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Twenty years ago today, the late Dr. Bill Bright, Founder of Campus Crusade, graduated for eternity. It is hard to believe that two decades have passed since he departed for his eternal reward. With this 20th anniversary in mind, I want to share some leadership lessons that I personally learned from him. I hope these lessons will be enriching for you. On a snowy February 18, 2001, at 2:30 in the afternoon, the Holy Spirit whispered to me to call the late Dr. Bill Bright. I immediately called while driving my car home in Springfield, Missouri. “This is James Davis,” I told Charlton, his assistant, “And this call is 8.7…

I write to update you on a powerful story; a revolutionary journey. You are invited to mark your calendars for the Synergize 2030 Conference scheduled for June 9-11, 2030, in Jerusalem, Israel. At Synergize 2030, we will begin celebrating the 2000th Birthday of the Church. Yet, how did we arrive to this historic point in time? BIRTH OF A VISION In March, 2015, Dr. Leonard Sweet, renown author/leading evangelical and CoChair/Global Church, and I were talking about the 500th Anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther, nailing his 95 thesis on Castle Church door, in Wittenberg, Germany. While talking together, Dr. Sweet asked, “James, I wonder if the Church will celebrate this historic landmark?” I could…

On a snowy February 18, 2001, at 2:30 in the afternoon, the Holy Spirit whispered to me to call a renowned Christian leader. I immediately called while driving my car home in Springfield, Missouri. “This is James Davis,” I told Charlton, his assistant, “And this call is 8.7 out of a 10 on the Richter scale.” Within an hour this distinguished leader called and asked, “James, what is in your heart?” I told him my burden for pastors worldwide. Through my evangelistic travels and ministry, I had learned that more than ninety percent of all ministers worldwide have no formal education. Tens of thousands drop out of ministry each year,…

The number one debilitating fear of people is having lived a meaningless life. Do you know what your mission in life is? How can you know if you are making progress unless you have a purpose? The purpose is the compass, and the progress is the coordinates for your life and ministry. In a sense, you have an “ambidextrous calling.” You will have to remain faithful to the Word of God and still minister in an ever-changing world. Whether you are just beginning an evangelistic or pastoral ministry or have been on the evangelistic field or in the pastorate for some time, let me ask you one question: Why do you…

At the Synergize 2002 Conference (formerly called Beyond All Limits), we stated that the Church is moving past egos and logos to we go to finish the Great Commission. At the Synergize 2008 Conference, we articulated that a massive missional shift was underway throughout the Body of Christ. This missional shift was summarized with: It is no longer the West going to the Rest, but the Best around the World going to the Rest of the World. When I read Dr. Stephen Covey’s book in 1996, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, I was captivated by all seven habits. Yet, habit number six, synergize, so moved my heart and mind,…

Once a person has settled the issue forever regarding his/her call of God upon their life, then that individual must prepare to become a leader in the church. If you are beginning an evangelistic or pastoral ministry, you must comprehend what true evangelistic leadership is about in the church. Instead of asking, “Why is my ministry not growing?” ask, “What makes a ministry grow?” An effective ministry will naturally grow. Management Verses Leadership God is not calling evangelists and pastors to be managers but leaders. There is a great difference between managers and leaders of evangelism. Many years ago, Warren Bennis wrote: The manager administers; the leader innovates. The manager…

We must be something before we do something. People today desire leaders to whom they can relate— those who are real and who serve in humility before Christ; those who are not afraid to reveal their weaknesses, knowing that others will work with them to compensate for their deficiencies. They know that in return they will help others to utilize the many talents and gifts God has given them. These leaders are necessary for the growth and health of the church. It is these kinds of leaders who have the confidence to synergize together with other leaders to reach their communities for Christ. Synergistic leaders are not consumed with “territories”…

More than two thousand years ago, Mankind nailed his Maker on a cross of wood. On that horrific day, the devil laughed, the people sneered and the Father turned His back on his Son. Jesus Christ did not die and rise again for a percentage of the world, but for the whole world. While Jesus was dying on the cross, there were many miracles that happened to demonstrate Why Good Friday is Good. Easter is God’s grace for the human race. As we approach Good Friday, consider Why Good Friday is Good. According to Matthew 27:45-54, when Jesus died on the cross: He touched the sun. In Him, we have…