Travis Johnson

I have never enjoyed working with a group of guys more than I enjoy working with our team.  This week was especially invigorating and intense.  I loved what we were able to do.  I was blown away by the intensity and creativity.  You can see some of it here.

They are really excellent people who give it all, show up early, lead like they're owners, follow-through, have an intense love for God and people, and display pliable hearts.  In addition to that, going into the office is a lot of fun.  I look forward to it every single day.  The team is really strong and shows a ton of potential.

On the flip side, when teams break down, it shows everywhere.  Once you get to that point, its hard to recover without human casualties.  Some things I've learned from serving on a large staff, being the only person on staff, and from leading a staff (both professionally and in ministry) are:

I'm sure there are some other pearls of wisdom to be had.  But, this is what I have.  If you have thoughts, share them.

Today, Paul's dad, Charles Hollifield is coming in to meet with our staff to share the results of our DISC Profiles.  I got a sneak preview on myself yesterday.  No surprise there, probably no surprise to anyone.  I may share more later. Anyway, I'm looking forward to today.

It was funny when Paul's dad walked in.  I thought Paul had had a rough drive back from the airport and aged a couple decades.  Paul and Charles are carbon copies of one another.  They are both story tellers and a lot of fun to be around.  Today should be interesting.

Dave Ferguson blogs a great piece on Q & A with Rich DeVos. It seemed like half of the campus of my alma mater is named after him. He's a HUGE believer in financing the work of God. He's an incredible businessman and motivator. When he speaks, I'm listening. You have to check it out. One of my favorites things he said were some powerful quotes from his upcoming book:

I’m wrong,
I’m sorry.
I trust you.
I’m proud of you.
I luv ya!

Awesome stuff from a great leader.

If you're a parent, you know you can't get by with telling your kids "Do as I say not as I do."  We reproduce who we are, not who we want others to be.  We should consider ourselves a stamp, imprinting ourselves into the lives of people closest to us.

In Nehemiah 11, we see the leaders of Jerusalem living in the city, enduring the same challenges, navigating the same terrain as the volunteer settlers and the settlers who were recruited to repopulate the city.  The Church of Jesus Christ faces its biggest problems when its leaders feel that they have one set of rules to live by while their followers have another.  It is frustrating to see people who should be leading a movement, instead taking advantage of the movement of Jesus.

Without dwelling on the negative, it is also incredibly invigorating to see leaders who lead aggressively admit their flaws, and who consistently direct people to Jesus.

Eric Geiger drops a beautiful post into the blogosphere today on leadership multiplication.  Here's an excerpt:

Earlier this week, our team sat down and shared what we expected from one another.  This is team generated.  One of the observations is that each of these expectations are totally dependent on the rest.  If you blow one out, in many cases, you've blown out a lot of the others.

This is a great time to be at Life Pointe.  Just when things were getting comfortable and the bills were getting paid and things were getting figured out, we have decided to accept another challenge to step up in our mission to reach this city.

We just hired Jesse about a month ago.  We had to make that move to keep up with our growth and continue moving forward.  But, now we are making another hire, an executive pastor to take a more strategic hands on role in leading the ministries of the church.  That will take more pressure off of me, help with equipping, systems, and teaching.

This is a forward-looking move.  We had been looking for a strategic person to come on board with us.  We looked inside and out passing on some stellar and very committed guys.  Ultimately, I felt there was only one choice.  I'm glad to welcome Paul and Anne Hollifield to the team.

Paul will be joining us on July 15th.  Make sure you stop by his blog and give him a little welcome.

We break from our Life Groups from July until the week of August 26th.  We encourage our groups to continue hanging out, doing bbq's, dinners, etc...  But, there is zero pressure for our groups to maintain teaching sessions in their homes.  It shifts to strictly relational connectivity over the summer.

In place of our groups, we will be hosting a leadership worship gathering for everyone that considers themselves a leader or wants to develop into a leader.  There are no requirements for coming to the gathering other than showing up.  There will be a time of worship, equipping, and vision casting/strategy formation (sharing strategy and participating in strategy formation).

