Champions Fax Archive

• His or herself. The personal life, including spiritual, intellectual, relational are part of any intervention. Who you are is more important than what you do. Long after the methodologies are changed or forgotten, people in a church remember the spirit with which the intervention was conducted.
• A unique perspective. Anyone whose work requires them to move around should be able to offer information, insight and anecdote. People involved in an isolated situation need and want perspective on the challenges they face.
• The skill of inquiry. Asking the right questions in the right order is more art than science. Listening carefully to what is being said and at the same time understanding the omissions is sometimes difficult to do. The Japanese have an effective technique of asking the question "why?" up to five times in order to get at the real issues.
• Resources. A Champion is work requires sifting through a great deal of material resources. Culling books, articles, audio and video tapes, as well as helpful stories provides local church leadership with an invaluable service. Even if pastors have direct access to resources, the issue is one of enough time to go through, sort and evaluate what is most helpful.
• Rolodex. A good Rolodex is worth its weight in gold. Names and telephone numbers of helpful people. Remember, Rolodexes should also have e-mail and fax numbers too.

Church Champions need to understand the limitations of the job. Champions need to first know what they can't do for and with a congregation and concentrate time and energy in areas that may bear fruit. Remember, some problems are simply unsolvable.

And finally, always observe "The Rule of Holes". When you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.

These observations are provided by Dr. Russ Bredholt, Jr., who participated in the Peer Learning Forum held at the Simpsonwood Conference Center. Contact Dr. Bredholt via e-mail at rbredholt@aol.com.