Dear Partner — Life is full of uncertainties. Unknowns.
While some of you experienced damage from the recent tropical storm in SoCal that delivered some heavy blows, including flooding and power outages, we were all warned to get prepared. In our neighborhood, the day before the storm hit, we even had helicopters flying overhead, verbally warning us to be prepared.
In a similar manner, Lead With Your Life is preparing Kingdom leaders for the storms of life and leadership—challenges that while unpredictable in timing are inevitable in reality.
As you know, the primary way we are doing this is through our Rock Solid ministry—a nine-month boot camp where leaders are equipped and discipled to be rock solid on the inside and courageous for the Kingdom on the outside.
This month, we will launch nine cohorts for our 2023-2024 Rock Solid season, which means there will be 90-100 leaders participating. And we know that as in the past, there will be multiple evidences to God’s stunning work of life-transformation that will occur in the lives of these leaders. I cannot wait!
THANK YOU for believing in the strategic work we are doing and for joining us to make this happen through your faithful prayers and financial support.
Fighting for the hearts and souls of Kingdom leaders…together,
Dear Partner — God is using YOU to make a BIG difference in the lives of Kingdom leaders. Want to know how? Take a look at a few of the comments I have received by our recent Rock Solid grads…
I want to THANK YOU for your support. Together we are seeing God do an extraordinary work in the lives of leaders—leaders who then turn around and impact countless others!
Fighting for the hearts and souls of Kingdom leaders…together,
Congrats to our 2022-2023 Rock Solid grads!
Dear Partner — This time of year is always a time to celebrate at Lead With Your Life! High-fives. Fist-bumps. Football-spikes. You get the picture!
92 Kingdom leaders have just completed their nine-month Rock Solid leadership journey. These leaders have been equipped, challenged, rooted, and discipled. They can be counted on to lead from the inside out…for the long haul.
Here’s what one grad shared with me the other day:
You have paved the way for leaders like me. This is just the start of a long road I intend to finish strong. Rock Solid has changed me!
As we celebrate and give praise to God, we do so in a spirit of thankfulness for your faithful prayers and financial support. You are a vital part of the mission to equip leaders to lead with their lives.
Together we are fighting for the hearts and souls of Kingdom leaders,
Dear Partner — I reached out at the start of April for your help, and you came through–big time! We not only reached our once-a-year Matching Gift Opportunity of $65,000, but we exceeded it!
Thank you, thank you…for responding to God’s prompting in providing the resources needed to expand the mission of Lead With Your Life.
With your partnership, LWYL moves forward with the strong reminder that God has His hand of anointing upon us. He is writing a remarkable story!
More than ever, our world needs the kind of leader we seek to equip and empower for His purposes.
Fighting for the hearts and souls of Kingdom leaders—together,
Dear Partner — I’ve got great news to share with you today…
Generous friends have offered a $65,000 annual Matching Gift Opportunity that will double whatever amount you give–starting today and throughout the month of April–to support the work of equipping leaders through the ministries of Lead With Your Life.
That means your gift will be worth TWICE as much as we invest in developing the kind of leaders that people WANT to follow.
Recently, LWYL added what we call Rock Solid NEXT— a four week intensive module designed to add to a Rock Solid grad’s toolkit. Here’s a snap of our first gathering:
Your partnership makes this all possible, and so much more.
Your matched contribution will continue the momentum of developing Kingdom leaders who turn around and impact the lives of countless others.
You can’t find a better ROI!
For His purposes,
Chuck Olson
Founder | Lead With Your Life
Dear Partner,
I’ve got a question: Does our world need leaders who lead not from a place of power or intimidation, but with character? Who lead from the inside out?
I know you would agree. The answer is a resounding YES!
A Rock Solid coach said it well:
We desperately need strong-minded, soft-hearted, joy-filled, and Spirit-led leaders who will give themselves sacrificially to their families, communities, churches, neighbors, and especially to their God. There are so many distractions and temptations that will either derail or destroy the soul of a leader. Rock Solid is an essential tool for building a God-shaped structure in and on every level of society.
That’s why we do what we do: Equipping Kingdom leaders to lead with their lives–from the inside out…with courage and integrity.
And that’s why I thank the Lord for your significant partnership. Your prayers and your support make this mission a reality!
Fighting for the hearts and souls of the next generation of Kingdom leaders…together,
Chuck Olson
Founder | Lead With Your Life
PS: We are excited to share with you that during April, Lead With Your Life will hold our annual Matching Gift Opportunity. Each donation given during that month will be doubled up to $65,000. Be looking for more information the last week of March.
