Wayne Hedlund

Author: Wayne Hedlund

  • Ten Church Strategies: The Care Strategy

    Very strictly speaking, the local church is a service organization. That’s way over-simplifying, but it’s still mostly true. The local church serves the Lord, the body of Christ, communities, and the world. One of the ‘services’ everyone hopes and prays the church never stops offering is care. When people are hurting, needy, lost, or simply confused we want them to know they can turn to the local church.

    In this installment of ‘The Ten Church Systems‘ I’ll talk about creating an outstanding response system that will ensure the church does what the church should do better than anyone else – show the love of Christ to those in need. If you haven’t already, I recommend you first read my ‘Getting Started Thoughts and Disclaimers’, written in three parts: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3.

    Key Sub-Systems of The Care System:
    Following are five key sub-systems that support The Care System. As with all systems, care will be most effective when it is distributed throughout the congregation, rather than centralized with the pastoral team.

    • Attendee Response System
      This system clarifies what will happen when a church attendee is facing a major life transition or crisis. This will include events like a new baby, a family moving, major illness, stays in the hospital, death of a loved one, a lost job, and more. The Attendee Response System will engage the congregation in providing care for one another.
    • Special Services System
      This set of sub-systems will clarify how the church will respond when a special service is necessary to accommodate an attendee’s life transition. Special services will most often include funerals and weddings.
    • Counselling System
      Church attendees will occasionally need professional help to resolve a personal crisis, like addictions, marital difficulties, and other forms of relational conflict. The counselling system clarifies how the pastoral leadership will respond when those needs present themselves. Trusted professional counselors and services in the area will be a critical part of this system. Pastors should not assume that ongoing counselling should fall within the scope of their weekly responsibilities.
    • Benevolence System
      This system enables the pastoral leadership to financially assist attendees and the community during times of need and crisis. It will include annual benevolence budgeting and policies regarding how benevolences are determined and distributed as well as procedures regarding transients who pass through looking for money.
    • Member Care System
      Your church members are a critical part of church life. This system will administratively keep track of membership as well as deal with needed conflict resolution necessary to maintain unity in the church. Finally, this system will ensure members with specialized and ongoing care concerns are taken care of; like the elderly and shut-ins. 

    Note: Inspiration for the Ten Church Systems comes from Nelson Searcy and the Eight Systems of the Local Church he proposed in his free e-book entitled, ‘Healthy Systems, Healthy Church‘.

  • Ten Church Strategies: The Assimilation Strategy

     

    Just an FYI – I didn’t make up that word: assimilation. It sounds very, well, official and businesslike (or Star Trekish – I notice we all leave the Borg’s tagline off: ‘Resistance is futile’. Wise.). That word does represent what we hope will happen to our guests. Dictionary.com defines the word ‘assimilate’ as follows: ‘to take in and incorporate as one’s own; absorb.’ This is what most church leaders desire regarding the guests who darken their door each week. We hope they will start coming to church, like it, and stay – eventually becoming members and leaders themselves.

    In this installment of the ‘Ten Church Strategies‘ series I’ll talk about creating your Assimilation Strategy, or what I prefer to call your Guest Friendly Strategy. Check out more posts on Guest Friendly right here. 

    Key Sub-Systems of The Assimilation Strategy:
    Following are SIX key subsystems necessary for guest friendly assimilation at your church. These systems will intersect with many of the other ten systems, but most notably The Weekend Service Strategy, The Small Group Strategy, The Discipleship Strategy, and The Marketing Strategy.

