I was thinking about the process leaders go through for “improving their game” when starting new ministries. Early in my ministry and then later while starting a business I learned the value of keeping track of my decision-making process so that I could consistently fine tune my outcomes. I developed my own written forms so that I could easily capture the important data and summarize what happened at the completion of every project. I still use forms today, but more of them on my computer than before. What I didn’t realize at the time, but now understand is that keeping track is a pathway to greater wisdom. When we learn from our successes as well as our mistakes, we become wise. “If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer.” Proverbs 9:12 How do you capture insights from your successes?

This morning I read about a startup company with a killer email app. I was tempted to try it, but that’s not what I’m writing about. It was the comment by the lead innovator who said that if you wait until you’ve ironed out all the complaints about your product, you’ve waited too long to launch. He’s obviously a risker-taker. Probably not a stupid risk taker, or he wouldn’t still be around with a Killer-App. In the church world we need to recover some of that willingness to get it mostly right so that we can improve it on the run. One church planting organization I know of starts small with lots of room for improvement, so that people see for themselves how and where they good help out! They intentionally start ministries with holes in it so that others have a slot to fill. What is something that you...[ Read More ]

Fear is instructive. It acts like a warning system that we’re either pressing or over extending in an area where we need more help. Debilitating Fear is destructive. It tears us down. Weakens our physical frame, leading to other problems all together. What can leaders do when they experience fear? It’s best to pay attention when it’s the first kind before it reaches the second kind. Asking for help... Seeking out a mentor. .. Calling on God... Learning something new... Stopping an activity... Starting a plan... All good ideas. When I work with leaders developing a new ministry or project, fear is one of the frequent topics of conversation. (Let’s get over the notion that we’re the only ones who face it.) Without trivializing the experience, I look for ways to face the fear together and make tiny bite-sized improvements based on previous success. Where have you been fruitful in...[ Read More ]

Most churches would benefit from evangelism training that equips every believer to be ready in season and out of season for having spiritual conversations. My friend, Gary Rohrmayer, has developed three webinars that equip pastors to equip their churches to have more and more effective conversations about Jesus with their friends. Check out this resource at… http://www.yourjourneyresources.com/Evangelism_Webinars_s/71.htm

Before starting the OnRamp process potential candidates complete our Readiness Survey to check for the necessary preparation and experiences required for the next steps. Candidates will also be asked to realistically assess their time availability for the follow-up ministry assignments and training after starting the OnRamp. If you’re ready to become a candidate, contact Neil and request “Readiness Survey” by email.

I’m not much of a journaler these days, but I still value the practice writing out my reflections long hand during my regular Sabbath break. I’ll write more about these practices as I go along, but its enough to say right now that time for reflection is a gift from God that many of us don’t engage in frequently enough to add fuel to our leadership fires. One way I like to approach journaling is like a conversation with a trusted coach. I begin by focusing my writing on the following two questions: 1. What have I done particularly well in the last week or month that has been unusually fruitful? And the 2. How can I do even more of that in the coming week? With these two questions as a basis, I can continue writing in a variety of directions like reflecting on how I used my gifts,...[ Read More ]

The price for each participating candidate at OnRamp is $850. This includes Applications, Profiles, Coaching, Worksheets and  the full day live event. This price may vary by location.  Some OnRamps have been underwritten by sponsors, churches or mission organizations. If your organization is interested in hosting and sponsoring an event please contact Neil Tibbott. Candidates can expect to spend 2 to  5 hours on their application and 1 to 2 hours on their Profile.  Some OnRamps also include a confidential Marriage inventory administered by a licensed family counselor which takes an additional 2 to 3 hours to complete. Candidates and their Coaches are asked to complete their online webinars before attending to the OnRamp.  They provide an orientation to the tools that will be introduced. There may be additional costs for other OnRamp participants, which vary by location. Contact the Point Person for your live event for the details. Text...[ Read More ]

Starting a new Missional Community doesn’t require super hero powers. A few ordinary attempts will get the job started with everyday activities like: Firing up a BBQ, Sharing a trip to the hardware store, Inviting yourself over to a new friend’s house, etc.. For more idea starters try… http://journeytogethernow.com/map/. How do you introduce yourself to neighbors?

Spring – Cascade Community Church – Monroe, WA Fall – Cascade Community Church – Monroe, WA More Locations coming in 2013

OnRamps will be held in various locations around the the US in 2013. Churches, Networks and Candidates interested in using this resource may contact us by email at: Info(at)LeadershipOnRamp(dot)Com. Be sure to sign up for our News Feed featuring Leadership and Missional Ideas, New churches and ministries as well as places for you to connect. Let's get started...