CEP SEASON TWO EP: 23 - WITH GUEST MARK KRESGE

Oct 6

By Dave Mckeown and Nathan Benger

The Church Explained podcast is a conversation to help grow your leadership, develop your team and build your church. Your hosts will be Dave Mckeown and Nathan Benger. We talk about all things leadership with key team players from IKON Church and other guests during each show.

Welcome to Season 2 Episode: 23 of the Church Explained Podcast with guest Mark Kresge

A Short bio

Mark and Natalie Kresge lead from a passion for seeing the local church empowered to advance the kingdom of God. As founders of the Collaborative Project, Mark & Natalie advance the Kingdom of God by serving the local church through making disciples, developing leaders, and equipping families to be healthy.

They have been married for 11 years and have a 4-year-old son, Jude. They reside in Sacramento, CA and have a love for movies, competition, and sushi.

In part two of our conversation with Mark, we take a peek behind the scenes at how he keeps things healthy and strong in his family and ministry by embracing the right rhythms as a leader.

SHOW NOTES

Download Notes

FULL TRANSCRIPT

CREATED BY AI - SO NOT 100% accurate.

David Mckeown 0:00

Hey, welcome to the church explained podcast a conversation to grow your leadership and build your Church today. We've got an amazing guest the whole way from the years today, we've got Mark Chris gay with his

David Mckeown 0:21

yeah, that's, that's a great answer. And I think it's good just to pick up on that idea more that courageous conversations don't need to be confrontational. I think often leaders will make the mistake. And they will think actually, this needs to be confrontational. But I guess if you've got that in your organisation where you're meeting with people week on week, then actually that courageous conversation becomes a little bit easier to do now, Nathan that asked you, like, how did you grow into that? Because obviously, not, not like dealing with conflict and all that stuff. So how did you get to the place where actually this is? Okay. Was it just recognising the fact that it's good for the person? Or was it something else?

Mark Kresge 1:01

Yeah, I'd say that was the you know, one of the big things that help has helped me is mentorship and coaching myself, you know, so it was the number one, it was great for someone to call that out in me and say, Hey Mark, as a leader, this is going to be a lid for you, if you don't learn how to acknowledge this and move into this. So I think awareness of it was number one, is a lie, I am avoiding, you know, some of these moments, and I didn't realise it. So number one, it helped to have a coach or mentor, my wife call that out. But then to it was that it was I think it was just a shifting in perspective, like you said, it doesn't have to be confrontational. At the end of the day, when we have conflict, or when we have this courageous conversation. It doesn't have to be aggressive. It can be very caring, and loving. And I think just for me, that was it was realising this has empowered me so much to feel like, this isn't something that I'm taking away from someone, it's actually something I'm adding to them. And that helped motivate me really to have those conversations. And and I always position it that way, in a conversation, hey, let me help you, hey, at the end of the day, this might feel like a very difficult conversation to have. But at the end of the day, I genuinely care about you. And I want to help you get to a place where you feel like you are thriving. And at the end of the day, we want the organisation to thrive as well. And so I'll do my best. And if I've done my job up to that point, and building rapport and credibility, to be someone who doesn't Lord my authority over someone, but really, truly serves them. If I've done my job up to that point, I've made enough deposit where there's now trust, which I think is where healthy teams are built is in a foundation of trust and rapport with one another. So that's been my process and the journey. So go, yeah, now that's great. And there's so there's so much for, you know, like a leader to take away there's things for them to take away around this idea of building teams and, you know, staffing and, you know, there's just even just little nuggets, you know, I'm going to be thinking on that ownership thing. And thank you Mark, because I'm nicking that that's as kind of a such a great thought. I wonder you mentioned earlier, you've transitioned role and you've started this project called the collaborative project with your wife, Natalie, I wonder if you could just share a little bit about what that is. And, you know, just yeah, just let us know what it is.

