Our Shared Values

1. Compassion Minded

One of the most encouraging things in life is to be seen and understood. Unfortunately, most people are so consumed with their own problems that they fail to notice yours. And by the way, if you’re in the ministry, you’re not supposed to have any problems. Right?

If you are a pastor, I know there are some Sunday’s where you have walked away from the pulpit wondering what went wrong. Next week you’ll try harder. So you end up wearing Monday through Saturday like a monkey on your back. The stress of performing up to everyone’s expectations is overwhelming at times.

Then there are those moments when you feel good on the inside. Everything seems to be going your way. All it takes to mess that up is a finance meeting or checking your email. You expected the world to give you grief when you entered the ministry, but not church members.

If anything I have said is resonating within you, then you need someone who is approachable and available. You need someone who will listen to your story, and pardon the cliché, feel your pain. I love what the Bible says about Jesus in Matt. 9:36, “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”

Jesus was compassion minded. We are inspired by this trait so much that it’s our first priority, and one of our strongest values. Simply stated, it’s our joy to share the “mind of Christ” with you.

2. Creative Design

We were made in the image of our Creator, so our capacity to express this attribute of God is hardwired into our DNA. A creative mind normally possesses these two traits. The first is freedom. In other words, a creative soul is free from the distractions that seek to hold it hostage. Worry, fear and depression are chief among these. They are fierce enemies of a creative mind. The people with a high capacity for creativity have learned to deal with these threats quickly.

Secondly, a creative mind is a wandering mind. It’s energy is derived from such activities as meditation and imagination. It was Einstein who said, “Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand.” So there you have it. The most brilliant physicist of modern times may have also been the most creative and imaginative.

Most churches don’t know what to do with the human imagination, and their leaders struggle to implement creative ideas. I actually have a theory about why this is so. It’s a given that Satan hates God. But he also hates us because we were made in His image. When we express any of the attributes of God, like creativity, he attacks us with the full force of hell. It’s the devil’s way of getting even. If you don’t believe me, watch very carefully what happens the next time you start moving toward artistry and originality.

Blessed are those who have the conviction and the courage to express their creativity in ministry. I applaud you for staying in the battle. Creativity matters to the Creator. He blesses it because it reveals the glorious side of His nature. The sheer beauty of creation lets me know that God values creativity.

One of the ways we can help you is by evaluating the level of creativity being expressed in your ministry. We have a keen eye for the artistic side of things, and a powerful sense of smell for the things that are worn out and decaying. We can give you both input and ideas on how to make progress. Our tool bag includes things like web design to capital campaigns that are specifically designed for your vision, voice, and ministry.

Let me give you an analogy that spells out the difference between us and the rest of the pack. Compare it to buying clothes. When you go to a department store to find something to wear, most of the cloths on the rack are not going to fit you… and most won’t look good either. It may take some time to find something you like. But if you go to a tailor, he or she will personally measure your one-of-a-kind-body. At Briar Patch, we tailor our designs for the body of Christ that meets at your church. Not someone else’s. We care about the way you look when it’s all said and done.

3. Fearless Focus

Many people run away from problems. I remember someone saying once, “Never trouble trouble until trouble troubles you.” It may sound good, but I couldn’t disagree with that statement more. Why? Simply because problems don’t go away on their own. They stick around, feed, burp, grow and reproduce.

To solve a problem you’ve got to run into it head on. The element of surprise is one of your greatest advantages. Be fearless when you arrive and keep your gaze fixed on the problem. If there’s one thing that I know about problems, whether it’s a broken process or a messed up person, focusing on it does more good than ignoring it.

If we have a chance to meet, I’ll show you my scars. I had to learn this one the hard way.

The problems we tend to avoid are the ones that have the strongest emotions attached to them. People react strongly whenever they are called out for misbehaving. You’ll also get “blessed out” by people who don’t want to let go of a particular ministry, especially if it enables them to feel good about themselves, even if no one else is getting blessed in the deal.

