Gary chats with Pastor Pavel and a small group leader from the large Rosa Charismatic Church where we did a seminar on lay counseling. Rosa is one of the largest Protestant churches in Moscow. (Galin a translates)
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
Gary with Fr. Alexander, head pastor of the St.
Kozma and Damian's Church that is in the heart of Moscow. We are great friends with Fr. Alexander who has a radical ministry to the poor and hosts a weekly Recovery Group. Galina has a close working relationship with this congregation and trained many of its leaders.
Gary spoke at the Baptist Church in the town of Dmitrov, North of Moscow. Rev Mihail is the Pastor and also heads the work of setting up Recovery Groups for Baptist men in the Moscow County of about 7 Million people. With Galina on one side and I on the other we told the congregation how much we approeciated his ministry.
Russian Males
The most obvious example of a first order crisis in Russia comes when we look at the condition of the men. Men live to less than 60 years in Russia. Even that is a generous statement because so many are "dead men walking". Alcoholism drug abuse, imprisonment in jails and labor camps is very common for millions of males and a very high percentage are violent toward their families and neighbors.
It is widely believed that unless God intervenes quickly the population of Russia will further shrink from its estimated 143 million to under 100 million by 2020. Most of the early deaths will be males.
Why have males lost the drive to live and why do so many kill themselves with cigarettes, alcohol, drugs, violence, crime, etc? I do not know for sure but I have a theory. The Soviet power structure was paranoid about anyone who was strong enough to challenge the system. Males are the persons most likely to develop a counter Revolution so any time a man was seen to have success in mobilizing others or taking initiative they were sent to Siberia, killed or somehow punished. We cannot imagine how terrible such punishments were for the Russian people. Even the most enthusiastic Communists were sent to camps to make them "prove" their loyalty.
Mothers, seeing this, intuitively decided to kill the slightest sign of initiative in their boys while rewarding and supporting female strength and assertiveness. Over time, boys and men learned to stifle such ideas and emotions and instead of developing the spirit of entrepreneurship they are depressed, anxious, alcoholics and have inner, hidden rage. Women, however, developed into exceedingly strong and capable leaders. Only programs that heal the masculine soul and liberate males can really help Russia develop a healthy political system.
Now men are either passive or aggressive but it is rare to see a man who is assertive. And, it is rare to see a woman who can allow the males in her life to learn how to be assertive without trying to emasculate him and drive him back to drink.
Thank God we are seeing men liberated from alcohol and set free to be assertive. They have begun to develop "Brothers' Groups" to provide recovery and healing as well as a safe place to try out new assertive behaviors.
PRAY for the BROTHERS
The most obvious example of a first order crisis in Russia comes when we look at the condition of the men. Men live to less than 60 years in Russia. Even that is a generous statement because so many are "dead men walking". Alcoholism drug abuse, imprisonment in jails and labor camps is very common for millions of males and a very high percentage are violent toward their families and neighbors.
It is widely believed that unless God intervenes quickly the population of Russia will further shrink from its estimated 143 million to under 100 million by 2020. Most of the early deaths will be males.
Why have males lost the drive to live and why do so many kill themselves with cigarettes, alcohol, drugs, violence, crime, etc? I do not know for sure but I have a theory. The Soviet power structure was paranoid about anyone who was strong enough to challenge the system. Males are the persons most likely to develop a counter Revolution so any time a man was seen to have success in mobilizing others or taking initiative they were sent to Siberia, killed or somehow punished. We cannot imagine how terrible such punishments were for the Russian people. Even the most enthusiastic Communists were sent to camps to make them "prove" their loyalty.
Mothers, seeing this, intuitively decided to kill the slightest sign of initiative in their boys while rewarding and supporting female strength and assertiveness. Over time, boys and men learned to stifle such ideas and emotions and instead of developing the spirit of entrepreneurship they are depressed, anxious, alcoholics and have inner, hidden rage. Women, however, developed into exceedingly strong and capable leaders. Only programs that heal the masculine soul and liberate males can really help Russia develop a healthy political system.
Now men are either passive or aggressive but it is rare to see a man who is assertive. And, it is rare to see a woman who can allow the males in her life to learn how to be assertive without trying to emasculate him and drive him back to drink.
Thank God we are seeing men liberated from alcohol and set free to be assertive. They have begun to develop "Brothers' Groups" to provide recovery and healing as well as a safe place to try out new assertive behaviors.
PRAY for the BROTHERS
Russian Repast
Few people travel to Russia for relaxation or a gentle vacation. Moscow is especially stressful and travel in all of Russia is challenging, to say the least. However, some things are getting easier and better for those who wish to visit the land of the Slavs.
My first trip to the USSR/Russia occurred in 1978 when a study leave took me to Leningrad/St. Petersburg. For several days leading up to our time in port the study directors told us about how this city was the "Jewel of the North" because of its beauty, cleanliness and western-like ways. I could hardly wait until we got here so I could see the land of our "Cold-War enemies" up close and personal.
The pre landing hype had not prepared us for the grim contrasts of Leningrad tour pre-USSR stops in the Scandinavian ports of Stockholm, Oslo and Helsinki. As a therapist it seemed to me that the entire population was either depressed, drunk or comatose. In any event, the people moved Zombie like through streets being cleaned by ancient women with primitive brooms.
Our guides spewed forth glowing and obvious propaganda about the glories of the Soviet State. They were seemingly oblivious to the fact that we were world travelers who could easily compare the "Jewel of the North" with our own cities in Europe and America as those we had just left in Scandinavia. Perhaps this is one of the main reasons that the Soviets failed so miserably. The leaders seemed to believe their own statements and, since few had ever visited other nations, actually thought their economy was better than ours.
