God's Plan Has Worked!

Many years ago the board of LifeWay Ministries Inc sought God about how to design our ministry. We heard Him speak and have followed ever since. The gist of what we hard can be summarized this way.

"Work with partner in the nations where I send you. Freely you have received and freely you shall give. Train them; equip them; love them; support them and set them free to follow me."

God knows what He is doing. I receive emails, letters and telephone calls from people all around the world who tell me that they are "Growing to go into the world and preach the gospel and then Going to grow in the faith, hope and love of God."

One of our students resigned from her very lucrative job to get a Master's Degree in psychology and has written special materials for people in Nepal. Using Listening for Heaven's Sake Kirsten helped the Nepalese develop an entire vocabulary about Christian relationships.

Our model has been to set up seed corn farms that intentionally planted and nurtured seed corn that would then be planted by other farmers instead of being eaten. Seed corn is strong, hearty and resistant to disease, pestilence and droughts. We equip leaders with the same characteristics so they can withstand the attacks of the evil one and still move out to bring hope and healing to those in need.

With seed corn churches and para church groups all around the earth we know that the gospel will go forth long after our demise.

What is God's Love Doing in the Former USSR?

A recent article in Christianity Today tells the story about Nigerian named , Sunday Adelajah, who traveled to the Ukraine, USSR to study journalism in 1986. He found not only how to write but Christ. After some time Sunday established a Bible study in his home. However, he soon found that racism among the people kept "respectable" people away.
(http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2004/151/42.0.html)

Much to his chagrin, Sunday's message of hope and healing appealed to the dregs of society. Alcoholics, criminals, prostitutes and other unseemly characters began to study scripture and many found the Savior. Through the Savior they found healing and changed lives. Now that house Bible study has over 25,000 members and is actively involved in politics, social work and education. During the recent mass marches his church provided tents, food, water and prayers.

Sunday and other Evangelical Christians are witnessing for Christ and telling about His plan of healing and responsibility. They are also doing much, much more. In the same way that Evangelical Christianity provided the foundation for democracy in Europe and America, it is also a key to freedom and democracy in the former USSR.

When I read about Pastor Sunday I am thrilled. It is my strong contention that our ministry in the former USSR is a powerful voice for democracy. Not because we get directly involved in politics for we do not. However, we provide the processes and health necessary for those damamged by centuries of dictatorships to think, decide, get involved in church activities and vote their conscience.

For ten years I have been teaching my friends how to form committees, discuss issues, listen respectfully and come to a decision among them selves without getting into fist fights. Management of conflict is essential to developing a democracy.

One of the Christian Bible colleges where I taught had a severe problem. Their students were so in used to open discussion and handling differences that their small group Bible studies often ended in shouting matches or worse. Galina trained the faculty and students how to relate with Genuineness, Respect, Empathy and Warmth. Amazingly, they began to cooperate and support each other even if they did not agree on the meaning of baptism. As Christians learn how to debate, discuss, dialogue and still love one another they will be leaders in the new nations.

PTL! Lives are being changed and democracy is flourishing in the former USSR. Pray for Lifeways Russia, the name of our Russian Ministry, and for those emerging democracies.

Ps. Before long a representative of Lifeways Russia will be here to raise money for their life changing and nation changing work. More on that later

Old Wine

A few years ago a young,energetic pastor told me I was Old Wine and should get out of the way so he and his youthful colleagues could take over. Old, I am, and agreeable to allow the younger generation to flex their muscles and use all that excess energy to change the world. I have no qualms about encouraging the young to get changed, get organized and get going for Jesus.

It also struck me that this young man was a bit ignorant of scripture and of wine. Wine that is properly aged is the good wine offered to the first guests wine is fermented for just the right amount of time before it is sold or offered to a guest you wish to impress. New wine is a metaphor for untried, cheap and raw.

The single most important resource in Christianity is older wine. Not people like me who already gave up a professional career as a college dean to serve in Christian work. We have already taken all we have and are into a vocation for Jesus. No, the resources I am speaking about are those men and women who had careers as engineers, doctors, plumbers, salespeople, technicians, and painters to now volunteer to give the remaining years of their lives to ministry.

