While most of us were asleep this morning, Jerry Hatcher, Jr., got up early and put on his “fancy clothes.” At his request, his dad drove him to one of our hospitals. Upon arrival at 7:11 a.m., Jerry Jr. tucked a wad of cash in his pocket—cash that his parents had earmarked for Jerry Jr.’s Christmas gifts—and headed straight to the cafeteria.

This young boy, in his black vest and trousers, was on a mission. A mission to bring cheer to families with sick children. After almost losing his baby brother to illness this year, all Jerry Jr. wanted for Christmas was to give back to the hospital that helped save him. So, for more than five hours on this Christmas Eve, he hid behind our cash registers. And each time someone pulled out a wallet, he pulled cash from his pocket, said, “Merry Christmas,” and ran back to his hiding spot. Some responded with tears. Others were speechless. And the mother of one little boy too weak to come downstairs called him her Christmas Hero.

2020 has been a rough year for most everyone in varying arenas of life. Some have lost loved ones to Covid, cancer, and other illnesses. Some have lost gainful employment and fallen on financial hardships. Depression and anxiety have soared beyond reason. People of differing political parties are finding it difficult to live amicably. 2020 has certainly been a rough year. Jerry Jr. faced a hard year as well.

Yet, he determined in his heart and mind to make a positive difference, despite the trials and troubles of the year. Jerry Hatcher, Jr. made a difference. Maybe only for a few in one small corner of a hospital cafeteria, but to those few, Jerry Hatcher, Jr. was their Christmas hero.

Jesus Christ is the true Christmas hero. The King of the Universe, born of a virgin, in a manger. Why? To bring the greatest gift of all to you and me, the gift of eternal life. Without this gift we have condemned ourselves to an eternity of suffering in a lake of fire. But accepting this gift of eternal life with God from God is the greatest gift of all.

If a young boy, Jerry, Jr., can have such a rejuvenated heart following a tough year that he gave his Christmas money away to strangers to brighten their Christmas in a hospital, what is stopping you and me? There is still time. What can you do for those who have kept this country going in 2020? Think of first responders, farmers, workers who have been laid off or lost income due to closures and shutdowns. Perhaps someone has touched your life, caring for your loved one or you. Reach into your pocket of gratefulness, gift those people, and say Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to you and your family and may God grant you a loving memorable Christmas day.

George Yates is a Church Health Strategist and coach partnering with pastors, churches, individuals, and organizations, assisting patrons in becoming effective in fulfilling their God-given purpose.

Once upon a time, there was a man who worked very hard just to keep food on the table for his family. One year a few days before Christmas, he punished his little five-year-old daughter after learning that she had used up the family’s only roll of expensive gold wrapping paper.

As money was tight, he became even more upset when on Christmas Eve he saw that the child had used all the expensive gold paper to decorate one shoebox she had put under the Christmas tree. He also was concerned about where she had gotten money to buy what was in the shoebox.

Nevertheless, the next morning the little girl, filled with excitement, brought the gift box to her father and said, “This is for you, Daddy!” As he opened the box, the father was embarrassed by his earlier overreaction, now regretting how he had punished her.

But when he opened the shoebox, he found it was empty and again his anger flared. “Don’t you know, young lady,” he said harshly, “when you give someone a present, there’s supposed to be something inside the package!”

The little girl looked up at him with sad tears rolling from her eyes and whispered: “Daddy, it’s not empty. I blew kisses into it until it was all full.”

The father was crushed. He fell on his knees and put his arms around his precious little girl. He begged her to forgive him for his unnecessary anger.

It is said that an accident took the life of the child only a short time later. The father kept this little gold box by his bed for the rest of his life. Whenever he was discouraged or faced difficult problems, he would open the box, take out an imaginary kiss, and remember the love of his beautiful daughter who had given all that she had.

Each one of us has been given an invisible golden box filled with unconditional love and kisses from our children, family, friends and God. There is no more precious possession anyone could hold. This Christmas season, be sure to open and treasure this precious gift.

