the G sides

Had this conversation this week with our staff and team. It’s something God is really taking me to the wood-shed about.

And let me start by saying that we are not sure exactly WHAT we are in the middle of. We’ve had 16 professions of faith this year – that we know of. We baptized 10 people last Sunday night. Our student ministry is busting at the seams. Our children’s ministry is revamping Sunday morning and AWANA this year. We have new adult Life Groups forming. Upward is larger than it’s ever been. It’s easy to see why I am so amped about the future.

However, no amount of success will overcome a lack of a meaningful relationship. And these relationships hinge on our follow-up and follow-through.

With all of the positives we’re seeing, the truth is we’ve dropped the ball a couple of times this year as well. Folks not getting connected with a ministry or a person that they’ve asked about, a forgotten email, text, or phone call. Is it really a big deal in the grand scheme of things?

Yes.

Let me make it personal – I’ve dropped the ball. I’ve made promises to call or email someone, to catch up for breakfast or lunch and then a couple of days turns into a week which turns into a month which turns into one awkward conversation when we have it.

And the missed opportunity is huge. If a man who up to this point has had no spiritual interest at all makes an effort to ask about a life group or a bible study, that’s a spiritual marker for him. For us to miss that marker by not following through — we’ve stunted his growth. We’ve missed the chance to advance his walk when he WANTED to advance his walk.

Now, the good news is people are seeing what Jesus is doing and want to be a part of it. But if we, as leaders, can’t figure out how to move them off the bench into the action, we are in deep weeds. No, that’s understating it – we are sinking the ship as she sails. We CAN NOT afford to fail in this area because follow-through is the foundation of developing and deepening other meaningful relationships.

Personally, I’ve been convicted lately of saying the words “I’ve been busy.” I am not going to use those words anymore. The truth is we are all busy and we all make time to do what we really want to do. When I say those words to someone what I’m really saying is this – “I am to busy for you.”

And that’s something I just can’t imagine Jesus would say. And if you are a spiritual leader, you don’t have the right to say it either.

Every missed follow-through opportunity – an email, a call, a text, a missed connection with the right person – is a church saying “We’re to busy for you.”

If you are a spiritual leader, here are some practical, simple steps that we can do to make sure we don’t drop the ball on follow-through…

1. Get stuff in WRITING. Don’t trust your mind to remember a conversation in the middle of a busy Sunday morning. Write it all down – contact info, the question, the need. Then do the next thing…

2. Do the legwork. Immediately if possible. If the issue isn’t your area of expertise or knowledge, GREAT!!! Tell them that then connect them to the right person. Face to face is best. Voice to voice is good. Email to email is fine but FOLLOW UP to make sure it happens.

3. The 24 hour rule. Nobody should have to wait longer than 24 hours for a response. Even if that response is — “Great question, I don’t know the answer. Can I do some research and get back to you in a day or two?”

4. Demand the same accountability of your leaders. If you are a leader of other leaders, make sure they understand the importance of follow through. Then hold each other accountable.

I’m a risk-taker. So if we try an idea and it doesn’t work – I can live with it. We’ll change it the next time. In fact, sometimes failure on an event can often be the seedbed for an awesome event later.

But not with follow-through. We can NOT fail at this.