Monthly Newsletters

"When a flower doesn't bloom, you fix the environment in which it grows, not the flower."  A.D. Heijer

We have some beautiful flowering shrubs growing in our sandy Florida soil that began to struggle.  Once we started adding our coffee grounds to the soil, the flowers loved the acid and began to thrive.  I like using this metaphor for ministry where the soil is the organizational context and the flowers are the staff. 
 

There is a pattern with leaders who put all the blame on a staff member when they don’t work out in their role. In my experience, it is usually not that simple. 

I have found that the responsibility often starts with leadership.  Like the soil in this metaphor, the context where the staff member is planted can significantly impact the chances of their success. 
 

With that in mind, I have questions for the leaders I coach:

• Was the role, job description, and expected outcomes accurate and clear during the hiring/placement process? 
• Did HR accurately represent the *Knowledge, Skills, and Experience needed to be successful?
• Was the applicant carefully vetted for the Knowledge, Skills, and Experience?"
• Did the new hire have the support they needed post-hiring?
• Were there regular, quarterly, and annual reviews in writing?
• Did the organization grow and change significantly post-hiring?
• Did role expectations change significantly post-hiring?

Experience has shown me that the staff member often deserves an apology for the context in which they were planted. The best response by leaders for a failed staff assignment is to first study the soil of the context carefully using the questions above, and not to immediately blame the “flower dying on the vine".

It is easy in ministry to focus on the importance of the mission and justify the haphazard way people are treated along the way. 

Let’s look at how Paul challenges leaders to be careful with staff.

“Masters, it’s the same with you. No abuse, please, and no threats. You and your servants are both under the same Master in heaven. He makes no distinction between you and them.”     Eph. 6:9 (msg) 

Lastly, I have been impacted by the following quote from Stephen Covey. He answers the question of how we should treat staff! 

“Always treat your staff exactly as you want them to treat your best customer”.    Stephen Covey

Let’s translate this to non-profit ministries. 

“Always treat your staff exactly how you want them to treat your most important donors.”

Your leadership assignment if you care to accept it is to create a list of how you want your staff to treat your most important donors. 

Here’s mine for starters:

• Thank them often
• Visit them regularly 
• Report on God sightings
• Minister to them
• Communicate frequently
• Listen carefully
• Pray for them

Now, imagine treating your staff guided by these same standards.

Wishing you a blessed Christmas!

When we were missionaries in Quito Ecuador, we hosted a heart specialist from the U.S. who gave the missionary community lectures on heart health as his gift to their longevity and well-being. We have tried to apply what we learned from Dr. John.

Fast forward 20 years when a businessman in Dallas gave Rita and me the incredibly generous gift of an executive annual physical at the Cooper Clinic founded by the renowned cardio specialist Dr. Kenneth Cooper.

A thorough review of the heart is included with an EKG, Heart CAT scan, and a comprehensive Heart Scorecard. All the test results were handed to us in print and digital formats in a private consultation by 4 PM of the same day.
 

The Bible mentions the “heart” over eight hundred times, and there are indicators from scripture to evaluate our “heart” health, actually our lives.

You don’t have to fly to Dallas for this heart exam. You can use the outline here to do this review in the privacy of your own home. If you don’t trust your own heart’s evaluation, you could ask a trusted friend or loved one to use this outline to help you evaluate your heart health.

Six Heart Health Indicators from Scripture

1. Speech: “…the words you speak come from the heart…”  Mt 15:18a 
2. Thinking: “For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander.” Matthew 15:19 
3. Attitude: “Always be joyful.  Never stop praying.  Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” 1Thessalonians 5:16-18 
4. Soul: “Since God chose you to be the holy people He loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.”  Colossians 3:12 (extra credit – verses 13-15) 
5. Valuables: “Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.”  Matthew 6:21 
6. Devotion: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.  Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.” Proverbs 3:5-6

Blessings as you evaluate your heart and use the results to guide you into health and longevity with the most important of outcomes! 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Fariba (pseudonym) came to the USA with her husband from a Muslim background in Iran. They settled in the Midwest. Her name and city cannot be revealed for her safety because her husband’s violent rage and abuse caused her to flee to a church-based safe house in her city.

