Again we were blessed beyond measure with our Christmas play which was a roaring success. Everyone worked hard, the congregation was ministered to, the gospel was proclaimed in drama and music, and I believe the Lord was glorified.
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
July 29-31: Family Camp
We had an unbeatable great family retreat at Lake Camanche last weekend where we studied the Word of God and still had time for sports and games, along with lots of barbeque and shish kebabs galore. Especially enjoying the water on a hot summer day is 15-month old Sedrick, his very first time in a lake, being held by his mother. And what would swimming be without a water gun fight led by Jonathan.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Our Newest Members
The Lord continues to be good to us.
Recently added to our church membership list a very wonderful couple: Sis. Debbie and Bro. Mario, who attended our last New Membership class.
Recently added to our church membership list a very wonderful couple: Sis. Debbie and Bro. Mario, who attended our last New Membership class.
We are so blessed to have them as a part of our church family.
To God be all the glory.
Monday, June 13, 2011
My 15 Favorite Leadership Tenets
I have listed my favorite 15 leadership tenets.
First, leaders have a vision
The first order of business for any leader is to have a clear vision. Every leader must know where he is going and what provisions are needed to get there. Reaching that vision is his most important work. The vision must be bigger than the leader and the company he leads. Elias A. Zerhouni, M.D., Director of the National Institute of Health, elaborated, “So make sure you have a big, bold, grand vision for yourself – and go for it” (Dormann, 2009, p. 62). The vision must be one that makes the world a better place.
Second, leaders have passion
Love your job and you will become good at it. Find a career that excites you and you won’t have to work the rest of your life. Take a personal inventory, discover what you are passionate about and then pursue it. Success and contentment will follow. When you love what you do, it will be easy for you.
Third, leaders have integrity
Always seek to do what is right. Honesty is the best policy. Leaders take the higher ground. Too many companies have failed because they compromised on their honor. Integrity should never be taken lightly. A company that has lost its reputation will lose the trust of its investors and customers. Integrity begins from the top. The best way for a leader to promote integrity within the company is to model it himself. Others will follow.
Fourth, leadership is a learning process
The best leaders are constantly learning how to improve their leadership skills. John C. Maxwell once wrote, “You don’t learn leadership in a day. You learn it daily” (personal communication, June 3, 2011). One excellent way to learn is to take on new responsibilities in order to expand your knowledge and widen your experiences. Maria Razumich-Zee advised, “Take on additional responsibility whatever and whenever possible” (Dormann, 2009, p. 154). Learn from those who are smarter than you and from your mistakes.
Fifth, leaders must be purveyors of hope and optimism
Things do not always go as planned. Leaders must look for the silver lining in every cloud. A positive attitude instills confidence, and confidence is an essential building-block for success. As Maria Razumich-Zee indicated, “Attitude is EVERYTHING” (Dormann, 2009, p. 155). To win you must think as a winner. Think of problems as opportunities and challenges. In fact, remove the word “problem” from your vocabulary.
Sixth, leaders seek excellence
No one receives recognition for mediocre work. Success is the result of striving for excellence in every area of the company. Striving for excellence must become the mindset in the workplace. Excellence can turn a good company into a great company. BMW and Mercedes Benz are leaders in the automotive industry because they excel in producing high quality cars. Excellence will drive out the competition. Producing poor quality products hurts the company by diminishing market share and loss of revenue. Quality is not an option in business; it is a necessity.
Seventh, leaders recruit the best talent
A leader is only as strong as the people around him. James D. Robinson, former Chairman and CEO of American Express, recommended, “Surround yourself with people who are smarter than you” (Dormann, 2009, p. 57). The people the leader recruits must be able to work together as a team. After all, success is the product of teamwork and not any single superstar. Ideally, the team will consist of diverse talents in order that the strength of one may offset the weakness of another. Leaders are always on the lookout for talented people because you can never have too many of them.
Eighth, leaders are forward-looking
Leaders have a clear picture of where they are going. They see the future in the present, and then strategize how to make it happen. Leaders do not dwell in the past for history cannot be altered. Leaders instead plan for the future. Forward-looking leaders promote innovations to keep up with the times. Being forward-looking means replacing or improving what is not working. One mantra of leadership should be “change or die.” Another part of being forward-looking is to produce a product not yet marketed or target a neglected group. Sir David Tang of Tang Development advocated, “You should always look for a niche – somewhere others have not been or something others have not done” (Dormann, 2009, p. 199). Creativity is needed to face the possibilities of tomorrow.
