Month: September 2018

Leaders Ask to be Baptized Immediately After the Summit

Posted on September 14, 2018 by - Asia, Because of the GLS, News & Updates, North America, Stories, The Global Leadership Summit

Baptism in the lake

One of our favorite stories coming out of the Summit last month happened in our own backyard at our main campus in South Barrington, Illinois. It continues to motivate our staff for the journey ahead to see more stories like it multiplied across the globe.

Overwhelmed by their experience with all the speakers on the first day of the Summit, three of those business leaders decided they wanted to give their lives to Jesus.

This year, there were more than 1,500 international leaders on our campus representing 135+ countries. These incredible leaders are working to translate and take The Global Leadership Summit back to their countries this fall.

One of those countries, which we cannot mention publicly for their own security, brought a group of business leaders they work with from different parts of the world. Overwhelmed by their experience with all the speakers on the first day of the Summit, three of those business leaders decided they wanted to give their lives to Jesus. They couldn’t wait to be baptized. So as soon as the last session was over on Friday afternoon, the pastor in their group baptized them in the lake on the Willow campus!

Their group gathered in song and celebration, and passerby’s stood by to join in. It was a joyous occasion. We wish you could have seen it. But luckily, there was someone taking photos!

Baptism in the lake

When you give, you go on a journey with us to see stories like this multiplied across the globe. Thank you for playing a part in people being impacted by the Gospel through the Summit! 

One Key Element to a Life of Faith

Posted on September 13, 2018 by - Articles, Calling, Leading Yourself

Young girl taking a walk on top of a mountain and enjoying the day.

Many people want to live a life of faith, but few people are actually doing it. There are all kinds of reasons for this. Some of us are scared, some entitled and others just addicted to comfort.

But there is also an element of faith I think most of us are missing—grace.

But there is also an element of faith I think most of us are missing—grace.

Stories of great faith are invariably stories of great grace.

Take Rahab for example (Joshua 2). Rabab was a poor, pagan woman. She was a prostitute nonetheless. She was the least likely candidate to change the course of history. But in one of the most miraculous events of Scripture, she took action to save God’s people from capture by Jericho’s soldiers.

When I think about the story of Rahab, I realize she must have been afraid. She hadn’t grown up with any faith in the true God, so when she felt God calling her to do something crazy—defy her government—I wonder if she thought to herself, this is crazy!

I wonder if she thought about how she could be punished.
I wonder if she worried about what the consequences would be.
I wonder if she wondered if God would be pleased with her for what she had done.

Still, she took a step of faith to be obedient to God, despite her fear, and God used her obedience for his good. She didn’t wait for courage to act. Courage came with her action. And I love how God responded. He responded by using her, despite her status and her resume, to do something amazing for him.

She didn’t wait for courage to act. Courage came with her action.

I think many of us are like Rahab. We don’t see ourselves as anything special. We’re just a plain-old Joe, working a plain-old job. Or maybe, like Rahab, we’ve done things we wish we wouldn’t done. We worry we’re a lost cause for God, that he has given up on us. At the same time many of us feel like God has put a desire inside us to do something great for him.

If God has placed a desire inside your heart to do something great, but you’re not sure you have the credentials you need, think of Rahab. If you’re not moving forward with your dream because you’re afraid, think of Rahab. If you’re worried you don’t have the resources or the clout, think of Rahab.

I dare you to have the courage she had.
I dare you to step out in faith.
I dare you to experience grace like she did.
I dare you to see what God does.

Question: In what ways is God asking you to step out in faith? What is holding you back?

This article originally appeared on Pastor Choco’s website here.

This Week’s GLS Events & Prayer Requests

Posted on September 12, 2018 by - Asia, News & Updates, The Global Leadership Summit

Woman Praying in India

Every Tuesday and Thursday morning at 8:30 am CST, our staff gathers together to pray for our partners across the globe.

Please join us in prayer as we lift up the international Summit events happening this weekend. Pray for God’s anointing on every detail and that those who attend would leave feeling equipped, inspired and encouraged to lead the change they long for in their communities.

And if you have a prayer request, please share it with us. We would be honored to pray with you!

September 12

Group prayer in Myanmar

Kalaymyo, Myanmar

Pastors have come to realize the importance of leadership in the church. It’s not just that we have the ability to preach or teach, it’s gone beyond that. We need leadership in the church not only to lead the church, but to grow our organizations. We can start a movement! I see churches starting to do that as they come together. We are witnessing people beginning to understand and see God’s grander vision in their lives.

September 13

Nagpur, India Worship

Tiruchirappalli, India
Mumbai, India
Nagpur, India

The majority of Christians in Nagpur are first-generation believers who only speak the Hindi language. In a city like Nagpur, where Christian leadership resources are limited, especially for Hindi speakers, the GLS is an incredible blessing. Please pray their event would touch people’s life.

Pune, India
Jaipur, India

September 14

Kuching, Malaysia

September 15

Mumbai, India

Pastor Inspired to Start a School Educates 750 Children in Uganda

Posted on September 12, 2018 by - Africa, Because of the GLS, Calling, Church, Education, Family, Influence, Leading Organizations, Servant Leadership, Stories, The Global Leadership Summit, Vision

Students in Uganda

Bishop Okumu attended The Global Leadership Summit in Kampala, Uganda.  As a result, he was influenced to take on a leadership mindset in everything he does.

A poor man at the time, his church was in a makeshift building with a small congregation. He longed to have a bigger impact in his community, but he didn’t know how. One of our local live speakers at our Summit site in Kampala talked about the “Joseph generation” and how God depends on every Christian to take a bold step and be a model in His Kingdom. He also heard the TOMS shoes story, and the concept of buying a pair of shoes and blessing a child with another pair.

