. Members rave with satisfaction about FPM: "I loved my experience with FPM ...", "Everyone has been professional and helpful!", "I am extremely grateful to FPM and the church". Piece of the pie. We are living in the Golden age of planned giving. Planned giving is a decision today to give a gift tomorrow. Did you know? An analysis of IRS tax returns reveals that end-oflifegifts are 2.74 times more than the cumulative giving. Financial experts predict a transfer of nearly $68 trillion from Baby Boomers to Millennials over the next three decades. We can help you in biblical stewardship and generosity education. Ask a simple stewardship question:is your church or ministry participating in this transfer of wealth? FPM exists to fund ministry by educating families and facilitating generositythrough planned giving. For 40 years we have served over 43,000 families with $2.3 billion in planned gifts to churches and ministry. We are currently serving over 150 ministry partners. Check out the list of our partners at www.fpm.org. We know you are very busy, so FPM offers a turn-key total ministry approach. To learn more drop by our booth for a conversation.

Gloo — Booth 402

Rachel Ahlquist rahlquist@gloo.us gloo.us

Gloo is a trusted technology platform that connects people, partners, content, funding opportunities, and more - to help you achieve your goals and change more lives. The Gloo discover platform offers a wide variety of FREE resources provided by trusted partners and thought leaders. The AI & the Church Hub, is one of many resources within the Gloo platform. The AI & the Church Hub is FREE for churches and is a centralized, trusted place, where church leaders can access the most current AI & the Church news, events, insights, and recommended technologies from top thought leaders. The AI & the Church Initiative powered by Gloo to empower the Church to responsibly navigate and engage the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence.“We believe it is a moral imperative to responsibly use technology to advance human flourishing. AI is a powerful technology that should better enable, not replace, relationships.” - Scott Beck, CEO Gloo

GO Ministries — Booth 319 Sydney English senglish@gomin.org gomin. org We train, develop and support both international and US based church planters and projects.

Goff Companies, LLC — Booth 126 Kerry Jones kjones@goffcompanies.com goffcompanies.com We seek to understand what your church's ministry looked like in the past, what it looks like in the present and what it will look like tomorrow and in the years to come. We have the tools and experience to help you grow and develop your specific needs that will produce a facility with the highest “Kingdom” significance. Whether helping you develop a strategic plan, locating a property or building, serving as your representative or constructing your facility, we can position your church to capitalize on the journey of facility expansion.

Great Lakes Christian College — Booth 318 Phil Beavers pbeavers@glcc.edu glcc.edu

Great Lakes Christian College is an institution dedicated to the training and equipping of the young and seasoned leader. Our main effort is totrain the younger leaders biblically and professionally who will eventually enter the ministry pipeline. GLCC offers opportunity for established leaders to train their staff and team through biblical and theological instruction through our online EQUIP certificate which covers Bible teaching for the church, elementary homiletics, ministerial counseling, conflict management, and servant leadership. This certificate for staff of any size church will increase their passion for the Word of God and expand their Kingdom influence. A well-trained staff in the Word of God and ministry will increase the influence and connection the church can have on their community for Christ.

Grace & Mercy Foundation — Booth 214 John-David Leggett johndavid.leggett@ graceandmercy.org graceandmercy.org Many individuals yearn for a deeper connection with the Bible but often find it challenging and difficult. Is there a better way? Are there examples within the Bible that can guide us? The Public Reading of Scripture (PRS) is a longstanding biblical practice where people gather to read and listen to the Word together. Apostle Paul offered instruction to young Timothy regarding the significance of this practice: "Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching, and to teaching" (1 Timothy 4:13). PRS represents a biblical strategy for engaging with the Word—one that is both enjoyable and sustainable. The biblical way represents listening, in community, regularly and extensively the whole Bible. This practice played a foundational role in the early development of Christian communities. Throughout Christian history, particularly during periods like the Reformation and various awakening movements, a deeper engagement with scripture consistently

reoriented churches toward their core beliefs. Scripture is not just a book to be analyzed; it is a living voice meant to be heard regularly within the context of a Christ-centered community. Jesus affirmed, "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me" (John 10:27). Despite its significance in biblical history, the practice of PRS has experienced a significant decline, contributing to one of the most biblically illiterate generations. However, there is now a promising resurgence as many embrace the practice of PRS, often using highquality dramatized audio Bibles in various settings. Implementing PRS can profoundly benefit your leaders, teams, and church, offering a sustainable and enjoyable means of engaging with Scripture.