Rita has served as a counselor for abused women and in safe homes like this. It is very critical that no one knows their location. Fariba was then successfully and safely moved into the home of personal friends of ours who have supported and prayed for us in our Bible translation work over the last 30 years. They astutely and immediately noted that although she spoke some English, Fariba’s heart language is Farsi. Key insight!! I am so proud of them in this story on a number of levels because they took on a very real risk when they opened their home.

They began taking her to church and she saw how many people read and studied their Bibles.  She wondered if she could ever have one in her language. Our friends wrote to us, and I had a beautiful Farsi Bible shipped overnight from the American Bible Society website Bibles.com.

She was stunned when she was able to so quickly hold a Farsi Bible in her hands. She looked up to heaven as if God had dropped it down for her! After many months of attending their church and reading God’s Word in her heart language, she has now accepted the Lord Jesus as her personal Savior. In the photo below, courtesy of our faithful friends, you can see that Fariba was baptized just last week.  

While coaching a new ministry that works with the neediest in a very wealthy county in the US, I asked them about their Scripture strategy and about linguistic diversity in their ministry. In this suburb community outside of Washington DC, there are over 120 languages spoken in their schools! This means there are hundreds of thousands of people, men, women, and children whose heart language is not English. And beyond DC, there are an estimated 60 million people in America who speak a language other than English in their homes! This ministry that I am coaching immediately took note of the amazing ABS resource for Bibles from languages spoken all over the world. They committed to building language diversity into their scripture strategy. 

Does your church and any local ministries you support have a language diversity strategy for Scripture? The need is great here in the US, and there are many resources for Scripture content in other languages.  American Bible Society, YouVersion, Jesus Film, LUMO, and Faith Comes by Hearing to name a few. 

Last week I was on a walking trail in upstate New York. Two trail enhancements caught my attention. At one, you could stop and get some rest, and the other was a setting for a picnic if you don’t mind the overgrown weeds. Someone probably had these ideas for making the trail a more attractive destination. The need for a sustainability budget might not have been considered. Reminder: It is easier to build than to maintain.

Having been involved in building out offices for both a business and a ministry, there were needed assessments of what the maintenance costs would be for different construction decisions. So many decisions have a cost/benefit analysis of higher quality costs, with lower maintenance, versus lower construction costs and higher maintenance costs later.

Those cement trail enhancements in NY may not have cost much to purchase and install along the walkway. But did anyone ask how much the follow-through cost would be to keep them attractive every day and useable for the next 20, 30, or even 50 years?

I wondered if New York State can’t maintain these investments with some of the highest tax income in our nation, during financially healthy years, how will they maintain things if there is a deeper recession or lower income from taxes? Ideas must be vetted for sustainability during both good and hard times. Can the budget support a good idea during a downturn? Counting the costs.

Questions like that need to be addressed before the CEO or the Board asks for the answers! They will be impressed if you have thought them through and can defend your decisions.

Back home in Lake Nona today, I noted a professional landscape worker out in the median, in the 95-degree heat, on her hands and knees weeding the beautiful flower beds that we get to enjoy.

I thought about this letter, the installation of new flowers each season, and the budget for such exceptional follow-through maintenance. We are blessed when our surroundings have excellent follow-through.

We do well when we are diligent about sustainability.

Jesus also asks us to count the cost!

“But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it? Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of money, and then everyone would laugh at you. They would say, ‘There’s the person who started that building and couldn’t afford to finish it!’” Lk 14:28-30

To follow through! 

In the executive coaching practice, I have the privilege of working with men and women who display these 10 characteristics of leadership. 
 

That is why I love my work!
 

Let’s look at these key aptitudes of leadership.  