(Do you remember "Baghdad Bob" the "Communications' Officer" for Saddam? He was still saying that the glorious army of Iraq was going to wipe out American forces when the US tanks were rolling into the center of Baghdad. Our guides all behaved like Baghdad Bob's.)
Things are better in Russia now. Even though President Putin, a former high ranking KGB officer, would like us to believe that Russia can keep its glorious past intact while it grows into a world power, massive new changes will be necessary if she is to actually enter the world market as a real player.
The Soviet approach to life must die if Russia is to thrive. Soviet rule developed:
Control over all aspects of life, including the personal dimensions of religion, economics and personal decisions.
A nation of specialized legal standards instead of a nation built upon just laws.
Paranoia toward outside nations and outside people as well as new ideas and change.
Massive corruption supported by the police.
Rampant alcoholism and drug abuse.
Immorality leading to numerous children out of wedlock, common divorce, high rates of abortion, child abandonment, domestic abuse, a callous disregard for human life and violence.
Our friend, Dr. Galina Chentsova, M.D. Psychiatrist, Psychologist has developed a widely dispersed program of establishing family life centers, alcohol and drug recovery centers and leadership develop training centers to change Russia for the better. Pray for her and her staff of volunteers. The work is very difficult.
Few people travel to Russia for relaxation or a gentle vacation. Moscow is especially stressful and travel in all of Russia is challenging, to say the least. However, some things are getting easier and better for those who wish to visit the land of the Slavs.
My first trip to the USSR/Russia occurred in 1978 when a study leave took me to Leningrad/St. Petersburg. For several days leading up to our time in port the study directors told us about how this city was the "Jewel of the North" because of its beauty, cleanliness and western-like ways. I could hardly wait until we got here so I could see the land of our "Cold-War enemies" up close and personal.
The pre landing hype had not prepared us for the grim contrasts of Leningrad tour pre-USSR stops in the Scandinavian ports of Stockholm, Oslo and Helsinki. As a therapist it seemed to me that the entire population was either depressed, drunk or comatose. In any event, the people moved Zombie like through streets being cleaned by ancient women with primitive brooms.
Our guides spewed forth glowing and obvious propaganda about the glories of the Soviet State. They were seemingly oblivious to the fact that we were world travelers who could easily compare the "Jewel of the North" with our own cities in Europe and America as those we had just left in Scandinavia. Perhaps this is one of the main reasons that the Soviets failed so miserably. The leaders seemed to believe their own statements and, since few had ever visited other nations, actually thought their economy was better than ours.
(Do you remember "Baghdad Bob" the "Communications' Officer" for Saddam? He was still saying that the glorious army of Iraq was going to wipe out American forces when the US tanks were rolling into the center of Baghdad. Our guides all behaved like Baghdad Bob's.)
Things are better in Russia now. Even though President Putin, a former high ranking KGB officer, would like us to believe that Russia can keep its glorious past intact while it grows into a world power, massive new changes will be necessary if she is to actually enter the world market as a real player.
The Soviet approach to life must die if Russia is to thrive. Soviet rule developed:
Control over all aspects of life, including the personal dimensions of religion, economics and personal decisions.
A nation of specialized legal standards instead of a nation built upon just laws.
Paranoia toward outside nations and outside people as well as new ideas and change.
Massive corruption supported by the police.
Rampant alcoholism and drug abuse.
Immorality leading to numerous children out of wedlock, common divorce, high rates of abortion, child abandonment, domestic abuse, a callous disregard for human life and violence.
Our friend, Dr. Galina Chentsova, M.D. Psychiatrist, Psychologist has developed a widely dispersed program of establishing family life centers, alcohol and drug recovery centers and leadership develop training centers to change Russia for the better. Pray for her and her staff of volunteers. The work is very difficult.
Tuesday, August 09, 2005
Monday, August 08, 2005
Wednesday, August 03, 2005
Why Do I Focus My Counsel and Care on Pastors and Their Families?
David Seamands is one of the most influential people I know. He wrote very good books on inner healing and has been a source of God's healing love to millions around the world. But, as he confesses in the following article, his pride led him to involvement in adultery.
Pride leads to overwork, burn out and an inability to seek assistance from others. When we attempt to heal ourselves we far too often fall into sexual sin. Nowadays it is popular to blame pornography but no one has ever been attacked by porn. Porn must be sought and carefully chosen.
Many leaders are too proud to ask for help until they are caught up in habits and compulsions that have caused them embarrassment. Then they want a quick fix.
I teach seminars, classes and set up meetings to help leaders stay healthy. This is the main reason I sponsor a golf time each week. Pastors are easily isolated and fail to have fun together. they rarely have close friends with other leaders and think about work/ministry all the time.
Read this news article about Dr. Seamands and promise to take care of yourself.
Agreement resolves complaint against longtime Kentucky pastor
August 1, 2005
UMNS ReportBy Kevin Evers*
WILMORE, Ky. – The Rev. David A. Seamands, retired former pastor of Wilmore United Methodist Church, and a noted author, seminary professor and preacher, has publicly apologized and accepted responsibility for “a breach of trust and moral failure” involving an allegation of sexual misconduct.
Seamands read a statement to a congregation of nearly 200 people at Wilmore United Methodist Church following the July 31 worship service. He served as pastor there from 1962-84 and is professor emeritus at Asbury Theological Seminary, where he was a professor and dean of the chapel until his retirement in 1992.
His statement was the result of the supervisory response within the United Methodist Church. According to the denomination’s Book of Discipline, the process seeks to realize “justice, reconciliation and healing” when a complaint is lodged against a pastor.
As part of an agreement, Seamands will refrain from all ministerial functions and undergo a time of “penitential” prayer and discernment to further healing of all involved in the situation.
