A Special Note From David

Yesterday, at the seventh hour of a ten hour flight from India to England, I began to wonder just how crazy I am.

What in the world was I doing on this airplane? My brain reminded me that this was just the first of two long flights.

We arrived in London and fell asleep at 6 pm, trying to get over the 5 1/2 hour change in time zones. Tomorrow, we have a ten hour flight to the States. Then at last, finally home.

"Home" sounds really good right now. Give me a nice bed and some American food. On yesterday's flight, I was ready for a steak and a huge salad. The meal was a choice of Indian chicken curry or Indian vegetable curry.

Each year that I go to India, Christ changes me. I come back a slightly different person. Sometimes it is the large-scale poverty. Sometimes, it is the unusual things that touch me. Some of my students travel 4 full days on a train to come to class. I am deeply humbled when I see them walk into class, such commitment! Some of them take 20 minutes to travel to a place that has a computer. Tami and I have tried being a one-car family for several years. We are trying to live with less material things.

Going to India deeply affects how I live and do ministry. I get outside of my comfort zone and my cultural box. Yet, on the airplane I deeply questioned "why" do all this:

• Why do I pour so much effort in going to India?
• Why do I lead this "thing" called XPastor?
• Why am I an Executive Pastor?

It would be easier and simpler to stay at home and not get involved.

You can see where this is going. The questions almost answer themselves. I work in a church so that people can become all that God wants them to be. I teach in India to help equip the next generation of Christian leaders. I host XPastor because ... you church leaders are valuable and important to God.

Years ago, I sought to do whatever it takes to have a life of meaning. God abundantly answered that desire. It's all about the people that you serve. They make it worthwhile to endure the long flights, cultural disassociation and curry three times a day. Christ makes the difference.

I have some pretty crazy ideas.

David

Welcome!

Dr. David Fletcher
Founder & HostWe all get into places where we could use a friend, reference material, or a mentor. XPastor has helped a myriad of church leaders decide on their next step in managing and leading their church. Check out the free help available. Also, read bios of XPastor speakers and writers. XPastor is free, run by XPs for XPs. Contact David.

Survey on the Economy

Warren Schuh has completed a brief survey of 31 churches about the effect of the recession on ministry. Take a look and learn from his insightful information.

Who Is Your Church, Really?

Does your website accurately portray your church? Are you looking for a new position and need the essentials? Do the people of your church have an “elevator speech”?
In April 2009, Worship Facilities magazine hosted a free Online Seminar with David Fletcher, Founder & Host, XPastor.org.

View the slides from the webinar. Also view the Questions to Interview a Church. Also, you can listen to the webinar.

In this online seminar, learn how to discover the spiritual DNA of a church. Discuss specific tools so you can put in writing “the essentials” of your church. Get it down before trying to move forward with your church growth objectives! What if you are moving to a new church? Attend this webinar to equip yourself with the know-how to analyze a church and its needs, present or future, in order to carve out your path. Led by a visionary Executive Pastor who is in the process of moving to a new church, this webinar is not to be missed!

• Ministry Related Expense Reimbursement Policy of Apostles Church of New York City, New York
• Economic Risk Plan of Vanguard Church of Colordo Springs, Colorado

Interviews

• Dave Arnold, XP of Saddleback
• Bob Feitl, XP of Richland Bible
• Jim Kuykendall, XP of Cross Timbers
• Curtis Songer, XP of New Community
• Jim Tomberlin, launched multi-site at Willow Creek

Connect with others

• XPastor on LinkedIn
• David on Facebook
• XPastor on Google Groups
• David on Twitter
• XPastor on the Google Groups Forum

• Rob Curry on Church Health in the 3 Organizational Structures, Part 1: Framing it Out
• David Fletcher on How to Interview Your Next Church
• David Fletcher on Conflict in the Office
• Brad Leeper on Generosity in 2010
• Dave Arnold on Leadership Through Vision
• David Fletcher on Changing Hats Moving from Business to the Executive Pastor Role
• Rob Cizek on Blogging and Facebook Policy for Churches
• Jeff Pelletier on The Role of Technology in a ‘Do More with Less’ Environment
• Rick Clapp on Trying to Stay Together Leading Your Staff and Church During Hard Times

Health & Swine Flu

• Swine flu at Summer Camp, Harvest Church's response
• Swine Flu thoughts from Northshore Christian Church Everett, Washington
• Stacey Campbell, Being a Leader vs. Being a Boss
• Warren Schuh, Current Economic Impact on American Churches—A report on a recent survey of Executive Pastors and Schuh Economic Survey

• Does Prayer Change Attitudes toward Evangelism? A Case Study of The Brooklyn Tabernacle by Paul Utnage. Pastor Cymbala told his small congregation: “It’s not fancy or profound or spectacular. But I want to say to you today with all the seriousness I can muster: from this day on, the prayer meeting will be the barometer of our church."
• Transforming a Hierarchal Church Culture: Pastor Jeff Harris transformed a church into a highly efficient values-based team structure by Erin Weaver. It wasn’t long after arriving on staff that Jeff Harris discovered that he had his work cut out for him.  Jeff not only had to deal with the struggles of leading in his first full-time ministry position, but also knew that he had bigger problems looming on the horizon. 
• see other cases!

• XP Mark Dougharty has an excellent resume: "Executive Pastor: COO responsibilities for all operations of the church. The church had 28,000 members, 360 acres of property, $90,000,000 of building assets, multiple committees, 170 active deacons, 200 staff members, 300 part time & seasonal staff members, and an annual budget of $24,000,000."

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