I love leadership! Next to God, my family and the church it has to be the subject I’m most passionate about!  This blog is opening doors to a whole new world for me and as I’ve considered some topics to write about, guess what came to the top of the list? You got it. Leadership. As you check in from time to time you can expect the buddy blog (that’s fun to say) to be packed full of leadership stuff. 

I’m committed to share with you what I’ve learned from my personal experiences as an entrepreneur, pastor, husband, father and friend. Also, I look forward to sharing stories of those who have impacted me, books I am currently reading, and my failures as well as successes.

Personal or professional, leadership principles are timeless and universal. They are woven through every thread of our lives. Before you say “Buddy, I’m not a leader,� let me encourage you that God has given you a circle of influence. No matter how small or big that circle of influence is. Influence is leadership… therefore YOU ARE A LEADER.

One of my core values is: “God wants all of us to expand our influence and leverage our leadership.� Today I had an incredible opportunity to attend a Disney leadership conference locally. I’ve had the privilege of attending different conferences across the nation and this was, hands down, one of the best!

I’ll share more later as my brain is still downloading everything but here’s one quick thought. Did you know that Disney employ’s 58,000 people and yet they never call them employees? Interestingly, they all are called cast members…from the janitor to the president…all are cast members. Their ownership of how they carry themselves, and their behavior of how they interact with each other and with their guests are completely changed as a result of this simple change in terms.

Hold that thought. How would things change…How would you carry yourself differently…if you truly owned the truth that you are a leader? What behaviors would change with the people you interface with on a daily basis if you treated them with the respect of their God given influence?

….it could just open up a whole new world for you and others.

One thing all of us have in common is no one wants to get to the end of their life and look back in regret and say…I could have done this…I should have done that…I would have done this…but. The antidote to prevent that from happening is vision.

Vision is a difference and destiny maker in life. One of my favorite definitions of vision is what could be, what should be and then what must be. Three weeks ago, I announced to our church that we would make some of the biggest changes in our short four year history and become one church in multiple locations, meeting people where they are.

What does that look like? What are the daunting details? In order for this to happen it would require people we don’t have, money we don’t have and resources we don’t have. It requires a complete paradigm shift in our organization, doubling our volunteer staff, doubling our staffing, fund raising, finding a location, negotiation, renovation and promotion. I have experienced a roller coaster of emotions; sleepless nights and wondering “why bother when our church is hitting on all cylinders?�

The answer is Vision. What could be? What if a church would dare to dream of doing church differently and go to where people are instead of asking them to come to us? What should be? There should be more churches like Northway in surrounding communities around the Capital region and the Northeast. Why? Every week I hear stories of people who drive over an hour to our Shops of Malta location. I receive emails requesting “would you consider coming to our community?� I have friends and family who would love to attend a church like Northway but it’s too far away.  They’re open to God but have been burned by the whole “religion thing.�

I’ve seen what happens when we get out of our box and go to where the people are. First when we held Easter at the Saratoga City center and then again this year when we held Easter at the Pepsi. I saw people from all different backgrounds, all different races and thought “this is exactly what church should look like.�  It’s a no brainer… it must be.

Today, I just received fantastic news that the negotiations have been ironed out to launch our second campus!  I’m in awe of God! What could be, what should be, what must be has transitioned into what will be. Vision is a difference and destiny maker! Stay tuned.