GuideStone — Booth 310

Nick Ledbetter nick.ledbetter@guidestone.org guidestone.org. GuideStone seeks to partner with churches, Christian schools, Christian colleges, and other evangelical “like-minded” 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.

He Gets Us — Booth 401

Rachel Ahjlguist rahlguist@gloo.us gloo.us He Gets Us, is a national campaign to reintroduce people to the Jesus of the Bible and his confounding love and forgiveness. Our hope is that you see how Jesus experienced challenges and emotions just like we have. We want to provide a safe place to ask questions, including the tough ones. Ultimately, we want people to know his teachings and how he lived while here on Earth. And this will be a starting point to understanding him and his message. Though we believe he was what Christians call fully God and fully man, that may not be what you believe. We’re simply inviting you to explore with us at He Gets Us how might things be different if more people followed his example. hthompson@ hiu.edu He Gets Us, partnered with Gloo, invites people who have seen the campaign ads, and are curious about Jesus and/or have questions about fait

Hope International University — Booth 135 Teresa Smith tlsmith@hiu.edu hiu.edu 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. Paul is a recognized national leader in pastoral health.

Houseright — Booth 203 Christina Gevedon christina.gevedon@ houseright.com houseright.com With our mission being to help churches advance their

vision through production technology, our team is passionate about serving churches, empowering volunteers, and seeing The Mission fulfilled. Our staff is comprised of worship pastors, technical directors, and executive leaders all with a calling to serve the church. For us, it’s not just about equipment but about equipping church staff and volunteers with the resources and know-how to use their systems to reach their community. As people who’ve dedicated their lives to serving the church, we’re ministry partners positioned to help you eliminate obstacles and support church leaders long after a project is completed.

ICOM — Booth 317

David Empson david@theicom.org theicom. org ICOM is a great place for people of all ages, churches of all sizes and stages to find a mission they can invest their time and talent into. ICOM is a great place where if someone or a church of all size is looking for a certain type of mission or certain place to reach in the world, a connection can be made there. We serve the largest churches in our brotherhood all the way down to some of the smallest churches at whatever level any needs or can get involved in the Great Commission

Intentional Churches — Booth 106 Tasha Johnson tasha.johnson@ intentionalchurches.com intentionalchurches. com 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.

International Disaster Emergency Service

— Booth 109

Jeff Greene jeffreywesgreene@gmail.com ides.org We plan to promote two of our newest endeavors. The Rick Jett Leadership Fund for leadership training on multiple continents around the globe. We hope to engage Spire Leaders in discussions about ways to train Christian leaders who do not have access to training in their international communities. Our 50 New Churches for 50 Years Campaign. We are celebrating 50 years of service this year. To celebrate, we are taking a proactive approach to help our mission partners plant new churches. We have seen over the years where disasters like hurricanes and flooding have opened doors for new churches to be planted. Through these disasters, God open hearts and minds to His gospel and churches were born. Now we are being more strategic in following God’s lead not only after disasters but in

opportunities that God provides around the world through our food programs, Community Development programs, and of course, through Evangelism.

Interim Pastor Ministries — Booth 118 Rich Brown rich@interimpastors.com interimpastors.com We provide screened, qualified, trained and coached interim pastors to churches during their pastoral transition. We offer older pastors an "encore career" as an IPM member pastor. We serve around 20 different evangelical denominations across the United States.

INTULSE — Booth 210

Keith Goodling keith.goodling@intulse.com intulse.com When it comes to the Church specifically, we seek to partner with the Church equipping them with the tools they need to help their staff communicate with their communities as efficiently, effectively, and securely as possible. As a hosted VoIP solution that provides native integration with Rock, CCB, Planning Center, Ministry Platform and more the Church is able to have additional data points ( voice & SMS communication logs ) to help them see a more complete picture of their community engagement and connectedness with parishioners and community at large.

