How many of life’s pleasures and stresses seem to bring difficulties on your spiritual walk and on the life of your church? If we are honest, there are quite a few. Every four to six months pastors and church members want to give up, asking questions like, “Is it really worth it?”. Paul had some advice for young Timothy in one of his times of distress.

Not only were the stresses of building and strengthening a church in a pagan culture plaguing Timothy, his mentor, the Apostle Paul was in prison for doing the work Timothy was trying to carry out. It is understandable that Timothy would be feeling the pressure.

In 2 Timothy 4:5 Paul told young Timothy, “But as for you, keep a clear head about everything, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.” This is good advice for everyone of us today. Fulfill your ministry – your specific calling from God.

God knows what you are facing. He understands the trials of today, and He is with you. He has promised to walk with you through those trials – everyone of them. He may not remove them, but who greater than the creator of the universe to walk side by side with you through your trials?

It would do each believer and each church well to at least annually reconsider its focus. Are you kingdom focused? As an individual, as a church? It is easy to fall into the trappings of societal beliefs mixed into your spiritual beliefs. It is part of what I refer to as the “westernization of Christianity”, and it is leading millions of people away from biblical Christianity.

God created you to fulfill a specific purpose, His purpose. The right and true goal of every Christian and every church is to be Kingdom focused as God is Kingdom focused. Unfortunately, the westernization of Christianity has brought with it the idea that, “if I like it and it feels good then it must be from God. That is the farthest from the truth as you can get.

Even Jesus Himself underscores this goal and principle as we read in John 5:19-20, “I assure you, the Son of man is not able to do anything on His own, but only what He sees His Father doing. For whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in the same way. For the Father loves the Son and shows Him everything He is doing, and He will show Him greater works than these so that you will be amazed.”

Notice it says the Son does “in the same way”. The Son does not have permission to twist and change up what the Father is doing to suit himself. It is when we resist the temptations of doing “worldly ways” that people are “amazed” because it is God working through a Kingdom focused mindset.

What will you do today to insure yours is a Kingdom mindset prescribed by the Father and not of your own design?

George Yates is an Organizational Health Strategist and coach, assisting churches, organizations, and individuals in pursuing God’s purpose for life. Click here to receive this blog in your email inbox each Tuesday.

One bullet point in our previous post on assimilation was: The process of bonding must be ever-present. I’m not referring to touchy-feely fall back into each other’s arms exercises. Your church should include practices as; interfacing, connecting, acceptance, belonging, ownership, and continuity. In this post let’s explore each of those six practices.

• Interfacing – People need person to person interaction. Fruitful churches provide opportunities for members/employees to interact – face to face with one another, not only in casual, superficial ways, but in authentic, genuine personal growth opportunities. In the church this can be planning and preparing for events, serving together in community projects, going on mission together. Over the years I have witnessed persons serving in VBS, serving kool-aid, as their very first service within a church that became the catalyst for them in becoming an engaged member of God’s Kingdom.
• Connecting – certainly one factor in the VBS scenario is connecting with other peers through serving together. One of the greatest connecting points of an evangelistic church is through an ongoing Bible study small group. Not only meeting once a week, but intentionally fostering relationships with one another, living life with each member.
• Acceptance and Belonging – Everyone enters your facilities with a desire to be accepted. Most churches are good at courting newcomers, yet when they become “regular” attenders or members, we drop them as if once they accept membership they now know everyone and everything and nothing else is needed from us. People – including you, desire and need to feel accepted and that they belong.
• Ownership – Members of a club or organization pay the minimum dues to enjoy the benefits of the club. The owners of a club or organization on the other hand strive to make it the best, taking pride in the organization being its absolute best.
• Continuity – Scripture says, “Let your yes be yes, and your no be no.” That is continuity. For people to be committed and assimilated into your church, they must realize that the principles being lived out through the organization are not wishy-washy (as my Dad used to say) but steadfast, biblically based with stability.

To achieve committed, fully assimilated constituents of your church and God’s Kingdom, think on these things. For they are all just, pure, lovely, of good report, great virtue and worthy of praise to our God. Think on these things. (Philippians 4:8)

George Yates is an Organizational Health Strategist and coach, assisting churches, organizations, and individuals in pursuing God’s purpose for life. Click here to receive this blog in your email inbox each Tuesday.

In our last blog we looked at five first steps to assimilation. In this post we’ll look at five more proven points to advance the assimilation process. Assimilation is a process, it takes time. As stated in the previous post, churches must be intentional with a specified, focused process for assimilating newcomers. In addition to the first five steps discussed previously, consider incorporating these five into your church assimilation process.