This confidential process involved Seamands, the victim, the office of Bishop James R. King Jr. and third-party facilitators.
“In response to a complaint filed against me of sexual misconduct with an adult female occurring over a number of years, I admit that I have broken my covenantal relationships and have abused the trust of those I have harmed,” Seamands told the congregation.
“I participated in a procedure initiated by the bishop as a supervisory response and required by church law of The United Methodist Church for the purpose of healing, reconciliation and just resolution. I confess my breach of trust and moral failure. I deeply regret the pain and suffering I have caused to the victim, to my family, friends and the church.
“I have sinned against the victim, the Wilmore United Methodist Church, Asbury Theological Seminary and Asbury College, the Kentucky Annual Conference, my fellow ministers, United Methodists and my God. I have also sinned against my wife and children, grandchildren and against my family heritage. One of the roots of my sin has been the sin of pride. This process has been a painful one for all involved. The process has yielded a redemptive plan of accountability that is consistent with and according to the law of The United Methodist Church.
“This plan has been arrived at through the participation of the victim, the church and trained, impartial third-party facilitators as directed by church law. I take total responsibility for the harm I have done to the victim. The ownership and responsibility for my moral failure, my breach of covenant and my abuse of power lie solely with me. I have confessed these to the victim, my family and my God and have asked for and received forgiveness.
“I have agreed to participate in the redemptive plan of accountability designed and agreed to by all affected parties. During the next year, we have agreed that I will refrain from all ministerial functions and actions and will use this year as a time of penitential prayer and discernment as to how I might further this redemptive plan of accountability and healing.”
Concluding his statement, Seamands said he was “deeply sorry.”
*Kevin Evers is communication coordinator for the Kentucky Annual Conference.
News media contact: Tim Tanton, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org.
Pride goes before a fall.
David Seamands is one of the most influential people I know. He wrote very good books on inner healing and has been a source of God's healing love to millions around the world. But, as he confesses in the following article, his pride led him to involvement in adultery.
Pride leads to overwork, burn out and an inability to seek assistance from others. When we attempt to heal ourselves we far too often fall into sexual sin. Nowadays it is popular to blame pornography but no one has ever been attacked by porn. Porn must be sought and carefully chosen.
Many leaders are too proud to ask for help until they are caught up in habits and compulsions that have caused them embarrassment. Then they want a quick fix.
I teach seminars, classes and set up meetings to help leaders stay healthy. This is the main reason I sponsor a golf time each week. Pastors are easily isolated and fail to have fun together. they rarely have close friends with other leaders and think about work/ministry all the time.
Read this news article about Dr. Seamands and promise to take care of yourself.
Agreement resolves complaint against longtime Kentucky pastor
August 1, 2005
UMNS ReportBy Kevin Evers*
WILMORE, Ky. – The Rev. David A. Seamands, retired former pastor of Wilmore United Methodist Church, and a noted author, seminary professor and preacher, has publicly apologized and accepted responsibility for “a breach of trust and moral failure” involving an allegation of sexual misconduct.
Seamands read a statement to a congregation of nearly 200 people at Wilmore United Methodist Church following the July 31 worship service. He served as pastor there from 1962-84 and is professor emeritus at Asbury Theological Seminary, where he was a professor and dean of the chapel until his retirement in 1992.
His statement was the result of the supervisory response within the United Methodist Church. According to the denomination’s Book of Discipline, the process seeks to realize “justice, reconciliation and healing” when a complaint is lodged against a pastor.
As part of an agreement, Seamands will refrain from all ministerial functions and undergo a time of “penitential” prayer and discernment to further healing of all involved in the situation.
This confidential process involved Seamands, the victim, the office of Bishop James R. King Jr. and third-party facilitators.
“In response to a complaint filed against me of sexual misconduct with an adult female occurring over a number of years, I admit that I have broken my covenantal relationships and have abused the trust of those I have harmed,” Seamands told the congregation.
“I participated in a procedure initiated by the bishop as a supervisory response and required by church law of The United Methodist Church for the purpose of healing, reconciliation and just resolution. I confess my breach of trust and moral failure. I deeply regret the pain and suffering I have caused to the victim, to my family, friends and the church.
“I have sinned against the victim, the Wilmore United Methodist Church, Asbury Theological Seminary and Asbury College, the Kentucky Annual Conference, my fellow ministers, United Methodists and my God. I have also sinned against my wife and children, grandchildren and against my family heritage. One of the roots of my sin has been the sin of pride. This process has been a painful one for all involved. The process has yielded a redemptive plan of accountability that is consistent with and according to the law of The United Methodist Church.
“This plan has been arrived at through the participation of the victim, the church and trained, impartial third-party facilitators as directed by church law. I take total responsibility for the harm I have done to the victim. The ownership and responsibility for my moral failure, my breach of covenant and my abuse of power lie solely with me. I have confessed these to the victim, my family and my God and have asked for and received forgiveness.
“I have agreed to participate in the redemptive plan of accountability designed and agreed to by all affected parties. During the next year, we have agreed that I will refrain from all ministerial functions and actions and will use this year as a time of penitential prayer and discernment as to how I might further this redemptive plan of accountability and healing.”
Concluding his statement, Seamands said he was “deeply sorry.”
*Kevin Evers is communication coordinator for the Kentucky Annual Conference.
News media contact: Tim Tanton, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org.
Pride goes before a fall.
Tuesday, August 02, 2005
East African Revival: Kenya 1983
One of the longest running revivals in Christian history has been ongoing since the 1930's in East Africa. During a two-week study leave in Kenya I sat with powerful leaders from that region who filled me in on a revival I had never heard about before.
