Next Step Leadership

Tracy Reynolds and Chris Maxwell are honored to learn from Pastor Jim Thornber. Jim tells his joyful and painful story about life, ministry, and grief. Jim has written two books—he talks about those books, about his spiritual journey, and about the goodness of God. He also talks about the death of his wife. Jim brings a mixture of experiences, offering thoughts to the wide audience of Next Step Leadership. As you listen to his story, think about ways you can move away from your own comfort zone and welcome God’s invitation into new territory. Take time to reflect on how God has guided you through seasons of transition, uncertainty, surrendering, grief, and deep joy in the Spirit. Welcome the new directions God is taking you.
https://jimthornber.com/
https://www.amazon.com/Better-Every-Breath-Journey-Living/dp/1954533063

Tracy Reynolds continues answering questions from Chris Maxwell as they talk about Tracy’s new book, Leading from Second Chair. Tracy is a gifted musician, so it was fitting for him to use music as the illustration to instruct today’s audience how to serve under other leaders. They might not have the final word, but their words are important. They might not always get their way, but they can help others stay true to the leader’s way. The “second chair” is a place to serve, to care, to listen, to learn, to love, and to lead. How can the second chair be a peacemaker? How does the second chair have an important sphere of influence? How can you make things better? What is your lane, and how can you stay faithful and humble in that lane? How can you discover and deploy your greatest gifts? Learn from Tracy. Remember the value and honor of leading well from the second chair.

In this episode of Next Step Leadership, Chris and Tracy do not interview an outside guest. Instead, Chris has a conversation with Tracy about Tracy’s new book. Chris is very excited about this book because he has believed a long time in Tracy and hoped this book would be written. Tracy offers an importance perspective for today’s leaders. Not everyone who leads is the senior leader. Most leaders lead while also working under someone else’s leadership. Second Chair Leadership  is the fitting title for Tracy’s book. First chair get’s much attention in these days of social media and titles and bios. But the second chair offers opportunities where humility and Christlikeness set the mood. Most people do not want to be second. Most want to be first. But there are fewer openings for first chair. Listen to Tracy. Get a copy of his book and read it. Get copies for your team. There are many people sitting in many seats—second chair leadership offers ways to serve like Jesus even when serving in a position we never signed up for.

This week’s episode continues the conversation Tracy and Chris enjoy with Charlie Dawes. As a servant leader, Charlie talks about life and ministry. Life is not always easy. Ministry is not always easy. But serving Jesus and loving people are the true goals for today’s leaders. Education, a life of learning, finding mentors, valuing pastoral care, pursuing God in healthy ways, vocational ministry: realizing we can only take people as deep as we ourselves have gone. Taking the right steps. Accepting the value of training and growth. Read Charlie’s book, Simple Prayer. Listen to his heart. Pursue the best method of learning for yourself and those you lead.
https://hillcitydc.com/who-we-are
https://www.amazon.com/Simple-Prayer-Learning-Speak-Ease/dp/0830844813
https://www.instagram.com/charlie_dawes/?hl=en
https://twitter.com/charlie_dawes?lang=en
https://www.facebook.com/hillcitychurchdc/

Pastor and author Charlie Dawes is an ideal guest for Next Step Leadership. Chris has known Charlie for many years and is excited to see all the work Charlie has done. Charlie serves as a pastor of Hill City Church and is the author of Simple Prayer: Learning to Speak to God with Ease. Charlie tells his story about growing up in church and being mentored well by his pastor. While many congregations in today’s culture get attention based on numerical growth, young leaders need mentors. Pastor Basil Savoie was that type of true pastor for Charlie. Those years helped Charlie become the servant leader God wanted him to be. Listen to his story. Look for those who can mentor you and those you can mentor. Do not miss these important times.
https://hillcitydc.com/who-we-are
https://www.amazon.com/Simple-Prayer-Learning-Speak-Ease/dp/0830844813
https://www.instagram.com/charlie_dawes/?hl=en
https://twitter.com/charlie_dawes?lang=en
https://www.facebook.com/hillcitychurchdc/

