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Life Church's Core Values

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Values are important in any organization as they articulate the kind of organization we dream of becoming.

Putting into words the culture you are seeking to model into existence is hard work.

During my recent doctoral studies, I've been refreshing Life Church's Core Values for the journey ahead.

For what it's worth, here are our Core Values, Version 2.0...

We Are United Under One Vision


To reach the people no one else is reaching, we will do the things no one else is doing.
We will do anything short of sin to reach people far from God.
We will unapologetically and aggressively defend our unity and vision.

Every Person Matters


All people are image-bearers of God and are wonderfully made.
Because every person matters, relationships are not disposable.
We will always choose conversation over condemnation.
We will always seek to maintain the relationship over winning the argument.
We choose honesty over hypocrisy and gospel over gossip.

We Strive for Integrity, Transparency & Accountability


We do not gossip or spread rumors.  No insider politics here.
Full of honor and integrity, we will choose to do the right thing even when it hurts.
Our position is to out-love, out-serve, and out-give those who misunderstand us.

Because we have nothing to hide, we value humble transparency in all areas, including finances.

Everyone is accountable to someone at Life Church.

Found People Find People


We will put more effort into reaching the Lost than keeping the Found.
We will never allow this lifeboat to become a yacht club.
We will spare no expense because the just-one-more is worth it.
We will celebrate every story because every person matters.

Saved People Serve People


“... just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve..."  (Jesus in Matthew 20:28)

Becoming more like Jesus means we focus on serving others.
When we take the spotlight off ourselves and place it on other people, it will result in improving our marriages, making a difference in our workplaces and discovering our spiritual gifts.

We are never more like Christ than when we see Sunday mornings as our mission field.

Growing People Change


Jesus accepts us as we are, but He loves us too much to let us stay that way.
Over time, the Lord changes us from the inside out.

Colossians 3:9-10 reminds us that we have "taken off the old self" and "put on the new self."
Once we know Jesus, we can’t go back to the people we were before.

As we listen to Jesus and do what He says, our desires change.
We begin to think and act and love as He did.

I Cannot Out-Give God


“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”  (Jesus in John 3:16)

It is a spiritual impossibility for us to outgive God, because He has already given us everything.
Everything belongs to God and we are simply managers of God's stuff.
When we give, we’re giving God back a small portion of what He’s already given us.

Jesus is Our Only Celebrity


We celebrate the contributions of God's servants to our spiritual education and formation,
but we look to Jesus above all others and put our hope in Him alone.

 

Movements Move


We are not Atari, we are Apple.
We believe in humor over hammer.

We will always maintain a posture of humility and learning new methods for reaching people far from God.

We will always narrow the focus in all we do.  We think steps, not programs.

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3 Steps to Becoming a Better Servant-Leader

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The heart behind leadership is serving others. It’s never about the title, it’s about the towel:

“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve,
and to give His life a ransom for many.”

(Jesus in Mark 10:45)

For what it’s worth, here are 3 steps I’ve discovered toward becoming a better servant-leader.

  1. Choose Trust

Believe the best about others, rather than assuming the worst. When in doubt, lead with the most generous explanation for someone’s behavior.

“Love never stops believing the best about others.” (1 Corinthians 13:7, TPT)

2. Stay Curious Longer

Everyone you meet in life has expertise. Some of the best mentors and friends are known as much by the quality of their questions as the answers they give. Don’t be interesting, be interested.

“Do you not understand these things?” (Jesus in John 3:10)

3. Take the Low Place

Push others into the spotlight. Ask how you can serve others, rather than seeking to be served.

“For the Son of Man came to find and restore the lost.” (Jesus in Luke 19:10, MSG)

LET ME TELL YOU WHO WE'RE NOT

One of the smartest things you can do in leadership is to find people, heroes, and role models that are ahead of where you want to be and emulate them. But as we take notes on who we are or who we want to be, we must do the same with who we’re not. 
 