One of the most fascinating men had an unusual name. He was dressed in the traditional robes of an Anglican Bishop and interacted with a warm smile and easy conservation. We sat in a small circle of 12 men and women from England, Africa and the USA. (One Yank and one Brit so the rest were Africans.)
But his name was out of place on the regal looking Bishop. As he shared I came to understand why he was called as he was. He was the eldest of five children and his Islamic parents wanted desperately for him to get a good education. That meant that he had to attend the hated and feared "Christian Mission School". So, he went to school and became one of the outstanding students.
After a year or so at the boarding school he heard about an evening meeting with music and interesting speakers so he decided to sneak into the meeting and listen to the Anglican Priest who was presenting the "Life of Christ" to the students. "if I come late," he reasoned, "No one will know I, a good Muslim, am there."
So, the young man waited until the music stopped and he gently opened the door and slipped inside only to discover ot his shock that there was not one single empty seat in the small chapel.
Stunned and frightened, he began to turn and leave with the eye of every kid and teacher locked squarely on him making a silent leaving impossible.
Suddenly a voice rang out and said, "Just a moment. I think you need a seat. Come up here young man and sit in my place. I shall stand and do not need it any longer." He could hardly believe his ears. The main speaker was offering his seat to a small boy and a non-believer to boot. African culture would not allow such a thing and Islamic culture strictly forbade an elder honoring a child in such a way.
He turned and made his way to the front and took the unthinkable Bishop's Chair in the center of the room while the Anglican Bishop stood and opened a book, the Holy Bible to a specific place from which to teach. By then the boy was so overcome that he heard little of the Bishops' talk for the actions of love had so touched Mohammed that he was convicted and converted to jesus that night and that is why he is now called, "Bishop Mohammed" a very unusual name for a Christian leader.
Never underestimate the power of humility and love.
The greatest tool of evangelism is love.
One of the longest running revivals in Christian history has been ongoing since the 1930's in East Africa. During a two-week study leave in Kenya I sat with powerful leaders from that region who filled me in on a revival I had never heard about before.
One of the most fascinating men had an unusual name. He was dressed in the traditional robes of an Anglican Bishop and interacted with a warm smile and easy conservation. We sat in a small circle of 12 men and women from England, Africa and the USA. (One Yank and one Brit so the rest were Africans.)
But his name was out of place on the regal looking Bishop. As he shared I came to understand why he was called as he was. He was the eldest of five children and his Islamic parents wanted desperately for him to get a good education. That meant that he had to attend the hated and feared "Christian Mission School". So, he went to school and became one of the outstanding students.
After a year or so at the boarding school he heard about an evening meeting with music and interesting speakers so he decided to sneak into the meeting and listen to the Anglican Priest who was presenting the "Life of Christ" to the students. "if I come late," he reasoned, "No one will know I, a good Muslim, am there."
So, the young man waited until the music stopped and he gently opened the door and slipped inside only to discover ot his shock that there was not one single empty seat in the small chapel.
Stunned and frightened, he began to turn and leave with the eye of every kid and teacher locked squarely on him making a silent leaving impossible.
Suddenly a voice rang out and said, "Just a moment. I think you need a seat. Come up here young man and sit in my place. I shall stand and do not need it any longer." He could hardly believe his ears. The main speaker was offering his seat to a small boy and a non-believer to boot. African culture would not allow such a thing and Islamic culture strictly forbade an elder honoring a child in such a way.
He turned and made his way to the front and took the unthinkable Bishop's Chair in the center of the room while the Anglican Bishop stood and opened a book, the Holy Bible to a specific place from which to teach. By then the boy was so overcome that he heard little of the Bishops' talk for the actions of love had so touched Mohammed that he was convicted and converted to jesus that night and that is why he is now called, "Bishop Mohammed" a very unusual name for a Christian leader.
Never underestimate the power of humility and love.
The greatest tool of evangelism is love.
With A Little Help From My Friends
Over the years I have met many wonderful people and several snakes in the grass. Mature Christians seem to know intuitively how to separat the wheat from the chaff and develop deep relationships and friendships with the good guys but stay away from the bad guys.
In 1983 the lord took me to Kenya to a conference. There I met people from all over the planet. Every one of them was leading spiritual revivals and renewals. Men and women from Africa, India, Egypt, Argentina, Singapore, etc gathered to share God’s wisdom about spiritual leadership issues. We discovered that most did not "lead anything" but simply responded to the new wine of the Holy Spirit when He showed up.
Several of these folks had amazing stories. I will relate them over the next weeks. There was one man whose friendship has changed my life. Jens-Petter Jorgenson, from Oslo, Norway stayed just a few feet down the hallway from me and we got well acquainted during the week of meetings held at a Southern Baptist seminary.
One morning Jens-Petter came to breakfast and said something like, “God spoke to me last night and said you were His man for reviving Norway. You must come to Norway and help us integrate evangelism, healing, teaching and psychology.”
I fell back as if a rattler had struck at me because I was overwhelmed with that kind of grandiose charge. Later, however, God whispered that I must go to that northern land and see what He would do. Since thatmeeting in Kenya I have traveled to Norway, Sweden and Denmark on many occasions and have come to love the people there dearly. Over the years we spoke with five or six people in a small group to over 7,000 at the summer OASE Conferences. In almost every instance my trips came from the influence of this gentle and humorous man from southern Norway.
Jens-Petter and 5000 friends just finished celebrating the 25th anniversary of OASE, the Renewal and Revival Network of Scandinavia. He was introduced as “Mr. Revival” and delivered the keynote address. Jens-Petter is also a seminary professor, a pastor, a representative of the Willow Creek Association and an internationally renowned speaker and writer. He has served as a representative of the Norwegian government in South Africa, an official writer for Promise Keepers, the principal speaker at major conferences in many lands.
