Leaders Retreat Handbook

March 28-29, 2014

Gatlinburg, TN

Contents
Orientation

Page 1

Leadership

Page 3

Suggested Readings

Page 6

Some Questions

Page 8

Branding

Page 9

Notes

Page 10

Inserts

Page 14

FRIDAY, MARCH 28 8:00 P.M.

ORIENTATION

FRIDAY
8:00-8:45 p.m. Session 1: Orientation (The Schedule/Plan, Presentation about Leadership & Suggested
Readings)

8:45-9:00 p.m. Short Break

9:00-10:00 p.m. Session 2: Group Discussion: How Will We Strengthen Our Love for the Lost & Create a Soul-
Saving Culture?

SATURDAY
8:00-9:00 a.m. Breakfast Together in the Cabin

9:00-10:00 a.m. Session 3 (Men & Women Separate):

Men Group Discussion: Lets pinpoint our long term and short term goals, develop the vision that will help us meet
them, & articulate how we can cast the vision & involve church members in it (Part 1)
Women Group Discussion: The path to converting whole families in our community often leads through the woman.
How can we further develop our Womens Ministries to meet our ladies needs and draw in women from the
community?

10:00-10:15 a.m. Short Break

10:15-11:15 a.m. Session 4 (Men & Women Separate):

Men Elders Time

Women Free time/Prepare Lunch/ Head to town to spend time together

11:15-12:30 p.m. Lunch in the Cabin (Men)

12:30-1:30 p.m. Session 5 (Men & Women Separate):

Men Group Discussion: Lets discuss what it takes to spiritually develop our people & how to make that happen at
LaVergne
Women In town spending time together

1:30-2:30 p.m. Break

2:30-3:45 p.m. Session 6 (Men & Women Separate):

Men Batsell Presents about Developing Our Brand, then Group Discussion Top Five Goals for 2014-15 (From
Survey)
Spiritually speaking, a church shouldnt be a reflection of the community in which it meets, but should reflect God to
that community. How do we win a strong influence in LaVergne and surrounding areas and use it to glorify God and
save souls?
1. Establish Regular Training Opportunities for Ministry Leaders
2. Develop Better Curb Appeal (New Sign, Etc.)
3. Develop our Brand (Improve Advertising Marketing Social Media Use)
4. Develop Ministries that Meet Needs (Community Involvement, Parades, Special Days, Schools, Coat Giveaway, BBQ
for Bus Min., Benevolence Following House Fires, Etc.)
5. Repackage or Reemphasize Present Programs
Women Still in town spending time together

3:45 p.m. Exit Survey about Future Leaders Retreats Pack & Meet Women in Town

5:00 p.m. Eat Supper Together in Town & Head Home







1.

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7.

Group Discussion Guidelines

Amos 3:3

Who will be the leader of the group?

o Whoever is leading the presentation or discussion will be considered the leader during that
session. Our elders have the right at any time to start, direct, change direction, or end a
discussion.
How many will speak at a time?
o We will be loving and respectful to each other, so only one will speak at a time during
sessions.
Who will each person be speaking for?
o Each person will speak for him or herself.
Will you have a right to disagree with each other?
o We all have a right to our own opinions, so some disagreement is expected. We have the
right to disagree, but not to be disagreeable.
How will you deal with each other if someone gets their feelings hurt?
o If we all follow guideline number 4, no one should get his or her feelings hurt. However,
participation in discussions implies your willingness to apologize if what you share
inadvertently hurts someones feelings.
What other rules do you need?
o This retreat is intended to be positive and constructive. Everyone is asked to avoid pointless
dumping and complaining. If you share your recognition of a problem or failure, do so only
with the intent of suggesting a solution, and do so without blaming anyone.
o Other rules?
How will you deal with rule violations?
o We all love each other and trust each other, so heres hoping therell be no need to deal with
violations.
o If there are considerable violations, we all commit to learning from them to be better in the
future.

-Adapted from a similar document by bro. Jerry Barber

FRIDAY, MARCH 28 8:00 P.M.

