In all areas of life and ministry, we confront adversarial situations. As I read about and study the great heroes of faith, successful organizations, and entrepreneurs, I see a common thread. This common bond or thread as I see it is a twofold character trait. While each of these two facets are great qualities and can stand alone, together they solidify a man’s temperament and resolve. These two character traits are a stalwart belief and a steadfast faith.

Standing stalwart in your beliefs and steadfast in yourfaith will carry a man farther than skill, ability, or fortune. Those finding themselves in an adversarial position may not be able to rely on fortune, skill, or ability. The two elements that can be relied upon are belief in a successful outcome and a faith to carry on through the difficulty. One thought that may come to mind here is that the outcome might not be the “successful” outcome we perceive or desire. However, God’s ways are much greater than our ways and His thoughts higher than ours. Therefore, it is worthy to always look at the outcome and see it from God’s kingdom perspective.

One of the great men of faith from the first century is the apostle Paul. Reading some of the words of the apostle Paul from the New Testament gives us insight into a man who was both stalwart in belief and steadfast in his faith.

Five times I received from the Jews 40 lashes minus one.

Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned.

Three times I was shipwrecked. I have spent a night

and a day in the depths of the sea. On frequent journeys,

[I faced] dangers from rivers, dangers

from robbers, dangers from my own people, dangers

from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers

in the open country, dangers on the sea,

and dangers among false brothers; labor and hardship,

many sleepless nights, hunger and thirst, often without

food, cold, and lacking clothing. Not to mention other

things, there is the daily pressure on me: my care for all

the churches (2 Corinthians 11:24–28).

The apostle Paul suffered all these things, yet he always had words to share of his love and devotion to the God he served. Paul was stalwart in his journey, always pressing on, no matter what hardships he faced. He never stopped, suffering through all these things. Even after all this torture, pain, and hardship, Paul was found singing and praising God in prison, witnessing to the guards and writing letters of encouragement and training to the churches he had helped to start. He didn’t complain. Instead, in his own words Paul said, “I press on” (Philippians 3:14 NIV). Paul was stalwart in his belief and steadfast in his faith, never wavering.

God has promised He will never leave nor forsake you. He is with you every day, all day. Jesus, in the last words of the Great Commission, said, “I am with you always, even unto the end of the world” (KJV). You have what it takes to build a stalwart belief and steadfast faith. Stand on the shoulders of those who have gone before so that you will be strengthened for the victory and your shoulders will be broadened for those who come after you.

This article is adapted from Reaching the Summit:, Essence Publishing, chapter 13, Stalwart & Steadfast

For more information on this topic or to purchase your copy of Reaching the Summit contact George Yates and visit soncare.net

In reading Oswald Sanders book Spiritual Leadership, I came across the following statement. “Eyes that look are common, eyes that see are rare.”[i] The reality of truth in this statement is critical in great leadership. Yet, we are so busy looking that we rarely see. Sanders goes on to explain his statement with an illustration I have used many times as well. The religious leaders of Jesus’ day saw in the disciples only a band of fishermen, tax collectors, and other common, uneducated people. However, Jesus saw in Peter and the others men of integrity, prophets, preachers, workers with capacity, willing to go the extra mile.

The Pharisees and other religious leaders were looking on the outward appearance, knowing these men had a lack of education. Eyes that look are common: they did not try to see beyond the outward appearance of these twelve men. Jesus on the other hand saw a group of men with the potential to turn the world upside down, eyes that see are rare.

When you look at someone for the first time, what do you see? Subconsciously, when you meet a person for the first time, you make a series of judgments about that person in the first twenty seconds. Within those first twenty seconds you have made judgments and suppositions that you will use in every future interaction with that person. (Unless they can over time convince your subconscious to change those suppositions) Using these suppositions can cause you to miss the reality and potential of this person.

In coach training one area I try to work with participants on is using what I refer to as deeper listening skills. Deeper listening skills requires much more than using our normal mode of listening. In fact it requires more than using our ears. Developing your deeper listening skills perhaps requires more use of the eyes than the ears. Your spoken words make up only seven percent of your communication. Therefore, using only our ears and our normal listening means we could be missing out on ninety-three percent of what is being communicated to us.