There are, however, some problems. It is not that the people are not willing or not gifted, energetic, wise and able. The problem is this: most pastors and churches don't know how to organize them into a meaningful volunteer force. There are no Wineskins for the OLD Wine. (The real problem lies in the fact that there are few wineskins for the new wine either and that the church has no idea how to "Equip the saints to do the work of the ministry."

If the church leaders are deluded into thinking that lay members have nothing to offer except their money they will not build the organization necessary to recruit, train, organize and mobilize the volunteers into a powerful volunteer army.

Then the church will have to build a structure that can supervise and keep the volunteer army prepared and edified.

Are you interested?

Jesus People Cincinnati

From 1967 to 1973 I served on the Dean's staff at the University of Cincinnati. It was a time of confusion, conflict and challenge to our nation and our traditional values. As a Christian I was shocked to see the immorality and debauchery at UC. Drugs, rock and roll and rebellion ruled the day. At least on the surface.

We who ministered on college campuses around the country saw another side to things. Yes, there were riots, pickets and problems but we came to see that "Whenever Satan comes in like a flood God will raise a standard against his attacks. Proof of that scripture exists all across this land in the pastors, elders and Christian leaders who came to faith during that era.

I received a Christmas note from a pastor this afternoon. He presently serves in an upscale region of a large city as a minister and Christian counselor. Back in the Seventies he was a seriously troubled student at UC living a life of hedonism and chaos. As Associate Dean I was asked to lead a retreat for a fraternity to bring some peace and reconciliation among the various factions who were destroying the meaning of brotherhood and teamwork.

The retreat was a quite successful but the most important thing that happened was the testimonies of several men who had recently come to Christ. The honesty and genuineness of their heart felt sharing changed the entire sense of the gathering and later several other guys also attended church and came to faith. I was an amazed midwife who simply showed up at a university sponsored conflict resolution retreat and saw God work miracles in the heart of these young men.

The media covered the antics of the radical and violent groups like Students for a Democratic Society but almost never saw the importance of what God was doing in Christian groups. In 1970 about 50 SDS members gathered in Wisconsin, I believe, and the national and international media were in a frenzy, spending millions of dollars on ink to cover their story.

At the same time 17,000 students gathered at Urbana and pledged themselves to serve Christ forever. Many also pledged to serve Him in overseas missions. The Christian media covered it, of course, but rarely a word on TV or in the New York Times.

The next time you meet a Christian in his/her forties and fifties ask them where and how they met the Lord. The just may be part of that remarkable Jesus Movement that shook the world and brought millions to Christ. Karen and I were fortunate enough to have God push us into the Jesus Movement where we opened our house to hundreds of those young men and women.

Do it again, Lord! Do it again!

Family Letter 2004
by Gary and Karen Sweeten

Each year gets shorter and faster because it also gets better, far better. The aches and pains of aging are pale compared to the richness of the friends we used to call our children. Nothing quite compares to the joy of hearing our grandkids call us “Papa” and “Grandma”. Julie and Dave Knispel have Jacob (9) and Lily (2). Tim and Shelley promise more joy and excitement with a baby on February 14. Both families live within 20 minutes of us and we love to see them regularly.

Now we know why so many friends and family love grandkids. They are definitely easier than your own kids but they have better parents.

We are thankful for good health and wonderful medical care. After a couple of visits to Christ Hospital I can continue my travels and local ministry. Sometimes medicine is part of the problem. They can cure or kill. With adjustments in the medication I have managed to return to sanity and good health, at least for now. Prayers are appreciated for a strong heart.

We celebrated our 15th year at LifeWay Counseling Centers in September. The gift was a great new space. The Lord inspired us through Jim Donovan to see that our call is similar to guiding folks through white water rafting. The new design simulates a river with a fountain to greet each person and a prayer room for the deep water of peace. Hurting people regularly experience relief and healing from Jesus’ living waters found at Life Way.

Gary finds himself on foreign soil for several months each year with LifeWay Ministries Inc, Intl. The Lord’s plan is coming to fruition in many nations. He told us to establish equipping centers that can stand for decades. God’s love is thriving in Siberian labor camps, Asian cities and Ethiopian hospitals. It makes those long flights worth the trouble.

