At this moment, I’m looking at a web site that says these startling words:
TONIGHT, UP TO 7,000 PEOPLE FACE HOMELESSNESS IN METRO ATLANTA.
Jim Reese is the President and CEO of the Atlanta Mission, and he’s with me, today.
Jim, I’m inspired by how Atlanta Mission transforms, through Christ, the lives of those facing homelessness.
Last year, alone, the Atlanta Mission:
· made available more than 237,534 nights of shelter provided for individuals, and
· helped more than 175 people obtain employment.
And true to your calling last year, the Atlanta Mission ended Homelessness for 491 people.
Jim, you and I know that this kind of impactful, life-changing ministry work begins with the people, the culture, of the Atlanta Mission.
Find full show notes here http://blog.bcwinstitute.org/s3e30-jim-reese-atlanta-mission/
Over the course of over 20 years helping equip hundreds of organizations to improve the health of their culture, leaders will often ask this question: “Can you give us ideas to rapidly improve our culture?”
Many healthy-to-flourishing culture turnarounds come about through months, even years of good, hard work. Still, there are times when you can accelerate your progress to improve the health of your culture.
Today, I’m very excited for you to meet two ministry leaders who in fact found a way to accelerate the transformation of their culture’s health—and the results were tremendous.
In fact, their improvement is one of the greatest improvements in the 15-year history of BCWI clients that have dramatically increased the health of their culture in just one year between taking their first and second annual Employee Engagement Survey. Their story just might be the springboard you need to catapult the health of your culture and see the positive results sooner than later.
My guests, today, on the Flourishing Culture Podcast are Paul Richardson, the President and Michael Joshua, the Vice President of Finance, for Bible League Canada in Grimsby, Ontario.
Find full show notes here http://blog.bcwinstitute.org/s3e29-bible-league-canada
Our mission is to equip and inspire Christian leaders to build a flourishing workplace. While a majority of our listeners are working in churches and Christian non-profits, a healthy segment are Christians who either own a business, or who are involved in a Christian-owned business.
Mike Sharrow is the President and CEO of C12 Group, the largest network of Christian CEOs, business owners, and executives.
Mike has an extensive background in large companies, start-ups and the local church. He knows how a healthy, flourishing culture equates to organizational effectiveness. What he has to share with us is going to benefit you in more ways than one.
Find full shownotes here http://blog.bcwinstitute.org/s3-e27-mike-sharrow-c12-group
How healthy is your employee culture? How can you find out? And if you happen to find out your culture is not quite where you’d like it to be, what do you do?
Our guest today, has a very compelling answer to share. His name is Scott Kissel and he’s the Senior Executive Pastor at Timberline Church in Fort Collins, CO.
In the past two years, Scott has been at the center of the culture transformation of Timberline Church for the past two years. I can’t wait for him to share the true stories, biblical principlesand practical action steps that can help you build your workplace culture and increase your ministry impact.
Find full show notes here http://blog.bcwinstitute.org/s3e26-scott-kissel-timberline-church
Here’s a quiz for you: Can you name the three most important things that drive the health of your culture?
When you know these three essential drivers of a flourishing, healthy culture I’m about to share with you, you can leverage them to tremendous advantage:
And it all leads back to these three keys that can help you build the health of your culture.
I want to put these three keys in your hand, and to make that happen, I want to welcome back BCWI communications consultant, Mark Cutshall, to host our podcast.
Find full shownotes here http://blog.bcwinstitute.org/s3e25-al-lopus-mark-cutshall-bcwi
Today is a celebration for me, personally. As we read in scripture, when a person comes to faith in Christ, the angels celebrate. Well, I believe the same is true when a toxic workplace culture of a Christian organization changes for the better and becomes healthy. This is especially true in Christian higher education.
Ten years ago, I sat across from the table from a new university President and said something I almost never say to a leader I’ve had the privilege to serve. I said, “Joseph, given the serious current challenges, I don’t know if it’s possible to change the faculty and staff culture of your University.”
