Month: May 2016

Brian Houston’s Turning Point GLS Session | Leading in Fear vs. Leading in Freedom

Posted on May 25, 2016 by - Calling, Church, Confidence, North America, Stories

John and LindaNo one really knew about John Witte’s fears because he appeared to most as the most confident person they knew. As a teaching pastor at City Church in San Antonio, Texas, speaking in front of people every week, and formerly a long term missionary in East Africa for 17 years, no one had suspected that he dealt with fear. “I’ve struggled with fear my whole life due to a series of events that happened to me from age 6-12. I didn’t discover why until I was 52,” said John. “I always appeared as one of the most confident people you would’ve known, but deep down I knew there were many times when I would not undertake a task or I would propose and idea, and then not follow through to make it happen. I simply wasn’t sure I had what it took to make it work.”

John had built up a false confidence to hide behind his fear. “I rarely ever asked God for assistance in the past. Oddly enough, I always thought He should help someone less capable than myself,” John shares. “If I needed Him, I’d call him… but I never called. It was my pride at work.”

Reconnecting with God

During the Global Leadership Summit in 2015, during Brian Houston’s session, something stirred in John’s heart. “During the end of the Brian Houston interview, they talked about the impact of music on self-leadership, and how music had helped him deal with an issue of fear he was facing, the Spirit of God did something in me that had not happened to this point in my life,” John said. “I simply came to the point where I knew I was tired of living in fear. I realized so clearly that because of my relationship to Jesus Christ, I don’t have to fear – in that moment, I laid my fear aside. I prayed and told the Lord, ‘I will do what is in my heart. I’m done with fear.’”

A grander vision is ignited

John had a God-given grander vision on his heart for a long time—one that he had let fear hold him back from pursuing. But at the Summit, he found just the encouragement he needed to move forward and take a risk. John has become free from fear, putting all his trust in God moving forward to create a place for leaders to rest and engage in conversations about their lives and the Lord. In February, he and his wife, Linda bought 125 acres of land in February, and though plans are still underway, they already have a lot of interest. “Linda and I have set a couple of very specific goals,” said John. “The first is for the way we manage the place, how it looks and the quality of what we produce to bring honor to God. We are developing the water resources on the land, and preparing to expand the agricultural and livestock production. Linda and I both have a lot of skills related to helping people think through their lives and ‘write a better life story.’  We want to have those same kinds of conversations in a peaceful, rural setting where people can come away from their daily routine and grow closer to God.”

farm1

Leading in freedom from fear

“Purchasing the farm is an example of leading in freedom from fear,” said John. “It’s the most challenging thing I’ve ever done. It’s the biggest risk I’ve ever taken, and I’m leading our family to establish a homestead we never would’ve established otherwise. I’m taking on new projects and putting myself in a position where I have to learn new skills and depend on other people to help teach me things I don’t know. Now, when I face fears, I acknowledge them and right away ask God’s help or correction about what I’m thinking about doing. I ask!”

“The Summit always puts me together with high quality people,” said John. “When you get around great people you get better yourself. One of the most important values a humble, servant leader can have is the value of learning. The Summit is a great chance to learn. I always go just hoping to come away with one major learning that will effect my life, and in 2015, I experienced a turning point.”

Since God Chose You

Posted on May 24, 2016 by - Articles, Church & Faith-Based, Leading Organizations, Relationship with God

In this post, Summit Satellite Manager Rhonda Jenkins shares the “White Hot Why” story behind Colossians 3:12-15, the GLS team’s anchoring Scripture for 2016.

Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves in tender-hearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you.  Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. Colossians 3:12-15

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7O16HcWWuSU

 

If you would have asked me five years ago, “Rhonda, what is the most important thing you need to do to train the host site operations leaders to have an excellent Summit at their site?” I would have answered simply “to eliminate all unnecessary distractions. Eliminate anything that might compete for the guests’ attention.  Clear the path for God to work in the lives of our guests.”

That’s what operational people do, right?  We eliminate distractions. We plan and prepare for months to ensure our facilities look their best, our volunteers are friendly, knowledgeable servants and we have all the materials and refreshments our guests will need to ensure they are not distracted by clutter, unhappy, confused faces or hungry minds and tummies. And if I’m really honest, we want the lack of distraction to cause guests to rate operations at our sites 5.0 on a 1-5 scale because, after all, that means our mission becomes measurable.