Personally, Karen works at LifeWay and enjoys her “Secret Club” whose members are sworn to confidentiality on pain of death. For twenty years they have supported each other with tears and laughter and remain best friends. We enjoy our warm association with the people at Harvest Fellowship. Golf has become a spiritual habit for Gary and he has widened his outreach to play weekly with needy pastors and leaders.

We always enjoy seeing old friends and hearing how God is creatively constructing their lives. May He who is able to do more than you can imagine give you His perfect peace.

12002 Maxim Ave Cincinnati, Ohio 45249

Famed atheist sees evidence for God
by David Roach

Amazing conversion of an agressive atheist.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--Antony Flew, a legendary British philosopher and atheist, has changed his mind about the existence of God in light of recent scientific evidence.
Flew -- a prolific author who has argued against the existence of God and the claims of Christianity for more than 50 years -- first revealed his change of mind in a video of a discussion with several others at New York University organized by the Institute for Metascientific Research. The video, released in December, is titled, "Has Science Discovered God?"
Flew said he is now best described as a deist -- a person who believes God created the universe but is not actively involved in people's lives today.

For the rest of theis great story go to www.pastor.com

This is the web site of Rick Warren

The Magnificat

My soul magnifies the Lord,
And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant;
For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.

Sing It!

My soul shall magnify the Lord
My soul shall magnify the Lord
And my spirit shall rejoice in God my Savior
For He who is mighty has done great things
And holy is His name

Call me and I will teach it to you.

How to be Strong

One of the great themes of scripture is found in the birth of Jesus story. It can be summarized as: God works through weakness.

There is a drive in the human heart to seem strong.
We reject grace and pretend we are worthy;
We reject mercy and act as though we are holy;
We refuse His work and try to do the works ourselves.

• But none of these pretend games work. At the last we all have to admit that, as the old song goes, I am weak but He is strong.
  
  God chose a weak little girl to be one of the great heroes of all history.
  He trusted a very young girl to carry the Messiah, the hope of the entire world.
  He brought forth the Messiah without the effort or strength of a man.
  He chose Mary from a poor little tribe of unlearned people living in a tiny country away from the famous and rich.
  He put the life of Mary and the Messiah in danger because she was unmarried.
  He had the Messiah born in Bethlehem, an obscure town named after bread.
  God placed the baby in an unsanitary barn with the smell of hay and manure instead of rich oils and powders or the scent of disinfectants.
  Joseph died while Jesus was as a child and grew to manhood with no earthly father.
  Jesus bought salvation and healing through death.

Why do we assume we must be competent and always perfect?

Heresy and Foolishness

The Gnostics said that true orthodox Christians were wrong in believing God had taken a human body. Gnostics believed then and now that the human body was evil but the Spirit of God was pure so the two could not intermingle.

Some of them distinguished between Christ, whom they acknowledged to be divine in some sense; and the man Jesus who was at most an instrument through whom the divine Christ spoke. They held that the man Jesus did not become the bearer or instrument of the Christ until the Spirit descended upon him at his baptism. Additionally, they held that the Spirit left him before the crucifixion.

Others affirmed that there was never a man Jesus at all, but only the appearance of a man, through which wise teachings were given to the disciples.

Modern doubters simply say that miracles are impossible. I once heard a man say that the people who wrote the Bible were not lying when they said Jesus was born of a virgin. They were just ignorant farmers who did not understand where babies came from. As a farm boy I can assure you that we know a lot about procreation. My friend came down from Chicago and saw our cow. When we told him milk came from this big bovine he laughed at us and said, “It does not. I get milk at the store.”

We farmers actually bred cows, chickens, horses and sheep so we knew well what the process entailed. Some leftist theologians are too smart by half to think farmers are so dumb they minunderstood procreation.

Creedal Christians affirmed that Jesus was conceived through the action of the Holy Spirit, that he was born and had a real physical body. He was special from the first moment of his life, and not just from the date of His baptism.

The cover story of Newsweek last time was the birth of Jesus. the editor spoke on TV and said he thought much of scripture was a myth but not a lie. He believes that the resurrection occurred but not the parting of the Red Sea by Moses. If raising Jesus from the dead was not too big for God why would parting a bit of water be a problem?

