www.ats.ph
ATS Vision
To become the leading Evangelical seminary in Asia that produces outstanding servant leaders.
ATS Mission To glorify God by providing quality theological education for Christian leaders to effect Biblical transformation in the Church and society in Asia and beyond.
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EQUIPPING GOD’S SERVANT LEADERS FOR DIVERSE VOCATIONS Rev. Timoteo Gener, Ph.D.
LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT STRENGTHENING SPIRITUAL AND VOCATION FORMATION MOVING TOWARD A MORE ACCESSIBLE AND VOCATIONALLY-FOCUSED TRAINING AT ATS Dr. Joanna Feliciano-Soberano
FROM MANILA TO EDINBURGH: THE VALUE OF INVESTING IN FACULTY DEVELOPMENT Dr. Christopher Sabanal
ON THIS SITE WILL RISE PARTNERSHIPS IN MINISTRY: HOW ORGANIZATIONS THRIVE Dr. Jojo Manzano, Jr.
STRENGTHENING PARTNERSHIPS: MINISTRY PARTNERS, ALUMNI , STUDENTS, AND ORGANIZATIONS ATS Communications and Development Team
THANK YOU, LORD FOR SWOT Ptr. James Q. Aberin
INTOUCH STAFF Chancellor Rev. Timoteo D. Gener, Ph.D.
Editorial Staff
Ella Abigail Santos-Aramburo Marizol Duran Marc Vincent Peralta Xaris Hope Tamayo
Contributors
Dr. Timoteo Gener Dr. Joanna Feliciano-Soberano Dr. Christopher Sabanal Dr. Jojo Manzano, Jr. Ptr. James Q. Aberin
ATS BOARD OF TRUSTEES Chancellor Rev. Timoteo D. Gener, Ph.D.
MESSAGE FROM THE CHANCELLOR
Dr. Cecilio K. Pedro Chairman
Bishop Cesar Vicente P. Punzalan III Vice Chairman
Through the help of the Vital Sustainability Initiative (VSI) for Majority World Schools, ATS has reviewed our earlier goals and objectives and reconfigured a strategic plan that would stretch until 2022 (2017-2022). The Lord has also given us good people who can be at the helm of carrying out these plans in the next five years. The unifying concept of the new 5-year plan is a focus on vocations: serving the training needs of students in their calling or vocations. For this issue, we’ve rounded up testimonies and updates of how we envision our eight initiatives to pan out in the coming 5 years. The new plan includes strengthening our certificate programs which includes training Filipinos in the diaspora (OFWs), maximal use of the campus property and consequent renovations to meet training needs, and increased partnership with alumni, churches, and other key organizations. Let us walk you through the 5 by somehow giving you glimpses of each of the eight initiatives and how we are working with the Lord to carry out our mission. In all these, we want to give God the glory for “we can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps (Proverbs 16:9, NLT).”
Arch. Erlinda G. Tan Secretary
Dr. Reynaldo Avante Treasurer
MEMBERS OF THE BOARD Ptr. Santiago Q. Aberin Dr. Elyser M. Angeles Dr. Anastacio A. Escosar, Jr. Rev. Jose Gonzales, Jr. Dr. Jay E. Hallowell Mr. Wyden King Mr. Noel P. Pabiona Bp. Noel Pantoja Rev. Russel E. Simons Rev. Peter Tan-Chi Rev. Dwayne F. Thielke
EQUIPPING GOD’S SERVANT LEADERS
FOR DIVERSE VOCATIONS Rev. Timoteo Gener, Ph.D.
In
the latest survey we did on the vocations (or callings) of recent graduates of Asian Theological Seminary (2010-16), prominent in the list were pastors and workers in the organized church, and also Christian community development workers, teachers and school administrators, Bible translators, marketplace professionals, and Christians in business. We had graduates who, while seeking deeper understanding and practice of their Evangelical faith, remained to be medical doctors, lawyers, policemen, engineers, architects, and even a scientist. Evening and Saturday classes accommodate the continuing influx of student-professionals in the seminary. Consequently, ATS has two chapel services, once a week in the morning for full-time students and another in the evening, which caters to student-professionals who attend the evening classes. With its push for hybrid and fully online programs aligned with its mission, the seminary has opened the doors further to serving diverse vocations and transcending geographical barriers. At present, there are two fully online programs being offered: Graduate Diploma in Christian Education (eGDipCE) and MBA in Biblical Stewardship and Christian Management (eMBA).