    • Guest Friendly Campus System (Facilities & Grounds)
      First impressions matter. No matter how big or small your building and grounds, it’s critical that each area is built and maintained to serve both attendees and guests. This system will include outdoor signs, the cleanliness of the grounds, the parking lot and parking spaces for guests, your entry areas, interior signs, restrooms, sanctuary, and much more. (Check out ‘Guest Friendly Parking‘, ‘Guest Friendly Signage‘.)
    • Guest Friendly Host Services System
      I’ve heard it said that ‘people’s perception is their reality’. We create guest’s reality, whether it is true or not, by how well we host them. Unlike our regular attendees, who know what to do, where to go, and who to talk to, guests are mostly clueless. This system includes the development of all the people who will welcome and take care of guests, like ushers, greeters, and various kinds of hosts (cafe, parking, etc.). This system should also include all preparations surrounding the materials guests will receive when they arrive at church for the first time (welcome packet, gifts, new info. cards). (Check out ‘Guest Friendly Welcome‘.)
    • Guest Friendly Service System
      Next up is the guest friendly church service. This system actually fits almost entirely within The Weekend Service System, but is worth noting here for a few reasons. This system will focus primarily on the few small things that can be done in a service to ensure guests feel comfortable participating in the service. It may include things like reserved seats near the back, but more notably the language being used during the worship, announcements, offering, and message. Additionally, this system will help keep ‘insider‘ activities that would alienate or confuse a guest to a minimum. (Check out ‘Guest Friendly Perspective‘).
    • Guest Friendly Follow Up
      A successful Assimilation System should always include relevant and timely follow up. This may come in the form of phone calls, personal visits, letters, emails, Facebook or any number of other means. This system will help guests know they were noticed during the service and will welcome and encourage them to return again someday. (Check out ‘Guest Friendly Follow-Up’, ‘Guest Friendly Website‘.)
    • Guest Friendly Next Steps
      Probably one of the most important pieces of The Assimilation System will be the ‘Next Steps’ you create as a church to help move people from ‘guests’ to ‘regular attendees’ and eventually members. These systems will communicate next steps to your guests and will facilitate all of the follow up activities that you will ask guests to attend, view, or listen to. For many churches, the final assimilation ‘next step’ would be a membership class.
     

    Note: Inspiration for the Ten Church Systems comes from Nelson Searcy and the Eight Systems of the Local Church he proposed in his free e-book entitled, ‘Healthy Systems, Healthy Church‘

    Photo compliments of wragg on istockphoto.com

  • Ten Church Strategies: The Weekend Service Strategy

     

    What is your Sunday Morning or Weekend Service strategy? What are you trying to accomplish and how are you planning on doing so? This is the Weekend Service Strategy.

    In this installment of the “Ten Church Strategies” series, I will outline some of the Systems that should be clarified, developed and regularly evaluated for effective Sunday services. Since Weekend Services are usually the primary focus of most church’s weekly schedule, it is understandably the most complex of all of the Ten Church Strategies. If you haven’t already, I recommend you first read Ten Church Strategies – Getting Started.

    Key Systems of the Weekend Service:
    Following are the various systems that directly impact the effectiveness of Sunday morning services. You will notice that the vast majority of these systems don’t actually occur on Sunday mornings, but in the days, weeks, and months prior to each Sunday morning experience. Here they are:

    Systems Supporting The Message:
    The message is primarily dependent on the Lead Pastor’s preparations and planning. Developing these systems will expand the message’s influence by allowing others to be better prepared to support what will be said.