Dear Partner,
I would like to share a couple thoughts that I am holding in my heart…
The first is to say THANK YOU! Thank you for your generous financial partnership in 2022, allowing us to close our fiscal year with the resources to step confidently into the new year. We enter 2023 with Holy Spirit-authored expectancy of what He will do in and through the ministry of Lead With Your Life!
The second thing on my heart is the reality that we each are given the opportunity for a FRESH START. A new year means new beginnings.
What new beginnings are you asking God for in 2023? A fresh start in replacing worrying with trusting? A new beginning in starting each day in God’s presence? A fresh start in deliberate care of your soul? A fresh start in a broken relationship? A fresh start in paying more attention to practicing healthy habits?
Whatever your fresh start looks like, our Father promises to be your strength. Count on it! You can be sure that God will take care of everything you need, His generosity exceeding even yours in the glory that pours from Jesus (Philippians 4:10, The Message).
May you be overwhelmed with God’s generosity in 2023!
Chuck Olson
Founder | Lead With Your Life
Below are some recent snaps
of the ministry that take places at
Lead With Your Life.
Dear Partner,
Please let me share my heart as to why I am writing you today.
As the end of 2022 approaches, I know you have many options and opportunities to make a contribution to a number of charitable organizations.
In making your decision this year, I am asking you to consider investing in the mission of Lead With Your Life. Why?
You’ve heard me say: Everyone’s life gets better when a leader’s life gets stronger.
And that is what Lead With Your Life is all about! There is such a desperate need in our world, our homes, our churches, our communities to raise up leaders who will lead with honor and integrity from the inside out.
Your investment will make a significant difference—both in the lives of Kingdom leaders and in the lives of those entrusted to their care.
Please join Pattie and me in making a 2022 year-end gift to Lead With Your Life at leadwithyourlife.com/support.
Fighting for the hearts and souls of Kingdom leaders—together,
Chuck Olson
Founder | Lead With Your Life
LWYL Board members sharing at the Rock Solid Breakfast.
A prayer of blessing by Chuck at the Rock Solid Breakfast.
A gathering of Rock Solid grads.
Dear Partner — You gotta’ love Fall! Cooler weather. Kids in school. Football. Thanksgiving and Christmas within reach.
Fall also signals the launch of eight Rock Solid groups, providing a time-tested track for dozens of leaders to become more rock solid on the inside and more courageous for the Kingdom on the outside.
Additionally, Fall includes our annual Rock Solid Breakfast. Our focus this year was on what “halftime adjustments” is God asking you to make in order to run the race of life and leadership with honor and to finish the race with strength. It was a very significant time of reflection and dedication. (Check out the snaps below).
Thank you for your partnership. God is using YOU to write an ever-expanding story of leaders who are deeply committed to living and leading with their lives—from the inside out.
Fighting for the hearts and souls of Kingdom leaders…together,
Chuck Olson
Founder | Lead With Your Life
If you’d like to join Pattie and me as monthly investors in the mission of Lead With Your Life, just click here. Thank you!
Dear Partner — I’m certain you would agree that seeing someone’s life changed is an incredible experience.
I’m also certain that you would agree that the changing of a life—that is, deep transformation—is the work of God’s Spirit.
This explains the priority of prayer in fulfilling the mission of Lead With Your Life, especially through the Rock Solid ministry. The other day, as you can see in the snap, I had the chance to sit down with several leaders who I will have the privilege to team up with as Rock Solid coaches during the 2022-2023 season. We ended our time together asking our Father for His hand of anointing on each leader who will participate in taking the Rock Solid journey.
THANK YOU for adding your prayer support to the deep work that God will be doing in the hearts and lives of these leaders over the next nine months.
Fighting for the hearts and souls of Kingdom leaders,
Chuck Olson
Founder | Lead With Your Life
PS: Check out the story of one of our Rock Solid grads below!
Dear Partner — When I consider what God is doing in and through the mission of Lead With Your Life, the first thing that comes to my mind and fills my heart is GRATEFULNESS.
I’m grateful for…the Kingdom leaders—over 400— who have taken the Rock Solid journey. Leaders who are committed to being rock solid on the inside and courageous for the Kingdom on the outside. These leaders are now showing up in their circles of influence from the overflow of their lives being transformed by Christ.
I’m grateful for…all the coaches of the Rock Solid groups over the years. These leaders have given of their time and talents to sacrificially invest in Kingdom leaders. They are doing the good work of creating a context for the Holy Spirit to do His work of deep and lasting change during the Rock Solid journey. I took a photo during the Zoom call we had a few days ago with some of the coaches as we prepare for the launch of the 2022-2023 season.