Asian Theological Seminary supports its equipping for all of life through a biblical theology of work and vocation that covers the diverse witnesses of Christians in the “marketplace.” This avoids the dualistic understanding that “real” work is focused only on the Christian ministry and “ordinary” work is a necessity for living and an opportunity for witnessing. Rather, ATS understands daily work as reflective of God the worker and such work finds its purpose in being regents under God, working to shape our natural and social worlds according to God’s kingdom purposes. [1] A biblical-theological understanding of vocation calls every Christian to service, not merely intimacy with Christ. It means “that we are not only called to be ministers and missionaries but called to serve God in every sphere of life. Therefore, whether we are pastors, politicians, or artists, we are called to serve God and the neighbor in all that we do.”[2] We give solid training for pastors and workers in the local church (or the gathered Church), but beyond that, quality equipping for “the Church without walls” (or the scattered Church).
[1] Charles Ringma, “A Theology of Work: Some Preliminary Considerations,” phronesis, A Journal of Asian Theological Seminary, 1 (1994): 17-18. [2] Ibid., 23. See also Paul Stevens, The Other Six Days (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans; Vancouver: Regent College Publishing, 1999).
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Leadership Development The wealth of an organization is its human resource. No organization will thrive without the people making sure all systems are in place—setting up and following through for maximum efficiency and performance. As part of our eight strategies in the next five years, ATS will ensure sustainability by developing human resource and leadership. The first step to take in making this possible is through aligning human resource capabilities through a review of existing personnel profiles and making good matches in terms of appraisals. The organizational structure of ATS is already in place but we need to review, develop, and enhance procedures to maximize the potential of our staff. Our staff will also undergo training and professional development, which will explore their individual gifting and passion. We see this as an important step so that the workplace can truly be an avenue for personal growth. Leadership and management succession plans are also underway to ensure that the core values, vision, and mission of the seminary will continue. As ATS purposefully equips Christian leaders in their vocation, we also hope to train and care for the people who work behind the scenes of the seminary.
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Strengthening Spiritual and Vocation Formation
Christian workers tend to be overburdened by the many responsibilities on their shoulders, be it in the church, or their workplaces, or even the seminary. So how can a heavy-laden worker be an effective minister? The invitation of Jesus is to come and rest. As a community of believers, Asian Theological Seminary hopes to integrate spiritual companioning as a core practice in the spiritual life of faculty, staff, students, and alumni. There are spiritual formation classes available for students but we see that a one-time engagement may be insufficient for a longer lasting ministry impact. Often we see our students struggle balancing personal moments with the Lord and time for ministry and school work. This is why we see the need to keep encouraging and opening up opportunities for spiritual formation.
Personal devotion need not also be
an individual effort because as Christians, we thrive best in the context of community. We envision having community-wide formation groups with our alumni at the helm. Some of our alumni are already immersed in spiritual companioning and
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we see their participation as a vital tool in forming this spiritual community. We need to orient our faculty, staff, students, and alumni about spiritual companioning. The chaplaincy team is tasked to head this as well as to form companioning groups composed of faculty, staff, students, and alumni. In the past years, we had Care Groups that cater to the need for community and we hope to turn it up a notch by making it a program suitable for group companioning.
Spiritual companioning is an old
practice by early Christians and we see its value for today’s world. It is a discipline that needs to be revisited for its benefits to a worker’s weary soul. Training may take a while but continuous engagement, much like physical exercise, helps develop spiritual muscles. The chaplains will see to it that the leaders will be well-formed in this spiritual practice.
It is not enough to be companioned only in the seminary and so we also hope to develop spiritual direction courses where our students can bring this practice to their churches or workplaces. As part of the spiritual formation program, ATS plans to hold workshops on spiritual direction and with it assign a Spiritual Director who can facilitate and plan the next steps for this initiative.
To strengthen further our community’s spiritual formation, ATS will organize retreats to create opportunities for meditation and reflective practice for students, part-time faculty, staff, and alumni. The whole ATS community needs to be on the same page and we are excited to schedule regular retreats to look back on the ministries of ATS and to hear from the Lord His directions for the seminary. We consider these retreats as a sort of divine systems update. While we already regularly hold spiritual retreats for some programs, we hope to reinforce the practice even further, making it community-wide. Spiritual retreats will be incorporated in the annual schedule so that the whole community can freely participate.
