Core values of our church are:

a. What we do: Christ Centered; Visionary Leadership and Growth Oriented.

b. How we do it: All-Inclusive; Excellence; Effectiveness

(Luke 5:4-10) Message: "When he finished teaching, he said to Simon, 'Push out into deep water and let your nets out for a catch.' Simon said, 'Master, we've been fishing hard all night and haven't caught even a minnow. But if you say so, I'll let out the nets.' It was no sooner said than done-a huge haul of fish, straining the nets past capacity. They waved to their partners in the other boat to come help them. They filled both boats, nearly swamping them with the catch. Simon Peter, when he saw it, fell to his knees before Jesus. 'Master, leave. I'm a sinner and can't handle this holiness. Leave me to myself.' When they pulled in that catch of fish, awe overwhelmed Simon and everyone with him. It was the same with James and John, Zebedee's sons, coworkers with Simon. Jesus said to Simon, 'There is nothing to fear. From now on you'll be fishing for men and women.' They pulled their boats up on the beach, left them, nets and all, and followed him."

What is visionary leadership? We talked about bring all the cosmic, absolute and universal truth to its least reality in our own world. This question has to be asked in that way because the words 'visionary' and 'leadership' are not commonplace in people's lives. The visionary statement Peter made was "But if you say so, I'll let out the nets." Peter had been laboring all night and had caught nothing. In a time of inconvenience Christ asked Peter to do something for him that was visionary. I have tried to lead a life obedient to God's call where there was nothing but like Peter 'if you say so I will do it.' Moving to this country seven years ago was not convenient as Renee was seven months pregnant with Zack. It is easier to plant a church from nothing than to deconstruct a church to then construct church. Behind the theatrical curtain of church is a complexity that is not seen by a congregation. There are legalities when handling property and money and developing a loyal staff.

1. To stop the weird behavior of testimonies with strange experiences, weird public contribution and alleged manifestation, inappropriate use of the gifts of the Holy Spirit by mystical people. My commitment is to craft our seed to touch the unsaved and unchurched with ministry that builds a life.

2. To create a sense of joy and fun in how we do church and making it normal and comfortable to have fun drawing out the God given personality he put in you and destroying the over-religious attitude and a wrong definition of reverence. My commitment is make sure the experience of church is fun as well as challenging. You cannot challenge unless it is fun.

3. To preach the Word of God that is not dead and gets people excited about our church not by attending the church but being the church. My commitment is to stay in touch with the unchurched and unsaved and constantly work on being relevant by pushing the envelope.

4. Develop a culture that causes people to be here on time because they don't want to miss anything. This means working to build a culture of the two basics of punctuality and reliability. My commitment is to develop the Sunday gathering of the church to be dynamic.

5. Develop a culture that understands it has no right to weep over the unchurched or unsaved unless it is prepared to go beyond prayer and prophecy to actual involvement. My commitment is to outlaw the virtual reality church and develop a reality church.

6. To develop an atmosphere of generosity where mini sermons are given prior to an offering encouraging people to give. People need these sermons because they are reluctant to give. My commitment is to build ownership of the dream to build grow an authentic church.

7. To identify leaders and create an atmosphere for them to grow as a leader. My commitment is to empower young men and women who understand the authority they have is not inherent. Therefore it is not their own. They do not run the show but they are responsible for it. It takes a leader to find a leader, enlist a leader and train a leader.

I have not chosen to do any of this but like Peter who labored when there was nothing I have responded and committed my whole life to this cause. "But if you say so, I'll let down the nets." One of our core values is Visionary Leadership that I bring. But how that translates to you is in terms of 'leadership.' The question should not be 'what is visionary leadership' but 'what is leadership?'

In any organization there are leaders on every level that lift the weight by lightening the load of visionary leadership remembering it is not how heavy something is but how it is carried. Lifting that load does four things for you:

1. It shows you are a team player. How do you know if a person is a great team player? They make you better at what you do.

2. It shows you are a person of gratitude. When someone asks 'is there anything I can do got you?' If you drink from the well remember who has dug the well.

3. It increases your value. If you are lifting the load other leaders notice. If you are not lifting the load other leaders notice.