Yet, here we are, a decade later celebrating the dramatic change in the health faculty and staff culture at Northwest University in the neighboring Seattle city of Kirkland, Washington.
Dr. Joseph Castleberry, the President of Northwest University. It’s a real honor to have you with us today. Welcome to the Flourishing Culture podcast.
Find full show notes here http://blog.bcwinstitute.org/s3e24-joe-castleberry-northwest-university/
Do you have enough leaders to fuel your organizations future growth? In the next few minutes, you’re going to learn about a very, very effective leadership development strategy. Whether you’re in a church, a parachurch organization, or a business, I think you’re in for a treat.
With me is Tara VanderSande, Staff Development Director for Willow Creek Community Church. For the past 9 years, Tara has worked to build, refine, and take Willow Creek’s leadership development to new levels.
I’ve asked her to take us inside the strategy that she and her Willow Creek colleagues have used to train, equip, and empower more than 500 leaders at all levels—including work with volunteers.
Tara, you’re one of our top 10 most popular guests here on the Flourishing Culture Podcast. Welcome!
Find full show notes here http://blog.bcwinstitute.org/s3e22-tara-vandersande-willow-creek-community-church
Hello, and thanks for joining us. Noted investor and financial advisor, Martin Zweig, has a famous saying: “Trends are your friends.”
Today, we’re going to look at eight culture trends for 2018. With me today, to help guide the conversation is BCWI team member, Mark Cutshall. Mark, what do you say, we unpack these eight important trends.
Thanks, Al. 2018 culture trends for Christian organizations and churches are already emerging against the societal trends of 2017: Donald Trump, Bitcoin, Tax Reform, Immigration, refugees, racial tension, online streaming is taking over TV, self-driving cars online shopping and, of course, Uber.
So Al, lead off and give us your first culture trend potentially driving Christian organizational culture in 2018.
Find full show notes here http://blog.bcwinstitute.org/s3-e21-eight-culture-trends-for-2018
Today, we’re going to talk about trends. Trends help us stay cutting-edge in our work and get a glimpse of the future in real time. They help us get a jump on ways to improve our work and sharpen our direction. Knowing trends helps us to be more effective.
7 Trends for Christian Workplaces in 2017 // Al Lopus, BCWI President
Find the full show notes at http://blog.bcwinstitute.org/s2-e13-2017-trends.
In the boardroom of any successful organization, the question is always asked of the CEO, “What happens if you get hit by a bus?” Certainly, CEO leadership is the board’s most important responsibility and the top of mind for any chair. The follow-up question is then, “What is the succession plan?”
Today, we have the rare opportunity to talk with a leader who was figuratively “hit by a bus” with the diagnosis of bone marrow cancer that required immediate, aggressive care. Alec Hill was 62 at the time and at the top of his game, having served 14 years as president of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. Within a few weeks after the diagnosis, he stepped down from his leadership role to prepare for a bone marrow transplant. The probabilities of survival were against him.
Now, just over a year later, we can celebrate God’s grace and mercy as the doctors declare Alec cancer free!
Alec’s tenure as president was marked by one of the most significant periods of growth since InterVarsity’s founding almost 75 years ago. The InterVarsity ministry has grown to 985 chapters on 649 campuses involving more than 41,000 actively involved students and faculty. These chapters are served by over 1,100 field staff and numerous volunteers, and annual revenues are now over $100 million.
Tune into today's conversation to hear about Alec's battle with cancer, and how InterVarsity's succession planning payed off.
Find the full show notes at http://blog.bcwinstitute.org/52-alec-hill-intervarsity-christian-fellowship.
Disrespect in the workplace often mirrors our broader culture. Clearly, there is a cost of disrespect in the workplace as performance declines and disrespected staff take it out on their coworkers and customers.
Bill Hybels challenged us at the Summit that it starts with the leader. All people are created by God and have intrinsic value and should be treated with respect. He challenged leaders to create a written code of respect that is taught in the workplace.
Do you have a written code of respect in your organization? Do you know anyone who does? I thought you might be interested to hear about an organization that has done exactly that!