    • Message Series Planning System
      This is the system whereby the Lead Pastor and his teaching team create a tentative schedule of message series for the upcoming months. Ideally, message series’ will be planned out for six months or longer. 
    • Message Preparation System
      It’s critical that the Lead Pastor or teacher has a system in place to regularly study, pray, and prepare for the Sunday morning message. Ideally, the requisite hours are etched in stone in his weekly calendar. The best system will accommodate advanced planning for future weekends and extra speaking engagements.
    Systems Supporting Worship
    There are many necessary subsystems to accommodate relevant worship ministry on Sunday morning. A few of the more notable ones include:
    • Song List System
      This system includes developing a ‘Master Song List’, keeping it updated with relevant songs, and determining when new songs are introduced and old songs are removed. This system will also take care of details like CCLI licensing and lyrics administration. 
    • Worship Team System
      This system will recruit, train and develop the various instrumentalists, vocalists, and technicians necessary to support Sunday morning worship.
    • Practice & Rehearsal System
      The best rehearsal system will allow room for worship teams to practice (building unity, communication skills, song dynamics and team-building) and rehearse (specifically preparing for upcoming worship sets). 
    • Worship Leader System
      It’s important the worship leader has systems in place allowing him/her to pray and prepare song lists, transitions, scripts, etc. Ideally, this system will include learning new songs; preparing for future weeks, series, and events; and developing his/her own worship leadership skills.
    Systems Supporting Service Planning
    Service Planning is a necessary part of exceptional weekend services. These subsystems will add creativity and increase excellence each week.
    • Service Planning System
      There are no surprises regarding what’s happening in upcoming weeks with a service planning system. The ministry team will know exactly when upcoming special service elements (water baptism, communion, guest missionary, baby dedication, etc.) will be taking place. Additionally, details concerning what will be announced each week, what handouts will be included in the bulletin, when creative expressions will take place and what prayer needs will be publicly addressed will also be clarified. Finally, this system will ensure each week’s Service Plan is developed, scrutinized and effectively communicated to key players each week. 
    • Creative Expressions System
      Creative Expressions (skits, music specials, video clips, etc.) during a Sunday morning service are most effective when they are planned in advance. With this system, creative brainstorming and planning take place for upcoming services well in advance of when the details surrounding fulfilling them must be made. Tactical assignments, preparations and rehearsals are also included in these systems.
    Systems Supporting Children’s Programming
    Most Weekend Services will offer programming for children during some or all of the adult service. This allows parents to participate in the services uninterrupted and provides child appropriate programming for kids. 
    • Safety System
      It is critical that children are safe and parents have peace of mind leaving their kids each week. Safety systems will include volunteer applications and security checks, enforced children’s ministry policies and procedures and a secure child check-in/check-out system on Sunday mornings.
    • Curriculum System
      This system will include ordering, developing, organizing, and preparing age appropriate curriculum for each age group.
    • Volunteer System
      This system will ideally be fully integrated in the church’s “Ministry Partner System” and includes recruitment, training, support, and appreciation of all kids ministry volunteers.
    • Facility & Resource System
      This system will ensure all kids ministry rooms are stocked with age appropriate toys and supplies. It will also include procedures for regular cleaning and maintenance of the rooms.
    Systems Supporting Service Programming

    The remaining Weekend Service systems will support the various elements and portions of each service.
    • Staging/Tech System
      Stage and technical preparations are vital to a distraction-free experience each week. This system includes developing unique stage designs related to a sermon series as well as the purchasing, maintenance, and care of all technical equipment. 
    • Materials Production System
      Most Sunday services will include materials that attendees receive to enhance and support the Sunday experience and upcoming activities. Preparation and production of the morning bulletin, sermon notes, handouts, offering envelopes, etc. should be systematized and streamlined.
    • Attendee Host Services System
      This includes all systems needed to host and serve attendees before, during, and after the service. Hosts (also referred to as ushers or greeters) will setup for the service, hand out bulletins, help seat attendees, distribute communion elements, etc.
    • Prayer & Care Ministry
      This system will address how leaders facilitate hands-on ministry to attendees each week both during and immediately following the service. This could include the traditional altar call as well as other means of personal ministry during or immediately after the service.
    Note: Inspiration for the Ten Church Systems comes from Nelson Searcy and the Eight Systems of the Local Church he proposed in his free e-book entitled, ‘Healthy Systems, Healthy Church‘.

  • Ten Church Strategies – Getting Started

    If you haven’t already, you may want to first read the summary of this series entitled, “The Ten Strategies of the Local Church“. 

    My hope in writing this series is simple: I want to challenge your thinking and equip you for future success. By writing about the ten strategies of the local church I hope you will identify areas where your church and leadership is excelling as well as areas that need growth. I expect you will develop Strategic Plans to develop your weak areas and celebrate your strengths.

    ‘Ten Church Strategies’ – Getting Started
    I’ve discovered that when it comes to strategies and systems, pastors and church leaders can quickly get confused or disheartened. To better prepare you for this “Ten Church Strategies” series I’d like to make 20 observations that may help you along the way.