The July 11th kick-off meeting is going to offer a directed, open forum type environment where we will be discussing some huge stuff that may impact a lot of what we do entering into the fall.  Some of the discussion will probably lead to a "strategic chaos." Already our creative planning session this week has caused me to shelve our summer message series until August 26th.  For those of you that heard the teaser on Sunday, get ready because our roll out is going to be pretty big.

This Sunday, we'll announce our new series that we'll be beginning July 15th.  We have not promoted a series since April.  The current series has lasted 14 weeks.  We've experienced significant growth since then to the point that we need to be adding a second service no later than August 26th.  Even this past Sunday we were over the 70% capacity mark for our auditorium. 

People that come in late have to sit either separated from their group or in the uncomfortable down front seats.  Those seats are so close that people end up looking up my nostrils which is uncomfortable to all parties involved.  I also learned in my communications classes that strong enunciation leads to spitting...hopefully you don't see that from the back.  But, when you're down front super close, you definitely do.  Summed up, that's pretty gross.

Sunday seemed personally challenging for me.  I left the service feeling worn out.  But, the feedback has been phenomenal.  The offering was much stronger than our 6 week average.  And, our attendance was more than 30% higher than the same Sunday the previous year.  That's totally God.  Because I felt like I went up to share and was just inadequate for the job.  Ultimately, I am.  But, moreso on Sunday than most.

I have to tell you that just when I think I am figuring things out, God has come in and messed me up.  I feel like I'm spinning down an icy road and in frustration with being able to control the car, I've taken my hands off the wheel.  Its up to God where this vehicle goes from here.

Anyway, if you want to be a part of a corporate worship time, prayer for our future, and strategy formation, Wednesday, July 11th @ 7:30 PM (in our building) is your day.  I'm asking God for one of those Upper Room experiences where hearts and minds are in one accord.  The result is an outpouring of power to impact the culture here in our city in a HUGE way.

Michael Lukaszewski, the lead guy at Oak Leaf Church in Cartersville, GA said this about leaders.  You've got to read it.   It reminded me of a portable church pastor who was dealing with some criticism from a group of chronic complainers.  He responded to them by saying his church's complaint box is in the setup trailer.  One thing is certain, chronic complainers don't last long around people who are stake holders.  A guy or gal that has bought into the mission won't put up with whining people and will put them in their place.

I had lunch with Troy Gramling, Raul Palacios, and a few really decent church planters yesterday at Flamingo Road Church.  I think the world of both of these guys and have enjoyed every moment we've interacted.  God has used Troy in an incredible way there in Broward.  I can't wait to see something similar here in Miami. 

I continue to pray for God's Kingdom to come here...I feel like I see it develop daily through guys like Nathan Griffis (get a blog, Griff), Matt Mehaffey, Mathias Grehn, Bob Franquiz, the guys at CF, church planters, and a ton of others.  Raul mentioned how it seemed like there has been a significant church planting focus on Miami and I totally agree...so encouraging!  Still there is much need here in perhaps the most diverse and relationally needy American cities.  With some of these guys, I really think I can see some sort of informal network of planters developing here for the sole purpose of brainstorming and friendship.

On a more personal note, I was blown away a few months back when Raul drove down to Homestead and treated me to sushi.  Hanging with the Executive Pastor from one of the nation's fastest growing churches is a real treat and a learning experience for me.  I'm also pretty excited that when we make our Executive Pastor hire (which I hope we can make happen soon), he'll have a go-to-guy for some of the big calls we'll be making.

Now, check this out, Jesse was hanging with me on the trip and we ran into one of Jesse's friends, Benny Salas from Humboldt Park in Chicago.  I remember Benny's face from my church planting days there.  I'm blown away at the talent that came out of that place. Benny is planting in Midtown.  He's a real high energy guy.  I think he'll do very well here.

Before getting off this horse, let me leave a few bullets of observations from yesterday's lunch:

I could go on.  There is much to share.  But, you've probably already checked out from this entry.  Bottom line is that it was significant to me.  Thanks to Troy and Raul for everything.

Have you ever felt like people "dump" on you for no apparent reason? What's the right response? President Bush shows how to just "brush it off."

I have never asked a Christian to date Life Pointe.  We are passionate about our community that is not at the moment connected to Christ.  We do also love it when Christians find us by way of relocation or displacement.  It is a wonderful thing when someone walks into our community and is already spiritually mature, shares Christ with others, supports the mission of Jesus by giving tithes and offerings, and is ready to get on board with the team.