Today we have the pleasure of talking with Kathy Shingleton, Vice President of Human Resources for Virginia Mason Medical Center based in Seattle. Virginia Mason is a 6,000 employee health care organization known nationally and internationally as a quality leader in healthcare.
I’ve known Kathy for several years. She provided tremendous support for the Compensation and Benefits Committee of the Board, which I chaired.
Find full show notes here http://blog.bcwinstitute.org/s3e18-kathy-shingleton
What is the future of your workplace going to look like? Suppose you could get a glimpse of what tomorrow looks like, today? The answer has a lot to do with one, big trend in the workplace environment that’s already present.
This trend has to do with Outstanding Talent.
Outstanding Talent is one of the eight critical factors that shape and sustain every healthy-to-flourishing workplace culture, including yours.
Outstanding Talent involves attracting, retaining, promoting and rewarding highly capable people on your team.
Most importantly, Outstanding Talent intersects directly with what I would call the current mega-trend of the virtual workplace and the new world of virtual assistants.
With unemployment at near record lows and with the capabilities of new technologies in full swing, the trend of the virtual workplace is now in high gear.
Today we have the pleasure of talking with Shannon Miles, CEO and Co-Founder of BELAY. BELAY’s mission is to glorify God by providing solutions that equip their clients with the confidence to climb higher. Shannon was an early adopter of the virtual assistant model. In 2010, she and her husband, Bryan, were inspired to found BELAY--providing virtual support to busy leaders.
Find full show notes here http://blog.bcwinstitute.org/s3e17-shannon-miles-belay
At some point, every church will face the inevitable challenge of transitioning from an outgoing pastor to a new pastor. This reality begs the question, “What is essential to successful pastoral succession—especially as its bound to affect the church’s workplace?”
Our guest, today, is a national leader in this area, and he’s going to give you some valuable, practical wisdom you need to know. His name is William Vanderbloemen, the Founder and CEO of the Vanderbloemen Search Group in Houston.
William has been able to combine over 15 years of ministry experience as a Senior Pastor with the best practices of Executive Search to provide churches with a unique offering: a deep understanding of local church work with the very best knowledge and practices of professional executive search.
William is regularly invited to speak across the country in both church services and as a resource to churches and conferences on leadership. His book Next: Pastoral Succession That Works on effective pastoral leadership and succession was released through Baker Books in September 2014, and his book Search: The Pastoral Search Committee Handbook was released through B&H Books in June 2016.
Find full show notes here http://blog.bcwinstitute.org/s3e16-william-vanderbloemen
We believe having a healthy culture for a Christian organization is an end in itself. But we also believe when a ministry has a healthy culture it creates the conditions necessary for growth. What lessons about how to build a healthy culture can a global mission-sending agency teach the rest of us?
The answer, I believe, can be seen inside the culture of East-West International Ministries. In the past five years, East-West has doubled the number of missionaries they send overseas from 100 to 200. Clearly, that’s a sign of a growing, healthy culture. I want you to hear the full story, so let me set the context for what you’re about to hear.
The setting is Dallas, Texas, site of the Great Commission Community at the 2017 Mission Leaders Conference hosted by Missio Nexus. Missio Nexus is the largest association of Great Commission churches and organizations in North America. At the conference, I had the pleasure to speak to a group of mission leaders about the proven approach of the Best Christian Workplace Institute to help Christian organizations, churches and businesses grow their culture.
What you’re about to hear is an open conversation between myself, Dave Gibson, EVP of Field Ministries, and Jessica Garrett, Human Resources Director, both from East-West Ministries International.
I invite you to listen and learn, along with me.
Find full show notes here http://blog.bcwinstitute.org/s3e15-jessica-garrett-dave-gibson-east-west
I think we can all agree that organizational growth is a good thing. Yet, growth can be both a gift and a huge challenge. Today, we’re going to learn how one church has paid attention to the challenges of the continual growth to build a healthier church. By building healthier culture, this church is poised to make a greater overall ministry impact.
