The London Olympics Got It Right! (A Leadership Principle)

One of the things I have been most impressed about (and there have been many) watching the London 2012 Summer Olympics is the overt thread of belief and optimism about the next generation.

During the Opening Ceremonies, when it came to the infamous torch lighting pomp and circumstance, often awarded to past greats and legends, they took a more holistic approach. I loved how David Beckham was visible but not even in the building, then the legendary runner carried the torch in to the stadium, through 500 construction workers (Average Joe's and Jane's) who built the facility.

Once the torch entered the stadium it was passed to 7 members of the Next Generation who each took a turn as they circled the stadium. Once they made it around, they stopped and handed the torch to 7 past legends (sponsors) in their particular sport. What a great way to honor those who have gone before them and paved the way for them.

Then... in an unexpected twist, the sponsors handed the light back to the young athletes as if to say, "The future is not ours to carry... its your turn now!" At this, the future athletes then ran past the 10,000 current olympians and made their way to the center where they, together, lit the torch. Which was made up of the 204 individual nation's copper bowls.

As I sat on my couch watching the cauldron illuminate, I couldn't help but say out loud: "They got it right!!! They trusted the next generation with the most important part!!!"

What We Can Learn:

The symbolism built into the Opening Ceremonies that night contains a powerful message for everyone of us who are leaders in anyway today. Here are a few key applications that jump out at me...

1. It is necessary and right to honor those who go before us.

     I am a HUGE proponent of giving honor to whom honor is due. There is a generation who paid a great price for the life and opportunities we have. We must never forget to honor them every chance we get. We stand on their shoulders. We reap where they sowed. We have success where they had struggle. Thank you older generations for the price you paid for us. We are better because of you.

2. It is right to honor those who sacrifice and serve behind the scenes.

     I love that the construction workers were invited in to the celebration. So often, those who sweat and bleed and sacrifice behind the scenes never get invited in when the vision is complete and the celebration happens. What can we do to honor those who serve our vision faithfully behind the scenes?

3. It is right to trust the young generation with the Important Stuff, not just the trivial stuff.

     When it came down to the actual lighting of the torch with 1 Billion (that's 1,000,000,000) people (1 out of every 7 people alive on planet earth today) watching, they didn't relent with their belief in the next generation.
     Too often, we in leadership circles, have been guilty of saying we believe in the young generation, saying we trust them, saying we want to empower them, but then when it comes to the big moments, we hold on to the ball.
     If 7 young people can successfully light the Olympic flame in front of 1 Billion people, it probably is conceivable to think the young leaders in our organizations can carry more than we think they can.

PERSONAL STORY ::
     Once upon a time, I was a young leader, bursting with vision and potential and leadership. What I wanted more than anything was for someone in the older generation to give me a shot. When that shot didn't come, I graciously took my talent, energy, ideas and potential and went somewhere else.
    Today, I am so grateful to lead an organization built on empowering young leaders. There is no greater joy for me today then to create opportunities that develop and stretch young leaders and make them better and stronger. I am committing the rest of my leadership life to empowering young leaders and giving ministry away!
     At Next Level Church, we're not waiting for them to be perfect. We're trusting them now. What we're discovering is, when given true belief and opportunity, they rise to the occasion. And even when they fall short of the mark, they're amazingly thankful and teachable because of the chance we were willing to take.
     In conclusion, I can't think of a downside to empowering the young generation. Thank you London 2012 for getting it right and leading the world into a new day! May we leaders follow behind you.

#AddingValue

@MatthewKeller

Grand Opening:: Next Level Church:: Funky Thoughts

I've spent the last couple of days trying to decompress and process through the emotions of our Grand Opening Weekend at Next Level Church. I have to confess that it was perhaps one of the greatest mountaintop experiences of my life, and probably not for the reasons you might think. Allow me to explain...

• My excitement had nothing to do with the Bricks & Mortar itself. For 9 years, we have always held the view that buildings are simply tools to build people! And that's what God gave us! A fabulous building to build people. And for that I'm so thankful.
• I was deeply moved by the amount of ownership you, the people of Next Level Church, took in the facility. I saw a deep, godly pride about creating a place where we could more effectively build people in so many of your eyes.
• I was moved by your trust to invite so many of your friends, family, co-workers and classmates. We had somewhere between 500 and 600 visitors attend one of our 3 weekend services which is just crazy! Thanks for trusting us with presenting your friends with the Gospel.
• I was blown away by over 200 hands that were raised to say Yes to a relationship with Jesus this weekend. I personally have never played that role before where God has touched so many for salvation at one time! It was amazing to see entire rows of people, whole families, throwing their hands up to say yes to God! Amazing.
• I was excited to know that our facility could effectively accommodate 2,000 people in 3 services. None of our environments were just maxed out and overflowing and crammed. Things were full, but not uncomfortable which is great!
• I was humbled to see hundreds of Next Levelites serving in 1, 2, and even all 3 services this weekend! You get the vision and you knew what it would take to see it come to pass. Thanks for sacrificially giving of yourself to make it all possible.
• I am surprised that we get to do it all again! We didn't have to tear it all down and we don't have to set it all up again next weekend. It's all there for us to use and leverage to see so many more lives touched in the coming days!

