Curt Seaburg.com

Two Qualities Every Quality Leader Has

Every leader (whether in the church or not) know that the work of the Lord cannot be accomplished by one person.  Leaders need to surround them selves with a team; people to partner with in ministry.

At our church, we are always on the lookout for those who will head up departments or fill much needed positions to help accomplish the vision.  We can have all the dreams and plans in the world, but if we don’t have people to help carry them out, the dreams will either never come to pass, or will be slow in coming at best.  We don’t want to settle for just a warm body, because we know, who a leader adds to his team will make or break the team.  The answer that has eluded so many good men and women of God is, “How do I find the right person for the job?”  “How to I know if this person is going to be able to work out in this ministry area?”  Bad news is, we don’t know for sure.  The good news is, if we follow God’s Word, we can do our part to limit the starts and stops in finding the right person for the right job.

2 Tim 2:2 states “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.”  (KJV)   

God’s Word gives us the two qualities that we as leaders should look for in people who desire to lead. Those two qualities that a person MUST have are they must be “faithful” and “able.”  There are those that are faithful, but not able.  And, there are those that are able but not faithful.  Let me illustrate. 

Say you are the head coach of a football team and your job is to evaluate the talent and put the best people in the best position to have the optimum amount of leadership on the team.  There’s this one kid who is faithful to practice.  He comes early and stays late.  He runs each wind sprint with all he has, he has the drive to be the best.  He is faithful to the weight room because his desire is to be the center on the offensive line.  The problem is, this kid only weighs 138 pounds.  (If you don’t know football, this position should probably be filled with a person over 280 pounds.)  He will not be a good fit for that position because he is faithful, but not able to do the job.

Now, there’s this other kid.  He can throw the ball a country mile.  He is lean and quick.  The people like him because he has charisma and a certain magnetism about him.  He is certainly able to be the quarterback of the team.  But there is a problem, he never comes to practice.  When he does, he’s always late and he doesn’t fully participate in the practice.  He’s a continual distraction to the rest of the team by his antics.  He is not a good fit either; he is able but not faithful.

Paul told young Timothy to find people who are both faithful AND able.  Recruit people with only one of these two characteristics and you will limp your way or you will surround yourself with people who will drain the life out of you. 

Any good leader MUST look for these two qualities when attempting to add to his team.  But, surround yourselves with people that embody these qualities and you will find your self with a person that will be loyal, proactive and a benefit to the team.

General Petraeus / Latter-Day Saints

What did the testimony on Capitol Hill by General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker have in common with 401 children taken from a San Angelo, Texas, compound of Fundamentalist Latter-Day Saints?

Both demonstrate our government’s efforts to make life safer for the next generation.

Putting aside political maneuvering and constitutionality issues, being concerned about the next generation is always a worthy cause!  But can our government, or any government for that matter, really secure our children’s future?

In the Bible, it becomes clear that God never intended governments to have that responsibility.  Solomon was speaking to parents when he said, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it” (Proverbs 22:6).

If we really want to save our children, we must understand how to appropriately help them in each of their developmental stages, both physically and spiritually.  Securing a safe environment in the world or in the church alone will not secure their future.  We need a growth plan!

The first need a newborn has is to breathe!  Likewise, spiritual newborns first need to learn how to pray.  Infants need frequent feedings.  New believers need frequent teachings.  And both physical and spiritual infants need LOTS OF LOVE! 

Toddlers gradually move from need constant care and attention to needing one-on-one INSTRUCTION on how to get to know the family and learn their place in the family.  Likewise, spiritual toddlers need one-on-one instruction on how to CONNECT with their spiritual family.  Most people who leave the church do so because they’ve never really CONNECTED with the congregation!

Young children must learn how to appropriately assert him or herself, in a DISCIPLINED WAY.  Likewise, young Christians must be encouraged to take responsibility for their further growth and maturity.