Today we have the pleasure of talking with Josh Patterson. Josh is Lead Pastor of Ministry Leadership at The Village Church, which has five campuses in the greater Dallas area. Josh has written a book called, Creature of the Word. It’s a book that lays out the Scripture-based beauty of a Jesus-centered church and how to go about actually forming Jesus-centered church.
Find full show notes here http://blog.bcwinstitute.org/s3e14-josh-patterson-the-village-church
Are you interested in improving the relationships on your team and across your organization? I believe our topic today has the potential to radically improve the relationships among the employees in your team and organization.
Having just heard of this recently, we had to include this innovative idea in a podcast for our listeners. What is it?
Paul writes in Romans 12:10 to be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Thus, the basis for our discussion today… the honor chair.
Find the full show notes at http://blog.bcwinstitute.org/s3e1dawn-pearcy-bobby-bemis-calvary-chapel-ft-lauderdale
Today we have the pleasure of talking with Peter Greer, President and CEO of HOPE International, a global nonprofit focused on Christ-centered job creation, savings mobilization, and microenterprise development.
Peter is the co-author, along with David Weekley, of the new book The Board and the CEO: Seven Practices to Protect Your Organization's Most Important Relationship.
Find full show notes here http://blog.bcwinstitute.org/s3-e13-peter-greer
Today's podcast is something completely different. Normally, I'm the one asking the questions. In the next few minutes, the questions will be coming straight at me!
Playing the role of host, today, is Mark Cutshall. As a professional writer and creative consultant is a member of the team at the Best Christian Workplaces Institute. He's a long-time friend and I have a good idea of what he has up his sleeve, today. Welcome, Mark, and lead us on.
Back in August, I took a little journey, the journey of a life-time, a journey that lasted 35 days in which I actually walked 500 miles across the northern tier of Spain. This spiritual pilgrimage has affected me as a follower of Jesus, and has impacted my work as president of BCWI.
Find full show notes here http://blog.bcwinstitute.org/s3e12-camino-al-lopus
If you’re a CEO or other senior leader who answers to a board of directors, OR if you chair a board, OR if serve on a board of a Christian organization (pause) and if you want your board to be more effective to further and fulfill the unique work to which God has called your organization, church or business, then these next few minutes are just for you. And even if you’re not directly involved with a board, you’re in for a treat.
We have the pleasure of visiting with two longtime friends and incredible Christian leaders. They’re going to share with you some of their very best wisdom, experience, and stories from their new forth-coming book: Lessons From the Nonprofit Boardroom.
Dan Busby is the president of the Evangelical Council of Financial Accountability—known of course as ECFA. Forty years of experience serving the Christ-centered church and nonprofit community. Prolific writer of eight books. Named by Nonprofit Times as one of the “50 Most Powerful Nonprofit Leaders” from 2010-2015. And with Dan . . .
John Pearson, board governance and management consultant. Former CEO of Christian Camp and Conference Association, Willow Creek Association and Christian Management Association, now Christian Leadership Alliance. John’s the author of Mastering the Management Buckets: 20 Critical Competencies for Leading Your Business or Nonprofit.
Find full show notes here http://blog.bcwinstitute.org/s3-e11-john-pearson-dan-busby/
It always gives us great joy when we see a Christian organization make a significant improvement in their culture and reach the flourishing level. Today, you’re going to hear an inspiring story that will give you some powerful, practical approaches you can use to improve the health of your culture.
We have the pleasure of visiting with Sam Barfell, Superintendent of Southside Christian School in Simpsonville, South Carolina. Southside Christian school includes Pre-K to 12th grade. Southside Christian School’s purpose is to "partner with Christian parents to provide an excellent education consistent with biblical truth.”
Find full show notes here http://blog.bcwinstitute.org/s3e10-sam-barfell/
Christian leaders, listen up. There’s a critical demographic trend playing out before us right now. It’s called the Millennial generation. 75.4 million millennials make up the largest living generation. Why should this matter to your church, organization, or business? Because Millennials are the future of your culture. Millennials are the “tomorrow” of your culture that you need to take notice of, today.