Here are 10 things to consider not allowing within your leadership:

1. WE’RE NOT BIG TIME

  • It is often so easy to get caught up in things like positions, titles, etc. Leadership is not about us and it never will be. 

  • The grass isn’t greener on the other side - the “big time” is where you’re at. The biggest platform I get the honor to step onto is ZOE’s. 

  • WE ARE leaders that have a pure, humble, and simple devotion to Jesus. 

2. WE’RE NOT INTO OURSELVES, WE ARE INTO OTHERS

  • Leaders are people-obsessed. A leader's words about others reveals whether or not they are about people or about themselves. 

  • Everyone’s favorite topic to talk about is themselves. People could go on and on about their life and what they are going through. However, a leader can’t lead others if they only talk about themselves. 

  • WE ARE leaders who ask questions about others, want to learn about people, and want to hear about how they’re doing. 

3. WE’RE NOT LOOKING FOR THE EASY WAY OUT

  • A minimum effort will always produce medium results. 

  • I’m not saying you can’t work smart. I love things like Postmates that make my life easier. I have nothing against convenience; there is no sense in making things harder than they need to be. 

  • WE ARE leaders who do everything for Jesus and give our best. 

4. WE’RE NOT TAKING OURSELVES TOO SERIOUSLY

  • My dad used to always say, “Everybody is laughing at you - join them.”

  • I take my calling from God seriously. I take the church seriously. I take my family seriously. But I also live within the tension of seriousness and fun. I take things seriously in an appropriate measure and live with levity and joy. 

  • WE ARE living with an appropriate measure of taking our call seriously while not taking ourselves too seriously.

5. WE’RE NOT TRYING TO BE ANYONE ELSE

  • We all have people who inspire us. We all have people we want to be like. But we’re working to be OURSELVES. 

  • Don’t be a copy! Be the contrast. Be you!

  • WE ARE secure and confident in who we are! 

6. WE’RE NOT TRYING TO BE DISCOVERED

  • In the church, you don’t need to try to be discovered. So many times we see people trying so hard to make a name for themselves and get the attention of others. This isn’t what leadership is about!

  • Narcissistic leaders drain the value out of an organization because they make everything about them and their agenda and not about the team and the organization. 

  • WE ARE only concerned with building His kingdom!

7. WE’RE NOT BAD AT GETTING BACK TO PEOPLE

  • Not getting back to people (something as simple as not replying to a text) could open up a wound of abandonment. We don’t always know people’s situations. Not replying to a text may cut deeper than we think. 

  • If you’re bad at getting back to people, you create a narrative of mistrust about you. 

  • If you have offended someone by not replying, don’t make excuses. It’s important to just simply just apologize. 

  • WE ARE good at getting back to people.

8. WE’RE NOT MASTERS OF MANIPULATION

  • There’s a difference between encouraging people towards something and the act of manipulation: motive. 

  • We ought to always be checking our motives and intentions - are we encouraging people towards reaching their full potential or to do something that we want them to do?

  • WE ARE leaders that have pure hearts and have people’s best interests in mind!
     

9. WE’RE NOT USERS OF PEOPLE...OR LEADERS THAT LEVERAGE

  • We value people, we don’t use them.

  • We have to be careful. We can often use people to accomplish a vision or goal and not care about them in the process. Sometimes we can completely neglect to lead them, build them up, invest in them, etc.

  • WE ARE leaders that add value to people, we don’t use them!

10. WE’RE NOT LIVING IN DYSFUNCTION

  • The classic saying goes: “What you are willing to tolerate, you are willing to live with.” We have to be careful and diligent as to what we are okay to live with.

  • We need to have a desire to grow. We want accountability. These types of measures are how we have a strong life and strong leadership.

  • WE ARE striving to live a healthy life.

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Recognizing the Dreaded Signs of Church Splits & Why They Happen

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Nobody enjoys a car wreck, but we all inevitably slow down in traffic to peer out the window as we drive by, attempting to ascertain what happened and to (hopefully) learn something that will prevent such a tragedy from happening to us.