The Christian Education program regularly holds retreats to be refreshed, restored, and recharged. CE Power Up Retreat, August 2017
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Moving Toward a more Accessible and Vocationally-focused Training at ATS Joanna Feliciano-Soberano, Ph.D. In early 2014, I contributed an article about “Online Learning at ATS: Challenges and Possibilities� published in Common Ground Journal. Re-reading that article today gives me an overwhelming gratitude to God who has so graciously worked in and through the leadership, faculty, and staff of ATS. Indeed, we have come a long way! Praise the Lord! This year I am teaching fully online courses. The journey is challenging for me as a facilitator of learning, but the experiences have been rewarding! Recently, many fully online students expressed their appreciation to ATS for the opportunity to study and be equipped in ministry. A full-time mom explained that she decided to resign from her job, but she realized how much she missed the learning opportunities, especially that she has committed to teaching ministry in her local church. A student from New Jersey shared how he longed for an accessible training that is close to his Filipino heart. These are two of the many students who have thrived in our fully online courses. For many more students from our country, from Africa,
from the US and from other Asian countries, we endeavor to give our best so that these students can fulfill their calling in their own contexts. The fully online and blended learning at ATS, and the continuing pursuit of excellence in teaching and learning are the huge trajectories we have already incorporated in our learning community. Consequently, the Academic Year 2017-18 is now marked with a decisive movement towards more relevant leadership training: Our graduate programs (Graduate Diploma, Master of Divinity, and Master of Arts) are in the process of serious curriculum re-framing to respond to the demands of 21st Century learning and the varied ministry contexts of our students. We acknowledge that students come to us because they are called to ministry.
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Our PhD in Contextual Theology has begun with the first cohort of students, with CHED recognition, and with internationally well-known faculty and mentors.
The title of the series is Facing Forward: Leadership Development and Ministry in the 21st Century (Spring 2014) and can be accessed at http://www.commongroundjournal.org/backissues.html#v11n02 1
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Majority (90%) of our residential courses are now in a blended-learning mode. More and more we see the value of innovative learning spaces especially during class cancellations and challenging Manila commute. Our MBA in Biblical Stewardship program has become more accessible and cutting edge in course offerings. We are in the process of conceptualizing a relevant training curriculum for our OFWs. We are in the process of providing more Certificate Programs for Christian workers who see the need for continuing education in the area of ministry skills. We have strengthened our faculty development and have included highly qualified teachers, mentors, and coaches in our line-up. We value the love of learning and the desire for God to be at the heart of seminary training. We strongly believe in the spiritual formation of Christian leaders and workers. The curriculum is peppered with emphasis on spiritual formation through specific courses, class devotions, retreats, and community worship.
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It has been more than three years since the 2014 article when ATS
decided to go into an
“ambitious venture� of
online learning. The positive experiences narrated by our students outweigh the challenges. There is clearly much work ahead but the trajectory has been enriching! Thanks be to God!
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I regard the School Year 2008-2009 as a key point in my career.It was the year when ATS invited me to handle courses in Bible and Theology. Little did I know that in October 2009, both my wife (Annelle) and I would spend the next seven years in Scotland, pursuing our PhDs in the University of Edinburgh. Largely unknown, too, was the fact that I would end up as full-time faculty of ATS in 2016. I vividly remember how we were pleasantly surprised when our application for postgraduate studies was accepted. We were surprised mainly because the news of our successful application was accompanied by the approval of some merit-based scholarships. On the one hand, the award essentially covered the notoriously expensive tuition fees for the entire PhD program. On the other hand, it secured part of the annual living expenses for the next
three years. In short, funding for our studies was guaranteed (which is rare), but we still had to raise a substantial amount to cover our airfare and the rather high cost of living. During this early stage, ATS was generally supportive even though I was not yet officially enlisted as part of the faculty development program. We received some encouraging and helpful endorsements mainly from the ATS faculty, which I believe contributed positively in the overall strength of our application. I must immediately note here that ATS (in partnership with ScholarLeaders) came in as immensely supportive, both financially and spiritually, especially during our final two years in Edinburgh. This support included our smooth transition back to Manila in October 2016.
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First few days in Edinburgh, 2009.