Ninth, leaders are problem-solvers
Problems will inevitable arise. Good leaders find solutions to problems. Leaders build credibility when they apply right solutions, and lose trust when they make wrong decisions. But even the greatest leaders will occasionally make wrong decisions. The key is to make more right decisions than wrong ones. It is the leader who is responsible for decision-making, not the stockholders, the media or public opinion. Leaders know not to use old solutions to new problems.
Tenth, leaders persevere
Tenacity is one quality of every true leader. “I quit” is not part of a leader’s vocabulary. They quit when the goal is finally reached. A leader continues to do what he believes is right no matter how difficult the task or how intense the opposition. Leaders know that “Nothing worthwhile comes easily.” Leaders are unwavering, pursuing their goal in the face of adversity. Leaders persevere because they believe in the cause. If there is one word to describe a true leader it is “relentless.”
Eleventh, leaders seek results
People trust leaders who produce results. Every new leader must strive for results early on in order to gain the confidence of those he leads. Companies grow and expand because of results, not good intentions or detailed strategies. As Brian Tracy stated, “All the wisdom in the world isn’t worth a dime if it doesn’t produce results” (personal communication, June 10, 2011). Results produce momentum and enthusiasm, two ingredients needed for success. Celebrating small victories instills a positive attitude in the workplace. Success is the reward of a series of small victories. Leaders build on past successes.
Twelfth, leaders communicate
Communication runs both ways. The leader must communicate the vision clearly and regularly in order to keep the company focused. Every leader must inspire his people to act upon the vision. At the same time every leader needs to hear from his staff members who may have powerful ideas for improving the company. Leaders must never think they have all the answers. They need the advice of others. Great leaders have an open-door policy where they welcome new ideas. One good advice to leaders is: Listen.
Thirteenth, leaders give the credit for success to their people
Success is the product of team-effort. Effective leaders understand this principle and give the credit to the team. Leaders gain respect if they share the glory. Leaders profusely use the pronouns “us” and “we” when it comes to success. Conversely, leaders accept the blame for failure and use the pronouns “I” and “my” for accepting the blame. Good leaders never fault others for failure.
Fourteenth, leaders display good manners
Showing good manners is not old fashioned. It is still fashionable today. Leaders must respect everyone under them. Employees who are treated with respect will perform better at work. You gain respect by giving it. Treat people like you want to be treated.
Fifteenth, leaders live a balanced life
There is more to life than just work. Life is made up of many interlinking components. Leaders live life to the fullest when they live a balanced life. Leaders must apply PEMS in a daily basis: P for physical exercise; E for emotional stability; M for mental exercise; and S for spiritual renewal. Discard one or more of these essentials and you will become imbalanced and ineffective.
These tenets have worked for me. I pass them on to you.
First, leaders have a vision
The first order of business for any leader is to have a clear vision. Every leader must know where he is going and what provisions are needed to get there. Reaching that vision is his most important work. The vision must be bigger than the leader and the company he leads. Elias A. Zerhouni, M.D., Director of the National Institute of Health, elaborated, “So make sure you have a big, bold, grand vision for yourself – and go for it” (Dormann, 2009, p. 62). The vision must be one that makes the world a better place.
Second, leaders have passion
Love your job and you will become good at it. Find a career that excites you and you won’t have to work the rest of your life. Take a personal inventory, discover what you are passionate about and then pursue it. Success and contentment will follow. When you love what you do, it will be easy for you.
Third, leaders have integrity
Always seek to do what is right. Honesty is the best policy. Leaders take the higher ground. Too many companies have failed because they compromised on their honor. Integrity should never be taken lightly. A company that has lost its reputation will lose the trust of its investors and customers. Integrity begins from the top. The best way for a leader to promote integrity within the company is to model it himself. Others will follow.
Fourth, leadership is a learning process
The best leaders are constantly learning how to improve their leadership skills. John C. Maxwell once wrote, “You don’t learn leadership in a day. You learn it daily” (personal communication, June 3, 2011). One excellent way to learn is to take on new responsibilities in order to expand your knowledge and widen your experiences. Maria Razumich-Zee advised, “Take on additional responsibility whatever and whenever possible” (Dormann, 2009, p. 154). Learn from those who are smarter than you and from your mistakes.