3 Things you don't want to miss:

1.  Feeding Fort Myers Weekend. Sat & Sun, April 16 & 17th. 

This is one of the highlights of our entire year as hundreds of you host parties and collect thousands of cans for hungry people in our community. Don't miss the celebration this weekend in all of our services. Sat - 5:30 & Sun - 9:30 & 11:30.

2.  Easter. April 23 & 24th.

This year Easter is going to be amazing as we launch our 1st series in the new facility called, "Starting Line." Trust me when I say, you do not want to come alone on Easter weekend. I'm excited to look at the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus from a perspective that you've probably never seen before! It's going to be creative, engaging, & life-changing!  

* We have 4 service options for Easter Weekend. Saturday - 5:30 & Sunday - 8:00, 9:30 & 11:30.

If you can come Saturday night or Sunday morning at 8 am that would be great to make space for guests at 9:30 & 11:30. Oh yeah, and be sure to get there early to make sure you have a seat!

3.  Mother's Day Weekend. May 7 & 8th.  

Mother's Day is always a special weekend as we celebrate mom's and dedicate children to the Lord. If you've never been apart of praying over families and children, it's truly a special time. Make plans to attend now... and bring your mom because we'll have a special gift for every mother in attendance.

Next Level Church, we are in a season of the miraculous! Thanks for making it possible! Let's keep building people together,


I love being your pastor,

Pastor Matt

Not Willing to Forget the Forgotten - 3rd Saturday Serve Day Reflections

I gotta be honest w/ ya, every time we go downtown to the communities we've adopted, it just pumps me up on a lot of levels.

First, God wrecks me for the kids. I had a little girl, probably 8 years old, run up to me and give me the biggest hug today! You could just see the joy on her face because we were there. We have no idea what these kids go home to when they leave our activities. My heart breaks for them.

Another little boy, probably 7 or 8 years old again, came up to me and when I asked him his name, he said, "You know my name!" to which I replied, "Why don't you remind me..." and he said, "My name is ROARRRRR!!!"

So from then on I called him "Roar" all day. (He finally told me his name but it was useless after that!)

Second, God wrecks me every time we go downtown, for the parents and adults. There are so many moms and so few dads. Men are clearly absent in the lives of their kids and the mothers of their kids. Additionally, so many of the moms are clueless about the stuff of life. Like love & acceptance & worth. It is absolutely heart-breaking to me because I want to be able to tell them there is a better way to live and have life.

Third, God fires me up for our people. I absolutely get tears in my eyes when I see the people of Next Level Church serving and loving and praying and smiling and hugging the kids and residents of our communities! NLC, you gotta know that I am so proud of you & God is pouring out His blessing on us because we're willing to not forget the forgotten ones that are so precious to Our Heavenly Father!

Fort Myers/Cape Coral rated #1 in Foreclosures Nationwide!

Hey everyone,

I just had to share what I heard on the Today Show this morning. We actually had to rewind our DVR and listen to it again because it shocked us. They were doing a piece on the economy and real estate, and in the middle of talking the girl from CNBC says: "Fort Myers/Cape Coral has the highest Foreclosure rate in the entire nation!" Wow. An accountant I talked to today said, "I thought it was bad but not that bad!"

Here's my take: There are alot of hurting people around us every single day. Very few of us are NOT being effected by this crazy economic time. Last Sunday we started our series "Pete's Blog... a journal of trust." Let me encourage you to do 3 things:

1. Go to www.Petesblog.org and listen to last Sunday's message as well as begin reading the testimonies of others who are going through a storm.


2. Forward the Petesblog.org website to someone you know who needs to hear what we're talking about.


3. Do whatever it takes to attend and bring someone else this Sunday to 1 of our 2 Sunday morning services: 9 am or 10:45 am.

We've been given a unique opportunity to reach out to those in our spheres of influence who are going through a stormy season. All they need is an invitation. God will do the rest.

See you Sunday,

Pastor Matt