Unknown source

May God richly bless you this Christmas with love and kisses. Merry Christmas to you and your household!

This was originally posted on George’s blog December 18, 2016.

I wanted to be optimistic, positive. I had driven to Indianapolis, for a job interview as a traveling rep. Wanting to show my drive and desire to succeed in the interview, I rehearsed one statement over and over on the two plus hour drive. I had read it in a book somewhere and thought it clever. I just had to find the right place to slip it into the interview. Near the end of the interview, I found my opening and blurted out, “I’m the kind of guy, that if you send me out after Moby Dick, I’ll take a jar of tartar sauce and a butter knife.”

Instantly, the atmosphere in the room changed. My clever statement was more like a pin popping a balloon. Every bit of breathable air was instantly sucked out of that room like air out of a popped balloon. I was young, but it was obvious. The faces of the two men interviewing me let me know instantly they knew the words coming out of my mouth were not me. I walked out of the office deflated (no pun intended). I knew I would not get the job or a call-back for a second interview.

I never used that line in an interview again. I still think it was clever. But it wasn’t me. It was totally out of character and I’m certain my body language and my words were miles apart that morning. I drove back to Kentucky licking my wounds, beating myself up for the foolish blunder that I thought would be a clever job landing statement.

Beginning a couple years later for about fourteen years I conducted more than 5,000 interviews for the companies I worked for. I began studying body language, facial expressions, voice tones and fluctuation, usage of wording and how it all fits together. It has been a fascinating journey. And now, I get to teach some of it to others. I absolutely love it, watching peoples faces, expressions and body language as they learn what their body is actually communicating.

Interviewing candidates for any position (volunteer or paid) I always look for the drive in the person. Whether high or low drive, it will come across in an interview. Not in their words alone, but the excitement in her voice, the positive shoulder movement and open gestures being displayed by the body. Certainly, words can play a part, yet our words only make up seven percent of what we communicate. A person with drive to perform at exceeding levels will always communicate this sitting in the interview. Some characteristics; sitting up near the front edge of the chair, leaning forward, open postures with shoulders, hands and positive facial expressions. Any person without the passion to perform at exceeding levels will also communicate his inabilities. Some characteristics include; shoulders rolled forward, hands clasped in lap or under thighs as if hidden, poor eye contact. Your body will communicate what is inside – no matter how clever your words.

Looking for drive in an interviewee is only one aspect of what to look for. I also look for energy, passion, and the ability to communicate and execute for the desired position. Whether you are seeking volunteers or paid employees, there is much to be learned that will save time and energy and insure you are filling positions with the right people. To learn more of this fascinating communication intellect feel free to contact George Yates.

By the way no one has ever used the Moby Dick analogy in an interview with me.

George Yates is a Church Health Strategist and coach partnering with pastors, churches, individuals, and organizations, assisting patrons in becoming effective in fulfilling their God-given purpose.

She ran across the parking lot after church one Sunday, excitedly calling my name. This young lady, a school custodian had recently accepted Christ as her Savior and become an active member of our church. The previous week she read a letter and booklet we had sent to all members about serving God using their God-given talents, gifts, and passion.

As she came running excitedly across the parking lot in blue and white dress and heels I feared she was going to fall. It was an awkward moment. She didn’t. Coming to a stop in front of me, she grabbing both my arms she exclaimed, “I never knew I could serve God by cleaning toilets!” This was the first and only time I believe, that I’ve ever seen anybody get excited about cleaning toilets. But she was.

Throughout my life, churches have had some type of emphasis (weak at times) on each member knowing his/her spiritual gifts – special gifting’s from the Holy Spirit allowing you to join God in undertaking his purpose for your life. Spiritual Gift assessments are available for individuals to discover their particular set of Spiritual Gifts. There are no less than three scripture references where these lists of spiritual gifts are derived. It is certainly well to know your spiritual gifts from God, so that you can join Him in His works.