Fifth, leaders must be purveyors of hope and optimism
Things do not always go as planned. Leaders must look for the silver lining in every cloud. A positive attitude instills confidence, and confidence is an essential building-block for success. As Maria Razumich-Zee indicated, “Attitude is EVERYTHING” (Dormann, 2009, p. 155). To win you must think as a winner. Think of problems as opportunities and challenges. In fact, remove the word “problem” from your vocabulary.
Sixth, leaders seek excellence
No one receives recognition for mediocre work. Success is the result of striving for excellence in every area of the company. Striving for excellence must become the mindset in the workplace. Excellence can turn a good company into a great company. BMW and Mercedes Benz are leaders in the automotive industry because they excel in producing high quality cars. Excellence will drive out the competition. Producing poor quality products hurts the company by diminishing market share and loss of revenue. Quality is not an option in business; it is a necessity.
Seventh, leaders recruit the best talent
A leader is only as strong as the people around him. James D. Robinson, former Chairman and CEO of American Express, recommended, “Surround yourself with people who are smarter than you” (Dormann, 2009, p. 57). The people the leader recruits must be able to work together as a team. After all, success is the product of teamwork and not any single superstar. Ideally, the team will consist of diverse talents in order that the strength of one may offset the weakness of another. Leaders are always on the lookout for talented people because you can never have too many of them.
Eighth, leaders are forward-looking
Leaders have a clear picture of where they are going. They see the future in the present, and then strategize how to make it happen. Leaders do not dwell in the past for history cannot be altered. Leaders instead plan for the future. Forward-looking leaders promote innovations to keep up with the times. Being forward-looking means replacing or improving what is not working. One mantra of leadership should be “change or die.” Another part of being forward-looking is to produce a product not yet marketed or target a neglected group. Sir David Tang of Tang Development advocated, “You should always look for a niche – somewhere others have not been or something others have not done” (Dormann, 2009, p. 199). Creativity is needed to face the possibilities of tomorrow.
Ninth, leaders are problem-solvers
Problems will inevitable arise. Good leaders find solutions to problems. Leaders build credibility when they apply right solutions, and lose trust when they make wrong decisions. But even the greatest leaders will occasionally make wrong decisions. The key is to make more right decisions than wrong ones. It is the leader who is responsible for decision-making, not the stockholders, the media or public opinion. Leaders know not to use old solutions to new problems.
Tenth, leaders persevere
Tenacity is one quality of every true leader. “I quit” is not part of a leader’s vocabulary. They quit when the goal is finally reached. A leader continues to do what he believes is right no matter how difficult the task or how intense the opposition. Leaders know that “Nothing worthwhile comes easily.” Leaders are unwavering, pursuing their goal in the face of adversity. Leaders persevere because they believe in the cause. If there is one word to describe a true leader it is “relentless.”
Eleventh, leaders seek results
People trust leaders who produce results. Every new leader must strive for results early on in order to gain the confidence of those he leads. Companies grow and expand because of results, not good intentions or detailed strategies. As Brian Tracy stated, “All the wisdom in the world isn’t worth a dime if it doesn’t produce results” (personal communication, June 10, 2011). Results produce momentum and enthusiasm, two ingredients needed for success. Celebrating small victories instills a positive attitude in the workplace. Success is the reward of a series of small victories. Leaders build on past successes.
Twelfth, leaders communicate
Communication runs both ways. The leader must communicate the vision clearly and regularly in order to keep the company focused. Every leader must inspire his people to act upon the vision. At the same time every leader needs to hear from his staff members who may have powerful ideas for improving the company. Leaders must never think they have all the answers. They need the advice of others. Great leaders have an open-door policy where they welcome new ideas. One good advice to leaders is: Listen.
Thirteenth, leaders give the credit for success to their people
Success is the product of team-effort. Effective leaders understand this principle and give the credit to the team. Leaders gain respect if they share the glory. Leaders profusely use the pronouns “us” and “we” when it comes to success. Conversely, leaders accept the blame for failure and use the pronouns “I” and “my” for accepting the blame. Good leaders never fault others for failure.
Fourteenth, leaders display good manners
Showing good manners is not old fashioned. It is still fashionable today. Leaders must respect everyone under them. Employees who are treated with respect will perform better at work. You gain respect by giving it. Treat people like you want to be treated.
