LESSON 30 - The Truck Driver Was No Match for the Faith-Filled Board Chair

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. Gregg Hunter and Ed McDowell are our guest bloggers this week for the third of three lessons in "Part 9: Holy Ground and Other Locations.”

LESSON 30 OF 40 - The Truck Driver Was No Match for the Faith-Filled Board Chair

Don’t stop at “All in favor say aye.”

THE BIG IDEA FROM THE BOOK: In Lesson 30, we read how powerful a board member’s impact can be when he or she commits to intercede—and act—on behalf of the ministry. This lesson relates the story of how an early board chair of SAMBICA camp near Seattle followed up on the board’s vote to approve the building of a tabernacle—a place greatly needed for gatherings and worship.

The problem: the vote didn’t lead directly to funding and construction. Instead, the board chair at the time, Charlie Johnson, took action—going to the camp property to fast and pray for three days. Then, when it looked like God was delivering what was needed, Johnson grabbed the opportunity and brought the construction of the building to reality.

MY FAVORITE INSIGHTS from Lesson 30, pages 152-155: 
There’s something very different about what Charlie Johnson did and a board focusing on camp operations. His actions were not geared toward directing how things should be done at camp, nor taking on pieces of its ministry operations himself. 

With the board’s approval already given, Johnson saw a need and sought to meet it. Neither money, nor supplies, nor builders were lined up and ready to begin construction. So, Johnson acted: he went to the Source of funding and supplies and prayed. He applied his resources of time, passion and commitment and in the end got a front-row seat to God’s delivery—literally—of what was needed.

A board chair we know often says, “The board is first and foremost a spiritual community called by God to govern a piece of Kingdom work.”  Johnson understood this and took it to heart.

OUR COLOR COMMENTARY:
A friend told me [Gregg] about how a new board of a local youth ministry gathered decades ago to see if they could bring the ministry to the high schools in their area. They all agreed to serve on the board, they agreed to attend the meetings and encourage the leaders—but they had no funds to hire a local director. 

This friend recalls each of the four or five board members going together to a local bank and signing their name to a promissory note that would provide funds to pay the soon-to-be-hired director. He remembers some hesitation, but also recalls his commitment, first to the ministry, then to raising the money to pay back the note!  He was invested, spiritually, emotionally, and financially—and he has stayed invested for nearly 60 years!

Countless kids have met Christ over those decades because of that ministry, and it all started because a group of board members took action to supply what was needed. They realized they didn’t need policies and a three-year strategic plan at that time—they were the plan!

THIS WEEK’S QUOTES & COMMENTARY BY GREGG HUNTER (CEO) and ED McDOWELL (Board Chair):

Gregg Hunter is president/CEO of Christian Camp and Conference Association (CCCA), and is responsible for the overall strategic direction of CCCA in its efforts to maximize ministry for its members. He is passionate about Christian camping because of the life-changing impact it had on his own life. At 17, he committed his life to Christ on his first trip to a Christian camp. Over his career, he has served in leadership roles at Georgia Family Council, Young Life, and The Boeing Company.   

Ed McDowell is the CEO of Warm Beach Camp and Conference Center in Stanwood, Wash.  He also leads Thriving Boards, a board coaching initiative of the Christian Camp and Conference Association. Ed also does consulting with a special focus on board development and problem-solving with fresh perspectives. He and his wife, Bev, live in Stanwood, Wash., where they enjoy their family.

TO-DO TODAY: 
• As a board member, take spiritual action in prayer and/or fasting regarding a significant issue for your ministry.  
• Invite other board members to join you in this spiritual action.
• Expect to get a response from God, because He does answer.   

NEXT WEDNESDAY:
On June 20, 2018, watch for the commentary by Al Lopus on Lesson 31, "Cut the Cord! Invite Board Members to Exit When They Don't Live Your Values. If you want a healthy board, recruit healthy people."

Subscribe to this blog by submitting your email (just above the date/day). Visit the Lessons From the Nonprofit Boardroom webpage and order extra copies for your board members.

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LESSON 11 - Tap! Tap! Tap!

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. Stephen Macchia is our guest blogger this week for the first of four lessons in "Part 4: Epiphanies in the Boardroom.”

LESSON 11 OF 40 - Tap! Tap! Tap!

When the Spirit nudges your board, does He hear a busy signal?

THE BIG IDEA FROM THE BOOK: In Lesson 11, we are challenged to remain prayerful and attentive to the fresh movements of God’s Spirit in all aspects of our board relationships and specifically our meetings. And, we are reminded that God is an initiating God, who is tapping on the shoulders of our heart at all times. 

As a board, the more we are willing to look to God in prayer, the more we will remain united in relationship, mission, and service to the body of Christ. Healthy boards know that it’s best to remain mindful of God, especially when they meet together as brothers and sisters in Christ.

This lesson is critical to the spiritual vitality of any Christian ministry board. It’s the most essential ingredient and yet the most frequently ignored. Prayerfully reflect together on this important lesson and consider God’s invitation as a team.

MY FAVORITE INSIGHTS from Lesson 11, pages 54-58:
• “When the Spirit nudges your board, does He hear a busy signal?”
• “The nudge of the Holy Spirit is the ‘Tap! Tap! Tap!’ of the Spirit on our hearts.” (Stephen A. Macchia)
• “Share prayers of thanksgiving to celebrate God’s hand in achieving a significant goal. The arms of your CEO may be weary. Pray after your board hears the CEO’s report or when you sense the load is heavy.”
• “When a board prays regularly, sincerely, and specifically during board meetings, God will answer these prayers and He will be glorified.”

