Zappos . . .a Las Vegas based company . . .has a unique strategy when hiring staff. One of their guiding values is: COMMITMENT.  One way they make sure whether or not a person is going to be committed to the company is something simple they do during the training process.  Several weeks into the 4 week training process (which they pay employees their salary to go through) they offer a $1000 buy out! Seriously.  To quit . . .that day . . . you get $1000. 

Let me ask a couple questions:
1. How committed are your staff – volunteers?
2. What are some unique and creative ways that you increase the level of commitment?
3. What are some of the things that you

To read the full article about Zappos please click on this link: 

Why Zappos Pays New Employees to Quit—And You Should Too

You have to check this out!! Lake Pointe Church located in Rockwall Texas has an incredible family site called Home Pointe.  I could explain it all  . . .but why when you can take 10 minutes and check it out.

CentralParents.com went live on May 11th.  This project has been underdevelopment for over a year.  This website is part of a multi-layered parent strategy.  One of of our Family Ministries values at Central Christian Church is to provide tools and resources to parents.

WHY?

Parents are the number one spiritual influence in a kids/students life!

The CFM (Central Family Ministries) team has been having lengthy discussions about how to help parents disciple their kids.  The church has (purposely . . .or not) successfully taken this responsibility out of the parents hands (and parents have allowed it to happen).  As a team, we are linking arms over the next year to begin to crack the code on this. The website, is just the beginning on creating a communication tool for parents. We are also emailing out a monthly email that will link to the website.

Here are some future thoughts:

1. How do we connect what we teach on the weekend to the parent/child? We are simplifying our teaching to one Core Truth and same scripture for all of Family Ministries (Birth-High School).
2. Connect with Parents after Camp
3. Parent Focus Groups
4. Parent/Child – Summit

What are your ideas? What are you doing?  I would love to hear from you.

Bob Wood (Central Christian Church care pastor) and I had an opportunity to to spend some time with the Celebrate Recovery team at Watermark Community Church on Monday. This was an incredible experience for both of us on multiple levels.  We both had several areas that we were looking to learn from and sharpen.  I mainly wanted to figure out how to luanch a successful Celebrate Recovery ministry the targets teenagers. I left the time with a ton swirling around my head.

Here are some learnings . . .questions . . .random thoughts.

Watermark Community Church:
I was extremely impressed with Watermark as a church and their staff.  If you have never checked them out, you need to.  They are cranking the ball over the fence.  Here are some of my quick takeaways.

1. They get "it"! What is it? The heart of the church.  The get the fact that people first need to find a place to BELONG. If people experience authentic, life changing community . . . then things happen. So many churches expect people to BEHAVE first . . .then they can belong.
2. Leadership: They have created a culture where leadership is valued and they empower people to lead.
3. Messy: They understand that the church – being the church – is a messy thing. They embrace it and thrive in it.
4. Excellence: I was impressed with their facilities . . .they have raised the bar! Not flashy. Not over done. Just . . . excellence!
5. Dialed In Strategy: They know what they are about . . .where they are going. Every staff member and volunteer I talked with said the same things! They are all on the same page.
6. Passion: They are passionate about reaching the unconnected . . .not other "church" people.
7. Team: They value working as a team.

If you are ever in the Dallas/FortWorth area . . .go check out Watermark Community Church.