Was it necessary to study in Europe? Was it worth studying there? Perhaps, without any sense of vocation to be in the academe, we had no compelling reason to pursue
From Manila
The Value of Investing
postgraduate work. But we understood our vocation to be largely academic. We had a strong sense of responsibility to contribute in the theological task of nurturing the intellectual side of spirituality, which we believe is essential if our goal is to prepare holistic disciples of Jesus in the 21st century. At that time, Edinburgh presented a rare chance to be exposed in an academically stimulating environment, having had a very long tradition of theological excellence. At the same time, Edinburgh gave us the chance to be mentored by world-class intellectuals, who are some of the leading scholars of their fields. How often does an aspiring academic get to have this opportunity? We arrived in Edinburgh in October 2009, determined to fulfil the academic requirements within three years, and
imagining ourselves in Manila between the years 2012 and 2013. All things considered, Edinburgh turned out to be a major intellectual watershed. Indeed, the adventure of learning may not always be exciting. It can also be quite frustrating, not to mention, depressing. On several occasions, I felt trapped, thinking that there was absolutely no way I could make any progress in my research. Yet I realized later that this overall experience is precisely what makes the PhD worth pursuing. More than the combined experience I had with the MDiv and ThM tracks, the path towards the
To Edinburgh
in Faculty Development
process. Investing in faculty development, therefore, is much more than simply securing the necessary funding (which is also important). I propose that there is an urgent need to encourage and invest in the postgraduate studies of the ATS faculty precisely because this is among the rarest opportunities wherein an academic gets a chance to nurture his or her capacities toward higher levels of intellectual engagement. The whole process of cultivating one’s potential through the PhD (and through other postdoctoral opportunities) must continue beyond their formal confines. Indeed, the postgraduate adventure should help to establish the much-needed academic orientation, the regular and lifelong discipline necessary for sustaining the highest standards of theological excellence which ATS is keen to offer.
PhD shaped me to become a much more curious and adventurous researcher. The only problem is that one cannot see the benefits in advance. Speaking from hindsight, the slow and painful process of pursuing a PhD-level research is truly a rewarding experience. The value of investing in postgraduate studies lies in the intellectually-enriching
Dr. Christopher Sabanal
Dr. Chris finished his PhD in Humanities and Social Sciences (with research in World Christianity) in 2016. He and his wife now teach core Theology & Biblical Studies courses in ATS. Dr. Chris and Dr. Annelle Sabanal, 2017
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ATS 2018 PASTOR
CONFERENCE: BIBL
To all church workers – pastors, missionaries, evangelists, teachers a This 2018, Asian Theological Seminary will be holding a biennial Pastors Focusing on the theme of Biblical Preaching, we pray that this conference will ministry but also crucial equipping for imm
April 5 &
Christ’s Commis
Frontera Verde, Ortigas A Pasig City, Metro M
RS AND WORKERS’
LICAL PREACHING
and ministry leaders of different denominations and organizations: s and Workers’ Conference to address relevant ministry issues and themes. l serve as an avenue not just for deeper knowledge on themes related to church mediate application in their own contexts.
& 6, 2018
ssion Fellowship
Avenue corner C5 Road Manila, Philippines
ON THIS
SITE WILL RISE Asian Theological Seminary aims to develop Christian workers in their vocation and through the help of strategic planning, we were able to identify and plan around the need to make improvements around the campus. This is aimed to support deeper community life (cafeteria renovation), lodging for international and provincial students, new and improved offices, including a renovated Counseling Center. To meet the training needs of students in their vocations, there is consequently a need to improve the facilities of the campus in Quezon City through a proposed two-floor building facility. This building facility will house the renovated community canteen, lodging for international students, center for online learning, and an innovative Counseling Center. This facility aims to respond and address the holistic equipping involved in training for vocations.
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Campus Renovation Part Two By God’s grace we have finished renovating the new administration building in 2016. We now move to the next phase of our campus improvement plans. The old rooms and library will need to be media-ready and conducive for further digitization. One classroom is being prepared now for this purpose and soon other rooms will follow suit. The Counseling Center will be renovated to house at least four counseling offices and a room for family or group counseling. This could also be another venue for recording short courses for online use.
New Structure Aside from the on-going online courses, ATS sees the importance of setting up a media center to facilitate certificate programs for Overseas Filipino Workers. This online center needs a bigger space.
Guest Rooms and dormitory facilities will also be incorporated in the new structure. These will serve to accommodate international and provincial students.
Gathering and Sacred Spaces Green spaces for contemplation and meditation will be part of the campus space. With “community� as one of the unique and distinct features of ATS, there will also be areas for group studies and meetings or simply a place where students, staff, and faculty could develop better relationships.