With over 20 years of full-time ministry under my belt (plus another 20+ as a pastor's kid), I've seen my share of ugly wrecks in church world. I'm sure you've also heard the stories -- usually whispered around a kitchen table -- of a minor church disagreement erupting into a full-blown church split that affects lives and livelihoods, leaving a black eye on the local Body of Christ.

The stories of church splits are never fun. Real people get hurt. Reputations are slandered. Hurt and heartache can echo for years due to unhealed wounds. And nobody wins: not the church of origin nor the newly formed congregation that results from a church split.

Perhaps by looking at one church split story, we can all learn how to better guard our unity within the church that Christ bled for (Acts 20:28).

This story is my story. You see, during an already-chaotic 2020, I went through a church split as the lead pastor (and founding pastor) of a church I love dearly.

I barely survived the trauma of what one of my counselor's diagnosed as a "mass casualty event" (Yes, I said counselors plural. Even pastors need therapy to ensure they are emotionally-healthy.).

The first thing you should know about church splits is this: at the time of this church split, even though I was the Founding Pastor, I had no idea what was happening behind my back.

My wife and I were not privy to the cruel whispers and private gossip sessions engulfing our staff team and then spilling out into the membership during the COVID lockdowns.

Looking back, I wish there was some sort of ministry alarm that would go off and alert a lead pastor when he is in danger of facing a church split. But, there isn't one. You usually have no idea that a church split is happening under your nose until after it has already occurred and the damage has been done.

My wife and I were completely taken by surprise. We were focused on the primary crisis of navigating COVID lockdowns and frantically fundraising for our staff team. During a crisis when I was putting out fires from COVID, I would look behind me for a bucket of water to be handed up to me... only to realize there was nobody behind me helping.

During this insane season of the COVID crisis now layered with an internal insurrection, I thought and truly believed that a minor misunderstanding at the staff level could be easily resolved with one honest and simple 5 minute conversation (and I still believe that to this day!).

Unfortunately, when you're the lead pastor and staff members try to hijack the church out from under you, behind-the-scenes conversations and condemnations move quickly behind the pastor's back and rumors can spread like wildfire on Facebook.

So, in the interest of helping church leaders who read this blog and sparing you from the immense pain and hurt and betrayal of a church split in the future, allow me to ask and answer the main question: What is the cause of church splits? 

In a word: factions. 

Factions arise when there is a pile-up of disgruntled people who build up a case that becomes a driving fantasy.

Factions are driven by the What If:

  • "What if my assumptions are correct?"

  • "What if the rumors I've heard are true?

  • "What if my pastor - the same guy who led me to Christ and baptized me - what if he is actually a rotten person?"


Factions sadly live their lives on something that has not actually happened.

Factions thrive on anger.  Why anger?

When someone is hurt or experiences pain in their life, the person will often seek to numb the inward pain with outward anger. 

Anger is always secondary to a deeper hurt.  Anger allows the brain to release key hormones that soothe and numb the pain.

When someone is driven by anger, they can become emotionally-flooded.  This makes peaceful resolution difficult.  Perhaps this is why the Apostle Paul wrote:

"Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently." (Galatians 6:1)


When angry people pile-up, you have a faction.  Factions are very manipulative and will often warp facts to fit their narrative.  Because anger arousal is high, it is difficult for the faction to parse facts from fiction.  

This is why the Scriptures warn believers against bitterness:

"See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many." (Hebrews 12:15)


When factions form, conflict is inevitable.

The Solution

The solution involves honest, gospel-centered conversation:

"Contrary to our instincts, hard conversations usually don't kill relationships.

They save them.

It's choosing the short, life-saving pain of surgery over the long-term, fatal pain of cancer."
(Josh Howerton)


Galatians 6:1 and Matthew 18:15-17 say to go to our brother.


Ephesians 4:25-27 says to go without delay.

If a faction shuns/ghosts/refuses you, you can still forgive them.

Forgiveness is not a feeling, it is a choice.

You have the rightful choice to untether your heart from their hurt.