Fifteenth, leaders live a balanced life
There is more to life than just work. Life is made up of many interlinking components. Leaders live life to the fullest when they live a balanced life. Leaders must apply PEMS in a daily basis: P for physical exercise; E for emotional stability; M for mental exercise; and S for spiritual renewal. Discard one or more of these essentials and you will become imbalanced and ineffective.
These tenets have worked for me. I pass them on to you.
Friday, June 10, 2011
A Leader's Dream Team
Every leader knows that success is the product of team effort. The organization he leads can go no higher than the team. A weak team will produce a weak organization. A mediocre team will produce a mediocre organization. And a great team will produce a great organization. Every leader must always be on the lookout for talented people because no organization can have too many of them. As former Chairman and CEO of American Express James D. Robinson advised, “Surround yourself with people who are smarter than you.”
George Cladis mentions 7 characteristics of ministry teams. The last 3 are mine.
1. They are a covenanting team. They build a covenant among themselves where they choose to be accountable to each other.
2, They are a visionary team. They live, breathe and model the vision. You either have a vision or you have division. Do we as, a body live, eat, sleep and breathe our vision of Building Healthy Churches?
3. They are a culture-creating team. They live the culture of the organization, which at FBCDC is a culture of celebration and excellence.
4. They are a collaborative team. They work together to fulfill the vision. They compliment each other so that one’s strength compensates for the other’s weakness.
5. They are a trusting team. A team grows in a trusting environment. Trust is established when we keep our promises and fulfill our commitments.
6. They are an empowering team. They work to empower God’s people for ministry of service
7. They are a learning team. They are growing spiritually, self-motivated and passionate for the things of the Lord.
8. They are a relentless team. They do not give up until the vision is attained.
9. They are a results-oriented team. Vision, intention or planning are not enough. Results are what counts. As Brian Tracy stated, “All the wisdom in the world isn’t worth a dime if it doesn’t produce results.”
10. They are an optimistic team. I, your pastor, am an optimist and a purveyor of hope. As Maria Razumich-Zee proposed, “Attitude is EVERYTHING.” Think a winner and you will live a winner.
George Cladis mentions 7 characteristics of ministry teams. The last 3 are mine.
1. They are a covenanting team. They build a covenant among themselves where they choose to be accountable to each other.
2, They are a visionary team. They live, breathe and model the vision. You either have a vision or you have division. Do we as, a body live, eat, sleep and breathe our vision of Building Healthy Churches?
3. They are a culture-creating team. They live the culture of the organization, which at FBCDC is a culture of celebration and excellence.
4. They are a collaborative team. They work together to fulfill the vision. They compliment each other so that one’s strength compensates for the other’s weakness.
5. They are a trusting team. A team grows in a trusting environment. Trust is established when we keep our promises and fulfill our commitments.
6. They are an empowering team. They work to empower God’s people for ministry of service
7. They are a learning team. They are growing spiritually, self-motivated and passionate for the things of the Lord.
8. They are a relentless team. They do not give up until the vision is attained.
9. They are a results-oriented team. Vision, intention or planning are not enough. Results are what counts. As Brian Tracy stated, “All the wisdom in the world isn’t worth a dime if it doesn’t produce results.”
10. They are an optimistic team. I, your pastor, am an optimist and a purveyor of hope. As Maria Razumich-Zee proposed, “Attitude is EVERYTHING.” Think a winner and you will live a winner.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
April 24: Easter Play
The children and youth of our church presented a tour-de-force, a spectacular play on the trial, death, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus last Easter Sunday. It was perhaps the most outstanding drama ever produced in the history of our church. The audience was spell-bound throughout the 6-act presentation.
Acclaim goes to all the students and youth who went all out to make this a great success. Many people helped, too many to list individually. But I would like in particular to mention two: Sis. Arlene, who graciously volunteered to spearhead this glorious event; and Sis. Vicky, who devoted much of her energy in producing the props and costumes. To these two, and to all the rest who helpsed, we give the credit.
But above all, we give the glory to God. He is wonderful.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
April 10 Baptism
Sis. Ignacia Bonagwa is a new convert to Christ. Having no family here in the U.S., she has discovered a new family at FBCDC. To many of us, we have seen a dramatic change in her life. She is a model of faith, trusing God to meet her daily needs.
It is my pleasure to have her as our newest church member, and I am privileged to be her pastor.
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