New Northern California DS Update

[Greg]

So I've been wanting to share an update regarding our new DS.  

You might have missed it but he and his wife were rockstars at the General Assembly.  They got a ton of visibility and were asked to participate in all kinds of forums.

But for me, the best part is that he communicates extremely well.  Better than any pastor I've known which puts him in a whole other galaxy than the 90% of DS' our denomination enjoys.

He still hasn't moved to this district and he is transitioning out of his current church.  He has put a big emphasis on zones and zone leaders to keep informed about things and we are getting state of the art video conferencing equipment for district meetings at each zone's host church.  He's figuring out the sub-groups on the district and meeting with them instead of individuals, at this point. He's put a big emphasis on the importance and place of the local church.  That may sound blah blah blah to most here, but on our district that is a breath of fresh air.

So that's the update.  

[Kyle Borger]

Sounds like our district should learn from yours regarding the technology. We use Skype which falls apart with too many peope or if even one person has a slow connection, which is often.

[Greg]

Aug 1, 2017 7:52:04 GMT -5 Kyle Borger said:

Sounds like our district should learn from yours regarding the technology. We use Skype which falls apart with too many peope or if even one person has a slow connection, which is often.

It's really a DS thing I think.  If someone likes technology they will be picky about it, and spend what they need to to make it work.  People who aren't into tech don't really know what is possible and their response is always the same, "we can't afford it."  This DS was in the entertainment business at the start of his working years and so he values what it takes to communicate well.

I would say that when considering a DS for a district, his or her ability to communicate (not preach) is very very important.  I think the search committee should ask to see newsletters, social media posts and ask about how adept they are with emails.  During GA I met with an old friend who was really upset with his board because they expected him to answer his cell phone when they called or answer an email within the day.  When I saw his cell phone I saw that I was not talking to someone who enjoyed communicating in the 21st century.  His cell phone was something Moses would have used to call Aaron.  There are some DS' and plenty of pastors like that, right?

[Susan Unger]

Who is your new DS?

[Greg]

Albert Hung

[Susan Unger]

Aug 23, 2017 12:02:59 GMT -5 Greg said:

Albert Hung

Never heard of him. 

[Greg]

No one had.  But I think he is fantastic.  My prediction is that he will be taken from us by a bigger district, given an executive assignment with World Mission and then get elected as a GS.  BTW, his wife is as capable as he is, maybe more.

[Susan Unger]

Sept 6, 2017 0:56:35 GMT -5 Greg said:

No one had.  But I think he is fantastic.  My prediction is that he will be taken from us by a bigger district, given an executive assignment with World Mission and then get elected as a GS.  BTW, his wife is as capable as he is, maybe more.

And then you can say that you knew him back when....