"You can forgive even if the person who wronged you is unrepentant.
You can repent even if the person you've wronged won't forgive you.
But there can be no reconciliation without repentance from the wrong and forgiveness from the wronged."
(Jared Wilson)

"Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace."
(Ephesians 4:3)


At the church I love, we have decided on three proactive approaches to head off the forming of any future factions.

For what it's worth, here is what we have learned from this heartbreaking experience:

1. We will always choose conversation over condemnation.

2. We will always seek to maintain the relationship over trying to win an argument.

3. We will always speak with honesty, not hypocrisy.

And as always, I choose to remain open and ready to meet with anyone, anytime, anywhere with a humble heart and a listening ear.

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WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A GREAT CHURCH CAMPUS LEADER

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What it takes to be a GREAT Campus Leader

BIG IDEA: Campus Leaders have Hustle + Intensity about the Total Guest Experience

  1. Hustle = Self-Led

  • CHASES Jesus on their own with passion

  • INITIATIVE - Does not need constant motivation
    Jon would rather REIGN IN a STALLION
    than MOTIVATE a MULE!

  • Secure as a Son of the House (Old Testament Idea)

    - Son of the House > Hired Hand
    - As the House spreads out, the Sons have to protect the UNITY of the House

    - Heart of an Heir; Understands their role in the House
    - What we can do TOGETHER is GREATER than what we can do APART!

    - A Son is not focused on their title or accolades.
    - A Son understands their inheritance is in the future.

    - A Son works HARDER because they are a Son, not a Hired Hand
    - Hired Hands wants a paycheck; Sons sacrifice for what’s best for the House.
    - Sons have the right HEART Attitude

  • Campus Leaders are not trying to build their OWN thing because they are HEIRS to the WHOLE thing!



2. Hustle + Intensity = Able to Gather More People to the Cause

  • Sons draw MORE people into the House; Employees draw people to themselves.

  • Charisma -- You gotta be likeable + Plant yourself where the Guests are!

  • Become Intensely Hyper about what Guests FEEL when they arrive.

  • We want every Guest to feel like a million bucks!

  • You must be the SPARK that inspires your teams to love + serve Guests!

  • Law of the Lid = YOU are the Lid of your campus. If you are only a 7, expect your volunteers to rise to 5’s or 6’s.

  • Humor Over Hammer -- Leverage a fun personality to connect with Guests and in High Touch during the weekdays. People are attracted to fun-loving people!

  • Make The Ask -- Many people are just waiting for YOU to DIRECTLY and CLEARLY ask them to join in!


3.  Hustle to Empower People

  • You can have Control or Growth, but you can’t have BOTH.

  • Give away ministry -- Ephesians 4:12: “Equip the Lifers for ministry!”

  • It takes security to let go -- Success is having MORE volunteers on the team!

  • Make sure your new team members FEEL equipped -- double-check/over-communicate training resources and that YOU are cheering for them!

  • Empowered people have OWNERSHIP and are ALL IN!

  • Empowered people meet new friends and develop relationships. Every first-time guest wants to feel known, first by YOU and then by OTHERS.

  • Guests need 7 new friends in 6 months in order to STAY at your campus.


4.  Reproduce Yourself

  • You are a Paul, recruit a Timothy (Ready Now) and a Titus (Ready in 6 Months).

Tools I Use

Staying organized is a constant battle when you're leading a growing church.

For what it's worth, there are several tech tools that I've discovered which make my life happy.

Here are the tools I use.

1. REMARKABLE

I am a HUGE notetaker and constantly am churning through Moleskins. The problem I have is keeping my various notes organized by subject and having no way to quickly access my notes digitally.

Enter ReMarkable. Last year I invested in a ReMarkable 2 to reduce my clutter and, WOW, it does not disappoint! ReMarkable 2 is a paper tablet, meaning unlike an iPad, it's sole purpose is to focus on the handwriting of notes and keep everything you write organized digitally.

No web browser. No email. No apps. Just taking notes.

