Month: December 2015

My Grander Vision for Bethlehem & the Middle East | Reach Millions for Christ

Posted on December 18, 2015 by Craig Hobson - Calling, Middle East, Stories

Jack leads the Bethlehem Bible College, an educational center in the main city that focuses on training women and men in the work of the ministry. While he works in Bethlehem, he lives in Jerusalem where he was born. He also leads the efforts in bringing the GLS to parts of the Middle East to raise up and train leaders in this region. He has a huge heart for the people in his region, and a desire to reach people with the love of Christ.

Christian Leadership in the Middle East

“Our country has experienced more than 70 years of conflict, war and uprisings,” said Jack. “There is no peace in the region. Directly working with growing leaders, establishing the church and impacting the community requires experience and a lot of heart to reach out to our nation. We are set in the place where Christianity was born, but sadly there are few Christians.”

Jack says the government is striving for a fresh, new awakening among politicians to find a way to build a concrete civil society. “As a church and ministry we are striving for that, too. We work with leaders from all communities—men and women, politicians, marketplace and business leaders—to help them learn more about leadership, especially moral and ethical leadership.”

The GLS is Born in Bethlehem

In October of 2014, we launched a Summit site in Bethlehem. And it reached beyond all expectations. The Summit was filled to overflowing with church leaders, educators, ministers and people affiliated with NGOs—people who are agents of change. “A lot of them said, ‘Don’t forget us next year!’ They want to continue to experience what the Summit offers at the Bethlehem Summit,” said Jack. [NOTE: The second Summit occurred in October 2015 and we also have sites in Jerusalem and Nazareth this year.]

Encouraged by the Summit

“I’m always looking for something to benefit me personally as a leader who leads leaders,” he said. “I want to better understand my staff and myself as a leader, and the GLS has encouraged me to rise above the challenges that we face. It’s been amazing to rub shoulders with other leaders like Gary [Schwammlein], Aliece [Hendricks], and others who run the GLS.

Jack’s Grander Vision

The message on Grander Vision was the one Summit attendees heard first last year, and it challenged their vision and hearts. “It convicted us about how limited we were in our thinking, and how limited our vision was. It helped us understand God’s vision, and how we can have a greater vision, not just for a small ministry, but for the whole region,” he said.

“I thought my vision was to impact students, and those who come across our ministry, perhaps 100-200 people, but now I want to impact my nation for Christ. I believe we can reach millions out of this small place in Bethlehem.”

Jack’s desire is to bring leadership training to places that have a deficit in leadership—places like Bethlehem. “I want to thank everyone who helped the GLS come to Bethlehem,” he said. “There is a lack of leaders who are equipped to lead the future of our nation. Bringing the GLS here was a catalyst that I believe will empower more and more leaders for Christ and for the greater good. Thank you to everyone who participated, prayed and donated to the GLS so that it could become a movement here and to the ends of the world.”

Please continue to pray and support leaders like Jack who seek to change lives, impact the Kingdom, and ultimately introduce people to Jesus. You make a difference for hundreds of thousands of leaders through your support and prayer. Thank you!

To make a gift to the Willow Creek Association
go online at give.willowcreek.com
or send your gift to PO Box 3188 Barrington IL 60011

My Grander Vision for Liberia | Changing Lives

Posted on December 16, 2015 by Craig Hobson - Africa, Calling, Stories

Liberia is a beautiful country of 3.5-4 million people. While most of the country is Christian, many people there have been championing Islam as a second religion and conversations around that continue.

Hattie Hunder, is on the board of directors for the GLS in Liberia, and also works for the state radio. She loves her country dearly, and wants to spread hope throughout the nation. “My country has been destroyed by war for so many years and more recently, the Ebola virus has taken its toll,” said Hattie. “There is so much desperation and hunger – and everyone wants a quick fix. Everyone needs hope—something every leader should strive to provide in such a way that there is no more chaos.”

But the resources are limited and finding a way to share them without corruption is difficult. “Things in Liberia have been in chaos for so long that the time has come for a change,” said Hattie. She believes the GLS will provide that hope.

