Tag Archives: Andy Stanley
Orange 2011: Andy “Freaking” Stanley
Posted on 16. Mar, 2011 by Kenny.
With only two days left to sign up for the Orange Conference at the discounted rate, Orange dropped the A-Bomb. That’s right, they just added Andy Stanley to the lineup.
Over the years, Andy has had a presence at the Orange Conference (although I’m not sure if he was there last year) and every time he’s as good as gold. He speaks with conviction and authority and I always walk away from a talk by Andy both encouraged and challenged. So, if you’ve not signed up to attend Orange yet, maybe a little Andy Action will change your mind. Click here to register!
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Making Vision Stick: Book Review
Posted on 09. Mar, 2010 by Kenny.
Last year just before the Orange Conference I spent some time at North Point hanging out at both the Alpharetta campus as well as at Buckhead. I spent a small fortune at the bookstore. While there, I picked up this little book, “Making Vision Stick” by Andy Stanley. It’s small, thin and something that can be wholly digested in one sitting. All I can say is this. Thank you Andy Stanley for writing this little book. Let me share with you a few reasons why I like this little 74 page book.
- I’m not the fastest of readers. My life is busy, so I’ll sit down for an hour, read part of a book and then several days later I’ll sit down and read for another hour and over the period of days or weeks, I’ll finish up a book. Each time I sit down though, I have to catch up on what I last read. Not so with this book. Because you can read it from start to finish in one sitting, the impact is more powerful and succinct.
- This book is so direct and to the point. I know, I’m being a hypocrite. I’m one of the wordiest guys I know. However, I wonder if most books could be condensed down to just 100 pages or so. This one is and I love it. Not much fluff, just straight and to the point.
- It’s short enough that I’ll take the time to read it again and again and again. I put this book on my must read list for 2010. After finishing the book though, I’ve officially put it on my “read it every year” list. I’m actually planning to read it 5-6 times this year alone. I need to lead this way more than anything else this year.
Is that enough of a review to make you want to buy the book already? I haven’t even told you what it’s about yet. No worries, you can read the book in a little more time than it will take for you to read this review, so click here and order your copy.
Oh, you’re still reading? What I liked most about this book was how practical it is as well as the simple examples Andy has included how he’s lived these principles out at North Point. The fact that North Point as eleventy-million people doesn’t negate the fact that I can use these principles in my church of 4,500, my volunteer team of 300 or my small staff of 6. It’s so applicable.
Other than this book, the best teaching I’ve heard on vision and purpose is Craig Jutila. Craig offers very practical teaching on shaping a vision and mission statement and has been highly influential in my life and ministry. Craig’s appraoch is heavily “purpose driven” which is the context from which Craig operated for so many years. I was really only at a purpose driven church for 2 years, so outside of that, I’ve had to adapt what I learned from him to a non “purpose driven” approach. In this book, Andy doesn’t get into the weeds of mission, values and goals, but focuses solely on that vision you have and how to make it stick for everyone in the organization.
After clearly defining vision, Andy shares five things about how to make it stick:
- State the vision simply
- Cast the vision convincingly
- Repeat the vision regularly
- Celebrate the vision systematically
- Embrace the vision personally
The books outlines how Andy has and continues to cast the North Point vision doing these very things over and over and over and over again.
No more details. Get the book and read it a couple of times. I’m convinced it will help you regardless of where you are.
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Personal investment equals great influence: followup thoughts
Posted on 04. Feb, 2010 by Kenny.
Yesterday I posted about something Andy Stanley said in the first paragraph of the forward of Think Orange. Click here to read it.
Essentially, I wrote about North Point being so successful in their efforts to reach families. One of the driving forces behind their success was that most of the key leadership and staff had skin in the game. It was so important to be successful in this area becasue their kids and families were at stake too. It sounds selfish, but it’s the truth. We always show more interest in the things that are going to affect us most.
So, what if the average age of the senior leadership at your church is in their mid to late 50′s? You’re passionate about children’s ministry, but the senior leadership really has not “personal” investment in your ministry (other than the fact that most healthy churches have strong ministries to kids). What do you do? How do you convince your leadership that your area has great needs that they don’t see?