And it works beautifully. Having ADHD, this device helps me focus with zero pop-ups. While it syncs over wifi, there are no enticing distractions of surfing the web because there is no web browser. Brilliant!

The experience of writing on my ReMarkable feels JUST LIKE I'm writing in my Moleskin! I can't explain it -- the surface of the tablet is durable yet, unlike an iPad, it doesn't feel like I'm tracing on a glass veneer.

Further, I have the ability of creating Folders and Notebooks, so organizing my thoughts and work becomes second nature. Everything syncs with my Dropbox and my handwritten notes can be automatically converted into text... I can even email them out from my device!

I can also import PDF's to write on and as I find articles online that I want to save and read later, a simple MacBook Chrome Extension sends the entire news article to my ReMarkable without all the annoying internet ads!

Get this: the battery lasts for WEEKS, which is something that gives Apple a run for its money.
Another new feature I enjoy is Screen Share. I can send my ReMarkable's screen into Zoom meetings or onto a separate viewer screen and draw diagrams or sketch out pictures for everyone to see.

The only thing I disliked in my experience was the Folio for storing my ReMarkable (the Folio was a separate purchase). My magnetic marker wouldn't stay attached when transporting my Folio in my briefcase and I found myself constantly fishing around the bottom of my bag to find my ReMarkable Marker.

That said, I highly recommend the ReMarkable 2.
If you use this referral link, you and I both win.

2. SUBSPLASH

Our church is 3.5 years into our relationship with Subsplash for our website, App and giving strategies. I continue to be impressed with Subsplash's fast customer service and the constant roll-out of new digital products that we quickly put into use at Life Church.

Without a doubt, Subsplash boasts the most robust Media Solutions I have ever seen in over twenty years of digital ministry. Uploading videos of our messages is a breeze (and automatic if you use Subsplash Live).

Podcasting and cross-posting to our church App is simple and seamless with Subsplash's user-friendly Dashboard. New topic and Scripture tags help to catalogue past message series for viewers to find what they are looking for.

We've also made the switch to Subsplash Giving which offers us the cheapest solution for online giving. Seriously, I did the math. The percentage paid to Subsplash is the smallest amount compared to what you have to pay PushPay, Tithely, and all the other online giving platforms. A fun bonus feature is that Subsplash keeps track of how much money you're saving and they give you what they call Growth Curve Credits throughout the year... free money for your church!

Subsplash is a little pricey on the front end, but I promise you it's worth every penny.
I'm not being paid to promote any of these tools, but if you want to switch to Subsplash, use this referral link which will give you a little referral discount while putting a little coin in Life Church's piggy bank.

3. STICKERMULE

This simple website is amazing! Whenever I need bumper stickers or magnets, Sticker Mule is my favorite place to order from. After all, who doesn't love a little animated donkey mascot?!

One cool feature on Sticker Mule is the free Trace tool. Simply upload your favorite photo and Trace will automatically crop out the background, giving you a crisp digital cut-out of the person featured in your photo for download use!

Give Sticker Mule a try and get $10 off your first order using this Sticker Mule link.

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NEW EYE-OPENING NATIONAL CHURCH STATS

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Before the quarantine, the median worship attendance was 65. Today it is 55. In 2000, the median worship attendance was 137. In 2010 it was 105. In 2020 it was 65. Today it is 55. Median worship attendance has declined by 60% in two decades.

  1. The occupancy rate of worship centers was 33% before the quarantine. Today it is 28%. The median size of a worship center is 200. If the church has more than one service, the occupancy rate is even lower.

  2. The median year of church founding was 1950 before the quarantine. That has not changed. Simply stated, we have not started enough churches to move the median founding date significantly in many years. New churches and new sites are imperative strategies for churches today.

  3. The median income of churches was $120,000 before the quarantine. That has not changed.

  4. The percentage of churches with an attendance under 100 before the quarantine was 65%. Today it is 75%. As a point of comparison, the percentage of churches with an attendance under 100 in 2000 was 45%. We are fast becoming a nation of small churches.

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