LESSON 29 - Think and Pray Outside the Box—and the County

Welcome to Lessons From the Nonprofit Boardroom Blog, a 40-week journey through the new book, Lessons From the Nonprofit Boardroom, by Dan Busby and John Pearson. Each Wednesday, we're featuring a guest writer’s favorite snippet from the week's topic. David Curry is our guest blogger this week for the second of three lessons in "Part 9: Holy Ground and Other Locations.”

LESSON 29 OF 40 - Think and Pray Outside the Box—and the County

Discern your Big HOLY Audacious Goal (carefully).

THE BIG IDEA FROM THE BOOK: Is it God’s will that you operate without a compelling vision, scrimping by year-to-year and losing momentum? Then make every effort to pray and organize towards a God-sized vision for your ministry. Expand your experience by visiting other ministries, getting out of your own county to see what God is doing—and CAN do—through you and your ministry.

In Lesson 29, we read the story of Willard Heck, founder of New Life Ranch, who had a big vision for what God could do in northeast Oklahoma. His faith and vision led to a big, audacious dream that has touched many lives. But it isn’t just founders who can receive a big, HOLY audacious goal. God is stirring many leaders and boards today to expand their vision beyond survival and day-to-day living—and into something that is both audacious and aligned with His will.

MY FAVORITE INSIGHTS from Lesson 29, pages 147-151: 
• “Leaders can lift a board’s vision by reminding them of God’s work in other locations. Not only do you need to think outside the box, sometimes it helps to think outside the county.”
• “Resist the temptation to focus only on budgets, blueprints, and buildings. Instead, embrace those goals that focus on the people God is calling you to reach and serve.”
• “What target is so big, so audacious, so needing the faith of zealots, that only God can deliver?” 

MY COLOR COMMENTARY:
The tyranny of the day-to-day—budgets, meetings, and yearly events to sustain life and keep the lights on—can overwhelm most leaders and sap our energy, leaving little that could be used to power a big, God-sized vision. Yet, counterintuitively, if we start with the big idea that we feel God led us to pursue, and aligns with His will, then the energy and resources for the day-to-day often take care of themselves. In the end, we are left with something we could not have done ourselves, but that has sparked an imagination in the teams and people that God has surrounded us with.   

THIS WEEK’S QUOTES & COMMENTARY BY DAVID CURRY:

David Curry is CEO of Open Doors USA, which advocates for and supports persecuted Christians in the areas of the world most hostile to Christian faith. He is the author of four books, including First Aid for Enablers: Ten Treatments for Enablers and the Addicts They Love. Curry is also a regular contributor to Fox News and other media outlets.  He lives in Santa Ana, Calif., with his family.

TO-DO TODAY: 
• Visit inspirational settings to spark your imagination and vision.
• Think, pray, and discern God’s direction for the future. Does He want you to live simply day-to-day, or is He prompting something bigger?

NEXT WEDNESDAY:
On June 13, 2018, watch for the tag-team commentary by CCCA's Gregg Hunter (CEO) and Ed McDowell (board chair) on Lesson 30, "The Truck Driver Was No Match for the Faith-Filled Board Chair. Don't stop at 'All in favor say aye.'"

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