Logan Leadership

When the Chevy Nova was released in Latin America, it didn’t sell well at all.  Turns out that Nova in Spanish—or “no va”—means “it doesn’t go.”  Not a good name for a car. No wonder sales were dismal.

In the same way, when you are doing ministry in another culture, recognize that things don’t always translate. Not only the language, but the culture itself, may be quite different.  What works here may not work there.  Yet another reason to get to know those you are serving on a personal level.

What I’m calling positive assumption simply means assuming the best about a person. We think about this when we are trying to encourage people by pointing out something they’re doing well, but positive assumption can be every bit as helpful when someone is doing something wrong that needs to be addressed.

Instead of pointing out a person’s blind spot because you assume they’re unaware of it, why not start with something along the lines of: “I’m sure you’re aware of this and working on it….” Although you’re still addressing the issue, you’re also showing respect for the person you’re talking with. You’re assuming a level of awareness on their part. And you’re assuming that they—like you—are a work in progress and are actively growing and learning.

Early on in his ministry, Ray Bakke realized that if he was to be a true urban pastor he would have to live among those he ministered to. As a result he and his family have lived for many decades in rented apartments in inner city Chicago.

John Hayes, who lives among the poor in London, says, “Presence ministry breaks down barriers. It ministers face-to-face. It knows people by name…. Heaven is strictly a first-name-basis kind of place.”

The need for presence ministry seems to have so often escaped our missions endeavors—both past and present—as we live in safe “missionary compounds” or suburbs removed from those we serve.

Did you know that we’ve begun offering recorded webinars that you can download and use with your team? The first one—Getting your Ministry Moving in a Missional Direction—provides you with fresh ideas and practical planning.

Designed for interaction, the webinar can be downloaded along with a discussion guide. Then, as you watch with your team, you can pause the webinar to work through the exercises together. Check it out at http://loganleadership.com/resources/video/

A woman at a conference asked me one time what my position was on women in leadership. I responded, “I believe that leaders ought to be in leadership,” to which she responded, “Well said.”

But in a coaching setting, if I am serving as the coach, my opinion on issues like this simply doesn’t matter. It’s irrelevant. What matters is what the person being coached believes. I’ve worked with people or groups who are men-only, and I don’t try to convince them of my view. I just help them live out their values and principles very consistently. It takes all kinds of churches to reach all kinds of people.

Here’s a new solution to the church building problem—meet under an interstate bridge. I don’t know this church or its pastor personally, but a friend of mine mentioned it to me because she knows I’m always interested in unique approaches to doing church.

This church started out as a Bible study and ministry to the homeless people who slept under a particular bridge, and it grew to become a church focused on serving the poor and communicating the message of Jesus. Their mission statement says, “May we come together, black, white, brown, rich and poor, educated in the streets and in the university, all worshipping the living God, who makes us one.”