Mark Kresge 3:27

Yeah, well, well, thanks for asking. It's a really unique season for us. You know, we really sensed that God was leading us into a new season. And it was about a two year journey of transition, which I've, I've even heard on this podcast and great conversations on transition that were helpful. And, and so it was, it was a great, a great transition, you know, ultimately ended up being very good. And just really, my wife and I just have a real passion for serving local Church. And so as we moved into this new season, God just begin to stir our hearts for what does that look like? How do we serve? How do we come alongside? So the collaborative project really is about that is how do we just help collaborate with local churches to help develop them? So what that's looked like for me is a lot of what we're doing here today. It's been a lot of staff development. It's been training, resourcing them sitting down and just using 13 years of experience, you know, in a fairly large Church and saying, we've seen some things. We've been through some things we've, we've learned some stuff. And so we'll, we'll travel, particularly in the United States here, where we're at. We have a deep passion for the UK as well. And that's something that God has really laid on our heart. And so so we connect, and we do some things there. In the UK, we'll talk about so I do some staff leadership development, itinerant ministry is a big part of what I do. So I'll probably travel and preach and teach in churches on a Sunday morning or, you know, some conferences and things like that. We also we launched short term mission trips for local churches here in the United States. So we realised that there was a big gap for you know, some churches here that you know, so I'm thinking higher on a mission is faster. And we have a real global perspective. Some don't, though, some don't have the bandwidth or that we're the team. So my wife and I will help serve by taking teams from the United States out and taking a team to Belize. And this November to orange walk in Belize City, I'm bringing another team actually to the UK next June. And so so right now working on that process. And so, again, to serve the local Church, or asking churches, if we were to come over here, what can we do to help serve the needs of your Church. And so again, it's a collaborative effort to see the good news and good deeds, to see people saved and connect to the kingdom. So it's been a big process also, through this process has been I work for and collaborate with a great company called glorify glorifies Christian app, and it's kind of a startup. But it has taken off over the last year, year and a half. And, and so I've I've connected through our nonprofit as a part of that team, and, and help connect it. So it's a it's a Christian discipleship tool. It's a pastoral tool. What we know about phones today is that they're ontological is that people see them as a part of who they are. Now, it's the reason when you leave your home and you forget your phone, it feels like you've left your arm somewhere, right? Like, your phone is apart. And so we want to redeem that space. And we want to help people really build some, some some rhythms of daily worship in their lives. And, you know, we're, it's been, it's been really highly successful, 8 million downloads, and really just moving and growing in that space, and churches embracing it. People who are far from the Church, but maybe once had had really deep relationship with Jesus, we find that many of them are finding this as a tool. And so it's been a process, a great process of connecting, you know, to that team, they're actually a UK based team. So it's been really a delight to connect to them. Yeah. So it's been great. And so yeah, that's been a heart, our passion, we have a great value for the foster system, my wife and I have been foster parents for years. So we, we really help with some reform in the system. And we do our best to do that. And so we have real value for but but that's the collaborative project, really, it's just an expression of who we are as Kingdom builders and wanting to serve the local Church.

David Mckeown 7:17

By that's fantastic. We love that. And just great to hear about the glorify OPERS. Well, we know lots of people are using it in the UK. And I know you've been at UK recently. So I just want to couple of questions really, here. What was your sort of biggest takeaway? What did you enjoy the most? What was it like for you being here in the UK recently?

Mark Kresge 7:36

Oh, man, the fish and chips. It's probably by far, the biggest takeaway.

Mark Kresge 7:46

No, it was always an amazing experience. I love the UK. Yeah, it was in London with a group of leaders from really all around the world from Australia, Canada, United States, South Africa, just came together to really discuss what is God doing for this next season of the Church, that particularly for the UK, and I got to sit down with, with several leaders that are just doing some significant work and, and just to glean and to learn, and to just take some wisdom away. And I said, that was so impactful for me, just to see how God is moving there in the UK that we had the opportunity to sit down with NT, right at a Church there in Oxford, and just just to receive from him. That was probably a bucket list item for me. Someone who is, you know, really profoundly impacted my theology, and my view of God and the Church and people. And so that was significant. And, you know, one thing that was really encouraging while we were there is one of the vicars of St. Aldates. Church, he told me, he said, in the last, he said, I've seen more people come to Jesus in the last six months here in Oxford, than I have in the last 24 years combined. And that was so refreshing to me, and he used the language of, we see this as another awakening. And so to me to see that the Spirit of God is moving, that the Church is awakened, is alive, doing their job advancing the kingdom. That was really encouraging this for me to see that God is moving in a really profound way right now in the UK. And it encouraged me and I brought that back even here in the United States and and for the work that we will do in the UK in the days to come. It was amazing. But the fish and chips, fish and chips were amazing.

David Mckeown 9:25

Yeah, that was the thing.

Mark Kresge 9:28

Did you did you Well, listen,

David Mckeown 9:30

we always love to.

Mark Kresge 9:32

I was gonna ask Dave, did he have gravy? Curry sauce, or mushy peas with this fish, fish and chips? That is the question. So I did have mushy peas. I don't think I had any gravy. I guess I should have had gravy. Yeah. Curry. Sorry. So can we. Okay, next time. Okay. So the next time I come over, that will be the first that would be my First thing that I wish you peace for Greg though, yeah.

David Mckeown 10:04

Hey, enjoy. Listen, I think that's the best question of the whole

Mark Kresge 10:09

the deep revelation

David Mckeown 10:14

to the UK, with curry sauce and mighty Hey, listen, we got some sort of quickfire questions for you today why, as we get towards the end of our podcasts, we've had some great stuff in there around leadership and staff development, all that stuff. We've got a few sort of quick questions. So are you ready for these? Let's do it. Okay, so the first one is, is what is your favourite way to stay healthy? Besides the fishing?