He went home totally convinced God wanted to use him in his generation.

He also sold his only prized possession… a piece of land he inherited from his dad. With the funds, he began a school with the TOMS shoes model. Every time one child’s school fees are paid, another child’s school fees are covered for free. The school grew from 250 children and now impacts the lives of 750 children. Over the last five years, he’s been touching children’s lives, and now the school is also extending support for the education of orphans.

With the help contributions of the church members and a network of friends, Okumu built a new church and his congregation has grown. In order to influence his generation even further, he began a discipleship class that enables pastors in his community to lead better.

Your decision to give significant funds towards The Global Leadership Summit has the potential to keep growing its impact.

Because of the generosity of leaders like you, a whole community, a whole congregation, and to date, the lives of 750 children have been impacted for Christ. And the ripple effect continues to this day! Thank you!

4 Temptations Nice People Face in Difficult Conversations

Posted on September 10, 2018 by - Articles, Conflict Management, Leading Others, Performance Management

Shot of two businesswomen using a digital tablet together during a collaboration at work

Can nice people lead effectively through conflict?

That is one of the key leadership questions that hound nice people everywhere. Leading effectively through conflict is an essential leadership skill. Leaders must be able to engage in difficult conversations, hold people accountable for results and confront violation of values. But, can a nice person handle the rigors of such conflict?

Leading effectively through conflict is an essential leadership skill.

The answer is, “Yes.” But this is a lesson I had to learn the hard way.

In my younger days as a leader, I found myself leading a team of about 35 staff. During one particular season, several members of my staff were under-performing against their expectations. It fell upon me to hold the difficult conversations required to get them back on track.

After several of these discussions, the senior leader to whom I reported asked me how these conversations were going. “Oh, great!” I enthusiastically responded. “I am pretty sure they are getting the message.”

“Well then,” my boss patiently responded, “Why did several of them just tell me that you had congratulated them on their sterling performance?”

I hung my head in embarrassment. I knew the “nice guy” in me had not succeeded in these difficult conversations.

My boss then switched into coaching mode. “Look Scott,” he began, “You are a nice person. There is nothing wrong with that. In fact, it’s a virtue I wish more people had. As a nice person, you may think you can’t bring the clarity required into a conflict situation. That is simply not true.”

Then he said the words that have shifted my thinking ever since.

“Scott, you can be clear and also be kind.”
Ever since that moment, I have applied this principle whenever I find myself approaching a difficult conversation.

There are four specific temptations nice leaders must avoid if they want to successfully lead through conflict.

 

1. The temptation simply to avoid difficult conversations

As nice leaders, we need to recognize our aversion to these conversations and compensate by being disciplined and focused.

 

2. The temptation to avoid clarity

Nice leaders can be so afraid of hurting someone’s feelings that they shroud their comments in vague euphemisms. Every time you walk away from a conversation, ask yourself, “Did I get my message across with crystal clarity?”

 

3. The temptation to seek approval over respect

In order for nice people to be as effective as possible in their leadership, they must resist the temptation to please everybody.

 

4. The temptation to expect too little from people

Nice leaders will sometimes lower the bar so low for their people that the organization flounders in a sea of mediocrity. People will accomplish more if leaders set the bar high and show them how to get there.

 

Just remember, when it comes to leading through conflict, you can be clear and also be kind.

Avoiding these temptations does not mean you must become someone you’re not. Don’t fake it.

If you’re a fellow nice person and a leader, begin with an awareness of the temptations that exist.

Just remember, when it comes to leading through conflict, you can be clear and also be kind.

The Summit is Broadcast to More Than 60 Prisons in the U.S.

Posted on September 10, 2018 by - Because of the GLS, Calling, Influence, North America, Prison, Stories, The Global Leadership Summit

Inmates watching Craig Groeschel at the GLS in 2018

In 2015, The Global Leadership Summit and Prison Fellowship partnered to broadcast the Summit to 1,500 prisoners in 11 U.S. prisons. In 2018, the Summit was live-streamed to incarcerated men and women at more than 60 prisons where attendees receive the tools they need to become effective leaders.

Leadership matters—even in prison.

After the 2018 Summit, we received this letter from a man incarcerated at Graceville Correctional Facility, communicating how the Summit has changed his perspective on his life and his leadership.

 

I had the privilege to watch The Global Leadership Summit via live stream at our prison chapel today. I just wanted to relay just how much this conference changed my view of leadership.

Craig Groeschel absolutely struck a chord with me, and honestly, for the first time in my 5 years of incarceration, I feel like I’m in the right place—that maybe God put me here for a reason.

Leadership is just one of those words that carries a negative connotation in prison. It’s unavoidable with the destructive culture this place nurtures. I work as an education aid, so out of the 1,800 inmates, I am probably 1 of 25 that would be considered a leader. This is scary, because I am tiny and white, and frankly, a bit nerdy. Did I also mention I am Australian and talk funny? So, in a place of “might is right,” prison is very difficult ground to execute leadership skills. Or maybe it’s just a perfect opportunity, as some of the speakers suggested.

Craig Groeschel absolutely struck a chord with me, and honestly, for the first time in my 5 years of incarceration, I feel like I’m in the right place—that maybe God put me here for a reason.

It is one thing to hear something true. It is another to believe it and live it. For many years, I wasn’t thriving, I was merely surviving, even when I was free. I just lived in another prison—a prison I had built. At least now the only walls affecting me are the brick ones. With the tools and lessons I’m picking up from the Summit, hopefully I’ll be able to spread these truths throughout Graceville Correctional Facility.

So thank you for a glimpse of heaven amidst the coals of hell. I will continue to pray fervently for the Willow Creek leadership and volunteers. Thank you again!

Westley 
Graceville Correctional Facility