Tips For Church Growth During Summer

For most churches summer is a time of lower attendance and offerings. People take vacations and go out of town, so naturally, it is slower paced than other times of the year. That does not mean, however, that we should simply “give in” and refuse to think about reaching people during the summer months. Here are a few important things to do that will help your church grow during the summer and prepare to grow later.

1. Recruit volunteers.

Volunteers are critical to the growth of a church. You can’t grow without them and you can’t ever stop recruiting. Summer recruiting is essential to grow once school starts again. Make sure that your recruiting efforts are personal, one-on-one efforts. Mass appeals from the stage often do more harm than good in recruiting volunteers.

2. Challenge your church to give.

Make a concerted effort to get your people to give over the summer. Challenge them to give even when they are not there by giving online. Communicate to them the vision and the need then challenge them to automate their giving so that the church functions whether or not they are on vacation.

3. Make it fun.

Harness the natural times for growth like Father’s Day, children’s events, patriotic events, or student camp and build something that is fun and enjoyable around that. Utilize these natural times for growth and you will gain prospects for future growth.

4. Raise your expectations.

I read about a young pastor who asked a very famous pastor a question. “Why is it that you see so many people saved in your ministry and I see so few saved in mine,” he asked? The wise pastor asked a question in response. “You don’t expect people to be saved every time you preach, do you?” “No, of course not,” replied the young man. “Then that is the difference,” said the older pastor. “I expect God to move every time I preach so I prepare and pray believing that God will work.” Sometimes we need to raise our expectations through faith and believe that God will work even during the summer.

5. Special speakers.

Inviting a special speaker during the summer and promoting it will help increase the interest level during the summer and help your attendance. With the right speaker and the right advertisement you will see growth.

6. Reduce the clutter.

Work then rest. That is God’s pattern for our lives in the bible. It is important to have times of rest in order to grow. Farmers know this well. I think summer time is a perfect time to reduce the clutter in our church schedules. Your people will thank you for it and your ministry will come back stronger after a period of rest. Don’t be afraid to allow a program to take a break during the summer.

My prayer for you is that you grow during the summer. Trust God and see what happens in your church!

5 Rules For Building A Winning Church Staff

The greatest impediments to the growth of the church I lead have been my fault. Thankfully, God has allowed our church to grow – sometimes explosively, sometimes steadily, and sometimes not at all – over the eleven years of its existence in spite of a few dumb decisions I have made. I fully believe the greatest mistakes I have made have been staff related. Sometimes I rushed the process and hired the wrong person. Sometimes I ignored the importance of compatibility. Sometimes I failed to go through the proper vetting process simply because I liked the person. Here are some rules I have learned about hiring and building the right church staff.

Rule # 1 – Hire the right people.

That may seem obvious but if it were that easy then none of us would ever make a mistake in hiring. You may be familiar with the “Three C’s” of hiring – Character, Competency, and Compatibility. Character is easy enough to determine but competency and compatibility require a lot more work. You can’t just tell if this person is a fit by looking at a resume or a degree. We use a test called the caliper assessment. EVERY employee that we hire is required to take this test. If you would like to know more about it you can email me at ritchie@avalonchurch.net and I will send you more info. One of the great benefits of these kinds of assessments is how it matches candidates to the culture, vision, and personality of our church.

Rule # 2 – Define the win.

Even if you get the right person you will not keep him or her if you do not define the win. As a pastor or senior leader in a church you must know what the win is or it will frustrate good staff members. Failing to define the win leads to “silo ministries” that do not pull in the same direction of the vision of the church. Pastor, can you define the win? If not, you must spend time determining what it is so you can communicate it clearly.

Rule # 3 – Give clear expectations.

This is crucial to the long-term success of your team. You must clearly define what is expected in job description and job performance. Regular reviews must be a part of this process.

Rule # 4 – Release ministry.

Many pastors struggle with this concept. We like to give the responsibility without giving the authority or the tools necessary to accomplish the win. Good leaders must get good at releasing ministry.

Rule # 5 – Keep an open dialogue.

Open lines of honest communication do wonders for the relationship between pastor and the staff. It keeps misunderstanding and bitterness at bay. We have a saying at Avalon that helps prepare us for communication that may not be what we want to hear. We say, “We are entering the trust tree.” What we are saying is that we value you as a person, we value your contribution, but this particular idea, or performance, or selection, or sermon was just not up to our standard. That means everyone must put on their big boy pants and remember that the mission and vision of the church are far more important than personal feelings or agendas.