A Fountain of Inspiration

“The Summit is like a fountain,” said Hattie. “You come and receive inspiration, great value and knowledge about how to lead and make the world a better place. When you go home, you share it with one, two or three or more people and it spreads. The Summit has this effect on everybody that if they go to the Summit once, they want to go again. What you learn, you want to share. It’s like a virus – it keeps spreading and helps everybody. Once you grab that fire, you don’t want to let it out. It’s helping to change the world.”

Hattie said the theme of Lead Where You Are at the 2013 Summit has been the most inspirational for her. “There are no borders for leadership. You can lead wherever you are—in your family, at work and in a country of desperate people,” said Hattie. “I want to see GLS go all the way until the end.”

Hattie is the only woman who works at her office and she says she plays a mother role there, helping people understand that you don’t quit when things get hard or going down. “Quitters don’t win; winners don’t quit,” said Hattie. “I share messages from the GLS with them to give them hope that it’s going to get better.” She believes it can help make things better because the more people know there is going to be a better day, the better it is for everyone.

Hattie’s Grander Vision

“My grander vision is to make the world a better place, no matter what I do,” said Hattie. “It could be giving food to a hungry child, making a donation to a poor family, teaching someone about Christ – it could be anything that could change the life of a person.”

Pray for Liberia

“Liberia is a country that needs so much,” said Hattie. “We are rich yet we are poor. Our prayer is for the leaders to see the hope of the people rest on them. We have to give light to the citizens of the country. We need to pray for peace, better living conditions, and good education so that people learn what is needed to help fix things. Liberia is in a desperate state right now, so we ask people around the world to pray with us as we go through our struggles. Liberia can be a better place.”

Please continue to pray and support leaders like Hatti in Liberia who seek to change lives, impact the Kingdom, and ultimately introduce people to Jesus. You make a difference for hundreds of thousands of leaders through your support and prayer. “Every time you put a dime into helping people, you’ve done something that God wants you to do,” says Hattie. “You’ve touched a life of a desperate person. You saved one life, you made one difference. Every person you support at GLS multiplies because that person leaves with something to share. Once you share, there’s a bigger group and the world becomes a better place. This Summit will make the biggest difference on the world.”

To make a gift to the Willow Creek Association,
go online at www.willowcreek.com/give
or mail your gift to PO Box 3188 Barrington IL 60011

Utilizing Differences to Build Collaboration

Posted on December 16, 2015 by Craig Hobson - Articles, Collaboration, Leading Others

In the post below, Ken Blanchard (TGLS 1995, 2000, 2005) shares insights from his new book on collaboration.

In our new book, Collaboration Begins with You: Be a Silo Buster, my coauthors Jane Ripley, Eunice Parisi-Carew, and I explain the importance of building a culture of collaboration in your organization.

Believing true collaboration is the responsibility of every individual, we define five elements each person must consider when accepting their specific role in helping to create that culture.

The UNITE acronym makes these elements easy to remember. Every collaborative leader must be able to Utilize differences; Nurture safety and trust; Involve others in crafting a clear purpose, values, and goals; Talk openly; and Empower themselves and others. Let’s take a closer look at the importance of utilizing differences.

Many people think if a group working together allows differing viewpoints, it might create disagreement, which would be a bad thing. However, we believe conflict in collaborative groups is good—as long as discussions stay focused on the issues and disagreements don’t get personal. In fact, conflict can be the basis for breakthrough thinking that leads to revolutionary ideas.

Ask yourself these questions to see if you are a collaborator who makes the most of people’s differences:

Do you believe everyone has something to contribute?
Do you ensure everyone in your group is heard?
Do you actively seek different points of view?
Do you encourage debate about ideas?
Do you feel comfortable facilitating conflict?

If you answered yes to most of these questions, congratulations! You are well on your way to being a first-class collaborator who embraces diverse points of view within your work group. If you answered no to any of them, you know where to begin your journey to effective collaboration.

