May 2008 - Posts
Today 20 students from CRISTA's Seattle Urban Academy are spending the day following around two different people for a half day each to learn about a job they have an interest in doing. Can you imagine a better thing than one of these young people getting to walk along side someone with passion for Christ, professional competence in their field and a great work ethic in order to get a good look at a potential profession? You see them now in the halls and sitting behind desks watching and doing! I am sure the fruit of this exercise will be born out in the years to come. What a great idea!
Proverbs 4:7
Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.
We just completed one of three meetings of CRISTA board conducts each year. These are fabulous and devoted people. They do not get paid a thing for the important work they do, they very rarely ask for any reimbursement for the expenses they incur while doing their work, and they donate significant amounts of money to the various ministries of CRISTA. They have two important functions. First, they serve as the overseers to insure that CRISTA fulfills the purpose for which it was created as outlined in the corporate by laws. They do this through holding the CEO (that's me) accountable for the performance of the mission. Each year I outline my goals and report to the CEO evaluation committee. They also watch, sense and feel what is going on as they have free access to the organization and also participate in many ministry activities. Second they have fiduciary responsibility (a person or group to whom property or power is entrusted for the benefit of another) for the financial health and welfare of CRISTA. These duties are outlined in detail in the corporate by laws.
They also are a great encouragement to me and give wisdom and thinking to the plans we think about together at each meeting. We encourage what we call "robust dialogue" at our meetings. Nothing is taken personally. We challenge each others thinking. This is a biblical principle as far as I am concerned. No one has a corner on wisdom. Proverbs 13:10 Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice. Together we are on a quest to seek wisdom from the Lord for our mission. Proverbs 4:7 Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. May God grant us wisdom as we attempt to lead CRISTA into the future, the reach more people with the good news of Jesus CRISTA and to serve them with love and humility.
Seattle Urban Academy held its annual fundraiser Thursday Night, May 8. SUA transforms the life of teenagers who have dropped out of school with little chance of moving on to a productive life. They are great educators but that is not what makes miracles happen. The staff and teachers love the kids like Jesus loves them. The teachers and the kids shared their stories.
These kids are truly being born again. When I get a chance to hear their stories and sense God's Spirit at work, I am so encouraged and so privileged to serve at CRISTA. There is nothing better than to sense you are square in the middle of God's work and get to play a small part in watching it happen.
Friday Morning I attended the annual King County Prayer Breakfast. They honored three great saints who passed away this year, Norm Maleng, Don Valencia and Bruce Kennedy. I only knew Bruce who served on the CRISTA Board of Trustees. It was what a gathering like that should be. A real focus on faithful men who held up the name of Christ through the character they demonstrated through their life both professionally and personally. Skip Li was the main speaker. I was struck by his humility and transparency. Another morning of real encouragement. Live your life playing to an audience of one.
I have spent the last three ministry council retreats (one every six months) leading the leaders of CRISTA in thinking and praying about humility. Verses like Col 3:12 throw me for a loop when I consider how I should be behaving. As God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. I haven't seen too many books on leadership that tout compassion, kindness, humility, meekness and patience as being high on the list of leadership qualities. I have tried other approaches but actually come to believe that the bible is the best book on leadership. The problem is we actually have to incarnate these qualities for them to work. So try that for a few days and see what happens. I find that God is pouring His Spirit out on those that actually practice His ways. We all need a lot of practice.
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