Excuse me sir, Would you like to be my Mentor?

I am a huge advocate of having mentors. I have been blessed to have some incredible mentors through the years. I know I wouldn’t be who I am and where I am today without the mentors who have poured into me over the years.

Here are a few thoughts on the whole Mentor Concept:

1. Mentor somebody.

I am a firm believer that we all have something to offer somebody else. Get over any feelings of inadequacy you might have, because somebody needs what you have learned.

2. Find a Mentor for every area of your life.

For me, if there’s an area of my life that I want to grow in, I enlist a mentor. Here’s how:
1) Pray for God to bring that person across your path.
2) Start looking for them.
3) Start collecting questions.
4) When you find them, go boldly & humbly in their direction.

3. Don’t neglect “Virtual” Mentors.

Over the years, I have been mentored by some amazing leaders that I’ve never met simply by reading their books or listening to their talks. Today, with the free content of the internet, it’s easier than ever. I literally downloaded over 12 hours of talks by Seth Godin in 1 night that I’ve been listening to & learning from for the last few months.

4. Become an expert Question-Asker.

The way to mine out the wisdom of a mentor is by learning the art of asking good questions. Good questions can unlock the depths of experience like nothing else can. Here’s a little tip when preparing questions in advance for a meeting with a mentor… Make a list of a ridiculous number of questions. For example, come up with 87 questions for a 60 minute meeting. If you do, you’ll discover the best 8 or 10 questions that will allow you to learn the most during your time.

The right mentor at the right time in your life can literally be life-changing. Finding one and being one is essential to your success.

Raising Up Communicators – My Most Current Thoughts

A common strain that many pastors feel is the pressure of not being able to miss a Sunday. In their own way, each one says the same thing:

“I don’t feel like I have anyone on my team who can do what I do…”

At Next Level Church, we have several capable communicators on our team, but it didn’t happen by accident. It has been a combination of the blessing of God and an intentional approach on our part.

It starts with desire. When we started 8 years ago, I knew I wanted to have others who could do what I do. I didn’t want to be, “the only one who could feed the sheep.” I knew this would take a  lot of security on my part and the patience to believe God to raise up others on our team as well.

It also requires a strategy.  3 years ago, I began strategically executing the plan to multiply our speaking structure. I started with my associate, Mike, who had moved with us 8 years earlier, and our newly hired executive pastor, Scott Drummond. Once we had 2 guys who had the natural ability and passion to speak, I got extremely strategic about it. Today, we’re developing several other young communicators with the same strategy.

A Strategy to Raise Up Communicators in your church:

1.  Include them in on message creation. Rather than just writing messages alone, I started bringing in them in to help me process ideas through. This allowed them to see how I think about message preparation. It also gave me some great ideas and illustrations that I never would have had otherwise.

2. Use their personalities in other ways from the stage. We always have 2 people give announcements in our services. This keeps things fresh and provides for movement and energy in the service, simply by having two personalities on stage instead of one.

The biggest benefit though is allowing our people to become familiar and comfortable with the other pastors on staff. They see them having fun, joking with each other and being in the know with your church. Over time, this creates a comfort in people with having someone other than me on the stage.

3.  Let them speak with you present. I want our church to know that, “just because I’m here doesn’t mean I have to be up there…” I intentionally schedule Sundays where they speak with me there. I need our church to be comfortable with me being in the room, but not always being up front. (By the way, I will often jump into one of the announcement guy roles when they speak. We believe in “Interchangeable Parts” in every way.)

4.  Work with them before, during & after. When they’re scheduled to speak, we worked up the big idea and spark for the message together. Then they flesh out the raw outline. They bring it back to me and we talk through. This allows me to run it through the filter of our people, because as the guy who talks to them the most, I know their aptitude best. After we meet, they bring the talk up to a mature form and we meet one more time where they “pseudo-preach” it to me in my office.

I stay involved in the process the day they speak as well. We will meet in the green room backstage between services to tweak the content even more. I want them to know what I’m thinking in real time.

Finally, the week after they speak, we debrief and listen to the audio CD or watch the video back together. I thoroughly dissect it with them. Good, bad and ugly.

Here’s what I’ve learned: If I want them to do what I do, I have to be willing to slow down enough to allow them to see how I do it. From my experience, most pastors aren’t willing to do this. They just want their other guys to watch them and then just “get it.” I wish that were true, because we’d all be much better golfers after watching Tiger Woods every Sunday.

6. Teach your church that they are a teaching hospital. We are committed to seeing young leaders reach their full potential. If you’re looking for perfection, you’re gonna need to find another church. From the beginning, we have taught our people that they are apart of a Divine Experiment and things won’t always go perfectly. We would rather fail trying then never take a risk.