Organizations operating in today’s global economy have workforces comprising multiple generations with diverse backgrounds, perspectives and temperaments. This guarantees significant disparity among people in almost every work group. The ability to utilize these differences for the greater good will determine the success or failure of your project—and possibly your company. Remember—collaboration begins with you!

Inspiring Feedback from the GLS in Pakistan | “I’m ready to conquer the mountains in my life.”

Posted on December 15, 2015 by Craig Hobson - Middle East, Stories

“Despite all kind of hurdles and problems, I made it to the GLS. This is my third time at the GLS and didn’t want to miss out. At the GLS, I draw energy, encouragement and power to carry on for the upcoming year. It is hard to miss. I have never ever cried before, but during Carly Fiorina’s message I cried when she shared how with a little help and support we can make a difference in someone’s life. I have decided that whatever little or much I have, I am going to show God’s love.” – GLS Attendee, Pakistan

“When Pastor Loui Giglio spoke to the leaders, it was mind blowing. He touched the depth of my heart when he shared his experience about his ministry commitment and the passing away of his Dad. I thought, we have not faced a terrible situation like him, yet we have fear to move on and conquer the mountains in our lives. I want to testify that after being at the GLS, I am all set and ready to conquer the mountains in my life. I will never give up.” – GLS Attendee, Pakistan

“I had no idea what the GLS was. I had absolutely no clue about this Christian conference of such high class. My Pastor friend invited me for the first time. I would say, simply, WOW! The set-up, presentations, content, uniformed team of volunteers ready to serve, translation, dubbing and order of the program was marvelous. This is not the norm. This is an exceptional event. I have learned some key point to accelerate in my real estate business and handle my staff better. God has this plan for me to improve myself through the teachings of GLS. I know it might take some time for me to do so, but I am enthusiastic to come back next year and share the goodness of God in the result.” – GLS Attendee, Pakistan

“I am so blessed by the session by Brian Loritz. What can I do to show the love of God around my community? God calls leaders for the betterment of the community, so what can I do for the betterment of my community?! Yes, God has prompted me for something. I will share with you next year the ways that I’ve been able to impact my church and the community around me. I want to get better and He will help me for sure. Thank you GLS for pointing me to the right direction and for the inspiring teachings.” – GLS Attendee, Pakistan

My Grander Vision for Guatemala | Raise Up Leaders & Plant a Church

Posted on December 14, 2015 by Craig Hobson - Calling, Central America, Latin America, Stories

Lorena Glindo is a senior pastor and a host for the Global Leadership Summit at her church, Vida Nueva, in Guatemala City, Guatemala. She is excited about the opportunity to raise up leaders in her city to transform the culture and share the love of Jesus with even more people in her community. But this ministry work has not been easy, especially as a woman in leadership living in the context of a male dominated society.

“In our culture, it’s unusual for a woman to step into a leadership role,” says Lorena. “My husband used to prepare and run the Global Leadership Summit here. When he died in 2002, it was his wish for me to step into his role, and even though I am more introverted, I knew we needed to continue what we were doing because Vida Nueva needed it.”

People in the congregation saw leading the church as a role that belonged to a man, and many spoke up against Lorena taking on the responsibilities of her husband. “They said our church was going to close because it’s not biblical for a woman to stand up in front and lead,” she said. “They told me it goes against everything in the Bible, and that the role belongs to a man.” But she exclaims, “But the church is God’s!”

The Summit has helped her gain confidence and deal with things that once left her fearful. Now she can stand up and speak in front of other leaders and pastors. “It has not been easy to be a woman in this role,” she said. “But Vida Nueva is growing. We now hold three services on weekends and people are coming to church because the Word of God is being preached.”

Lorena’s Grander Vision

Lorena has a grander vision to raise up more leaders and to plant another church, “There are more than a million residents in Guatemala City. We need another church,” she says. “And I have a dream to plant one. I don’t want our church to stay in its comfort zone, but to grow. But God is the boss!”

