Catalyst 11: Mark Batterson

I really dig this guy. He speaks with such a laid back and unassuming style that belies the fact that he is clearly a highly effective and task oriented leader of a church doing incredible things at the seat of world power. Nation Hills Church now has various locations but its largest gathering is in the movie theaters of Union Station just adjacent to capital hill.

Influence the influencers. This has become one of the main missions of this church. I believe he said 70% of attenders are young singles who work on the hill...imagine the potential for strategic influence! So how did he get to DC? Mark graduated seminary from Trinity in Chicago and felt a call to the area. Incredible! Like the typical story they started small, were good stewards, and now have a thriving and multiplying congregation.

Coffee. Maybe I'll just have to get in to it! NCC runs a shop next to the hill that is the largest and most critically acclaimed in the District. I love seeing churches thinking outside the traditional means of engaging culture. Is there a decaf way to do this?

Work Ethic. So I mentioned how he seems laid back and comfortable with his schedule...here are some of the practices and mantras in the DNA of NCC...

• Control your calendar or it will control you.
• You can't be all things to all people but you gotta do this for your family
• Only hire those we can laugh with in interviews
• Pray and Play. (this is what they call certain staff meetings...guess what they do?)
  
• Teaching Church (like teaching hospitals; intentionally disciples the next leaders)

Staying Connected. Mark was a pioneer of pastoral blogging, starting way back in '03. Today thousands follow him and receive his podcast. Through the podcast NCC's ministry reaches even more listeners around the world than they do live on Sunday's. In the same vein of the coffee house, they are creatively and effectively leveraging technology for the Kingdom!

Mark reads a lot, in fact, at the time of this interview he was reading 7 different books, one of them being a Seth Godin. He's a marketing guy who to my knowledge is not a Christian, however, he has spoken at Catalyst. I'm totally new to the idea of keeping up with marketplace publications but all the next generation leaders who are making an impact seem to read all of this stuff. Mark also said the two magazines he couldn't live without are Fast Company and Relevant. I've gotta get Relevant. I'm realizing that these guys are all totally up on their culture and they are leveraging it well. Like Paul in Acts 17? Perhaps. Either way, this is all spurring me on toward using my time intentionally to strategically work for the Kingdom.

I'll sign off with the mission on his blog, evotional.com:

WARNING: May Cause Excessive Creativity, Enlarged Dreams and an Increased Appetite For God