LEADERSHIP
Leadership
Leaders have two very important roles:
1. Preserve and protect
Values: What makes us unique?
Beliefs: What are the nonnegotiables of our theology?
Mission: What do we do, and what
do we not do?
2. Stimulate progress
Strategy: Where do we focus?
Vision: Where are we going, and
how will we know when weve
arrived?
Initiatives: What action will we take?
By beginning a change process with what doesnt change, a leader will lower
anxiety and align the change to the cornerstone of identity and purpose.
Three Essentials of Leading Well (The Catalyst Leader by Brad Lomenick):
1. Authenticity
Not just expected, its required.
Write out your (leadership) strengths and weaknesses, and look yourself
in the mirror and accept yourself.
Sharing strengths and weaknesses is crucial to letting people in and
enabling them to connect
Do not create a pseudo-self! Others will eventually see right through it.
Turn over the rocks in your life to find the areas that need to be cleaned.
Leaders who are willing to share their own struggles honestly gain
immediate influence!!!
2. Pure Passion
Protect your heart and constantly look for ways to grow.
Maintain a weekly habit of personal devotional time to keep the fires
burning.
3. Capability
Develop a steady work ethic.
Dont settle for less than excellence!
Three Leadership Killers (Gabe Kolstad, 12/10/2012):
1. Unbridled Tradition
The problem with tradition in churches is when programs and practices
become an end in themselves rather than a means to an end.
2. Dysfunctional Structure
Decisions should be able to be made quickly, trust is built through flowing
communication and authority comes with responsibility.
Page 3

3. Unresolved Conflict
Jesus made it clear that unity in the Body of Christ is a non-negotiable.
Its intended to be the hallmark of Christianity in the world.
4. Lack of Faith
Both the task and the challenges of church leadership are outrageous,
and they require a leader who has the faith to believe God will prevail.
5. Fuzzy Vision
As Nelson Searcy says, people say no to whats confusing.
If the vision for our churches is foggy, the buy-in will be minimal. What
people are looking for in life is a purpose, a clear and burning opportunity
to connect their lives with something greater and more enduring. And
when a leader clarifies a clear and compelling vision and asks people to
sign on, they do.
A good vision answers the question, What will it be like when we get
there?
The Basics:
1. Everyone is a Leader
Ralph Waldo Emerson said, Every man is a hero and an oracle to
somebody, and to that person, whatever he says has an enhanced value.
2. Leadership is Influence
People are first influenced by what they see For most people, if they
perceive you are positive and trustworthy and have admirable qualities,
they will seek you as an influencer in their lives. And the better they get
to know you, the greater your credibility will be and the higher your
influence can becomeif they like what they see. -John Maxwell.
People are influenced most by those who make them feel the best about
themselves. -John Maxwell.
3. Leadership is for those committed to Integrity
One of the realities of life is that if you cant trust a person at all points,
you cant truly trust him or her at any point. Even people who are able
to hide their lack of integrity for a period of time will eventually
experience failure, and whatever influence they have temporarily gained
will disappear. John Maxwell.
Character comes from who we are. But some people would like to be
judged not by who they are, but by the titles they have earned or the
position they hold, regardless of the nature of their character. Their
desire is to influence others by the weight of their credentials rather than
the strength of their character. But credentials can never accomplish what
character can. John Maxwell.
4. Not Everyone is a Leader
Therefore it says, When he ascended on high he led a host of captives,
and he gave gifts to men. And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the
evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work
of ministry, for building up the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:8-12 ESV)

For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think
of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober
judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.
For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all
have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and
individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to
the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our
faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the
one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in
generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of
mercy, with cheerfulness. (Romans 12:3-8 ESV)
5. Leadership is for Students
Students of People: Ralph Waldo Emerson acknowledged, Every man I
meet is in some way my superior, and I can learn of him. Dr. Joyce
Brothers said, Listening, not imitation, may be the sincerest form of
flattery. Whenever you dont pay attention to what others have to say,
you send them the message that you dont value them. But when you
listen to others, you communicate that you respect them. Even more, you
show them that you care. John Maxwell. The first duty of love is to
listen. Paul Tillich.
Students of Leadership: The best leaders in history have been students
of the best leaders in history. Why reinvent the wheel?
Students of the Word: When you come, bring the cloak that I left with
Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments (2
Timothy 4:13 ESV).
6. Leadership is for the Mature
Leaders ought to have been tested and proven before being allowed to
occupy an office or position as a leader (1Timothy 3:10).
Never complain to those youre trying to lead, or even to your peers. It
will poison the well. If you have to complain, send it up the ladder!!!