Too clever by half? Too much emphasis on "booklearning" will make people mad!

Why Write a Creed?

The written documents we call creeds were written for a particular purpose, usually to combat some heresy or deal with a problem. Look at the Apostles' Creed and see that it communicates some powerful truths. In fact, I prefer to simply state that this is my personal statement of faith for it contains the essentials of Christianity.

God is the Creator of all things. Ths directly attacks the Gnostic heresy that the created world is evil. Thus, nature, our own bodies and minds are the products and purpose of God.

Second, Jesus is the Son of God and truly God and is Lord of all things.

Third, Jesus was born of a virgin.

These all point to the nature of God and of Jesus and the Trinity.

It is short, to the point and easily remembered for literate and non literate believers alike.

The Apostles' Creed

I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
The Creator of heaven and earth,
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:
Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit
Born of the Virgin Mary,
Suffered under Pontius Pilate,
Was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell
The third day He arose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven
And sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty
Whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.

Remember it!

A Conversation With the Apostles in 65 A.D.

How would you as a Christian leader make sure that your flock understood the importance of the birth, life and death of Jesus? According to legend, the Apostles were sitting around a nice fire one night eating fish and discussing these issues. Well, said Peter the Mighty Mouth, I think it is impossible to teach all this to our people in The Way. Why, one year 3,000 or so came to faith in Christ and we cannot even find people to follow them up let alone teach them everything.
Soon an argument arose with much heat and little light. After some time of getting nowhere, John, who had previously been known with his brother as “The Sons of Thunder” spoke up. Well, fellows, I think we need to start by simply telling them over and over what we believe.

But that won’t work, shouted Peter. The Rabbi Himself said that if everything was written down it would fill more books than there are in the whole world.

Hold on Pete, and listen for a minute. I have a plan that I think can work. I agree that some of us are a bit too wordy to do this but Brother Luke is a doctor who knows how to sum up important things in a few words. Why not let him show us how to do it.

They all looked at Luke and finally he said, "I think that might work. At next week’s prayer meeting each of us can come with one sentence about what we think was most important about the Rabbi and God’s work. We can take turns to make sure everyone gets a chance to speak and cover all the main issues. I will write it all down so we can remember.

When they came together it started this way.

Peter, of course, was first. As a Jew I have to say that I believe in God the Father Almighty

John was next and he said, Maker of heaven and earth.

Thomas was quick to interject, And in Jesus Christ, His only Son our Lord

In this manner, every one of them was able to state his most important belief.

When they were all finished, the results became to be known as:

The Apostles' Creed

Prepare for Christmas

Advent is Latin for “The Arrival” While Lent is a time of preparing ourselves for the Death and Resurrection of Jesus and Advent is a time of preparing ourselves for the Coming of the Savior.

It has only been since the invention of the printing press in 1450. The very first book to be produced by Gutenberg was a Bible. Guttenberg produced a revolution. Just 75 years later in 1518 Luther sent his 95 statements to the bishop, Fr. John Staupitz, who took them to the Pope and the Reformation began.

One of Luther’s’ greatest contributions was to translate the Bible into the common language of the people. Leaders and laity could read scripture themselves. Before this the masses certainly could not read and many priests had only a rudimentary knowledge of it. So, for over 1500 years communication of the good news was made difficult by the fact that people could not read.

How would you teach the truths about God, Jesus, salvation, grace, the trinity, the virgin birth, etc? Before this, most priests and Brothers knew little. The Ten Commandments, 12 Apostles, Lord’s Prayer and the 23rd Psalm. A few might know the Apostles’ Creed.

Other ways to teach came with songs, stained glass windows, plays, reenactments and rituals in worship. In my trips to Russia I learned that the Eastern Orthodox Church developed stringent rules about their physical movements. They always crossed themselves from to bottom and left to right. The pinkie finger and the ring finger were always pressed against the hand to represent that Jesus was fully God and fully man. The other three fingers represent the Trinity.