7. Put them inside of a series you’re already doing. Including them inside of a series allows them to leverage a greater credibility and allows them to “continue” a thought instead of trying to build a stand alone message. Second, It communicates that you are a teaching team, not individual communicators.

8. Use the word “we” as much as you can. For example, “at Next Level Church we believe” instead of, “at NLC, I believe…” Its a subtle difference but over time, it helps shape the culture in your church’s mind.

9. Use somebody other than you, to be the “Campus Pastor” in your service. Even if you only have one campus, we have found it helpful to use another pastor on staff, to close the service. This gives them a pastoral and credible voice, and over time, establishes their voice to the people.

10. Use other pastors to lead things like communion, child dedication, and baptisms. I want our people to know that I’m not the only one, (or the best one for that matter!) to lead these important pastoral elements. I want our church to be comfortable with the other pastors ministering to them in spiritual moments, like communion, baptism, etc.

The result:

3 years later, the results have been amazing! Our church people have become accustomed to me not having to be up there 52 weeks a year. This new reality has enabled me to get the rest I need, speak in other churches, and help other pastors in great ways! The benefit of having confidence in other communicators on your team will far outweigh the time and energy it takes for you to get them there.

Begin NOW to develop your strategy to raise up other communicators who can do what you do in your church. It’s worth it.

What Summer Slump?!?

For 8 years now, we have refused to buy into the whole Summer Slump theory at Next Level Church. Instead, we’ve worked under the theory that if people are home, then why not give them a reason to come to church & bring someone else w/ them? (After all, in this economy, stay-cations are becoming more popular & people are looking for something fun to do.)

This year we declared May & June “A Season of Sabbath” but then, on July 11th, we launched 1 of our big 3 series that we do all year (Easter & October being the other two) called “Who Do You Think You Are?”

We went with a 70′s theme complete w/ an NLC Staff 70′s photo shoot for the internal mailer that went out to our entire mailing list (1600 homes) of people that have attended at least once in the last 12 months.

In the first 3 weeks of the series, we’ve seen 50 1st time families!!! In the middle of summer, baby! We know that if we can grow now, we’ll have some crazy momentum heading into fall.

To see some of what we did, go to: http://nextlevelchurch.com/video

Additionally, I know of several other churches that we coach who did a big summer series & have literally broken attendance records this summer!

I’m so glad we don’t give in to the Summer Slump theory.

…just something to think about…

Matt

5 Decisions I’ve Made About Me – Part 1

LIfe has a way of getting busy, doesn’t it? I mean, the stuff of life can distract us pretty easily, pretty much everyday. However, with limited time & limited resources, I know that, as a leader, I’ve got to make the most of the Talents, Giftings, Hopes & Dreams I’ve been given. After all, it’s in those areas that I will make the greatest contribution to the world around me during my time here on earth.

This week I want to talk about 5 Decisions I’ve Made about my Talents, Giftings, Hopes & Dreams. I hope it’s encouraging to you.

Decision #1: I Will Give Priority Energy to Them Everyday!

Too many people wait until their To-Do List is cleared before they give significant time and energy to what they do best! Yes, there is a time and place for “getting things done” but I want to challenge everyone of us today that, “The place where we will add the most value to the world is in the area where we are most passionate and gifted!”

1. It offers the greatest Return on Investment. When we give priority energy to our strengths, we get a better return on our investment! How much would Peyton Manning get paid by the Indianapolis Colts to play Wide Receiver? I’m guessing, Not Much! But when he’s playing Quarterback, he’s worth millions!!! Our strengths offer our greatest ROI.

2. Our Strengths offer the greatest Reward! There is nothing more fulfilling for me as a leader than when I’m using my God given talents, passions and abilities to add value to someone else! There’s just no feeling like it! I love it! It energizes me and makes me feel like I’m on top of the world!

I have made a decision in my leadership that I am going to begin giving Priority Energy to what I do best! Then, and only then, can I make a significant contribution to the world around me!

just a bloggish thought,

Matt

Adrenaline Addiction – Part 2

#2: Progress can become a Mistress.

If we’re not careful, those of us who lead churches or other organizations can allow the Adrenaline that comes from progress to actually begin to steal our heart’s loyalty from those who deserve it most.

1. Our Spouse. If you’ve ever seen the movie Fever Pitch with Drew Berrymore and Jimmy Fallon than you may remember this great line in there where Berrymore’s character looks at Fallon’s character, Ben, who is in love with the Red Sox and says something to the effect of, “What have the Red Sox ever done for you? They can’t love you back, Ben!” As a Red Sox fan, that was hard for me to hear, but as a leader, that can be true as well! If we’re not careful we can get tricked into thinking that our organizations “love us back.”

Question: Who are you happier to see each day, your spouse or your parking space in front of your office?

