Leighton Ford

On this Veterans Day, we honor and thank all the brave men and women who have served our country.

Your sacrifices and commitments allowed us all the freedoms we all enjoy and we often take for granted. We are forever grateful for your service. 🙏🏻

In John 17:15-17, Jesus prays for his disciples: “My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world”(NIV).

Years ago, I was impacted by Chuck Colson’s book, Kingdoms in Conflict. He said about how God’s Kingdom is so different from earthly kingdoms.

He wrote that “while politics is based on the premise that society must be changed in order to change people, in the politics of the Kingdom it is people who must be changed in order to change society.” As America goes to the polls for an important election, Colson reminds us that God “commands his people to influence the world through their obedience to Him, not by taking over the world.” As Christ-followers, we are called to love our enemies, not just tolerate them! We are called to pe*****te society as salt and light. I encourage Christians to be involved in politics and to pray for those elected to lead.

Near the end of his prayer in John 17, Jesus says “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me” (20-23 NIV).

Colson says Christians should “not rely on government, but on their own pe*******on of society as ‘salt and light.’” In fact, Colson said Christians must therefore resist “the ever-present temptation to usher in the Kingdom of God by political means.” Colson reminded us that the pursuit of power “has been one of Satan’s most effective tools from the beginning, perhaps because he lusts for it so himself.” On this Election Day in America, vote and pray. But seek first the Kingdom of God.

- Kevin G. Ford

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Happy birthday Leighton! 🎊We are better because of you, and we are so thankful for your life. Your leadership, example in marriage, friendship, and mentorship has impacted us all more than you will ever know.

Leighton is truly a friend on the journey and we are honored to celebrate him today!! ♥️

If Leighton has blessed your life in any way through his example, ministry, books, marriage, etc.. please write us a comment here. We would love to share with him on his birthday. 🙂‍↔️🎉🥳🎊

While we can’t help every family affected by this disaster, Boys Home is committed to offering a safe and stable environment for as many young men as possible who were impacted by the storm.

We are here to provide a place of warmth, stability, and support during this stressful and uncertain time. We’re here to help continue your son’s education while surrounding him with a community that cares. To make this easier, we’ve expedited our admissions process to quickly serve those who need us.

Boys Home’s campus is only two hours from Pulaski County, Virginia, four hours from Boone, North Carolina, and four hours from Carter County, Tennessee. We can assist with transportation if needed.

Please help us reach more families by sharing this post or tagging community and agency leaders in the comments.

Contact us today: Brittany Tate at [email protected].

Grace and peace, Anne (LFM board member and chaplain for the Boys Home of Virginia)

Free download of Leighton’s mentoring guide! We would love to send to your dms. Let us know if you’d love some wisdom on this below 👇🏼 and we will send to you for free! ✨💡

In Leighton Ford’s Transforming Leadership, mentorship looks different than what the world shows us today. 🙏🏼

This is why we exist, and this is why we love serving those who typically get lost in the world of serving those in the church. If you need or want support please reach out to us, you shouldn’t be walking this leadership journey alone. 🙌🏼

Have you read the attentive life?

Have the leaders in your life led by example?

This is why we aim to help leaders get healthy and stay that way! We are able to live an incredible example when we have wise counsel and people to be honest with. 🙌🏼

There are far too many pastors and leaders walking through tough situations alone. Many of them feel like they have to shepherd everyone around them, leaving the leader feeling lost and frustrated. We are a safe place for leaders to rest and process through these things. 🙏🏼 Tap the link in our bio to learn more!

In a world screaming for our focus in a thousand directions, it is essential for God’s people to become attentive – to Him, to their congregation, and to their community. The Message paraphrase of the Bible reminds us to “lead with your ears” (James 1:19 MSG).

It is our prayer that you will be an attentive Christ-follower, an attentive servant, an attentive pastor or leader, paying attention to the person in front of you. And as you do, you will build a thriving community for the glory of the Lord and the good of the people.

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As you become a transformational leader leading an attentive church, something else begins to occur. Your perspective will broaden. You will start to become more generative in your thinking. Your vision will grow beyond your own church. Your vision will grow for the kingdom of God – the rule and reign of Jesus Christ everywhere.

Read more in Attentive Church Leadership: https://zurl.co/HjyP

We were created in God’s image, the “imago Dei.” This means we share some similarities to God that don't exist in other creatures. The very first thing we learn about God is that He is creative. To bear God’s image is to be creative. To be created in God’s image includes the stamp of producing creative work. “To create” is the opposite of “to consume.” Churches who primarily pursue a customer-driven strategy will always struggle to unleash the creative contributions of her people.

In Attentive Church Leadership we'll help you create a people-driven church
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The goal is not just to see bigger church budgets and larger attendance. The goal is for individuals, transformed by God’s grace, to become a community of fully devoted followers of Jesus. As we practice attentive church leadership, the goal of our ministry should include divine life-change. The real work of transformation is through the power of the Holy Spirit. But as leaders, our job is to clear the way – to become facilitators of transformation.

Learn more in Attentive Church Leadership: https://zurl.co/A2le

In our church partnerships, we use the language of True North to help a congregation clarify Vision. In determining a church’s True North, we look at two areas:
-What we must preserve – our core values and mission
-What must adapt – our vision and strategy

Churches enjoy a stable and active True North based on four qualities, which help them become and stay attentive. All four of these characteristics can be summarized by four memorable Greek words.
-Arete: The Essence That Makes You Unique
-Apostolos: The Mission You Are Sent On
-Telos: The End Purpose You Are Heading For,
-Strategos: The Strategy for Your Leading

Read more in Attentive Church Leadership
https://zurl.co/eLSR

We are currently living in a massive communication shift, from the Broadcast Era to the Digital Era. New generations with different value systems have surfaced. Technology brought an acceleration to the changes we face.

Throughout Attentive Church Leadership, we will try to unwrap the dimensions of this new world. We will also seek to unwrap what it means to be attentive to God in the midst of such challenges and transitions.

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Change is incredibly difficult. Resistance is strong. The status quo is powerful. All human systems tend to homeostasis, a state of internal equilibrium. Healthy transformation starts with a posture of attention. We need to observe what God is already doing, starting in our own soul. And then we need to pay attention to what's happening in the world around us.

Read more about how we can become more attentive as God leads us through the highs and lows of change and into the exciting adventure of being on mission with Him: https://zurl.co/DXJj

We wrote Attentive Church Leadership because we love church leaders and because we want to help them be vibrant and lead strong ministries. We've seen time and time again that a thriving ministry won't happen if the leader is not healthy and attentive. But when he or she becomes attentive, he or she can have massive positive impact on the entire system.

Available now!
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