There are few things I love more than taking what God reveals to me through His Word and then teaching others, what was taught to me. The Bible is BIG. But, it doesn't have to be intimidating. I love taking what the Bible says and making it easy to understand and applicable to a person's everyday life so they can become more like Jesus.

Preaching God's Word is weighty therefore should never be taken lightly. People are starving for what is true and what is real. They want hope and they want direction and they want something they can trust wholeheartedly. The Gospel is what the world needs and God has given me the responsibility of delivering His message to those who need to hear it. This is humbling and terrifying. I pray I never give a message that isn't His.

“If people leave worship saying, ‘What an amazing preacher!’ we have failed. Instead we must long for them to say, ‘What a great God, and what a privilege it is to meet him in his Word, as we have just done.’ A good teacher clears the way, declares the way, and then gets out of the way. ~Allistar Begg

“Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.” – 2 Timothy 4:2

Leadership development is the true game changer in any organization. It is crucial for fostering a strong and healthy organizational culture which in-turn, drives long-term success.

By making the individual better, you are ultimately making the team better. Through developing leaders, you’re not only improving the quality of your team member, you’re improving the quality of life of said team member.  An empowered and equipped person is a successful and content one. 

Leadership development doesn't just ensure the success of the organization now, but ensures continued success in the future. It allows the organization to move freely where it needs and wants to go because it has the right people ready to take it there.

Ultimately, effective leadership development enables individuals to make informed decisions, fosters collaboration, and creates a resilient team that can adapt to changing environments.

“The single biggest way to impact an organization is to focus on Leadership Development” – John C. Maxwell

My mentor drilled this saying into me, “If you want to go fast, go alone.  If you want to go far, go together.”  I can honestly say it changed everything about how I lead.  If winning takes losing your team along the way, what have you really gained?  Is God impressed with what you’ve accomplished if it was at the expense of others?  Absolutely not.  Winning God’s way means winning together through committing to doing it His way. 

Healthy culture doesn't happen organically. It takes intentionality and dedication from everyone. It takes every person agreeing what it should be then everyone working together to make it be. 

"Culture isn't what you preach. It's what you tolerate." - Jocko Willink 

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” – Colossians 3:23-24

At the end of the day, the Church is ultimately about creating disciples of Jesus Christ. 

The world is hard and unforgiving. The only way through it that leads to God is by placing your faith in and following His Son. It is the responsibility of The Church to teach its members how to become like Jesus. He's not only the hope of the world, but he’s also the way through it.

As a pastor, nothing brings me more joy than to help a person find and be saved by Jesus.  Then, to help said person follow him.  Through discipleship, you will find your purpose, your identity, your strength and your hope.  Don’t sell yourself short by only allowing Jesus to be your savior.  Permit Jesus to be your Lord as well. 

“What makes authentic disciples is not visions, ecstasies, biblical mastery of chapter and verse, or spectacular success in the ministry, but a capacity for faithfulness. Buffeted by the fickle winds of failure, battered by their own unruly emotions, and bruised by rejection and ridicule, authentic disciples may have stumbled and frequently fallen, endured lapses and relapses, gotten handcuffed to the fleshpots and wandered into a far county. Yet, they kept coming back to Jesus.” – Brennan Manning

“Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” – Matthew 16:24-25