An Advent celebration was one way to teach the people about God, Jesus, Mary, the virgin birth, angels, prophets, the trinity, etc. In the 4th Century a Pope developed a six week period of teaching the various aspects leading up to the Mass of Christ: Christmas.

It was meant to prepare the people for that great high mass. It was a time of daily reflection, repentance, thoughtfulness and humility. People could remember the rituals, candles, songs and actors even if they could not read about them personally. The next time you drive through a live crèche scene remember that this idea came about some 1600 years ago as a way to keep you focused on the meaning of Christmas.

Tradition is the living faith of the dead; traditionalism is the dead faith of the living.

Tradition lives in conversation with the past, while remembering we are where and when we are and that it is we who have to decide.

Traditionalism supposes that nothing should ever be done for the first time, so all that is needed to solve any problem is to arrive at the supposedly unanimous testimony of this homogenized tradition.

Jaroslav Pelikan

The liturgical year was one way to teach people about the mighty acts of God, so celebrate them this year.

Merry _____________

Since the Christian heritage of the United States was banned in 2050 it is necessary to write out a list of all words that are related to that heritage. I am asking all patriotic citizens to suggest new words to be added. We must be vigorous in this search lest the Religious Right violate the separation of church and state.

Holiday for it comes from Holy Day
Peace because Jesus is the Prince of Peace
Help the poor for that is a biblical concept
Forgiveness must never be mentioned by a public institution
All laws regarding theft, fraud and robbery are to be stricken since they originate in the Ten C__________ (I cannot say the word)
Loving your neighbor may no longer be stated for obvious reasons
Government employees must stop using good bye since it comes from God's Blessings on you
Good will toward all is stricken

The use of PLUS Signs is forbidden for it is a cross

The use of saints and angels in the names of cities must be changed. Frank instead of San Francisco; Matt instead of San Mateo; Lost instead of Los Angeles; Santa Fe is now just Fay;

Any government employee named Jesus must change his name.

The Declaration of Independence shall be changed to say: We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all of the human species have evolved with equal rights and responsibilities including life if the government agrees, liberty under control and the pursuit of the common good for the poor and downtrodden.

Any suggestions?

We Wish You a Merry _____________

Since the term "Merry Christmas" has been legally replaced by "Happy Holidays" Brave Heart wishes to assure you that God has not really lost this battle. The ignoramus who react so strongly and fearfully to any term relating to God and Jesus have actually helped our case grow in impact.

First, I need to remind you that the devil always overplays his hand. He tries too hard so his anxiety causes him to make a lot of mistakes.

Second, the devil and his unwitting henchmen attack the wrong things and cause the Army of God to rise up and destroy evil and darkness.

Third, Jesus will win the war and be with His people until the end.

The term Christmas comes from the tradition of celebrating a High Mass on the natal day that marks the Savior's birth. Mass of Christ became Christ's Mass and later Christmas. It's common usage has obscured its original meaning so losing it from the franca lingua is not a great calamity.

This is especially true for the term chosen by the ignorant secularists has much more spiritual meaning. From where does the term, "Holiday" arise? It clearly springs from, "Holy Day". Thus, the unwitting secularists have spread the good news even farther by choosing to emphasize the "Holiness" of the day and the "Holiness of God".

I trust you will join me in wishing each and every person a "Happy Holy-Day" to commemorate the birth of the Messiah.

Happy Holy Day
Happy Holy Day

Gary Sweeten
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www.lifewaycenters.com

Leaders in Pain

I just read a great article. You can get it at

http://www.typepad.com/t/trackback/1512763

The author says many of the things about pastors and their families that I have been discussing for several years.

The church is the most difficult organization to lead and manage that there is on the face of the earth. One wag commentated that "Ministry is not difficult; it is impossible."

1. The Devil hates church leaders and does everything possible to derail them. This is especially true of those who lead large congregations. I can recount many stories about leaders in very large, dynamic churches who fell ill; had accidents; saw their children struck down; were infiltrated by sick or demonic members; were sabotaged by staff; were accused of crimes by a family member or disgruntled member.

2. Are very, very, very isolated. An isolated minister is toast. Ego, fear of losing face, embarrassment, etc can keep a leader from admitting his failures and asking for assistance.