But, when a church courts Christians from another church and that already existing Christian comes on over, too often they:

Their plan?  Morph the new church into the church community they just left.  This is a recipe for disaster.  It's a disaster that church leadership has created for itself by the whole sheep enticing strategy they started the relationship off with in the first place.  If you don't court them, you have a greater level of authority in helping them to fit in the already existing framework of the church.

The best policy as Taylor and Labarre share (translated into a church context) is not to entice leaders from other churches.  Instead, it is much better to start at ground zero and develop the people you reach into the leaders they need to be.

Thanks to Tony for highlighting some good snippets from a great book.

We're bringing a new guy onto the team.  So, its a good time to talk about leadership expectations.  It is necessary that ministry leadership values personal relationship with Jesus, integrity, honesty, intense work ethic, intense passion for the mission of Jesus, is committed to growing as a leader, and is committed to fun.

Here are some random thoughts for ministry leaders at Life Pointe:

So, that's the gig.  Leadership is more of an art than a science.  But, there are definitely some absolutes that can be articulated when it comes down to delegating authority to leaders within an organization and especially the church.

I had been holding off on talking about this because the time frame hasn't been totally worked out yet (though we're really close).  But, Jesse Santoyo's talking about it.  So, I will too. 

I've known Jesse since before our church plant in Chicago (2000).  I actually met him on New Year's Eve 1999 in Humboldt Park.  He's solid with a passion for Jesus, Reina (his wife), and Diego (his new little guy).  He's artistic.  He and his band, The Saturn Project, rock.  He's a producer for a tv station in Chicago.  And, he leads a ministry for Chicago artists called "The Living Room Sessions."   

He is the kind of guy that has your back.  You can talk straight to him.  He'll dream with you.  He'll share the load with his friends.  He doesn't fly solo He always has a posse. He's a leader.  He is committed to the mission of Jesus. 

He's a heck of a lot of fun to be around.  He's a low maintenance cat.  Since I don't do well with people who need a bunch of hand holding, I seriously appreciate that.  He's talented.  He totally gel'd with our people and fell in love with south Florida while he was down.

I've asked him to join our team at Life Pointe.  We started talking about this around two and a half months ago.  The way everything has come together has really been a God thing.  I can't wait.

Up to this point, we've staffed with a lot of stipended staff (extremely part time in compensation and high on commitment).  They have been and continue to be great.  I cannot say thanks enough for our people who consistently put themselves on the line to create a significant faith community here. 

But, our staffing strategy is changing as we go forward.  In order to create the synergy we need, we need to make this shift.  The timing is right.  The situation is right.  So, I'm glad to announce that Jesse Santoyo will be joining us in a full time position to oversee a chunk of the Life Pointe ministries. Take a moment, leave a comment, and give the kid an early welcome.

We love to say yes.  We say yes as often as possible.  We want to encourage you and give you permission to succeed in life and ministry.  In that, we are permissive, faith-filled, and optimistic.

But, we say "no" directly and unashamedly.  Sometimes, the "no" is without explanation.  Sometimes, it is issued with tender loving care.  Sometimes the "no" is a very difficult thing to say.  Sometimes we want to say yes.  It is expedient to say yes.  It is prosperous to say yes.  But, when saying "yes" causes the mission to be diminished, the only possible answer is a "no."  I've said "no" more times than I would like to this week.  I finished today with a big fat "no."  It felt good and painful at the same time.  But, I know it was 100% the right thing to do.

Give me some time and I'll share some of the big stuff we have said "no" to.  Right now, God is writing a huge story.  The introduction seems a bit longish.  But, I am glad to go through it.  I am glad to see God work.  I am glad that He says "yes" to us and believes in us.  I'm glad He also says "no"...even when it hurts in the short term.

So much stuff is going on, I cannot even begin to digest it all.  Still, I know God is totally in control.  In it all, I'm having a blast!  Nothing we do is boring.  I seriously feel like we are constantly on the Apprentice with projects and constant changes.  Fortunately, I've managed to avoid the board room so far!  You guys have been awesome during all of this.