I call this “the reality of your calling.” Think about Moses, Jeremiah, and yes, even Jesus. I don’t know of anyone who gets a pass on this one.

So what can you do? Intensify your focus on the problem. Fearlessly crank up the light. Better yet, get the biggest spotlight you can find. Then get another set of eyeballs from the outside to look at it too. The main thing that separates true leaders from wannabes is a bedrock conviction that I call “fearless focus.” And one more thing, all great leaders recruit people to help them find solutions to their problems. You don’t have to face the battle alone.

If your mind is already starting to focus on something that needs to change or just go away, that’s pretty awesome. The only mistake you can make at this point is to let the problem fester until the pain it creates forces you to take action. It’s like a decaying tooth. It’s only going to get worse. So act now. Filling a cavity is less painful than a root canal.

Send me an email. I’ll let you know if I can help you.

4. Unflinching Honesty

You deserve the unfiltered truth about your current situation. Whether it’s an opportunity or a crisis, as a leader you need and deserve the facts. Given the nature of church work, this kind of information is not so easy to come by. There are two main reasons why this is true.

First, most people are reluctant, even somewhat fearful of saying what’s on their mind to a leader. But that doesn’t mean they’re not talking about it. There just not sharing it with you. Other people will hear all about it first. This never feels fair to you personally, especially when it circulates throughout the fellowship before you catch wind of it. This may be one of the reasons that Chuck Swindoll wrote a book back in the 90’s called, “The Lonely Whine of the Top Dog.” Leadership can be lonely because everyone acts differently when they are around you. As they say, “It is what it is.”

Secondly, the average church member places the pastor and staff on pedestal—a higher spiritual plane than they will ever achieve. From a theological perspective, we know this is wrong. But it’s reality. You live in a spiritual bubble that they’ve created for you. The vast majority are afraid to be disagreeable in your presence. This is why there is so much passive aggressive behavior in the average church.

I know what I’ve just written sounds negative. I’m just being honest with you. The reality is that you need to get the most accurate information available so that you can deal with it from God’s perspective. A good consultant is skilled at mining information by asking the important questions.

But for heaven’s sake, and for the future of your ministry, don’t bring someone in who isn’t your personal advocate. If I can’t be that for you, I’ll fire myself. You won’t have too. Don’t let a committee pick a consultant. Can I say that again? Don’t let a committee lead the charge of bringing someone in that you know little about. You can delegate a lot of things as a leader, but if you delegate this, you are playing Russian roulette. I’m speaking from personal experience here.

If you bring me in to help solve a problem or run a capital campaign, I’ll give you this commitment. I have no hidden, self-serving agendas. I’m not so much concerned about making a living as I am living Christ’s life with complete integrity.

5. Fiercely Competitive

Everywhere you turn, life is filled with competition. Consider how much we see on a daily basis: Football, basketball, baseball, ESPN, “The Biggest Loser,” “The Next Food Network Star,” “Survivor,” and “The Apprentice.” Most people are OK with the realities of competition in the workplace or at school, but not in their church.

The reality is that the Apostle Paul was one of the most competitive people who ever lived. Consider these verses:

Phil. 3:14 (NIV) I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

1 Cor. 9:22a (NIV) To the weak I became weak, to win the weak.

1 Cor. 9:24 (NIV) Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.

1 Cor. 9:27 (NIV) No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

Gal. 2:2b (NIV) I wanted to be sure I was not running and had not been running my race in vain.

2 Tim. 4:7 (NIV) I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

There is no greater competition than of the struggle for the souls of men. We should approach this as a win or lose, winner-take-all scenario. Paul considered himself a “debtor” to those who had never heard the gospel. He was willing to be damned himself, “anathema,” if it could lead to the salvation of his Jewish brothers and sisters.

I don’t know how you feel about the competitive spirit, but I believe its one of the top values of people who change their world. I want you to win. I want your church to win. I look forward to hearing from you.