Knowing and understanding your Spiritual gifts is not enough. Unfortunately, what I have noticed in churches who encourage congregants to complete a Spiritual Gift Assessment, little follow up is done to assist individuals in properly employing those gifts. On the individual side, I’ve noticed more people use the findings from the assessment to point out what they do not want to do: “Not me. That’s not my Spiritual Gift. You need to find someone else.” Like the hardware sales associate who, when approached by a customer says, “That’s not my department. You need to find someone else.” It’s not good business.

I am an advocate of gift-oriented ministry. And I am also a proponent/advocate for passion driven ministry. People will serve out of their passion. The lady in the opening story did not have any post-secondary education. She was not an intellect. She knew little about much of the workings inside the church or how to serve God.

When she read the letter and the booklet, she realized all she needed was to use what she had to serve God. What she had, more than custodial experience, was PASSION. If only we all carried that same passion in using our gifts and talents for God.

Our church was in the middle of a campaign to help people connect their passion with serving God using His Spiritual gifts. The next Sunday was the culmination. At the end of the worship service, ninety-five percent of those present had committed to serve the following year in passion driven, gift-oriented ministry. Most churches consider themselves doing well if 20% are serving.

People will serve out of their passion. Think about it. I am passionate about what I am gifted to do. I am not going to be very passionate about what I am not gifted to do. Everyone is the same. We all have different giftings and talents. We use these giftings in areas where we are passionate. God brings groups of people with varying talents, giftings, and passions to serve alongside Him in His work. We call this group the local church body.

Do you know the connection between your passion and giftedness? If so, are you connecting those with ministry (serving others)? For more information contact me, George Yates.

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.

As we are in the week of our National holiday, Thanksgiving, I want to share a story that I read earlier. Rather than my words, I want to share it in the words of Krystal Preston, a single Mom from Nevada. Then as usual, I have a couple questions for you at the closing.

“I have no words right now that can express how I am feeling at this moment. I’m in complete shock… The last couple weeks have literally been hell filled with so many tears, anger, confusion and heart ache. Today I got the shock of my life…”

“As some of you may know my son William, who is a lawn mowing, yard cleaning, money making machine. Well my son had a job today that he had to go do and so I allowed him to go assuming it was like any other time. Well this time was different. Very different.”

“William came home and said, ‘Mom I bought you a car’.

I of course laughed and told him ‘Ya, right!’

He said, ‘No mom I’m so serious I bought you a car. Come on we have to go.’

I’m at this point confused and skeptical and I said, ‘Go where?’

He said, ‘With this lady.’

And much to my surprise I go in my front yard and OMG there is a woman standing there and as William said she was giving us a ride.

William jumps in the car so I’m like ok?? This is some kind of joke right. No one speaks really….  So… as I’m still thinking at this point still a joke. We pull up to this house and William says, ‘Mom that’s your car.’

I completely lost it. I started balling my eyes out… I am speechless my 13-year-old son bought me a car.”

“He did some work for this woman and that was his payment that he worked out with her. And here I thought it was a joke… Nope I was handed the keys and paperwork to the car and I’m freaking out but so in shock like OMG this is happening right now. So, we got into the car it started right up and off we went.”

“I am so proud of my son. He is such a good kid. He may have his days but OMG what 13-year-old kid do you know that buys his mom a car… William I love you son and thank you. You have such a big heart and I love you.”

Which of the two do you believe received the biggest blessing? Certainly, both Mother and son received a huge blessing and a life-long gratefully cherished memory. Beginning today, to what length are you willing to go above and beyond your normal to bless someone else through this Thanksgiving and Christmas season? Don’t just think about it – DO IT! Then consider how you can continue in that practice throughout 2021. Be a blessing at Thanksgiving and throughout the year. Happy Thanksgiving. God bless!