As we first meet someone, in most cases, we are using our eyes even before our ears hear them speak. This is why the first twenty seconds plays such a critical role in “sizing up” other people. It is our eyes sending signals to our brain cataloging information about what we are seeing with what is already stored in our brain that causes us to form opinions and suppositions so quickly.  Example: You see a young man approaching you with earrings in both ears and one through his left eyebrow you automatically make assumptions based on your beliefs and the information stored in your brain. It does not take twenty seconds to make those assumptions. In fact you had particular thoughts about that person simply reading the statement above, though this person is fictional.

Learning to use your eyes and ears, listening and observing not only the spoken word, but the voice tone and inflection, body language, eye contact, and one of the most important, the emotion in voice and action, will guide you to being a greater leader, parent, and friend to those in your circle of influence. You will also see more effective and efficient production out of those same people.

Leaders need to understand the difference between looking and seeing as in Sanders’ quote. Study and develop skills to assist you in seeing beyond the surface. Look for the potential in people who report to you and work with you. Many a good talent has been overlooked because leaders were looking instead of seeing. “Eyes that look are common, eyes that see are rare.”

For more on this topic or learning to use Deeper listening skills contact George Yates or visit soncare.net.

Are you content with your life and where you find yourself today? Many people are not. I have been fortunate to live in six different states and have loved each one. The key is finding contentment. The apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 4:11, “…for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:” Paul was not speaking of the state of Texas, Rhode Island, or any other commonwealth or geographic location. The Apostle is speaking of a state of mind. In fact Paul was in prison when he penned this letter to the believers at Philippi.

Paul is speaking of a state of mind. Contentment truly is a state of mind. When you set your mind to being content, God through Christ and the Holy Spirit will bring  contentment into your life. Two verses later Paul writes, “I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me.” The Apostle Paul had come to the realization that his circumstances (even being in prison) need not dictate his state of mind. He could be content even when he was in a place and situation where he did not desire to be.

Being content is simply having a mind at ease regardless of your circumstances, having a sense of satisfaction whether you are experiencing one of life’s highs or lows. Determining in your mind to be content will allow the Joy of the Lord to permeate your, mind, soul, and strength.

Determining to be content in your current circumstances does not mean you must relegate yourself to the confines of your current situation. You can be content and still dream your dreams. Just do not let them stop as dreams. Strive to improve your circumstances. Look for ways to help others rise above their circumstances. Helping others will always lift your spirit and bring contentment. Often times it will also lead you to an understanding of how to improve your own situation.

Determine in your heart today to live in a state of mind that is content – no matter what your circumstances. Trust in the Lord and lean not on your own understanding. He will provide. After all, “I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Sunday evening, May 4^th, my wife and I had the pleasure and privilege of attending a celebration service with the members of four churches who have recently completed the twelve month process known as Reaching the Summit. All four churches have seen remarkable and significant change in the past year. Change is sometimes considered a dreaded thing in churches today. But the people of these four churches gladly talk about what they’ve experienced using words like incredible, a complete 180, and phenomenal. Change can be good. If you do not believe me, just ask the members and staff of Mansfield, Milstead, Grace, and East Newton Baptist Churches in the Covington, Conyers area of Georgia.

What we witnessed and heard at this celebration service and what these churches experienced varies according to the congregation but here are some of the facts and words of testimony.

1. Two of the churches had not baptized more than three people in any given year for at least ten years. Some years they recorded no baptisms. A third church had baptized six, one of the past ten years, otherwise their numbers were the same as the first two. From May until December of 2013, two of these churches baptized eight and nine people. One of those has baptized five since the first of the year 2014. The third church baptized seventeen during the process.
2. One church, as stated by one of the members, has experienced a complete 180. The church had been slowly declining and had leveled off when they decided to venture into the Reaching the Summit Process. Their Sunday morning attendance has increased by sixty-eight percent (68%). On Palm Sunday this church began a second service to accommodate the influx of people. They have started at least one new Bible study class on Sunday morning and have a new-found excitement in the church, spreading to the community.
3. Each of the four churches have openly testified to spiritual growth in the church evidenced in and through the members. Throughout the process a consistent emphasis is placed on the spiritual intentionality of the church members, the health team and the pastor and staff.

