The ministry project for Randy’s dissertation.
Earlier, we said we’d write more later about our specific ministry projects. In the conversations with Russell West that we wrote about in that post, both of our ministry projects changed. Rather than conducting ministry projects in our local settings, we will now be looking for leaders who are doing what we want to do and then study them. It’s a change we’re both very excited about. Of course, we will apply what we learn in our local settings, so it’s win-win.
My project will involve studying/observing 3 leaders who are shaping a missional culture through their leadership and communication. After studying them, I will write about the lessons I’ve learned and that will provide the rest of the material for my dissertation.
My top two choices, at the moment, are …
Andy Stanley / North Point Community (Atlanta, GA)
Erwin McManus / Mosaic (Los Angeles, CA)
I will need to choose the third/final leader from one of the following …
Kirbyjon Caldwell / Windsor Village United Methodist Church (Houston, TX)
Bill Hybels / Willow Creek Community Church (South Barrington, IL)
Ed Young / Fellowship Church (Fort Worth, TX)
Mike Slaughter / Ginghamsburg United Methodist Church (Tipp City, OH)
Adam Hamilton / Church of the Resurrection United Methodist Church (Leawood, KS)
Mark Beeson / Granger Community Church (a United Methodist Church) (Granger, IN)
Rudy & Juanita Rasmus / St. Johns United Methodist Church (Houston, TX)
Pete Hise / Quest Community Church (Lexington, KY)
T.D. Jakes / The Potter’s House (Dallas, TX)
Comments …
Not sure why there are so many Texas-based churches on this list! 🙂
Andy Stanley and Erwin McManus top my list (you’ll notice we’ve recommended some their books in the sidebar). Both are huge in shaping my leadership and communication. Choosing one of the others will be no easy task!
More than likely the third/final leader I’ll choose will either be Kirbyjon Caldwell, Bill Hybels, or Ed Young. However, since it might be a good idea to include at least one United Methodist leader/church, Kirbyjon might get the nod.
I also added one lesser known leader/church to the mix (Pete Hise, Quest Community). We visited there last January; it’s a young, growing congregation. I like that they have a female teaching pastor (Helen Musick) who seems to provide a good portion of the Sunday preaching responsibilities.
After I submit my second draft (in the next couple of weeks, hopefully), I will begin work on this project so I have a few weeks to make a decision. If you’d like to weigh in on my selections, or propose another leader who’s shaping a missional culture, please click on “comments” and add your thoughts to the mix.