Mission discipline is when most aspects of organizational function line up with the organization’s mission. No organization is perfect, so expecting all aspects to align totally with the mission is unrealistic. But the more an organization’s behaviors (actions, policies, budgets, personnel choices, rewards, etc.) align with the mission, the healthier the organization will be.

Leaders can enhance mission discipline by implementing these five suggestions. First, when your personal mission aligns with your organization’s mission, you are the best model for mission discipline. Your daily activities as a leader must reflect the organization’s mission. Your followers can emulate your disciplined focus on the mission. While they might not do your precise job functions, they can follow your example of being driven by the mission.

Second, communicate openly, often, and repeatedly about your organization’s mission and how important it is to remain focused on it. This includes formal venues like blogs, speeches, sermons, social media, and other ways you communicate with your employees and constituents. But it also includes informal venues like hallway chitchat, after-meeting conversations, and coffee klatches. Your followers are always listening! Be sure you communicate a consistent message about what really matters—the mission—at all times and in all contexts.

Third, allocate financial resources to your mission. Every ministry has limited resources and more opportunities to spend money than there is money to spend. That seems to be a ministry leadership law of the universe! Make sure your spending decisions are mission-driven. Money matters; money talks. When you allocate resources for comfort, convenience, or to ease conflict, you undermine mission discipline. When your followers see you making hard choices, but the mission wins out every time, they will more earnestly practice mission discipline.

Fourth, hire people who are already committed to your mission before they come to work with you. One leader, with several hundred employees, has interviewed every full-time hire in their organization for more than 25 years. He has turned down about 10% of the people who make it to the final interview—all because he does not believe they are a missional fit for his organization. That kind of mission discipline is rare and admirable.

Finally, root out whatever is detracting from mission discipline in your organization. This is hard. People matter and terminating someone is always hard—for the employee and often for the organization. Programs, particularly in ministry organizations, can take on a life of their own. Closing them down can be emotionally difficult for all involved. It’s hard to make these decisions, but enhancing mission discipline demands it.

As you begin a new leadership year, renew your commitment to mission-driven leadership. Take the steps necessary to improve mission discipline in your organization.


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Perspective: SBC 2023

Dr. Iorg discusses what unites the SBC in light of next week’s annual convention.

Jeff Iorg
President
Dr. Jeff Iorg is the president of Gateway Seminary. Prior to his service at the Seminary, Dr. Iorg was the Executive Director of the Northwest Baptist Convention for almost ten years. He was also the founding pastor of Greater Gresham Baptist Church in Gresham, Oregon, and has served as a pastor in Missouri and a staff pastor in Texas.

Intentionality

 The greatest problem in our world is lostness. The only solution to lostness is the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Jeff Iorg
President
Dr. Jeff Iorg is the president of Gateway Seminary. Prior to his service at the Seminary, Dr. Iorg was the Executive Director of the Northwest Baptist Convention for almost ten years. He was also the founding pastor of Greater Gresham Baptist Church in Gresham, Oregon, and has served as a pastor in Missouri and a staff pastor in Texas.

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Lead On Podcast
June 4, 2023

“Life is Curriculum”: How Leaders Grow after Seminary

Dr. Iorg encourages leaders to continue growing after Seminary. He identifies seven ways to cultivate and work towards spiritual maturity. 

Lead On Podcast
May 28, 2023

Dealing with Angry People

There is a lot of anger in the world right now and a lot of that anger is spilling over into the church. This week Dr. Iorg discusses different ways to engage with and disciple angry people in your ministry.


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Spirituality of Jonathan Edwards | JEC at Gateway Seminary

Dr. Chris Chun hosted a digital symposium with Dr. Michael Haykin and Dr. Robert Caldwell to discuss Edwards’ spirituality, devotional life and theological impact in American Christianity.

Chris Chun
Professor of Church History | Director, Jonathan Edwards Center
Dr. Chris Chun is the professor of Church History and the director of Jonathan Edwards Center at Gateway Seminary. Chris’ doctoral research at St. Andrews University was focused on the eighteenth-century Edwardsean Baptists in Britain. He also has served as president of The Evangelical Theological Society (Far West Region).

Faculty Dialogues: Dispensationalism or Not

In this episode of Faculty Dialogues, Dr. David Rathel and Dr. Paul Wegner held a live discussion on their views on dispensationalism.

David Rathel
Associate Professor of Christian Theology
Dr. Rathel is the associate professor of Chrisitian Theology at Gateway Seminary. Prior to Gateway, Dr. Rathel supplied pastoral care to churches in the United States and Scotland, served as an Adjunct Professor of Theology and Philosophy for the Baptist College of Florida, and provided teaching assistance for the University of St Andrews.

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