    • I Owe a Big ‘Thanks’ To Nelson Searcy.
      Nelson Searcy, Lead Pastor of ‘The Journey Church Of The City‘ in New York City,  first introduced the idea of systems for the local church in his free e-book entitled “Healthy Systems, Healthy Church” where he introduced the “8 Systems of the Local Church”. Over time, and after much discussion with others (including Elim Fellowships Vice President, Mike Cavanaugh), I’ve made several tweaks and changes. First, I’ve changed the term from ‘Systems’ to ‘Strategies’ because I believe the big idea behind each subject area represents a strategy that needs developed. The systems come into play in tactically implementing each strategic area.
    • I Am Not Trying To Overwhelm You.
      But it’s possible some of you may get overwhelmed. The Ten Church Strategies series is not for the faint of heart. I’ll be outlining a lot of ideas that you might not be doing, or that you know aren’t going well. That’s OK. The point of this exercise is to get the truth on the table so you can evaluate what you should or could be doing next. The Ten Church Strategies will provide a ministry benchmark that you can use to measure the current ‘health’ of your church and to guide you toward something better.
    • Size Matters. 
      The size of your church does make a difference in church strategy and systems development. The bigger your church is, the more likely that you will need more subsystems to support your systems. For example, it’s going to be more challenging to develop a strategy for tracking guests if you have 800 people attending 3 services each week compared to 60 people attending one service each week. 
    • Size Isn’t An Excuse. 
      The size of your church shouldn’t be used as an excuse to bypass systems development. Being ‘small’ doesn’t mean you don’t need a system – it just means the system you use will be very different than in other church settings. For example, if you don’t have a system for tracking your guests, then you need to develop that system (no matter what your church size is) in order to help attract and keep people at your church.
    • Strategies and Anointing Are Not the Same.
      Since I’m such a big fan of systems, I thought it would be good to clarify – I’m a bigger fan of God’s anointing. They shouldn’t be confused. I believe a smart, caring, and committed business person could build an amazing church that attracts thousands of people and provides amazing activities and services – without God ever showing up. In fact, it sort of reminds me of the Jehovah Witnesses and Mormon churches! Strategies should never replace God’s anointing. If I ever had to choose between the two, there’s no question which I would pick.
    • Systems, Strategies and Anointing Work Together.
      When God’s anointing for ministry meets a well implemented system, exponential potential for ministry is released. I believe that. I believe God is the one who made up systems, not man. He expects us to use every physical resource we can muster together to provide the best possible environments for His anointing to have the greatest impact. God has always operated that way with man. We do the “man” part and He does the “God” part. Elijah on Mt. Carmel is a classic example. 
    • This is Scary.
      For most of us, change (or even thinking about change) is scary. It’s risky. It’s wrought with the potential for failure; for making mistakes. It means trying something that we really don’t know how to do. It forces a new, and often steep, learning curve on us and our leaders. But if we really think the ministry we lead is ‘stuck’, or worse, headed for a cliff, it’s better to try something new and scary than stay on the train where it’s leading us. (Check out “Strategic Quitting“).
    • This is Healthy.
      We all know what it looks like and feels like to live in an unhealthy body. Perhaps you still do. The same is true for the church. We can survive and be unhealthy or we can thrive by making changes that bring health to our church. Ironically, most unhealthy churches are completely clueless how dysfunctional and unhealthy they have become – and anyone who knows is afraid to tell them. (Check out “Healthy Church, Healthy Systems“).
    • This is Uncomfortable.
      There’s something really weird about building a bus that will seat 55 when you only have 25 people to transport. It can seem awkward, not just for you, but for everyone else. However, there’s no way you will accommodate growth in your church until you’ve expanded your borders. (Check out “Ready for the Rain“).
    • You Are Your Worst Enemy.
