Skip to main content

What To Do First to Make a Profit

The PF Women Team at our Annual Team Retreat  ~ 2018 Today on Seth Godin's blog, he said: It's tempting to decide to make a profit first, then invest in training, people, facilities, promotion, customer service and most of all, doing important work. In general, though, it goes the other way. Yes, it does. If you are waiting to make a profit before you do these things, in my experience you're  not going to make a profit. So many organizations, ministries and churches are struggling with financial issues. I know your pain. As anyone who follows our story knows, our ministry was in a ton of debt four years ago when I came on as director.  Since that time, we've gotten out of debt and turned a profit every year.  God has done amazing things through out team, for which we give Him the glory! I find that what Seth is saying here is absolutely true, with one disclaimer. For Christian leaders, spiritual disciplines must always be first. Before we started inve
Post a Comment

Notes from this morning's sesson

Can't wait to share with you these notes from the two sessions this morning! Get ready to receive these nuggets of wisdom from the Conversations Conference in Phoenix!

"Overcoming Disappointment or Giving up the Dream?

Darlene McCarty - Co-Pastor and International Evangelist

Darlene began by sharing her story of their church split at their current church in TN. Amazing story of what they went through and how God helped them not only survive that time but ultimately thrive. Here are her pearls of wisdom on surviving disappointment/heartbreak/betrayal, etc. in ministry:


  • The enemy doesn't fight you if you're not valuable.

  • Praise God if he fights you because you know you're headed somewhere!

  • When people load their weapons against you, they always multiply. They will always be there. However, if people hold on to their weapons and keep them long enough, they will turn on them and destroy them.

  • People will blame pastors for things you didn't create and can't control. People in the church will sin, and then some folks will actually blame the pastor as if he/she could actually have stopped it!

  • How do we know the Lord's return is near? Matthew 24:10 Jesus said that many will be offended to the point where they will betray. Certainly this is going on in our churches today.

  • Keep in mind Jesus was saying the above scripture to the CHURCH, not the WORLD!

  • When Satan confronted Eve, she betrayed God and became offended at Him and believed Satan's report.

  • We are not dealing with people - we are dealing with a spirit - a demonic spirit.

  • It is a choice to allow your circumstance to dictate to you or to dictate your circumstance.

  • Key to getting beyond a disappointment in the church is to rid yourself of all negative people. Only spend time with the positive people.

  • Surround yourself with praise and worship. One minute of praise can change your life!

  • Romans 13:1-2 Scripture is clear on the subject of authority. Pastor, Co-pastor, PW, realize you have been placed by Almighty God in the authority position. If people rise against you they are rising against God himself.

  • I Peter 2:20 - important to keep in mind.

  • When people split a church and leave keep in mind that God cannot bless what is cursed.

  • People will stand before God one day. Note that they will stand for their actions, but we will stand for our RE-actions.

  • Realize that people who betray you don't care that you have been hurt. Don't allow them to hurt us further by occupying any of our thoughts.

  • Truth smashed to the ground will rise up undaunted! Stay righteous. Those who hurt you, if not repentant, usually lose all if they don't repent.

  • Can people steal your dream? No. Only one thing can...QUITTING.

    "Nurturing a Community or Going Alone?"

    Leila Ojala, Co-Pastor


  • Mission and community are "where it's at"!

  • We have to ask ourselves...what's going on today with the church? Why all these moral failures?

  • Community is the answer. How can we begin this process in our churches? It is essential.

  • A simple question: "How are things?" is often the key that unlocks the door with people.

  • Most people in the world don't have a problem with Jesus -- they have a problem with Christians and the way we behave.

  • We have to create a safe community.

  • John 13:35

  • If we are dealing with new believers who are dealing with issues such as living together w/out being married, or those considering abortion, we can't just pray for them or encourage them...we have to tangibly help them. (Find a new place to live that is affordable? Help them discover extra income so they can move out. Financially help them with the baby, or offer to watch the child for them at times. Perhaps even adopt their child if necessary!) This is the essence of community.

    All I could say was.....WOW. Awesome, huh?

    I'm headed to another session this time on Transformational Leadership. I'll share the notes with you sometime tonight or tomorrow.

Comments

Michele said…
Good Stuff- keep sending the bullets-
Miss you all
4:44 PM
Chocolate and Coffee said…
You are awesome! Thank you for taking the time to post this.

Blessings!
4:51 PM
Anonymous said…
Key to getting beyond disappointments in the church is to rid yourself of all negative people. Only spend time with the positive people...Wow, is that a whole teaching!
I have found this to be true. I had to do it for my health. God actually did speak to me through prophecy and said he will literally surround me with ones who will hold me up in the place he has for me! I am cordial with all but I do not waste my time with ones with a deep-seated resistence to woman who are called or who resist my authority.
It brings me down to be around neg people and at this mid-life stage of life, I need to be around those who celebrate me as opposed to tolerating me or my unique call!
2 as 1
9:39 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What Verbal Abuse is Really Like, and Why We Must Care
Guest Post: Terri von Wood

In my speaking travels, I meet the most amazing people. Some are connections that go beyond just a night or a weekend of preac hing. One day on my journey, I met Terri von Wood, and we immediately clicked and have been friends ever since.  Just a reminder that all of our guest bloggers this week are available to chat with you in the comment section here on the blog or on my facebook page where the blog is also published.   *** People who have never suffered through or witnessed abuse (including pastors) often don't know how to help women in abusive situations. Knowledge is power and it is my belief that if the church understood the prevalence of abuse, help would be made available.  First, we must acknowledge that the divorce rate is the same  in the church as in the world.  Second, we must understand that the 50% divorce rate does not include all the women who are abused but stay because they do not know what else to do or do not have anyone to turn to.  If those women we
12 comments
Read more

Relevant Church doing something...

incredibly RELEVANT!

I just heard some news today that really inspired me. A church here in Tampa, Relevant Church is doing a new thing this month called the "30 Days Sex Challenge." (I've never visited the church but Pastor Trinity - our children's pastor - has visited or has met some people from this church and he was very impressed.) Realizing that this is a major element missing from some marriages (the frequency factor) their lead pastor, Paul Wirth, has issued a challenge for all the married couples to have sex for 30 days in a row. At the same time he has issued a challenge for all unmarrieds to completely abstain from sex. Of course we know the Bible says that those who are unmarried should not have sex in the first place but the point is, a lot of unmarried's aren't obeying the Lord's command to abstain and this is just one pastor's way of trying to get them to see that indeed, there is a better way! (God's way!) At the same time, many married couples are not
29 comments
Read more

Stuff I Adore That Costs Little to Nothing...

Okay...taking a break today from writing about heavy things...like grief, loss, and bawling. Time to write about random stuff today that nobody may be interested in reading. Nevertheless here it is... Stuff I adore that costs little to nothing... Listening to playlists I make on (free) Spotify Drinking out of canning jars Reading books again that I already have on my shelf. Walking and riding my bike. Admiring crepe myrtle trees. Taking a bath in the daytime with the lights off in the room. (Natural light.) Naps. Snuggling with my husband or one of the kids and watching a movie at home. Having all noise turned off when no one is home. (No TV, no music, just silence.) Prayer.
Post a Comment
Read more