Israel Department of Tourism

— Booth 325

Matthew Ryan Tally pr-chicago@goisrael. gov.il goisrael.com Not nearly as far as you may think: just 10 hours from New York (it’s quicker to fly from New York to Israel than from New Yorkto Hawaii!), or 14 hours from Los Angeles. There are about ten nonstop flights a day from North America to Israel, on Air Canada, American Airlines/US Airways, Delta, El Al Israel Airlines and United. Plus you can connect to Israel through dozens of European cities. Jerusalem Tours International 134 Donna Jollay djollay@ jerusalemtours.com jerusalemtours.com A trip to The Holy Land is beyond any formal education or training that can be obtained. Jerusalem Tours is very Blessed to facilitate that unique development opportunity and already provides that life altering experience to many Spire Leaders

Johnson University — Booth 202

Jennifer Johnson jjohnson@johnsonu.edu

johnsonu.edu Johnson University's mission is to educate students for Christian ministries and other strategic vocations framed by the Great Commission inorder 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. We support them with an innovative Master of Strategic Ministry degree that includes six online classes and ongoing field experience under the guidance of a mentor in a local church. Other graduate

programs include a fully online MBA, master's degrees in New Testament, counseling, and intercultural studies, and an online Ph.D. in Leadership. These students are also the Spire Leaders of tomorrow. The young people on our campuses in Knoxville and Kissimmee come from around the country and around the world. In addition to degrees in ministry leadership, worship leadership, and creative arts ministry, JU offers degrees in business, history, visual media production and design, psychology, education, life sciences, math, and more. 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 108 Dayna Dinan ddinan@legacydeo.org legacydeo.org 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. Investment professionals manage our portfolio, which typically provides a return that outpaces what is available through a traditional bank account. 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. We currently manage custodial assets exceeding $2.4 million. We offer a transfer service that allows church members to give appreciated investment securities without incurring capital gains tax. We also provide a comprehensive education program that promotes the joy and methods of giving generously to God's kingdom. Experience tells us that healthy, growing churches are well financed and are filled with members who give generously to advance fulfillment of The Great Commission. By collaborating with us, your church and its leadership become better stewards of God's gifts, which enhances the church's ability to spread the gospel message to those who do not yet know Jesus.

Lifeline Christian Mission — Booth 206 Will Combs will.combs@lifeiine.org lifeline. org Our strategy for missions is to Spark a Life on Mission. We believe this begins with the local church engagement in missions. We bring tools to the local church to help them accomplish this, develop their congregation and give opportunities for outreach and discipleship.

Lincoln Christian University — Booth 100 Brady Cremeens bkcrfemeens@ lincolnchristian.edu lincolnchristian.edu

We offer a program to identify, vet, and onboard new elders and church leaders, which is useful for any church but especially for church plants seeking to establish elders and leadership for the first time. Our program includes an extensive assessment, follow-up interviews, and then anongoing coaching/mentoring relationship with a team of experienced scholar-practitioners, each of whom brings a unique blend of expertise and insight regarding servantleadership. Our areas of assessment include: foundational knowledge, spiritual formation, leadership capacity, pastoral gifting, personal temperament, and warning flags.

Mercy Ships — Booth 303

Jordan Phillips jordan.phillips@merecyships. org mercyships.org Mercy Ships uses hospital ships to deliver free, world-class healthcare services, capacity building, and sustainable development to those with little access in the developing world. Founded in 1978 by Don and Deyon Stephens, Mercy Ships has worked in more than 55 developing countries, providing services valued at more than $1.7 billion and directly benefitting more than 2.8 million people. Our ships are crewed by volunteers from over 60 nations, with an average of over 1200 volunteers each year. Professionals including surgeons, dentists, nurses, healthcare trainers, teachers, cooks, seamen, engineers, and agriculturalists donate their time and skills. With 16 national offices and an Africa Bureau, Mercy Ships seeks to transform individuals and serve nations.

Milligan University and Emmanuel Christian Semina — Booth 136 Kit Dotson kdotson@milligan.edu milligan.edu 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, preprofessional degrees, and concentrations

in a variety of fields, along with graduate and adult degree completion programs. While vocational ministry is a huge emphasis for us, we also believe we need Christians in secular vocations. Whether our students go on to serve in vocational ministries or in secular vocations, they understand the impact they can have for the kingdom as well as for the local churches they attend and serve as ministers and volunteers. Ministry preparation/continued ministry training- 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 of Ministry, and two certificate programs. There are both residential and distance programs offered by Emmanuel to help ministers prepare or continue their training while actively serving in ministry. Ministry Resources- The Ministry Resource Center provides tools for placing and supporting alumni and others in ministry, particularly within the independent Christian churches of the Stone-Campbell movement. The MRC is part of Lilly Endowment’s Thriving in Ministry initiative. The MRC seeks to be a bridge that connects new minister to mentor, pastor to pastor, and minister to Christian community through a placement program (including ministry openings), a mentoring program, and through retreats and resources.