      The biggest road block to change is hurtling the barriers inside yourself that resists change. Like me, you take pride in what you’ve accomplished and are currently doing for the Lord. Unfortunately, sometimes our pride clouds our judgement and we come to the conclusion that things are doing just fine, when they really aren’t. (Check out “The Big Road Block“).
    • You Can’t Do It Alone.
      I don’t think the sign on your office door says “Pastor Jack OATS” or “Pastor Jack Of All Trades”. Nehemiah didn’t build the walls by himself and he probably didn’t know every trade necessary to do it right. He had a team of people. The Ten Strategies rely on a team of people too. You can’t expect to fulfill every role necessary to run your church. You aren’t analytical, relational, visionary and administrative in equal parts. Building effective church strategies includes developing a leadership and volunteer team who have the skills and resources you don’t. You can’t do it alone. (Check out “Pastor Jack OATs“).
    • You Can Do It.
      If you’ve made it this far then you’ve already taken another step in developing one of the ten key strategies of the local church. It’s called “The Strategic Strategy”. If you glance back through the above points, you’ll discover that most of the battle is fought between our ears, not in the pews. A final step to getting started is in believing that God has called you to this time and this place. (Check out “Pastoral Ministry by Paul“).
    • I Do Not Condone Legalism Through Systems or Strategies
      I think it’s important to make a distinction between strategies/systems that serve the mission of the church and those that everyone ends up serving. It is possible that a strategic plan can turn into a bottleneck, sacred cow, or legalistic activity within the church. This is why it’s so critical that ministries regularly evaluate the various strategies within the church to ensure they are enabling rather than hindering ministry.
    • The Ten Strategies Cannot Be Prioritized
      It is a trap to think of the Ten Strategies as independent strategies that have little to no bearing on one other. What you will discover is that every strategy either feeds or is fed by one or more other strategy. Although you may choose to focus on one strategy or another at different stages in your ministry journey, it’s important that each one receive appropriate attention.
    • Not All Strategies Carry the Same Weight
      Some strategies will require very little time and energy to develop and maintain in comparison with others. For example, The Weekend Service strategy includes more than a dozen subsystems to function effectively while The Stewardship strategy only requires a few.
    • No Strategy or System Works Forever
      Just like your car, your systems will become less and less effective and relevant over time, unless they are strategically and systematically evaluated and adjusted. 
    • Formal Versus Informal Strategies
      You will discover that even though you haven’t specifically thought of some of the things you are doing through the lenses of The Ten Strategies, you already have many in place. Some of these strategies are informal ones that just ‘get done’ each week; others have been well developed and documented. Whether a strategy is informal or not isn’t quite so critical as whether the strategy is accomplishing the goal in the best possible way.
    • I’m Still Learning
      I’m sharing what I have learned and know about the development of these church strategies. That does not mean everything I suggest or say should be written in stone. Feel free to question my thoughts and ideas – just don’t throw them all out because we occasionally disagree. I recommend you read this series with a heart to hear the voice of the Lord whisper to you what He intends you to hear and disregard all else. In other words, ‘chew the meet and spit out the bones’.
    • I Intentionally Do Not Describe HOW
      Every church is led by a unique mix of pastors, elders, and leaders in a unique geographical location and culture. It would be presumptuous and inappropriate for me to tell you HOW you implement the various strategies I propose your church embrace. This series is meant to help you identify what areas you want to develop – not HOW you develop them.
    • I Am Available To Help You Discover HOW
      I can’t create a cookie-cutter strategy that everyone can use, but I am able to make myself available to a few churches and leadership teams individually. I would be very happy to meet with you to determine if we could establish a coaching relationship that would serve to guide and motivate you in future strategic planning.