The GLS has been a tool that has encouraged and inspired Lorena to stay in ministry, and has challenged her to reach more people in her community for Christ. One of the things she’s seen happen a result of the GLS is personal transformation in leaders. Lorena noticed that the GLS brings out valuable qualities in people. “They become honorable, they become upright, and they are no longer do things like steal from their employers,” she says. Not only does the GLS encourage and inspire church leaders, but is also impacting the marketplace and government. “The Summit has been a good place for business people, and for people who are a part of the government as well.”

The GLS continues to reach a broad audience form the community in Guatemala City. This year, she anticipates the police will also attend. “The police in Guatemala are not viewed very favorably here,” says Lorena. “They are often seen as corrupt. But we need these people. We want people who don’t know Christ to come to the GLS! We want to be inclusive—not exclusive.”

Lorena sees transformation happening in all sectors of society, and is excited to see the continued impact of the GLS on her city. Thank you for praying and supporting leaders like Lorena who seek to change lives, impact the Kingdom, and ultimately introduce people to Jesus. You make a difference for hundreds of thousands of leaders through your support and prayer.

To make a gift to the Willow Creek Association
go online at give.willowcreek.com
or send your gift to PO Box 3188 Barrington IL 60011

Why Performance Evaluations Never Work

Posted on December 14, 2015 by Craig Hobson - Articles, Communication, Leading Others, Performance Management

The 8-to-5 workday, the fax machine and a Rolodex on every desk are artifacts of a distant time and place. The world is more sophisticated and in many ways, much more efficient. However, one remnant of days gone by still hanging by a thread, and needing serious evaluation, is the annual performance review.

At this year’s Global Leadership Summit, Sheila Heen, author of Thanks For The Feedback, challenged many of our preconceived notions about feedback. She also acknowledged that much of what we receive in the spirit of feedback is poorly delivered and often ignored.

Although I believe every leader can get better at giving feedback, I think the core problem is one of process, not presentation. For workers to toil away for 12 months, only then to have a leader tell them how they performed and where they missed the mark is a conversation that will NEVER go well.

What organizations need is a process to facilitate performance and success. I love the word facilitate – it literally means to remove barriers. With that in mind, here’s a path that can remove numerous barriers and enable people and organizations to excel.

Plan – Coach – Encourage – Review – Repeat

Hopefully, this simple process makes sense at face value. Therefore, I’ll say very little about each crucial step.

Plan – What is it the leader and the organization wants, needs and expects from the employee? What does a win look like? I have long heard and believed a problem well-defined is a problem half-solved. The plan is where GREAT performance and feedback begins. Without a plan, the employee is literally flying blind.

Coach – Imagine a coach who observes a player in practice and game situations but never offers any coaching. Crazy, right? Well, without on-going coaching, instruction and correction, leaders fall into the same trap. Think about the absurdity of telling an athlete, “Seven months ago, I noticed a flaw in your shooting motion. I thought today, in your annual review, it would be a good time to tell you.” The best coaching is always real time and on-going.

Encourage – If you think encouragement should be part of on-going coaching, technically, you are correct. However, this idea is so powerful, it deserves to be called out. Plato said, “What is honored in a land is cultivated there.” If you encourage desired behaviors, you will get more of them. Don’t miss the opportunity throughout the year.

Review – Now, if you’ve done the Planning and Coaching, laced with heart-felt Encouragement, you are ready for a Review. If you have done your job well, there should be no surprises or revelations during this meeting. Also, if you do this right, it should be the BEST day of an employee’s year. Why wouldn’t it be? You are affirming their wins and confirming areas in need of continued growth and development. I want that type of review and so do your people!

Repeat – Feedback and coaching don’t diminish in value over time; the opposite is true. The process I’ve just outlined grows in value over time – context, trust and confidence increase each time you repeat the process. When leaders commit to the long-haul journey of helping people grow, everyone wins.

One more idea that is not process dependent – encourage members of your organization to seek constant feedback on their own. The days in which feedback comes only from a supervisor is so last century. Today’s workers want more feedback than a supervisor can possibly provide – also, the supervisor is rarely in a position to provide the BEST feedback. Those you work with on a daily basis are the best source of constructive feedback.

