LEAD team update

LEAD teams are part of the BGC network for pastor. I post this hear hoping for feedback on the ideas that are shared (BGC or not please comment). What will work in our area? Are there things we need to implement or change to allow it to function in a God honoring way that allows His kingdom to expand?



The LEAD Team Update BGC LEAD Teams Nov 2008

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Greetings!
Thanks for reading this issue of the Update! We're Nat'l Coordinators helping LEAD Teams thrive in our movement. We welcome your input and questions. Click on the unsubscribe button if you wish to be removed. - Dan Maxton/Terry Martell

Deaf Church to Start in Wisconsin

The hearing impaired are a significant unreached group in America today! Henry Blackaby's principle - "Find out where God is at work and then join Him!" - helped some WI leaders trace God's hand in starting a deaf church.

Six years ago, Bethany Baptist (Schoefield, WI) pastor and Head Coach - Kim Swenson - first saw God working when four deaf people walked into the church foyer. A deaf interpreter, Carol Fourman, walked up to them and signed, "I remember when you come to faith in Christ 10 years ago!"

"When God is at work, he usually raises up a leader!" notes Swenson. Maverick Martin and his wife started spending time with the deaf community and suggested, "Why don't we start a church?"

Soon the group connected with a deaf evangelist Don Ketter from Kansas City, MO. Later, he met Executive Minister, Dwight Perry and Church Planting leader, Dan Parmalee to forge a ministry partnership.

Delegates attending a recent Annual Meeting (Oct 23-25) in Ashland, WI called Don Ketter as their first hearing impaired church planter in the Great Lakes Baptist Conference (GLBC).

The Grand Opening for the new church is planned for December 7th. Fifteen deaf adults along with their children will meet for worship at Bethany Baptist. Future midweek bible studies will utilize video relay (Skype-like conferencing) to connect with other deaf communities in Medford, Stevens Point, Marshville, Merrill and Rhinelander.

"It's amazing how God is providing," observed Swenson. "This is one of those ministries that just took off! God really seems to be at work when people, resources and plans just fall into place with minimal initiative on our part."


What are LEAD TEAMS?

LEAD Teams bring together pastors and planters who connect 4-5 times a year to ignite a movement. They discover and send out future pastors and planters to lead transformational churches.

Leaders Learn principles, Encourage growth, Achieve mission and Dream about opportunities. They live out core values and mobilize kingdom resources to reproduce the life of Jesus.

Current National goals:

Initiate regional training events that equip Head Coaches.
Assist district leaders to launch new Lead Teams.
Share regional ideas working in one area with other leaders across the country.


10 Things I Wish I Would Have Known...

Ever wished someone would have shared insights about your job before you started? Church Planter, Gary Lamb blogged some great insights that you can bring up in your LEAD team.

"These aren't the top things I would tell a church planter, just the top 10 things I wished I had known before we launched," explains Lamb.

Be secure in your calling. There are days when nothing will get you through the day but your calling. The one thing that will comfort you (and not much) is the fact that you must KNOW you are called to do this thing.
People who come on time and act like you are the greatest thing in the world, want to sign up for everything after one visit, talk about how they are called to the ministry after one visit, etc. are the ones that won't last long. It happens every time.
You can NEVER cast vision too much. Volunteers do what they do because of the vision, not because they need something else on their schedule.
Small groups are a lot of work and NO ONE is doing them well especially if they are reaching unchurched people. However when they run right, there is nothing greater.
Who you do this thing with is so important. Do it with friends and people you enjoy being around.
Don't be afraid to talk about money. The bible talks a lot about it and it is part of spiritual growth. Big vision takes big money and God uses people to fund the vision.
Be yourself. The world doesn't need another Ed Young, Andy Stanley, Rob Bell, or Erwin McManus. It does however need you to be you and who God created you to be.
Don't be afraid to lose people. I never want to see people go, but there are times when people need to leave and in the early days I was too afraid to lose people that I kept people around that needed to leave.
Take time off!!!! Starting a church is a marathon, not a sprint. You are in this thing for the long haul so take care of your body, your mind, your soul, your marriage, and your family now so you can be doing this thing later.
Enjoy the ride. Quit worrying about the next growth barrier, the other churches in town, the critics, etc. Just enjoy what God is doing. Stop and smell the roses. If you don't do it now, you never will. Keep pushing to reach more people, but enjoy what is happening while it is happening.



Key Vital Signs of LEAD TEAMS

LEAD teams discover financial resources that achieves their vision. Member churches put LEAD Teams in their budgets. Congregations make monthly gifts to multiply churches in their regions.


LEAD Teams mentor and coach potential pastors and planters. They encourage apprentice leaders to attend meetings, network with others and learn new ways to equip churches.


Lead Teams collaborate around mission. They challenge themselves to be teams that fulfills God's vision to reproduce the life of Jesus in people and churches.


LEAD Teams look for future planters from within their church ministries. They avoid relying solely on regional partners (districts) to do the hard work of recruiting. Instead, they discover future planters in their own churches and harvest fields of their communities.



Yours for the Cause,


Dan Maxton/Terry Martell
BGC LEAD Team Coordinators