4. It helps you and the organization move forward in the dream.

Five Myths about leadership:

1. Position myth - 'I cannot lead if I am not at the top.' If you are not leading now what makes you think you will lead with a position? Leadership is not a position but influence.

2. Influence myth - 'If I was leading then people would automatically follow me.' But the position does not make the leader but the leader makes the position through the experience of leading.

3. Experience myth - 'When I become a leader I will be in control.' If you want to be in control then do your own thing. The more experience you get at being a leader the more you realize you are not free to do whatever you want to do or say while leading.

4. Freedom myth - 'I will have less boundaries and limitations as a leader.' Leaders model a lifestyle that has to be lived and with it comes limitation and boundaries. The golden rule of leadership is who you are not what you say or what qualifications you have.

5. All-or-nothing myth - 'If I cannot do things my way I will not lead.' The authority a leader has is not inherent. The authority is not their own. But the people the leader influences have no inherent authority but receive it from the leader. You are never running the show but you are responsible for it.

Why do people want to lead?

1. It is the most recognized influential position.

2. The view is great.

3. You can determine the direction.

4. You can set the pace.

5. You can show the way.

6. You can enjoy all the action.

Why do people quit leading?

1. You are recognized when it is wrong.

2. The view is like a road traffic accident.

3. The direction sent you off the edge of a cliff.

4. The pace was too fast or too slow.

5. The way you were showing was down a one-way street the wrong way.

6. The action was nothing to enjoy because it was war.

#1 - Know what to own and what to let go

"They waved to their partners in the other boat to come help them" In one boat was Peter and Andrew the sons of Jonas. In the other were James and John the sons of Zebedee. The father's had gone into partnership with each other. They must have agreed that whoever catches the fish the other will help. One thing is certain that it affected their sons in Peter, Andrew, James and John. You have to know what to own and what to let go for the sake of the fish. All acknowledged that God gave Peter the vision of a great catch but Peter could not handle the catch without the partnership of Zebedee's boys. "Push out into deep water and let your nets out for a catch…" Andrew, James and John would have never done that. But once Peter said 'if you say so I will do it' the other three owned what he had. But to own that catch they had to let go of something else.

#2 - Never violate trust

"When they pulled in that catch of fish, awe overwhelmed Simon and everyone with him. It was the same with James and John…" I have known people own the vision in our church but it was not the same for them. Leaders took what had been caught, and took it away, then abandoned what they took away. It would have been better if the catch were not caught in the first place. Trust is one building block at a time but the violation of it pulls the entire wall down. A leader will exercise the influence they have on behalf of the visionary leadership and never to serve your own interest. A leaders character and integrity will be tested in the journey together as partners.

#3 - It's your catch too

"…they pulled in that catch of fish…" 'They' refers to Peter and Andrew in one boat with James and John in the other boat. Some of the most successful and influential leaders that are not the visionary leader are totally fulfilled because:

1. They are included in the big picture. They see themselves in the foreground or background but either way they are in the frame of the big picture.

2. Their abilities are being used with effectiveness. There is nothing worse than cleaning fish when your ability is mending nets.

3. They are appreciated for what they do in bringing the catch. If encouragement is not given immediately it is lost.

4. They see the result of their own contribution. My eldest son has been cutting my lawns this summer. He can look at what he has done with pride. But they are still my lawns.

5. They are part of the celebration. The catch is the sum of all leadership contribution.

6. They can advance in leadership. There is nothing more rewarding than being promoted from within an organization. I am more thrilled about our own church than any other church or organization I would minister in.

#4 - Lift the load

"They filled both boats, nearly swamping them with the catch. It is never how heavy the load is but how you carry it. How do you carry the load?

1. Do what you do very well. The smallest of tasks are just as vital as the largest of tasks.

2. If you find a problem find the solution. The level of thinking for solving a problem cannot be the same level as when the problem was found.

3. Go the second mile. Noting is easier than saying something and nothing is harder than doing it.

4. Stand up for visionary leader whenever you can. If there is a loyal team you do not have to fear their intelligence.

There is a bigger catch to be caught and we need your boats.