These are only a fraction of the testimonies coming from the members of these churches. Last May, these churches began a journey; a journey they thought would take them 12 months to complete. Near the end of those twelve months each member of every health team realized, this is not a twelve month journey. The twelve months was only setting the stage, preparing them for the journey of a lifetime and beyond.

Here are links to videoed testimonies from three of the churches. Others will be uploaded to the SonC.A.R.E. Ministries channel in the next few days.

Mansfield Baptist Church     http://youtu.be/Dc0RSFKPg4E

Milstead Baptist Church        http://youtu.be/OYhbH-NL02k

Grace Baptist Church              http://youtu.be/qmpq8sqjTbA

For more information on the Reaching the Summit Process and how your church can benefit from it contact George Yates and visit SonC.AR.E. Ministries.

Leader’s input comes last– Effective leaders, especially in the church learn when to speak and when to listen. Working with churches in an on-going basis I normally meet with the pastor before every meeting with staff or planning and implementation teams. In the very first meeting with the pastor I encourage him not to speak first in our conversations and discussions in team meetings, unless I call on him to speak first.

The church is a different organization from most others in several ways. One of those is the respect for the position of leader (Pastor). While similar respect is seen in other organizations, in the church more people act out of an “S” personality type than any of the other three (using the DISC personalities descriptor). An “S” personality is people oriented but not the outgoing personality. An “S” personality is not likely to start a conversation with a stranger. This is not in their make-up of comfort. “S” personalities will carry on a conversation with you, but in most cases you need to initiate the conversation.

This behavior plays out in meetings in the church this way: If the pastor speaks first and gives his opinion most everyone in the room will concede, agree with the pastor and not make further comment. This is not healthy as someone else in the room may have a better option for accomplishing the task at hand. Also, it could be that the pastor has not by himself explored all possible avenues. We all act out of our own experience. If the pastor has not been exposed to a particular way of doing something, chances are he may not even think in that realm. Someone on the team, however, may have experienced or read of a different course of action and can bring that into the discussion. It may be that neither the pastor’s option nor the member’s option is the right one for this church. However, with an open discussion the team will have a much better opportunity of coming to a healthy outcome and solution that works for this particular congregation.

When the pastor or team leader speaks first, members will resign their thinking to the leader’s input. Not only allowing, but requesting and encouraging input from each team member leads to healthier outcomes through quality discussion. If you are a pastor or leader of a church ministry or committee, try soliciting suggestions from everyone in the room before you comment on the matter at hand. You will build a bonding team and get better working solutions that all team members buy into.

For more information on this topic or other leadership topics contact George Yates and visit SonC.A.R.E. Ministries.

I received an e-mail last week from a pastor who has recently led his church through the Reaching the Summit process. As we walked through the process one action the church members realized was they were not actively engaged in the community. An outcome of that realization was each adult and youth Sunday School class adopted a street in the community directly connected to the church.

Each class has the freedom to reach out to and engage the residents in whatever way they desire. Thus allowing each class to use their strengths and gift mix appropriately. The concept laid out is to not over burden the residents but to do one thing each month for the residents living on the particular street. Some months that is simply prayer walking the street. Some of the classes have gone door to door leaving a small gift such as Joy dish detergent with a scripture verse about the joyful life found in Christ. In April, one class was going to distribute flower seeds in a similar fashion. The church also began inviting the community to the church on Wednesday to share in the evening meal.

In our final meeting in the Reaching the Summit process in April I was informed by the pastor that a young girl from the community had been coming on Wednesday nights for the meal and children’s program. Recently the girl had accepted Christ and he had baptized her. This is the first person reached from the surrounding community in over a decade. But it would not be the last.

The church has a Tuesday lunch soup offering to the community once a month. God laid on the soup ministry leaders heart one man whose health had kept him from attending the previous week. She packed up some soup and delivered it to his home and led him to saving grace in Jesus Christ.

The e-mail I received two days after Easter Sunday from the pastor of Milstead Baptist Church (mentioned in the opening sentence) was to share with me that on Easter Sunday the church baptized three people from the surrounding community.

When we as God’s people consecrate ourselves to His will, He will use us and do great and mighty things. I look forward to hearing of more victories of God working in and through Milstead Baptist Church. This pastor and church have decided to make a difference. What about you and your church?