• Structured small group Bible study classes are critical in assimilation and in the growth of any church in any region of every nation on earth. These are where friendships blossom, relationships are fostered and spiritual growth unites people as one.
• Expectations – Civic groups and rotary clubs have more expectations on their members than most evangelic churches. People need and want expectations. In the late 1980’s, 20 million boomers and busters returned to the church. That is a great fact, until you realize that by 1995 22 million left the church. That number continues to climb. The largest factor cited in their leaving – No expectations on them from the church.
• The process of bonding must be ever-present. I’m not referring to touchy-feely fall back into each other’s arms exercises. Your church should include practices as; interfacing, connecting, acceptance, belonging, ownership, and continuity.
• Outreach and Lay involvement – Churches that reach out to others will keep more of their members. Outreach should be considered a group activity in every class and every church. The involvement of laity is critical to assimilation as noted in Points 3, 4, & 5 in the previous post.
• Implement and strengthen ministries that include; Spiritual gifts (discovery & utilization), Lay mobilization, specific discipleship, student ministry, & family ministry.

Assimilation is critical for the growth of the church if it is part of God’s Kingdom. In Leviticus 19:33-34 God told Moses and the Israelites, “‘And if a stranger dwells with you in your land, you shall not mistreat him. The stranger who dwells among you shall be to you as one born among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.” (NKJV)

Assimilation into God’s family is important to God (it is The Great Commission), and it should be a priority process in our churches. What will you undertake this week to strengthen the overall assimilation process in your church? You have a part to play. What will you do?

George Yates is an Organizational Health Strategist and coach, assisting churches, organizations, and individuals in pursuing God’s purpose for life. Click here to receive this blog in your email inbox each Tuesday.

It is well known and well documented that the church in North America is in decline. However, we see and hear of pockets of well-sustained growth and healthy discipleship in some churches. What makes the difference?

In my opinion, it all begins with assimilation and assimilation begins with showing that you truly care. Perhaps in the near future we’ll write a blog on “Showing that you truly care.” For now, let’s look at 5 first steps to assimilation.

1, Assimilation does not happen by accident. A church must be intentional about assimilating new people into your congregational family. It cannot be by coercion or force. Newcomers must feel genuinely welcomed and accepted. Too often our welcome in churches is superficial – and newcomers know it.

2, A church must project a warm fellowship (atmosphere) to outsiders. Churches today have a tendency to be closed societal groups, many times without intention. We think we are open to newcomers, yet we show preference in our conversations and actions to our friends and long-term members.

3, Assimilation begins at the first contact with the church. A good rule of thumb is “the first threes”. What happens in the first three minutes when a newcomer enters – 1) your property, is there guest parking clearly marked, what entrance to use? 2) your facility, are there greeters and good signage to direct guests? 3) in the worship center, how are newcomers greeted and by how many people? Are they asked to join another family for worship?

4, All guests to your services should be contacted within 36 hours for highest rate of return. Ministerial (clergy) contacts are great; laity contacts are twice as effective. Guests see clergy contacts as part of “their duty”, what he is paid to do. On the other hand they view laity contacts as “They truly care”.

5, Newcomers to the church must begin building new relationships within the congregation immediately. You cannot wait to see if they’re going to “stick” before getting to know them. Relationships are perhaps the most crucial aspect of assimilation. Surveys and research projects over the years continue to prove the higher number of genuine, new relationships inside the church reinforce the assimilation process for individuals and families.

If your church truly desires to fulfill the purpose of The New Testament Church – The Great Commission – please do not leave assimilation to chance. Build in an assimilation process. Train and equip all of your congregation to be active participants in the assimilation of others.

George Yates is an Organizational Health Strategist and coach, assisting churches, organizations, and individuals in pursuing God’s purpose for life. Click here to receive this blog in your email inbox each Tuesday.

One concept every leader, every servant, every person should be continually asking of ourselves is, “How do I improve my effectiveness? What can I do to enrich my helpfulness?” Let me suggest twelve (12) concepts to bring about that enrichment on a continual basis.

1, Pray – Bathe ideas/concepts in Prayer, Pray for your own wisdom & discernment Pray for increased leadership skill

2, Develop Deeper Listening Skills – Words make up only seven (7) percent of what any person is communicating. Listen to voice tones and inflection. These two will communicate as much as words.  What are the eyes, facial expressions, and body language communicating. Each one of these areas are actively communicating when speaking or listening.

3, Lead by using Questions – Rather than closed ended (yes/no) questions, use questions that invoke higher order thought processes. The more we can learn to use properly formulated questions, the greater our leadership will be practiced and followed.