Mark Kresge 10:44

So forget the fishing ships for right now. You know, I would say, really, my family as a family, we have a pretty holistic approach. And for us that looks like building healthy rhythm into our life. And so for us, a rhythm is a regular repeated pattern. And so we just had the discussion of what what patterns do we want to really implement into our life. And so we do that in a couple of areas, we want to have a rhythm of rest in our life that we Sabbath. Well, we have a full 24 hour period where we don't do any work, which is very anti American, right. And so we we pick it, we choose a day. For us, that's Thursday evenings, all the way to Friday evening, basically, Saturday morning, of no work, it's full rest. And so we have a rhythm of rest, we have a rhythm of prayer in our life, as a family, we pray together, my wife and I, we've actually we're, we're discipling our son in that right now as a four year old, teaching him what it means to pray. And to do that, as a family. We have a rhythm of work, you know, we're pretty, we're pretty scheduled out as a, as a as a family. And, you know, my wife is an accountant. And so her brain works in spreadsheets. And she's very organised. And so I just thank God every day for her ability to help do that. And as you know, we're, you know, I would say it's even staying healthy would be, you know, just working out. And, you know, we love to we love to swim, compete, you know, again, working out in competition is always so much easier for me. So I try to do that through hobbies, and, you know, basketball, I play what we call soccer, you know, you'd call football. And, you know, so that's a big deal for us, and football. So, yeah. And then I'd say, a rhythm of relationship, you know, for us, we make sure that we stick pretty closely with some good friends, deep relationships, we always make time in our calendar or diary every week for for some really rich relationship time, as well. So that's, I would say it's our holistic approach, you know, to, you know, to walk in that out in a healthy lifestyle. Awesome, awesome. So Mark, if you could write a book, what would the subject be? Cool, great question. I'm writing a book right now. And it is on identity and purpose. So that was an easy way.

David Mckeown 12:56

We know that, but it's LinkedIn. Well,

Mark Kresge 12:59

LinkedIn, well, so identity and purpose. Basically, activity, drives activity, identity drives activity. And so how your identity in Christ really does unlock your potential and purpose. And so I'm actually just finished chapter one. So I would have that's the one I would write, maybe, and then maybe another one on marriage and family. And then leadership, organisational health leadership is probably you know, what I would write on as well, since you're asking.

David Mckeown 13:26

So that's, that's a trilogy of books coming our way. That's what

Mark Kresge 13:30

the free copies are coming your way. You guys might be the only ones who read them. But yeah. And my wife, my wife probably read some of it.

David Mckeown 13:39

Your wife will do for you. So this question is this? What are you most excited and challenged by? We've been asked this question to quite a number of our guests recently. So we want your take on the equation. What do you challenge the bite? unexcited about?

Mark Kresge 13:52

That's a great question. Well, what we've probably covered is transition, you know, I'm in a season of transition still, you know, I've, I'm in this new season, probably about four months now that I've been, you know, I've transitioned from my previous role into this new season of building a nonprofit, into serving the Church, to connecting to our glorify team. And it's so exciting. And at the same time, it's challenging to transition from one real set mould of a season to another. And so it's exciting to discern and, and walk out now what our new reality will be. But of course, there's tensions that come with that and, and moving in that way. So it's, it's a challenge. It's challenging me to grow it to new levels. It's challenging me to think in ways I haven't thought before. And so I'm being stretched, I'm grown. I'm building fresh relationships and friendships in a new city. And so I'm excited about it. And at the same time, there's some challenging moments. It's not comfortable. But we all know that, you know, it's outside of the comfort zones that things grow. And so that's exciting. So, yeah, that's, that's where I've been at really recently. So true. Mark, if you were to plant a Church What would you focus on first? Oh, wow. Big decision. Okay. Yeah, I would say I would say ministry philosophy is probably my number one thing I'd look at, depending on the context and the culture that was going to be planting it. Just, you know, what's going to best equip the local Church to make disciples in a post Christian context? Because that is I mean, if I were to plant the Church right now, let's say the United States, we're in a post Christian context. As far as a culture, the UK, obviously, you know, this one as well, where the Church is doing phenomenal things. So I would look at that, you know, what is the what is the, you know, do I centralise the Church is a decentralised? What's going to best equip someone how to not just do Christian life on a Sunday morning, but in in the Monday through Saturday as well? Yeah. So let's start with that ministry philosophy, what is it that God is calling me to build? Before I go build it? And I think one of the hardest things in the world is trying to figure out what you're building while you're building it. I mean, it just, it feels like you're changing a tire on a moving vehicle, which is there's always an element to that, but and then I would say, team, you know, as team I would be, people are the key to progress. And so you have the right team on board with you, no matter when the vision shifts or changes, or you have to pivot, which was like the famous word of 2020. And they pandemic, you know, but when you've got the right team of people around you, John Maxwell says that, that any leader, that they are successful because of the closest people they have around them and support. And so I would say that picking that team would be the first thing after ministry philosophy. Awesome.

