Have you ever thought to yourself, "I need to be ready for tomorrow," or "I know that God is preparing me today for the future."
But what about today? All of the experiences, the insights, the wisdom and knowledge you have right now has prepared you for... today.
I remember long conversations with people who are so concerned with discerning God's will for their future, that they miss what He has allowed in their lives that has equipped them to be who they are, and where they are. They are oblivious of the moment, of the day.
I've talked with people who are so paralyzed by indecision because they fear choosing the wrong path. If it's the wrong path, then God will make that clear to you as well… and guide you to where He wants you through the decision you made.
Don't be afraid to choose. Often our faith is proven by the choices we make, and being aware that who we are today is by God's design.
377DMG47SBS6
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Monday, February 1, 2010
The blind side of church communications
The church seems to have forgotten how to have a two-way conversation.
The Christian church is good at preaching, at teaching, at carrying out the functions of church – but in many ways have forgotten how to engage its members in meaningful dialog. Are we too intent on carrying out our roles that we forget how to serve, to care for the people that we are trying to equip?
Church leadership (pastors, boards, ministry directors) often have a blind side to communications – they think they are communicating, but they are really not – substituting email, memos and church policy in place of where true dialog needs to take place, in conversation.
The size of the zone of blindness increases with the size of the church. Effective church management should be no different than business management, yet the church (in America) rejects this notion. The blind side grows as churches grow, and as leadership loses touch with people as they pursue ministry. It grows as the emphasis on evangelism takes the place of equipping people to evangelize. The blind side grows as the degrees of separation grows from executive and teaching leadership to lay leadership (who often are more in touch with what is really happening in ministries).
It's not too late. Pick up the phone, have lunch with someone who volunteers in your church. You'll be surprised what you can learn.
The Christian church is good at preaching, at teaching, at carrying out the functions of church – but in many ways have forgotten how to engage its members in meaningful dialog. Are we too intent on carrying out our roles that we forget how to serve, to care for the people that we are trying to equip?
Church leadership (pastors, boards, ministry directors) often have a blind side to communications – they think they are communicating, but they are really not – substituting email, memos and church policy in place of where true dialog needs to take place, in conversation.
The size of the zone of blindness increases with the size of the church. Effective church management should be no different than business management, yet the church (in America) rejects this notion. The blind side grows as churches grow, and as leadership loses touch with people as they pursue ministry. It grows as the emphasis on evangelism takes the place of equipping people to evangelize. The blind side grows as the degrees of separation grows from executive and teaching leadership to lay leadership (who often are more in touch with what is really happening in ministries).
It's not too late. Pick up the phone, have lunch with someone who volunteers in your church. You'll be surprised what you can learn.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Volunteer leadership, why bother?
Several of us keep asking ourselves the same question recently: why are we serving and leading in this ministry?
This isn't particular to any particular church, but to all of them, especially in the US church.
We know we've been called to serve – but circumstances cause us wonder – why do we continue when we receive little support, little training, little encouragement? There is a layer of church leaders, serving as volunteers, who are frustrated and discouraged by the lack of clear direction and guidance they receive from pastoral staff.
Regardless of the "your treasure is in heaven" arguments, as individuals it is increasingly difficult to serve without a clear direction or purpose, without a sense of self and the meaningfulness of the service. Time and again, the church makes excuses for practices that would never be accepted in any other organization, under the guise of "ministry." It accepts behavior that would not be tolerated in any other environment. It accepts sincere hearts and good intentions as substitutes for competence and planning. The lay leaders need guidance, encouragement, affirmation from the paid church leadership — the pastors and program directors — if we are to buy into and carry out your vision.
Enough already! The purpose of the church is to "equip the saints." When volunteers step up to serve, provide them with an orientation to responsibilities, with a mentor to guide them into their leadership service, with a clear idea of the boundaries of their leadership.
Where this is of critical importance is in areas that may involve a disciplinary issue, which unfortunately may need to happen if a behavioral issue has been allowed to continue, unchecked, for too long. After the Matthew 18 process has been followed, how should the situation be handled? Is there a code of conduct that was violated? Is every adult leader in the ministry familiar with the process and outcomes?
Pastors, equip your people. You will lose them if safeguards aren't in place, if they become discouraged because they don't feel like the church (personified, it's the people leading the church) care about them.
We know we're on the same team, it would be encouraging for us to know we're appreciated and respected as part of the team.
This isn't particular to any particular church, but to all of them, especially in the US church.
We know we've been called to serve – but circumstances cause us wonder – why do we continue when we receive little support, little training, little encouragement? There is a layer of church leaders, serving as volunteers, who are frustrated and discouraged by the lack of clear direction and guidance they receive from pastoral staff.
Regardless of the "your treasure is in heaven" arguments, as individuals it is increasingly difficult to serve without a clear direction or purpose, without a sense of self and the meaningfulness of the service. Time and again, the church makes excuses for practices that would never be accepted in any other organization, under the guise of "ministry." It accepts behavior that would not be tolerated in any other environment. It accepts sincere hearts and good intentions as substitutes for competence and planning. The lay leaders need guidance, encouragement, affirmation from the paid church leadership — the pastors and program directors — if we are to buy into and carry out your vision.
Enough already! The purpose of the church is to "equip the saints." When volunteers step up to serve, provide them with an orientation to responsibilities, with a mentor to guide them into their leadership service, with a clear idea of the boundaries of their leadership.
Where this is of critical importance is in areas that may involve a disciplinary issue, which unfortunately may need to happen if a behavioral issue has been allowed to continue, unchecked, for too long. After the Matthew 18 process has been followed, how should the situation be handled? Is there a code of conduct that was violated? Is every adult leader in the ministry familiar with the process and outcomes?
Pastors, equip your people. You will lose them if safeguards aren't in place, if they become discouraged because they don't feel like the church (personified, it's the people leading the church) care about them.
We know we're on the same team, it would be encouraging for us to know we're appreciated and respected as part of the team.
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