Church Leadership

The Next Step

I recently shared why I haven’t been blogging consistently. I have been reading voraciously lately(on my new Kindle) as I strive to lead Oakway Wesleyan forward. Also, this summer I will begin ministering at Common Ground Community Church which is 9 miles from Oakway. I will be preaching at both locations every Sunday starting in late July. The books I’ve been reading from Nelson Searcy(like Fusion: Turning First-Time Guests into Fully-Engaged Members of Your Church) have been invaluable. I’ve also been listening his his podcast. I am really trying to invest a lot in my relationship with God and develop my skills as a speaker and pastor. Another book that has influenced me is The Millionaire Messenger. I really believe that there is money to be made online and blogging is a great way for someone to have influence and pay the bills.

I am constantly learning more and more about blogging and online marketing. I know I’ve only scratched the surface of what I can accomplish. I am amazed at how many people want to start blogging, but have no idea where to start or they don’t realize the full potential that blogging has to provide a platform and side income. I am committed to:

Helping people Discover and Use their Unique Voice through blogging.

Sometimes the hardest part is getting started because people are clueless about web hosting, blogging software, affiliate marketing, social media, etc. Soon, I will be offering people the opportunity to remove that roadblock from their path. What if someone set it all up for you?

Being a part of the Techology Show has given me the podcasting bug. I found the Podcast Answer Man and his advice has only challenged and encouraged me more. So, my goal is to launch two podcasts by the end of the month. They will be weekly and the Chase Your Lion podcast will focus on helping people discover their Purpose, Passion, and Possibilities. Over on the newly revamped Heath Mullikin dot com, the podcast will focus on pastoring in a small town while the blog will focus on…a little bit of everything. I think I’ve got something to bring to the table when it comes to bringing BIG ideas to smaller communities.

I recently was adding up a lot of time wasters in my life. It was convicting. Yes, I am committing that wasted time and energy to pursue God’s calling in these areas and continue running in 5k’s when the opportunity arises. I actually ran a mile without stopping this morning which was a HUGE milestone for me. What good is it to seek to be used greatly by God is you’re not healthy enough to sustain it? What good is it to be healthy if you’re wasting you life away?

I think what I’m trying to say is: Come join the adventure.

Who Gets the Credit?

In 1996, I came up with a t-shirt idea for Southern Wesleyan University known as the “Swuperman.” I asked Mike Keaton, one of the admissions counselors at the time, if we could do a shirt with a Superman type logo with a “WU” beside it. The next day, he had the design ready and the rest is history. Thousands of the “Swuperman” shirts have [Read more…] about Who Gets the Credit?

The Busy Life of a Wesleyan Pastor

bee in a big yellow flower — I’ve been busy as a bee.

I’m sorry for the delay in posting. It has been a crazy few weeks for this Wesleyan Pastor. Here is what I’ve been doing.
1. My dog bit me last Thursday. Not sure why. There was one bad puncture wound, but it has healed. I think he was sick, but he just kinda snapped on me. We can’t do anything with him until Monday and I feel that we need to give him up. He will be eligible for adoption because the animal control officer did not consider him vicious. However, I don’t feel like I can take that chance with small children in the house. Sadly, Zorro, who has been with us for almost 7 years will no longer be with our family. My prayer is that he brings as much joy and comfort to another family as he has to us. It is a relief that we don’t have to put him down, but still very difficult for Karen and I.

2. Had to move the rest of our stuff from the storage unit to our house.

3. Trying to get our Sunday night children’s ministry off the ground.

4. Working to get a group from our church to Set Apart 07…

5. While trying to finish my work for the activities at the convention.

6. Finishing up my sermon for Sunday morning. What good Wesleyan Pastor isn’t?

7. Held our grand re-opening for the youth center with over 25 people attending. It was a night of DDR, Tim Hawkins, Guitar hero, and a fridge full of soda.

8. Had our first Sunday pm youth meeting, FUEL, that didn’t involve painting and moving stuff.

9. Drake got shots.

10. Charis and Milena get shots tomorrow.

Whew.
Any other Wesleyan pastors who are this busy? Am I the only one who’s having trouble sleeping?

When a Wesleyan Pastor Can’t Sleep

I’ll be honest. I don’t know that I necessarily have anything important to say, but it is 3:34 am and I can’t sleep. I started getting a head cold on Saturday and have felt kinda yucky all weekend. There’s a busy week ahead with our grand re-opening of our youth center on Friday night. The floor needs to be painted and the room needs to be decorated. I have an idea of the look I’m trying to achieve so it’s exciting. I’m hoping I can get all of this done so I can play golf on Thursday. I am addicted to this game once again and found a nice cheap set and putter the other day that I’m interested in. My problem is I’m terrible and am just getting used to my clubs again. My putting has been tremendous, but it’s the other 80 or so shots that kill my score. I started hitting the ball better than I ever have at the end of my last round so I’m anxious to get out. I will probably always be the worst Wesleyan pastor golfer on the planet. The last time we played threw off my whole schedule for the week [Read more…] about When a Wesleyan Pastor Can’t Sleep

Vision

Glasses and contacts — How's your Vision?

Vision is scary. A lack of vision is even scarier. I’ve become a big fan of Newspring church in Anderson, SC and Senior Pastor Perry Noble. God has given him a vision for Newspring and during their current Gametime series he is outlining it for the congregation. www.newspring.cc He presents it with such passion and it is encouraging to see a church that is actually going somewhere because their pastor is leading them. I see so many churches that are just in maintenance mode. The pastor is working day to day. I don’t want to be like that. I want God to help me dream big for Chi United. I believe the Senior Pastor has a vision I can support and we’re going to see God move(He already is). However, I keep asking myself, am I dreaming big enough? A volunteer told me at a children’s ministry meeting tonight that thinking we would be up to 60 kids by Christmas wasn’t enough. She said that God could do more. It was awesome because this is an older lady who is so passionate about children’s ministry even with poor health. I wish I had 100 more volunteers like her. It was [Read more…] about Vision

Leadership in a new church

227483_6162674505_3031_n — The Girls turned 4!

Well, we had over 180 at church yesterday and there are still people out of town. It was an awesome day. Next Sunday we will have a baptism service(before the weather turns cold for good) and the forecast looks good for the outdoor festivities. We’re having a grand reopening for our youth center next Friday night, September 28th, from 7-10 pm with food, games, and a movie. Now, we just got to get the thing finished. Pray for me this Wednesday as I will be meeting with all of the children’s volunteers to lay out our vision and build our team to make it happen. I’m excited about the material we are using and this is a major step in me using my administrative and leadership skills which I am working to improve. We’ve got great people and I just want to encourage, inspire, and invest in them in a way that make children’s ministry fun and fulfilling for them.

Sometimes it is hard for me because I am dreaming big for our church and I don’t want to be the weird guy with crazy ideas. However, [Read more…] about Leadership in a new church