Month: August 2017

Grander Vision: Would You Like to Upsize That?

Posted on August 28, 2017 by - Articles, Calling, Leading Yourself

The more I read the Bible and understand God’s plans, the more convinced I become that Christian leaders need a much bigger vision than many currently hold.

Why? Because we have a God whose vision is redemption for the whole world! If His vision includes people from every tribe, tongue and language—so many people that no one can count—how can our vision ever be big enough?

When God called Abram, He changed his name from Abram (exalted father) to Abraham (father of nations). In changing Abraham’s name, God also changed his identity and extended Abraham’s vision: from a local, tribal vision to a global vision.

There is no record of Abraham bucking against this new, bigger vision. Instead of arguing with the Lord, he co-operates and submits to God’s grander vision for his life and purpose.

In contrast, meet Jonah, the leader who did not want to upsize his vision. God asked him to go to Nineveh, a great city, but Jonah ran away, starting a downward journey: down to Joppa, down to the ship, down into the lower decks of the ship, down into the ocean.

If you’re following the GLS blog, you probably already have a commendable vision. But does the size of your vision reflect the God you worship and trust?

  • When people hear your vision do they know how big your God is?
  • Is your vision upsized to the point that it requires ongoing miracles to continue?
  • How does your vision grow and progress? Is it a living, God-sized vision?
  • Does your vision keep you awake at night but energized during the day?

If you answered “no” or “maybe” to any of those questions, perhaps it is time to upsize your vision?

If you are ready to upsize your vision, these observations from my own experience will help you keep moving forward:   

When you say YES to upsizing your vision . . .

  • Good and well-meaning people will try to talk you out of your vision or reduce the size. Don’t allow them to confuse what God has spoken to you. They have neither seen nor heard what the Lord has told you. Keep running with what you have received.
  • Don’t let the unknowns hold you back from upsizing the vision. Did Moses have all the details worked out before he left Egypt? When God speaks to us, our response should be YES, not HOW?
  • Be confident in your Provider. If God gave you a vision, He will be responsible to provide for it. He will never hold you responsible for not doing something that He did not make provision for.
  • Do what you can with what you have and then you will see the God of miracles appear and do His part. Don’t be afraid to make the first move; God always rewards actions of faith. The Lord who multiplied the five loaves of bread and two fish is still able to multiply what you have into thousands!
  • Be the greatest, most passionate champion of your upsized vision. Carry it in your spirit; know this is your purpose; be ready to live or die for it! If you are not willing to die for your vision it is not worth living for. If you are not willing to live for your vision, it is not worth dying for. An upsized vision statement on your office wall will not make people want to sacrifice their time, talent and treasures, but people will follow a champion who has the passion to match the God-sized vision.

God has so much more for us, and He wants us to capture His global vision. Are you like Abraham and willing to upsize your vision? Or are you a Jonah, happy to stay where you are with what you have? Or perhaps you are running away from a greater vision?

My prayer is that you would answer the upsize question with a faith-filled, resounding, “Yes, please!” So that we can see a world that is free from lost-ness, poverty, discrimination injustice and ultimately fulfill the desire our Father in heaven. Will you? If you will, in eternity you will be so glad you did!

To those who may be struggling to see the reality of your vision, let me remind of God’s words in Habakkuk 2:3,

The Vision will still happen at the appointed time. It hurries toward its goal. It won’t be a lie. If it’s delayed, wait for it. It will certainly happen. It won’t be late.

Because of the GLS | Surgeon Discovers He Doesn’t Have to Become a Pastor to Show Jesus’ Love

Posted on August 28, 2017 by - Caribbean, Healthcare, Latin America, Stories

Dr. Miranda with ScottWhen Dr. Raydel Miranda joined The Global Leadership Summit (GLS) team in Cuba as a volunteer, he had no idea the impact that was in store for him.

Dr. Miranda is one of Havana’s respected young eye surgeons, and as a passionate follower of Christ and a committed member of New Pines, the GLS host church, he knew serving on the GLS team would be a worthwhile undertaking.

Despite a successful career as a surgeon, Dr. Miranda believed he should apply his leadership gifts toward full time ministry in a local church.

“Last year’s GLS came at a time in my life when I was seeking God’s direction on a major decision,” he recalled. “Ever since I became a Christian as a teenager, I have sensed God’s call on my life. But I didn’t know where that call would take me.

“I thought the best way to serve God would be to quit my profession as a surgeon, go to seminary, and become a pastor. We need to build the Church in Cuba, and with the gifts and abilities God has given me, it seemed this would be the right thing for me to do.”

But everything changed the day he happened to be in the auditorium during the GLS in Havana.

“He heard, ‘Your leadership matters.’ At that moment, I knew God was speaking directly to me.”

Those simple words stirred something deep within him.

“I knew God was saying that my leadership matters in every part of my life. My leadership matters when I volunteer at the church and with the GLS, my leadership matters when I serve my family, and my leadership matters as a surgeon.”

For Dr. Miranda, this new understanding was both simple, and yet profound. “I had never fully realized that God could use me in my role as a doctor. But I began to see that I could have an important influence in the lives of my medical colleagues and even my patients. These people do not know Christ, and I have an opportunity to let them see Jesus in me.

“As a leader in the medical field, I have an opportunity to introduce the love of Christ in ways I could never do as a pastor.”

For Dr. Miranda, this life-changing moment has given him a new understanding and appreciation for what Kingdom leadership is all about.

“I want to be the very best surgeon I can be,” he explained. “I want my colleagues to know that what drives me is my desire to give God glory and to serve the Cuban people. My colleagues need to know the love of Jesus, and God has placed me where I can have an impact.”