4, Wait for a Response – Never ask a question you do not want someone to answer. Never answer your own question. Silence can be positive. Jesus used it. Slow down and allow listeners time to process and respond.

5, Discovery Learning – People learn better when they discover answers for themselves. Provide learning experiences, i.e. Matthew 14:25-33 – Peter goes for a walk with the Lord on the water.

6, Leaders Input Comes Last – Once the leader speaks people tend to repress. Listen & encourage everyone to participate. A team member may have experience or an idea that the leader has never considered. Give credit to all ideas. Effective leaders learn when to speak and when to listen.

7, Healthy Debate – A great tool for strategy planning, yet seldom used. Healthy debate may involve conflict, yet the conflict is always on differing points of interest, not personalities. The key is to promote passion not personalities.

8, Sending with Affirmation, Follow-up & Accountability – 3 things to use ending every meeting. With these three you are setting the course for many tomorrows.

9, Changing Directional Thought Processes – Takes people deeper in the learning experience. Does not stop with attaching old information to new. Leads people to discovery of what they had not previously experienced or considered.

10, Showing Vulnerability as a Leader – Vulnerability is to be used as a strength. Revealing vulnerabilities relates you are human. Effective leaders understand revealing their own vulnerabilities brings out the strengths & creative genius of others.

11, Friendly Accountability – Does not hold a threat over someone. Breathes encouragement to move forward. Motivates toward accomplishment.

12, Leading to Build up – Promote and acknowledge positive behavior in others. Learn the difference between Redirection & Reprimand and when to use each. Correct in private, Praise in Public. Always end with Affirmation.

These are 12 concepts that I use in developing my leadership. What others could you offer? I pray you will put these to use and see a greater effectiveness in your life and leadership, with vast fruit bearing evidence.

George Yates is an Organizational Health Strategist and coach, assisting churches, organizations, and individuals in pursuing God’s purpose for life. Click here to receive this blog in your email inbox each Tuesday.

If you want to move forward, you cannot continue to fall back into old ways and trends. In Galatians chapter 5, verse 1, the Apostle Paul writes, Christ has liberated us to be free. Stand firm then and don’t submit again to a yoke of slavery.

I want to key in on “again”. Again means you’ve been there before. Paul says, don’t go there another time. Yet in the church, and our personal lives, it is easy, the comfortable thing to do, to return to our former ways.

Paul says stand firm and do not fall into the same old patterns of tradition or convenience. They both make you slaves to something that is not of God. Paul understood the ease of falling into the slavery of tradition, old patterns.

About six years ago, I was asked to help a church in Southwest Alabama. Sixteen months after my initial conversation with the pastor, I was invited to speak to the congregation on the one year anniversary of the church’s rebirth. God did a great work in that congregation and this is part of what I shared.

“We are all here as witnesses of that (God’s) great work. Some of you walked through and actually did the work,” the manual labor over the last sixteen months. Some tough, even painful decisions were made.

“I was privileged and honored to be used by God offering some coaching assistance, but I was not here on the ground, doing the actual work. And it was evident that God was here working in your midst.

Pastor Vaughn and I would email and talk by phone at least once a month and whenever we were together, when I was down here or he was in Prattville…”

“As your storyline progressed, I was impressed at how God was showing up. Whether He was providing materials or opportunities to share with others what was happening, I saw God’s hand at work. God has blessed and is still at work through you…”

“And yet, now is not the time to rest. There is still much to be done. The families of the students of the school across the street need to know that you care for them – that you continually care for them.

Partnering with a school is not about how to get them into the events you want to have. It is getting Jesus into their lives by demonstrating His love through your words and actions.”

“Not only the school. There are others in this community that need to know the Jesus of the Bible. I am here today to encourage you to charge ahead. Don’t allow yourselves to fall back into the tradition of doing things the way we used to.”

“Those days are gone. You buried them. God has given you a new day and a bright future.”

What God did for this church, He wants to do for you individually and for your church. Commit yourself fully to God and do not allow yourselves to fall back into the tradition of doing things the way we used to.”

George Yates is an Organizational Health Strategist and coach, assisting churches, organizations, and individuals in pursuing God’s purpose for life. Click here to receive this blog in your email inbox each Tuesday.

Perhaps you have heard the story of the woman searching under a streetlight for a quarter she dropped. A stranger comes along and asks if all is okay. She explains she dropped a quarter and is looking for it. The stranger joins he woman in her search. After several minutes the stranger asks, “Where exactly did you drop the quarter?” The woman straightens up, points across the street and says, “Over there about half way up the block. But there is no light over there to search for it.”

