I’m learning a very simple and practical concept that’s help me better love the people God has placed around me.
‘Make what’s important to them, important to me.’
This simple concept, has changed my view on a lot things in relationship building and outreach. It’s helped me understand that one of the ways I can show people around me that I really do care and love them is making the important things to them, important to me.
Here’s some examples:
- Some students in our bible study are starring in an Opera at JU next week. I’m not big into Opera, but it’s important to them, so we have made it important to us. So, we are going opening night to show our support.
- I have a friend who attended their neighbors dog’s first birthday. It seemed silly, but it was important to her neighbors, so she made it important to them.
- I have a couple friends who own a coffee shop, so I try to promote their business as much as I can. I want this simple act to show I care for them and what they are doing.
- Our city has a weekly event called the Riverside Arts Market, it’s important to the city, so I ought to get involved there.
I wonder if we as the church could make a bigger impact in our cities if we adopted this simple idea. If we took a little time to figure out what’s important to our city and then made it important to us. It would be simple gesture, that could make a huge impact. Maybe if we started showing up more to the invitations given to us, more people might take us up on our invitations to our churches.
We’ve listed a ton of stuff on Craigslist. Here’s a list of all we have for sale.
If you live outside of the Jacksonville area, and you are interested in something I can help arrange getting it to you!
With an increase of friendships and network. I’ve realized that a lot of people I know, don’t necessary like each other. It’s been a difficult challenge, when people I know or meet have issues with someone I consider a friend.
I’m learning at the risk of my reputation by association, I will be: misunderstood, discredited, and/or criticized. But, in all this, I have an even greater risk, not being a loyal friend to many.
I’ve decided and chosen, that I will be a loyal friend at the risk of my reputation. Regardless of what one friendship can do to increase or decrease my influence with others. At the end of the day, I want my friends to know I’m here for them regardless of what others may think.
1. Europe :: Spend a month or two, traveling through out Europe. I’d love to go to London, Scotland, Italy, and see Prague again.
2. Spend July 4th weekend in Boston :: My wife did this a few years ago…I’m still jealous.
3. A Surf Trip by Boat :: I’d love to pack out a boat with a few good friends and surf some of the greatest waves in the world.
4. Preaching World Tour :: I’ve dreamed about getting a few friends who are great worship leaders and do a world tour with them. It’d be amazing…they’d lead worship and I’d preach.
5. Four Corners via RV :: This is one my wife’s travel adventure dreams, renting an RV leaving Jacksonville to San Diego to Seattle to NYC and back home. It’d be awesome.
What are some travel adventures you’ve dreamed about doing!?
I love watching Shark Tank. It’s a show where entrepreneurs are looking for an investment and partnership into their business. One of the biggest questions asked is ‘Are you making any money yet?’ Some are profitable and others aren’t. The ones who are and have a promising product will most likely get an investment.
It made me think of a great principle for aspiring young leaders, church planters and/or anyone looking for others to invest into their ministry: What have you done already? If you don’t have a proven track record, it’s going to be a lot harder to raise money or gain followers.
We can not let the idea of ‘calling and passion’ be our only motivation to chase our God given dreams. We need to allow God to shape us and gain some credibility. People will admire your calling and passion, but they are asking ‘What has this guy done in the past to give me some confidence he can pull it off?’I truly believe this idea of gaining credibility is often overlooked. I’m learning that before you set out to chase God sized vision, consider the time you’ve invested in gaining some credibility.
- What are you currently doing that will give others confidence in your vision?
- What have you started or led and been successful at in the past?
- Have you built a big enough network to support your vision?
- Have you invested in someone else ministry to help them be successful?
- Does your calling/passion have some ‘wins’ already to give some credibility?
What would you suggest for young leaders, church planters or anyone else trying to raise money and people to follow their vision?
For those of you that might not know, I launched a photography business last year. What started out as a hobby as turned into a small business. It’s been a joy spending time with people during our sessions and getting to capture pictures that make our clients smile. You can check it out here: boydbettisphoto.com.
1. Preaching :: I’ve got some upcoming preaching engagements I’m really excited about. I’ll be preaching for some great friends over the next few months. Next month, I’ll be preaching for Pastor Manny Keyser at Parkwood Baptist Church. And, this summer I’ll be preaching for one of my mentors, Pastor Alan Floyd at First Baptist of Middleburg. I’ve also, updated my Preaching Schedule.
2. Chets Creek Church :: The past six months of serving at Chets Creek Church has been a lot of fun. I’ve been able to learn a lot about servant leadership, plan and develop some new initiatives, preach during some of the HS worship services, and develop more as a pastor.
3. Brittany and the Boys :: My family is doing great. Our boys are at such a fun age right now. They are non-stop energy. Brittany has been overhauling our house decor and cooking up some incredible meals via Pinterest.
4. Upcoming Project :: I’ve been working on project for one of my mentors. I can’t release any information yet, but I’ll tell you this, when it launches it’s going to be a very valuable resource for leaders, staff teams, and pastors.
5. Traveling :: I’d like to visit Austin, TX this year. Each year we are trying to pick and plan a trip to a city we’ve never been to before. If you’ve been let me know of some things to do, places to stay and visit!
While, this post is primarily directed towards my generation of pastors, I believe it could be beneficial to preachers in general.
I truly believe my generation of preachers need to stop worry about becoming the next big thing. We’ve got a sense of urgency to get to the top, more than advancing the gospel and developing as leaders. It’s okay to want your platform of influence to increase. But, it’s not okay when your motives and desires are for your name to be known more than Jesus.
My generation of pastors need to become more obsessed with growing a love for the local church, working on their holiness, developing sound doctrine, and living lives that worthy of following. I heard Pastor Perry Noble say once, ‘you need to stop worrying about getting discovered and get developed.’ Now, most of us won’t ever admit this, but its very true.
You’ve got to ask yourself:
Are you truly more concerned if people have a change of heart or adore you when you get done preaching?
Are you truly concerned about furthering the cause of Christ or gaining a bigger platform?
Do you want your name known or do you want to make Jesus’ name known?
We need to stop worrying about obtaining our invite to preach at next years Catalyst Conference and more concerned with becoming godly leaders who love Jesus, their wives and church. Then allow Jesus to elevate and increase our platform of ministry in his timing. This is a very hard lesson that Jesus worked in me about a year ago, that I’ve been very thankful for.
Let’s start this new season of blogging off with a simple and quick update.
1. My wife and boys are doing great. Whittaker is a little over two years old now and Fletcher is 15 months old now. We’ve grown a lot over the last few months. We’ve grown a greater appreciation for our marriage and family.
2. Church Life. I’ve worked part-time at Chets Creek Church for the last five months. The staff has been incredible towards me. I love those guys. My official title is ‘Ministry Intern’ but I’ve been treated more like pastoral staff. They have been gracious and good to my family.
3. Travel. We were able to travel this past September to Vancouver and Alaska. Vancouver was hands down one of the best cities I’ve ever visited. We celebrated an early five year anniversary there and then later joined up with her family for an Alaskan cruise.
4. South Africa. Last month I was able to go on our a mission trip with about 25 people from our church. I experienced some stuff I’ve never seen before and was able to preach twice there as well.
5. December. This is random, but December is probably my favorite month. I love it. The colder weather and celebration of Christmas.
You know I love and hate blogs.
I love writing. But, it comes and goes.
I haven’t blog lately, it’s been on purpose.
Thanks for coming by, I’ll be adding some fresh content again.