2. Our kids. The mistress of progress can steal our attention away from our kids. For me it’s a question of “Best Energy.” Who gets my Best Energy today… my work, or my kids? It’s my responsibility as a leader and a dad to make sure that I leave some gas in the tank for my kids when I get home each night. Here’s the reality: If I don’t monitor this, no one else will. Our kids don’t know how to tell us, “Dad, you’re not leaving enough emotional energy for us.” We’ll only find out, after it’s too late.

3. Our life outside of work. The mistress of progress can rob us from a life outside of work. I went through a stretch for several months last year where I actually prayed everyday that God would give me a hobby. I needed something to give my attention to that didn’t look anything like my life at work. I saw myself getting “sucked into” the adrenaline addiction of whatever I was doing at work. Thankfully, God answered my prayer in January and gave me a great hobby that is inexpensive and I love to do with my kids!

We can’t let Progress at work become a mistress for us,

Just a bloggish thought,

Matt

Momentum – Part 1

This week I want to walk through a series of blogs about Momentum. As John Maxwell likes to say, “Momentum is a Leader’s best friend, or worst enemy.” Over the past decade and a half of ministry and leadership experience, I have certainly been on both sides of the momentum pendulum. I want to throw out a few thoughts on momentum this week. Here we go…

1. There are times and seasons for everything. The Bible definitely gets this one right! Unfortunately, too many of us leaders, don’t. We want to constantly be pushing and moving our organizations forward, but one of our primary jobs as leaders is to know what our people can endure. The leader who never rests their organization burns people out.

2. You need mountains and plateaus. It’s just good for the rhythm of an organization if there are seasons of rest. Farmers know this, and rest their fields 1 out of every 7 years. It gives the soil a chance to replenish the nutrients that have been lost by growing crops for 6 years. (Wow, that was a total Indiana Illustration! I guess I’m going back to my roots! Sorry about the pun!)

3. The great task of leadership is to create momentum even in the Plateau seasons. The tendency of leadership is to think that momentum must be lost during a “plateau season.” I don’t believe that to be true. It simply requires us as leaders to refocus our energy and efforts of the organization into a different direction.

4. Think Momentum Shift. Good leaders think in terms of shifting momentum from advancement to fortification. Momentum can be created and sustained during seasons of rest for an organization, but it all depends on the leader’s perspective and approach.

Do you need to shift the momentum in your organization or department?

Just a bloggish thought,

Matt

Trustworthy – Part 4

I don’t want to go there, but I have to.  My only hope is that you’ll not tune me out, or click away too soon.  But being found trustworthy is about patience.  And doggone it if the King James word for patience is long-suffering.  Oh come on, King James, that just sucks.  Patience is:

1.  The ability to not have what you want and still have a life. Too many leaders have destination disease.  They think that just because they haven’t arrived means they’re not going anywhere.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  And honestly, the longer I’m in this thing as a leader, the more I’m realizing that the life is what happens while we’re waiting to arrive at a destination.

2.  Being okay with where you are. Alot of leaders are living with a constant gnawing in their stomach because they aren’t where they thought they would be by this time in their life.  Being trustworthy means learning the art of being okay with where you are.  Until we embrace where we are, we have given God no evidence that He can trust us with the next place we want to be.

3.  Learning what we need to learn here, so we can move on. If we don’t get what we’re supposed to get at each stop on the train, we’ll have to circle back later to learn it again.  Too many leaders are spending too much time circling back because they lacked the patience in the moment to pause and ask, “What is it I’m supposed to learn now?”

As hard as it is, if we want to be found trustworthy, we’ve got to be willing to grow the fruit of patience in our lives.

Just a bloggish thought,

Matt

Encouragement to Church Planters

So I found a new spot to connect with God. Honestly, I hesitate to share it with all of you b/c some of you who are Next Levelites are likely to go and find it and then be there and bother me and that will just make it not a hiding place anymore. (Just kiddin’) Suffice it to say, I can see the entire Midpoint Bridge from where I’m sitting right now. AND… (and this is a big AND) Apparently, there is free wireless internet so… (I’m not sure how that works, but I’ll take it!)

Here’s an illustration for all the church planters who read this blog…

From where I sit I can see the cars heading onto the bridge. A few minutes ago, a guy comes riding by above me on a bike. From his vantage point, all he can see is the huge hill ahead and how far he has to go. After all, he’s riding his bike to Cape Coral, so obviously, he’s focused on the enormity of the task ahead.

From my vantage point, all I can see is how fast he’s moving. As he rides by I’m thinking, “Wow, that guy is going fast for an ole guy.” (Or something like that) He’s making great time. The wind is at his back, he’s going with the flow of traffic. That guy is doing a great job on his journey.

