Experience Speaks: Kevin Myers

In our Experience Speaks series, Outreach 100 pastors share what they’ve learned about themselves, the church and the definition of success.

Kevin Myers
12Stone Church in Lawrenceville, Georgia

ON THE CHURCH

I’ve learned that the church is filled with “seats.” People choose a “seat” and see the church from their seat. For example, the Critic’s Seat: They see what’s wrong and often blog about it. The Supporter’s Seat: I prefer to talk to them on Mondays. The Victim’s Seat: They are always “in need”—always—and blame often. The Leader’s Seat: They run with you. You have to help people change their “seat”—or vantage point—to change how they see. What I actually said on the weekend is not what they heard. What they heard depends on their vantage point. People like to keep the same “seat” because vantage points don’t change easily!

ON MYSELF

Teaching people to follow Jesus is easier than actually following Jesus. The larger I lead the church, the longer I need for my soul to recover. (He restores my soul.) And, I’m more in love with the church today than when I started three decades ago.

ON SUCCESS

My personal definition of success is threefold. First, it means being at peace with God’s approval more than people’s approval. Secondly, it is abandoned leadership, following “God-leads” with no plan B. And third, success is helping people live out God’s purpose by God’s power.

BEST ADVICE I EVER RECEIVED

Motive is the leader’s greatest friend if it’s pure, a leader’s worst enemy if it’s not pure. When your dream dies, have a funeral and get another dream. Intentionally give more than you take (or you’ll unknowingly take more than you give). Be patient with immaturity, not with depravity.


12STONE CHURCH
Lawrenceville, Georgia
Senior Pastor: Kevin Myers
Twitter: @KevinMyersPK
Website: 12Stone.com
Founded: 1987
Affiliation: Wesleyan
Locations: 9
A 2015 OUTREACH 100 CHURCH
Attendance: 16,657
Growth in 2014: +1,011 (6%)
Fastest-Growing: 77
Largest: 16


Read more Experience Speaks interviews »

Ohio Church Makeover

This move would not only give them room to grow, but also would enable them to do a lot more to fulfill their mission of being a church focused on “building the kingdom, one life at a time.”

How Much Tech Do You Actually Need?

Because you cannot do this alone, you are going to have to trust the right individuals who know more about tech than you do. Your calling is to shepherd. Do that.

Gene Appel: Do Less Ministry; Reach More People

None of the programs at our church were bad in and of themselves. The volume of it just prevented us from being focused on building relationships with those who are far from God. So, we had to do less ministry to reach more people. It sounds funny, but people had to be trained in how to do life with nonbelievers or people spiritually disinterested.