Several years ago, I made a connection with Mark Hughes as a result of reading his book called Buzzmarketing. Mark’s life has radically changed in the years since then. With that, he’s released a new book on grace. I’ve asked him to share his story. I hope you’re encouraged and inspired by this interview.

TONY: What prompted you to write Sons of Grace?

MARK: Massive conversion. For 30 years of my life I’d turned off the switch to God. I was successful; my resume spanned from PepsiCo to VP of Marketing of Half.com which we sold to eBay for $300 million. I was author of the book Buzzmarketing and was a sought-after marketing speaker travelling to Europe, the Middle East and middle America.

But Thanksgiving 2007, I realized I had no purpose. I was self absorbed; self centered. I realized I had treated my family and wife pretty poorly for most of my married life. My life had to have more meaning, and when I looked deep inside my life, it was empty of many things.

Around the same time, a friend of mine had asked me if I wanted to attend a men’s spiritual group which met about an hour before we met each week. I was scared to death. I was skeptical of everything religious…perhaps afraid of anything that might replace numero uno (me at the time). But I knew for many years, though, that some kind of faith awaited me.

So Friday mornings, I showed up. Fifteen to twenty men from contractors to multi-millionaires shared openly about the baggage in their lives while reflecting on a passage from the Gospel. I was so removed from Christianity, I didn’t know that the Gospel was the first four books of the New Testament. I was so lost, but I could relate to these honest and flawed men, because I was flawed in so many ways.

I showed up, I stayed, I shared. Then a Marine approached me, knowing that I had written the book Buzzmarketing, and asked how to write a book. We talked, and it quickly evolved into a compilation book where ten tough, flawed men would write their own chapter of how they pushed God away, wreaked havoc and eventually embraced God — finding a peace never experienced before. It took three years from start to finish.

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By Paul Richardson, Executive Director of Engage Burkina

Engage Burkina

One of the African pastors I met with was the first to say it. I’m not sure which one; however, they all carry this little phrase around with them: “Water is life.”

Burkina Faso is a small, land-locked country in West Africa. It is one of the poorest countries in the world. They don’t track unemployment; they call it “underemployment.” It’s a nice way of saying, “There are a lot more people here without jobs than with jobs.”

One in 3.4 children die here before the age of ten. AIDS and malaria are part of daily life in this culture, but the larger factors impacting mortality are simply malnutrition and water-born illnesses.

Here are some quotes from Burkinabe pastors and government leaders we have spoken to since our first vision trip in 2007:

• “People cannot hear the Gospel without water.”
• “You have no idea how many people will trust Christ because of a well.”

Every time we dig or drill a well we put it as close to a church as possible and under the care and oversight of a pastor who makes it available to anyone that has need.

One pastor told us, “The people in the village thought we were a cult. But now that we have brought the well, people are listening to our message.”

Water helps sustain physical life, but, of course, there is a “living water” that you can have where you will never thirst again. Water is life.

This week we are focusing on providing water to villages in Burkina Faso. Consider making a donation to Engage Burkina on behalf of the TonyMorganLive.com community. Or, if you prefer, visit the Engage Burkina store where you can sponsor other projects in the villages where we are doing ministry.

Amber and James Griffin

Yesterday we shared a big announcement at our West Ridge Church location in Cartersville. I’ve been serving since March as the interim pastor. Beginning in January, James Griffin will become the new pastor. James has been serving in our student ministries at West Ridge for about four years. He’s a great leader and teacher. Since my family will continue to attend and serve in Cartersville, I’m looking forward to serving under his leadership.

James and his wife are from the area. They’re also brand new parents. It’ll be fun watching them take this next step in their ministry as a family. This is a win-win for the Griffins and the church in Cartersville. We’re all dreaming and praying for big things for the future of the church.

If you’re a parent of a high schooler at the East Paulding campus, you don’t need to worry. James has built a fantastic team, and he’s obviously around to guide that ministry through this transition. Brad Chandler is providing leadership to our student ministries at that location. We’re also in the process of interviewing to fill the role James will leave. Your students are in good hands.

In the mean time, my role is changing once again. My new responsibility at West Ridge Church will be to oversee the campus pastors for both the current and future campuses. Because of that, I’m looking forward to partnering with James and the other guys as we take our next steps as a church.

Part of the back story of the release of new eBooks in “The Leisure Suit Series” is that Emily and I decided to forgo any profit from the project. Instead, Church Community Builder, the sponsor for this series, has made a sizable contribution to Engage Burkina.

Burkina Faso, located in west Africa, is one of the poorest and most illiterate countries in the world. Engage Burkina has three primary initiatives right now in the areas of water, education, and churches. As needs arise, the non-profit also responds to people who have medical, nutrition, or other needs related to the poverty and living conditions. By reading and sharing the eBooks in this series, you’re also supporting these initiatives.