There’s probably a hundred ways to answer this question, but I’ll answer it the way I’d approach it. Actually, I’ll answer it the way I’m dealing with this right now. Gateway is not a “family” church. We do have families and they are very important here, but Gateway is not laser focused on families. Half of the church is single and the church is very missional toward reaching the post-modern crowd, and many of that crowd are not parents yet. There are a few on the senior leadership of Gateway that have young kids, but it’s certainly not a majority. So what is the vision and leadership laser focused on? Serving the community and spiritual multiplication is though. So the way I’m leading (especially this year) is to minister to kid and families with excellence, but putting a lot of effort into serving our community through our ministry and creating an environment where NexGen is a hotbed for spiritual multiplication for both kids and adults. If I do that well, I’m serving my church well and I’ll get what I need to be successful. My senior leadership will fuel what’s working.
So, figure out what the senior leadership is most passionate about at your church and see if you can find common ground to fulfill that passion through your ministry. If you can’t find common ground, you’ll never be successful where you’re at and it’s doubtful your ministry will ever be remarkable. That’s basic leadership. Serve the vision of your leadership and you’ll be successful. If it’s not a fit, you’d be better off somewhere else where you can serve the vision of the leadership.
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Personal investment equals great influence
Posted on 03. Feb, 2010 by Kenny.
Several weeks ago I posted on my blog the books I wanted to read this year. One of them was Think Orange by Reggie Joiner. Don’t call me a hypocrite, it’s been on my stack of books to read. So, my friend Henry Zonio is leading a group blogging project around the book Think Orange, so I figured I’d join in. I actually didn’t get in early enough to participate, but I’ll be reading along and commenting (if I can keep up). BTW, Henry’s giving away a ticket to Orange, so if you really want to go to Orange, jump over to his blog and PARTICIPATE!
I opened this book and got no further than the first paragraph of the forward by Andy Stanley. Let me quote it for you:
When we started Norht Point Community Church in 1995, many of our staff and core volunteers leaders were parents with young children. The idea of partnering with the family seemed natural. We were church leaders and we were parents. In a way, what we were attempting to build was for our own families and the futures of our own kids. Reggie Joiner took on the responsibility of creating those environments for families.
There’s something here to learn and it doesn’t have anything to do with Reggie Joiner, Orange or family ministry. North Point built one of the strongest ministries to kids and families because that was what was very relevant to the leadership core at North Point. They had skin in the game and they were doing it for their own kids as much as they were doing it for others.
When it comes to the core leadership at your church, what are they most invested in? What ministry is most relevant to where they’re at? I’d be willing to bet that whatever that thing is, it’s got the most potential to flourish in your church. I’m sure there are exceptions to the rules, but that’s just the way it is. You’re not going to have to convince your senior leadership of something that’s already important to them.
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Orange 09: Session Three (Reggie, Perry and Andy)
Posted on 04. May, 2009 by Kenny.
Reggie asked about sermon prep:
Andy prepares all day Wednesday, half the day on Thursday and reviews most of Saturday evening.
Perry was elusive. He said he downloads Andy’s message. It seems that Perry’s schedule changes.
Kids for so long have been bored with church.
Many parents take their kids to worship and say “I want my kids to see me worship.” How egotistical is that? If your kids haven’t seen you worship the rest of the week, your teaching them that you’re a hypocrite.
Middle Schoolers scare the crap out of Perry.
When you’re giving a message, speak like it is your child is in the audience and it is their last chance. If you’re more concerned about covering the material, you’re not concentrating on reaching that person.
Authenticity: I am way more concerned about reaching someone as opposed to doing a good job.
Many preachers are acting. They’re carrying out a role or a model, not being themselves. They aren’t being authentic.
Jesus forgives our sins. People identify with our struggles and weaknesses way more than with what we get right.
Andy said, “If we speak from our weakness, we’ll never run out of material.”
The importance of a story:
- We remember stories
- We remember jokes
- We’re part of a story
Don’t give me points, tell me stories.
Create tension, just like any good story. Turn the message into a story. Jesus told stories.
Use visuals, but be way ahead or else you’ll kill your staff.