As one who has the privilege of coaching several church planters and pastors across the country, I see the same thing happen all the time. They are so focused on their road and have their eyes so fixed on the challenges ahead and can’t stop thinking about the Big Vision that awaits on the other side, that they don’t realize they’re winning!

So, from one church planter to another, let me just tell you, I see you moving on your road! You’re doing a great job! You’re making the right time. God is with you, the wind is at your back. You’re being successful at seeing lives changed in your community. Keep pedaling. Don’t worry about the hills ahead. Oh yeah, and put your head up long enough to realize that there is an amazing view all around you! After all, you’re on the bridge of God’s Journey for your life! And the view from there is breath-taking.

I’m praying for you church planters today! I love you guys!

Matt Keller

A Lesson in Margin from my 2 Boys!

This morning on the way to school, I had the opportunity to teach my 7 year old and 4 year old about Margin. I was attempting to help them understand why we want our mornings to be Peaceful and not Stressful. Here’s a synopsis.

• We live crazy lives. Which is okay, in fact we prefer it this way, most of the time. Once we get to school, or work, our life is full of details, homework, friends, teachers, lessons, responsibilities, etc.
• We want our mornings to be peaceful. The more relaxed our mornings can be, the better we’ll be for the rest of the day.
• The way to have peace is through Margin. Put another way, Peace lives in the Margins of our lives. Show me someone with no peace, & I’ll show you someone with no margin. No peace in your finances? I bet you don’t have margin. No peace in your calendar? I bet you don’t have margin. No peace in your personal life? I bet you don’t have margin.
• Margin is the distance between where you live and your limits. Foolish is the person who resides on the side of a cliff. We wouldn’t think to build a home within 6 inches of a cliff, but we do it all the time in other areas of our lives.
• Margin is everywhere. I pointed out to the boys that roads are built with margin. Books have margin. Papers have margin. 7-Eleven signs have margin. It’s everywhere.  And it was God’s idea. My 4 year old asked me if trees have margin.  I said, “yep, it’s called bark.  Without, the wood is exposed to the elements and the tree won’t survive.”
• Blessing live in the margins. We got to school 10 minutes early and rather than drop them off in the car line, I walked them in. I told them, “because we have margin in our time today, daddy got to walk you in.” Then my 7 year old asked me, “Can we stop at the drinking fountain before class?” I answered yes. Then he said to me, “Because we have Margin, right?”

I just smiled.

Want to live a blessed life?

Want to have peace?

Examine your margins. That’s where they live.

Just a bloggish thought,

Matt Keller

Easter Sunday @ NLC

Hey everyone,

On Sunday afternoon, I couldn’t help but reflect on how far God has brought our church in the last 6 years. We went to my parent’s house in Cape Coral for Easter Lunch. That’s the house that Sarah and I lived in for 5 1/2 years before mom and dad retired last fall. As we sat around the table, I couldn’t help but think that just 6 years ago, there were 6 adults and 2 kids (taking naps) during “Easter Sunday Service!” in the living room of that house!

Easter services at NLC yesterday were absolutely mind-blowing. We had over 1000 people in church and saw hundreds of people respond to the first of our 3 part series we started called, “CAGED.”

A Few High Points for me for the Day were:

• Seeing one of our worship leaders, Elizabeth, (I call her Bethy), who is 17, absolutely set the stage for the presence of God to move in our church in an unprecedented way! I believe our people responded to God’s presence like they never have before b/c of the words Bethy shared!!! I’m so proud of her! She’s an amazing worship leader… and only 17, that’s just crazy!
• Seeing our staff giving ministry away! I loved watching our staff at their best yesterday! They were impowering others to “do the work of the ministry” and were rising above it all day long! The staff of NLC truly has the DNA of this thing and are doing the work of reproducing that DNA into hundreds of Team Members!
• Seeing Mike and Scott lead, cast vision, and truly pastor our people like they were created to do! Those two guys are an absolute riot! I can’t believe I get to do this with them!
• Seeing South Fort Myers High School transformed into a house of worship every Sunday is just a cool thing! What a gift from God that we don’t have to build a $40 million facility to have church in! The state of Florida did that for us! Wow!
• Seeing it all come together. I heard John Siebling, an ARC pastor from Memphis, TN, say, “Our goal is to try and put 3 good Sundays in a row!” anyone in the church world knows just how hard that is to do. Yesterday was truly a good Sunday! I feel like we keep stringing “Good Sundays” together, I think we may even be able to get to “3″ by the end of the year!!!

To all who are apart of making NLC happen on a weekly basis, this is BIG WIN for you too! Do something today to celebrate! Take your spouse to dinner, play with your kids, give your pet a treat, get the mail, yell out the window in traffic, drink an energy drink, go off your diet, take a day off!

Personally, I’m opting for the last one,

Matt