October 2006

Leadership in Budapest And Finishing Details

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We are thankful for:

~ Celebrating 7 years of marriage in September!
~ The Lord’s continued financial provision. While we still have monthly support to raise (only $595 before we can move!!), the Lord has encouraged and overwhelmed us with His love as we wait on the remaining funding.
~A good lead on a moving company, scheduled to pick up our boxes on November 10th!
~For the meetings Thad attended in Budapest, the Lord continues to encourage him as a leader in technology; we are also thankful for his safe travel.

We are praying for:

~ $595 we need in monthly support to move.
~ Provision of extra funds to cover the moving expense increase and to be able to buy a car in Germany.
~ Good health, energy, and strength.

Budapest, Hungary...

How do I sum up my trip to Budapest? While my schedule was not the most full, I attended 4 conferences in my 2 1/2 weeks. We began with a Trainer’s Training, followed by the Global Technology Leadership meetings, then the Operations Leadership Connection and finally a Communications meeting. We covered a lot in 2 weeks.

However, the most valuable exercise we did was to answer the question “What happened at the OLC conference?” The answer was intended for the director of our Area and our answer should be around 1 minute. So, following is my answer:

Leadership Framework

This was a week long process of learning to answer the question “What is a leader?” While the answers are changing as the ministry needs change, the importance of molding and sustaining effective leaders within any ministry is key. “If the movement expands only as rapidly as leadership is developed, then we must be very intentional about attracting, developing, deploying and retaining leaders.”

Strategic Planning

We learned what a Strategic Plan is, why we create one and then began the process of creating a Plan for Operations in Western Europe, another plan for the Global Technology Leadership and finally, I began formulating a plan for IT in Western Europe.

This process begins with asking “Where am I going,” “Where am I now,” and “How do I get to where I am going?”

Relationships

In my opinion, this is one of the most important aspects of this meeting, as well as the previous Global Tech, MinistryNet and Staff Conferences. I began many new relationships with people in IT from other areas, people in Western Europe that I had not met and staff from roles outside of IT from different Areas.

Many previous relationships were renewed and strengthened. The other members of the Global Tech Leadership team are “comrade in arms” in my IT world. When I need to see how others are doing IT in their area, what to do and in other cases, what not to do, I can turn to this group and share in their wisdom. My prayer is that the Lord has granted me wisdom that I can in turn give back to the group as well.

Finally, the Lord answered the question of “Who has God put into my life to help me along the way?” That is not just in technology or in ministry, but also in the many friends the Lord has given to us through this journey. Thank you for your prayers, encouragement and support that enables us to serve the Lord to reach Western Europe for Christ!

Sincerely,
Thad and Jana