Weekly Update - 8-7-2017

This week’s Team Update is a guest post by Chris Williams, Assistant District Superintendent of the Crossroads District. Chris comes alongside leaders and churches to help them reach their potential and increase their missional effectiveness. Chris and his wife, Marietta, live in Marion with their three kids, Sean, Anika, and Elliot.

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Thinking Strategically

Every church has limited resources of people, time, and money. It is this fact that makes thinking strategically so crucial for every congregation.

To think strategically is to prayerfully ask and answer a certain set of questions so the church can leverage the limited resources they have for maximum kingdom impact.

These questions revolve around three key areas:

1) Mission and Vision - Why do we exist and where do we hope to be in 3 to 5 years?
2) Current Reality - Where are we right now and what is true about our current situation?
3) Strategy - How will we move from where we are to where we want to be and what are the next steps?

As I pray for the churches of the Crossroads District, one of the things that I continually ask God for is to help each pastor, board, and leadership team to think strategically. With a growing mission field around us in the state of Indiana and the limited resources at our disposal, we need to be strategic in pursuing God’s purposes in our time.

That’s why we partner with The Unstuck Group to provide a tool like StratOp (shorthand for Strategic Operations). The StratOp process is designed to facilitate crucial conversations among the key leaders of a congregation around the three key areas described above: Vision, Current Reality, and Strategy.

What if every church in the Crossroads District knew its current reality, had a clear mission and vision, and was equipped with a plan to move from here to there? Seeing this become a reality would increase the health and missional effectiveness of our churches and would help us reach our part of the 3 million Hoosiers who currently do not have a life transforming relationship with Jesus Christ.

If you’d like to learn more about StratOp and how a tool like this could help increase the health and missional effectiveness of your church, contact me directly by phone, text or email (765.617.7882 or [email protected]). Our church health team would love to come alongside you to help you think strategically about what God wants to do in and through your church.


Global Leadership Summit - August 10-11, 2017

One of our top three priorities as a district is Leadership Development. And one of the best annual leadership development opportunities is the Willow Creek Global Leadership Summit.

Your influence matters! When you improve your leadership, you impact lives, churches, businesses, governments, schools and families. On August 10-11, join 405,000 people globally for two days of world-class leadership training.

To learn more about the Summit and to purchase your ticket, click HERE.

The Willow Creek Association has provided a discounted rate for solo pastors, senior pastors, and executive pastors in the Crossroads District who attend the Summit at the College Wesleyan Church site in Marion, Indiana.

The discounted rate is $129 per person. This is a savings of $100 per person off the normal rate.

If you’d like to take advantage of this discount please email Chris Williams at [email protected].

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Breakaway 2017

​Pastor’s spouses, hit the reset button this November! Join us at Breakaway 2017 as we step away from everyday patterns and busy schedules to intentionally connect with God and each other. Be refreshed and encouraged through engaging sessions, inspiring worship, and meaningful connections. Take advantage of the pre-conference option for a little extra time away and additional growth and fellowship opportunities. We look forward to seeing you there!

Breakaway ONLY Rate: $69
Regular Breakaway & Pre-Conference Rate: $99
Early Bird Breakaway & Pre-Conference Rate: $84
(Must be received by September 15)

Registration Deadline: October 20, 2017

Go to pastorsspouse.com to register and get all the details!