You are invited to meet with Jens-Petter for an informal lunch this Friday, August 5 at 11:30 at the Life Way Center. Come with questions about renewal, revival, God’s current move in the world, etc.
We will provide pizza and drinks for those who sign up. Go to www.lifewaycenters.com or call me for directions.
Shalom,
Gary Sweeten
Cell Number 300-5065
Over the years I have met many wonderful people and several snakes in the grass. Mature Christians seem to know intuitively how to separat the wheat from the chaff and develop deep relationships and friendships with the good guys but stay away from the bad guys.
In 1983 the lord took me to Kenya to a conference. There I met people from all over the planet. Every one of them was leading spiritual revivals and renewals. Men and women from Africa, India, Egypt, Argentina, Singapore, etc gathered to share God’s wisdom about spiritual leadership issues. We discovered that most did not "lead anything" but simply responded to the new wine of the Holy Spirit when He showed up.
Several of these folks had amazing stories. I will relate them over the next weeks. There was one man whose friendship has changed my life. Jens-Petter Jorgenson, from Oslo, Norway stayed just a few feet down the hallway from me and we got well acquainted during the week of meetings held at a Southern Baptist seminary.
One morning Jens-Petter came to breakfast and said something like, “God spoke to me last night and said you were His man for reviving Norway. You must come to Norway and help us integrate evangelism, healing, teaching and psychology.”
I fell back as if a rattler had struck at me because I was overwhelmed with that kind of grandiose charge. Later, however, God whispered that I must go to that northern land and see what He would do. Since thatmeeting in Kenya I have traveled to Norway, Sweden and Denmark on many occasions and have come to love the people there dearly. Over the years we spoke with five or six people in a small group to over 7,000 at the summer OASE Conferences. In almost every instance my trips came from the influence of this gentle and humorous man from southern Norway.
Jens-Petter and 5000 friends just finished celebrating the 25th anniversary of OASE, the Renewal and Revival Network of Scandinavia. He was introduced as “Mr. Revival” and delivered the keynote address. Jens-Petter is also a seminary professor, a pastor, a representative of the Willow Creek Association and an internationally renowned speaker and writer. He has served as a representative of the Norwegian government in South Africa, an official writer for Promise Keepers, the principal speaker at major conferences in many lands.
You are invited to meet with Jens-Petter for an informal lunch this Friday, August 5 at 11:30 at the Life Way Center. Come with questions about renewal, revival, God’s current move in the world, etc.
We will provide pizza and drinks for those who sign up. Go to www.lifewaycenters.com or call me for directions.
Shalom,
Gary Sweeten
Cell Number 300-5065
Sunday, July 31, 2005
What is Christian Maturity?
St. Paul uses a Greek word, semnotes, in I Timothy 3:3 that wonderfully describes an emotionally mature Christian.
Aristotle defined it as the average or virtue that lies between two extremes. One extreme is authadeia, arrogance or trying to please nobody. The other is areskeia, servile humility, or trying, at all costs, to please everybody. Semnotes stands as the balance between arrogance and servility and it has in it the ability to perform ones duties well as a citizen while modeling the truth that real dignity is not earthly but from heaven. It thus draws our respect.
10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1-0-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10
Servility+++++Balanced++++++Arrogance
Paul instructs Timothy to look for leaders who had reared their children to relate with semnotes. Thus, senior pastors must be old enough to produce and rear children who are themselves, mature.
Semnotes means one can speak the truth in love. We learn how to pastor the church of God by being a parent. Children teach us as much as we teach them.
Paul looks for the signs of maturity in relational skills. People who are either arrogant or servile are not ready to be senior pastors. In fact, those who have failed to rear children to be semnotes are not mature. This is a strong endorsement for parental involvement. Balanced children do not spring from the earth.
Pastoring is almost exactly like parenting. Children grow slowly over a long period. They require many hours of thankless and boring nurture. Yet, our love for them compels us to give the best we have.
Members often require hours of thankless servanthood. They need to be nurtured, confronted, encouraged and taught. We pray they will move toward semnotes quickly. The fact is adult members are usually servile or too arrogant. Rarely is one born again with automatic, balanced maturity.
Those who are fearfully shy require great sensitivity and encouragement lest they withdraw in pain. The prideful and arrogant are just as much in need of sensitive love and encouragement, but we find it harder to give since they are so difficult to live with. We want to confront them harshly and tell them to "shape up or ship out" but that almost never works.
So, we need to minister to the arrogant and the servile with semnotes; balanced love and truth. Paul says in Ephesians 4:15 that we will grow up into Him, the head of the church, when we speak the truth in love to one another. We may be tempted to offer only love to the servile and truth to the arrogant but scripture indicates a very different approach that combines truth with love.
St. Paul uses a Greek word, semnotes, in I Timothy 3:3 that wonderfully describes an emotionally mature Christian.
Aristotle defined it as the average or virtue that lies between two extremes. One extreme is authadeia, arrogance or trying to please nobody. The other is areskeia, servile humility, or trying, at all costs, to please everybody. Semnotes stands as the balance between arrogance and servility and it has in it the ability to perform ones duties well as a citizen while modeling the truth that real dignity is not earthly but from heaven. It thus draws our respect.
10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1-0-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10
Servility+++++Balanced++++++Arrogance
Paul instructs Timothy to look for leaders who had reared their children to relate with semnotes. Thus, senior pastors must be old enough to produce and rear children who are themselves, mature.
Semnotes means one can speak the truth in love. We learn how to pastor the church of God by being a parent. Children teach us as much as we teach them.
Paul looks for the signs of maturity in relational skills. People who are either arrogant or servile are not ready to be senior pastors. In fact, those who have failed to rear children to be semnotes are not mature. This is a strong endorsement for parental involvement. Balanced children do not spring from the earth.