If you follow these simple rules it will help you create a winning culture in your church. With a job as important as the one we are called to do we can do no less!

How To Create An Irresistible Worship Service

Let’s face it, if you have preached more than a few times you have preached a dud or two. I know I have. Sometimes I work really hard on a message and it just does not seem to connect like I thought it would. Ever wonder how many people who shake your hand and say “great message” could actually tell you what was just said? I do believe, however, that better planning leads to better messages and services that people can actually remember.

Here are a few things I have learned from working with some fantastic worship leaders and staff. They have helped me get better at my craft and together we have improved the quality of our services through better planning.

1.     Plan sermons together.

Pastors, I do not mean that you abdicate your responsibility to carry the vision and bring a word from the Lord. You still have the responsibility for the content and direction of the messages. However, if you will plan with your staff, then you will get greater understanding and buy in from them. The result will be worship services that are spectacular and reach more people.

2.     Set a sermon calendar.

Some pastors see this as too restrictive or as leaving out the Holy Spirit. How is it that the Holy Spirit can lead and work only a week ahead? Is He not capable of leading you a little further out? Using a sermon calendar allows for better sermons and better worship services because you can actually plan together.

3.     Utilize regular planning meetings.

At Avalon Church we have a weekly planning session with everyone who is going to lead some aspect of the on stage ministry – sermon, songs, offering, etc. Yes, we even plan out our offering talks. In addition, we have monthly or bi-monthly extended planning meetings where we put some meat on the bones of our sermon series.

4.     Release ministry and don’t micromanage.

Trust is built over time. Because I have a great deal of trust in our worship staff I rarely ever get involved in song selection or other service elements outside of the sermon, communion, and baptism. Not only has our worship pastor learned my heart but he is much more gifted than I am of planning a service that reflects the message we are communicating each week. To be honest many pastors really think that the music is a necessary nuisance that fills time until they get up to preach. At least that is how they act. Recognize the importance of your music ministry or be honest and get rid of it! Your worship leaders are spiritually gifted to minister to the body of Christ. Don’t micromanage them. Lead them.

5.     Communicate your expectations clearly.

As the senior pastor, God holds me responsible for the vision and direction of our church. That does not make me the smartest person in the room, just the leader. Wise leaders will recognize that they don’t have all the good ideas and will communicate a clear direction for the ministry and then get out of the way while talented people work. Lots of frustration comes from unclear, undefined expectations.

Pastor, this requires that you plan ahead. You have to learn to let the artists create. Get organized and plan in advance so that your team can create a memorable worship experience.

Four Ministry-Threatening Temptations Every Pastor Faces

Some people are surprised to learn that pastors face temptation. They just assume pastors wake up every morning at 4:00 AM, put on their wings, talk to God on their special hotline to heaven, high-five a couple of angels, and listen worship music while skipping all day. Actually, pastors face the same kinds of temptations everyone else faces, but because of their unique jobs, they also face a few temptations that are distinctive to being the imperfect spiritual leader of a group imperfect people. Here are a few that may surprise you.

• Jealousy

I realize jealousy is not unique, but what is unique to pastoral jealousy is that pastors must battle being covetous of other pastors and their ministries. When someone else suddenly gets recognized for being bigger or faster-growing, or gets honored for something that you do equally well (in your opinion), then, “Whoa, Nelly!” Unchecked jealousy is sinful but it also leads to other nasty sins like gossip and unwarranted criticism. I personally believe the majority of the malicious disparagement and condemnation of other pastor’s ministries is rooted in jealousy rather than any important theological difference.

• Discouragement

We all get discouraged. I believe discouragement is basically failing to believe God’s promises in your current circumstances. Everybody faces events that overwhelm us and cause us to experience seasons of discouragement. I am careful not to categorize all discouragement or depression as sin, however, because there are most definitely medical reasons for depression. Mental illness is as real as diabetes or heart disease. On the other hand, choosing to wallow in discouragement will derail your ministry. I have never known God to use a greatly discouraged person in a great way, so we must find help to overcome our blue periods.

• Bitterness

Sometimes pastors get angry with people because the people they lead seem not to listen. Welcome to the ministry! This is perhaps one of the most frustrating things about ministry. People are hurting and need help and you have the answers from God’s Word but they refuse to heed what is taught. If you and I feel frustrated what do you think God feels? This anger must be released to God. A pastor’s job is to lead and proclaim the truth while loving people. Otherwise, you will become bitter and minister with poison in your soul.

