On Monday, April 28th I rejoined the team at Injoy Stewardship Solutions (ISS). From 2002 through early 2013, I helped pastors and churches with ISS capital campaign partnerships, leadership development, vision construction, increasing weekly giving and creating healthy cultures of generosity. Then in February 2013 I joined Casey Graham and The Rocket Company.
After 14 months, I rejoined ISS. Before I tell you what my primary decision point was, allow me to say a few words about The Rocket Company:
- I loved working for The Rocket Company and my 14 months there. My position allowed me to impact the lives of hundreds, maybe thousands, of church leaders.
- Casey, Michael Lukaszewski and the entire Rocket Company team treated me wonderfully and with great respect.
- Casey Graham is an extraordinary leader who is marked by a lifestyle of incredible generosity. He was always very kind to me and my family. Casey is a lifelong friend.
- Working with Michael was one of the great privileges I have had in ministry. He also has become a lifelong friend.
- I cannot recommend enough the services they provide and would do anything within my power to help them.
So why then did I return to ISS? It all starts with a lunch I had with one of the ISS principals, Ken Friar. Ken and I have been friends for over 10 years. After several minutes getting reacquainted and catching up on each other’s families, Ken said the following words:
“Brian, it’s time to come back to the ISS family.”
Family. I could not get away from Ken’s use of words. Meaningful relationships matter deeply to me. I thought back and remembered what happened during my previous 10 years at ISS:
- I developed deep relationships with most of the ISS staff which have stood the test of time.
- We have buried family members together.
- We have watched our children grow up together.
- We have spent countless hours praying for each other as well as the pastors and churches God has allowed us to intersect with.
- We have walked with each other’s families through severe medical issues.
- Together we have celebrated the highest of highs and the lowest of lows.
- We have developed a healthy sense of community.
A family is marked by shared life experiences. There’s that word again – Family.
Leaders understand to get the results you desire you need to ask the right question and Ken asked the right question. Ken knew the key to my heart was not titles, finances, tasks or assignments. Those are important and necessary details to nail down but not what was most important to me.
What is most important to me is having the opportunity to create unbelievable resources which help pastors and church leaders do what they cannot do by themselves. What is most important to me is the creation of cultures of generosity which transform lives for eternity and do it all alongside of a group of individuals I have come to have a deep love, respect and appreciation for.
This was simply an offer I could not refuse. My prayer for you is you will one day receive such an offer.
The #1 Reason I Rejoined Injoy Stewardship Solutions is because Ken Friar asked the right question. Leaders, what is the right question you need to ask someone today?
Thanks for listening to my story. Oh, and I would be remiss if I did not say if your church needs a capital campaign, personal finance ministry and/or increase weekly giving, send me a note. I would be honored to serve you.
Click The 10 Indispensable Practices Of The 2-Minute Leader or on the image to the left to purchase my new book.
Effective leadership is driven by key habits—indispensable practices that can be rapidly activated and applied. With compelling simplicity this unique book with accompanying study guide examines 10 of those practices—each centered on a key word, a key statement and a key application.
Pastors have long desired a way to create a leadership culture in their churches. Unfortunately, there has been a lack of sufficient resources to do so. Perfect for small group studies, I have written a practical, challenging, and inspiration tool you can put in the hands of your leaders to develop them, disciple them, and also say “Thank You”.