FRIDAY, MARCH 28 8:00 P.M.

SUGGESTED READINGS

The New Breed - Second Edition:

Understanding & Equipping the 21st
Century Volunteer
Jonathan McKee (Author), Thomas W. McKee (Author)

In this excellent book, father and son authors teach

readers how to understand volunteers in the present
period of time. As leaders in the church, we are
leading a 100% volunteer workforce, but most of
what we learn about leadership in our culture is
home, business, or military basedthat is, based on
position and leverage. Neither have any considerable
significance with volunteers, unless they so choose.
This is one of the most helpful books Ive ever read
regarding leadership in the church.

Leadership 101: What Every Leader Needs

to Know (101 Series)
John Maxwell (Author)

This is a very brief, but informative overview of what

leadership is and how to grow as a leader. Its one of
the first books I read when I began to study
leadership, and it definitely gave me a solid
framework upon which to build. I would recommend
just about anything Maxwell has written on
leadership, though once youve read a few of his
books, you wont find much new in a fourth and so
on. This one is great for busy leaders, and Id suggest
reading it after you first read The New Breed.

Page 6

The Disciple Making Church: From Dry

Bones to Spiritual Vitality
Glenn McDonald (Author)

We are presently reading through this book as part of

our weekly staff meetings in the church office. You will
have to weed out some sub-biblical jargon and
concepts here and there, but the bulk of this book is
excellent. The six questions that form the outline of
the book are vital questions that have influenced the
formation of this years sermon themes. It is vital that
we lead the congregation to be a disciple making
churchthats what the Great Commission is all about,
and the core ideas presented in this book will help us
do just that.

Holy Bible
In case you need a reminder!

FRIDAY, MARCH 28 9:00 P.M.

GROUP DISCUSSION: HOW WILL WE STRENGTHEN OUR LOVE FOR THE LOST &
CREATE A SOUL-SAVING CULTURE?
Brother Gus Nichols said, A stream cannot rise above its fountain
source. The first step to strengthening the congregations love for the
lost is to strengthen our love for them. The first step to creating a soulsaving culture among church members is to create one among the
leaders.
What does a Biblical love for the lost look like when put into practice? __________
__________________________________________________________________
How can your leaders help you cultivate such a love? _______________________
__________________________________________________________________
Share some ideas of things we can all do to help spread a deep sense of love for
the lost throughout the congregation. ___________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________

If we did everything we ought to do to love the lost and nurture a soulsaving culture at LaVergne, what would things look like in five years?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________

Share what you can do to take some first steps to loving the lost in the
city of LaVergne?

Page 8

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INSERT CYRUS, LEADERSHIP

9 Timeless Leadership Lessons

from Cyrus the Great
Forget 1-800-CEO Read. The greatest book on business and
leadership was written in the 4th century BC by a Greek about a
Persian King. Yeah, thats right.
Behold: Cyrus the Great, the man that historians call the most
amiable of conquerors, and the first king to found his empire on
generosity instead of violence and tyranny. Consider Cyrus the antithesis to
Machiavellis ideal Prince. The author, himself the opposite of Machiavelli, was
Xenophon, a student of Socrates.
The book is a veritable classic in the art of leadership, execution, and responsibility.
Adapted from Larry Hendricks excellent translation, here are nine lessons in
leadership from Xenophons Cyrus the Great:
Be Self-Reliant
Never be slow in replenishing your supplies. Youll always be on better terms with your allies if you can
secure your own provisions...Give them all they need and your troops will follow you to the end of the
earth.