• Victim mentality

Some of the greatest leaders in the Bible gave in to the victim mentality occasionally. Elijah the Prophet and King David come to mind. Every leader is susceptible to feeling like no one understands or that everyone is out to get you. Some even go so far in their victim mentality as to think they are being persecuted for the cause of Christ when they are really being treated poorly because they act like a jerk!

One thing will keep you from falling prey to these temptations. You must keep your eyes on Jesus! When I focus on the gospel and Christ’s love for me then I am able to remember why I do what I do. It is only then that I will have the strength to remember that it is not about me but it about Christ and his mission for my life. When I remember that I am able to fulfill my calling with joyful resolve.

Four Reasons Ministry Slumps Happen

Every church will face wintertime. I do not particularly like winter. It seems like everything is cold and dead and unfruitful. Farmers will tell you, however, that wintertime is important. When you do the right things during winter you will reap more fruit at the harvest. Since it is inevitable that every church, every pastor, and every leader will face a dip in productivity and effectiveness occasionally (don’t trust those who say it never happens to them because they are lying), it is essential to ask the right questions.

1. Have I experienced vision drift?

The first, and maybe the most important, question you must ask during a ministry slump concerns the vision for your church or organization. It is incredibly easy to drift from the vision and, therefore, derail the growth process. Is my vision clear to the audience? Is it hot in my soul? Do I repeat it often enough and does the audience understand it? Is everyone on the same page with the vision? Have I grown weary of the vision? Do I need to take some time away from the daily grind so I can regain my passion for the vision? Have I frustrated my audience by changing the vision too often?

2. Am I healthy?

Sometimes ministry drains you. You can only go so far without refilling your spiritual and emotional tanks. A big reason many lose sight of their vision in leadership is because they are unhealthy. When you do not take care of your body through proper diet, exercise, rest, and rejuvenation you will slowly drain your passion for ministry. If you are so busy that you do not take a day off, then you are violating a scriptural principle and living in sin. If your schedule squeezes out your personal time with God, then you have become spiritually unhealthy. If you do not forgive those who hurt you, spend meaningful time with your family, and have a handle on your schedule, then you will become emotionally unhealthy. I have learned that the church needs me to be healthy because the people need my energy and passion more than my time. Lots of pastors, staff members, and leaders spend too much time and too little energy in their ministry.

3. Am I investing in the right leaders?

Leaders must be led well. It is easy to spend all of your time chasing people who threaten to leave and ministering to the giant time suckers. Make sure that you spend most of your time investing in the leaders who will lead others and lead ministry. That is the Biblical pattern and is a far more effective use of your time.

4. Have I ignored the environments?

When you get comfortable in a place it is easy to become blind to the problems. For example, have you ever noticed how scratches and dirt become invisible in your house? Sometimes you get so used to the environment you don’t see the things that need attention.

Check the environments in your church like your worship space, children’s space, bathrooms, preschool and nursery space, and student space. Are they clean and organized? Are lights burned out? Does the space smell nice? Do you need to do a facelift or a complete overhaul? Pay attention to the environments because they say more about your ministry than what you say from the stage.

We all face wintertime in our ministry but when you ask yourself these questions it will help the winter season to be short-lived and will help your church back onto the path of growth!

Why Superhero Pastors Never Win

If you have ever watched a superhero movie the plot goes something like this. An evil problem threatens the people. The greatly misunderstood, emotionally conflicted superhero steps in and uses his superpower to defeat the problem. This action normally destroys his family and personal relationships. The people worship the superhero. If the movie is successful at the box office, then the process is repeated until the masses grow tired of the story and find another superhero.

Unfortunately, this plot line describes many pastors. The superhero pastor solves all the giant, evil problems in his own super strength. He becomes emotionally unhealthy and often pays the price in his family and personal lives. He is conflicted but enjoys the worship of his people so he keeps repeating the scene until he fails miserably or the people grow tired of him and find another superhero.

Sound familiar?

Pastor, you are not a superhero. In our celebrity culture it is easy to fall into the trap of personality-driven ministry. Not only is this approach personally destructive to your life it is also damaging to the church. The New Testament describes this kind of ministry philosophy as the sin of idolatry. When we worship anyone or anything other than God it devastates us.

