They ALL broke giving records,
exceeded their own expectations,
and showed their churches what's actually possible through active faith. 

It's a privilege to know, serve, and learn from these church builders. 

They're winning in spite of not having some of the things many assume are essential for success.

All broke giving records for their year-end giving initiatives. And they're all breaking other records and shattering previous assumptions of what's possible. 

They've set "new normals" and are some of the pioneers I think others should look to and learn from. 

We get caught up in "learning from" (actually copying) the large churches who, frankly, have generally stopped pioneering and innovating. They're not bad churches or stagnant communities but we're seeing fruit that was seeded and cultivated decades ago. But who is doing it now? With the same (or less) resources you have? These people are!

Forrest Coleman, Multiply Church, Kentucky

He started a church less than two years ago and in less than a month they'll move into their own storefront building debt-free. He's sought after to speak to and serve the Kentucky State Univ athletic programs. BTW, that's a HBCU and he's not historically black himself. :) He's a great connector and servant in his community and his consistent leadership blurs racial, economic, and political lines.

Last year we worked through their first year-end giving season and Forrest had his paradigm upgraded then so we did it again this year. Before they even had their give day, he kept texting me about all the gifts coming in. They took in over 20% of their ANNUAL budget just in above and beyond offering BEFORE their give day. WOW!

He's one of the most actively grateful people I know. He's a constant learner proven by his success in areas outside his gifts and skills. He's a great husband and dad. And his ninja superpower is asking good questions, humbly receiving advice, acting on it, and not worrying about credit or ego. He's winning in big ways and winning all the time!

Josh and Stephanie Roberts, All People Church, Boston

This couple has served churches literally from coast to coast and from Louisiana to Boston. You don't do that without a deep love for people over platforms and positions. They've stepped into the Lead Pastor roles in the last few years at the church they've served for almost a decade. It's not an easy task to inherit someone else's vision, people, and frankly, baggage. But they're continuing to prove what good succession looks like (it's rare, I promise). 

They're in the middle of a total church renovation - brand, team, culture, building, processes. This isn't easy anywhere and they're doing it in the historically-not-easy church dessert of Boston. Just yesterday a friend text me "They're leading and building a church that big and that good in Boston?" :) 

They also lead the most multi-cultural church I've ever been to. Literally never seen anything like it personally. They're winning at multiple things most people won't even try, much less endure over time. BTW, they also broke their own offering record a few weeks ago. 

Their grit, belief in themselves, actively-caring personalities, and generally fun and mellow demeanor is paying off huge! And their ninja superpowers are asking good questions, humbly receiving advice, acting on it, and not worrying about credit or ego. 

Daniel, Delmis, Nito, Gagi, and Zuri Beiza, Vision Church, Tampa

This family dove head-first with no safety net into church building years ago without anything else but the Holy Spirit's push. They'll tell you they're not process or strategy gurus. They don't know all the "right ways" of doing church. Yet they've been faithful, consistent, and relevant for years. But something let loose in the last year that led to explosive growth.

They're very uncommon in that they do bi-lingual church in a primarily Spanish-speaking congregation. The uncommon part is that they're wildly successful at it and many from other states and networks have come to ask them how to do it. But you can't copy practices without the philosophy, convictions and mandates that instigated them to begin with (I wish more leaders would just listen and learn this sooner).  

I work most with Nito and Gagi who drive the operations. And they remind me weekly (not kidding) that they don't know what they're doing and jokingly tell me they barely speak English. Yet their church has tripled in the last few years. 

And most recent they broke a giving record by an insane amount. They received a one-week offering last week that was 3X their entire annual Legacy offering. And they also activated more new givers than ever before. 

They're fun people, focused on the mission, unapologetic for not "balancing" work and life, and don't equate "soul health" with retreating from the calling or effort required to fulfill it. And their ninja superpowers are asking good questions, humbly receiving advice, acting on it, and not worrying about credit or ego. (It's as if there's a pattern here.)

But don't take my word for it. 

Talk to them. Go visit Tampa in the winter. Or Boston in the summer. Or Kentucky to bet on your favorite horse. :) 

The Church is advancing around the world, in all time zones, and even in the "it's different here" locations. (Y'all know I love that statement.)

These are people you should know and speak to. Let's all get better together.