Archive for the 'Leadership' Category
Guest Post | The Benefits of Involvement by Nick Floyd
Today, RonnieFloyd.com welcomes guest writer, Dr. Nick Floyd. Dr. Floyd is a Teaching Pastor at Cross Church.
A few years ago, Dr. Jeff Crawford called and asked me about my openness to serve on one of our Southern Baptist Convention seminary boards. At the time, Jeff was the Pastor at Grand Avenue Baptist Church in Fort Smith and was serving on the Southern Baptist Committee on Nominations, which elects people to the different boards across our convention of churches. A few months later, he nominated me to serve as a trustee at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. I want to share a few of the benefits I have found while being involved on the board of Southern Seminary.
Benefit #1 – Relationships
The one thing I have enjoyed above all else is the relationships I have gained through serving on this board. I’ve had the privilege to be around people I otherwise wouldn’t have if not for this opportunity. I’ve had the chance to sit and watch leaders like Al Mohler and Dan Dumas up close. The common thing these men and others in the administration say to all of us who are trustees is, “Thank you for serving.” I feel like I have gained way more than I have ever been able to pour out. The number one thing I have gained is relationships that I believe will last for years to come.
Benefit #2 – Learning
My knowledge of Southern Seminary was honestly very limited. I did not attend Southern Seminary. I’m a graduate of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary. I had driven through the campus of Southern Seminary only once when I was in Louisville for something else. I literally did not even get out of the car. When I say I knew little about the seminary, I mean it.
I say all that to point out that one of the greatest benefits of being involved has simply been learning about Southern Seminary. I’ve learned about the history of Southern and the future of Southern. It has been a journey of learning that I have loved. The learning has gone way beyond just simple facts about a seminary in Louisville. I’ve learned things about ministry and leadership that will enhance my own ministry here in Arkansas. For that, I am grateful.
Benefit #3 – Connection
The final benefit has been that I have been able to make the connection that Southern Seminary has with the whole of the Southern Baptist Convention. It’s very easy to attend a Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting and never connect the dots between the work and ministries of all of our entities. This opportunity has given me a chance to see that the mission of Southern Seminary is no different than that of our other Great Commission Ministries. It’s the same mission as my own seminary, Southwestern, and all of our other seminaries. It’s the same mission of The International Mission Board and our other entities. This mission is the Great Commission! All of these entities have a unique role to play within the overall mission. What this opportunity has given me is a greater understanding of how it all connects together.
Get Involved
I want to close with a simple encouragement: Get involved. It’s very easy to sit on the sidelines and complain about things going on within the Southern Baptist Convention. I truly believe those who sit on the outside calling for change will be the ones who will never be able to influence change. Change in the Southern Baptist Convention will come from the inside out, not from the outside in. Get involved with one of our entities. Get involved with your state convention or local association. Just like our entities, we all have a unique role to play within the Great Commission. Are you playing your part?
Dr. Nick Floyd
Teaching Pastor, Cross Church
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.
5 Principles About Vision
A vision is beyond just a good idea. It must be a God idea. God does not obligate Himself to our good ideas or brainstorming sessions. God commits Himself to us when we connect with His heart and vision for the world.
There are five principles about vision I want to share with you today.
1. Vision Given: God alone gives the vision.
Therefore, we have to connect with God not only daily, but deeply. Vision is not duplicating what someone else does. Vision is crafted by God into your life and leadership, using your giftedness within the context you are ministering.
2. Vision Written: Write down what God is saying to you.
Daily, I write a one-page prayer to God. I record what God is putting into my heart and what He has said through His Word to me. Whenever I am about to communicate a major vision to our church, I write down the vision.
It is easier to stay focused on the vision when it is written down. It is also easier to bring others alongside you in your vision when they see it in words and graphics.
3. Vision Declared: Communicate by faith what God has put into your heart.
When you know God has crafted His vision into your life and you have it recorded in writing, you can stand and communicate it effectively. Communicating a vision is critical to allowing others to join you in the vision. A well-crafted document that can be communicated clearly and in a compelling manner can ascend the vision greatly.
4. Vision Faithed: Trust God via prayer until He fulfills it.
There is a period of time that can become a little uncomfortable. It is the time between communicating the vision and seeing it realized. Therefore, your faith has to be strong. Your trust in God increases until you see with your eyes what you have already seen spiritually. True vision is seeing it before you see it! Therefore, until you see with your physical eyes, you trust God and communicate the vision clearly and in the most compelling way.
5. Vision Realized: If God says it, in time, He will do it.
The Lord finishes what He begins. When He places a vision in your heart, consuming you with the vision, in time, our God will fulfill the vision! He will do it! You have to forget the “what ifs” of your vision and embrace the “what we will do when we see it happen” moments.
There is nothing like seeing a vision realized that God has placed into your heart. It ignites your faith and energizes your very soul. Yes, you can count on this: If God indeed gives you a vision, in time, He will do it!
Oh, by the way, if you will go right now and read Habakkuk 2:1-4, you will find these biblical principles for vision. God always has the final word, even the final word on vision.
Yours for the Great Commission,
Ronnie W. Floyd
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.