This week I’ve decided to do something a little different around here. We’re beginning to make decisions on what villages will get water in the coming year. The challenge, of course, is that we’re also deciding what villages will not get water. Our community can do something about that. (more…)

1. Play basketball
2. Ride my bicycle all over the city
3. Write songs on the piano
4. Bowl
5. Avoid girls

Over the last few years, I’ve had the opportunity to work with over 50 churches. There are many, many healthy situations when it comes to senior leadership teams. Healthy leaders are, of course, in the best position to lead healthy churches. Along the way, though, I’ve identified some traps that can create challenges for both leaders and the ministries they lead.

As we continue this series on senior leadership teams, here are eight mistakes to avoid:

1. Adding a family member without considering their capacity or counting the cost. To improve the chances for success, let others make the hiring decision and provide leadership to that family member. And, frankly, I think it’s best if both family members are not on the senior leadership team together.
2. Hiring personality rather than leadership capacity. There are lots of good people (fun people!) who aren’t necessarily the best leaders. There are roles for those folks, but it may not be on your senior leadership team.
3. Elevating seniority over leadership capacity. I’ve been friends with some people for 20 years or more. The length of our relationship, though, doesn’t necessarily mean they are best positioned to serve in leadership with me. Just because you’ve served with someone for 20 years doesn’t mean they’re the right person for your leadership team either.
4. Hiring to fill roles. Think leadership capacity before job titles. You need the right people rather than the right positions. (more…)

I partner with a group of organizations that help resource leaders like you. Here are the folks that are making things happen at TonyMorganLive.com in November:

igniteCRM – web-based church relationship management software created to empower ministry leaders for accelerated church growth

Church Community Builder – web-based church software that actively serves over 1,600 churches in 15 different countries from church plants to multi-site, mega-churches

Leaders Book Summaries – summaries of the best books on leadership, management and church life to help you become a better leader

Outreach Events – specializes in dynamic, outreach-oriented events with speakers and Christian comedians that create opportunities for sharing faith

Standard Theme – the best-coded WordPress theme ever (My site is built on this theme.)

StreamingChurch.tv – provides everything you need to broadcast your services live

Vanderbloemen Search Group – email me if you need help filling your staff leadership position

I have one “featured site sponsor” open currently. If you are interested, email me for more details. I’d love to have you join our team!

You’ll never have enough money to hire enough staff to accomplish your ministry vision. Because of that, building teams and engaging volunteers has to be a priority for every ministry.

Here’s a quick self-assessment. I know of several churches ranging from hundreds to thousands who have as many as 50 to 60 percent of their adults engaged in volunteer ministry. How is your church doing? What if you could significantly increase the number of people serving in ministry?

One of the consulting services I provide to churches responds to this very need. I’ve developed a strategy to help churches increase volunteer engagement. I’d love to work with you and your church to increase the number of people serving others.

As part of that strategy, I’m also available to teach in your Sunday services. Here’s a recent message I taught at Radiant Church in Phoenix on this topic. It was focused on teaching biblical principles about God’s plan for our lives. Part of that plan is for us to use the gifts God gives us to serve other people. Check out the video below.

Are you interested in increasing the number of volunteers in your church? If so, contact me so we can begin to talk about potential next steps.

1. 1980 Cleveland Browns – Brian Sipe leads the “Kardiac Kids” to several come-from-behind wins to take the division title.
2. 1995 Cleveland Indians – The Cleveland Indians make it to the World Series for the first time in over 40 years.
3. 1978 Cincinnati Reds – Because I wasn’t able to get Indians games where we lived, I became a fan of “The Big Red Machine” and watched Pete Rose get his 3,000th hit and a 44-game hit streak.
4. 1987 Cleveland Browns – The Browns made it to the AFC Championship game two years in a row behind quarterback Bernie Kosar.
5. 1990-91 Bowling Green State University Basketball – They only made it to the first round of the NIT, but the season was highlighted by an exciting home win against a highly ranked Michigan State team. (Best game I ever attended.)

In the last article on senior leadership teams, I talked about seven questions to identify who should be on the team. Once you’ve assembled the team, though, then the next opportunity is to create a culture that empowers these leaders. It does no good to invite leaders to be a part of your team if you’re not going to let them lead.

With that in mind, here are seven strategies to empower leaders to leverage their gifts and maximize the potential of your organization.

1. Agree on the vision and values, and let your leaders make decisions. If the senior pastor has to make all the decisions and come up with all the new ideas, that’s an indication of micromanagement rather than empowerment. The objective is to push decision-making to the front lines of ministry. By clarifying vision and values and implementing systems that facilitate next steps, you can free people, both staff and volunteers, to engage ministry without having to wait for permission.
2. Invite conflict privately. Demand unity publicly. It’s impossible to have unanimous agreement on every decision. The goal is not consensus — there will be rare instances, in fact, when leaders have to make tough calls and the majority of the people in the room think it’s the wrong decision. That’s leadership. At the same time, though, you have to create an environment where push-back or alternatives are welcomed, but unity is expected.
3. Hold leaders responsible for outcomes rather than dictating the execution. As long as the execution fits within the framework of your vision, values and strategy, leaders should have freedom when it comes to the path from here to there. If you can’t trust them with executing the tasks, you have the wrong leaders. On the other hand, the expectations need to be quite clear. What’s the win? There should be no confusion over the expected outcomes. (more…)