Dr. Miranda continues to lead in his church and he continues to lead on the Havana GLS team. And he also leads passionately within the medical community.

Because, as he heard at last year’s GLS, his leadership matters.

And so does yours.

Scott+Cochrane+CUScott Cochrane serves as the vice president of International at Willow Creek Association. An insightful and genuine leader, he travels the globe mentoring international teams. Prior to joining WCA, he was the executive pastor of Trinity Baptist Church in Kelowna, British Columbia and provided leadership to the WCA Canada.

Because of the GLS | The Power of Mentorship Blesses an Entire Country

Posted on August 25, 2017 by - Africa, Because of the GLS, Stories

int-1282When an emerging leader is encouraged by a mentor, challenged through learning and surrounded by a community of love, their leadership gift has the opportunity to stretch to its utmost potential, maximizing Kingdom impact.

For Mirium Chumbi, Programs Coordinator for International Christian Ministries in Kenya, she was able to stretch her leadership gift through her organization’s involvement with The Global Leadership Summit.

Since 2007, the GLS has grown in Kenya from training 1,000 people to more than 4,000 people in 2016. One of those leaders is Mirium.

Stephen Mairori, Mirium’s boss, saw something in Mirium that could grow and have an impact. So he challenged her and believed in her abilities. He brought her to the GLS and got her involved.

What is happening as a result is blessing all of Kenya.

Encouraged through mentorship

“I have a great boss. Stephen believed in the capabilities and the skills I had and gave me a chance,” Mirium explains. “I would say to leaders not to give up on people. To always give them a chance. And be humble. With leadership, it doesn’t matter what you do if you are not humble, if you don’t respect people and if you don’t give them a chance. Because somebody gave you a chance.”

Because Stephen gave Mirium a chance, she challenges leaders to do the same. “Share your experiences and mentor somebody. Be willing to go out of your way. Give an ear to somebody. If you don’t, what legacy do you leave in this world? What happens if you die with all the knowledge, wisdom and connections because you kept it all to yourself?”

Encouraged through learning

“The GLS stretches you. There are always speakers you never forget,” Mirium shares. “Over the years, there have been several people who have really grabbed my heart. They have made me want to be better, do better and stretch farther.”

“There was a year when I really wanted to quit my job. I was going through a few things. I didn’t feel useful. I felt like I was done,” Mirium shares. “But at the GLS that year, somebody talked about perseverance and giving it your all even if you’re not really sure where you’re going. I didn’t know it then, but this was the plan God had for me. He reached out to me that year. He encouraged me to go on.”

Because Mirium knows what can happen when a leader is equipped and empowered to lead at their full potential, she wants others to experience the same. “I feel bad when I see people not giving it their all,” she explains. “I don’t like being in those kinds of situations that don’t stretch me or make me go the extra mile. I feel bad if somebody is in that situation where they can’t stretch. If I could change one thing in Kenya, I would enable people to be in situations, positions or places to stretch and allow all that is in them that God created to be utilized so they can be better people, better leaders.”

Encouraged through community

One of the many outcomes of the GLS is the way it brings people together, mends broken relationships, and helps people see things from a different perspective. In Mirium’s role, she’s had the chance to witness this directly by being the person who receives the feedback from all the sites.

“At the GLS I’ve seen things that are broken get mended, especially in church,” Mirium shares. “I am a pastor’s kid. I have grown up in church all my life, so I’ve seen things that are not necessarily Christian happening in the Church. Some people really get broken and decide they don’t want anything to do with God anymore. That’s hard.

“But then you see somebody who was tired, who was done, come to the GLS and say, ‘I was just in this situation with my pastor’ or ‘I was in this situation with my boss,’ but they feel encouraged because they connected with somebody else who probably went through a worse situation, and they decide to pull through.

“The GLS is uniting people, empowering peacemakers and breaking down division.

“Many people who come to the Summit said they were feeling exhausted. Many come when they wanted to quit. They say, ‘I came. I was tired, but I keep going on’ or ‘God put this thing in my heart, but I’ve never known what to do about it, and now I know what to do.’ Others say they didn’t feel like they were worthy, because people think as a leader you have to be a CEO, or director, but that’s not really the case.

“People come and they learn that wherever they are or whatever are doing, they can still make a difference. That’s the Global Leadership Summit for you.”

Mirium’s prayer 

Mirium has a dream to expand the GLS in Kenya to reach and empower more leaders to make a difference in their communities. “My biggest prayer is that whatever ideas, whatever things that need to be done, God will lift us up and bring people to come and take up certain areas so we can can run with this and make it happen. We can do better things to expand the Summit. We can reach out to more organizations. We can reach out to more business people. We can reach out to more government people — this year is an election year. That’s my biggest prayer.”

Thank you for supporting leaders like Mirium, and giving them an opportunity to stretch, grow and be a blessing to their entire country.

“To all the donors, I would just like to say thank you. You have no idea how much you give to us, how much it means to us and how far it goes, especially for the sites in the rural areas.

“The pastors there have so much passion for leadership, for growth, for improvement, for something different, for their minds to be expanded and for their minds to be given something new.

“What you give means so much and it goes such a long way in enabling us to reach those leaders who have such a yearning for leadership. They are always grateful.

“A number of times when we finish a Summit event, people are thanking you and telling you that they are so grateful. We’ve seen families changed, churches changed, people’s hearts changed and bad situations made right.

“All of this is because of you, and we are very grateful and we are very encouraged.

“We pray that the Lord may continue to touch your lives.”

 

Learn more about how to support leaders like Mirium at www.willowcreek.com/give