• VISION
• PASSION
• PERSEVERANCE
• ACCOUNTABILITY
• CHARACTER
• STAMINA
• CARING
• MOTIVATING
• INNOVATION
• WISDOM

VISION - Without vision people perish…God has been known to give vision for a leadership role, so it may be a sign that an opportunity is a calling for you. Boards would do well to promote leaders who have the gift of vision. Consider proceeding carefully otherwise.

PASSION – Passion flows from the heart of the leader for the mission. Passion for a ministry may be a good sign that the role/ministry is a match for you.  Boards would do well to promote people with a passion for the ministry.

PERSEVERANCE - Leaders with calling, vision, and passion will persevere against all manners of resistance.

ACCOUNTABILITY - Leaders are healthier when they take responsibility and are accountable to others.

CHARACTER - Leaders with character make integrity a life-long pursuit.

STAMINA - Leaders who are serving from the heart have energy.

CARING - Leaders with a high EQ remember that people are the main thing.

MOTIVATING - Leaders who inspire others lead by example.

INNOVATION - Leaders who are willing to put everything on the table courageously take risks for the sake of the mission.

WISDOM - Leaders yielded to the Holy Spirit and God’s Word receive wisdom. 

The leaders I have the privilege to work with have vision and passion for their ministries. They are pressing against all manner of challenges. They are humbly accountable to their Boards, teams, or leaders. They operate with high levels of integrity. They are indefatigable. They care deeply about the team around them. They inspire others. They are pressing into change and innovation. They have the wisdom of having spent time with God.

In addition to that list of aptitudes, I have also created a list of the domains a non-profit CEO must apply these aptitudes. Click here. Happy July 4th and have a wonderful month! 

As I hear about Queen Elizabeth’s 70-year anniversary in service to her country, I realize I have a personal hero who is approaching 70 years of service.  He has impacted my life and I dedicate this month’s newsletter to Bernie May!

From our first contact with Wycliffe Bible Translators to the recent celebration of Bernie’s 90th birthday, we have seen him up-close serving faithfully. Bernie is quick to point out how he seeks God’s leading for every decade.  It started in the Amazon jungle as an aviation pilot flying missionaries to their destinations. That’s how he spent his 20s and 30s. In his 40s he was led to be the President/CEO of Wycliffe’s jungle aviation team JAARS. From there thru his 50s, he served as President/CEO of Wycliffe where he was impacting millions.  It was while reading his monthly letters we got to know Bernie and with God’s leading decided to join Wycliffe as missionaries. 

While Rita and I were serving in Central America, Bernie had accepted the new challenge of launching The Seed Company, telling the Board he would work on it during his 60s! His leadership in birthing The Seed Company has grown it to be one of the most influential forces of the last century for Bible translation. 
As I served as President of Wycliffe starting in the 1990s, I had the privilege of serving on the founding board of The Seed Company with Bernie and witnessed the incredible intentionality he had with each decade. 
Bernie retired from TSC at 70 and accepted a new challenge to plant a very strategic church in his community in South Carolina. He did that for a full decade and began to wonder what God had for him next.

When he talked to me around his 80th birthday, he had set his sights on an unreached people group in a VERY LARGE closed communist country in Asia. He dedicated his 80s to work on a ministry plan that included Bible translation and sustainable funding from within the people group and he did it! 

At his 90th birthday party, he had a Ph.D. Bible translator with him from that people group! Scripture is being translated and the business model is working. Look at God!

Bernie asked for prayer at his 90th party for what he is supposed to focus on during his 90s Yes, really, I was there, saw it, and heard it…so, knowing he means it, I prayed.

What is God preparing you for in the next decade? 

“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,” Hebrews 10:24 

 There is a four-letter word that has invaded our conversations, the workplace, and even surprisingly our prayers. You may have noticed too. I have only spoken to Rita about it because I did not want to appear to my colleagues to be overly fixated on language and grammar. 

But here we go…

The prayer part has been bothering me the most, more than I have cared to admit. It may be driving you crazy too, but if you hadn't noticed, you may wish you hadn't read this because now that you know you can't unhear it in almost every prayer spoken. 

