How we do things is as important as what we do.

Excellence is the sum of a thousand tiny details. But death can come by a thousand tiny paper cuts. The difference between the two is the level of care we choose to invest. People will always feel the fruit of whichever thousand we pick. Thus, we choose to care passionately.

Excellence is a full-hearted commitment to serve and honor others well. It shows up in how we do things and honor leads the way. We limit what we can do, so what we've chosen to do gets done with excellence.

"No" is no to one thing. "Yes" is no to a lot of things. Learning to say no is key to longevity in life and ministry. If you don't become the arbiter of your own no, you'll quickly blame others for the quality of life you are living. God gave us our no to use wisely.

We are at our dumbest when we think we know the motives of another person's heart. We are people who ask, instead of assume. Genuine curiosity is a gift that leads to understanding, empathy, and connection.

We tell the truth with kindness, with compassion, and with honor. In interpersonal relationships, we're aware that people might not always want to hear the truth, so we ask for consent and wait for permission. A truth told without love, is told for the wrong reason.

It can be tempting to hide the truth and tell something equally true, but less relevant to the presenting situation instead. That’s a short-term win that yields long-term pain. Don't skip what needs to be said to keep the peace.

We are people serving people. We're not always the best version of ourselves. We need grace as much as we need to show grace. When conflict arises, we don’t sulk and retreat. We move toward others with love, humility, and curiosity. Confrontation done well leads to greater connection and understanding.

Our feelings are part of our authentic selves. But feelings aren't a license for poor behavior. Part of maturity is recognizing that while we have feelings, we’re also responsible for how we show up with them. Self-regulation is a mark of maturity.

In the multitude of counselors, there is safety. There is wisdom in getting input, in allowing things to be stretched and challenged and stress-tested. We don't want to hold the wrong things sacred and sometimes the best ideas come from unexpected sources.

We are not into hustle culture. Being rundown, overworked, and exhausted are not badges of maturity. We work hard for sure, but we do so from a place of peace, recognizing that the work of ministry will never be finished until Christ returns. Our goal? Do a good day's work and get a good night's rest.

The tricky part of authenticity is that you have to live authentically. We've all had enough of leaders saying one thing and living another. The world deserves a better class of leader. We aim to have leaders who are the same on and off stage. We want to be known as those who practice what we preach.

The body of Christ is diverse for a reason. We are all building the Kingdom. Each church reflects a different facet of the Kingdom of God. As a result, we are in cooperation with other churches, not competition. We celebrate and honor any differences and prioritize humility over comparison. We champion the body of Christ in our city and celebrate their wins as a win for the Kingdom.