  • Top 10 Posts of September, 2011

    Here are the most viewed posts on Transforming Leader in September.

    1. Sunday Morning Announcements
    2. Andy Stanley’s Podcast (for the non-tech Christian leader)
    3. Time Management 101: The Weekly Schedule
    4. Time Management 101: Margin – A Matter of Priorities
    5. Thursday Quote: Good to Great Volunteers (Jim Collins)
    6. Thursday Quote: Steven Furtick & Perry Noble
    7. Healthy Church, Healthy Systems
    8. Teamwork and Trust
    9. Time Management 101: The Priority Matrix
    10. Eight Systems of the Local Church
    I’m always amazed to see these monthly stats. For those of you who care, “Sunday Morning Announcements” had double the # of hits as “Andy Stanley’s Podcast“. I suspect the awesome video clips played a role in that too. It looks like the “Time Management 101” series has been picking up interest as well!


    The #1 all time post since I started blogging is “Critical Thinking in a Nutshell“.

  • What the Church Can Learn from Eric Whitacre’s Virtual Choir

    I ran across this video clip on Michael Hyatt’s blog. I must say, it deeply impacted me.  I’ll share a few reasons why after you’ve watched it too. It’s about 15 minutes long, but well worth it. Be sure to watch to the very end as composer and conductor, Eric Whitacre, shows the first 3 minutes of hisVirtual Choir performing “Sleep”. Wow.

    Why Is This So Powerful?
    Here are a few suggestions as to why I found myself in tears during this presentation.

    • Unity.
      Hundreds and hundreds of people came together for one cause despite the overwhelming differences in age, culture, beliefs, financial status, and lifestyle. None of the singers ever questioned whether they were willing to sing based on who else would be singing with them. The result was a unified choir that could quite possibly be the largest and most unsegregated, unbiased choir to ever perform together in history. In many ways, Christians all over the world share a similar unity through our mutual faith in Jesus Christ. 
    • Unique.
      Each voice was completely unique, one of a kind. No two voices were exactly the same. Each one represented a unique person and contributor. It is so discouraging to me when people live their lives believing they have no contribution to make in the world. God told Jeremiah, ‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born, I set you apart’. It’s so important for us to remember that we are each and every one uniquely created and extremely valuable to God.
    • Alone.
      Every video was created with one person in front of a webcam. There is nobody in the background cheering them on or providing moral support. In fact, most of the singers were likely completely alone during their individual recording. Although there are many things we do together, our contribution to God’s purposes start within ourselves. God has given us the unique responsibility to decide to live for and follow Him. Nobody else can make that decision – or carry it out – for us.
    • Real Life.
      The ‘normal’ venue for a choir of this magnitude would have been performed in a special building, with lights, cameras, sound systems, coordinated clothes, etc. It’s fascinating to see everyone’s living rooms, bedrooms, etc. in the background while the singers perform. This is how our Christian faith will really be lived out. In real life every day of the week . . . not on Sunday mornings during the church service.
    • Confidence.
      The self-confidence each singer exhibited to record and submit their solo was inspiring. I suspect many people battled self-doubt, anxiety, and insecurity – but they pressed through to the end. I particularly appreciated the story of the wife who submitted her recording despite her husband’s negative attitude. We will fulfill God’s purposes in our lives and ministries one day, hour, and moment at a time. Often His goals are accomplished because we choose to press through the internal attacks of the enemy and find victory by believing in what God’s word says instead of listening to what our mind and experiences have to say.
    • Conviction.
      Each singer had a conviction that this project was important and worth dedicating themselves to. The hours spent behind the scenes is a testimony to that fact. It’s OK for us to try, fail, learn and adjust (See ‘The Rhythm of Failure‘). It’s appropriate for that cycle to take place 2, 14, 78, or hundreds and hundreds of times before we get it right. If it’s what God has called us to do, or be, then we will do whatever necessary to get there.
    • Leadership.
      I am very impressed with Mr. Whitacre’s leadership. He shows courage, passion, excellence, and initiative. He recruited over two thousand people to participate in his choir – and didn’t pay any of them. As church leaders, we can learn a lot from this example. How many willing and ready volunteers and leaders do we have sitting in our churches and community, just waiting for a cause to move them off their seats and into God’s purposes?
    Here is the entire presentation of “Sleep” in case you’d like to watch it to the end. Make sure you watch it in full screen!
     