Church, small group. radio, etc...

I was encouraged this week when my friend Bob Shank wrote about it and zeroed in like a laser on why this four-letter word is problematic. It is especially important to him because he is asking for prayer for his life and death battle with an extremely aggressive form of leukemia. 

In fact, if this letter today prompts you to pray for Bob, it will be a great thing! His Caring Bridge site has tons of excellent info on his courageous journey.

Here are some excerpts from his insights:

J-U-S-T:  The 4 letter word that has become a cancer in our conversations with God.

It's a word with multiple meanings and wears a couple of different identities. When it comes through your mind and lips as an adjective it catches God's ears because it touches on one of His self-described attributes: "He is the rock, His works are perfect, and all His ways are JUST. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and JUST is He” – Deut. 32:4. In that context, it fulfills its meaning: "Based on behaving according to what is morally right and fair."

Thank you, God, for being JUST!

Sometimes though it morphs into an adverb - (stay with me here).  When it does, it can quickly become problematic. Used in this manner it creates boundaries that define limitations. 

In a recent study by Lifeway Research, they found that Christians who pray spend over a third of their prayer time using the word JUST (as an adverb limiting God)!  For the average follower of Jesus, one out of every three words in our conversation with God is setting limits on what is being requested.

Paul knew how to pray, and his letters have given us great insight into how he did it.  Was he prone to use "just" as he spoke to heaven? Take a look:

"For this reason, I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord's holy people, to grasp how wide, and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than you can ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work in us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! AMEN." 

No JUST, not one!  Prayer without limit, to the God who knows no limits. That's the model for prayer that can tap the immense potential of our Heavenly 'Creator' in a way that unleashes His desire to be generous beyond measure while granting requests that align with His stated purposes. That brings Him pleasure while resulting in glory to Him. 

Everyone wins when JUST is taken off the prayer table."  Excerpts from Bob Shank 

Our words are so important as leaders.  We are modeling, discipling, and coaching our staff when we pray, write, and speak. At the end of the day our words are rooted in our theological worldview; That is how we view God and life. We want to speak, write, and pray with accuracy.

Imagine praying to God, asking Him to JUST get Bob through the tough treatments he's going through today when we know he is facing a grueling 12-month journey of treatment. 

If you hadn't noticed people praying that way, you won't believe how much you will hear it now that you are aware.  I am so sorry!  If you had noticed and it was driving you crazy too, please drop me a quick note for camaraderie’s sake. 

 This month let’s look at how Boards, CEOs, and those hiring for positions of leadership find “apostle-type leaders” for their key roles.  And what are apostle-type leaders anyway? I think the insights here can be revolutionary for non-profit hiring.

The need for accelerated change is well documented by hundreds of authors in highly respected books and publications. Generally, we are committed to having the best nonprofit organizations so that they are growing and creating an impact. This takes leadership. I know that exceptional management skills are priceless for execution, but it is leadership that points our organizations to the right targets, strategies, and outcomes.

The hiring trap in non-profit organizations today is to pursue a seasoned manager that will keep things “running smoothly” right at a time when the organizations desperately need bold leadership and change to reach their goals.  The propensity for Board Members and CEOs is to pursue experienced managers that will be safe, will hold on to what is in place, and not take risks, rather than put it all on the line to accomplish the ministry vision.

In the first century, the work of the church needed courageous leadership. What if the Elders overseeing the church would not appoint the Apostle Paul or Peter?  Imagine being on the executive committee, and you are responsible for Paul and Peter’s job description, 360 evaluation, annual performance review, and expense reports.  That sounds like quite a challenge, doesn’t it?  And yet, that’s what I believe our world needs today! 

Israel was on a decades-long march. Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, had wise counsel that was perfect for sustainable operational structure and strategy for Moses. It served the nation for the next 40 years. As wise as he was, Jethro was probably not the visionary leader that Israel needed to secure the promise land.