How can you avoid trying to be a superhero pastor?

• Remember that Jesus is the hero not you.

As a pastor it is tempting to take the credit when things go well and the blame when they do not. It is certainly true that pastors need to work hard, have a strategy, and lead well but we must remember that Jesus builds the church. He is the hero. He has all the answers, not you. That means that it is OK to admit your weaknesses and not be the hero of all your stories. Admit your faults and let everyone know that you are not perfect.

• Embrace the fact that God doesn’t expect you to do it alone.

I love the imagery the Bible gives of the church as a body. We are the body of Christ. A body is made of many important parts and only functions properly when each part does its part. In order for your church to fulfill its God-given purpose all the parts must function. Don’t try to do it all yourself. Give away ministry and do what only you can do and your church will be healthier. You will be too.

• Remind yourself that healthy pastors (and the people they lead) win.

Trying to be a superhero pastor robs you of your physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual health. It will eventually destroy you. Make sure to take time to exercise, rest, and eat properly. Take time to think, pray, plan, and be with God. Spend time with your family. Stretch yourself mentally. Take up a hobby. Don’t be afraid to get Christian counseling. By doing this you will be healthier and so will the people you lead.

Pastor, if I can help you by talking to you please contact me and I will listen. Sometimes just talking about it is the first step to recovery.

What The Siamese Twins Taught Me About Pastoring A Church

In the fall of 1974 my family joined the White Plains Baptist Church in White Plains, North Carolina. Its claim to fame was that the original Siamese Twins, Eng and Chang Bunker, were members of the church in the 1800’s. They are buried in the church cemetery.

During the time I attended the church (1974-1982) it grew to over 800 people in attendance each week, which was quite an accomplishment considering the small population base. If you study what church growth experts teach you would find very little of it in that church during that time. Systems? There were none. Environments? The building was old and felt like a dungeon. Programs? Not so much. Organization? Even as a boy I remember thinking it was unorganized. They actually called people from the audience to sing during the services. I was mortified that they might call on me to sing and, sure enough, they did!

But the church grew. People got saved and baptized. Disciples were made. The church was not perfect, but none are. So how did a church like that grow? How did a country church with no discernable strategy whose main claim to fame was that the Siamese Twins attended a century ago make an impact in their community?

1. They knew their culture.

I still remember pastor Carl Lackey. He looked like a curmudgeon and wore the world’s ugliest ties. I loved him but he scared me to death! As I look back I believe he may have known the culture of his community better than any pastor I have ever known. He knew what worked and what did not work. He knew how the community worked, thought, and lived. His insight into the people in his community was nothing short of remarkable.

2. They embraced who they were.

“Preacher Lackey,” as we used to call him, completely embraced who he was. He did not pretend to be someone else. We might call it branding today, but he was good at it. He did not worry about the latest fads or the newest philosophies. He knew what he wanted the church to be and totally sold out to making it that. He “canon-balled” into the deep end and pursued his vision of what the church was supposed to be.

3. They loved people.

One thing I know for sure is that they loved people. It did not matter who you were, what your past was, or what you were like. I remember asking my mom once, “Why are there so many crazy people at our church?” As a kid I did not discern the difference between the hurting, the addicted, and the wounded. I just saw a bunch of people who did not act like my family and assumed they were all crazy. I will never forget what she said to me. She said, “Any time a church loves Jesus and loves people it will attract a lot of people who need to be loved.”

I believe a church must be strategic, intentional, organized, and systematic. These are important things if you wish to reach people in our culture. But let’s not forget that you can have the world’s greatest strategy for church growth and not grow if you don’t love people. Know your culture, embrace who you are, and love all people, not just the ones you like, and your church will grow!

Building Long-Term Leaders In A YouTube Culture

I imagine every generation faces its own leadership challenges that are unique to its place in time and culture. One such challenge that faces our generation springs from our own success and innovation. Because of the exponential speed of information available to us there is a great temptation to shortcut the steps necessary to “be before doing.” We are the fast food, microwave, instant millionaire, streaming video, Internet, and YouTube culture. Everything is bigger, faster, and more accessible but not necessarily better.  Wealth, fame, and “success” happen so quickly for some that we are in danger of being consumed by our own warp speed. Even as church leaders we can easily become “style over substance.” This is dangerous and can potentially be fatal. As pastors we must face this challenge and teach others what the Bible says about growth. We need oak trees not rag weeds. Jesus placed much more emphasis on who you are in him rather than what you do for him.