     

  • Tactical Tip: The Embedded Hyperlink

    Have you ever received an email with a link that could probably be published as an eBook? Besides taking up valuable space in the email and looking ugly, half the time the link doesn’t work! You know exactly what I’m talking about. Here’s an example just to be sure:

    Hey Jim. Check out this great article about “How to Coach Your Boss” – http://michaelhyatt.com/how-to-coach-your-boss.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+michaelhyatt+%28Michael+Hyatt%29 ~ Wayne

    Frustrating. Let me help you help others with a few simple tips to clean this mess up. This email could look like this instead:

     Hey Jim. Check out this great article: “How to Coach Your Boss“!  ~ Wayne

    Tactical Tip: The Embedded Hyperlink

    Most people don’t want or need to see that hyperlink. Probably the biggest exception to that rule is if you are trying to tell someone the actual name of a website. For example:

    “Hey Jim. Check out this great blog for pastors and church leaders I found at www.transformingleader.com!” 

    Even in that example I embedded the actual web address so that people don’t see the http:// at the beginning. This simple task will take you approximately 10-20 extra seconds, but it will be well worth your while.

    • Your readers will be less distracted or frustrated.
    • You will be able to represent yourself and your church with a greater degree of professionalism.
    • You will feel personal satisfaction in upping the excellence of your communications.
    So take a few moments right now to figure this out and send yourself (and me) a test email!
     
    How It’s Done:
    We all use different kinds of email software and programs, so HOW to do this will vary slightly depending on your email carrier and software. That said, these steps should lead you down the right path. If you get stuck – just Google: “How do I embed a link in email using X?” with X representing your email carrier.
    • Copy Web Link
      Your first step is to copy your web link. In your web browser, go to the exact page you wish to send people to and highlight/copy the entire address in the web address field. Note: you will also find that some websites will offer to copy the appropriate address for you. For instance, youtube.com offers a ‘Share’ button that will then give you the best link to a video clip.
    • Switch to Your Email Client
      Now that the web link is copied to your computer clipboard, go to your email page or program (like gmail.com or Outlook).
    • Write Your Email or Document
      Now write your email (or document) the way you want it to appear. Don’t worry about including the embedded link yet. Just write it the way you want to say it. You may consider helping the reader know that you’ve embedded the link, depending on how the email is written. If you’re referring to a website using the web address, like www.transformingleader.org then you’re fine. Sometimes, you’ll want to give instruction to your reader though. For instance: “Learn about creating an email signature right here.” Of course, sometimes it’s just obvious: “I recommend you read this email tip: Tactical Tip:Say ‘Thanks’ in Your Email.” 
    • Highlight Your Text
      Now highlight the text where you want the link to appear. Don’t forget this step!
    • Embed Your Link
      Now it’s time to embed your link. You need to teach yourself this short step depending on your email client. There are two popular ways that links can be embedded that I’ll outline right here.
    1. Right Click. One popular method is to right click on the highlighted text and select a menu option that says something like “hyperlink” or “link”. This will bring up a dialog box where you can paste your copied hyperlink.
    2. The ‘Link’ Tool. Many web clients, like gmail.com, offer a button or menu item that should be clicked after you’ve highlighted the text. This should bring up a dialog box where you can paste your copied hyperlink. Note: sometimes the dialog box will be in two parts. One part should include the actual hyperlink text and the other part should include the actual text you highlighted or want people to see.
    • Format Your Link
      To add an extra layer of excellence to your communication, format your link appropriately. If the link is the main focus of your document, then you may want to bold it. You may also want to check the other colors in your document and make sure the hyperlink colors don’t clash or disappear. Finally, whenever possible, underline the text (I’m breaking my own rule on this blog. There’s something wrong with the template I’m using that won’t reveal underlined hyperlinks.)
    • Test Your Link
      This is an important step we so often fail to do. After your link has successfully been embedded into your text, double-check to ensure it actually works and goes to the appropriate page. 
     

    Image compliments of ‘ideago’ on freedigitalphotos.net

  • The Blame Game

     

    This weekend I walked into the kitchen to find a bag of pretzels spilled and strewn all across the floor. I called in my son, Derek, and asked him “What happened?” His answer – “Eliot did it.”