As Sheila reminded us, “Everyone has blind spots.” The best organizations work to eliminate these and help people excel in the process. It’s the ultimate win-win!

My Grander Vision for India | The Church to Impact Every Aspect of Society

Posted on December 11, 2015 by Craig Hobson - Asia, Calling, Stories

Only 2.3 percent of the 1.3 billion people who live in India are Christian—at least according to government records. Off the record, the number is closer to four percent, or 50 million. Despite stories of persecution, God continues to move in fresh and unique ways in the country, with churches continuing to grow, the planting of new churches and new pastors coming into the ministry.

Approximately 80 percent of India’s population practices Hinduism. Other religions prevalent in India include Islam, Sikhism, Buddhism, Jainism and various indigenous, ethnically-bound faiths. Within every religion, Christianity is breaking ground—particularly in the 40 percent of the population that falls into the lower class of India’s caste system. It is in Christ that they find a savior who offers dignity, comfort and honor.

My Grander Vision for India

Binu, the national assistant director for the GLS in India, said his grander vision for his country is to see people come to Christ and Christian leaders stand up and make an obvious difference in their communities—wherever they are, and as the hope of the world, that the church will be able to impact every aspect of society, including business, marketplace, media, politics, youth and women.

The Leadership Summit has had an impact on the church growth and the spread of Christianity in India. In every city where we go, pastors tell us we have come at the right time. One pastor recently called to say, “This is an answer to prayer for our city. We have been praying for two years for training and equipment for the pastors.”

Leaders from every part of India are excited about what the GLS can do, and are eagerly waiting. Because of the funding and support that comes from sponsor and partners, we are able expand the leadership training of the GLS into more areas. In 2012, there were three GLS sites; In 2015, we’ve grown to 34 sites. Currently there are invitations from at least 60 different cities that wish to hold the GLS.

Please continue to pray and support leaders like Binu in India l who seek to change lives, impact the Kingdom, and ultimately introduce people to Jesus. You make a difference for hundreds of thousands of leaders through your support and prayer.

To make a gift to the Willow Creek Association
go online at www.willowcreek.com/give
or mail your gift to PO Box 3188 Barrington, IL 60011

Celebrating Dennis Baril’s Leadership and Legacy

Posted on December 10, 2015 by Craig Hobson - Africa, Calling, Church, Collaboration, Stories

Dennis Baril, senior pastor of Covenant Community Church (CCC) in Rehoboth, MA, and faithful partner to Willow Creek Association since 2002 as a Summit host site, is retiring this month. In today’s blog post, we want to celebrate his incredible leadership, ministry, and faithfulness in expanding God’s kingdom in Southern New England and in Haiti.

In the early years, when the GLS was piloting the satellite concept, Dennis eagerly volunteered, but was rejected numerous times. It was thought that his church, although large by New England standards, was too small compared to other host sites at the time. Boy, were we wrong! Under Dennis’s leadership, the Summit has become embedded in the CCC culture and Dennis has been instrumental in broadening its reach throughout New England by encouraging other churches to host. In addition, he has also been a key driver behind bringing the GLS to Haiti, using the conference as a launch pad for partnerships with key Haitian leaders to improve education and create jobs.

Sean Smith, pastor at CCC, and longtime friend of Dennis Baril, shares more about his leadership and legacy:

What is it like to work with Dennis?

I have worked with Dennis since 1997. We have had so many wonderful memories along the way to building a healthy church in SE New England. Dennis is a visionary and a strategist who is both fun and challenging to work with. He definitely keeps us on our toes as he is always on to that next Big Idea. I have grown so much under his leadership and have always appreciated how much he stretches us as a staff because it stems from a desire to do all that God has for us.

What do you most admire about Dennis?

Dennis is the most loyal person you will ever meet. He loves the local church and his loyalty is unwavering. I have a unique relationship with Den where I know that he looks at me as a son and the love and respect that we have for one another is unbelievable.

