Culture is Important to Our Future
Today, RonnieFloyd.com welcomes guest writer, Andy Wilson. Andy is the Executive Leader of Ministry & Operations at Cross Church.
Culture is a set of shared attitudes, shared values, shared goals and shared practices in your organization. The key word here is shared.
To create a culture in your church, business or not for profit organization, you must be clear about two things: vision and mission.
Vision is a future picture of what you see or what you want to become. Mission tells you why your church, business or not for profit organization exists and what it does.
At Cross Church, our missional vision is clear: To reach Northwest Arkansas, America and the World for Jesus Christ. Our staff knows it, our people know it. And we are passionate about it.
Once your mission and vision are clear, the next step is to establish a set of core values.
Core values and beliefs guide how we behave and how we treat others. Our values are our guiding principles. They guide us in our decision-making processes and help us align our decisions with the future we want our organization to experience.
At Cross Church our values and beliefs are:
- Christ-Likeness
- Relationships
- Trust
- Teamwork
- Excellence
I believe you can impact your church and organization’s culture.
Jesus began with a group of disenfranchised people – His disciples. He told them in Matthew 5:13, “You are the salt of the earth…” and in the next verse, “You are the light of the world….” Jesus changed their culture by giving them grace, unconditional love, and forgiveness.
As Christians, we have truly experienced Jesus’ love, grace, and forgiveness, just as the disciples did. We cannot help but share the wonder of this experience with others. As we share, every act of love we display to those around us, by forgiving our neighbor or act in grace to those who have offended us, we gently flavor and shine light on the culture around us.
I was fortunate to grow up at Walmart under authentic servant leaders like Sam Walton, David Glass, former CEO, and Don Soderquist, former Vice Chairman. All great leaders who had a passion for their purpose and who consistently practiced their values.
I was taught to lead from my heart as well as my head; to build long-term relationships with our associates, vendors, and customers. Leadership is relationship, and we had the self-discipline to get the results we desired as we integrated our business conversation with our values conversation.
To influence your culture, you must have the courage to do the right thing and the courage to change.
This takes a lot of hard work, and most of all, teamwork.
The presence of Christ-followers in our culture is good for our world. That is why we must step boldly into our leadership role in the church or organization we lead, with passion to unite others around us.
Authentic leaders know their true north.They have a moral compass and are prepared to stay the course despite challenges and disappointments. Authentic leaders are more concerned about serving others than they are about their own success or recognition.
No individual achievement can equal the pleasure of leading a group of people to achieve a worthy goal. When you cross the finish line together, there is a deep satisfaction that it was your leadership that made the difference.
As pastors, ministers, lay leaders, and business leaders, our goal is worthy: To reach our regions, America and the World for Jesus Christ.
Andy Wilson
Executive Leader of Ministry & Operations, Cross Church Northwest Arkansas
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.
Using Your Platform for the Gospel of Jesus Christ
Each one of us has a platform; a platform God has given us for the purpose of sharing and expanding the gospel of Jesus Christ. For some of us, the platform may appear to be small, and for others it may appear to be big. Regardless of the perceived platform of influence, with God involved, even the perceived smallest can become great. Little is much when God is in it.
Using Football as a Platform for the Gospel
Last weekend, my son, Josh Floyd, the Head Coach and Athletic Director of Shiloh Christian School, along with his staff team and volunteer base, hosted a national 7 on 7 Football Tournament called Southwest Elite 7 on 7. This tournament is in its fifth year, and has become one of the finest tournaments of its nature found anywhere in America. Josh and his director for the tournament, Haden Gilder, and the rest of the coaching staff, used their platform as an opportunity for the gospel of Jesus Christ. They were joined by countless volunteers who joined them in their vision.
With one of their partners in the tournament, they were able to bring in noted personalities, Quarterback Tim Tebow and Duck Dynasty’s Jase Robertson, to speak to athletes and coaches from thirty-two of the best football programs in the nation. These men poured into the students. In fact, in response to a strong message given by Tim Tebow on what it means to live “A Life of Significance,” over forty people gave their lives to Christ. Additionally, I was able to to invest in leaders and football coaches from around the country during a breakfast where I interviewed five of America’s great leaders.
While competition was hot and heavy in games played on Friday and Saturday, lives were influenced positively, and many forever, all because some high school coaches used their platform of coaching to further the gospel of Jesus Christ. The fields across our Springdale Campus were overflowing with people from all over the nation. And because of all that happened this past weekend, there is no telling what God will do with it, considering Internet broadcasts and the media attention the tournament received. What a great God who can use even the simple game of football for the gospel.
Whatever Your Platform is, Use it for the Gospel
As I already stated, each platform is different; but they can all be used in some way for gospel impact. God has you where you are at this time in your life to use you to impact others for the gospel. How can God use you? Pray about it. Dream about it. Share it with others. Let them take up your vision.
I Will Use My Platform for Gospel Influence
We have invited eighteen of our own church planters to join us during our upcoming Annual Staff Advance for the purpose of investing in them. I want them to experience our team and the vision of our church. Some of them will be with us on Sunday, August 4, experiencing Cross Church in person.
Since 2010, the gifts of our people have allowed sixty-six churches to be planted through our church. Since we believe in developing leaders and we are investing in these churches regularly, we are going to develop many of them in North America up close, pouring into them and their spouses.
We are using our platform, given to us by God alone, to expand His gospel around the world.
This Week
- Use Your Platform for the Gospel of Jesus Christ
- Ask God to Use You Where You are Right Now for God’s Glory
If God can use your Pastor, who has roots in a very small Texas church, and a group of high school football coaches, He can use you. I am thankful for each of you who are already using your influence for the gospel. Lead on!
Yours for the Great Commission,
Ronnie W. Floyd
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.