Laurie KennedyI had the awesome privilege of serving as the Regional Director for one of Canada’s largest Evangelical denominations. My role for eleven years was described in a variety of ways. Many called me a Pastor’s Pastor. Others said I was the Air Traffic Controller to assist Pastors and Church Boards with fine tuning and course correction during level flight. The role became critical during take-off, landing and turbulence. (Hiring, firing and recruiting of staff.)

Consider, the husbandman in Luke 13:6-9. I didn’t own the vineyard but I did represent the owner to pray and work with our Pastors and leaders on a daily basis.

Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’ “‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’” (Luke 13:6-9 New International Version NIV)

My role was to serve our Lord and the thousands of people who attended our churches by encouraging and showing our Pastors and leaders how to improve their spiritual and organizational health.

A good friend of mine owns an Ice Cream store. He tells me that milkshakes are almost identical except for a small ingredient. Hmm! He confirms the difference between an awesome strawberry shake and the also ran is only 4%. So, I looked it up. Milk shakes contain milk, ice, salt, fruit flavor and typically a secret additional ingredient.

The majority of churches have similar components.  There is music, announcements, Bible reading, prayer, a Sunday School program, a message, and community involvement to name a few. They also have one or more staff and some key volunteer leaders. Some churches are healthy while others are not. Remember the vast difference in milkshakes is due to 4% of flavor.

My intention is to illustrate that some churches lack some ingredients. For this illustration the missing ingredients often include a lack of prayer support, Servant Leadership, Ethics, Team work, Accountability and Results Orientation. Could these points be your missing 4%?

Leadership is the flavor that makes you and your church unique, special and encourages people to come back

Yours in Service,

Laurie D. Kennedy
Leadership Coach
Jethro Group
ldkjethrogroup@gmail.com