First, the contract on our church looks like it is dead.  Basically, our buyer couldn't get the deal closed in time and we didn't feel like holding the property off the market for them any longer than we already had.  So, we allowed the contract to expire.  Bummer! I felt like that buyer would have been a great addition to the community.  I thought it was a done deal.

But, within days of that contract falling through, we had another good offer.  I don't see us accepting it.  But, I do know that there is an increasing amount of interest on the property with each passing day.  A lot of renovations, improvements from the busway, and a low availability of religious, educational, and commercial properties in Homestead and south Miami-Dade just make that intersection very attractive.  I know the right deal will come at the right time.

When it does, look out.  I personally believe God has accomplished much through us to date.  We've grown from a group of 40 to over 200 (320 on Easter).  It has all happened on a shoe string budget...a very small show string by the way!  That small shoe string budget has taken care of two facilities (our building and the theater)  I am thanking God for the process.  It has done a lot to work out some kinks in my character and identity.  It has also helped us to determine what we are all about!

With the prospects of the building selling sometime soon, we continue to prepare for the next steps (post-sale).  In addition to property moves, space, and ministry, I've been looking for a couple key staffers to come on board with us.  I am blown away by the people that have thrown their names in the hat.  I'd be humbled to be leading them.  There are truly some great guys...some great fits out there waiting for God's timing in all this.  God has already assembled a great team here.  But, I really get butterflies thinking about what's next and what we'll be like a year from now.  To the guys that have put their names in the hat...thanks for identifying with us and desiring to be a part of the chaos.

So, its 2:04 AM.  I can't sleep because I'm just having a hard time turning it all off.  I'm going to say a quick prayer, give it to God and head to bed.  I'd like to ask you to pray for our future, the guys that will be coming on board with us, and that we totally sell out to our mission leaving nothing in reserve!

On Novermber 3, 1774, Edmund Burke spoke to the Electors at Bristol regarding his conviction of leadership.  He said, "Your representative owes you, not his industry only, but his judgment; and he betrays, instead of serving you, if he sacrifices it to your opinion."

The status quo is our biggest enemy.  In fact, status quo would call us to abandon our better judgment and innovative ideas to line up with the organizational cogs who predictably resist any substantial change.  Fighting it can be so exhausting that we eventually either lose our will to fight it or we give up never fully developing our backbone and thoughtful words needed to overcome it.  Worse yet, we often fight status quo in all the wrong places.  By targeting the fully entrenched and decidedly unchangeable for the purpose of affecting change, we have already lost.

Greg says to target the driest kindling with our fire.  Everett Rogers schools us all in what Greg is saying with his idea diffusion curve.  Seth says "all the growth and the opportunity and the fun is at the leading edge."  He further states that this is "where the change happens."

So, take the fight for positive change to the hearts and minds of those most receptive to change and innovation.

tagged: seth godin - greg stielstra - idea diffusion - edmund burke - leadership and innovation

I lied.  I can't stop blogging.  I hope that blog entry doesn't kill my traffic that I have been enjoying over the last few weeks.

Tonight after picking Kourtney up from her grandparents' house, we were driving home.  Whenever she takes a "Daddy trip" (just me and her), she always wants to listen to rock and roll.  Of course, I indulge her.  As Guns 'n Roses played "Knockin' on Heaven's Door," she turned down the volume and said, "Dad, why are they knockin' on KEVIN's door?"

The lesson?  Make sure what you are saying is what they are hearing.  What is being said and what is being heard are largely two totally different animals.

As I watched this, my eyes got hot with tears.  There is so much I could say-but no words that would do this story justice.

This is simply a spectacular glimpse into the lives of Dick and Rick Hoyt.  When Rick was born his umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck, restricting oxygen.  His father, Dick said that they brought him home to live as normal of a life as possible.  The fight since then has been a "battle of exclusion." Though he cannot speak or walk, Rick has graduated from high school, competes in marathons and triatholons with his dad, and can use a computer designed for him specifically by Tufts Univervsity. Read the story here.  Enjoy the video.  Team Hoyt is simply amazing!  (Mem, thank you for the link!)