When you think about it this is not a new problem. Jesus dealt rather harshly with the “style over substance” crowd. So how can we avoid the pitfalls of that kind of leadership? How can we build followers of Christ who are also strong leaders?

• Make a commitment to character first.

The Apostle Paul wrote that we should “lay hands on no man suddenly.” He was talking about not being too quick to appoint and anoint someone for a leadership position before they had a chance to grow and mature in their faith. He did not mean they had to be perfect but that they needed to focus on growing in character, in Christ, and in spiritual maturity first. I believe the Bible teaches a person grows as a disciple through a “hands on” approach. Disciples are doers! I believe that Christians must begin serving in a ministry in the local church as soon as possible. His point here is that leaders must develop character and spiritual maturity before they are put in the spotlight. As leaders we must guide our people toward Christian character. We must “be” before we “do.”

• Make a commitment to personal growth.

No leader is perfect. We all make mistakes. The only exception to that rule is Jesus Christ. Leaders – especially pastors – are held to a higher standard, though. Leaders must make a commitment to spiritual and personal growth. I believe this means that we must pledge ourselves to spiritual disciplines, to learning and education, to reading, and to developing our minds, bodies, and personal lives.

• Make a commitment to the mission.

The ultimate mission for every church and every believer is to make disciples. Churches that fail to reach people AND teach people ultimately fall short of Christ’s mission for our lives. I love what Rick Warren says, “A great commitment to the Great Commission and the Great Commandment will grow a great church.” I might add that it will grow a great disciple who is capable of becoming a great leader as well.

• Be strategic not reactionary.

Because we so readily hear of successful and fast growing ministries we can fall to the temptation of being reactionary rather than strategic. I love hearing of successful and fast growing churches. I learn a lot by studying the lives and ministries of others. When they win the cause of Christ wins! I must be careful, however, not to be a fad follower. I must know my gifting, my calling, and my assignment. I must know my community well. I must know God’s plan for my life and ministry and pursue it passionately. As a pastor I can confuse my church and defeat my mission by constantly changing philosophy or direction. Good leaders lead by example and by a clear, compelling, God-given vision. This requires a good understanding of the culture so that I stay relevant. Some things will change in the way I approach the vision but the vision must stay the same.

Don’t buy the lie of enemy. Building leaders takes time. I love it when God gives fast growth to churches. But don’t forget that true and healthy growth is a process. Maturity takes time. Let’s commit to growing trees rather than weeds!

Five Reasons Your Church WON’T Grow From Easter

Most pastors love Easter. Obviously we love it because that is the day we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. But we also love it because Easter weekend typically yields the best attendance and the greatest harvest of the entire year. We ride “cloud nine” because of the people and the possibilities. Then comes the Sunday following Easter. Attendance takes a dive and you suddenly realize that your church was filled with “Creasters.” You know, the people that you only see at Christmas and Easter. I am always tempted to wish everybody a Merry Christmas on Easter because I know I won’t see many of them again until then!

Our church puts a lot of money, energy, and effort into Easter weekend. We see more visitors, more people saved, and more prospects on Easter than any other Sunday of the year. But no matter how much effort you invest into a big weekend you will experience no long-term growth if you don’t do the work to make sure the church is ready to grow. Here are five reasons your church WON’T grow from a big weekend.

• Flashlight vision

A flashlight produces a weak source of light that barely emits enough light to see in a dark room. You can see just enough to keep from stubbing your toes. On the other hand a laser is a light that is so focused that it can cut through steel.

If the vision of your church is not laser-focused and clear you will net very little in terms of long-term impact from a big day. Someone once said, “If the vision is a fog in the pulpit it will be a mist in the pew.” A laser vision yields a clear and consistent strategy for the growth of your church. If you have flashlight vision you might not stub your toes but you will produce very little positive growth.

• Wrong seats or wrong bus?

You have probably heard the analogy of getting the right people in the right seats on the bus. Getting the right people – leaders, volunteers, and staff – in the right positions and equipped with the right tools yields powerful results. I have to be honest, though, and admit that a few times in my ministry I don’t think I even had people on the right bus! Next to the right vision, getting the right staff (paid or volunteer) is critical to the growth of your church.