Recently however, God has been doing a little operational work within me to remove some distractions that have been creeping into my Summit-planning seasons. What has surfaced is what I’ve determined to be my “White Hot Why” – cultivate the hunger in leaders’ souls!

Four years ago, I introduced a Summit Scripture passage for the satellite operations team—in order to center this team on what really matters, and to let God remove distractions that clutter our souls.  This Scripture became the foundation for our team’s work and a binding agent to our grander vision to maximize our collective kingdom impact. It became so meaningful for our team that others joined in: senior pastors, promotional strategists, production teams, the WCA staff, onsite Summit team and international GLS teams. Even our WCA Board of Directors was invited and encouraged to memorize our 2016 Summit Scripture!

We’ve recently completed three events for host site team leaders and introduced this passage as our anchoring Scripture for Summit 2016. At the last training, 150 first and second year event managers experienced a 90-minute session around the Colossians verse. We explored how, as “the doers” on the team, we can cultivate our souls for the operational work within that God wants to do. As these new event managers saw the connection between their role, this Scripture, and God’s work at the Summit, I was affirmed about this “White Hot Why.” These leaders are hungry and this session cultivated their souls!

rho2Building on the “clothe yourselves” image in this passage, we invited our “doers” to consider a word or phrase God was inviting them to internalize from this passage and write it onto a piece of colored fabric. Then we commissioned each one by exchanging their fabric piece with a leather bracelet speaking the words “Since God chose you . . .” We closed this session with a spoken word video that sealed each of our commitments to clothe ourselves as we plan and prepare for the Summit.

Would you consider joining our global Summit teams in memorizing Colossians 3:12-15? 

Read it aloud to yourself two or three times a day for 30 consecutive days and see how easy it is to remember each time you read it. Include it in your daily devotions. Replay the Scripture video for inspiration.

By joining in this Scripture journey with us, you can expect God to use it to transform you from within and as a result transform the people you lead and influence every day.

Letters From Prison (Part 1 of 6)

Posted on May 20, 2016 by - Calling, Emotional Intelligence, Execution, Government, North America, Prison, Stories

GLS Group2The first Summit at Southeast Correctional Center in Missouri was held in August of 2015 with the sponsorship and the support of the team at La Croix Church. They caught a vision to serve prisoners, unleash potential and change the culture of the prison from inside out, using the tools offered by The Global Leadership Summit (read more about the event here).

We received letters from several of the prisoners who were able to attend, and we are blown away by the powerful impact the Summit has had on these men.

We hope you’re as encouraged, challenged and inspired by their words as we were when we received them.

 

A letter from Brandon GLS attendee, Southeast Correctional

The Global Leadership Summit was way beyond what I expected! For two days it was like I wasn’t in prison, and that means a lot to someone sentenced to live out the rest of his life in prison. While facing the death sentence in county jail, a preacher visited and preached. At the end of his visit, I decided to approach him to ask for help. He introduced me to Jesus Christ and I got saved. From that moment, I’ve never been the same again. I prayed and decided that each day from then on I would live for Him despite what the future might bring. I decided that each day I was blessed with, I would live a better life for Him. I was 20 years old when I made that decision, and 10 years later I’m still serving Him where I’m needed.

Apparently, some of the staff and volunteers in this institution have noticed what God is doing in my life, and chose me to go to the GLS. The La Croix Church sponsored it and paid for everything! God really does work in awesome ways for those who don’t deserve it! I was one of the first 40 men to attend the Summit out of the 1600 in this prison, and this is the first time this has ever been done in the state of Missouri. What a blessing and honor!

For years I’ve been trying to reach younger men who desperately need Jesus and a new beginning. Unfortunately, many of them choose gangs, violence, drugs, and many of the other evils prison has lurking in the darkness. This becomes bothersome because I want them to experience what I’ve experienced in Christ.

I never really viewed myself as a leader, but since the Summit, I’ve realized there’s more in me than I could ever imagine. God dwells within me, and he can help me be the leader and man of God He wants me to be! The GLS has given me many more tools to use in the ministry and in my everyday life.

It’s difficult to choose just one speaker as my favorite because each of them spoke to me in a special way. I’ve really been questioning my “White Hot Why” while asking others about my blind spots. I’ve started to reassess the ministry I’ve been blessed with and my servitude as a whole.