And I’m grateful for…you. Your prayers, support, belief in and partnership of our work fuel what God is blessing. Thank you for standing with me in the vital need to raise up leaders who lead from the inside out!
Chuck Olson
Founder | Lead With Your Life
Dear Partner — One of the highlights at our Appreciation BBQ a few weeks ago was the poetic reading inspired by Rock Solid coach Randel Horton. We’ve included a few excerpts below as we felt the message was so powerful as to why Lead With Your Life exists.
God’s work in and through LWYL continues to grow. Currently, we are in the process of prayerfully identifying those who will coach Rock Solid this coming 2022-2023 season. We anticipate our highest number of leaders ever to participate in this nine-month leadership experience.
Please know how grateful we are for your investment and partnership in the mission of LWYL. Your dollars fuel the ever-expanding work God is doing in the hearts and lives of Kingdom leaders. And with our growth, we are anticipating the need to raise up additional funding. Should you be interested in increasing your donation, you can do so here.
In short, our world needs the kind of leaders that God is equipping through Lead With Your Life.
Thank you for being game-changers with us on this mission!
Chuck Olson
Founder | Lead With Your Life
Dear Partner — Are you ready for some good news?
Good news #1: We reached our annual Matching Gift Opportunity of $65,000 during April! A huge thank you to each of you who partnered with us.
Good news #2: While high schools and universities have their commencements this month, so does Lead With Your Life with over 100 leaders finishing the nine-month Rock Solid journey.
Good news #3: We are now beginning to gear up for the 2022-2023 Rock Solid season. Praying. Preparing. Identifying coaches. We eagerly anticipate our largest group of leaders to participate.
Good news #4: We enjoyed an awesome backyard LWYL Appreciation BBQ a few weeks ago, honoring many who have partnered with us this past year. Check out a few snaps below!
Thank you for your faithful support that allows us to equip Kingdom leaders! The impact of your partnership is exponential because leaders influence leaders who influence more leaders.
Chuck Olson
Founder | Lead With Your Life
Dear Partner — I am so encouraged to let you know that Lead With Your Life has twelve Rock Solid discipleship groups taking place right now during the 2021-2022 season. What a privilege to witness the deep and transforming work God is doing in the life of each leader on this journey.
And the work is happening because of your partnership, making this kind of impact possible for so many leaders. Thank you!
It certainly is not breaking news to announce that the need to raise up more courageous and influential leaders is of the highest order. We want to be found faithful in responding to the open doors of opportunity that God continues to put before us at Lead With Your Life.
To that end, during the month of April, through an anchor gift of $65,000, each donation received will be doubled up to that amount!
Not only will your gift be doubled, but it will also be multiplied in the lives of Kingdom leaders who will turn around and impact countless others. In short, the ROI is inestimable.
Thank you for considering joining with Pattie and me in participating with a gift to Lead With Your Life during the month of April.
Fighting for the hearts and souls of leaders…together,
Chuck Olson
Founder | Lead With Your Life
Dear Partner — I’d love to tell you about one of the many ways YOUR partnership is making a difference.
One of our goals of Rock Solid—Lead With Your Life’s signature ministry—is not only designed to build into the lives of individual leaders, but we also partner with the local church. Specifically, this season we have come alongside four churches in providing the nine-month Rock Solid journey for the expressed purpose of “deepening the church’s leadership bench.”
In the Spotlight below, you can get a glimpse of our work from Jim Alden who serves as an elder at his church in the San Gabriel Valley.
YOUR partnership makes this possible. Thank you!
Remember: Everyone’s life gets better when a leader’s life gets stronger!
Equipping Kingdom leaders—together,
Chuck Olson
Founder | Lead With Your Life
Dear Partner — As a friend and as a partner of Lead With Your Life, you know that I have a passion, a burden for leaders who follow hard after Jesus. Having seen too many leaders crash and burn, God has placed a call on my life to help leaders avoid the pitfalls and temptations of leadership by introducing and calling them to practices that will empower them to lead from the inside out. To live as leaders who are constantly being renewed and transformed by Christ. I speak from my own experience as a leader.
One of these practices is SOLITUDE—the spiritual practice of being absent from people and things for an extended time in order to be present and sit in His presence.
I’m often asked about what my time of solitude looks like. In short, I practice solitude on a weekly basis. I start my Sabbath early with a couple hours of solitude in the local foothills of the San Gabriel Valley. Different than my daily time with Christ, it is a time for me to have a longer, more in-depth conversation with Him.