After the tension is resolved, the rest is boring. Be sure to use your visual at the highest point of emotion.
Christians and non-Christians have way more in common than they have different. Plan your message to talk to people, not a sub-set.
Look at your content through the lens of your neighbor, not your deacon.
Be committed to allowing the text to speak and not you trying to make it say what you want to talk about.
Stay in the text long enough so the people can know what it means. Don’t rush through the text.
Youth and kids are the church of today. teach them to get into the Bible and the Bible will get into them.
It is our job as the older generation to prepare the way. We pay the way. We fund it!
Andy says, “We grow through our kids and student ministry.”
Are people here becasue of your kids?
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Orange 2008: Session Four
Posted on 30. Apr, 2008 by Kenny.
Session four was a discussion/interview with Andy Stanley. Not sure if it’s just me, but it seemed like it wasn’t planned… almost like Andy was a fill-in. I only say this because this was the only session that there wasn’t a speaker who delivered a message. In addition, it ended about 30 minutes early.
Don’t get me wrong… it was awesome though. I think anytime you can get Andy Stanley and Reggie Joiner to engage in a conversation, we should take notes!
Andy spoke about how they attract people to North Point. Basically he said it boils down to this: “If you create irresistible environments, people will come.”
Andy then went on to talk about the process of discipleship at North Point. Here is how it happens:
- Practical Teaching
- Providential Relationships
- Private Disciplines
- Pivotal Circumstances
- Personal Ministry
Basically they would hit these things over and over again by different methods.
Andy also took some time to talk about the idea of choosing to cheat. He talked about how they created an atmosphere where family was valued. He explained that “there are hundreds of people who can do your job, but you kids only have one dad… and your wife (or husband) only has one spouse.”
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North Point: Buckhead visit
Posted on 27. Apr, 2008 by Kenny.
This morning I got up early to drive into Atlanta and visit Buckhead Church. Since being involved in multi-site churches, I’ve never experienced a video campus larger than 1000 people. So, I wanted to experience Buckhead Church, a multi-site video mega-church. I was hoping to see a video teaching experience in this large church setting as well as experience KidStuf, the family worship experience that North Point is known for.
Buckhead is amazing. If your ever in Atlanta, you’ll want to spend some time in Buckhead. It’s an amazing community/city. It’s a little north of downtown Atlanta, but it’s where all the good shopping and restaurants are. I’ve been told that it’s becoming a business/financial powerhouse. As you drive around the neighborhoods you’ll see that this is a very, VERY high dollar community. Well, the church is right in the middle of it all. All around the church are high rises, shopping centers and busy city life. The church uses several private parking lots and the police and host teams are out in force directing traffic. I was a little unsure how I would find where to go, but they made is very easy.
The church almost feels more like a really nice, big-city hotel. It’s beautiful. You come in and begin going up a couple of escalators to get to the main floor. The lobby is big and inviting and the auditorium is HUGE (I’m guessing that it seats 2500-3000). All the elements from pre-service video, introduction, worship and baptisms were incredibly smooth… they were working it. Then came the disappointment that wasn’t that much of a disappointment. I came to Buckhead to experience this video campus, but Andy Stanley was teaching live. Don’t get me wrong, I was glad to get to hear him live… but I wanted to see him on video (most campus pastors at video campuses would cry with joy to hear their attendees say that). I thoroughly enjoyed. Andy preached the absolute best sermon I’ve ever heard on faith. Hands down amazing. I’m sure you can get it off iTunes as some point. It’s the second message in the “Faith, Hope and Luck” message series.
After the service I attended Kid Stuf. I just had to see this family ministry stuff. I loved it. I laughed so hard, they did such a great job. The room was incredible. I can see how some would come in, see it and be discouraged, thinking there was no way they could pull that off. What comforts me is that Reggie talks about doing Kid Stuf in a school cafeteria when they were first getting started. Now that reThink publishes family ministry curriculum, you really just have to recruit and equip your teams.
So, Buckhead was great. So glad I got to see it. Now I’m really pumped for Orange to begin. I’ll be updating the blog throughout the conference. Oh, and if you’re at Orange, look me up… I’d love to meet you!
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