Leadership Thought: Are You a Proactive Communicator?

Dear Friends,

Are you a proactive communicator? Do you look for opportunities to connect with people, especially those whom you do not know?

As a church member, do you come to church with the hopes of meeting someone new, and when you see that someone, do you take the first step in introducing yourself to them?  

The chances are slim that a visitor will introduce themselves to you. Most visitors are slow to engage with those around them, and so it is important that you be willing to initiate the conversation.

The key to connecting with people is to be proactive, to be the first one to initiate the conversation. “Hello, my name is Tom. What is yours” or “I don’t think I know you, could you tell me your name?”  

To take the initiative in greeting someone may seem a little awkward or uncomfortable for you if you are on the introverted side, but once you do it a few times you will become more comfortable in initiating that conversation. You will be surprised by how many friends you will make doing this. Relationships must have a beginning, and if you’ll ‘make the first move’ you may discover you are talking to your next best friend.

I have found a helpful way of building on your initial greeting and that is to ask the person, “Tell me your story.” They may look at you rather strangely, perhaps even puzzled, and then I might add. “ I’d love to hear more about you. Tell me what brought you here this morning?” 

I had breakfast with one of my best friends who is a hospice chaplain, and he told me he always seeks to do a “life review” with everyone he visits for the first time. He wants to hear the person share important events or experiences that have shaped and impacted his/her life.  In doing so, he often finds common ground that he and the one visited can build on.

There is a significant story to be learned from everyone you meet, but you may never discover that story unless you take the first step in initiating the conversation.

As Opry Winfrey has said, “everyone has the need to be seen and heard,” and good listeners are adept at connecting with people by exercising good listening skills.

By the way the person I met with for breakfast  I led to Christ almost thirty years ago, largely by asking good questions and then being careful to be a good listener.

‘Hit and run evangelism’ can sometimes work, but more often than not most people come to Christ through relationships, or friendship evangelism, which is built upon extensive conversations with a friend who listens and cares before sharing his/her faith. At least that’s been my experience. What is yours?

Yours in faith and friendship,

Tom

Leadership Thought: It Happened on the Beaches of Southern California. Can It Happen Again?

Dear Friends

I came to faith in Christ during the early 60's, but my faith grew the most during the time of the Jesus Movement in the late 60's, a time when I was in seminary. It was an exciting time when the Spirit of God was moving in the hearts of young people on the beaches of Southern California and where it found a home  in Calvary Chapel under the leadership of the late Pastor Chuck Smith. 

I remember singing to the music of Mylon LeFevre, Stryper, Chuck Girard and Love Song, Keith and Melanie Green, Terry Clark and others, and I am forever grateful for this period which birthed in me an even greater love for Jesus.

Recently I happened upon a documentary of this period known as the Jesus Revolution. It was titled "First Love: A Historic Gathering Part 1, and I was so touched  and moved by the music and the witness of those first "Jesus people" that I wanted to share it with you. It was the simple faith and love for Jesus of these spiritually lost young people that gave birth to one of the greatest revivals in our nation.

I encourage you to take a listen. I think you will be inspired as you catch a glimpse of how God used this period to bring thousands of young people to faith in Jesus. Though personal testimonies and heartfelt music, Jesus is lifted up and lives were forever changed by the proclamation of a simple gospel of Christ's redeeming love.

I hope your heart is touched as mine was, and that you too will once again relive this glorious spiritual revolution. My prayer is simple: "Come Jesus come into our heats once again as you  did in the hearts of those young people whose lives were forever changed.

Yours in Faith and Friendship,

Tom

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxvOfr1XnzI

Leadership Thought: Have You Said, "I'm Thankful" yet?

Dear Friend,

Our lives are different because  of 11 men who were committed to share a message that would change the world. 

Down through the years, the wonderful, good news of the gospel has been passed on to those who would then pass it on to others and one day it was passed on y to you,  and you became a beneficiary of that good news. 

Maybe it happened in church, in school, in an office, or like me, at a conference.

As you look back at that special moment, most of you can remember a person(s) who was instrumental in the decision you made.

For me it was a college football player, Chuck Beale. He was a teammate of mine, who had heard the message, and was on fire to share it. It was his enthusiasm and determination to be used by God that resulted in his passing on the message that was passed on to him. And today I am so grateful he did.

You probably have a Chuck in your life-someone who influenced you to follow Jesus. Maybe they were the ones who shared Jesus with you and you accepted Him. Or maybe like me, the person influenced you to explore the faith and you did, and as a result you came to know Jesus.

What happened forever changed your life and mine, and it all began with someone God used to impact and influence your decision to follow Christ.

Jesus called His disciples to go into the world and make disciples, and we are the products of that call. The message those disciples shared with the world is the same message you and I heard and our response to it has changed our lives for all eternity.

So, my question to you this day before Thanksgiving morning is have you ever thanked the one who passed along the message to you? Does that person know your life is different because of his or her words, prayers, or actions?

I hope so. But if you have never taken the time to thank that faithful witness maybe today is the day you should do so.

As you read the words of  “Thank You” by Ray Boltz, I encourage you to think of that person(s) who played a part in your coming to Christ and take a moment to prayerfully thank them and then pick up a pen, or the phone and share a personal thank you with that special person(s) who helped make such a difference in your life.

                   “Thank you for giving to the Lord, I am a life that was changed.

                   “Thank you for giving to the Lord, I am so glad you gave.

                   “One by one, they came as far as the eyes could see,

                   “Each life somehow touched by your generosity.

                   “Little things that you had done, sacrifices made,

                   “Unnoticed on the Earth, in heaven now proclaimed.

                   “Thank you for giving to the Lord, I am a life that was

                     changed.”  

And just as the message was shared with you, may you  commit to sharing and passing it along to others who like you, will say “Thank you, I’m so glad you did.”

Yours in faith and friendship,

Tom