Timeline
Phase 4
Construction of second floor within April 2019 to January 2020- ATS will have finished constructing faculty, offices, dorms, guest rooms, and toilet facilities; and
Phase 5
Development of ancillary spaces within February to May 2020- ATS will set up a new fence and gate in place as well as additional sacred spaces.
May the Lord be glorified in all these endeavours!
Do remember to pray for the building renovation plans with this timetable in mind:
Phase 1
Conceptual Phase from January to March 2018- we will finalize master plan and conceptual developments for the whole project;
Phase 2
Relocations and demolitions within April to June 2018- ATS will prepare the parking lot as temporary shelter for canteen and storage areas. The office of the Chaplain, Research Center, and MMP offices will be relocated and the Library Alarm Gate System will be installed;
Old ATS Facade
Phase 3
The construction of the ground floor will take place within July 2018 to March 2019. ATS will construct a new canteen, various offices, prayer room, and storage areas;
ATS Facade circa 2009
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Praise Item by Dr. Tim Gener, Chancellor
Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise! Our Heavenly Father continues to do marvelous things to ATS. For 48 years, from the seminary’s humble beginnings in Recto, Manila up to where the campus resides now in Quezon City, God’s guidance, protection, and provisions have been unfailing. With a vision to improve and expand the campus as diverse needs for training arise, the upgrade of the campus facilities are at the forefront of ATS’ 5-year plan. With this in mind, the leadership, through the Board of Trustees and the Executive Committee, agreed on a two-storey building renovation project that would include a new canteen, dorms for international and provincial students, modernized classrooms, and counseling center. And here is where God has shown Himself great and mighty. In just over two weeks last November, the Lord has amazed us when funds came in for the campus renovation project in an unexpected way. It has gone up from just over 2.4 million pesos in October to 18 million in November. God be praised for His faithfulness! This was born of God’s favor and blessing to ATS through the grant proposals that were approved by interested friends of the seminary. Indeed, God heard our prayers with an increase in giving from these partners, which is beyond our imaginings! And this is partly because, by God’s grace, our partners saw ATS as good stewards of God’s resources. We haven’t even begun the project and the Lord has already provided beyond our expectations! We are encouraged as a community to continue to trust God’s goodness and grace. We therefore welcome the new year with hope and joy, celebrating Christmas and the New Year’s with deep gratitude to our Lord. Please continue to pray and partner with us for this 40-million-peso renovation project, phase two. (Phase one was the administrative building renovation.) As the Lord leads you to give, we invite you to be a part of transformation through training more and more servant leaders for the harvest. Your gift, love, and prayers for ATS are part of God’s inestimable blessings we have in Christ! Truly, on this site… a testament of God’s unending love will rise.
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To thrive financially, many organizations resort to traditional fundraising that oftentimes is outsourced so it becomes costly and labor-intensive but with little returns. Furthermore in fundraising, donor involvement often ends after the money is donated to the institution and donor-retention is constantly a problem. So how do non-profit, charitable organizations thrive financially?
NURTURING RELATIONSHIP
My years working with such organizations have taught me two important principles: Nurturing Relationship and Ministering Partners. These are backbones of effective partnership and in fostering trust. Financial vitality is not about money but about relationships and sharing responsibility. Partners, NOT donors, help me fulfill my purpose and passion and I help them fulfill theirs. As Hudson Taylor said, “God’s work done in God’s way will NEVER (emphasis mine) lack God’s supply.”
MINISTERING PARTNERSHIP
PARTNERSHIPS IN MINISTRY
HOW ORGANIZATIONS THRIVE
To thrive means to be profitable. Is it possible for “religious, non-profit, and charitable” organizations that do not sell goods or charge for services to be profitable? I say, yes!
Dr. Jojo Manzano
Dr. Jojo served as the Department Chair for the Intercultural and Urban Studies (IUS) Program in ATS. He was also the Finance OIC in the late 2000s. Dr. Jojo has developed partnerships with many organizations and individuals during his stint as a cross-cultural missionary.
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Strengthening Partnerships: Ministry Partners, Alumni, Students, and Organizations
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In the most recent survey among new students, we confirmed that the alumni still serve as the best promoters for Asian Theological Seminary. The topmost reason why students apply to train with ATS is because an alumnus shared with them the joys and struggles of studying here. The seminary has trained more than a thousand Christian leaders and we see their involvement in various ministries as a great gift to the seminary. Students who have come and gone are sent out into God’s harvest with an ATS-brand of theological training, which means that part of what they know has reached various churches and organizations. If this is the case, then ATS has been represented in various fields of expertise, churches and societies in over four decades, spanning continents, different countries, and parts of the Philippines. More than bearing the influence of the seminary wherever they go, our alumni have also become partners in building up the next generation of servant leaders through their giving.