Pastoring is almost exactly like parenting. Children grow slowly over a long period. They require many hours of thankless and boring nurture. Yet, our love for them compels us to give the best we have.
Members often require hours of thankless servanthood. They need to be nurtured, confronted, encouraged and taught. We pray they will move toward semnotes quickly. The fact is adult members are usually servile or too arrogant. Rarely is one born again with automatic, balanced maturity.
Those who are fearfully shy require great sensitivity and encouragement lest they withdraw in pain. The prideful and arrogant are just as much in need of sensitive love and encouragement, but we find it harder to give since they are so difficult to live with. We want to confront them harshly and tell them to "shape up or ship out" but that almost never works.
So, we need to minister to the arrogant and the servile with semnotes; balanced love and truth. Paul says in Ephesians 4:15 that we will grow up into Him, the head of the church, when we speak the truth in love to one another. We may be tempted to offer only love to the servile and truth to the arrogant but scripture indicates a very different approach that combines truth with love.
Considerations for A Healing and Equipping Ministry
1. Most individuals and families (some 70 to 80%) will get pastoral care and counseling needs met in the regular church ministries such as classes, cells, worship and personal ministry involvement. They will only need specialized pastoral care from trained Para Care Givers, Pastors or Professionals during times of crisis, death, loss of a job, family life transitions, etc.
2. The 70-80% must be equipped and moved into personal ministry to the other members and those outside the church.
3. Approximately 10% of a congregation may reach maturity as a Christian. This state combines wisdom, character, ethics, morality, and spirituality with the truth, fruit and gifts of the Holy Spirit. Such persons will provide the bulk of ministry leadership in the church. A congregation that vigorously equips the saints may actually expand the number of persons in this category but the percentage will not grow because new persons are always entering the family of God.
4. About 10% to 20% of a congregation will need special, para-care at any one time through individual or group listening, problem solving, prayer, support or recovery.
5. About 10% to 15% need specialized, Professional care at any one time. Every church needs to develop a list of supportive counselors in the community.
6. Only some 2% to 5% will require expert psychiatric medical care.
7. Equipping must both heal and train. The Life Skills Model of equipping is actually as therapeutic as most counseling so you can be much more efficient with Life Skills.
8. Growth and healing normally proceed at a slow pace, one point, or less, at a time. Helen Lim is a minus 4 on the scale and will not likely move to a plus 5 overnight may grow from minus 4 to minus 3 to minus 2. A miracle may move a person from minus 4 to plus 1.
9. Healing is different from growth and only prepares the way for growth. The absence of illness is not the same as maturity. One can be emotionally mature and spiritually immature. After one is healed he needs to also be equipped.
1. Most individuals and families (some 70 to 80%) will get pastoral care and counseling needs met in the regular church ministries such as classes, cells, worship and personal ministry involvement. They will only need specialized pastoral care from trained Para Care Givers, Pastors or Professionals during times of crisis, death, loss of a job, family life transitions, etc.
2. The 70-80% must be equipped and moved into personal ministry to the other members and those outside the church.
3. Approximately 10% of a congregation may reach maturity as a Christian. This state combines wisdom, character, ethics, morality, and spirituality with the truth, fruit and gifts of the Holy Spirit. Such persons will provide the bulk of ministry leadership in the church. A congregation that vigorously equips the saints may actually expand the number of persons in this category but the percentage will not grow because new persons are always entering the family of God.
4. About 10% to 20% of a congregation will need special, para-care at any one time through individual or group listening, problem solving, prayer, support or recovery.
5. About 10% to 15% need specialized, Professional care at any one time. Every church needs to develop a list of supportive counselors in the community.
6. Only some 2% to 5% will require expert psychiatric medical care.
7. Equipping must both heal and train. The Life Skills Model of equipping is actually as therapeutic as most counseling so you can be much more efficient with Life Skills.
8. Growth and healing normally proceed at a slow pace, one point, or less, at a time. Helen Lim is a minus 4 on the scale and will not likely move to a plus 5 overnight may grow from minus 4 to minus 3 to minus 2. A miracle may move a person from minus 4 to plus 1.
9. Healing is different from growth and only prepares the way for growth. The absence of illness is not the same as maturity. One can be emotionally mature and spiritually immature. After one is healed he needs to also be equipped.
Growth Process Model into Maturity
Dr. Gary Sweeten
I am often asked about what I do when I teach here and around the world. In the following posts I will try to explain my goals and processes.
The Lifeskills model promotes Personal growth towards holiness, healthiness, wholeness and maturity. This will include healing and curing as well as mentoring and teaching. No matter where one is when he begins the journey toward wholeness (Teleios) it is the duty of the church to facilitate positive, forward movement. As Paul noted in Col 1:27-29:
To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect, Teleios, in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.
We use a scale to evaluate health and sickness, healing and growth. there are gradations of health and dysfunction. I recently went to the heart doctor and they analyzed my heart functioning. They told me that everyone can be assigned a number that tells medical personnel how well theri heart is functioning. Despite the fact that I have an injured heart muscle my score was pretty good.
The scale of emotional/spiritual functioning runs from minus ten to minus one (-10 to -1) on the dysfunction side and plus one to plus ten (+0 to +10) on the maturity side. The scale allows us to get an idea of how the healing/growth process actually works.
For example, a Minus Eight indicates that a person is very unhealthy and unstable and needs intense support and ministry. In the physical realm such a patient would be dying. From a mental/emotional/relational perspective, such persons are deeply addicted, psychotic, angry, violent or suicidal. The person is out of control.
Can you think of any Christian character from biblical days who was emotionally/spiritually unwell? Did salvation immediately make every convert into a mature Apostle?