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 the 1980’s Texas, like much of the nation, was facing an ever-growing issue, litter. Littering had gotten so bad, not only states, there was a national campaign attempting to fend off this domestic menace. One national series of ads was connecting. Each ad featured an elder native American Indian with a teardrop running his cheek at the sight of litter in streams, rivers, parks, along roadways. This series had a positive effect – except in Texas.

A research group returned these findings. Most of the littering in Texas was by 18-35 year old males. They nick-named this group “Bubba”. It seems none of the attempts from the state were affecting Bubba. Not even the ads with the elder Indian and the teardrop. Bubba wasn’t phased to stop littering.

Officials in the state of Texas realized their messages were not connecting with “Bubba”. What could be done to connect with this group? An extensive pursuit was under way to connect the needed message to this group and others throughout the state. What is it that this group respects and would react to positively?

A new ad campaign was implemented with the message that anyone littering was messing with Texas. And if you mess with Texas you are messing with anyone who cares about Texas. Texas athletes  (Dallas Cowboys,  country musicians as Willie Nelson were among those appearing in ads. The ad campaign was so successful that not only did the prideful Texans 18-35 (and all ages) stop littering, Bubba was willing to call anyone out whom they saw littering. Litter in Texas dropped by 72% over the next five years. The tag line that became a statewide slogan, “Don’t Mess With Texas!”

If you were alive and of remembering age in the eighties, you likely remember that slogan. It was broadcast all over the nation due to the success of the campaign. It was being quoted across the country. The pride of a cleaner atmosphere was spreading beyond the Lone star state. According to Wikipedia, “While the slogan was not originally intended to become a statewide cultural phenomenon, it did.” It is still in use today.

The Don’t Mess with Texas campaign connected the message with the consumer. Every leader needs to continuously insure his/her message is connecting for accomplishing the desired outcomes. As in the business world, in churches, the pastor’s message (not only in the pulpit) often doesn’t connect with the congregation, yet the pastor/leader often does not realize the disconnect. Every ministry leader, the same.

If your church/organization is not making forward progress, fulfilling its mission (the Great Commission), there is a disconnect between your leadership and constituents. Not one of us communicates as well as we believe we do.

To insure your message as a leader is connecting with your congregants, volunteers, or consumers, find a connecting point. The way you deliver your message is usually what connects to you. That may not be the same connecting point you need. In Texas the connecting point was not cleanliness or environmental care. The connecting point was pride in their home state, and protection of fellow Texans. What will you do this week to find a better connecting point for those entrusted to your leadership?

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 last week’s post we wrote of three traits of a fruitful leader. In this post we’ll look at two more attributes of fruitful leaders.

Celebrate: What the pastor and church leaders celebrate affects the culture of the church. If it does not seem important enough for the leaders to recognize, members will not emphasize it. Therefore, they will not take up the cause. What gets recognized, gets emphasized, and what gets emphasized, gets recognized. Whatever you want people to engage in, celebrate it, recognize it – more than once, from more than one platform. When you believe you’ve celebrated enough, you’ve only just begun.

I believe you should celebrate all victories, big and small. If a Bible study class has been running three and has grown to five, celebrate. Celebrate from the pulpit and in the group’s classroom. Celebrate them in other settings. When a person comes to faith in Christ, celebrate. Not only celebrate the person coming to Christ, celebrate all those who have shared in that person’s spiritual life. Recognize all the Sunday School and VBS teachers who have had that person in class over the years. Recognize the co-worker who prayed for and shared her faith.

Celebrate everything you cherish about the gospel. Fruitful leaders understand living the gospel is not enough. Their calling includes building the gospel culture. Celebrating when others engage in gospel living builds God’s culture. Remember: What gets recognized, gets emphasized, and what gets emphasized, gets recognized. Celebrating is recognizing. When you recognize something enough through celebration, people will begin to emphasize it in their lives.

Grow from Within: New life is always a key to kingdom growth. On top of this, fruitful leaders understand that identifying and growing new leaders from within the organization produces God’s fruitfulness. The North American church model over the last few decades has become a hiring agency from outside the organization when looking for leaders.