The discussion covered sentiments our graduates had upon leaving the seminary. Some shared stories of gladness for the opportunities opened to them for having a degree. They also shared the frustrations they met and the major adjustments they faced in leaving their ATS community. This group of alumni also talked about their wishes as graduates of ATS. We gathered this small group over breakfast and they were glad to hear that they were not alone in their post-seminary life. It was a thrill for them to realize that the ATS community still has their back. Knowing the conditions of each other enabled them to intelligently pray for the graduates of ATS. They were also encouraged to regain access into the community as their source of support.
Because students normally do not get to see each other on campus all the time, these alumni were happy to meet kindred folk and build friendships with them. This alumni project also enabled them to relive their fun times in ATS and learn anew Considering that our alumni have so much from other program and class potential, our strategic planning has led us representatives. With this new set of to establish strong partnership with them. friendships formed, we can only hope to As part of the strategy, the also reach and serve the Churches, Communications and Development Christian organizations, businesses, and Department will tap the Student Life and non-government organizations they Ministry and the student body to reach out represent. to our alumni. This partnership goal is not only so that the alumni can support ATS We understand that learning does not end but so that ATS can minister to its alumni. when a degree is conferred and for most of our alumni, they have always cherished We gathered some representatives of the community life while studying in ATS. graduating classes over the years (and plan We hope that they will not lose that joy of on doing this on a monthly basis) and we community even after life in the seminary. heard them share about the challenges and rewards of their ministries after receiving theological education at ATS.
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Thank you, Lord Ptr. James Q. Aberin
National Director, PSC-SEND Philippines (Philippine Sending Council of SEND International)
Board Member, Asian Theological Seminary
Nine years ago I had the privilege of participating in our international organization’s historic leaders’ strategic planning week. The main task of our group was to revise our purpose statement to express our new and strategic focus. A management consultant who specializes on strategic planning for companies conducted interviews and facilitated our planning activities. The major work that was both fun and hard was examining our organization’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. It was one of the most unforgettable and productive organizational meetings I ever participated in. Other key documents were written that are now in our International Manual. We created statements that reflected our aims and values that would be understandable and readily accessible for everyone’s guidance. These two official documents now hang on the wall of my office. It was an honor indeed to take part in
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crafting these statements that impacted our global organization. Looking back, I marveled that through a structured strategic planning method called SWOT Analysis, powerful documents were produced. A Christian organization like ours, with more than 500 members and more than 50 years of Christian missions experience, became aligned to these documents and moved forward for the best. My conclusion: strategic planning is indeed valuable to Christian organizations. My experience then modeled for me what I have been leading our local team in doing before the beginning of each calendar year. As I facilitated SWOT Analysis with my team over these past years I sensed there is a basic question that might have been omitted or has not been asked. SWOT is valuable because it allows us to analyze and generate options for our organization
d for SWOT
A Reflection on Strategic Planning
so that we can work on strategies to bring success and avoid failure but where is God in the mix? Is SWOT Analysis just another convenient tool the business world has imposed on the church? Kudos to management consultant Albert Humphrey who developed this planning technique in the 1960s as a research project for Fortune 500 companies but where is the God-factor in all of these planning stages? I submit that Christian organizations have the choice to either go through the motions of planning or allow God to inspire, lead, and direct the whole planning process, leaving the results to Him. Leadership needs to intentionally commit purpose, goals, strategies, and results to God. Let us turn to the Wisdom literature for some guidance: “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed” (Proverbs 16:3). That is exactly why Christian organizations need strategic planning. The word “commit” has the idea of transferring a burden by rolling the load to another. We need to turn over to God our plans— the results of our meetings, our purpose statements— in complete dependence upon Him to bless these plans. We will have nothing to roll over to God when we have not done the hard work of strategic planning. It is expected of us to surrender to the LORD our plans because He rules and guides our steps. Proverbs in the same chapter verse 9 declares,
“In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.” The LORD is sovereign. He is in control of our lives and organization. Do you believe this? We need strategic planning in Christian organizations so that we can offer to God our best plans and focus on Him because ultimately we want His plans accomplished, not ours. “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails” (Proverbs 19:21, NIV).
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1969-2019
The road to 50th A joyous Christmas and grace-filled 2018 to all!
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