At the beginning of his spiritual journey was Saul of Tarsus quite dysfunctional. He was angry, bitter and took his rage out on people with whom he disagreed. He was even involved in killing Christians. Perhaps he would have been considered a minus eight or nine.
A zero indicates that one is balanced between dysfunctional and health. Such a person would be fragile and prone to bad habits but still maintaining some peace in his life.
On the growth side of the equation, Ten would be considered to be the most mature person imaginable. They can, "Take a licking and keep on ticking". Mature people face and overcome many crises and problems while maintaining inner strength and balance.
Zero implies that the person is neither dysfunctional nor healthy, but will maintain health or sickness according to normal problems of living.
Dr. Gary Sweeten
I am often asked about what I do when I teach here and around the world. In the following posts I will try to explain my goals and processes.
The Lifeskills model promotes Personal growth towards holiness, healthiness, wholeness and maturity. This will include healing and curing as well as mentoring and teaching. No matter where one is when he begins the journey toward wholeness (Teleios) it is the duty of the church to facilitate positive, forward movement. As Paul noted in Col 1:27-29:
To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect, Teleios, in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.
We use a scale to evaluate health and sickness, healing and growth. there are gradations of health and dysfunction. I recently went to the heart doctor and they analyzed my heart functioning. They told me that everyone can be assigned a number that tells medical personnel how well theri heart is functioning. Despite the fact that I have an injured heart muscle my score was pretty good.
The scale of emotional/spiritual functioning runs from minus ten to minus one (-10 to -1) on the dysfunction side and plus one to plus ten (+0 to +10) on the maturity side. The scale allows us to get an idea of how the healing/growth process actually works.
For example, a Minus Eight indicates that a person is very unhealthy and unstable and needs intense support and ministry. In the physical realm such a patient would be dying. From a mental/emotional/relational perspective, such persons are deeply addicted, psychotic, angry, violent or suicidal. The person is out of control.
Can you think of any Christian character from biblical days who was emotionally/spiritually unwell? Did salvation immediately make every convert into a mature Apostle?
At the beginning of his spiritual journey was Saul of Tarsus quite dysfunctional. He was angry, bitter and took his rage out on people with whom he disagreed. He was even involved in killing Christians. Perhaps he would have been considered a minus eight or nine.
A zero indicates that one is balanced between dysfunctional and health. Such a person would be fragile and prone to bad habits but still maintaining some peace in his life.
On the growth side of the equation, Ten would be considered to be the most mature person imaginable. They can, "Take a licking and keep on ticking". Mature people face and overcome many crises and problems while maintaining inner strength and balance.
Zero implies that the person is neither dysfunctional nor healthy, but will maintain health or sickness according to normal problems of living.
Semi Retirment?
For a man who is semi-retired I sure have a lot on my plate. God told me a year ago that the future would be the most influential portion of my ministry. Like many things I have heard from the lord, it was hard to believe at first. I normally ask myself if I were dreaming or making things up. When it comes to hearing God I am never sure until He moves in my life and answers such a word.
For the past ten years following a heart problem and leaving EMI behind I have spent my time in foreign lands raising up people who can continue our healing/discipling ministry in another culture. In 2005 the LifeWay Ministries Board advised me to slow down on international travels and stick around here to support and mentor leaders in the USA. I am doing that and many opportunities to minister locally have arisen.
However, on August 10 I leave for Moscow for two weeks and I need your prayers.
More later.
For a man who is semi-retired I sure have a lot on my plate. God told me a year ago that the future would be the most influential portion of my ministry. Like many things I have heard from the lord, it was hard to believe at first. I normally ask myself if I were dreaming or making things up. When it comes to hearing God I am never sure until He moves in my life and answers such a word.
For the past ten years following a heart problem and leaving EMI behind I have spent my time in foreign lands raising up people who can continue our healing/discipling ministry in another culture. In 2005 the LifeWay Ministries Board advised me to slow down on international travels and stick around here to support and mentor leaders in the USA. I am doing that and many opportunities to minister locally have arisen.
However, on August 10 I leave for Moscow for two weeks and I need your prayers.
More later.
Semi Retirment?
For a man who is semi-retired I sure have a lot on my plate. God told me a year ago that the future would be the most influential portion of my ministry. Like many things I have heard from the lord, it was hard to believe at first. I normally ask myself if I were dreaming or making things up. When it comes to hearing God I am never sure until He moves in my life and answers such a word.
For the past ten years following a heart problem and leaving EMI behind I have spent my time in foreign lands raising up people who can continue our healing/discipling ministry in another culture. In 2005 the LifeWay Ministries Board advised me to slow down on international travels and stick around here to support and mentor leaders in the USA. I am doing that and many opportunities to minister locally have arisen.
However, on August 10 I leave for Moscow for two weeks and I need your prayers.
More later.
For a man who is semi-retired I sure have a lot on my plate. God told me a year ago that the future would be the most influential portion of my ministry. Like many things I have heard from the lord, it was hard to believe at first. I normally ask myself if I were dreaming or making things up. When it comes to hearing God I am never sure until He moves in my life and answers such a word.
For the past ten years following a heart problem and leaving EMI behind I have spent my time in foreign lands raising up people who can continue our healing/discipling ministry in another culture. In 2005 the LifeWay Ministries Board advised me to slow down on international travels and stick around here to support and mentor leaders in the USA. I am doing that and many opportunities to minister locally have arisen.
However, on August 10 I leave for Moscow for two weeks and I need your prayers.
More later.