David Mckeown 16:41

Awesome. And just thinking about leadership and books, or what is your favourite leadership book of all time?

Mark Kresge 16:49

All Time? Can I pick two? I think okay. So I would say John Maxwell's developing a leader with it, is one of my favourite ones, I think encompasses a lot of different leadership topics. You know, some of its staffing, some of it's just personal self leadership. And then Patrick Lencioni has a book called The advantage and which is a great book on healthy organisation. Smart organisation versus healthy organisation. You do need both in order to go where you're going. I'd say those two are probably some of my favourites. Great. On we've, we've we've touched on my new one on identity and purpose. There we go. Yeah, my new one I'm getting is probably my favourite one. So brilliant. We've touched on food. But what is one type or piece of food that you could not live without? Oh, it hands down sushi. It's hands down sushi. Yeah. Would be nice. Yeah. I had it last night for dinner. Yeah, so it would be it's not even up for debate. Yeah, it's not even a day or night for me on the spot. It'd be chicken and rice probably. Oh,

David Mckeown 18:04

chicken like that. Mine would be mine would be steak all the way.

Mark Kresge 18:08

Oh, steak all the way. I like it. Let's see what sushi you could use. You could put steak chicken rice. With sushi. You can kind of add it all, you know, fish. Do think content just Yeah. So. Yeah.

David Mckeown 18:22

And if we were to think of your dream destination, what would that be? Where would you go?

Mark Kresge 18:28

Right now? I would say this might be an interesting answer right now, Israel. I've never been to Israel. I've never been in Jerusalem. I've never been to kind of the holy land. And I nerd out on all of that stuff. I love to research no it obviously it's such deep ties to the faith. So Israel and then beyond that, probably Greece. I would you know, kind of Santorini type places I my wife and I we love we love beaches and warm weather. We love when it's, you know, 113 degrees Fahrenheit, you know? Yeah.

David Mckeown 19:03

Like it was here yesterday.

Mark Kresge 19:06

And I'm finally and finally, the question we've all been waiting for since since we mentioned your favourite movie and why? Wow. Okay, so this might be a little bit of a cheat. I don't know if it's an old time, but I recently saw Top Gun, the new Top Gun movie. And I don't know if you've seen it. It's probably one of the best movies I seen in 10 or 12 years. I I loved that movie. I mean, I just left. I left charged I left refreshed. I left just energised. I was like wow, that was a great movie. And I had pretty I didn't have the highest expectations for the movie. So I would just say right

David Mckeown 19:49

that's probably why you

Mark Kresge 19:52

Yeah, that's my why because I had low expectations. But Top Gun for me was was a great me You know, there was a movie that I saw years ago Shawshank Redemption oh man one of my one of my favourites I'd say as well. I love a good a good plot a good storyline, a little bit of thriller in it perhaps you know some of my favourites but I watched all sorts of movies from drama to like a Marvel movie My wife even has been watching a few Hallmark movies which I don't know if that's popular where you are but oh, it's it's a thing here. Yeah,

David Mckeown 20:30

so someone has to

Mark Kresge 20:33

do it for the marriage so yeah

David Mckeown 20:37

yeah, I reckon the reason you like the top con stuff I think you probably see yourself as a little bit of a Tom Cruise

Mark Kresge 20:45

you know, probably find a little identity in that. Yeah.

David Mckeown 20:49

Yeah, I

Mark Kresge 20:50

can see I put it in the book. Yeah.

David Mckeown 20:54

Hey, what's it been? It's been so good to have you with us on the show today Mark we really appreciate you sharing. And yeah, so thanks for connecting with us. Nathan, you're gonna read more is that people know what the

Mark Kresge 21:08

what is the best way for people to connect with you? Oh, yeah, well, one Yeah, it's been an honour privilege to be a part of it. Best way to connect, you know, our website and email. So I'm just mark at the collaborative project dot o RG mark at the collaborative.org. The collaborative project.org is our website and then you can always find me on social media is probably a great way to connect just my full name Mark kreski. Instagram, Facebook with all the all the above social media are great ways to connect great ways. Awesome. Well, it's been great to have mark with us. And it's been great to have you join us on the church explained podcast. Don't forget to rate review and subscribe wherever you're consuming this content. And also don't forget to check out IKON dot Church forward slash open for loads of free resources for you and your Church and we look forward to seeing you next time on the church explained podcast. We'll see you soon.

Transcribed by https://otter.ai