Steering Through Chaos

March 19, 2010 at 11:11 am (Uncategorized)

I just finished a great book by Scott Wilson called Steering Through Chaos: Mapping a Clear Direction for Your Church in the Midst of Transition and Change.  Scott is the Lead Pastor  of The Oaks Fellowship in Dallas, Texas.

Have you ever read a book and said, “That’s my life!”  That was my experience with Steering Through Chaos.  This book is more than Scott’s opinions and insights.  I believe it is God’s word to church leadership today.  I feel that way because it’s almost line for line what God has been speaking to my heart.  As a young pastor, I have been discovering the truths in this book on my own.  It would have been much easier if I would have read this book first.

Steering Through Chaos is what I would call a must read for pastors, staff members, and even church boards.  It’s not a “how-to” book on what to do in ministry.  It’s more of a “how-to-be” book.  Honestly…I think that “how-to-be” is much more important than “how-to.”  It doesn’t matter what you do if who you are isn’t ready.

One thing in particular that stood out to me and possibly even rescued my church is in chapter 3 – “Timing Your Change For Growth.” It’s about seeing ahead to possible plateaus and responding to them instead of waiting to fix a decline.  It makes a lot of sense.  My church has not plateaued nor is it in decline.  But this chapter in particular made my staff and I look down the road and see that we are potentially beginning to level out.  Once we are aware of these things we can respond and continue to grow.

Thanks, Scott, for writing this book!

BTW – So far I’m smoking Scott on Words With Friends!