Technorati Tags: Rick Hoyt - Dick Hoyt - Team Hoyt - inspirational - I Can Only Imagine - Mercy Me

"The Big Moo" is not my favorite book ever by far.  But, it has some really bright spots with great nuggets worth picking up. Excepted from pg. 63 without explanation:

"10 Things Smart Start-ups Know"

1. Failure is an option.
2. Bravery is contagious.
3. Invent the market.
4. Customers are last (and first).
5. Rule books are dispensable.
6. Lose the slackers.
7. Grind coffee, not people.
8. Test for Kool-aid (don't believe your own hype).
9. Always on.
10. Fire the CEO.

Check out Rick Warren's 10 Commandments for church staff dealing with members of the opposite sex. Number 3 is a "no-go" at Life Pointe...it's probably shot for most churches in Miami.  Other than that, these are all excellent guidelines for maintaining a good witness.

Excerpted from "Confessions of a Reformission Rev," there are three types of people (only two have long-term futures with said organization) found in all growing organizations as told to Mark Driscoll by John Phelps:

This is in reference to growth and leadership.  My prayer for myself and my team is that we learn how to rise and learn how to attach ourselves and support the momentum of others.  Additionally, we should pray that when we become an encumbrance to the growth and vitality of the ministry, we have a soft enough heart to change or to find a place where we are not diminishing or endangering vision and mission.

Mooooooving right along through my latest Seth Godin read, I'm bored and invigorated simulataneously.  Some of the abbreviated chapters are nothing more than beef knuckle.  But, I've come across some Filet Mignon that has seriously resonated with my heart.  Consider the "They" to be the change resistors who value stagnation and safety above missionality.  Check out this excepert from the Big Moo (p. 34-36):

Starbucks is incredible.  They have remarkable environments, excellent service, and exceptional product.  But, they've hit a snag with their frozen drinks.  The time to blend a frozen drink during peak hours slows down their lines, reduces product sold, and increases customer frustration.  Frozen products are great.  But, I need to get in and out quickly when I'm in a rush.

Starbucks will fix this problem.  They will add baristas or make the frozen drinks more efficient.  The church has some lessons to learn regarding "process drag."  We have engaged in so many non-essentials that our core functions get marginalized, weakened, or cluttered out by the extra-curricular noise.  Extra Bold coffee is not our main business.  But, we do have a challenge facing the customized, blinged out, American church.  Our challenge or our main business is to keep the main business the main business!

Related links:
Starbucks Gossip    Starbucks Union Aggregator    Starbucks Goes to the Kids

Cool article from downtown.  See you jokers at ReFormation '06.

This is my college roommate, Jamison.  He's come a long way.  I guess he's always been a brilliant guy.  But, I would now call him inspirational.  In two weeks, he will begin his eigth year as a missionary in the Middle East.  He has been incredibly faithful and has had great success.  While in the Middle East, he met and married a really sweet girl, Kelly.  They now have two handsome children with a third on the way.

When he was 19, he was almost killed in an arson on the campus of Lee University.  That was really a turning point in his life.  Yesterday morning, we both spoke at Life Pointe.  Last night, Jamison spoke at Dwight Allen's church in Cooper City.  I am very excited for what God is doing in his life and invite you to pray for them daily with me.

"Wanting growth and attaining growth, though, are two different things.  Most organizations are paralyzed, stuck in a rut, staring at a growth paradox.  On one hand, they understand all the good things that will come with growth.  On the other, they're afraid, petrified that growth means change, change means risk, and risk could mean death.  No one wants to screw up and ruin a good thing, so the organization just sits there, motionless.

The growth paradox in endemic, affecting non-profits, big companies, start-ups, and even individuals.  It continues to frustrate millions of employees (and investors).

How can we get you to embrace the idea of the purple cow?  How can we help you to uunderstand that your quest for the big moo-for the game changing innovation-is the main reason (no, not the main reason, the only reason) you went to work today?

There isn't a logical, proven, steb-by-step formula you can follow.  Instead, there's a chaotic path through the woods, a path that includes side routes encompassing customer service, unconventional dedication, unparalleled leadership, and daring to dream.  Is this path worth staying on? Only if you want to grow.  Only if you're tired of being a cog in a dehumanizing machine.  Only if you are willing to embrace the quest for the big moo."

(from preface of The Big Moo)

What am I willing to die for?  This is it.