A couple of weeks ago we visited the gang at Community Christian Church in Naperville, Ill. As always Dave Ferguson was a great host and he and his team offered incredible insight as we continue to talk and walk through our first Multi-site.
My biggest take away was this idea of an FTE. An FTE is a Full Time Equivalent employee. The bottom line is every body at CCC where multiply hats. They don't only do multi-sites, they multi-task. One of the guys we met with was their Business Administrator John Ciesniewski...John was very insightful and helpful to talk to. While he is their Business Administrator he is also their Campus Pastor for their Shorewood campus.
As I returned home I was encouraged and challenged when it came to wearing multiple hats...my hats are currently Leading Elder, World Care, Church Planting, and Business. I give about 25 % of my time to each of these responsibilities. If I am really honest I haven't always put my total heart into each task every day. There are times that I have felt that certain jobs are add ons on and one day I would hire someone to do each one of these jobs until I have completely worked myself out of all of them...you know sort of a necessary evil kind of thing...
John help me see that FTE's are part of life...a couple of years ago we read the book, Good to Great. In it the authors introduced us as a team at Mountain Lake Church to the idea of hiring the "who" instead of the "what". When you find the right "who"...he will do "whatever". At MLC we have a lot of "who's". I am a "who", but after visiting CCC I am committed to being more of a who then ever before.
What does all this have to do with Church planting? When you are planting a church get ready to be an FTE. If you are the Lead Pastor and you are planting solo you are going to wear dozens of hats...small group leaders, children's coordinator, custodian, worship leader, etc. If you are the second guys go ahead and strap on your seat belt you too are going to wear many hats...however, if you are the 10th or 40th guy in a healthy growing church go ahead and strap your seat belt on as well because you too are going to wear numerous hats and over time serve in multiply strategic roles...sure there are exceptions...I doubt they are ever going to ask me to lead the band, but if they do....get ready I will do my best.
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