Truth is everyone is searching for something. However, many people in our world know not what they are searching for. Many Christians do not know what they are searching for. Do you?

God has a plan for His church and a plan for you. Finding God’s plan requires a search. It is not difficult, but a search requires commitment and work. True satisfaction comes only in finding and accomplishing God’s unique purpose for your life.

Salvation is free. Our faithfulness to the Lord, however, requires a commitment.

Jer. 29: 11-13 says, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

¹² You will call to Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. ¹³ You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.”

Our commitment is to be faithful in seeking the Lord and His will. Do you know the plans God has for you? This is your search.

God has a plan for each one of us. The fact is though, God will not reveal His plan for us more than one step at a time. We cannot see around the next corner. Therefore, trust and faith in God are required. Too many people search for what they think would please God. This is not God’s plan.

For Christians our search is for Christ-likeness. Our search must be a committed search (with all our hearts). We must count the cost and be willing to forsake all. Luke 9:62 says, “And Jesus said unto him, ‘No man having put his hand to the plough (plow) and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.’”

There is no time to look back. We are to keep our eyes focused on Christ and the task ahead. What happens when someone plowing a garden or farm field turns his head to see how the row looks behind him? He will always veer off course. You cannot look backward and plow a straight line.

We must keep our eyes focused on Christ and the work that God has at hand. This is the only way to move forward and join God in the work He is doing.

A committed, continuing, and consuming search for the Lord, the Bible says will allow you to find Him according to verse 13 of Jer. 29.

In your search for the Lord you can draw closer & closer to Him if you so desire. The question is, How is your want to?

George Yates is an Organizational Health Strategist and coach, assisting churches, organizations, and individuals in pursuing God’s purpose for life. Click here to receive this blog in your email inbox each Tuesday.

Dr. Billy Graham is the about only person I can think of in my lifetime whom I can never remember hearing anything negative or bad about.

I tried to think of others who had such a stellar life in front of the public and I could not think of anyone who could stand alongside Billy Graham, other than George Beverly Shea, perhaps.

If for no other reason, you can see God’s hand upon Billy Graham. The media today is built to find the downside of everyone. If they cannot dig something up from your past, they create something. Yet, no one was ever able to fabricate anything on Dr. Graham.

Isn’t it great when all of our memories of someone are happy ones? The Apostle Paul in Ephesians 1:3-5 says, “I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you, ⁴ always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer, ⁵ because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.”

Paul begins this passage stating that every memory he has of the Philippian church is a good memory. He is thankful for these memories.

The Joy of the Christian Journey is what Paul is speaking of. He is full of gratitude, very grateful for the believers in Philippi. What Paul is saying is no matter what, when I think of you I only have wonderful memories. There have been no bad experiences. Wouldn’t you like to have all your relationships like this? This, I believe, is the mark of Christian joy.

It is with joy that Paul prays for his friends at Philippi. Do you pray with joy for others in your church, or do you consider it a task or obligation? We should take a lesson from Paul and pray for each other with joy. It should be with joy that we lift the name of others to the mercy seat of God.

What greater thing could you do for someone than to ask God to be with that person, and to give that person a great blessing?

With the acceptance of joy comes sacrifice. In life whenever we desire something it normally requires some type of sacrifice, does it not? If you want a new set of golf clubs, or a pair of jeans, you must take your hard-earned money and sacrifice some of it for that desired purchase.

Valuable time is given and sacrificed for you to have a clean house, and fresh, clean clothes to wear, not to mention a good hot meal. Someone has had to sacrifice for  you to enjoy these things.

The same is true with our Christian life. For the true joy of the Christian life, sacrifices must be made. In verse 6 Paul says, I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

If you and I can grow to experience the joy of the Christian journey, and truly pray for one another in joy, it will not be a difficult task to experience the Christian sacrifice for others and for Christ. This will draw us into a closer partnership with one another serving the God who gave us breath, life, and life eternal.

There is JOY in the Journey.

George Yates is an Organizational Health Strategist and coach, assisting churches, organizations, and individuals in pursuing God’s purpose for life. Click here to receive this blog in your email inbox each Tuesday.

One night following Jesus’ resurrection, after He had appeared to His disciples at least twice, Peter and some of the other Disciples were together. The gospel of John, chapter 21 includes,

“I’m going fishing,” Simon Peter said to them. “We’re coming with you,” they told him. They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. ⁴ When daybreak came, Jesus stood on the shore. However, the disciples did not know it was Jesus.