Throughout scripture we see God raising up leaders from within. After Paul’s conversion, we see him always looking for leaders within the churches he planted. The disciples raised up, equipped, and allowed people in the New Testament church to lead so they could, “give themselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.”

Acts 6:2-4 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

When a church becomes a movement of people (God’s movement) raising up leaders from the inside becomes part of the culture, the environment, and the nature of organization. One of the greatest ways to show people that you care as a leader is to empower them to lead out in ministry. Developing leaders from within brings greater benefits when others realize they too could be the next leader sought after. Raising leaders from within should be natural because those leaders already understand the nature, culture, and ethos of the organization.

Where is your church on raising leaders from within? Regardless of your position at church, what will you do this week to begin pouring yourself into others to raise up leaders?

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.

I have been saddened over the years each time I learn of a pastor whom due to poor leadership decisions, has lost not only his church but his ministry. Sometimes never to return to vocational ministry, other times not to return for several years. It is true some men enter ministry without the call of God on their lives. For these, it is destined to not stay the course. Others leave the ministry feeling beat down, depressed, and run over, often by members of their own churches.

The pastoral role in churches across the United States has become more of manager than leader. I’ve never met anyone who entered ministry to manage. No one enters ministry to manage people, programs, or facilities. Yet, this is the role relegated to many pastors and staff. Pastors lose their churches for many reasons. Some of these are due to concepts not taught in our schools and seminaries as people skills and healthy leadership practices.

While many in leadership positions in the corporate world and the church consider themselves to be good leaders, a better question is to ask, where is my leadership most fruitful? Unfortunately, what many consider fruitful ministry is only to escape one of the scenarios above – not losing our job.

Let me quickly address three areas of leadership that will always improve fruitfulness.

Consistency: Once a pastor has been at his church for three to four years the church will begin to take on some of his behavior patterns. Not all, but some of his patterns. Example: If a pastor has a passion for the homeless, you will see the church take on behavior patterns of caring for the homeless. Behavior patterns are the regular and repetitive ways in which we react to life’s situations. The consistency of these repetitions develop patterns in your behavior. If you are not satisfied with the behavior patterns in your church, look first in the behavior mirror.

Vulnerability: It is not a weakness to show your vulnerability. It can indeed be a major building component for your church. People need to hear of your victories. They also need to hear of your trials and shortcomings, even your failures. You have survived your failures and prayerfully moved on. What better way to encourage others than sharing how you got up, dusted yourself off, and took off again? Share your experiences, the good, the bad, even the ugly.

Make it Personal: Share your stories. I know some pastors and leaders who refuse to use the stories of their personal lives. This is tragic and a missed opportunity. Don’t borrow other people’s stories, use yours. One corporate trainer lost credibility with a group he was to be in front of for two days. He lost credibility with his first story because he told it as his story. Then after the punchline, he admitted it was made up. From that point on credibility in everything he had to say was in question. Personal stories of your experiences motivate and encourage others to stretch themselves. Reveal in your stories how Christ worked through your inadequacies’. Let your stories reveal Christ.

There are many more attributes of a fruitful leader. We’ll address more in future articles. Which of these three can you apply this week to improve the fruitfulness of your leadership?

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.

A stagnant body of water lies still, does not move, does not produce anything positive, and will over time begin to stink and die. A moving body of water, on the other hand, touches everything it passes, leaving signs of life and fruitfulness.

Churches across North America today have become more organizations of people than people with a cause. An organization of people becomes stagnant, will decline and eventually die. While a people with a cause is always moving, leaving traces of new life everywhere it touches.

Churches often become little more than an organization of people who gather on Sunday’s for their own pleasure and self-proclaimed worship. One pastor made a proclamation to me and later to his church about an event the church participated in annually. “There is not one thing we do there that an atheist could not set up right next to us and do the same.” Unfortunately, something similar could be said of a majority of what we do as churches, even in our worship services. (That church immediately set out to change.)

