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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

Reflections from Wisdom Conference

The Wisdom Conference took place at district council yesterday, with session speakers Ron McManus, Ed Russo and Alton Garrison.  They also showed our video from the transformation of Celebration Church!  Many people talked to us about it afterwards and were very interested in talking to us about what's going on.  We were so glad to share with them all that God is doing at Celebration.

The sessions were excellent and there were so many takeaways as a result.  Ron's session was on leadership and Ed gave a vision casting for church planting and revitalization. Here are some of my favorite quotes from the meetings:

"The person who said 'it's lonely at the top' is not a leader.  Leaders never go anywhere alone...they always take someone with them.'" - Ron McManus

"You are what you discipline your flesh to do."  ~ Ron McManus

"When you lose perspective, even just five people in the church can make your life very difficult."  ~ Ron McManus

"No church has a future unless it's dreams are bigger than it's memories.  We don't need any more museums in Florida!!!"  ~ Ron McManus

"The only thing that walks back from the tomb with the mourners and refuses to be buried is the character of a man.  What a man is survives him.  It can't be buried."  ~ J.R. Miller

Speaking of the body of Christ and the fact that we have too many people not doing the work of the ministry...  "In most churches, the arm and leg are working furiously while the rest of the body is paralyzed."  ~ Ron McManus

"A leader has a compass in their head, and a magnet in their heart."  ~ Ron McManus

"The opportunity of a lifetime must be seized in the opportunity of that lifetime."  ~ Ed Russo

"God won't give to you what won't flow through you."  ~ Ed Russo

Well those were some of my favorite takeaways from yesterday although there was much more in the three hours of teaching those were just some standouts.

Last night was also the ordination service with Alton Garrison, and plenty more fellowship and encouragement among comrades.  The laughter alone is a big reason I do enjoy district council although I am beat and ready to head home today.  I have missed my children, my puppies, and my Celebration family...

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