I’ve looked into my “dumb ideas” and have created some “Big Hairy Audacious Goals.” Some seem unreachable like the “dumb idea” of having a “Dignity and Respect Walk-a-Thon” to encourage staff and offenders to co-exist in a friendlier environment instead of the dislike and hatred on both sides. For each lap an offender and staff completes, an outside entity will donate $1.00 and the proceeds would be sent to the victims or a place that helps victimized people. Offenders and staff working together? It seems impossible, and to some, a “dumb idea,” BUT with God all things are possible!

I want to do more with my life, and I want to impact people in a positive way for Jesus Christ.

I’m also trying to see how I can reach society in a way that will help others. I’ve created a proposal for a halfway house idea, but it still hasn’t been looked at. The Grander Vision is sometimes difficult to achieve. I’m still learning to step back and let God have His way.

One part of the GLS caused me to cry tears of joy. When Brian Houston sat on the stage for the praise and worship, I melted inside. I sat in my seat singing and praising God as tears rolled down my face and fell on my prison uniform. Just thinking about it almost makes me cry. God is sooooo good! That day I sat next to a Muslim. I’m sure he thought I was crazy, but God deserves praise no matter where I’m at or who is around me!

Since attending the GLS, I’ve contacted a friend of mine (Frank Brooks, the pastor of Flag Springs Church in St. James, MO), and explained to him it is a must that you attend the GLS or go to a church that hosts it. I believe he is going to get the leadership of that church to either host one or attend in 2016.

God is doing great things through the GLS and those who are participating in it. I can’t wait to see what God will have transpire throughout the upcoming year! I guess I just want to say thank you for letting me, of all people, attend such an awesome event. It was an honor and I hope I’ll get to see the next one. Until next time, take care of yourself and may the Lord bless you abundantly in every aspect of your life.

Sincerely in Christ’s Love,

Brandon
GLS attendee, Southeast Correctional

 

Please pray for our prison sites in 2016. This year there will be 25 prisons experiencing the GLS teaching. Imagine what God might do?

Wildly Important Goals | Chris McChesney | 2016 GLS Faculty Spotlight

Posted on May 19, 2016 by - News & Updates

Have you ever wondered why your organization gets caught up in day-to-day issues but cannot seem to make progress on your big goals?

Chris McChesney has spent the past seven years studying best practices in how organizations can execute on their strategies. He gathered the data into a comprehensive system, The Four Disciplines of Execution, and will be sharing his insights at the Summit. We couldn’t be more excited to share this content that every leader will be able to “apply on Monday.” The post below introduces his concepts.

The More You Try to Do, The Less You Accomplish

This is a stark, inescapable principle we all live with. But somewhere along the way, most leaders forget this. Why? Because smart, ambitious leaders don’t want to do less, they want to do more, even when they know better.

Isn’t it really difficult for you to say no to a good idea, much less a great one? And yet, there will always be more good ideas than you and your teams have the capacity to execute. That’s why your first challenge is focusing on the wildly important.

Focus is a natural principle. The sun’s scattered rays are too weak to start a fire, but once you focus them with a magnifying glass they will bring paper to flame in seconds. The same is true of human beings – once their collective energy is focused on a challenge, there is little they can’t accomplish.

Discipline 1: Focus on the Wildly Important requires you to go against your basic wiring as a leader and focus on less so that your team can achieve more.

When you implement Discipline 1, you start by selecting one (or at the most two) extremely important goals, instead of trying to significantly improve everything all at once. We call this a wildly important goal (WIG) to make it clear to the team that this is the goal that matters most. Failure to achieve it will make every other accomplishment seem secondary, possibly even inconsequential.

Watch this video to begin setting goals that will bring clarity and focus to your most critical objectives.

To attend the GLS at a premier host site near you, register here by May 24, 2016 for the best rates. Check out the The Global Leadership Summit website for additional information and to see other members of the faculty.


mcchesneyChris McChesney is a Wall Street Journal #1 bestselling author of The 4 Disciplines of Execution and is the Global Practice leader of Execution for Franklin Covey. Known for his high-energy and engaging presentations, McChesney has consulted with many of the world’s top brands and leverages this practical experience to help leaders from the boardroom to the front lines of an organization get better at executing the ideas that matter most.