Pastors come into these churches and find it hard, even frustrating to move the church out of their comfort zone, into biblical Great Commission ministry. Granted there may be small pockets of true gospel centered ministry, but not overall. We, the church in North America, have created our own brand of Christianity. We have become organizations of people, people of comfort in our ways of worship.

Churches making a significant difference today in their community and beyond have defined a cause and are drawing people to a needs meeting ministry cause. It is more than filling shoeboxes and backpacks – while those are worthy needs meeting ministries. People of all generations want a cause. The younger generations today are exemplary in this serving for a cause environment. But how do you move from an organization of people to a people with a cause. First through prayer for intentional outward focus, find the true needs of your community – not your own perceived needs, the true needs of the surrounding community. There is a 3 question survey that you can use in any situation for finding the true needs that you can download for free at soncare.net .

A fruitful ministry then depends on the leader (pastor) who embodies the cause, empowers the God gifted members of his church to undertake the cause, and guides the church to fully resource ministries to meet the true needs in the community. Whatever the need in your community, God has gifted your church (people) to help meet the need. One issue is we must get out of our closed ministry mindset box and utilize what God has blessed us with.

It is important to remember here, “Don’t copy models, capture principles.” It is not about what some other church has done. It is about the need God has placed in front of you and how He has gifted each member in your congregation to fulfill that need. If you desire assistance in discovering the need or how to utilize the giftings in your church to meet that need, contact me. My calling is to assist you. Begin today moving from an organization of people to a People with a Cause!

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 last week I literally walked into a wall – the outside corner of a wall. Following a similar pattern as most nights I walked into our dark bedroom where my wife was already asleep. On this night however, I misjudged the angle I was walking and hit my forehead over my left eye so hard on this corner, the sound awakened my wife. I cupped my hand in front of my face and immediately felt blood, not dripping, running down my nose and into my hand. A few minutes later after getting the bleeding stopped and covering my new one-inch gash with a bandage, I went to bed. Pam was already fast asleep.

I still do not know all the answers of that incident: How did I misjudge the angle after years of the same routine? How could a slow cautious stride make such a loud noise (to awake the sleeping)? How could that same slow stride cause such a damaging hard hit with a 10 minute bleeding spree?

In life we hear people use the terminology, “I’ve hit a wall.” I’ll certainly be more selective when using that terminology from now on. Using that terminology normally refers to coming to a seemingly impassable point in a particular venture or task. Example: “My computer quit running. I’ve tried everything I know, and I’ve run into a wall.” Or “It’s been a long tiring day. I’m exhausted! I’ve hit the wall.”

We all come to these “walls” in life and most often it is best to take a break, move onto something else. Set the task completely aside. Come back to the difficult issue later, when we are refreshed. Some of those walls, metaphorically speaking, like the one I ran into, we may never know all the answers. But that does not mean we should give up on tasks or ventures. My task that night was to turn off a fan that was in our window pulling in cool air. A few minutes after the unpleasant incident,  while holding a wet washcloth to my bleeding head, I did turn off the fan. In life, we need more of a break and more than a wet washcloth. Sometimes the best you can do is leave that task for another day (or a later time in the day).

A second set of eyes and another brain is oftentimes where the solution comes from. Don’t be afraid to call on someone else, someone not part of the team or issue. Let that person, that set of fresh eyes, bring his/her perspective. On a number of occasions, I have come to one of those walls on a home project. While I’m taking a break, it is my wife who has come up with a possible solution or at least spurred my thinking in a different direction which led to the needed answer. You are not a Lone Ranger in your world. Call on others.

Another great solution finder is prayer. Look to the creator of all and ask for guidance. You may still need to take a break. That may actually be God’s counsel. “Take a break and I will reveal what you need.” This has certainly happened in my life. And when I heed God’s advice, He indeed always provides the means and the way beyond my issue.

When you run up against a wall in ministry or any area of life, take a break, ask for another set of eyes and trust God. He is still in the delivery business – delivering answered prayers.

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.