3. Talking Grace and Mercy but living by the Law and Perfectionism. One of my clients admitted that he preached Grace but always expected perfection from himself. The result was depression.

4. Conflict at home. We can all deceive others but we cannot deceive our wives and kids. I cannot count the number ot times a leader has said something like, "Listen, honey, you cannot say that. It will ruin my ministry". He thinks, of course, that the lies will not ruin his ministry and his marriage. (I have never met a man who fell into pornography or adultery who was not mad at his wife. Anger management is critically important.)

For several years I have focused on helping leaders and their families with free, confidential, professional counseling. I do many workshops, seminars and sermons but I always pray that the leaders will come to me for safe and secure ministry.

Call me if you know a leader in pain

Equipping the Ship's Crew

By first serving as a follower, a leader subsequently can best understand his followers. Hegel – Philosophy of Mind (1830)


While teaching in Sweden I learned that the term used in Ephesians 4:11 about the call of leaders to "Equip the saints" is translated in Swedish as the same term for "Outfitting a ship of war". Now we have to admit that Naval Commanders know the importance of proper preparation and planning. This was especially true for Viking commanders.

I wish Christian leaders were as keen at equipping their Christian crew as captains were at equipping their colleagues to sail the high seas. After all, this is the command of the Holy Spirit in scripture. But who is the crew on the "Good Ship Grace"? Who has bee called and appointed as the ones who are supposed to carry out the "works of service" in the church and world?

If we who lead the organizations we call churches and parachurch groups do not know the answer to this question we may have missed the whole point of things. Somehow the message has become distorted over the years and those called to lead or Captain the vessel have started to do all the work of the ministry. In complete disobedience to God's commands the clergy now try to do everything.

Teach
Inspire
Command
Man the guns
Trim the sails
Heal the sick and wounded
Discipline the crew
Navigate
Cook
Clean
Steer
Stand guard 24 x 7

This leaves the crew with little of importance to do. The result is a luxury cruise with most of the able bodied people sitting around sipping cool drinks and a few harried individuals doing all the work. One wag defined football as "50,000 people who desperately need exercise watching 22 men who desperately need rest run up and down a field and beat each other senseless." It also be the definition of most churches.

This makes the job impossible and ridiculous. But worst of all it makes the mission fail. Why would any ship's captain try to do all the work? It would be insane for anyone heading and organization to attempt to do all these things.

Why has the church been impotent in modern times? Its greatest crew assets are sitting and sipping, waiting to be equipped for ministry. They all desperately need to be Mobilized, Trained and Released in to the works of the Lord.

Some leaders actually adopt the crew approach but fail to train the crew. They say things like, "Every person a minister" but have no training school for equipping them in the practical aspects of ministry. That kind of short sightedness will result in many of the crew becoming casualties and a very sloppy ship.

Every person is gifted, talented and sable to minister in ways both large and small. Most of what I learned about Christian leadership came from people like Tom Seith, Frank Baker, Gary Booth, Larry Chrouch, Jim Keister, Maurie Loomans, Ken Shull and other "Lay" people who were engineers, researchers, scientists, businessmen and planners not clergy. But thay had commitment, integrity, structure and patience that apply in every organization.

Natural ability without education has more often raised a man to glory and virtue than education without natural ability. Marcus T. Cicero


If I have seen further…it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants. Isaac Newton

Searching for Leaders

The winds and waves are always on the side of the ablest navigators.
Edward Gibbon

The past ten years I have spent a lot of time supporting Christian leaders and their families. I really enjoy working with leaders for by helping them improve their own lives affects so many others. I have always been interested in the influence of effective leaders and take particular notice when a film or TV program has a story showing what happens when the leaders are effective or ineffective.

My family gave me the gift of a great leadership movie for my birthday last May 5. It is Master and Commander and, like many films, takes place on the high seas during hostilities. The ships' Captain has to pastor, inspire, judge, discipline, heal and guide the ship and its crew. He must deal with inadequate, weak and untrained staff and the gossip that accompanies them.

One of the most interesting and educating events occurs when the Commander has to confront and rebuke his closest friend. He cannot allow his personal feelings stop him from doing what is right and best for the ship and its crew and its mission. Tough leadership is often required from a leader, especially one whose journey takes him months among hostile forces to accomplish.

