Protecting Your Ministry from Brand Damage from Janice Johnson on Vimeo.

So why are there so few champions sprouting about? Why does it seem at a time where Believers should be blooming they are instead barely penetrating the surface? Is it because Believers are not realizing their champion potential?

Let’s take a look at three key characteristics every champion must possess:

1. Champions dream BIG. – If what you are aiming for isn’t enough to make you stay awake at night it’s not enough to make you fight for it.
2. Champions take ACTION. – When was the last time you saw a champion sitting around talking about winning? You don’t. They are busy working, doing what it takes to become a champion. “Champion: those who make going hard a lifestyle.”
3. Champions think like champions. What is the story playing in your head? Is it one of defeat? Are you constantly comparing yourself and/or your ministry to others? If so, you are not thinking like a champion.

I would like to encourage you on this first day of summer to determine that this will be your season to shine.  Becoming a champion isn’t easy or convenient, but it is possible.

While for many this time of year commences an influx of road trips, summer camps, and much needed family get-a-ways, for most churches it often represents a season of stark decline. Decreased attendance, sporadic giving and lack of participation in church activities are on an all-time rise now that summer is almost here.

It doesn’t have to be this way! Your ministry CAN have different results. How? It’s simple. Change the game! Here are 5 game changing ways to soar into this summer season:

1. Take stock – Evaluate what’s going on in your church or ministry today. What is the current participation level? What’s the mood of your current parishioners? Are you seeing consistent number of visitors? Before you look to “change the game” you need to assess what you are already doing.
2. Include everyone – Ask, seek, knock. You can find out a lot about people if you take time to talk to them. What exactly are the summer plans of your current members?   What does your ministry offer during the summer months that are of interest and relevance to your current audience?
3. Be proactive – You know summer is quickly approaching; actually it comes every year around this same time. Why sit back and wait for things to decrease and decline? Launch out! Begin seeking ways NOW to engage your current audience and attract new people BEFORE you get deep into the summer months.
4. Take Action – Once you have heard back from your loyal, local church members, – take action. If necessary, change things, do something different, use what you learn from your members to make your church the place to be this summer.
5. Have FUN! – Did you know that “summer” is defined as a period of greatest happiness, success, or fulfillment?  Does what you offer in the form of activities, programs, and ministry contribute to one’s happiness? Do your ministry’s programs or activities include a strong “fun-factor”? If, not do something different! If happiness is the order of the day, be sure to include it in your ministry efforts.

Summer is swiftly approaching, what will you do differently? Will your ministry soar or will it settle?

It takes a brave man or woman to sacrifice their life for that of someone else. Even if it is someone you know, love, and trust. OK, be honest, would you without hesitation, willingly throw yourself in front of a moving train for your old nagging auntie? What about your cousin who always wants to borrow $20? Now imagine, giving up your life for a complete stranger? Or someone that openly disrespects you, your profession and your beliefs? Well, that’s what our soldiers do each time they engage in combat for our freedoms and liberties. They put their lives on the line for our rights. Today as you enjoy your time with family, friends, or just sheer relaxation take a moment and thank God for our soldiers.

One of my all time favorite movies is Meet the Robinsons. Not only is it a brilliantly crafted animation, which is quite entertaining, the overriding moral message is one that has stuck with me now three years after its release. It is no wonder why this fit-for-the-family film received 8 academy nominations.

While Lewis, the main character had a hilariously, strange family and a life full of witty inventions it was what he said that has left a lasting impression on my heart. “Keep moving forward”. Those words are echoing in my head even as I type. When times are hard, ideas seem to fail, when life throws you a curve ball…”keep moving forward.” When you feel misunderstood and your BIG plan doesn’t work out…”keep moving forward.” Lewis understood that in order to succeed in life, he couldn’t let his failures, let downs, or life’s unexpected occurrences stop him from pursuing his dreams. This was his mantra and is now mine: Keep Moving forward!

Yep, it’s just that simple. Say it with me “keep moving forward”. Perhaps you’re at a crossroad in your ministry, business, or relationship and things are not going quite as you expected. Determine within yourself that no matter what, you are going to “keep moving forward.” The easy thing to do is quit, the cowardly thing to do is shift blame, and the right thing to do is to keep moving! The past is the past and there is nothing you can do to change it. Leave the past behind. Commit today to, that’s right, you know this by now: “Keep Moving Forward!”

How do you intend to overcome what seems to have you temporarily stuck? What will be your next step? Please share.

And I am no different! I absolutely LOVE this time of year! Between-the-legs…pump  fake…SLAM! Yep, my adrenaline starts flowing just thinking about the thrill of the Cinderella   comeback stories and the last second buzzer beaters. March Madness stirs the heart and soul   of all the real “B-ball” players. Ok, and the fake ones too! LOL! It’s the one time of year where   the rookies are highlighted and the pro prospects are recognized.