During the 40-year reign of King David, there was no status quo in Israel! Israel grew by multiples of multiples in both scale and wealth. King David was an apostle-type leader. 

So what do the Scriptures say “apostle-type leaders” look like? 

With gratitude to George Miley, I’ve created a document with 16 insights from his book “Loving the Church/Blessing the Nations”.  You can use it as a guide when screening leadership candidates and it will give you an amazing focus on the most important biblical leadership characteristics.  A link to this hiring tool PDF is below my signature line.  It will help you choose the right leaders for the future of your organization. 

Let’s pray, study the Scripture, and ask God for bold leadership in the 21st century to serve a world that needs Jesus. Let’s not settle for the status quo when change is so urgently needed.

If you would like a free, no-obligation, executive coaching session, you will be pleasantly surprised at how much value can come from one session.  

Last month my newsletter featured a friend making a 100-year plan early on in their life and marriage. If you didn’t see it, please tell me and I’ll send it to you. This month let’s think about how to reach beyond our time on earth. How might we influence our children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren beyond our life? How might our legacy impact those we might never meet?  For those without children, I am thinking of you, and mindful that you have tons of relationships and ministries that you are invested in for your legacy impact. These thoughts are for you too!  If we make our plan at thirty years old and live until eighty, that covers 50 years, but there are another fifty years to be strategically considered. At eighty years old, there’s a possibility that we could be personally influencing the next generations but we need to consider how to impact the next generation through others.  “Show respect to the aged; honor the presence of an elder; fear your God…..” Leviticus 19:32 MSG  My father was a musician, a band leader and a drummer in NY, back in the 1930s - 1960s. He didn’t live to see any of his kids or grandkids take up his art, but my grandson, Dad’s great grandson, is doing an absolutely amazing job playing the drums on the worship team in his church! Thinking of my father’s gift in music and seeing my grandson play with so much talent brought back many memories and filled my heart!  Legacy impact can take on many different forms.  The critical years for influencing the family beyond our lifetime are the grandparent years. That reminder takes me back to an experience Rita and I had in St Peters Square in Rome. I’ve never heard a stronger Sunday message for Grandparents!  The Vatican asked American Bible Society if we would co-produce Scripture in Italian to give out to the 100,000 worshippers on their "Grandparent's Day". They invited us to not only stay in the Pope’s Residence in the Vatican but also be on the platform for the worship service, with Pope Francis, Benedict and the worship leader of the day, Andre Bocelli.  Pope Francis delivered a powerful message on the important role and value of grandparents in the life of the church and family. He also strongly underlined the importance of reading God’s Word every day as the source of spiritual life. Rita was holding the Scriptures we published together and Archbishop Paglia is showing Pope Francis. The view of Pope's arrival from the platform.  There was a copy of the Scriptures on every seat! This week we have just been invited to attend Beckham (7) and River’s (4) school program in San Diego in person or zoom. We already have AA tickets to be there for Easter in April, so we have prioritized Zoom to attend the program virtually. The boys will know that we attended and that we are deeply invested in them!  And so it goes...we are learning our way through this new stage attempting to serve and bless the next generations.  A next gen leader that I am coaching requested that in our session this week he’d like coaching on how to prepare for the next 100 quarters, that is the next 25 years of his leadership life. What a privilege to serve visionary leaders!  Think about what you might do in your later years to be effective for Christ.  You have wisdom, experience and much value to offer.  "It is not the time to rest" as Pope Francis challenged us all that day.  Finally, our hearts are grieving for Ukraine as we watch the sacrifice parents and grandparents are making to save their country for their children to live in freedom. They inspire the world to pray for them with all our hearts and hold on to the freedoms we have!  “I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice….” I Timothy 5:1a

