876 words 5-minute read … and a blueprint for building culture.
In my last post on regaining momentum, I shared some insights that my Leadwell Cohort surfaced in a recent meeting in the Phoenix area. It seemed to strike a nerve based on what I believe may have been the largest number of views and highest open rate yet. If you missed it, check it out here.
The secret sauce to the work that happens and the insights that surface in these cohorts is a well-defined mix of having the right leaders in the room and the access to mentor pastors with wisdom developed along the way.
One of the mentors for the recent group was Chad Moore, senior pastor at Sun Valley Community Church in Gilbert, Arizona. Among the questions asked by the leaders in the group was how do you build a culture of evangelism in today’s world. I have to say, I think that Chad may be the “king of culture.” His insight into a culture of evangelism, and well actually the culture of anything, is profound.
Most importantly, he notes that the senior pastor has to understand and embrace their role as a cultural architect. He fully understands and employs the realities that language creates culture and words create worlds.
Culture is about “creating behavior” and Chad shared four key steps he employs.
First, inspire.
The primary avenue here is preaching. And the culture you are trying to build will inform the words that you choose. At Sun Valley, Chad can regularly be heard saying phrases, “The church is not the building. The church is us. We are a movement to help people meet, know, and follow Jesus. In the end, all that matters is God and people. Not that they are simple, sticky, and easy to remember. And they are said consistently and displayed predominantly throughout the building.
Next up, instruct.
The key here is to get people moving with a very specific and doable call to action. They have employed several tactics through the years, but recently have conducted a “reach one” call to action. People were instructed in the room and online to write the name of an unreached friend that they would pray for. And this Easter, they asked people to RSVP for services and invite someone to join them. Dummy proof it. Regarding evangelism, they leverage the large attendance Sundays like Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, baptism Sundays when the crowd often includes friends and family, some of whom don’t know Jesus.
Final two key steps after some Leadwell Updates.
Leadwell Cohorts
Through LeadWell Cohorts, leaders gain unique insights from peer learning environments and leverage the group setting for leaders in similar roles. The wisdom of well-seasoned mentors, like Chad Moore, and expert resources from multiple disciplines empower participants to tackle some of our most pressing issues and opportunities. This collaborative community helps leaders bust through their leadership lids and create plans for accelerated results.
The next groups are forming now including senior pastors (under 40), senior pastors “finishing well” and executive pastors. To check it out, go here. If you are interested in applying for a spot, email me at greg@ligongroup.com or select a time to talk that works for you here.
And another Leadwell opportunity …
In my work consulting with churches and pastors, I frequently get asked if the multisite movement is losing steam. Interestingly the multisite churches I know seem to have weathered the pandemic storm as well or better than most gatherings. Why and what’s next, you might ask?
In the next Ligon Group LeadWell Accelerator, a free virtual event that will take place on April 28 from 10:00 until 11:30 am CST, we’ll be focusing on the topic Multisite: The Next Wave. You will hear from our keynote speaker, Larry Osborne, who will be sharing his insights and wisdom as one of the early movement pioneers. You’ll also hear from a panel of practitioners including Jeff Kahler, Lives Changed by Christ, and Bruce Smith, College Park, who will also share their strategies from the trenches related to mergers and multi-brand approaches.
I hope you’ll consider participating. You can go here to learn more details and to register.
Third, illustrate.
Words create worlds and a picture paints a thousand words right? So, tell the stories. Put the results on display. Model what you are championing personally. Video, live interview, personal testimony … get creative … and do it frequently.
Finally, celebrate.
Always take time to celebrate the wins. When your attendance is up on special occasions, celebrate it because every number is a name that has a family and legacy attached (another Chadism). When someone accepts Jesus, coach the congregation to cheer! When someone brings a friend to church, give them a high five.
Inspire, instruct, illustrate and ignite. Four concise steps to building a culture of evangelism in this example. But rinse and repeat with other areas of culture that need your architectural touch.
Where will you step up and step forward?
Email me your innovation experiments and stories at greg@ligongroup.com.