03/23/2026
Have you ever considered how impactful it might be to let someone fail over and over and keep giving them at-bats? Have you considered the growth that could be possible for someone so determined to get it right?
Or, are you more likely to give up, pull the player who's struggling, pat him (or her) on the back, then bring in someone off the bench after a couple of swings and misses?
If your tendency is to give up and move on, please resist that. You may be shortchanging an extraordinary growth opportunity. Full disclosure, I have no idea what the research says on this topic. I'm purely speaking as someone invited to stay in the game as long as I'm willing to keep swinging.
Now this may speak to the risk tolerance of our church more than anything (Shoutout to Curt Walters and Crosspoint!), but I'm asked to mic up a couple times every month or so and serve as our service host. (The collective gasp you just heard are all the people who've been in a session I've delivered suddenly learning that a church is courageous enough to give😳me a live mic.) My job is to take the stage, loosen up the room, share how to get connected, and hopefully make folks feel welcomed. Somedays it goes well. Somedays the train comes off the tracks quickly. Super quickly. Nevertheless, someone in the band picks me up, creates a moment, then I find my way again. I can't even begin to share how wildly developmental this imperfection experiment has been for my growth, learning, delivery, and confidence. Being trusted, feeling safe to make mistakes, being asked to get out of my comfort zone time and again, either onstage or through reading a teleprompter for our online service viewers has been one of the most critical elements of my journey...personally and professionally...and has equipped me with the skills needed to be an effective communicator to a small group or an entire conference.
So the next time you're thinking of subbing someone. Think again. That person you're pulling may just be on the verge of a breakthrough. Give 'em the green light to swing away a few more times. Greatness may only be a pitch or two away.