When Rita and I began working on our retirement plan, our adviser told us we should build a plan for our finances to last us to 100 years old! At first, I thought there is no way we would expect to live that long. But over the years I have been privileged to work with some amazing philanthropic leaders and their lives have helped us to think differently about the wisdom of that retirement plan.  John (pseudonym) started his own company right after college when he was in his twenties. Desiring to honor God, and he and his buddy decided to read the Bible cover to cover noting every Biblical principle that they should apply to their new business. I met John when I was president of Wycliffe and John’s company had been through recessions, losses, and spectacular growth, with financial assets now totaling in the billions. When I asked him to speak at a financial partner event for Bible Translation he said yes, and that he’d like to present the concept of the 100-year plan for his life and legacy which he’d developed back when he was in his twenties!  He had a big vision.  His children were getting married and getting very close to having their own children. Listening to him, I was beginning to see how a man could have a 100-year plan.  Being intentional about your impact on your children is not a big stretch for most of us mere mortals but thinking about your impact on your grandchildren and their children when you are in your 20’s I found to be astonishing! In addition, he has generously been blessing Bible translation and other non-profit causes to this day.   At age 50, Orville (above) read the new book, Aerobics, by Dr. Ken Cooper. He made a decision to pursue a healthier lifestyle and began his running career at 50! He became an avid runner, completing five marathons and numerous other shorter races. At age 90, seeing that he was still healthy and actively running, Orville began competing in USA Track and Field Masters races. For the next 11 years, he competed many times and set over 15 world records in various age-graded track events. Yes, that’s true, at 101 he was still running and setting world records. He graduated to heaven just days before his 102nd birthday.  When he was in his 20’s Orville received a modest inheritance and dedicated it the Lord. He never believed that it was for him, and amassed investments into the tens of millions that he used to bless many non-profit ministries.  So as we look out toward our 100-year-old birthdays should the Lord allow, and as we make plans accordingly, these are some things that we are prioritizing:  * Family Connections * Legacy with Grandchildren and beyond * Church Community * Meaningful Ministry * Sufficient Resources * Eternity with Jesus   Have you begun thinking about your impact to 100 years old or beyond? If not, it might be time to start planning for your best years yet!  Run well friends and do it with a spirit of generosity for eternal Kingdom work!  ‘Til we all see Jesus,  Roy

During a small group meeting we looked at the biblical basis for personal accountability.  It was timely because I just had a crisis coaching session with an overseas mission leader. He was confronting possible sin with a missionary. In that context we discussed the heavy administrative role of accountability when dealing with peoples addictions.  Our small group case study for this topic was Saul and David. Which one was willing to submit to accountability? Cliffs Notes reminder: Saul deflected, blamed others, and lied to Samuel when he was confronted with his behavior. In contrast, when Nathan came to David with his prophetic confrontation about Bathsheba, David humbly confessed his sins against God. The difference is striking. Saul’s life legacy with decades in office is one of a failed king. David’s life legacy after decades in office is of a man after God’s heart and even the legacy of the greatest king in Israel’s history. Israel’s territory expanded from 6,000 to 60,000 sq miles and experienced much peace under David.  What does accountability look like for you? One leader in our small group has used a quick set of hard hitting questions which he gives to accountability colleagues to ask him regularly.  Here they are: 1. Have you been with a member of the opposite sex this week which could be seen as a compromise? Are you guarding your heart? Prov. 4:23 2. Have any of your financial dealings lacked integrity? 3. Have you engaged with any sexually explicit material? 4. Have you regularly engaged with scripture and prayer? 5. Have you given priority time to your spouse, family? 6. Have you fulfilled the requirements of your calling? 7. Have you just lied to me?  We also discussed some of the new and improved apps that if used appropriately will help protect people from online content. Our group providentially includes a 20-something internet security professional who recommended his top two apps including the one he uses.  Here are his top two: 1. EverAccountable 2. CovenantEyes  The link back to David and Saul applies to to the 7 questions and these 21st century tools. They only work when the leader is willing to submit to them. Saul would not submit to accountability. David would. The legacy difference speaks for itself.  If you have an accountability experience or recommendation please send it!  It’s a great time to renew our commitment to accountability.  Wishing you a blessed New Year in 2022! Roy