Hidden Potential: A Guide For Ministry Leadership

Big thought: Most leaders start out with a simple aspiration to make a difference by stepping up in some way shape or form. As simple as it starts, there are so many complex situations and ideas that we run into along the way. At the same time, there are different levels of leadership and different things that you should practice depending on how far into it you are. What you do at the beginning of your leadership journey is very different from what you do as a seasoned leader.

In today’s episode, we’re going to talk about three key pillars you should build in your leadership early on. We’re going to talk about what it is to work hard while being teachable in the process. And we’re going to unpack what it is to connect as a leader and how you can practically do that.

Take away:

1. What should you be saying yes to or volunteering for right now? Act on it.

2. Examine your teachability and pick a source talked about today to use to grow your knowledge.

3. Consider when the next opportunity for you to be able to connect yourself is and act on it.

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Big thought: It’s easier now than ever to project a message for others to hear because of online platforms. You don’t need anyone’s permission to start a live video or launch a podcast. Any person who is convincing enough can create an online following that goes to them for guidance, lessons or advice. The only problem is that if your only experience is online experience, you will run out of relatability and sound perception quickly. Without actual in person ministry experiences, you will be limited in tested and tried feedback. You run the high risk of pretty much making things up as you go. And if your messages and posts become unhinged like that, you’ll end up being a story of the blind leading the blind.

In today’s episode, we’re going to talk about how important it is to have in person ministry. We’re going to talk about the value of having both an online and face to face presence. We’re going to also unpack the necessity of building person to person experiences and how they build your character, perception and skills.

The reason that this is important to talk about is because not only are there so many aspiring leaders who give up because their following outgrew their ability/maturity but there are many people who were following that person who end up hurt or led astray because that person didn’t really have the experience to what they were talking about.

1. Face Value.

Online Presence: You still need to make the effort to have an online presence in order to market yourself so that you have the possibility to reach more people. An online presence is your informal introduction to any person that may have interaction with you. Whether it’s a potential follower or future partner, you should try to make yourself available online so that people can know who you are and what you do.

In-Person Presence: As much as online influence is meaningful, there is nothing like being there in person. It’s one thing to talk about something but another level when you’re setting the example by being in the thick of it. And when you are seen at actual events by people, other ministers and decision makers, you are showing evidence to your message. There is a greater impact when you’re seen in person compared to when you’re seen online.

2. Building Blocks.

Doing ministry in person builds a sense of resolve as you interact with people face to face. While talking into a mic or a camera takes skill, it doesn’t compare to talking and working with people who are right in front of you. Simply put, if you want to really take ministry seriously, you have to get in front of people. Online isn’t enough.

Take away:

1. Do a self inventory on your face value when it comes to your online and in person presence by rating each of them on a scale of 1-10. (Ask someone close to you to rate you as well).

2. Review your building blocks (character, perception and skills) and determine which one you should focus on developing through in person ministry events.

3. Network and participate in someone else’s in person ministry event.

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Big thought: A person’s own personal transformational experience with Jesus Christ can be one of the most powerful tools one can use in bringing others to Christ. But the problem is that many people struggle to go through their story in an effective and easy to follow way. Learning how to sharpen your testimony can dramatically alter how you’re able to use it.

In today’s episode, we’re going to talk about how to perfect sharing your testimony. We’re going to learn how to break down the order in which you should share your story and how to add a call to action to it. We’re also going to unpack how to build both a short and long version of your testimony. And we’re going to talk about how to adapt your story to your audience.

1. Organize It.

Just like any other message that you’d share, you need to organize it. What’s special about your testimony is that you don’t have to re-learn anything about it because you're sharing from memory and heart rather than mind and knowledge. Building your story through points can really help you to compartmentalize better what you want to share and help you to know what you don’t necessarily need to share.

2. Multiple Versions.

Everyone’s story is meaningful and unique, and a lot of people don’t want to leave out possible important details when they’re sharing it. You have to learn to discern how much time you should spend on a case by case basis. That’s why you should have a long version, lasting about 20 minutes, and a short version, lasting about 2 minutes.