Another point was the fact that the Captain had to plan for a long journey and make sure the crew included men with all kinds of skills and knowledge. This made him a school principal as well as a ship's captain. The men had to be equipped to do their work. Some of the men were very young and inexperienced while others were grizzled veterans of many sailing and this makes for a challenging educational experience. (More on this later.)

If you want to lead, study this film and others like it. They can inspire and offer examples of both good and lead decision-making. If you have any suggestions of good films write me a comment or send an email to gsweeten@lifewaycenters.com


What I need is someone who will make me do what I can. Ralph Waldo Emerson

What it Takes to Lead and What Hinders Leaders

The things that make good headlines attract our attention because they are on the surface of the stream of life, and they distract our attention from the slower, impalpable, imponderable movements that work below the surface and penetrate to the depths. But of course it is really these deeper, slower movements that, in the end, make history, and it is they that stand out huge in retrospect, when the sensational passing events have dwindled, in perspective, to their true proportions. Arnold Toynbee

Dr. Ranier's research also found the many leaders have another weakness: A lack of patience. Many say they are so "Task Oriented" that they simply cannot slow down and plan what they are doing.

When I was working as a rough-neck in the oil fields of southern Illinois and southern Indiana I had an experience that remains burned into my memory. The "Driller" had mistaking chosen to place the rig on the side of a hill so it was slightly off balance. This meant that every them we tried to start a new drill the rack would hang straight down while the hole was crooked.

My partners on the floor were restless, impatient and full of energy. When the pipe hung on the side of the hole they would cuss it and kick it while I stood by and suggested that we carefully edge the 60 foot steel pipe into the hole and straighten it after it had started into the hole.

Benjamin and Freddy looked at me like I was an alien and cussed me as well as the two tons of pig iron. "You smart _____ college guys think you know so much. You just want to talk not work." I laughed. These guys thought that hyperactive anger was a mark of hard work even if the job was never accomplished and the rig and crew were all beaten up.

Many pastors have the same attitude. Their motto is, "Go faster!" As long as they are busy it seems as though progress is being made. Impatience can be a strength as well. Far too many churches essentially grind to a halt and rarely ever accomplish any task. However, any task that does not help accomplish your mission and vision is worse than worthless. A worthless task is one that is fun or relaxing but has no other payoff. One that actually takes us away from our goal and mission is destructive.

Arnold Toynbee said:

The things that make good headlines attract our attention because they are on the surface of the stream of life, and they distract our attention from the slower, impalpable, imponderable movements that work below the surface and penetrate to the depths.

But of course it is really these deeper, slower movements that, in the end, make history, and it is they that stand out huge in retrospect, when the sensational passing events have dwindled, in perspective, to their true proportions.

The old administrative adage is: Plan your work then work your plan.

I help a lot of leaders understand their strengths and weaknesses and how to recruit others who compliment them so they together make a well-rounded team. An impatient leader needs a good planner. A slow plodder needs a visionary. Creative types need those who follow through.
"Even the Lone Ranger needed Tonto."

Discipleship and Equipping the Saints

Many years ago I attended a big conference on evangelism and discipleship in Dallas, TX. In the convention hall several of us had booths advertising our ministries to the attendees and my booth had a big sign indicating that we were dedicated to, Equipping the saints to do the work of the ministry. I was surprised to discover that quite a few of the delegates and attendees were offended by the statement.

One lady came by and stopped dead in her tracks to stare at our biblical mission statement. Pointing at the offending sign she asked in an accusatory tone, "What do you mean when you say you are Equipping the saints? What saints are you talking about?"

I attempted to say that we meant all Christians because every one of us is a saint but she interrupted me very forcefully before I finished with, "Oh no! We are not all saints. You're not a saint and I'm not a saint!"

To her, a saint is one who always has a halo around his/her head. In Roman Catholic theology it is a person who has no sin or guilt in his/her life. To me a saint is any person whose life is set apart for God and holiness. When we came to know Christ we were at that moment set apart for Him and His Kingdom.

