I met someone recently that those of you who are pastors should know about. His name is Bryan Miles and his ministry group specializes in outsourcing Pastoral Assistants and Executive Pastors. Now stop for a minute and think about that.

Most Pastors in small towns and hard to reach places list this as one of their biggest needs…well, now you can pay by the hour. For those of you who have this need…take a minute and just talk to Bryan. He has only top-level assistants and executive pastors who have led at the highest of levels.

Oh, the affair thing…yeah. You might take a minute and look at this post he wrote called: Cheaper Than an Affair. Let it simmer. And remember that this post isn’t just about virtual assistants, but a real war that rages for the souls of the leaders who are advancing HIS KINGDOM. Blessings this weekend my warrior friends…

There are many things that you need in your arsenal as you lead in your context, whether small or large, deep or wide.

One of the top traits that every growing leader has is that they are SUPER-LEARNERS. What is a Super-Learner? Read this quick post from Harvard on what a Super-Learner is.

Do you take the time to constantly learn, grow and stretch yourself? I coach several pastors and run a coaching network, yet I am coached nearly every week by my coach. Thanks Dan!

I just finished teaching at the ChurchPlanters.com Velocity Conference [one the of the best conferences I have ever been to by the way...]. I was in the bookstore buying 2 books [Church Planter, by Darrin Patrick and Right Here, Right Now, by Alan Hirsch ], when someone said: “What…you buying your own book?” [no, I don't have a book.]

Another dude said, “Wow…nice seeing the speakers buying books.” They were playing with me, but there was some truth to that that they really were speaking through jest. They really were shocked it seemed that a “speaker” was in there. Blew me away.

Actually what blows me away is that there is not a bigger wait for the bookstore than the men’s room or snack break line. There was always room in the small resource center.

If you think you have arrived…well, you better check again. I do speak at several events every year…and yep, you won’t find me hanging in the speakers green room during sessions…I am in the auditorium taking notes and tweeting them for everyone to see.

I am using some material from Shawn Lovejoy’s talk today in staff meeting. Also using an article from Tim Keller and Gabe Lyons…you get the point.

Insatiably curiosity. I am not super smart by any means…but I do LOVE TO LEARN. [Except math...shivers just ran up my spine...sorry to all my Loudonville High School Math teachers.]

Tomorrow we will look at the back side of Super-Learners. [not their real back sides...come on Jeff Selph.]

There is a ton of discouragement going on with church planters and people in general these days. Maybe this will help.

1. Remember that YOU are not in charge and we can rest in HIS care. Whilst the debate rages about free will and God’s sovereignty over all things apart from or within our decisions. In the end, Romans 8.28 trumps everything. So…”Pray as if it depends on GOD…Push as if it depends on YOU!”

2. If God DOES allow something that you really don’t want, maybe it isn’t his way of not answering your prayer to “keep a church plant open” or to “give you a job or whatever you are asking”. Maybe it is His way of moving you to something so much better! The spirit of God prevented the apostles from entering certain cities that they wanted to evangelize. Why? Because God had a better plan! Read about it HERE.

3. The above 2 things are easier said than lived. After 1 year of being in Utah, we had 1 person on our team, and they ended up quitting. Don’t think that I am writing this out of a success story. Keep pushing through in obedience. God always speaks and he always wins.

You’ll have to watch…this and other questions in this short vodcast from THE STICKS blog.

Catch us live in person at www.churchplanters.com VELOCITY Conference next week.

Or in Boston in March HERE.

Or at Exponential HERE. in April.

Shoot, we can some see you too if you want. I have consultations and Leadership Development Pipeline seminars planned or in the works and would love to come hang out with you.

Hit me up if you need consultation, coaching, multi-site, etc. [charles@onecommunity.tv] That’s what I do to help provide for the family and ministry here! Well, I also hope that it is helping expand the Kingdom of God. Small towns and hard to reach places don’t deserve 2nd best! Keep going where no one else would dare go…

We launched almost 3 weeks ago. I could list 100 things that rocked my world, but I will list just 5.

1. I didn’t remember how hard it was to plant a church, and myself, my family and our team have planted 5. [campuses included] It’s not for the faint of heart. Thank you Jesus for doing the work and sustaining us. You DID know how much we could handle [p.s.: please Lord, keep us a little back from the edge next time around huh?]

2. After 1 year on the ground out here, we had 1 person on our launch team [and they quit after a few months...]…yet despite our area being 80% LDS [Mormon] {ps.: …I LOVE YOU, my Mormon chums!} we still had 177 people show up on “launch day!” [The church launches well ahead of launch day...another post.]

3. My world was rocked by how open-handed the local churches were here in Utah. I guess we are so few, we HAVE to stick together. I pray that this kind of effort will continue!

4. I was rocked by the way our LAUNCH TEAM, PARTNERS AROUND THE COUNTRY and OUR STAFF [many of whom, just landed in the last month]…rose up and did what it took to launch ONE COMMUNITY CHURCH. Your faithfulness astonishes me. You were few, but together, we were GIDEON strong!

5. I am overwhelmed by the love and passion of my family who laid it all down for the mission and call of Jesus. Tiffany, I love you with all of my heart and couldn’t have done it without you. We are forever a TEAM. Kids, thanks for leaving it all behind in obedience! I love you all more than I love this “job”…don’t forget that.