    I don’t expect my 4 year old to understand this, but my question wasn’t about who was to blame. That would be interesting information, but it wasn’t really my question. The question “What happened?” was meant to draw out a story of how the event happened. How did a bag of pretzels get almost evenly distributed across the entire kitchen floor? I still don’t know for sure.

    My little boy highlights how the blame game works though. We all want to assign ‘blame’ somewhere for the various unfortunate events we experience. Here are our options:

    • Blame yourself.
      “Nobody seemed to understand my message today. I guess I’m not a very good communicator and preacher.”
    • Blame someone else.
      “The worship leader didn’t do a very good job leading the congregation in worship. If he had, I bet they would have been more receptive to my message.”
    • Blame human nature.
      “It’s too much to expect people to get something out of my morning messages when they are all so tired and overwhelmed in life.”
    • Blame a system.
      “My system for preparing Sunday morning messages needs to be adjusted so I have more time to prepare, rehearse, and get feedback before I preach each week.”
    It is true that all of the above are sometimes at fault, but only one is worth spending time and energy on. Can you guess which one? If not, perhaps it would be meaningful to read this post and this post today as well.
     

  • Your Church Needs ‘Less Clutter, Less Noise’

    I would like to recommend the book to you, Less Clutter, Less Noise by Kem Meyer. Less Clutter, Less Noise challenges us in a clear and fresh way to communicate to our congregation with cultural relevance. It’s extremely practical too, with a ton of great ideas. Kem Meyer is the Communication’s Director at one of the most innovative churches in America, Granger Community Church. You might also consider checking out her blog www.kemmeyer.com and in particular THIS POST which summarizes the key points of her book.

    Among other things, Kem explores various ‘myths’ related to church work and communication. Here’s an example:

    From Myth #4: It Worked Before, So It Will Work Again
    “You can ignore the current reality and use old techniques you’re comfortable with, imitate new techniques that discredit you as a fraud, OR take the time to learn what’s effectively gaining credibility with people in today’s culture.”

    Add Less Clutter, Less Noise to your reading list today!

    Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

  • Four Things the Church Can Learn From Ben Watson

    Whether you are a fan of the New England Patriots or not, you’ve got to admire Ben Watson in this outstanding play against the Bronco’s last year. Check out this run and then read on.

    Four things the local church can learn from Watson’s great effort:

    • Don’t Look at the Odds
      Everyone was amazed that Ben made that play. I think most were awed that he even tried. He wasn’t interested in finding out if it was wise to go for it, he just did. How many times do we give up before even trying, simply because the odds look too far against us. What would the Bible read like if that’s what the hero’s of our faith did? David & Goliath. Moses & Pharoah. Esther & Haman. Mary. Peter. Paul. Stephen. Dare I say . . . Jesus. Don’t hold back. The ‘odds’ are man made, but we’re living for God.
    • Give Your All
      Watson gave his all in that run. He didn’t hesitate, stumble, or falter. If he had, he wouldn’t have made it. His ‘all’ was everything needed to get the job done. I wonder what would happen if we put that same unrelenting effort towards the ministry? Perhaps our very best effort is exactly the amount needed to fulfill God’s purposes in our church. Is it possible we short-change the work of God simply because it’s easier to run than sprint?
    • Resist the Urge to Compare
      What if Ben Watson saw how fast everyone else was running and used that as a benchmark for what he should expect of himself? Not good. What benchmark do you measure your ministry by? Is it the church you grew up in? The church down the road or one you watch online? None of those should reflect who you are or what you could do in your unique venue.
    • Don’t Give Up
      At some point in that run, Watson had a choice to make. He could keep running or give up. Most of us would have given up. He didn’t. He pressed through the mental wall or ‘dip’ and kept going until the end. The biggest battle we face is inside. We’re regularly faced with people challenges, financial difficulties, and failed attempts to build positive momentum in the church. It’s so tempting to just slow down and go back to the drawing board before the play has even finished. 

    Remember Paul’s words today and take heart.

    “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:12-14