My husband and I printed our brackets out last night; we are anxiously awaiting 6:00PM for the selection process to officially begin. Who are the bubble teams? Who has the potential to win it all? As I prepare to make my prediction, I can’t help but think of myself, my business, and my clients. Is my organization Final Four material??? Do we have what it takes to go all the way and win BIG? Well, what does it take? How will I know if we deserve a trip to the Final Four? I’ve managed to narrow it down to three key factors:

1. Dream Team – Without a team you can’t play the game. Without the right team, you will never win a game. What makes up the right team? Skill + passion + singular focus = right team. When the stakes are high, you need to know that you have the right people by your side. Is your team well trained, committed, and all focused on the same goal? If not…um..well…this may not be your year.
2. Strategy – Will it be your pressure defense? Or fast-paced offense? For the West Virginia Mountaineers, it’s the same play they’ve run all season…set the corner screen and get the ball in the hands of Da’Sean Butler. If he doesn’t see it, he’ll create it. What about you? What is your game-winning strategy? How will you win BIG? What steps will your organization take to ensure you are on the Road to the Final Four? Without a strategy or a plan, you have no chance of winning. Winning must be intentional!
3. Momentum – By the time you reach the tournament…the playing fields are pretty much even. The real contenders have strong teams with good to great players, they have a set of game winning plays that they have mastered. There even exists a cohesiveness that is not easily rattled or broken. So what separates the winners from the losers? The champions from the runner-ups? I believe it is momentum. Have you ever tried to stop someone who’s on a winning streak? You can’t. They’re unstoppable. Think about it. If you are used to winning all the time you think like a winner, you see yourself as a winner, you do what winners do. There is no wondering “hmmm can we win this?” or “we might just win this”. Rather, the attitude is “we have no choice BUT to win because we ARE winners.” Now this attitude can be achieved a number of ways, but the most effective way is to have a series of wins under your belt. Tournament time is reserved for the winners. And it is much easier to win, if you have had practice doing it.

Well, I must go and prepare my brackets; my NCAA bracket and my life bracket. But before I go, I want to know ‘will you make the cut’? Are you and your team Final Four material? Share your thoughts and happy picking!

I’ll tell you why. You have to tweak just one more thing. You have one more stride you need to perfect. One more set of lunges to prepare your quads. One more run around the track to make sure your breathing is paced. I mean, let’s face it, if you are going to do it, you better do it right! Right? It’s precisely this sort of thinking that keeps many of us stifled in our progress, hindered in our pursuits, stuck in our tracks. Stagnation is the lifestyle a serial perfectionist. Don’t allow your quest for perfection to cause you to miss the most important moment of your life…NOW. Live, pursue, embrace your now. Tell me, what is your NOW? How are living it?

I absolutely love what I do. I LOVE who I am! Though my list is encompassing it     is not overwhelming because, to me, it’s fun!

I am reminded of a night my daughter and I shared last week. She came up to my  office to ask me some ridiculous question, it was bedtime. All sorts of random     questions are asked when it’s bedtime. While this night her motives were no different, my response was. I turned in my chair, looked her dead in her eyes and with a stern face said “do you wanna see something?” Intrigued and confused and more than likely thinking “is this a TRICK? Am I about to learn another lesson?” She hesitantly said, “Yes”. I whipped my chair back around, typed in my web brower’s search bar the letters Y-O-U-T-U-B-E. Jasmine started smiling.

“I found this cool song that I really like, do you wanna hear it?”

“Mom, really? cool? please, don’t use those types of words.” Jasmine has a way of reminding me that I am not hip. Lol! As I typed “the climb” in the search field, I could feel my heart pounding through my chest. I really like this song and I knew Jasmine did as well. I picked up a highlighter and a pen from my desk, swiveled my chair around and said to my dear Jasmine “you wanna join me in concert?” She was thrilled. With the lyrics on one monitor and the video on the other we grasp tightly to our makeshift mics and bellowed the song from some place deep within our non-singing souls. I know we screamed that song at least 7 times consecutively. OMG! We sounded AWFUL! (sorry Miley) Our voices cracked, we over sang the music, at one point I got so excited that I decided to jump out of my chair and act out the guitar solo. It was AMAZING! We laughed so hard that night. I am sure it is one we will never forget. As we both recollect the moment our joint description of the evening was: F-U-N!

When was the last time you had fun? Genuine, gut-busting, tear streaming, fun? Are you living out your dreams? Is fun apart of your daily routine? If not, what are you going to do to increase your “fun-factor”? I want to hear from you, please share.