John S. Dickerson started in journalism straight out of college and soon found himself writing for the New York Times, CNN and USA Today. Today, he’s a 35 year old pastor of a mega church.
John talks about what leaders can learn from journalists, and about the coming massive cultural change as we move into a post-truth, post-fact culture and how the church can respond.
Welcome to Episode 199 of the podcast. Listen and access the show notes below or search for the Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts and listen for free.
Guest Links
John on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | johnsdickerson.com
The Nine Manifestos We Can Embrace (from John’s latest book: Hope of Nations)
Hope of Nations: Standing Strong in a Post-Truth, Post-Christian World
The Great Evangelical Recession: 6 Factors That Will Crash the American Church…and How to Prepare
I Am Strong: Finding God’s Peace and Strength in Life’s Darkest Moments
Links from this Episode
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3 Insights from This Episode
1. Smooth transitions require a ‘trust vs control’ mind set
John recently became the leading pastor of a large church and so far the transition has been smooth. He attributes this success to having a ‘trust vs control’ mind set.
The pastor stepping down selected a team to find his successor. Once the team was in place, he stayed out of the selection process and trusted them to complete the search without his input.
Once there, John continued that ‘trust vs control’ strategy by committing to wait a year before implementing big changes. During this early season, he’s spending time getting to know the people and culture within the church – Taking time to earn their confidence and respect so that they can make changes together as a team when the timing is right.
2. Continuously find ways to engage those who don’t know Christ
Difficult relationships, lack of contentment, addiction, emptiness – we are all broken. No matter where you are by way of wealth, success or status, struggling with the human condition is inescapable. The good news is believers know that Jesus is the answer, but how do Christians engage those who don’t know Christ?
Don’t live life in your comfort zone. It’s important to continue to maintain friendships with people who aren’t believers. Don’t shut them out of your life simply because they think differently than you. Find ways to stay in touch in an ongoing way with people who don’t know Christ. We must work toward understanding each other so we have continued opportunities to show the love of Jesus to a world that desperately needs him.
3. Upheaval is an opportunity to stand for truth with a message of hope
We cannot underestimate how non-Christian the leading edges of culture truly are, but that doesn’t mean Christians need to respond with fear or despair. John’s latest book, Hope of Nations: Standing Strong in a Post-Truth, Post-Christian World addresses what we can do in the post-truth, post-Christian time.
His 9 Manifestos are a great place to start. Understanding where the world is going will equip you to adapt your strategy during the cultural changes. Upheaval is an opportunity to stand firm to scripture while still loving the world with arms full of grace. It’s a massive opportunity to show the world the love of Christ in a time when it desperately needs it.
Quotes from This Episode
CNLP 199: John S. Dickerson on What Journalism Can Teach Leaders, The Massive Change in Culture and How the Church Can Respond Click To Tweet CNLP 199: John S. Dickerson on What Journalism Can Teach Leaders, The Massive Change in Culture and How the Church Can Respond Click To Tweet CNLP 199: John S. Dickerson on What Journalism Can Teach Leaders, The Massive Change in Culture and How the Church Can Respond Click To TweetThe podcast releases every Tuesday morning
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Next Episode: Josh Gagnon
Josh Gagnon planted Next Level Church a decade ago. It’s become the fastest growing and one of the largest churches in New England history, and has now expanded into Florida. Josh talks about what’s driving the growth, how it’s keeping up and how he manages to stay sane amidst all the demands of leadership.
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