Older children must learn how to do chores, value life, and work together.  Likewise, older Christians must learn additional skills for ministry, and how to work together in ministry!

Teenagers must learn how to mentor younger brothers and sisters, even as they continue to develop their own autonomy by following the examples of worthy models.  Likewise, spiritual ‘adolescents’ needs both good models and good opportunities to be models for those younger than them!

Finally, adults must learn to RESPONSIBLY reproduce and raise the next generation.  Likewise, spiritual ‘adults’ are those who have learned how to evangelize, mentor, and make disciples.  You can TEACH what YOU KNOW, but you will only REPRODUCE what YOU ARE!

Can I encourage you today to take a cue from the headlines?  All too often they remind us that there is a lot at stake in our world events today?  If we truly want to ‘save our children,’ we will do MORE than rely on our military and police motorcades; we will learn and apply the biblical systems of “training a child up in the way he should go!”

A friend of mine shared some thoughts with me the other day, and I wanted to pass those onto you as well.

Youth Conference in Dallas

I spent most of last week in Dallas doing a youth conference for Jeremy and Amy Mount.  They are the youth pastors of C5 at Calvary A/G with J. Don George.  Their youth group is amazing!  They treated Pam & I so wonderfully and are blowing it uo in Dallas.  Hey, I heard Akin Ayodele was in church last week .... very cool.  Here's a couple of fun things I learned:

1. Dallas

   , to a Cowboys fan, is pure heaven.
2. Okay, airport people need to learn phone etiquette!  Why do people SHOUT when they are on the phone!!??  Nobody cares what bagel you are eating when you’re in

   Baltimore

   and the person you’re YELLING at is in

   Detroit

   !!!
3. Amy Mount can multi-task.  She can drive the

   Pacifica

   , answer the phone with one hand, safeguard her double-tall-skinny caramel macchiato, while keeping her purse securely on her lap … amazing to witness.
4. Taco Bueno is just plain good taco’s!

5. Texas

   is real big.
6. Southwestern plane seats are too small.
7. Starbucks “city mugs” are my newest “collector series” when I visit big cities.
8. Riding on roads around

   Dallas

   are similar to riding on a roller coaster … up – down, up - down.
9. There are NO STARBUCKS in the

   Birmingham

   airport – tragedy of tragedies.
10. Middle school kids in

    Dallas

    are just like kids everywhere else.  They have a funky odor.

We loved our time with these precious leaders.  Rock on Jeremy!!!  (Jusitn Timberlake admirer)

Water Baptism - 3-30-08

Sometimes, we can blow in and out of church (or wherever) and never really get to know people.  Baptism always gives us all an opportunity to know people.  It allows us to hear their story.  Behind every set of eyes, there is a story … a beautiful one of redemption.

Today was one of those milestones in our church’s short history.  Jeff Bender, one of our key people at Victory, said it best when he mentioned, “Today, we are putting a stake in then ground.” I had the privilege of baptizing 12 candidates.  To hear their stories was very moving.

Back a few months ago, we felt it was time for us to purchase a portable baptistery.  We threw out the need to our congregation, and they responded in a beautiful way.  We purchased the portable tank and promoted our first indoor baptism.

Hearing their stories was very moving for us as a congregation.  Many tears and a whole lot of cheers for people going public with their faith.  It was a beautiful day!  God was glorified and magnified and Jesus was lifted up. 

Today, there guys got baptized:

1. Tanner Beaman
2. Talia Stem
3. Kaleb Berkich
4. Clayton Steele
5. Lily Esh
6. Michelle Zerbe
7. Karen Minnick
8. Angie Lefever
9. Amber Bubb
10. Shawn Blake
11. Michelle Blake
12. Tom Mason

Wow!  What a day!!

Our Kids ... Growing Up

While in the beautiful city of Dallas this week, we've been staying in our good friends home, Jeremy and Amy.  They are blowing it up for God in the Dallas metroplex and they have two of the cutest little kids, Chloe (age 3) and Ethan (age 1).  We really enjoy their little ones, and Pam & I loved that season of our life, but we're glad to be out of the "little kid" era.

