The Vanderbloemen Leadership Podcast brings you interviews from leaders across the theological spectrum of the global Church. Our goal is to bring you thought-provoking interviews that encourage you, challenge you, and help you build, run, and keep great teams.
In today's episode of the Vanderbloemen Leadership Podcast, Holly Tate, vice president of marketing at Vanderbloemen Search Group, talks with Chris Lawson, founder and chief creative officer of EverydayExiles.com and executive pastor at Reynolda Church in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Holly and Chris discuss why churches need to cultivate a culture of honor in order to stay true to history and tradition while also attracting the next generation.
Chris Lawson (@thepastorchris) is the Founder and Chief Creative Officer of EverydayExiles.com, a digital community of creators that seeks to express how Jesus is in all aspects of culture and life through a collection of podcasts and bloggers. He is husband to Merri, father to Adam, Ellie, and Zachary, and executive pastor at Reynolda Church, a growing multi-site church in the Piedmont Triad area of North Carolina. Chris has a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Bluefield College, master’s degrees in theology and history from Wake Forest University, and a doctorate degree from Fuller Theological Seminary.
Holly talks with Chris about:
“If we’re going to stand out in a culture that claims to have its own corner of the market on truth, we have to be a church that says, the only truth you need to know is Jesus. And everything we do has to proclaim who Jesus is to the world.”
“We took our time to create a culture of honor so that even if they disagreed with it, they never felt ignored, they never felt dishonored.”
“Small decisions over time will push that rock up the hill. You make small decisions and you celebrate them.”
“We created momentum by celebrating easy decisions publicly and loudly.”
“Create and celebrate mile markers and you’ll find that you don’t have to take 10 steps at a time. One step at a time pushes the rock up the mountain and will build faith in your congregation that Jesus isn’t done with that local congregation.”