Be Generous
Success always calls for greater generositythough most people, lost in the darkness of their own egos,
treat it as an occasion for greater greed. Collecting boot [is] not an end itself, but only a means for
building [an] empire. Riches would be of little use to us nowexcept as a means of winning new
friends.

Be Brief
Brevity is the soul of command. Too much talking suggests desperation on the part of the leader. Speak
shortly, decisively and to the pointand couch your desires in such natural logic that no one can raise
objections. Then move on.

Be a Force for Good

Whenever you can, act as a liberator. Freedom, dignity, wealththese three together constitute the
greatest happiness of humanity. If you bequeath all three to your people, their love for you will never
die.

Page 14

Be in Control
[After punishing some renegade commanders] Here again, I would demonstrate the truth that, in my
army, discipline always brings rewards.

Be Fun
When I became rich, I realized that no kindness between man and man comes more naturally than
sharing food and drink, especially food and drink of the ambrosial excellence that I could now provide.
Accordingly, I arranged that my table be spread everyday for many invitees, all of whom would dine on
the same excellent food as myself. After my guests and I were finished, I would send out any extra food
to my absent friends, in token of my esteem.

Be Loyal
[When asked how he planned to dress for a celebration] If I can only do well by my friends, Ill look
glorious enough in whatever clothes I wear.

Be an Example
In my experience, men who respond to good fortune with modesty and kindness are harder to find
than those who face adversity with courage.

Be Courteous and Kind

There is a deepand usually frustrateddesire in the heart of everyone to act with benevolence rather
than selfishness, and one fine instance of generosity can inspire dozens more. Thus I established a
stately court where all my friends showed respect to each other and cultivated courtesy until it bloomed
into perfect harmony.

Theres a reason Cyrus found students and admirers in his own time as well as the ages
that followed. From Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin to Julius Caesar and
Alexander (and yes, even Machiavelli) great men have read his inspiring example and
put it to use in the pursuit of their own endeavors.
That isnt bad company.

Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD, the God of

heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and
he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem,
which is in Judah. Whoever is among you of all his
people, may the LORD his God be with him. Let him go
up (2 Chronicles 36:23 ESV).

INSERT PROPER CARE & TREATMENT OF VOLUNTEERS

Five Good Ways to Find New Volunteers:

1. "Position available." Write help-wanted ads. Create a flyer or section of your newsletter with
descriptions of the jobs you need help for. Include the duties of the position, likely time commitment,
and other pertinent information. You're more likely to find a good match for your position if you
publicize it well.
2. "There's a lot you can do." You already know that one of the biggest fears of volunteers is that they'll
be sucked into a black hole of never-ending time commitment. One way to address this fear is to create
a list of all of the things that volunteers can do in one hour to help your group.
3. "Would you help?" The No. 1 reason people say they don't volunteer is because "no one asked." Asking
doesn't mean a newsletter ad that says "new officers needed." It requires a personal approach, and it
works best if you have a specific task in mind. "Jim, we need ticket-takers for the carnival. Can you
spare an hour to help?"
4. "Bring your friends!" People are much more likely to participate in a group if they know someone who
participates already. You can use this to your advantage by asking existing members to issue personal
invitations to people they know.
5. "Thanks for your interest." Don't let volunteer surveys sit around for weeks before you respond, even
to people who expressed interest in an event that is months away. People are much more likely to
follow through later if you make a connection now. Also, this is an opening to ask for more involvement:
"I know you said you'd help with the spring carnival, but I wonder if you could spare an hour to help
children pick out books at the book fair in October?"

Five Ways to Get the Most Out of Your Volunteers:

1. "Let me show you." When you have a new volunteer, have an experienced volunteer work with her to
show her the ropes. Your new volunteer will get up to speed faster and, if your mentor does her job
well, will feel more like a part of the team from the start.
2. "It's all written down." Create a binder with information on your most common activities. Include
resources, tools, and key steps. Don't forget items like tips for using the copy machine, how to handle
cash, etc.
3. "Let's work together." Two heads sometimes are better than one. By sharing one job, two people can
often put more energy and creativity into the work. This tends to work best if you have, for example, a
chairman and a chairman-electone person as the final decisionmaker in case of disagreements and
the other preparing to step into that role next year.
4. "You can do this at home." It's common for people who aren't familiar with parent groups to think
every job needs to be done at school during school hours. Make a list of "flex time" and "work at home"
jobs to attract people who can't help out during the day.
5. "This is what you can expect." Set expectations from the start. You don't have to be formal and
businesslike with volunteers, but let them know that you expect punctuality, a positive attitude, that
they abide by school and group rules, and maintain confidentiality, if applicable. Likewise, make sure
your committee chairs know what volunteers expect from them: the tools and training to do the job, a
positive work atmosphere, respect for their time, and an understanding of how the task relates to
overall goals.

Five Things Volunteers Love:

1. "We're so glad you're here." A warm welcome can win your volunteer's heart. Introduce her to
others. Show her where the restroom is and how to use the copy machine. Include her in conversations.
If the work environment is pleasant, your volunteer is much more likely to participate again.
2. "We're doing this because..." Help your volunteer understand how her role relates to your overall
goals or mission. Working on the assembly line is no fun if you can't see the finished product.

3. "Thank you so much." Let your volunteer know you appreciate her help, whether she donated an
hour or a week, whether she did the most difficult task or the easiest. She could have spent time with
her family or at the gym or with the Girl Scouts.
4. "Whatever works best for you." People have different styles and abilities. Whenever possible, let
volunteers take ownership of the process. Give them the goals of the project or the desired outcome,
and let them choose their own way to get there. Don't say "we do things this way," especially if there's
no compelling reason to stick with the status quo.
5. "Your hour's up." New volunteers are almost universally concerned that the time commitment will be
too much. Want to impress a new volunteer? Ask her to spend an hour helping out, then remind her
when the hour's up. (In addition, don't forget to say thank you!)

Five Things Volunteers Hate:

1. "We don't need you after all." Your volunteer shows up on time and ready to help. But when she gets
there, she discovers there's no work to do. Maybe you have enough help already. Maybe the task
changed and you're going to do it a different way at a different time. The reason doesn't matter. The
message to the volunteer is: "Not only don't we need you, we also didn't care enough about you or your
time to tell you before you drove over here."
2. "We just need to run to the store." When the volunteer shows up to do some work, all of the
materials to do the job are not yet in place. While organizers gather everything that's needed,
volunteers end up standing around, waiting. The message: Volunteering with your group is a big time-
waster.
3. "Good night, and good luck." Being given a job to do without proper instruction or the tools to do the
job properly can be very frustratingespecially if you leave your volunteer on her own to figure things
out for herself. Most people won't submit to that kind of experience twice.
4. "Just another houror so." You ask the volunteer to donate an hour of her time. But it turns out to be
the great elastic hourit stretches and stretches until the job is done. She might stick around to see
things through, but she'll think twice before committing to help out again.
5. "You're doing it all wrong!" It's OK to tell a volunteer when she's doing the wrong thing, but
presentation matters. Be helpful rather than confrontational. Anything that sounds like "You're dumb"
will cost you one volunteerand maybe more if she tells her friends.

Five Things That Keep Volunteers Motivated:

1. "That's a great idea." Nothing is more motivating than making your own idea a reality. An atmosphere
that encourages new ideas not only energizes volunteers; it keeps your group fresh and injects
excitement, too.
2. "We're all in it together." If your volunteers feel like part of a team, they'll be more motivated to do
their part. A team atmosphere means making sure everybody feels wanted and participates. And it's
crucial to break up cliques.
3. "You're really good at that." Use people's talents, not just their time. Not many people will get excited
about constantly being on the cleanup committee. But if you let the person who loves carpentry build
your carnival booths or the one who's interested in graphic design create your newsletter, they're much
more likely to do a great job and want to continue.
4. "How did that go for you?" Check in with volunteers occasionally. Make sure their needs are being
met and they haven't become disgruntled. Personal contact lets them know you care about them
individually, and it catches potential problems before they become significant.
5. "We did it!" When things go right, share your successes with your volunteers. A shared sense of
accomplishment can be a powerful motivator.