How Pastors Can Invest In Their City’s Community Leaders In Record Numbers

This past Monday the weather in Atlanta was miserable.  It was a classic winter day for our area with gray skies, constant rain, and bone-chilling cold.  Despite the weather, a record 175 civic leaders from the cities of Acworth and Kennesaw attended a NorthStar Church lunch-and-learn event call Lunch With A Leader!!!  As part of my personal growth plan I attended as well.

Let me explain what Lunch With A Leader is.  Mike Linch , NorthStar’s incomparable senior pastor, has developed over two decades countless relationships with first responders, educators, coaches, business leaders, and city government officials.  Because of his faithful servant-leadership to the community, Mike has developed the credibility to significantly invest in their lives spiritually.  Therefore, he brings the entire city together for lunch, networking, and spiritual investment.

This is a brilliant concept all pastors should explore implementing.  After speaking with Mike, I know he would be more than happy to tell senior pastors how they could do something similar for their cities and ministry contexts.  You can reach him at mike.linch@northstarchurch.org for more information.

For more on Mike and his impact, read 26 Reasons Why Mike Linch of NorthStar Church is One of the Greatest Pastors in America.  I also recommend you check out Mike’s podcast Linch With A Leader by clicking HERE.

The following are the notes from his incredible session:

1. Our passion is for you to be the leader you were created to be.  We believe God created you for a purpose.
2. God is always ahead of me in my story.
3. God not only has answers for our excuses but He he has people who can help us.
4. Every leader has weaknesses.
5. God sends people that will cover our weaknesses.  He sends the right people at the right time to give us just what we need.
6. Spiritual leaders need the help of others to accomplish their vision.  You can’t do it alone.
7. EGO – Edging God Out.
8. Moses wrestled with doubt.
9. Moses doubted his ability.  At 40, he thought he could.  At 80, he knew he couldn’t.
10. Faith is our belief in God’s ability.
11. “Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will.” – Suzy Kassel
12. I wonder how many things almost started and then doubt caused us to stop.
13. Jethro tells Moses: I believe in you.  I don’t care if you’re 20.  I don’t care if you’re 50.  We still need people who believe in us.
14. Doubt always leads to isolation.  Isolation always grows our fears.  Isolation is the soil where fears are developed.
15. Moses wrestled with fear.  Moses was scared.  He was on the Most Wanted List.
16. Moses feared failure because he had already been there.  Failing once is one thing.  Failing twice is another.
17. We know failure is part of the journey but we’re never good at wrestling with it.
18. I have more aversion to failure now at 51 than when I was 22.
19. “The greatest mistake we make is living in constant fear that we will make one.” – John Maxwell
20. In leadership you’re going to fail.
21. When your life is marked by God, whatever you use for Him becomes His property.
22. God loves to take ordinary and do the extraordinary.
23. With the staff in his control, Moses could lead a flock.  When he released the staff into God’s hands, he could lead a nation.
24. When your talents are surrendered, God can do more with them than you can.
25. God tells Moses: I will empower you.
26. If we could see how Heaven was, we would take more risks.
27. Moses wrestled with obedience.
28. Zipporah tells Moses: I will help you.
29. God is more interested in your heart than your help.
30. Partial obedience.  Obedience is when people respond and do the right thing.  Partial obedience is when their heart is right but they don’t go all the way.  Partial obedience is disobedience.
31. Moses wrestled with loneliness.
32. Aaron tells Moses: I will go with you.  You better have someone to go with you.  You can’t go it alone.
33. It’s only lonely at the top if you want it to be.  It is lonely at the top if you let it, if you’ve isolated yourself.
34. None of us are where we are today if an Aaron had not walked into our life.
35. We forget how God intervenes in our stories.
36. The leader’s greatest return is people.
37. “I’m a success today because I had a friend who believed in me and I couldn’t let him down.” – Abraham Lincoln

Just an incredible lesson!!!  What is one thing you learned from Mike’s thoughts which will make you a better leader?

My book Timeless: 10 Enduring Practices Of Apex Leaders is available for purchase.  If you have ever wanted to become the leader God created you to be, this book is for you!  By combining leadership lessons from biblical heroes like Jesus, Daniel and Joseph, along with modern day leaders like Bill Gates, Nick Saban, Kobe Bryant and multiple pastors, Timeless will equip and inspire you.  This book is not to be read alone.  Discussion questions are included in each chapter allowing you to develop those in your circle of influence.  Click HERE or on the image provided and order your copies TODAY.