If you would like to know more about the Reaching the Summit process and how it can help your church please contact George Yates and SonC.A.R.E. Ministries .

Fact: Death steps aside for no man.

However, death was not the end-destiny for Jesus Christ. He did face death it is true. But death could not keep him down. Since He was God in the flesh, death had to step aside for Him. I realize this is difficult for some to believe or to understand.

The Bible records only two men who never faced death. They were both taken up into heaven without dying. Everyone else including you and me will face death one day – unless we are still alive when Jesus returns to gather His church.

In all the history of mankind there is only one man ever recorded who defeated death – Jesus Christ. But how do we know this to be true. After all even with all our technology and modern day science discoveries, we’re told this cannot happen, right?

I want to ask you to look at these four proofs of the resurrection of Christ as written by a former atheist, Lee Strobel, who went searching for the truth.

1. The proof of the empty tomb.

We have several accounts of people verifying the empty tomb. People who actually went in and looked around. The only thing left were the 70 pounds of linen that the dead body had been wrapped in. If someone had stolen the body, would they have first unwrapped it from that much heavy cloth? Matthew 28 records even the soldiers guarding the tomb gave a report to their superiors of the same things Jesus friends had recorded to be true about the empty tomb and the resurrection.

It was Jewish tradition to wrap the body in heavy linen from head to toe. His body was not only covered it was tightly wrapped – with 70 pounds of cloth. You try to wrestle your way out of even half that amount. And on top of this Jesus was badly beaten and without nourishment for three days. He could not have managed to work out of that material in his condition without help. His help came from above. He is the Son of God.

Soldiers were posted outside the tomb to insure no one came to steal the body. When a Roman soldier lost their captive, the soldier(s) were killed as penalty. These soldiers were not going to allow someone to steal a dead body. They even testified to their commanders which in itself should have brought their death. Instead a cover up by the Romans ensued.

2. The proof of eyewitnesses.

The Resurrection of Christ did not take place in a closet, hidden room, or secret society. For forty days people recorded seeing Jesus, walking and talking with him, and even eating with him. At one point Jesus is seen cooking breakfast on the beach with His disciples (John 21). This took place in a fishing village. Fishermen were coming in from a night of fishing. There would have been quite a few boats coming in and people from all the surrounding villages coming to purchase the fresh catch of the day.

The Apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:6 “Then He appeared to over 500 brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive today.” He appeared to two men and walked with them. Six different occasions are recorded of people not only seeing Jesus, but spending time with Him.

3. The transformation of the Disciples.

If this was a hoax, if the resurrection of Jesus Christ was not real, why would eleven men live a life of ridicule, persecution, imprisonment, and other hardships, each one dying a cruel death for this belief? Who would subject himself to such cruelty over a joke or a hoax?

4. The working of God in people today.

There are people across this continent, around the world, and in church this week who can testify and tell you that the resurrection power of Jesus has freed them from the clutches of alcohol, drugs, pornography, a life of crime, and other sins of the world. The resurrection power of Jesus has saved marriages, and brought many, perhaps someone you know, out of depression. His resurrection is not only a saving power it is a power that brings purpose to life.

Jesus is alive and well with Resurrection Power! May we live as though we believe it.

Church leaders set the tone for discipline of the organization. The discipline of an organization will never reach beyond that of her leaders. In the previous post I gave a metaphoric analogy. In this post let’s look at practical examples.

First Rockwell Church has recently experienced a refocusing, re-visioning process. Part of the church’s new overarching theme in their vision is to practically reach out to the 2,500 people who live in the immediate vicinity of the church building. The church has been in existence for sixty-five years and was founded as the community neighborhoods sprang up in the area. The make-up of church membership is mainly Caucasian, many of whom raised families in the community or were raised in the surrounding neighborhoods. However, many have moved out and the neighborhoods have a strong Hispanic influence today.

For First Rockwell to be successful in carrying out its vision to reach out in practical ways to the people living around the church, the need to rethink everything they do – to rethink the entire culture of the church. The church will perhaps need to develop a whole new set of discipline for how they conduct themselves and interact with the community.

