Lessons Learned: Get Some Grit

GET SOME GRIT 

Grit is passion and perseverance for meaningful goals. It’s the ability to keep pushing forward when things get tough, to roll up your sleeves, and to do whatever it takes to get the job done.

I LEARNED THIS THE HARD WAY

Early in my time at Stevens Creek Church, our lead pastor, Marty Baker, taught me a lesson in grit that I’ll never forget. Back in 1997, when dinosaurs roamed the earth and the internet was just a rumor, we used to perform drama sketches in our services to illustrate biblical messages. The only way to get these scripts was to have them faxed. (For the younger crowd, a fax machine was basically a loud, slow, and temperamental printer that worked over phone lines.)

One week, we missed the Monday deadline to request a sketch. No big deal, I thought. I told Marty, "We missed the deadline. We can’t get it."

But Marty wasn’t having it. "Did you try other options?" he asked.

So I went on a wild goose chase, calling every number I could find. Nothing. Dead ends everywhere. I went back to Marty, expecting him to concede defeat.

Nope. "Try again," he said.

At this point, I was ready to declare that maybe it just wasn’t God’s will for us to do the sketch. But Marty was relentless. He wanted the sketch, and by some miracle (and a very patient company that took a credit card payment over the phone), we found a book with the script in it. They copied the page and faxed it over.

Did I grumble during this process? Oh, absolutely. Did I learn a valuable lesson? 100%.

GRIT IS IN SHORT SUPPLY

Today, things are different. If we need information, Google has it in 0.0003 seconds. Siri will literally read it out loud for us, and Amazon will have it at our doorstep by morning. With all this convenience, it’s easy to see why grit is becoming a lost art.

But here’s the thing: great leaders aren’t made in comfortable, easy situations. They’re made in the moments where they refuse to give up, even when things seem impossible.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GOOD AND GREAT

I believe you can be a good leader without grit. But you will never be a great leader without it.

So when obstacles come—and they will—don’t take the easy way out. Get some grit. Find another way. And, for the love of all things holy, be grateful that you don’t have to rely on a fax machine to do it.

About the Author

Todd Sturgell is the Executive Pastor of Experience and Campuses at Stevens Creek Church in Augusta, Georgia, where he’s spent much of his life serving in ministry. He’s passionate about his family and his role at the church. Todd lives in Augusta with his wife of 30 years, April, their two sons, Ashton (24) and Grayson (21), and their two Goldendoodles, Fletcher and Milly. He and April met at Lee University, and their journey together has shaped both their personal and professional lives.

In his role as Executive Pastor, Todd oversees a wide range of church activities, making sure everything—from parking to the stage—goes smoothly for those who attend. He’s in charge of things like graphics, video, the church’s website, and communication, and he’s also involved in the growth of Stevens Creek’s campuses, making sure each one stays connected to the community.

Todd has been a key part of worship leadership at Stevens Creek for almost 30 years, helping shape the church’s worship culture and making a real impact on its ministry. Over the years, Todd has influenced many leaders and worshippers, leaving a lasting mark on the church. His drive for excellence, authenticity, and living with purpose inspires others to live with dedication, passion, and integrity. His heart is all about empowering leaders to live out their faith and make a difference in the world.