• Weak systems

Many churches fail to grow because their systems are a hot mess. What do you do once people come to your church? Is there a system in place for assimilation, for follow-up, for small groups, for giving, for volunteering in a ministry, or for connecting to your church? If you have weak systems you will experience very little growth and your efforts will be wasted.

• Poor environments

Your environments say more about your church than anything you say from the platform. Does your message match your environment? Can people see and hear? What do your preschool, children’s ministry, and student spaces convey to people? What is your worship environment like? Does your environment match your stated philosophy of ministry? Poorly planned and maintained environments hinder growth.

• Schizophrenic Ministry Philosophy

Until you know who you are called to be and are willing to commit to that philosophy you will be ineffective in your outreach. Some churches are so afraid of offending their big givers that they wallow in a schizophrenic ministry philosophy. They try to please everyone and end up pleasing no one! If your church is traditional then be unapologetically traditional with excellence. If you are called to be non-traditional then jump into the deep end and stop dipping your toes around the edge of the pool. Make sure that you are who you say you are and pursue making disciples with gusto.

Make sure to work these things out and your next big day will produce lasting results.

Five Things Winners Refuse To Do

Yesterday I wrote about the five things that winners do consistently. Today I will write about the five things that winners refuse to do no matter how easy or tempting it might be. These characteristics are instinctual to some but they must be cultivated in all.

1. Lose sight of their vision.

Real leaders realize how big this is. It is a constant fight that no matter how successful you may become you will always battle. A clearly articulated vision must be honed, repeated, repackaged, and re-launched in order to keep the passion and direction toward your goals. A watered-down, weak, or unrepeated vision will result in mission drift. It will ultimately lead to failure.

2. Make excuses.

Winners simply refuse to make excuses. There will always be roadblocks, detours, diversions, and delays but the ones who ultimately reach their goals are the ones who do not make excuses.

3. Blame others.

Winners do not blame others. They accept the realities they face and focus on solutions rather than blame.

4. Whine and complain.

A sure sign that a person has shifted from a winner’s mindset to a loser’s mindset is that they whine and complain. This is often found in playing the blame game or making excuses. Winners understand that whining and complaining takes energy away from finding solutions and infects their followers with a negative, unproductive environment.

5. Stay down.

Everyone gets knocked down. That is inevitable in life. Winners, however, refuse to stay knocked down. They find a way to get back up and get back on mission. In my opinion this is one of the great tests of leadership. Winners find a way to get back up. You may have to regroup, revise, or come at your target from a different angle but winners refuse to stay knocked down for very long.

Five Things Winners Do Consistently

I love this time of year on the sports calendar. We have the NCAA basketball championships, the NBA playoffs, the beginning of Major League Baseball, and The Masters. If you have a favorite team that you root for then you are probably dreaming about being a winner. Winners are easy to identify in sports but what about in ministry or business leadership where the stakes are much higher but the win is not as easily identified?

Here are five things winners do consistently:

1. Visualize a preferred outcome.

An Olympic athlete does not train just for the fun of it. He or she commits everything in order to achieve the preferred outcome of winning an Olympic medal. It all begins with a clearly articulated vision. Winners in the ministry or in business do the same thing. They crystallize their vision. They visualize a preferred future and spend everything that they are in the pursuit of that vision. Whether it is starting a church, a business, or a family it begins here for those who win.

2. Plan for success.

Most teams talk about being successful but only winners actually take the steps to be successful. Planning for success is more that just deciding on a career. Professional sports teams spend incredible amounts of money, energy, and human capital in order to achieve the vision. Winners plan. They prepare. They take a clear path and do not stray from it.

3. Prepare for setbacks.

Setbacks are inevitable. For athletes there are unexpected injuries and losses. Rarely, if ever, does a season go exactly as planned. The same is true for church, business, and family. Setbacks will happen. Disappointments will come. You must expect them and have the determination to fight through them.

4. Always look forward.

It seems to me that winners are positive, forward-looking people. Yes, defeats and setbacks happen. Sometimes there are delays and detours, but winners always look to the future. They concern themselves with the next step.

5. Always stay in the game.

Talk to any winner and you will find that he or she experienced times of great discouragement. There were many times that they felt like quitting. The reason that they are successful is they always stay in the game. They don’t quit. They assess, they correct, they tweak, they improve, they re-launch, but they never quit. They stay in the game.

What about you? How does this apply to your church, business, or family? What would you add to the conversation?