Den is a man of strong integrity. I have never once questioned that he would lead with great moral judgment and lead the church with anything but Christ-like integrity.

Maybe the thing that makes me most appreciate Den is his love for both the local church and the capital “C” Church. Every day, Dennis works as hard as anyone I know to help build a healthy church in New England and to influence people around the world. He uses his gifts of leadership and ability to think BIG to tackle issues that most aren’t willing to take on and he comes up with solutions that most would never dream of. He is truly unique!

How does has he inspired you? How has he challenged you? What kind of impact have you seen as a result of his leadership?

Dennis inspires me to be a better leader and Christ-follower every day because of his approach to ministry and his tireless work ethic. Dennis pulls things out of Scripture that are amazing and challenging to think about – I am always inspired to learn more about Jesus Christ, His ministry and what He desires from me as a Christ-follower!

The impact that Den has had in our local church is tremendous. He has built a very strong and healthy local church. He challenges us to “Change Lives ~ On Purpose” (which is our mission statement), as we strive to truly love others. He has enlarged what it means to love our neighbor. We have hosted and led a “Step Into Africa” event in our area through World Vision; we have launched the GLS in Haiti, empowering Haitians to run it themselves in multiple locations. We have created Teachers Training Teachers, which is another imaginative way to help change the world for Christ through educating third world teachers so they can become better teachers. We did a tent drive for Haiti after the earthquake hit. We filled a shipping container with supplies for those struggling in Liberia after the Ebola outbreak. These are amazing feats for a 500-person church in Rehoboth, Ma, but this has never stopped Den from dreaming big and inspiring us to believe that we can “do even greater things” in Christ.

Another awesome thing that I think Den has done brilliantly in a staunchly traditional church filled with independent New Englanders is that he has created a culture for change. This is why we are able to do so much good in our community and in Haiti. His leadership never allows us to settle for what has worked in the past, but we are always surging forward to that which is next. This is what makes it so much fun to work with Den – you feel like you are on the Great Adventure with Christ!

What would you say is Dennis’ legacy?

Dennis’ legacy is that he has laid the groundwork for a healthy church to grow and has led the way to demonstrate that “all things are possible with Christ” when Christ-followers pull together and go after BIG dreams. He has been a fearless leader who has always been willing to tackle the biggest problems without excuses and then found creative ways to find the right solutions and make them a reality.

My love and respect for Dennis is off the charts and words really can’t describe how much I love him and how much I have cherished working alongside him. I am proud to call him my one and only pastor.

“A vision that doesn’t last past the leader is only a dream. It will feel very different with Dennis’ absence from the church, but his vision for a healthy church in Southern New England will be felt even stronger and much further past his own name. Dennis didn’t build his own kingdom, he participated in God’s mission to build his kingdom, and that will last forever.” – Brandon Lemois, succeeding Senior Pastor

“One of the things I admire most about Dennis is his gift to see the potential impact of the local church on a much broader scale. It starts with changing the conversation about church and God in our local community. He has been able to envision individuals and teams to get engaged in problems of the world that break the heart of God—problems that would appear out of reach for a small church in New England with relatively minimal resources. He has developed a local church model that has a global reach for His Kingdom.” – CCC Attendee

“Dennis’ legacy at CCC is the foundation he has laid for our church to grow and flourish for God’s kingdom.” – CCC Attendee

“Dennis has the ability to see raw talent in people and is willing to take a chance on individuals to develop them into leaders. He has given me opportunities as an inexperienced leader to learn, grow, fail, excel and lead because he saw gifts in me that God could use as part of His story of redemption. For those opportunities, I will be forever grateful.” – CCC Attendee

“Dennis is a man of vision. He is able to see past the problems and distractions toward new places God is leading the church.” – CCC Attendee

“Dennis has inspired me to continually look at things from a different perspective and question the routine.” – CCC Attendee

Dennis, on behalf of the staff at the Willow Creek Association, words are not enough to thank you for your legacy, leadership and your partnership!

