Mike Bonem - Leading from the Second Chair: Serving Your Church, Fulfilling Your Role, and Realizing Your Dreams

CONTENTS

To our wives, Bonnie and Julee, who have loved us as we are and have believed in our dreams

Copyright 2005 by Mike Bonem and Roger Patterson. All rights reserved.

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All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

Excerpt from Dan Reilands The Pastors Coach is used with permission.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Bonem, Mike, date.

Leading from the second chair: serving your church, fulfilling your role, and realizing your dreams / Mike Bonem and Roger Patterson; foreword by Greg L. Hawkins.1st ed.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN-13: 9780787977399 (alk. paper)

ISBN-10: 078797739-X (alk. paper)

1. Christian leadership. 2. LeadershipReligious aspectsChristianity. I. Patterson, Roger, date. II. Title.

BV652.1.B67 2005

253dc22

2005013526

LEADERSHIP NETWORK TITLES

Leading from the Second Chair: Serving Your Church, Fulfilling Your Role, and Realizing Your Dreams , by Mike Bonem and Roger Patterson

The Way of Jesus: A Journey of Freedom for Pilgrims and Wanderers, by Jonathan S. Campbell with Jennifer Campbell

Leading the Team-Based Church: How Pastors and Church Staffs Can Grow Together into a Powerful Fellowship of Leaders, by George Cladis

Organic Church: Growing Faith Where Life Happens, by Neil Cole

Leading Congregational Change Workbook, by James H. Furr, Mike Bonem, and Jim Herrington

Leading Congregational Change: A Practical Guide for the Transformational Journey, by Jim Herrington, Mike Bonem, and James H. Furr

The Leaders Journey: Accepting the Call to Personal and Congregational Transformation, by Jim Herrington, Robert Creech, and Trisha Taylor

Culture Shift: Transforming Your Church from the Inside Out , by Robert Lewis and Wayne Cordeiro, with Warren Bird

A New Kind of Christian: A Tale of Two Friends on a Spiritual Journey, by Brian D. McLaren

The Story We Find Ourselves in: Further Adventures of a New Kind of Christian, by Brian D. McLaren

The Present Future: Six Tough Questions for the Church, by Reggie McNeal

A Work of Heart: Understanding How God Shapes Spiritual Leaders, by Reggie McNeal

The Millennium Matrix: Reclaiming the Past, Reframing the Future of the Church, by M. Rex Miller

Shaped by Gods Heart: The Passion and Practices of Missional Churches, by Milfred Minatrea

The Ascent of a Leader: How Ordinary Relationships Develop Extraordinary Character and Influence, by Bill Thrall, Bruce McNicol, and Ken McElrath

The Elephant in the Boardroom: Speaking the Unspoken About Pastoral Transitions, by Carolyn Weese and J. Russell Crabtree

ABOUT LEADERSHIP NETWORK

Since 1984, Leadership Network has fostered church innovation and growth by diligently pursuing its far-reaching mission statement: to identify, connect, and help high-capacity Christian leaders multiply their impact.

Although Leadership Networks techniques adapt and change as the Church faces new opportunities and challenges, the organizations work follows a consistent and proven pattern.

Leadership Network brings together entrepreneurial leaders who are focused on similar ministry initiatives. The ensuing collaborationoften across denominational linescreates a strong base from which individual leaders can better analyze and refine their own strategies. Peer-to-peer interaction, dialogue, and sharing inevitably accelerate participants innovation and ideas. Leadership Network further enhances this process through developing and distributing highly targeted ministry tools and resources, including audio and video programs, special reports, e-publications, and online downloads.

With Leadership Networks assistance, todays Christian leaders are energized, equipped, inspired, and better able to multiply their own dynamic Kingdom-building initiatives.

Launched in 1996 in conjunction with Jossey-Bass (a Wiley imprint), Leadership Network Publications present thoroughly researched and innovative concepts from leading thinkers, practitioners, and pioneering churches. The series collectively draws from a range of disciplines, with individual titles offering perspective on one or more of five primary areas:

For additional information on the mission or activities of Leadership Network, please contact:

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FOREWORD

His name was Fred.

For more than three years, we met almost every Thursday for lunch and then would take a walk. As we walked, I would debrief the week and describe the problems I was working on. We always had plenty to talk about, and many times our conversations got rather animated.

Actually, I was the animated one. Fred listened patiently as I explored the edges of my thoughts and feelings. He offered counsel and insights into our organization and its leader. He helped me understand how to apply my unique set of skills to the situations I faced. He was my coach, friend, and lifeline.

I have told Fred repeatedly that a main reason I have been able to serve as executive pastor of Willow Creek for almost ten years now is because he coached me during my very first years in the job. I absolutely know I would not have made it without his help.