MY COLOR COMMENTARY:
By far the most important role of any ministry board is to learn how to discern the fresh, empowering presence of the Spirit. This is not something most leaders are accustomed to, unfortunately. Instead, we live most of our days functioning on our human strength, insight, and decisiveness. We may begin or end our day with a short time in Scripture and in prayer, but the rest of our day—we are in the driver’s seat.

So it is with boards led by well-meaning, gracious-hearted, thought-provoking leaders. But, without a continual dependence upon God, we ultimately shift toward human wisdom and without meaning any harm, we end up missing the “tap, tap, tap” of God’s Spirit. It’s the “tap” that’s most important! That’s God at work, and we don’t want to miss His presence, power, direction, and peace.

As you reflect on the significance of this chapter, ask yourself and your board “when was the last time we were totally dependent upon God?” As you sit with that question, consider how to posture your meetings toward attending to the Spirit and responding to His loving initiatives.

THIS WEEK’S QUOTES & COMMENTARY BY STEPHEN A. MACCHIA:

Stephen A. Macchia is Founder and President of Leadership Transformations, Inc. and the Director of the Pierce Center for Disciple-Building at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. He is the author of 12 books, including the Baker best-seller, Becoming A Healthy Church, as well as Crafting A Rule of Life, and Broken and Whole, both with IVP.  

TO-DO TODAY: 
• What is the state of your soul and how are you growing in reliance upon the Spirit of God in your personal life? Do you have a prayer closet where you frequently practice silence and solitude, discerning the presence, power, and peace of Christ?
• Become the “Tap! Tap! Tap!” member of your ministry board team and remind your colleagues and friends to pause often throughout your next meeting and attend to the fresh move of God’s Spirit together. Your board experience will never be the same! 
  

NEXT WEDNESDAY:
On Feb. 7, 2018, watch for Mike Pate's commentary on Lesson 12, "Vision Growth Must Equal Leader Growth. Caution! Vision-casting often backfires."

Subscribe to this blog by submitting your email (just above the date/day). Visit the Lessons From the Nonprofit Boardroom webpage and order extra copies for your board members.

ORDER THE BOOK

LESSON 10 - Prioritize Prayer Over Problems

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. Jeff Lilley is our guest blogger this week for the third of three lessons in "Part 3: Nominees for the Board Member Hall of Fame.”

LESSON 10 OF 40 - Prioritize Prayer Over Problems

Create space for prayer—serious supplications for a serious work.

THE BIG IDEA FROM THE BOOK: In Lesson 10, the authors discuss how we spend so much time focusing on the work our organization does for God, and how, sometimes, we can minimize God Himself. The concept is that prayer shouldn’t just be a token ritual, or simply an agenda item (somewhere between the “Call to Order” and “Approval of Minutes”).  

Instead, this chapter suggests that how we come before God affects every aspect of the meeting that follows. It’s almost as if we’re acknowledging that God actually cares about what happens in our board meetings.  

MY FAVORITE INSIGHTS from Lesson 10, pages 48-51:
• Dan Bolin’s prayer! It is inspired—and you can get it and use it for free! (See Lesson 40.)
• “Christ-centered governance has a boardroom distinctive that requires the right theology and serious intentionality about prayer.”
• “When you take time to pray…God promises to hear and act.”

MY COLOR COMMENTARY:
The first time I read Dan Bolin’s board prayer in Lesson 40, I instantly wondered if he had somehow secretly been listening in on every board meeting I’ve ever attended. It was as if he wrote the prayer because of events and issues our board has faced.  

It’s clear that Bolin knows well the challenges, temptations, and curveballs that come when you fill a room with influential men and women, and then ask them to come together as one body.

Though this chapter is about a time when I forgot to bring  “A Board Prayer” to our board meeting, I can assure you that it has never been forgotten since! 

THIS WEEK’S QUOTES & COMMENTARY BY JEFF LILLEY:

Jeff Lilley is the president of Seattle’s Union Gospel Mission, which serves the poor and broken throughout Seattle and King County in Washington State. Jeff serves on multiple other boards, and has been active as a board coach for the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust’s Board Leadership and Development Program. He also has 17 grandkids, who are all better looking than yours. His favorite books include The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence, Humility by Andrew Murray, and Les Miserables by Victor Hugo. Jeff can be found on Instagram @JeffL7, or the Mission’s website here.

TO-DO TODAY: 

• Make photocopies of “A Board Prayer” (Lesson 40), one per board member, and have it ready for the next board meeting!
• Buy copies of your favorite book on prayer and send one to every board member, with a note that you are praying for them. (Which, of course, means you better actually pray for them!)
  

NEXT WEDNESDAY:
On Jan. 31, 2018, watch for Steve Macchia's commentary on Lesson 11, "Tap! Tap! Tap! When the Spirit nudges your board, does he hear a busy signal?"

Subscribe to this blog by submitting your email (just above the date/day). Visit the Lessons From the Nonprofit Boardroom webpage and order extra copies for your board members.

ORDER THE BOOK