Perry Noble's recent post on "Top 10 Things I'm Thinking About" got me thinking about my family.  We have four of the most beautiful kids to ever discover planet earth, and they are all teenagers!  They are all so beautiful ... and so different.  Same parents ... same home ... totally different.  One thing they all have in common is they all love Jesus with all their heart.  I never want to stop being a good dad and a great father. 

Our oldest daughter, Elissa has been in charge of the house while we have been away preaching at a youth conference.  We're so proud of her.  It is so cool to get little text messages of encouragement from our kids.  Things like, "I love you dad"  "I'm proud of you, daddy."  "Preach hard!"  "I miss you."  I absolutely love the season of life we are in.

• We can celebrate with our oldest, Elissa (age 18) - Just finished chorus and ranked #2 in the entire public school systems in vocals.
• We can encourage our 17 year old to take on a ministry internship at a church that is awesome because Kiersten is so edgy.
• We love the words of affirmation and encouragement that Courtney (15 years old) brings to our family.
• We know the man-child (Drew, age 13) is holding down the fort in prayer.

As our kids grow older, each 'season' becomes our favorite.  What about you, what season of life are you in and how are you embracing it?

First Night in Dallas

I am a TRUE SILVER AND BLUE Dallas Cowboy fan. You can imagine my joy being in the "Big D." Landed last night and we went to a Mavericks game (we beat the Clippers). Saw my boy Dirk, on the bench :-(

This morning we got up early and went over to the new Cowboy stadium. We swung by Valley Ranch (our practice field) and then took the rest of the afternoon to prepare for the yuth conference.

The room was packed with 100's of teenagers. When their worship leader (who they all Pastor Elmo) hit the stage, man he lit it up! So talented and so humble. I watched how all these volunteers from techie people to prayer warriors were doing their thing. All serving God.

I preached out of Joshua/ I did my best to drive home the point, "You'll never know how great God is until you give Him a chance." Great response at the altar call.

Tomorrow night is an evening speaking to leaders. I;m amp'd about it!

Easter Sunday Mind Dump 08

What a day!  I love our church.  People are warm and welcoming.  I get many emails each week from visitors that are blown away by the authenticity of our church.  Big time props to all our volunteers.  Can't do it without them.  Before I turn in for the night, here's a couple of thoughts:

• If I have one more piece of chocolate, I'll throw up.
• I always preach in jeans, but today I preached in a suit jacket and dress pants ... I did it for my wife ... good move on my part.
• Saw almost a dozen people come to faith in Christ this morning.  What a day to get saved!
• The Lord gave a BEAUTIFUL weather for our Easter Sunday service.
• We put out every available chair we had (487) and we needed just about everyone of them.
• I'm still pumped that Steve Fee (worship leader extraordinaire) commented on my blog last week. 
• Proud of our youth pastor (Chris Wallace).  He's doing a great job loving and leading our students.
• We are in need of additional staffing.  Church is in a crazy momentum mode, tomorrow I'm going to call VFCC to see who is coming out of college that we might be interested in.
• Our youth group was at youth Convention 08 (check it out on YouTube)  Michael Gungor and one of my best freinds on the planet, Pat Schatzline, were there to light up 5000 teenagers!!!
• Spoke last week to 400 men at Men's Frat at LCBC.  We are going to link up with LCBC and start a Men's Frat on our side of Lancaster to reach out to men in the east and southern parts of Lancaster County.
• I wonder if we should've had 2 services scheduled this Easter Sunday instead of one?
• I wish I would've gotten golf carts to drive people to the front door so they wouldn't have to walk so far.
• Saw a lot of people that brought a lot of friends and family to church.  Will try to get pictures up this week.