While it varies, sometimes my time of solitude will be about the past, reviewing the game film of last week: ranging anywhere from calling out God’s faithfulness to addressing sinful attitudes or actions. Sometimes, the focus is in the present, simply enjoying extended time with the Lover of my soul. And sometimes, it is about the future: listening carefully to gentle whispers, as I seek to discern pending decisions or steps to take.
Where am I going with this?
Realizing the deeply significant impact that solitude has played in my life and leadership, I’m a huge advocate! I desire everyone in my circle of influence to benefit and experience personally this ancient spiritual practice.
With that, I’d love to have you join me. Specifically, during the month of March, schedule on your calendar 2-3 times of solitude where you can experience the beauty and blessing of extended time alone with God. (You may want to take a look at The Practice of Solitude for some helpful input.)
And…would you drop me a note to let me know how it went? How this practice impacted you?
In this note I also want to thank you for your vital partnership with Lead With Your Life as we build into the lives of leaders. Because at the end of the day, everyone’s life gets better when a leader’s life gets stronger.
Fighting for the hearts and souls of leaders—together,
Chuck Olson
Founder | Lead With Your Life
Dear Partner —
As we embrace a new year—a year that will be filled with ups and downs and uncertainties—I want to invite you to take a moment and listen to the song “All My Life You Have Been Faithful”.
Let the words wash over you.
Let them fill your soul.
And let them be a daily reminder of our Father’s faithfulness and goodness.
With blessings,
Chuck Olson
Founder | Lead With Your Life
Dear Partner —
During this final month of 2021, we as a team at Lead With Your Life stand in gratitude and awe at how God is working in the lives and hearts of Kingdom leaders. During these unprecedented days, we see leaders inspired, challenged, and stirred to courageously step up, lead out, and serve as never before. You have been a strong ally in your partnership of this Holy Spirit-anointed ministry. THANK YOU!
You can see below a few snapshots of the work God is doing as we equip leaders to lead from the inside out. Two of the photos were at a recent Rock Solid Grad Breakfast where leaders were reminded to stand strong, resisting the temptation to compromise in their lives and in their leadership. And the Zoom call photo is of one of the twelve Rock Solid cohorts launched this fall that will meet together over the next nine months. (We have seven Rock Solid’s happening virtually and five in-person.)
We continually hear stories of how lives are being impacted through Lead With Your Life. Here is what one Rock Solid grad shared in gratitude with me just the other day:
I took the Rock Solid journey five years ago, and that experience set in motion a deep and undeniable change in my life and leadership that continues to this day. I am so grateful for the investment you made in my life.
Your support in the mission of Lead With Your Life is both needed and appreciated. Would you consider joining with us in a year-end investment as we carry on this work? You can do so by clicking here: LWYL website.
Thank you for partnering with us and thank you from all the leaders whose lives and leadership have been forever impacted.
Fulfilling His purposes—together,
Chuck Olson
Founder | Lead With Your Life
Partner —
Roll the highlight reel!
A few weeks ago, dozens of Rock Solid grads rallied together for a morning of friendship and encouragement and inspiration. The energy was palpable as we were able to give high-fives in person after a time-out of almost two years.
Of the many significant moments, Lead With Your Life board member Pastor Garrick Hanger brought a poignant challenge as we probed the nagging question: Why do so many Christian leaders fall? (Check out some of Garrick’s reflections in the Spotlight below.)
Leader by leader, year after year, LWYL is disrupting the status quo of Christian leadership. We seek to come alongside Kingdom leaders challenging them to be more on the alert to the pitfalls and temptations of leadership. We do this by equipping and discipling them on what it means to lead from the inside out.
God is at work. It is very evident as we hear the storylines of leader after leader who give witness to His work of transformation.
In short, THIS is what your partnership makes possible.
Thank you for standing with us!
Chuck Olson
Founder | Lead With Your Life
Partner —
I want you to know how grateful I am for your support of Lead With Your Life. Because of your prayers and your partnership, this month we will launch twelve Rock Solid cohorts. As you know, Rock Solid is a nine-month leadership development and discipleship experience done in community with other like-minded leaders.
Over 120 leaders will be equipped and resourced to be more rock solid on the inside and more dangerous/courageous for the Kingdom on the outside over the upcoming 270 days.
These twelve groups will be a led by 28 coaches. Here’s a snap of several of those coaches in a Zoom meeting a few weeks ago when we met to prepare and pray for the launching of Rock Solid.
In the Rock Solid Spotlight below, you will hear from one of our Rock Solid coaches, Pastor Brandan Spencer.
Thank you for standing with us! Your partnership is making a huge difference in the lives of leaders…and all those their lives influence!
