I’m noticing a disturbing trend in my generation of church leadership:
Some of us seem to be scared of hard work.
Someone remarked recently that the generation before us sacrificed their families on the altar of ministry, while this generation is in danger of sacrificing ministry on the altar of family.
I don’t think I’d say it quite like that, but I see the point:
This generation of leaders can be awfully lazy, sometimes masquerading that laziness as a quest for balance and correct priorities.

Elevation has been both applauded and decried for our intense work environment.  Some people thrive in it.  Others die by it.
We take care of our staff.  I’ve posted about that here.
And we demand a lot out of our staff.  I refuse to apologize for that.

There is a war going on.  We’re on the frontlines of that war.  So if you’re going to make your paycheck serving the Kingdom of God full time at Elevation, brace yourself.  I expect your A game.  I expect competency.  I expect excellence.  I expect constant improvement.
I do not expect perfection.  We’re all learning how to do this thing together, and God knows we all need grace.  But we’re not going to lower standards and accept excuses.  We’re going to confront mediocrity and abolish it.
We have a high and holy calling, and we are expected to live a life worthy of that calling.

Believe me, I want you to put your family first.  We’ll help you do that.  And I’ll personally set the example.  But you might not get to leave the office at 4:55 every day.  The good news is, unlike my father-in-law’s generation of ministry staff, you won’t have to be gone from home 5 nights a week to work here.

To all of us who serve in ministry: we have a tough gig, no doubt.  But let’s not forget that it’s also a high, high, privilege.  There are volunteers in our churches who give their days off to do as a hobby what we’re blessed to make a living to do.

And let’s embrace the intensity of our calling and work wholeheartedly.
After all, changing the world is hard work.