3. Adapt To Your Audience.

While at first glance, you may think that you can’t necessarily change your testimony because you can’t change your experiences, you are able to change what you emphasize in your story. If you know that your specific audience has a general experience that you’re able to relate to, you should hone into that. Do what Paul says and become all things to all people.

Take away:

1. Write down key points to your testimony and organize it in a way that you feel is effective.

2. Work on making a short and long version of your testimony.

3. Practice role playing with someone by sharing your testimony and ask for their feedback.

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42. Make Your Message More Approachable

Big thought: So many times, we have a great life giving message that can truly help impact a person’s life and soul, we’re left deflated and confused when people reject that message on the spot. While saying things like, “they just can’t handle the truth” lets us off the hook, being better at how we say certain things can make our messages more effective and receptive to people.

In today’s episode, we’re going to talk about how important it is to meet people where they’re at with your language in order to help them to be more open to hear what you have to say. We’re going to unpack why and how it’s so meaningful and effective to consider your message’s approachability. We’re going to talk about some examples of certain things to avoid. And we’re going to look at some tips and ways for you to build your own unique language that’s approachable without compromising on the principles of your message.

1. Don’t Be Obnoxious

It is hard to listen receptively to someone who is being rude, and I find that most of the people who think that they’re “just being real” can’t typically take their own medicine. And sadly within Christian culture, a philosophy was born at some point that appears to believe that if you are condescending, obnoxious or rude in your punchline style message, your message is somehow more fire. But the reality is that kind of dialogue will only cause people who already agree with you to listen to you. Meaning, you aren’t necessarily changing any hearts with your message. The only thing that you end up doing is create a mini cult following that butters you up to feel more superior than you really are. And there are many problems that come from that (besides the one of pushing people away who may have agreed with you if you said it in a different way). The biggest one is that you end up limiting your potential to collaborate and make a greater impact than what you’re currently doing.

2. Talk Their Language.

It’s not necessarily what you are saying but how you’re saying it. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 9:22 that he becomes all things to all people. When he was with the Jews, he would talk and act like a Jew. When he was with the gentiles, he would talk and act like a gentile. He adapted his language and interaction to whatever group he was trying to impact so that his message would be more approachable and receptive to them.

In the same way, we need to throw off our idea of the truth is just too hard and people who can’t accept it are too stubborn or weak. No other successful organization operates like that. If you want to grow and reach other kinds of people, you need to work on your communication skills.

3. 3 Tips To Help Your Approachability

1. Speak as “we” instead of “you” and “I”

2. Be genuine and talk in a way that is both relatable and reasonable.

3. Don’t make yourself out to be Jesus or superior.

Take away:

1. Do a self-analysis and scale your approachability on a scale of 1-10, and then ask your team or someone close to you to rate you as well.

2. Make a list of the types of people that you are currently sharing your messages with and then make a list of types of people that you want to reach but haven’t been able to yet. (Simplistic example: List 1: people who go to church; List 2: people who don’t go to church).

3. Brainstorm creative ways to adapt your message to be more effective and approachable to reach those new types of people.

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In today’s episode, we have a conversation with Pastor Mario Nava. Mario is married to his beautiful bride, Irma, and the father to Rebekah and Andrew. He leads and pastors the church Living Faith in San Antonio, Texas. His church is outreach minded and holds true to the idea to “BE THE CHURCH." His messages are inspiring and uplifting as he challenges people in thought provoking ways. He teaches The Word of God in a way that is easy to understand without ever compromising Biblical principles.

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Big thought: It’s common to read even passages of scripture that are powerful yet feel like your audience isn’t connecting to it. Oftentimes it’s not as much as what we are talking about as it is how we are talking about it. As leaders and communicators, we have to learn how to better develop our storytelling abilities so that we can help people to visualize what the passage is saying.

In today’s episode, we’re going to learn how to utilize moments and stories in a way that is memorable and meaningful. We’re going to learn how to connect people's emotions to the story by building value through context. And we’re going to unpack ways to make these different stories relatable to calls to action.