But being born again into God's family does not mean we are mature and perfect in following the King. Just as a baby needs to grow and mature into maturity so does a child of God need to be trained, taught and equipped to walk and talk like a mature person.

I have two children and two and a half grandkids. My children are fairly mature but still learning and growing. One of the best ways to grow up is by having kids and rearing them. The grandkids range in age from nine to two to a fetus in the womb. Each child requires different levels and differing types of education.

Some Christians need Milk others Meat and some need Ministry Skills. Just as every one of my kids and grandkids must learn a trade or profession every believer is called to a specific, God designed and gift fulfilling Ministry. This may seem elementary but it is where we all must start if we are to follow God's call to Disciple, Heal and Grow.

As Dr. Rainer has found, however, few leaders even know that they are called in scripture to Equip the saints almost none know how to design a Discipleship process to fulfill the Bible's command.

This leaves me frustrated! My undergraduate degree was in Elementary and Secondary Education so I learned about designing a curriculum for children and youth and the skills necessary to help kids learn.

My graduate degree was in Student personnel and I learned how adult men and women best learn and how to design a learning community on campus.

My Doctorate focused on Educating and Training Counselors so I learned how to set up a curriculum that included TIPS (Theory Into Practical Service). I have seen lay care and lay counseling centers all over the earth so I know they can be very effective.

Designing and implementing a system to develop the church into a community of care, counsel and learning is not easy but it is possible. My frustration comes when I see that so few churches, leaders and seminaries understand the most basic elements of developing a growth system.

Leaders' Weaknesses

Dr. Thom Ranier, a Prof at Southern Seminary in Louisville, is a prolific writer and researcher on leadership and church growth. In one of his many research projects Ranier asked Pastors to list their top weaknesses. Here is a summary of the top five mistakes.

Weakness #1: Pastoral Ministry

Almost three out of four leaders told us their number one leadership weakness was providing personal pastoral ministry. Our definition of pastoral ministry included counseling, doing hospital visitation, and performing weddings and funerals, to name a few of the responsibilities.

"If I get a consistent criticism," a Nevada pastor told us, "it is my failure to live up to the expectations to minister to each person individually. But if I live up to all of their expectations, I wouldn't have time for sermon preparation, personal evangelism, and just plain ol' dreaming. I constantly live with this tension but refuse to give up time from the other responsibilities. "

In our research we discovered that leaders of effective churches spent 10 hours per week in pastoral care while leaders of the comparison churches spent 23 hours doing the same type of ministries.

"It finally hit me one day," said Tom J., a senior pastor from Oklahoma. "I was doing all of the hospital visits, counseling, home visits, and nitpicky ministry for two reasons. First, I received affirmation for doing it. Second, I avoided criticism for not doing it. Neither is a legitimate reason for doing things the way I was doing them."

He paused for a moment, and his tone indicated a serious reflection. "But you know what really got to me? I realized that I was being disobedient to Scripture. When I try to do all the ministry, I am depriving the people in the church of their God-given call to do ministry."

So why did the leaders of the effective churches say pastoral ministry was their number one leadership weakness? The issue, it seems, is one of balance.

"I am constantly dealing with the tension," Jack M. of eastern Tennessee told us. "I know my primary calling, according to Acts 6, is to be in prayer and the ministry of the Word. But when the critics tell me I am not caring enough, I wonder if I am too insensitive to their needs. I wish I was a strong enough leader to know just exactly what to do."

My comments: Jack M. still hasn't gotten it right. According to Ephesians 4:11 and following the leaders primary task is to "Equip the people so they can DO the works of serving the Lord and people." Complaining members are simply trying to get the leaders' attention. Like a wailing baby the squeaky wheel gets the grease.

Any senior pastor who spends that much time giving personal counsel and support to parishioners is misdirecting and misusing his gifts and energy.

Our seminaries are failing to prepare graduates for real ministry.

ALERT! When I arrived on the staff at a large church as Minister of Discipleship the ministers spent between 10 and 15 hours each week delivering personal care and counsel. After we started training Lay Helpers and Lay Pastors they spent ZERO hours and our lay people did the rest of the care.

You want to know how we did it? Read our book, Hope and Change for Humpty Dumpty
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