Saturday, July 16, 2005
Ministry to Hurting Persons
People have suffered under authoritarian rule for centuries but they have survived. Until now dictators have generally ruled people’s daily lives but allowed them to develop their souls as they pleased. The Bolsheviks have changed all that. Now we must give ourselves body and soul to the state. Alexander Solzhenitysn paraphrase From Under the Rubble, Regnery Press, 1981
I have been actively supporting people in Russia and the CIS since the early 90’s. During that time I have seen the nation and all its people go through a horrendous time of pain and distress. As you read the reports below you will be shocked by the carnage and suffering mainly because the USSR destroyed almost everything leading to freedom, democracy and hard work.
Soviet Persecutions of the Church
Spiritual, vitality is necessary for any nation to thrive. The Bolsheviks did everything possible to destroy faith in God and the health of the churches. Some estimate that they killed over 90,000 Russian Orthodox priests and destroyed over 12,000 of their churches during the 70-year reign of terror. This includes only the Orthodox so we know that an equal percentage of Pentecostal and Baptist believers were also eliminated along with their meeting places.
One of the most brutal practices they used to stamp out Christianity was to take believers’ children from them. Christians were seen as defective parents who were dangerous to the kids so they were placed into orphanages or foster homes. A close friend and leader of the movement to treat Christian addicts were in such a home. The long-term effects of being ripped from their parents and siblings still reverberate throughout the adult children in the form of depression, addictions, abuse and illness.
These are very common problems among those who stayed true to God despite Communist persecution. Many of the current leaders are survivors from those homes and churches and are deeply wounded adults with immature parenting and leadership styles. The articles below outline many of the mental, emotional, spiritual and physical outcomes of the satanic attack on the Russian people in general and Christians as a specially hated group.
Pray for the leaders of Russia and the people who love God.
People have suffered under authoritarian rule for centuries but they have survived. Until now dictators have generally ruled people’s daily lives but allowed them to develop their souls as they pleased. The Bolsheviks have changed all that. Now we must give ourselves body and soul to the state. Alexander Solzhenitysn paraphrase From Under the Rubble, Regnery Press, 1981
I have been actively supporting people in Russia and the CIS since the early 90’s. During that time I have seen the nation and all its people go through a horrendous time of pain and distress. As you read the reports below you will be shocked by the carnage and suffering mainly because the USSR destroyed almost everything leading to freedom, democracy and hard work.
Soviet Persecutions of the Church
Spiritual, vitality is necessary for any nation to thrive. The Bolsheviks did everything possible to destroy faith in God and the health of the churches. Some estimate that they killed over 90,000 Russian Orthodox priests and destroyed over 12,000 of their churches during the 70-year reign of terror. This includes only the Orthodox so we know that an equal percentage of Pentecostal and Baptist believers were also eliminated along with their meeting places.
One of the most brutal practices they used to stamp out Christianity was to take believers’ children from them. Christians were seen as defective parents who were dangerous to the kids so they were placed into orphanages or foster homes. A close friend and leader of the movement to treat Christian addicts were in such a home. The long-term effects of being ripped from their parents and siblings still reverberate throughout the adult children in the form of depression, addictions, abuse and illness.
These are very common problems among those who stayed true to God despite Communist persecution. Many of the current leaders are survivors from those homes and churches and are deeply wounded adults with immature parenting and leadership styles. The articles below outline many of the mental, emotional, spiritual and physical outcomes of the satanic attack on the Russian people in general and Christians as a specially hated group.
Pray for the leaders of Russia and the people who love God.
Friday, July 08, 2005
Burn Out and Hopelessness in Ministry
Smoldering Wick Ministries says that as many as 1500 ministers leave their posts each month due to burn out. Whether that is a tru number or not I do not know, but if the number of leaders I see every week is any indication then it is close to true.
The cause of burn out is not working too hard but doing hard work in one's own strength. No one that I help thinks they are doing it on their own for every one of them is motivated by Jesus and filled with the Holy Spirit.
The ministers I speak with talk about their compassion, concern and desire to build the church. But they are filled with worry and the thrill of ministry has died. They are convinced that the church and its people cannot survive without them. They feel guilty whenever they are not doing something for God. The must always be the one who teaches, preaches, leads the small groups and has the plan for success.
The burned out leader cannot receive assistance because he must always be helping not receiving. He is selfish about giving for "It is more blessed to give than receive."
Perhaps you think I am being judgmental and harsh. That I have no compassion or sensitivity toward people in pain. That I do not really understand.
Maybe not, but that was me until I collapsed. That was me until I ended up in the hospital. That was me until my chest pains led me to fly home from Asia and see the doctor. That was me until I got a stent in the chest and Doctor Kereiakes saved my life.
Maybe I do not understand.
But if I do, I can help pastors avoid burn out.
Smoldering Wick Ministries says that as many as 1500 ministers leave their posts each month due to burn out. Whether that is a tru number or not I do not know, but if the number of leaders I see every week is any indication then it is close to true.
The cause of burn out is not working too hard but doing hard work in one's own strength. No one that I help thinks they are doing it on their own for every one of them is motivated by Jesus and filled with the Holy Spirit.
The ministers I speak with talk about their compassion, concern and desire to build the church. But they are filled with worry and the thrill of ministry has died. They are convinced that the church and its people cannot survive without them. They feel guilty whenever they are not doing something for God. The must always be the one who teaches, preaches, leads the small groups and has the plan for success.
The burned out leader cannot receive assistance because he must always be helping not receiving. He is selfish about giving for "It is more blessed to give than receive."
Perhaps you think I am being judgmental and harsh. That I have no compassion or sensitivity toward people in pain. That I do not really understand.
Maybe not, but that was me until I collapsed. That was me until I ended up in the hospital. That was me until my chest pains led me to fly home from Asia and see the doctor. That was me until I got a stent in the chest and Doctor Kereiakes saved my life.
Maybe I do not understand.
But if I do, I can help pastors avoid burn out.
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