The reason that this topic is so important is because we are able to make substantially more impact through our stories across the board. Whether it’s recruiting volunteers, getting people to sign-up or inspiring people to donate, meaningful and connected stories have been proven to bring about greater participation. And on top of that, if there was any chance of increasing the odds of somebody choosing Christ from your dialogue, wouldn’t you want to take it?

1. Ways to utilize a story.

2. Tips to tell a captivating story.

3. Connect a call to action to the story.

Take away:

1. Make a personalized list of 1-3 call to action moments you could use a story for.

2. Choose a story and derive a method of sharing it with a call to action at the end of it.

3. Practice your story and call to action with somebody.

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Big thought: Many leaders carry vague ideas of different recordable metrics in their heads, and many times their ideas of these numbers give a false perception of what success looks like. A leader can be making a valuable impact in people’s lives while thinking that they aren’t making a difference at the same time. Someone can go through a slow down period and think that all of their efforts were for nothing just because of their confusion on how numbers work.

Today we’re going to talk about the importance of recording and understanding numbers. We’re going to talk about the ways that it is helpful and how you can use them to your advantage. We’re also going to talk about the mental dangers of recording numbers and how to avoid common mistakes.

This topic is so important to talk about because many people have an idea about recorded numbers but don’t really fully understand how to utilize them. And many have replaced their whole spiritual motivation by chasing after the numbers instead. We have to learn how to use them in a healthy way without letting them fully dictate how we make decisions.

1. How they can help.

Once you start recording different metrics like: attendance, financial receivables, volunteers, donors, recurring donors, baptisms, decisions for Christ, etc. You can lay them out over the weeks, months and years. When you do that, you’re able to see different trends and build foreseeable expectations within reason. From there, you can better plan for the following months and years with more of a strategic impact.

2. How to record them.

There are a lot of different ways and softwares that you can use to record these different metrics. The most important thing to consider when choosing a method is ease of access and data entry. The second is how clearly the data can be recognized. And the third is how you most feel comfortable.

3. How they affect your judgment.

While these different numbers can really help your planning and potential for impact, they can easily damage the vision to your organization by replacing your motivation to make a difference. I’ve seen time and time again, and I’ve made the mistake myself, of chasing after a higher number rather than being guided by my core values. Simply put, WHY you do something matters.

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Take away:

1. Make a list of different recordable data that you feel could be important and useful to reference.

2. Choose a method in which recording said data and break it out to be seen according to timelines that best make sense for your organization. (days of the week, months, quarters, years).

3. Make an annual calendar and forecast your next quarter or year using a general expectation of number data, and when the time comes, compare that forecast with the actual data so that you can narrow down a more accurate forecast.

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In this episode, we're joined by Abe McIntyre, a remarkable individual who, after overcoming addiction, became a leader in the field of recovery at the San Antonio Recovery Center. Abe's personal journey as a recovering addict has uniquely positioned him to provide leadership and inspiration to others on the path to recovery. Discover how Abe leverages his lived experience to lead and guide individuals through the recovery process. We explore the challenges and opportunities of leadership in this human-centric field, shedding light on the potential for compassionate leadership to enhance organizational outcomes and provide unique care for people. Tune in to learn some valuable insights from Abe's personal transformation and leadership in recovery.

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Big thought: Connecting with people is often easier said than done, and many people psych themselves out of it before they even get the chance to try. Building rapport is one of the most coveted skills in almost any business or organization. It seems to be the essence of being a people’s person, but it is actually so much more than that. It is building trust for the brand in which you represent. It is helping connect people’s needs to a solution. It is even simply being a genuine friend who cares.

Today we’re going to talk about the practical ways to connect with people by building rapport with them. I’m going to show you why building authentic connections is so important. I’m going to share with you helpful tips on how to build trust before even using any words. And I’m also going to give you a four step formula that you can use on your own to build rapport with new people you meet.

The reason that this topic is so important to talk about is because so many people struggle with the idea of building rapport with others, thinking that they’re being ingenious or simply because they don’t know how to initiate different conversations. So many meaningful opportunities are lost because of the fear, anxiety and feelings of not being equipped to talk to people. It is so much simpler and easier than people make it out to be in their head!