Chuck Olson
Founder | Lead With Your Life
Partner — Life can be overwhelming. The ever-unfolding losses and upheavals surrounding us—personally, locally, and globally—can easily bring waves of discouragement, depression, and anxiety.
Can I offer a word of encouragement?
It’s against the backdrop of these realities that the sustaining truth of God’s word stands out. I think you’d agree, without these challenges, so much of Scripture would seem irrelevant.
The good news is that God, through His Word, meets us at the level of our deepest need. And He speaks to us individually in undeniably clear ways.
Recently, I’ve been meditating on some familiar verses. Since these verses have become too familiar, I am now memorizing them in another translation:
Don’t worry about anything;
instead, pray about everything.
Tell God what you need,
and thank Him for all He has done.
Then you will experience God’s peace,
which exceeds anything we can understand.
His peace will guard your heart and mind
as you live in Christ Jesus.
–Philippians 4:6-7 NLT
Did you see it? The very last line: “…as you live in Christ Jesus”. My part, our part is to LIVE in Christ Jesus—abide, remain, commune…connect with Him.
May the truth of this passage (and others like it), deliver peace to your soul despite the overwhelming realities you may be facing today.
Be sure to take a look at the Spotlight below where you’ll catch a glimpse of the very significant partnership I share with my son Dusty, one of our Rock Solid coaches. Over the next nine months, there will be 120 leaders who will experience the Rock Solid journey!
Thank you for faithfully standing with us as we equip and develop leaders to courageously lead from the inside out.
Chuck Olson
Founder | Lead With Your Life
Dear Partner — YOU are an essential person in the work God is doing in and through the mission of Lead With Your Life. Your partnership and prayers fuel this ministry!
These summer months have been all about the next season of Rock Solid. As you know, Rock Solid is the centerpiece initiative of LWYL. It is our nine-month, intensive discipleship experience for Kingdom leaders. And it is transformative! During these months we created an online and printable Rock Solid NOTEBOOK, customized and printed a Rock Solid JOURNAL, developed plans (and needed infrastructure) to support twenty-five coaches and twelve Rock Solid groups launching this fall, and made plans for the Rock Solid Grad Breakfast in September. (Yes, ministry has been full!)
Thank you for continuing to stand with us. The mission of LWYL is needed now more than ever. Never forget that everyone’s life gets better when a leader’s life gets stronger by growing in Christ!
To extend the reach and effectiveness of LWYL, you may recall that several months ago we added Kevin Hoist to our team as part-time Director of Key Initiatives. What a privilege to serve together! He understands and lives the purpose of the ministry. You can learn a bit more about what makes him tick by reading the Spotlight below.
Chuck Olson
Founder | Lead With Your Life
If you’re not a monthly investor in the mission of LWYL,
consider joining Pattie and me today.
Your partnership is valued and needed!
June 1, 2021
Dear Partner –
With Father’s Day coming soon, I’m reminiscing about one of my life’s greatest privileges as a dad. Though my two sons, Boe and Dusty, are now well into fathering their own kids (making me a grandfather six times over!), it’s easy to rehearse back-in-the-day how dependent I was to ask God for His grace and guidance in helping me be the father they deserved.
As my two sons were growing up, I recall sharing with them some very practical lessons I had learned over the years and wanted them to be mindful of. A few were: Give firm handshakes. Always look people in the eye. Be optimistic—see problems not as obstacles but as opportunities. (Here’s the full list of advice.)
We would love to have you join with us this Father’s Day 2021 in making a donation of tribute to Lead With Your Life in honor or memory of a father, husband, or son. Pattie and I will be donating in loving memory of our two fathers, Warren Olson and Joseph Parker, and to honor our two sons, Boe Olson and Dusty Olson. These gifts will serve to pay-it-forward for the equipping of the next generation of those who will be asked to love, lead, and serve their families well.
Leading into tomorrow…together,
May 2021
Dear Partner –
It has been said that “character may be manifested in the great moments, but it is made in the small ones.”
In many ways, this is the outworking of our Lead With Your Life mission. Daily we equip and resource Kingdom leaders to stand up strong, in the defining moments of life, with deep character and resolve—moments when godly leadership is desperately required. Your prayers and your partnership are allowing us to fulfill this mission!
The Rock Solid nine-month discipleship experience is the primary way we are seeing God do a deeply transformative work in the lives of leaders. And this month of May, we have 93 leaders who will launch from this journey better equipped to lead those in their circles of influence. We’re excited to share with you some Spotlight stories that have occurred during Rock Solid through our Partnership Insider each month.
Fighting for the hearts and souls of leaders…together,
Chuck Olson
Everyone’s life gets better when a leader’s life gets stronger.
– Chuck Olson
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