MEETINGS

Some people hate meetings. Not me. Today we had a full day of meetings with our ministry teams. We meet every Tuesday. I love our team. We have a fully loaded group of great professionals. They are in the right seats on the bus. I think I can safely say that virtually every enormously great decision we’ve made at our church in the past five years has come out of a team meeting. We have definitely found our strength in what we do together as a KFA team. I think, over the years, we have learned a lot about what makes a good meeting and what makes a bad one.

CELEBRATION. We’ve gotten a lot better at this over the years but we still have a ways to go. We regularly take some time share the good things that are happening, including when one of the team knocks it out of the park in some area of ministry.

VISION. Vision leaks. Even staff members tend to forget the ‘why’ behind what they’re doing every day. Meetings are a great place to remind them.

COMMUNICATION. It seems like a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised how little communication actually takes place at some meetings leadership teams have. Often, we take some moments to communicate the major things going on and what everybody is working on. This gives everyone a bigger picture of the whole as well as deeper appreciation for the unique roles of the other team members. It keeps us from forming nasty silos where one team member or ministry begins to become or think of themselves as more important than another.

TRUST. This is always ‘in process,’ but I believe we have a team that, at its core, trusts all the other players. This is invaluable in moving forward without big hitches. Months ago, one of our team members led us in a round-table 'vulnerable team-building moment' where each of us had to tell what major strength each other member brought to the team -- and then -- tell how each team member dragged the team down. Tough stuff, but so trust-building in the end.

LAUGH. We do this a lot - too much some days - at our meetings. Oh my goodness.

CRITIQUE. I think we’ve learned to do this pretty well. It continues to be a painful process at times, but we have all learned how important it is to be honest about how we’re doing and communicate evaluation without being offensive.

SPICE. Every once in awhile, we change up the location -- the fireside room -- my house -- a restaurant -- outdoors -- the bowling alley -- to break the monotony. It breathes new life automatically.

Here's to our team: Dan Remus (Co-Lead) -- Jon Brown (Youth) -- Jason Held (Administration and Young Adults) -- Lisa Kurman (Life Development & Small Groups) -- Benny Ferguson (Worship & Creative Arts) -- Bob Griffith (Children & Family) -- Susan Nelson (Christian Life School) -- Gabe Mills (Youth & Journey Ministry College).

I love our team and I love our team meetings. You can find out more about them all at www.kenoshafirst.com

And be blessed.