In this episode of Next Step Leadership, Tracy and Chris continue their conversation with Elias Dummer. As a gifted writer and worship leader, Elias offers deep thoughts on theology and modern trends. Today’s leaders need to gain a better understanding of what key voices like Elias bring. He has concerns about how a few companies control church music, influence the trends of followers of Christ, and potentially limit creative minds from accomplishing kingdom work. Elias and others worked on a project asking important questions related to worship and the brain. Why do we choose songs the way we do? Why are worship songs changing so quickly? What is driving those decisions? Through their study and data, today’s leaders can learn more of the “why” related to today’s worship.
https://eliasdummer.com/
https://www.youtube.com/eliasdummer
https://www.facebook.com/eliasdummermusic
https://twitter.com/eliasdummer
https://www.instagram.com/eliasdummer/

Chris and Tracy enjoyed a wonderful conversation with singer, songwriter Elias Dummer. Elias has been involved in various bands and worship teams. In this episode, Elias tells his story. His band City Harmonic, his church involvement, and his desire for building a community of faith reveal his hope for being like Jesus and following Him.  As he talks, his wise mind and caring heart are obvious. Neuroscience, academic research, data studies, worship trends, merging various denominations together, pastoral gatherings, writing, church planting, loving his family, marketing: the story of Elias offers many components. His thoughts provide an inspiring and challenging segment for today’s leaders.
https://eliasdummer.com/
https://www.youtube.com/eliasdummer
https://www.facebook.com/eliasdummermusic
https://twitter.com/eliasdummer
https://www.instagram.com/eliasdummer/

This episode continues the conversation with Tim Elmore about his book A New Kind of Diversity. Tim brings so much wisdom to help today’s leaders learn from and work with each generation. Who is walking along beside today’s leaders? How can every age work well together? What if we receive the strength from each generation? How can the deeply committed, the creative minds, the dreamers, the realists, the optimists, and the entrepreneurs all partner to serve as one team? How can we narrow the gap between generations? Tim encourages leaders to clarify expectations and grasp communication norms. His action steps give practical hope for leaders to run toward success instead of running away from the unknown environment. 

https://www.timelmore.com
New Book - A New Kind of Diversity - HERE

Tracy and Chris are honored to interview Tim Elmore again. Tim’s latest book, A New Kind of Diversity: Making the Different Generations on Your Team a Competitive Advantage, is the ideal theme for Next Step Leadership. Instead of just tolerating one another, leaders must leverage the strengths of every generation. Instead of division, this can create teamwork and community. Instead of building walls, bridges must be built between each generation. There are seven distinct sociological generations living on planet earth now. Five of those are in the work place. Older veterans and young rookies need to get together to share ideas, stories, and super powers. Tim offers insight on understanding and working with each generation. This mindset can offer a creative, wise, and successful season for the next steps of today’s leaders.

https://www.timelmore.com
New Book - A New Kind of Diversity - HERE

Chris and Tracy continue their conversation with Pastor Sean Seay of Athens Church. Sean’s story is needed to be heard in today’s audience of leaders. He spoke in the previous episode about deep wounds he carried—and each leader carries—into ministry. He now brings listeners back to this important question: “What’s it like to be on the other side of me?” All real growth begins with self awareness. Brokenness will hurt the people leaders serve and love. But what can be done about those wounds and unhealthy tendencies? Sean took a sabbatical, stayed away from church events, and began counseling intensive. That season moved him toward a healthy soul. His honesty invites leaders to be still, to hit pause, to deal with addictive tendencies, to change diets and schedules, to view life holistically. Lead with a healthy you!

https://athenschurch.com
Twitter - @seanseay
Instagram - seanseay
Ruthless Elimination of Hurry - John Mark Comer book - HERE
Robb Reimer - Soul Care book - HERE
Soul Keeping - John Ortberg book - HERE