The audio features a conversation between Van Dobbins and Kendra Parker, the Director of Ministries and Women's Ministry Leader at Bethel Community Church in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The discussion focuses on the importance of servant leadership and its impact on ministry.Kendra defines servant leadership as a heart posture and a position that leaders must take to lead people well. She cites Jesus as the ultimate example of a servant leader, referring to his interaction with James and John, where he emphasized that greatness comes through serving others. Kendra highlights several key aspects of servant leadership:1. Nothing is beneath the leader - being willing to get in the trenches and do the same work as the team.2. Leading by example - modeling the behavior and work ethic expected from others.3. Building trust and relationships - serving alongside team members to foster trust and connection.Van and Kendra discuss the challenge of balancing the desire to do things oneself with the need to empower and train others. They emphasize the importance of continuing to model servant leadership even after delegating tasks, to avoid creating a sense of separation or superiority.Kendra shares her experience of leading the children's ministry at her church, where she had to rebuild the program from the ground up. By serving in the classrooms alongside her team, she was able to identify potential leaders, build relationships, and establish trust.The conversation also touches on the importance of being proactive in leadership, making oneself available and approachable to team members. Kendra stresses the value of regular check-ins and creating a safe space for open communication. Van adds that acknowledging the busy nature of the role while still prioritizing time for team members helps to combat the narrative that leaders are too busy to care.Kendra and Van discuss the challenges of leading friends within a church context. They recommend setting clear expectations for conversations, distinguishing between the "friend hat" and the "boss hat." Having relational equity and mutual respect built through servant leadership makes difficult conversations easier.In terms of resources for growth, Kendra recommends the Bible, Craig Groeschel's leadership podcast, and the book "Realer" by Dr. John Chastin. Van suggests using apps like Speechify to turn written content into audio for more efficient learning.As a final piece of advice to her younger self, Kendra emphasizes the importance of humility, not overwhelming oneself with the need to know everything, and surrounding oneself with trustworthy mentors who can provide guidance and support.The conversation aims to encourage those in church operations roles, reminding them that they are not alone and that their work is valuable and needed. Van and Kendra stress the importance of using available resources wisely and believing in the possibility of doing great things with God's help.Visit Church Ops 500 YouTube for video content or our Facebook page to ask questions and share your insight.

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