I would venture to say people of all ethnicities enjoy a good party. First Rockwell is known (within their own circles) for an annual summer block party before school begins in August. However, they have not had success with drawing local residents in the last 6-8 years for the block party. Perhaps it is because they throw a “white-American” block party, complete with hot dogs, potato chips, floating duck ponds, cake walks. A change of discipline is needed.

When we say we are going to reach a certain people group, we must change our disciplines to be relevant to that group of people. When missionaries move into a new area to reach the people of that area they do not take hot dogs, plastic duck ponds, and cake walks. The missionaries must discipline themselves to engage the culture of the people who live amongst them. First Rockwell Church must decide to be disciplined in their approaches of reaching and ministering to the people around the church. This could include the food they serve at events and church dinners, the music, times of worship, the terminology used in the church. This will require big changes for the members of the church. More importantly, accomplishing their vision will require a strong discipline of being culturally relevant.

Moorstown church has a three year plan to be actively engaged in the Moorstown community displaying a caring, compassionate community church. To accomplish this the church will need a strong culture of discipline within its membership to get involved in the community through various means; i.e. visiting in homes, church involvement in community parades and events, working with government officials to meet needs in the community, demonstrating compassion for the people who live in Moorstown for the next three years. It is a longer term commitment but the moment the church backs off of its discipline and loses sight of its commitment the community will lose sight of the church.

Bethany Church has set a priority of moving her members from being attendees and spectators to being involved, and on to being fully engaged. Church leaders must develop a course of disciplined cultural moves to assist everyone in moving through these stages and becoming fully engaged. Without discipline the depth of strategic planning will be to little avail.

Whatever your church sets to do inside the building or to the community outside, you need an established culture of discipline. Discipline should not imply punishment Rather discipline is the continuing self-controlled, adherence to regulation and order to accomplish the task at hand.

For more information on building a culture of discipline in your church or organization contact George Yates and visit soncare.net.

People often look for the magic behind successful organizations. They are looking for miracles, models and prototypes for success. There is one thing that many successful organizations – churches and others have in common. And it is not a miracle, model, or physical prototype. One correlation many of the successful organizations have is a devoted adherence to a set discipline. Yes, these organizations have an understanding of their mission. The leaders have strategically planned a course of action and continually attempt to instill the core values of the organization to fulfill the mission through those core values.  One thing that sets the successful organizations apart from all like organizations is discipline. Whether you are a leader in a church, denominational judicatory, or any other organization, how is your discipline?

Many of us would answer that question; “Oh, I’m disciplined. I don’t do this or that. I am cautious about these areas…” These might fall under the parameters of discipline. However you will notice they focus on the negatives to avoid rather than the discipline to continue moving forward. Successful organizations, when plotting their strategies, always build in disciplines to maintain the course. If you are planning to take a trip driving from Houston, Texas to New York City and you have only five days to make the drive, you will plan your route and set your course accordingly. Planning your route is where you determine how you will get from Houston to New York. Setting the course is where you will determine how far you will need to travel each day to arrive at your destination in the allotted time. Discipline comes into play along the journey.

If you map out your total miles from Houston, Texas to New York City as 1628 miles, you can divide that by five days and know that you need to drive 326 miles each day. That will equate to about six hours of drive time each day. Through proper planning you will also add into your calculation stops for fuel, rest, and meals. This is still the planning stage. Yet you are building in the discipline aspect of your journey. How well you stick to the course you previously set for the journey will demonstrate the level of discipline and amount of success you will reach along the journey.

Successful organizations build disciplines into the course of action for their organization. Not only in the course of action, a culture of discipline is then instilled and adhered throughout the organization. Using the analogy above of the journey from Houston to New York in a simplified demonstration, an organization with a culture of discipline to drive 326 miles each day would not attempt to drive 500 miles for two days then slack off and only drive 250 miles the other three days. A large part of building a culture of discipline is pacing your journey; keep moving forward at your pace through the difficult times and do not attempt to outpace your organizational ability simply because it looks like you are on a downhill slide. Success comes not from writing disciplines into a plan, but from the faithful adherence to the disciplines set forth.

If you want success don’t search for the magic, models, or miracles of other organizations. Building discipline for a successful venture in your organization requires strategic planning, setting the course, and maintaining the pace of the ability of those within your organization.

For more information on building a culture of discipline in your church or other organization contact George Yates and SonC.A.R.E. Ministries. God bless!