 ⁵ “Men,” Jesus called to them, “you don’t have any fish, do you?” “No,” they answered. ⁶ “Cast the net on the right side of the boat,” He told them, “and you’ll find some.” So they did, and they were unable to haul it in because of the large number of fish.

They had fished all night and caught nothing. Most fishermen can relate to this experience. Most women and other cooks can relate to attempting to prepare a nice meal and it not coming together as planned.

Peter saw Christ die. He knew how the Jewish leaders planned the persecution of any of Jesus’ followers. Then Jesus was resurrected, and He had met with Peter and the other Disciples, more than once in His resurrected body.

Perhaps Peter was perplexed about all this and his own future. Or having been locked in this upper room, waiting for a couple of weeks Peter needed to get out. He needed time to think through all this, and he wanted to do it in a familiar setting. So, he went fishing. We read that he had caught zero fish all night.

Peter returned to something he knew. Something he was good at and comfortable doing. Each person that is a child of God has a purpose, a mission to fulfill. You have a skill set to be used to further the God’s Kingdom by fulfilling your God-given purpose. You are a unique person, designed by God and gifted for a specific purpose.

Do you know your spiritual gifts? What are your natural skills and abilities? What do you love doing? What is your passion? God has given you a passion that coincides with your purpose. Your life’s experiences are exclusive to you alone.

God has mixed all these things together with your individual personality to make you a one-of-a-kind. Out of the 8,019,876,189 living people on earth, not one of them has the same mix as you. Not one of the 7 billion who have lived before you had the same mix as you, and no one ever will. That is how unique God created you.

Peter followed Jesus’ instructions. Jesus simply suggested to throw the net out on the opposite side of the boat. Following Jesus’ one instruction, the disciples pulled in a net so full it should have been breaking.

The disciples spent the night trying in their own effort to catch fish and came up empty. Yet, the disciples found out very quickly that by listening to Jesus’ one instruction, following His coaching, their net was filled to capacity and more.

Who are you listening to? Jesus has the exact counsel you need in every situation. Will you listen and follow His instruction as did the Disciples in this passage? God alone knows the limit of the nets He has provided for you.

George Yates is an Organizational Health Strategist and coach, assisting churches, organizations, and individuals in pursuing God’s purpose for life. Click here to receive this blog in your email inbox each Tuesday.

Have you ever known a leader who was maddeningly insecure – about everything? They live among us. These are people in management or leadership positions who are wobbly and always teetering, questioning, seeking the right answer to appear. Never confident in their decision-making abilities.

Honestly, we all – every leader at every level has a little insecurity inside. A little secret, that is okay and, in most cases healthy to have a small bit of insecurity, but not overly insecure.

I was once selected to serve on a Pastor Search Committee for our church. I tried to talk my way out of it. That did not work. Then I was elected to chair that committee. Though I was serving in leadership roles in the corporate world, the only thing I was confident about in this situation was that all three of the other men (and the four women) on this committee were better qualified for the role of chairperson.

The men were twenty something years my senior, and well seasoned leaders. These men were role models for me. My confidence was in them, not me. God taught me a lot through that process. One of the main things was to place my confidence in Him and surround myself with great leaders.

Another principle I learned was as Craig Groschel writes, “You don’t have to be confident in yourself, your gifts, your talents, or your resume.” Our confidence is found in God alone. Serving on that committee was a great learning and a very humbling experience.

If you desire to be enduringly fruitful, confidence in God is significant. It is not about being the most experienced, eloquent speaking, wisest person in the room. Confidence comes not from mastering certain skills or abilities. Confidence, as a Christian, comes from trusting God and being open to the work He calls you too. Even if that work appears to be beyond your scope of capability.

When God told Moses that he would be the one to stand before Pharoah to have him free the Israelites, Moses said, “But God, I am not a good speaker.” God said “I am!”

Paul wrote to the Corinthian church about his weaknesses, and his confidence in the power of the Holy Spirit. We all have weaknesses. But rather than dwell on them, find those God has placed around you who have strengths in the areas you are weak. Do not try to hide or masquerade around weaknesses. Recognize them, delegate those areas and concentrate on the confidence of using what God has given you to be fruitful for Him.

No one is great in every area of leadership. Focus on what you can do with the strengths God has given you. Develop those, strive to be better at the things you can improve, while at the same time accepting your weaknesses.

With what limitations have your thought processes shackled you? Step out of Satan’s shackles by stepping into confidence in God’s design for your life. What will you do this week to build better alignment in your life?

George Yates is an Organizational Health Strategist and coach, assisting churches, organizations, and individuals in pursuing God’s purpose for life. Click here to receive this blog in your email inbox each Tuesday.