The Worst Thing You Can Do When Pitching An Idea To Your Boss

Posted on December 9, 2015 by Craig Hobson - Articles, Influence, Leading Others

Liz Wiseman (TGLS 2013, 2015) says, “If your idea doesn’t coincide with your supervisor’s agenda, you might want to reconsider.” She offers great ideas on how to approach your boss with a new idea in this article, that appeared on Fortune Online here.

When you have a new idea, it’s a lot like holding a hot potato—you’re fired up and eager share it. If it’s a big idea, you’ll need to get others on board to make it happen. In an attempt to win over much-needed investors, it’s tempting to pitch your idea “shark tank” style—putting your idea on full display and making a passionate pitch with the energetic on-air appeal of a QVC episode. But just because you pitch, doesn’t mean anyone will catch.

Herein lies the challenge of selling ideas inside a company: Most of the people you are selling to aren’t investors looking for the next big thing; they are operators, already invested in something else, just trying to cross the next thing off their to-do list. So how do you sell an idea inside a company, especially to people who have their own agenda?

Several years ago when I was running a global function for a large tech company, a colleague named Jane stopped by my office to ask if she could take me to lunch. Naturally, I perked up. She needed senior-management support for a new initiative, and she wanted advice on how to do this.

During our lunch, she described the criticality of the initiative she was leading and explained why it would surely fizzle out without buy in from the senior executives. She pleaded, “How do I get this initiative onto the senior executives’ agenda?” She paused, ready to receive this much-needed guidance.

After an even longer pause, I confessed, “Jane, I don’t think I can help you. I’ve never actually been successful getting the executives to buy into one of my initiatives.” She was confused and began citing a number of big initiatives I was leading with the executive team. I further confessed, “Yes, but I didn’t actually convince them to adopt my agenda. I brought ideas on how they could successfully implement their agenda.” There’s a big difference. We then discussed how to do the latter.

It’s hard to get senior management to pay attention to new ideas—not because the leaders are arrogant or overwhelmed, but because they are disciplined. It is an executive’s duty to define and defend a strategic agenda—a small set of initiatives that will keep the organization competitive and relevant. This strategic agenda becomes a repellant to new ideas or initiatives, or anything that interferes with or distracts from that agenda. Hence, Johnny-come-lately ideas (and the people who push them) tend to irritate them. It’s what makes the best leaders and entrepreneurs simultaneously inspiring and frustrating.

So if you want support for a new idea, instead of trying to add your stuff onto the the agenda of an executive, show how your ideas will further their already-set agenda. In other words, to get buy in, you have to make the tie-in. Here’s how to connect your ideas to what matters most for your stakeholders:

Understand their agenda

Few leaders actually present their agenda in neat and tidy packages, and the stated agenda is rarely the “real” agenda. This means you’ll have to figure it out yourself by using some keen observation and a bit of math. Try keeping count of the number of times they mention a particular issue—the things they talk about a lot are typically at the top of their agenda. To figure out their strategic priorities, triangulate the various strategy pronouncements and organizational announcements to find the central theme. Look for their top three priorities—because if your idea doesn’t impact one of their top three things, you’re off agenda.

To read four additional tips from Liz, click here.

My Grander Vision for Cuba | Being a Part of the Global Great Commision

Posted on December 9, 2015 by Craig Hobson - Calling, Caribbean, Latin America, Stories

The Growth of the GLS in Cuba

Abel Gonzalez is the senior pastor of a church of more than 2,000 people in a large city in the center of Cuba. “We held the Summit in Havana,” says Abel. “Even though I’ve served as a pastor for 25 years, I have received many challenging ideas at the Summit that have inspired me to be more aggressive. The most important thing it gave me was hope. Sometimes as a Christian leader, you do not think that you could have a global influence. The Summit opened my eyes to a larger picture. The idea that the local church is the hope of the world really moved my heart to re-position Christian ministry in the critical place in our moment in history.” Abel has shared these ideas with some of his friends, and they have responded the same way. He connected with the leaders holding the Summit in Havana, and talked about holding the Summit in his church.

