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leadership coaching network starting soon!

A couple of weeks ago, we opened applications for the new leadership coaching networks that will begin in September through TonyMorganLive. We’ve already received over 20 applications, which may be for about half the spots. The deadline for applications is July 31, but these coaching networks will probably fill up before then.

Still on the fence about whether or not to participate? Here’s what others have said:

Paul Alexander is a natural leader and a great coach. He’s strategic, constantly learning, and has been very helpful to me in my ministry leadership and management.”
– Mike Work, Executive Pastor of Mission Community Church in Gilbert, AZ

“When I have a leadership question Paul is always one of my first calls. He is a gifted leader and strategist. Paul knows how to ask the right questions to properly diagnosis current systems, and the unique capacity to help teams formulate a plan that is both practical and attainable. Working with Paul has been an encouragement and has stirred in me the desire to be a better leader.”
– Aaron McRae, Senior Pastor of Hillside Community Church in Alta Loma, CA

“Paul Alexander is simply brilliant when it comes to helping pastors and churches get laser-focused on their purpose, process and values. I believe he is one of the top strategic thinkers in the church today. After connecting with him, you will be encouraged, inspired and equipped.”
– Kyle Wall, Senior Pastor of Atlantic Shores Baptist Church in Virginia Beach, VA

“Paul is a very talented leader who knows how to form and implement strategic plans, while encouraging and building leaders in the process. He is methodical in planning his approach, and builds his processes to include appropriate goals, steps, budgets, and measurement for completion. During my time working with Paul, he demonstrated how to focus on projects and refocus when scope changed or obstacles rose up. While learning from Paul, he made things “reproducible” which has allowed me to keep my teams on task and lead them to do the same.”
– Kerry Dodd, CFO of Mars Hill Church in Seattle, WA

You can get more details about the next Coaching Network on our website.

What’s next?

Complete the Coaching Network Application. The Phoenix Leadership Coaching Network that I’m leading will be limited to no more than 12 leaders and begins in September 2012. I’d like you to consider joining us. The deadline for applications is July 31, 2012.

Questions? Contact me


Posted in Leadership

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a fathers day interview with my dad

 

He’ll be the first person to tell you that he wasn’t a perfect Father, but he left his sons something that most Dads never leave behind. He left a legacy that’s worth repeating. From a long line of abusive alcoholics my Dad, a first generation Christ-follower, changed his legacy. This past weekend I had the opportunity to have the most influential man in my life on stage with me at Sun Valley Community Church for an interview, and it made for the best Father’s Day of my life.


Posted in Creative Arts, Family, Spiritual Formation

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life on the run

What if Dr. Seuss told the story of Jonah? It might sound a little bit like this…

The Lord’s word to Jonah came quite unexpected:
“Go down to Nineveh. You’ve been elected.”

But he didn’t go. Instead he ran right away.
Listen up, don’t you mimic. It will ruin your day!

Cause, you can’t run away from the Lord. Jonah knew it.
In this series we will find out what occurs when you do it!

So proud of the work that the Creative Arts Team at Sun Valley Community Church is doing!


Posted in Creative Arts

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Special Needs: is the church forgetting an entire segment of the population?

 

Recently my wife and two daughters (8 and 7 years old respectively) began volunteering in the Special Needs Ministry at Sun Valley Community Church. Every week my girls come home beaming; excited to tell me stories about their “buddy” that they helped at church that week. They’re 8 and 7 so it’s pretty simple stuff to be honest with you. They help with crafts, with snack time, and for those who are able to they go with them to a large group worship time. Mostly they’re just spending time with these children, playing with them, and being a friend.  At first I was proud of them for serving and learning to put others first.

But after hearing stories of families who were never able to come to church before due to the unique needs of their children, my heart has moved from feeling “nice” to feeling “right.” As I grow in my understanding of special needs children and their families I am increasingly proud that my daughters are unknowingly fighting against a great injustice in the world. Caring for the children and families from a segment of the population that the church has seemingly forgotten about. I can’t help but wonder how many families, aren’t exposed to the gospel, don’t come to church, and never benefit from being a part of a community of believers because churches simply aren’t thinking of them and preparing for them. I can’t help but wonder why so many churches seem to be content to sit back and do nothing to address the needs of these families. Am I the only one?


Posted in Spiritual Formation, Volunteers

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is there hope for dying churches?

 

New Hope Baptist Church began in the early 1960’s. But if you drive by the campus in Mableton, Georgia, a suburb located on the northwest side of Atlanta, you’ll see a sign out front that reads “Vinings Lake Church.” Last year I had the opportunity to get to know Alex Swann, who serves on staff at Vinings Lake Church, and hear the incredible story.

In the spring of 2005 New Hope had dwindled down to about 25 people who were remaining at the church. They had a heart to reach the changing suburban community around them with the Gospel, but were stuck. So they decided to approach Pastor Johnny Hunt and First Baptist Woodstock for help because of their proven record of starting churches. To make an incredible story short, First Baptist Woodstock “launched” Pete Hixson from their staff, and started a brand new church called Vinings Lake. The “launch” team that started Vinings Lake was made up of the remaining people of New Hope, some people from First Baptist Woodstock, and others from the community that had heard what was going on and wanted to be a part of it. During the preparation time as the core group was meeting they also conducted an “Extreme Church Makeover” to the facility – modernizing the inside and outside of the campus. Vinings Lake Church held their first services on Easter of 2006, a year after the leadership team from New Hope had first approached First Baptist Woodstock for help. Today Vinings Lake is growing, has two weekend services, and is averaging over 400 people in its services.

In their new book “Better Together: Making Church Mergers Work,” Jim Tomberlin and Warren Bird assert the following:  “Roughly 80 percent of the three hundred thousand Protestant churches in the United States have plateaued or are declining, and many of them are in desperate need of a vibrant ministry. Among the 20 percent of growing congregations across the United States, many are in desperate need of space. These conditions present a potential win-win for forward-thinking church leaders who believe that “we can do better together than separate,” and it is revitalizing church topography.”

Could a church merger be in your future?


Posted in Leadership