The question in front of us on today’s podcast is, how can you leverage and optimize the unique perspective and multiple talents of Millennials to grow the health of your culture and therefore deepen the immediate and lasting impact of your organization?
Our guest is going to answer this question.
Today we have the pleasure of visiting with Dr. Amy Nagley. Amy recently served as research consultant with the Best Christian Workplaces Institute. Amy has written a white paper on the topic of Millennials in the Christian Workplace, which we’ll make available on the show notes page on our blog.
Find full show notes here http://blog.bcwinstitute.org/s3e9-amy-nagley-millennials/
When it comes to transforming an organization’s culture, there are inspirational stories, unique comeback stories and memorable stories. The story you’re going to hear over these next few minutes is ALL of these things—inspirational, unique, memorable—and more.
Today, we have the pleasure of visiting with Gary Lausch, Vice President of Human Resources at ELIC – English Language Institute of China. ELIC is based in Fort Collins, Colorado. Since 1981, ELIC has trained English teachers to work with educational partners in more than 16 countries.
Find full show notes at http://blog.bcwinstitute.org/s3-e8-3-workplace-desires-that-transform-culture-gary-lausch-elic
Without intentional, strategic leadership development focused on the continued growth of your people, the health of your culture is sure to weaken, thus jeopardizing your organizational impact. But here’s the good news: A wise, strategic plan of leadership development can cause your culture to flourish and take the growth and impact of your organization, your church, or your business to a whole new level.
If you’re like me and you prefer the good over the bad, then the next few minutes could be hugely important for you.
Today we have the pleasure of visiting with Rob McKenna, Chair of the Ph.D. program in Industrial and Organizational Psychology at Seattle Pacific University. He is the author of Dying to Lead: Sacrificial Leadership in a Self-centered World. Rob is also the Founder of BadBobby Leaders, a leadership consulting group that’s all about raising up a generation of courageous and sacrificial leaders who will bring thoughtfulness, conviction, hope, resourcing, strategic thinking, and deeply rooted care to the institutions and people they serve.
Find full show notes here http://blog.bcwinstitute.org/dr-rob-mckenna-spu-wild
Today, we’re breaking from our weekly interview schedule to bring you a special treat. We’re sharing an exclusive interview with Willow Creek Community Church founder and pastor Bill Hybels from the 2014 Human Resources Ministry Network Conference.
We think you’ll enjoy Bill's humor and candor, as he shares his timeless wisdom about building an HR and people journey in your culture. Bill believes deeply in the importance of human resources in accomplishing great work for a great God. Listen in for his advice to HR staff on how to work closely with their senior leaders.
In the interview, you’ll hear Bill being interviewed by Willow Creek’s human resources director, Colby Burke. Colby has spearheaded the BCWI Employee Engagement Survey at Willow Creek for the past 8 years. Over that time, the church has seen their culture transform from nearly toxic to highly flourishing.
The measurement tool used by Bill and his team at Willow Creek Community Church is the BCWI Employee Engagement Survey – our faith-based, anonymous, online instrument that compiles and calibrates your employees’ feedback. Join more than 200 churches—including 7 of the 10 largest in the U.S.—that have discovered their path to a flourishing culture with this tool.
Find the full show notes at http://blog.bcwinstitute.org/56-bill-hybels-willow-creek.
While many of our podcast listeners are with church, parachurch and other Christian organizations, a healthy segment are Christian business owners or involved in Christian-owned businesses. If that’s where you are, you’re really going to enjoy today’s guest.
Mike Sharrow is the new President and CEO of C12. The C12 Group is the largest network of Christian CEOs, business owners, and executives. By joining a local C12 Peer Advisory Group, thousands of business leaders across North America are improving their companies. They’re strengthening their marriages, their family relationships, and they’re pursuing true success in the eyes of God.
Mike has an extensive background in large companies, start-ups and the local church. He knows how a healthy, flourishing culture equates to organizational effectiveness. What he has to share is going to benefit you.
Find the full shownotes here http://blog.bcwinstitute.org/s3e4-mike-sharrow-c12