This year Abel’s church in the center of Cuba will also host the Summit and 600 leaders are expected. “Our focus is to bring together key leaders, pastors and church staff. We also want to bring together missionaries and leaders in small churches because that is where church growth is happening,” he says.

Abel believes the Summit will be a blessing, a great resource, and a powerful experience for Christian leaders. “We have passion for the church in Cuba, but also for other churches,” he says. “We deal with sacrifice. As Christian leaders, we know what it is like to work with few tools. We’ve learned how to be more dependent on God alone. This is our way to carry out the Great Commission, but we really need to be a part of this global community. We can share with each other, and complement each other, because it’s not a local challenge; it’s a global challenge. In our country right now, we are facing the same issues that you are facing. We’re really living in the center of the same spiritual and ethical challenges.”

The impact of the GLS on the Church in Cuba

The new phenomenon and growth in Cuba is happening in house churches with an average size of 50-60 people. “There are thousands of them,” he says. “The old churches are growing too, but it’s not the same as what is happening in this wonderful new way we’re seeing. It’s wonderful. It’s the new phenomenon.”

Abel says they have planted five small churches meeting in houses. “It’s one of our ministries, and one of our fruits,” he says. “One of those churches put the idea that the local church is the hope of the world into action and started a clinic for people struggling with alcohol addiction.” This small countryside church, located in a very poor area, developed a clinic for alcohol addiction because in that community, alcohol is destroying families. It’s destroying marriages, and destroying the community. “This church asked for my support,” he said. “We bought some resources, and a humble house, and beds. Now we have the first Christian clinic for alcoholic addiction…not in the city, and not developed by the mother church, but developed by the house church in the countryside. It happened because they believe that the local church is the hope of the world. That small church wants to be the hope of the community. It’s amazing what is happening because of this connection.”

A Grander Vision for Cuba

Abel’s grander vision is first for his country. “My grander vision is to be a country that is transformed as a whole,” he said. “My country has been under the dark ages because of political, ideological and spiritual influence for decades. My vision is to transform the country so that we can be free socially, spiritually and completely so people can develop normal lives. I want to be a country where parents can raise their kids in a secure environment, not only physically but also spiritually. I want to see millions of the people in my homeland converted to the Lord, and for there to be a spread of the Gospel across the country.”

Abel says he has another grander vision to see Cuban Christian missionaries spreading all over the world, and being a part of the global Great Commission. “Cuba has been a closed country for decades, and because of circumstances, God developed specific capabilities and talents in our leaders to endure hard circumstances. We know how to be a Christian who ministers undercover, underground, with few tools, with opposition, at risk of losing jobs, at the risk of losing freedom and at the risk of being stigmatized. Because of that, we feel Cuban Christians can be another battalion for the global Great Commission. We want to help our other brothers to win the world for Christ. I want to see the church become a stronger light in the world.”

Pray for Leaders in Cuba

“Pray for us,” he says. “Pray that God would give us the opportunity to become more influential in our culture. Pray that God would open the doors to resources that we critically need to enlarge our hands to have more service. There have been recent changes in our country, and many Cuban leaders have this perception that if the process continues, there will be more changes in our society – maybe more prosperity, maybe a more American way of thinking, and there is this question that we need to be more deep and solid. Pray that our Lord would give us wisdom to know how to face this new environment, and not to be captured by naïve ideas, and simplicity.” Christian leaders in Cuba need God to open their eyes and give them discernment to know how to deal with these new challenges that they’ve never experienced in their history.

Thank you for your support in Cuba

“I want to thank all of you who have been a part of the effort to support the Cuban church,” says Abel. “If you donated resources and supported us financially, we want you to know that you are in the center of what God is doing in my country right now. The Cuban church is not alone because we have been receiving your help. We do not feel alone, and we know that in the future, we will not be alone. Thank you so much. We pray that God will open the door of blessing to you because of what you did for us. God bless you. Thank you.”

Please continue to pray and support leaders like Abel in Cuba who seek to transform Cuba. You make a difference for hundreds of thousands of leaders through your support and prayer.

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