Leadership Lessons from a 22 year old :)

I almost didn't write this post because I feel a little bit inadaquate to be writing a post on leadership, when I'm still learning a ton at such a young age, but I think it's really important to share what we are learning.
When I was in high school I was a part of different groups at a few different churches and ministries. I was a member at First Baptist, I was in the youth group at First Assembly, I was a part of That Youth Thing ministry, and I was a part of the creative movement group at Mission Baptist. It was really hard to be a part of one church. I found myself going to whatever church on the weekends that had the best to offer. Let me explain a little further. It wasn't that any one church had something I didn't like, it was just that as a high schooler, I thought I was doing whatever I needed to get fed spiritually, when in reality, I wasn't. It was almost impossible to have a faith connection with one specific body of believers. I didn't have that one connection with a body of believers who would support me completely, because they didn't know the complete Brittany. They knew only parts of Brittany. First Baptist knew me as Larry and Pokie's daughter. My youth group knew the young, high school Brittany who could act like a teenager. Mission knew me as this girl who came and was a part of the creative movement group, they knew the performer Brittany. It was no ones fault but my own that it became like that.
When I started going to The Village, it was really hard to break away from that and it was important that I learn that lesson especially before I stepped into leadership. I needed to connect with one body of believers.
Please don't misunderstand me and think that I'm saying you should never go to another church, because I'm not. In fact someone asked me a few months ago if I was allowed to go to other churches. While some of you might think it's a stupid question, its actually not. I think of it this way: It's different for every person. It's important for leaders to be fed spiritually. We do spend so much time pouring into our people that it's draining sometimes, and we need to constantly be taking the time to make sure we are fed spiritually. What I'm saying is take caution in doing that. For myself, I'm really cautious about going to other churches, because I know the risk it is for me personally. As much as I love my church with my whole heart, I know, I will have the temptation to go, and then find something that's really attractive and it may start that downward spiral, so I just choose to not put myself in that situation. I do love to visit other churches, and see how God is moving, and I also make sure I take time to be fed, but I'm just very cautious.
Not everyone struggles with this, but as a leader, your church and your people deserve for you to be all in with them. 110%.

Freedom Reigns

Our Worship Band at church has been preparing to be the worship band at a youth camp at the end of July, and this is one of the songs that we are so pumped to take with us. It's one of those songs, that even as we practice it, the anointing is ALL OVER IT. I love songs like that. We are expecting God to do big things the week we are at camp, and I really just can't wait to sing this song :).
God has been dealing with me while we've been practicing this song. Being on the stage on Sunday mornings, I have the opportunity to watch people during worship. In fact, even though I am worshiping too, I steal a minute to watch our people in worship. Taylor and I have many conversations on whether it seems like our people are connecting with a song, and sometimes the best indicator is to watch. It's really a beautiful thing to look out at the people and see them immersed in worship.
One of my most favorite moments while watching our people was one Sunday while we were singing Marvelous Light. We have a family who has a special needs daughter, and she is PRECIOUS. And she loves her some band members....let me tell you, if we are ever having a bad morning, when she comes in the door, sees us and starts giggling and smiling, we all instantly have a mood change for the better. Anyway, we were singing Marvelous Light, and I looked out, and I saw her whole family dancing. I mean they were dancing before the Lord at the back of the church like nobodys business. Freedom. They were dancing and worshiping before the Lord with true and utter Freedom. And the best part, was their daughter was right in the middle of it. The smile on her face was the biggest smile I've ever seen in my life. I started crying. Here I am, praying and asking God to use me as a vessel in worship, when really, they are teaching me the true meaning of freedom during worship.
God has been reinforcing this message and lesson to me with this song. Like I said, it's one of those songs that our band just senses the anointing all over. I'm reminded though, we don't always take advantage of that freedom during worship. We get so caught up in everything else going on, that we truly miss out on that freedom. We get caught up in the mountains in our life, the crap we are going through, and the trials we have, that we don't experience that freedom.
But here is the hope that we have in Jesus: there is that freedom, and you can experience it. It's when you are at the end of your rope, when all that mess is going on in your life, and you don't see the end in sight, that freedom reigns. Jesus wants us to experience that freedom. So lavish in that freedom. Soak it in, experience it. Don't miss out on that freedom.

Britt

The Journey

We took a little bit of a unplanned blog break :) but we're back!

I've decided that since I (Britt) was so open about some things I want to accomplish in the next couple of months in the last post, that I would take you all along for the ride....well all one of you who read this :) I'm doing this because one, it will hold me accountable, two, Lindsay and I have said from the beginning that maybe we can minister through this blog somehow, so if my journey helps someone else, I'm all for it, and three, it will give me the opportunity to look back in a few months and see what God has done!
Anyway, today I moved out of my duplex and moved in with my parents for the next few months. 2 of my good friends who happen to be really strong too (thank goodness :) came in to town and we got it knocked out. It's so hot to move in June, and also in the middle of the day, that we decided next time I move, we are moving at night! Anywho, Since my job ended a few weeks ago, I've had a few babysitting jobs, but definitely not enough to cover rent. I don't really have steady employment lined up, and surprisingly, I'm okay with that. I'm getting a lot of cool opportunities this summer, especially the month of July, and I'm pumped to see what God is going to do. Anyway, all that to say, it was the right decision to move in to the parentals house. It's gonna be tough, but it's going to be worth it. They've had an empty nest for a few years, and I've been on my own since I left for college. But the reward will be worth it. Sometimes, to get the reward, we have to struggle a little bit. It will be a growing process for my parents and I's relationship, but more than that, it will be a big growing experience for me personally.
This is just the first step towards starting this journey, and I'm really excited to see what God is going to do. The thing I want to pass along is this: just because God calls you to something, doesn't mean there isn't a process to getting there. I know without a doubt in my heart that God has called me to my church, my friends, and to Concord. But it's a process to get there, and this is step one.

Until next time,
Britt