Mission 17 — Booth 321

Tim Herode timh@mission17.us mission17.us

We will be presenting our brand new 31 day discipleship devotion along with our Social Covenant campaign that fosters forgiveness of offensives and clear communication within every organization and even families.

Ozark Christian College — Booth 127

Grace Jones jones.grace@occ.edu occ.edu

One of the core values of the Advancement Department of Ozark Christian College is to “help leaders lead better longer”. 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

— Booth 103

Kate Hurst kateh@pensionfund.org

pensionfund.org FOR THE SUPPORT OF MINISTRY - PENSION FUND OFFERS RETIREMENT AND SAVINGS PRODUCTS TO MINISTERS AND LAY EMPLOYEES

AFFILIATED WITH THE DISCIPLES OF CHRIST.

Point University — Booth 104

Stacy Bartlett stacy.bartlett@point.edu point. edu In our current world, it is more vital than ever that kingdom leaders, ministry teams that work in local churches, and local

churches themselves discover the authentic Jesus – not the civic Jesus we often create in our own image. At least in part, the value Point brings to a variety of Spire relationships is that we are clear about who Jesus is and what difference He makes. When that twosided question is appropriately answered, life abundant can break out in the most amazing of places. 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 life abundant – a life of significance – in our work for Christ.

Rapha International — Booth 112

Josh Gregor jgregor@rapha.org rapha.org

Rapha International offers churches support in establishing an organizational culture of care that enables the church to protect the mostvulnerable, and best care for the hurt and abused in their congregations and communities. The Culture of Care program is a combination of expert training and consultation designed to assist churches in promoting safety for children and supporting victims of abuse, assault, and exploitation. This program includes a full-day, three-part training, a policy review, and two phone consultations. Stop by the Rapha International booth or visit rapha.org to see how Rapha can partner with your church in protecting the most vulnerable.

Renew.org — Booth 107

Jason Henderson jason@renew.org renew. org We are a voluntary association of church leaders who come together to help each other faithfully pursue Jesus' teachings and mission. We are a network that is growing as more and more connect with us through six channels. Hundreds of senior ministers/ pastors cluster together in our many learning communities for support and training opportunities once every two months (inperson or online). The mutual support and encouragement in our shared mission are just as important as the teachings and trainings. We host a national Gathering each year for teaching, inspiration, and encouragement. Additionally, we are launching regional gatherings, which will be led by church leaders from local Renew.org network churches. Through Renew.org connections and our partnerships, we offer mentoring for church leaders and elders in various models and strategies that increase the effectiveness of the local church. Biblical disciple making means growth and multiplication, so network members banded together to catalyze Renew Movement Church Planting. Our vision is churches collaboratively planting churches. Each church will be launched with the same DNA and will be encouraged to freely associate with and help build the network.

Rescued Not Arrested — Booth 116

Roger Munchian rogermunchian@ rescuednotarrested.org rescuednotarrested. org RNA has modeled partnership for 15 years now with partners like Christ

Church the Valley in Peoria Arizona serving alongside Pastors Don Wilson, now Ashley Wooldridge and Larrie Fraley to welcome untouchables into our campuses with safety and effectiveness in mind not leaving any sinners behind. Teaching churches and their leaders how to welcome sex offenders who want to attend their churches with safety and love in the balance. Providing open doors for churches to serve prisons and jails and letter writing outreaches. We essentially become the prison outreach department for churches who have no prison ministry and do not know how to get one started. We can either teach them to start their own prison ministry modeling RNA or compliment with more opportunities or expand any prison ministry that a church may have in place.

SafeMinistry Solutions — Booth ???

Don Keehner don.keehner@ safehiringsolutions.com safehiringsolutions. com/safeministry-solutions We come alongs side Churches so the continue to grow and shine brightly for Jesus. We provide Industry leading solutions to keep your church safe and on mission. In the area of children and youth, we provide the best solutions so churches know they are taking the correct steps to keep their children safe. Our team of criminal prevention trained experts allow your people to stay safe and your church to stay on Mission.

