Appalachian Leadership

How Organizations Go from Stagnate to Vibrant.
Every organization begins with a vision of what it is called to accomplish. Blood, tears, and sweat are invested in all companies to get them off the ground. Stagnation occurs when loss and other factors cause the group to lose course. How Organizations Go from Stagnant to Vibrant gives hope and direction on moving forward when we are stagnating.

If you are sensing your organization is stagnating or beginning to stagnate, this talk will provide tools to assess where you are, identify what you have, and give you ways to move from Stagnant to Vibrant.

Thirty-three years ago, a 24-year-old kid became the lead pastor of what is now Cross Point Church in Beckley, WV. The church had been on a downward trajectory for over a decade and barely survived. If things did not turn around, the leadership knew the church would not exist in ten years. Because of my youth, the church was willing to try something they would not have with a more seasoned leader. After all, a more seasoned leader would not have tried some crazy ideas, like sitting on the roof and waving at traffic.

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When young, you make up for lacking experience and wisdom with energy and ideas. A church that was on life support is now no longer stagnant. Ideas and energy, sprinkled with wisdom, have taken Cross Point from $52,000 annually in giving to over $750,000 annually in giving. We have eight paid staff persons and over 75 volunteers each weekend. We moved from a location worth $275,000 to a facility worth over 4.2 million dollars. All of this is accomplished by people who live in what others have said is poverty-stricken Appalachia. I know what it is like to lead when you wonder if the bills will be paid. I also know how it feels to introduce new programming in new facilities.

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Learning has always been meaningful. I come from an education family. Because of this, I hold two bachelor's degrees from Warner University, one in secondary education and another in ministry studies. A master’s degree from Liberty University in Religion and a Ph.D. in Organizational Management and Leadership with an emphasis on Servant Leadership from Capella University. Because of a varied education, it has been my honor to consult with organizations seeking polity and structural change, aiding in establishing an endowment for West Virginia Ministries and serving as an adjunct faculty member at New River Community and Technical College.

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Every leader has support from those they serve and those who love them. I am blessed to be married to my childhood sweetheart, Lori. We have five adult children, two granddaughters, and a grandson on the way.

My preference is to have a Countryman Headset microphone. This allows me to move freely while I share. I can work with other microphones, but in a perfect world, this mic is golden. A music stand and a small table for props are always a plus, but I can improvise if needed. I like to make eye contact with the audience, so some light on the audience is optimal.