1. Why it’s necessary.

Not only do nearly all organizations need a growing influx of connections in order to sustain itself and to grow, but we do as ordinary people. People are community centered beings, and it doesn’t matter if a person is an introvert or an extrovert, we need connection with other people. When you connect with a stranger, you simply do not know the hidden potential that relationship can form into. And when it comes to connecting people with your mission or your organization’s mission, all that you’re doing is sharing your life with someone else. And for many people, you just may be sharing a solution to a problem that may have been heavy on their heart.

2. Looks matter.

Most communication and rapport is built within the first seconds of someone meeting you before any words are even spoken. People have a natural tendency to judge a book by its cover, so you should make every attempt to not get counted out before you ever really get the chance to say anything. If you want to have the opportunity to have your words received or trusted, you have to pave the way by how you dress, your body language and your face.

3. Form conversations.

I believe every conversation should feel genuine. No one likes the feeling of being fake talked to or like someone is just trying to sell them on something. You should try to separate in your mind that the person you’re talking to or about to talk to is simply a real person that you have the opportunity to get to know better. And after that, whatever happens happens. When it comes to initiating those conversations, I almost always use the formula of FORM:

3.1. Family

3.2. Occupation

3.3. Recreation

3.4. Message

Take away:

1. Rate your rapport building skills on a 1-10 scale and write down what you feel like you’re best at and worst at when it comes to connecting with these people.

2. Review your looks and pick 1-3 things that you can improve on with how you visually present yourself to other people.

3. Practice the FORM formula with somebody this week.

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Big thought: Deciding whether you want to stay or leave a workplace is one of the most difficult and confusing decisions you can make. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed and lost as to what to do as you go back and forth between what you think are the pros and cons. And it’s even more confusing when you’re wondering if you’re supposed to stay or go according to God’s will. You ask yourself over and over, “what if God wants me to stay?” or “what if I’m supposed to leave and just trust God?” The “what if’s” seem endless as you feel like you’ve made no progress closer to making a decision even though you’ve spent so much time thinking about it.

Today we’re going to talk about the moments in which we struggle with the decision to either quit or stay at their current job. We’re going to unpack how to identify when you’re unhappy at your current job and why. We’re going to talk about the differences between gaining experience and establishing a career. And we’re going to talk about how you should never exchange your dreams for a paycheck.

The reason this topic is so important to talk about is because the solutions to these problems and questions can be a lot simpler than we make it out to be in our heads. You don’t have to spend so much time in anxiety and confusion because we can bring the direction and train of thoughts back down to earth and break it down in a logical and reasonable way so that you can make a rational decision.

1. Are you happy there?

There are so many high potential leaders who are unhappy with the positions that they hold. A lot of the time it’s not as much as the actual work of what they’re doing but the environment that they’re doing it at. There are several factors to look at when considering if you’re happy at your job or not, but I’m going to break it down into 4 categories:

1.1. Culture

1.2. Values

1.3. Purpose

1.4. Leadership

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2. How long do you want to be there?

Is this job a temporary place for you to gain experience or is it a place that you would like to establish as your career path? Do you really want to be working there in 10 years from now? Or would you jump at the opportunity for the same job somewhere else? Answering these kinds of questions can help you to know how your heart really feels about your role there.

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3. Is this really what you want to do?

Five years can go by extremely fast. And if you keep putting off what’s in your heart, that time is going to go by and you’re going to feel like you wasted prime years of your life in a place that you don’t even like. It will make you feel sick to your stomach as you wished that you would have pursued your dream instead of a paycheck. That’s why you can’t keep putting off these kinds of questions or analysis of risks and rewards when it comes to your career. Money comes and goes, but time is something that you never get back. You will regret risks not taken more than checks not cashed.

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Take away:

1. Answer the three questions from this episode and make a new pros and cons chart with your answers.

2. What can you do right now, regardless of staying or going, to grow your experience level?

3. What is the big risk in your heart that would take you closer to your dream?

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