Sermon Reach — Booth 309

Richard Lindeman richard@sermonreach. com sermonreach.com Sermon Reach exists to help Spire Leaders build and support their congregation(s) with meaningful daily content related to their messages, mission and teaching; leading to deeper relationships with God and a more active church engagement. Whether used as a tool for their leadership groups, congregations, or both; Sermon Reach is the tool that gives Spire Leaders an extension directly into their followers' daily routines (as determined by the followers themselves). Christ-followers live busy lives filled with all the worldly traps that keep them from connecting with God on a daily basis. Spire Leaders and their teams struggle to make the continual connections, and have to fight for every moment of focus they can get from their congregations. Having a tool that reaches directly into the email- or text-stream, at the very moment when the follower says they are available is more critical now than ever. Sermon Reach is that tool, that keeps the message going throughout the week. Spire Leaders can use Sermon Reach to prepare their audience before the message, challenge or remind them about it after, or honestly do a little of both. It comes down to engagement. A connected, Christ-following congregation is more engaged with their local church. The more engaged they are, the more Spire Leaders can count on them for future growth and involvement.

The Solomon Foundation

— Booths 211, 212, 213

Mireya Fong mfong@thesolomonfoundation. org thesolomonfoundation.org How will TSF deliver value:

1) Help a leader grow – 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. To further advance them, 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.

2) Help a leader’s team grow –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 an connectivity.

StoreHouse — Booth 207

Eric Leija eric@storehouseapp.com

supports financial growth through its integrated giving system, which simplifies donation processes and provides insights into giving trends. This system is trusted by thousands of organizations, ensuring security and reliability. By unifying and streamlining church management, StoreHouse empowers Spire Leaders and their teams to focus more on their spiritual mission and less on administration, fostering growth and community engagement.

Sustainable Discipleship — Booths 311, 312 Doug Burrier doug@sustainable-discipleship. com sustainable-discipleship.com We help others achieve the crazy success that God has given us - 90% plus of church members reading the Bible (cover-to-cover), mining applicable truths that transform their lives. 90% of those going on to make disciples. 90% of those reporting years later that they are still prepared, confident, and skilled. The people get healthy. They make more healthy disciples. And healthy people make healthy churches. God called us to make disciples. We help people do that better. We do not sell resources - we share methods. And in the end we have found that the method makes the difference.

Thrivent — Booth 119 Sue Madigan sue.madigan@thrivent.com thrivent.com We’re a holistic financial services organization driven by a higher purpose, helping Christians make the most of all you’ve been given. We work with individuals, Christian leaders and those they serve, meeting them where they are on their journey and helping them take the next step toward financial clarity and a life full of meaning and gratitude.

graduatetheological degree, you may have the opportunity to enter the Navy Chaplain Candidate Program (CCPO) as a student. As a Navy Chaplain, your job spans a broad range of duties. You will support fellow servicemembers during their most joyful moments and during their most difficult. Your responsibilities might be to:

- Conduct worship services in a variety of settings

- Perform religious rites and ceremonies such as weddings, funeral services and baptisms

- Counsel individuals who seek guidance

- Oversee religious education programs, such as Sunday school and youth groups

- Visit and provide spiritual guidance and care to hospitalized personnel and/or their family members

- Train lay leaders who conduct religious education programs

- Promote attendance at religious services, retreats and conferences

- Advise leaders at all levels regarding morale, ethics and spiritual well-being

storehouseapp.com

StoreHouse delivers value to Spire Leaders, their teams, and their churches by offering a comprehensive, all-inone management solution. For Spire Leaders, our platform simplifies administrative tasks, allowing more time to focus on leadership and spiritual guidance. The intuitive Service Planning tool helps leaders plan services effectively, while the Church Management System (ChMS) ensures smooth operation of the church. For the Spire Leader's team, StoreHouse aids in communication and coordination. The StoreHouse Autopilot feature enables easy scheduling of communications, ensuring everyone stays informed. Furthermore, the platform's mobile apps offer functionalities such as easy check-ins, group management, and push notifications, all designed to enhance team efficiency and collaboration. As for the growth of the Spire Leader's Church, StoreHouse provides tools to reach out and connect with the community more effectively. Our platform helps build SEOfriendly websites and branded mobile apps, facilitating digital engagement. The Church AI feature, powered by GPT-3.5 Turbo, has the potential to redefine church productivity, transforming how tasks are performed and how the church communicates. Finally, StoreHouse

True Charity Network — Booth 301 Nathan Mayo jordan.phillips@mercyships. org truecharity.us We desire to champion a national movement of voluntarily funded, effective charity at the most local level. Our ministry network is anassociation of likeminded churches and nonprofits working to amplify their impact. Through our network's practical tools and resources, we help them learn about more effective ways to serve people in poverty, connect with others to share best practices, and influence the communities they serve more effectively.

