When budgets are tight -- it's the first thing to go. I see this over and over again...churches zero out the budget line for learning and development. It seems like icing on the cake, like it's unnecessary.

“Let's skip the staff retreat this year.”

“No travel. No conferences.”

Why? Because we want to invest the money in ministry; or we need to re-pave the parking lot; or we just hired three new people so we need to cut out some of the "extras."

Here is the problem. If your leaders are empty, if they are void of ideas, if they are uninspired or unmotivated or isolated or just exhausted -- then you aren't going to be able to move your mission forward. Your parking lot might have shiny new stripes while at the same time the emotional, mental and spiritual tanks of your leaders are empty.

Many times we think it's better to have more people and invest less in their growth, versus having fewer people who are supported and developed and growing.

It's probably not good grammar, but my bias is...

Don't Pay People Less. Have Less People.

Some people learn best at a conference. Or getting a degree. I've found my best learning comes from conversations with leaders who are in the same type of role as me. I love sitting at a meal around a table and finding out how other leaders solved something I'm trying to unlock. I couldn't find these opportunities, so a couple of years ago I offered the first-ever LeadingSmart Gathering for Executive Church Leaders. It was exactly what I needed, and 100% of the attendees said it exceeded their expectations.

We are doing this again in a few months. I'm gathering a maximum of 30 executive church leaders for a three-day experience of learning from each other. No celebrity speakers. No worship band. No packed agenda. Just three-days of relevant discussions in a really nice location with great food and drinks and experiences. We are offering three experiences in early 2025 -- in Palm Springs (CA), Fort Myers (FL), and Las Colinas (TX). 

I've heard from several that they'd love to attend but can't sign up until January 1st. They don't have any funds in their 2024 budget and they can't access their 2025 budget until the first of the year.

I believe in this so much I'm doing something I haven't done before to make it possible for leaders to attend a 2025 LeadingSmart Gathering. You can sign-up now and pay 10% to reserve your place -- and then pay 90% in early January. This is a little risky for me as I'll have to pay for your hotel rooms and food in advance, but I understand budgets and believe so much in the work of the church that I want you to have an opportunity to sign up while you can still get the early bird rate

Use code JANUARY90 and register today. Florida and California are already half full. The early bird rate expires November 15th.