Praise God for another very cool Easter service.  This week is a very busy one for me.  I'm off to Texas to preach to youth and youth leaders.  Keep our family in your prayers as we travel.  OKAY, I'm wiped out.  Good night!

Good Friday

Well, today is the day.  Even though I know how it'll turnout on Sunday, I always think about the price Jesus paid for my sins ... TODAY.  So does our culture.  Have you seen the shows, specials, ads?  People WANT to have the spiritual conversation.  It was around 9AM that they nailed Him to the cross and about 3PM is when He died.  I am so grateful to Jesus for paying my price for forgiveness.  If He stopped there, forgiveness would have been mine but I would still be spiritually dead.  Ah, then comes the resurrection.

Because Jesus rose from the dead, I am NOW spiritually ALIVE.  I love Steve Fee and his song:  All Because of Jesus:

It's all because of Jesus I'm alive

It's all because the blood of Jesus Christ

It covers me and raised this dead man's life

It's all because of Jesus I'm alive!!!

Thank You Jesus!

82%

Hey, Easter is coming this Sunday.  I just heard that researchers have determined that 82% of the people you invite to an Easter service WILL come.  This week our services are at 10AM.  Our regular Sunday meetings are maxing out.  I often thought over the past 2 weeks that we should've opened this up to 2 services.  Taken the plunge ... just did it!  It would've been a great time to experiment ... but ... alas, this Easter came so fast.

I'm talking about the change that the resurrection brings to all.  The death of Jesus forgave our sins but we were still spiritually dead.  But Jesus didn't come to just die for us so that we could go through rituals and religious tradition.  He came to bring us BACK to right relationship with God the Father.  The resurrection of Jesus made us ALIVE spiritually!  I LOVE EASTER and the hope it brings!!

Anyway, get out there and invite somebody.  Doesn't take much effort, just SOME effort on your part!  You and they, will be glad you did.

Monday Morning Mind Dump - 3.17.08

What a fantastic day.  My GREAT day started actually on Saturday night.  I got a voice mail from one of the guys in our congregation.  He, by his own admission, hadn't been a good dad and husband for years.  His wife said their marriage.  He told me, "That was the bottom for me."  He got his life right with the Lord, got involved in volunteering in the church.  He knew that the Lord gave his precious bride of over 20 years to him as a gift.  He repented for the way he had treated her and became accountable to a group of guys in our church.  He began the long road to romancing her.  For months, I mean months, she wanted nothing to do with him.  It was difficult, but he remained true.  After not knowing if he was coming or going in the relationship, he invited her to a get-a-way.  She said, "YES."  The call on Saturday was to tell me that the Lord had done a miracle.  She stopped the divorce proceedings.  They are on the road back!  All glory to God!!!!!!!

• Sunday was another full house.  We're in a series.  We talked about FAITH when it comes to the miraculous and answered the question, "If I can easily pray for someone else in their time of need, why is it so difficult for me to believe God for help in my time of need?"
• We had our 1st Water Baptismal class in our new building.  15 candidates, including my neighbor, are going to be baptized on March 30th.
• Pam (my lady!) led worship - good grief, she can flat out sing and lead a congregation in WORSHIP!!
• Saw some old friends in church today.  Great to see Lou!
• Great response to the altar as many came for prayer in very specific areas.  God's gonna due miracles!
• Youth group is rockin for Jesus!  They met on Sunday and they are breaking all the rules.  Chris Wallace is a diamond in the rough.  Can't wait for him to come on staff full-time.  (need those non-tithers to start tithing!)
• Annual Stewardship Meeting.  Steve Brubaker knocked it out of the park ... again!  He does a wonderful job as the church treasurer.  God has blessed us with GREAT people who have filled that role.  2007 was a great year!
• 2008 is already looking like our best year ever.

This Sunday is Easter.  Researchers say that 82% of the people you invite to church on Easter WILL COME!  Do it!  Invite someone to church this week!

Don't forget to keep those miracle testimonies coming in.