United States Navy — Booth 305 Jacob Johnson jacob.m.johnson64.mil@ us.navy.mil Navy Chaplains typically continue their education throughout their careers. Opportunities for continuing education are available through the Advanced Education Program while being paid full-time as a Navy Officer. Beyond professional credentials and certifications, Navy Chaplains can advance their education by: Pursuing opportunities at institutions such as Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) Completing Joint Professional Military Education (JPME) at one of the various service colleges. Keep in mind: if you’re in the process of starting or completing your

Visioneering Studios — Booths 208, 209 Brittney Throckmorton bthrockmorton@ visioneeringstudios.com visioneeringstudios. com Visioneering Studios is a place that is full of passionate designers, builders, accountants, and more. It's a passion for our client's vision, a passion for our company's mission, a passion for being a part of creating and launching mind-blowing work. To help give you an idea of our culture - at Visioneering, we have these five "We Are" statements. They can be kind of intimidatingespecially if you are more comfortable with a computer mouse than leading an "expedition." But don't worry, we won't be sending you to Wilderness Survival Camp any time soon. We are Raconteurs... Immersing deeper purpose into story and space. We are Ground-Breakers... Pioneering wall-less impact through ruthless innovation. We are Outfitters... Equipping leaders at every step of the expedition. We are Guardians... Stewarding vision and equity through faithful partnership. We are Conspirators... Leveraging art and science through collaborative genius. Having worked with some of the foremost companies globally, including Disney Imagineering, Warner Bros, and AECOM, our founding team members desired to bring their experience and expertise to revolutionize under-served industries such as schools and non-profit organizations. They founded Visioneering Studios as a master planning agency in 2002 in Southern California. Since then, we have grown to almost 50 employees working with national reach from our Nashville, Dallas, and Santa Ana offices. Our leadership's range of expertise and passion for our vision has led to the creation of Visioneering Studios, Visioneering Studios Architecture, Visioneering Studios Construction, Visioneering Studios Real Estate, and James Cortez CPA to further serve our client base.

spire conference exhibitors

Watermark Resources — Booths 120, 122

Eric Hassfurther ehassfurther@watermark.org watermarkresources.com 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.

WAVE — Booths 101, 102

Kevin Ache kevin.ache@wave.us wave.us

We've worked with large and small churches, portable churches, and difference-making organizations to help them deliver their message. As believers, we have the most important message to deliver: the Gospel. We help churches deliver that message with clarity and authenticity. We look forward to the opportunity of partnering with Spire to help leaders grow. For us, stewardship is the number one priority of our AVL design

We want to help churches be authentic to their mission but also authentic to their budget. A key differentiator for our approach to audio-visual is that we create a stereo mix for every seat in the room. As you walk through a room that we've designed, even large auditoriums, the sound experience never changes. There are no "bad seats". That means that every person attending worship gets a great auditory experience. We provide this same service for churches with rooms that hold 500 people and for rooms that hold 5,000 people. We simply love helping churches.

WelcomeNST — Booth 308

Wayne Beeson wbeeson@welcomenst.org welcomenst.org We believe the local church is perfectly positioned to offer refuge to refugees. We believe that the local church is yearning to love the stranger in a tangible and personal way. The power of private refugee sponsorship is transformational discipleship. Journeying side by side with a refugee family offers the local church and the broader community, a point of connection far more powerful than a seat in a church building, although it often leads to that. We have partnered with both established churches and church plants across the country that have experienced exponential and sustainable growth in their church communities through private sponsorship of refugee families, not only in size but in depth of connection and engagement.

World Communion Cups — Booth 201

Jessica Rodgers ray@wccups.com wccups.com

Every Church partner receives their very own Church Advocate here at World Communion Cups. They are knowledgeable regarding our products and the process of presenting communion in your church. They will always be reviewing your orders to make sure that you are receiving the best pricing and value. We are always looking for ways to be better stewards of your financial resources. We have had a booth at SPIRE for two consecutive years now. Along with sharing our products we have enjoyed learning from other attendees and seeing the impact our churches can all share in America. Each year has offered so much for our own employees who were able to attend and experience and share in such an uplifting opportunity to grow with fellow believers. Both years we have been the only provider of communion cups, so we are happy that we can teach and share the experience of communion with church leaders.

c h r i s t i a n s t a n d a r d

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