The Leadership Connection’s Connection to Barnabas
By Partner Eric Bergen with The Leadership Connection
One of the primary purposes of The Barnabas Group is to support and encourage Christian business leaders. Often, this is done by connecting them to Christian ministries in the Kingdom ecosystem here in Sacramento. Thus, a secondary focus of TBG is to support and encourage local ministries and their executive directors through their Barnabas presentations and the Ideation sessions we hold with them. Yet many of these ministries continue to ask for and require ongoing assistance. The Leadership Connection is their answer.
The Leadership Connection (TLC) is a group gathering of ministry executive directors who meet for peer support and encouragement. They meet monthly for half a day, checking in with each other on their spiritual and personal lives, as well as the challenges and successes of their ministries. They further assist each other in working through big issues and opportunities that they face. Presenters are also brought in to provide information, education, training, and other resources to support them in their roles. They receive monthly one-on-one coaching with a facilitator who helps them work through issues related to staff, board, fundraising, leadership, operations, and other aspects of leadership.
A group from The Leadership Connection do an excercise together at Granite City Coworking Space.
TLC has been operating in Sacramento for over five years, with three groups meeting each month, involving over 20 executive directors and ministries. A new ministry leader joins about once a quarter, many being referred by TBG. Barnabas partners invite the ministries they support to check out TLC. Some TBG partners are even being trained as TLC facilitators to support the local growth of TLC. TBG partners have also provided scholarships for some ministries, enabling them to join TLC, and some partners have served as presenters at TLC meetings.
TLC members have provided extremely positive feedback on their experience in TLC. At a recent TLC encouragement dinner (hosted by TBG partners at the Serrano Country Club!), there was a line of executive directors and ministry board members who shared enthusiastically about the benefits of their TLC participation over the years. Some of the stories they shared were about sharing office space between ministries, sharing admin staff, improving their fundraising events by observing each other’s events, collaborating on accounting and HR resources and services, and attending special events at each other’s locations.
Examples of TBG/TLC collaboration: A few Barnabas partners have assisted ministries in finding and leasing new office space. At least three ministries have found space with the help of Barnabas partners, while a few others are seeking land to expand their ministries. One Barnabas partner provides free printing services for a few TLC ministries. A few Barnabas partners have stepped up to serve as board members or advisors for TLC Ministries. Some Barnabas partners have even travelled with TLC ministry leaders to their ministry locations internationally.
Overall, there is a wonderful synchronicity between The Leadership Connection and The Barnabas Group – Sacramento. Thanks to all who have been contributors to this great collaboration!
About The Author: Eric Bergen
Eric loves supporting and encouraging non-profit leaders, helping them leverage their ministries and teams for expanded impact in their communities. Eric facilitates three Leadership Connection groups for Executive Directors of faith-based non-profit organizations and works individually with numerous ministries in the Sacramento region. He has served as an Executive Pastor and an executive leader at several large health insurance companies. Eric has degrees from Westmont College and the University of Colorado. He is an avid reader/listener of leadership books and podcasts. Eric and his wife Debbie live in Folsom and have four grown children (and 3 grands!).