The Kingdom Herald - August 2013 by Kingdom Builders Association of America, Inc.

Publishers Rev. Antwon D. James, President/CEO Pastor Tremaine M. Combs, Vice President-At-Large/Chief of Staff Elder Matthew D. Ray, First Vice President Pastor Cordell E. Fields, Second Vice President Bishop Umiko D. Jones, General Secretary

Rev. Jerome L. Williams, Executive Administrator Vacant, Director of Communications & Public Relations

The Kingdom Herald – Editor-In-Chief

Who is KBA? 3 Preaching When the News Intrudes 5 Five Right & Wrong Ways to Deal with Criticism 9 Seven Things Pastors Should Never Apologize For 12 Spotlight on Members 14 A Royally New Beginning 19 Ten Things Healthy Churches Do Well 21 Six Do-or-die Roles for Every Senior Leaders 28

Contact The Kingdom Herald (TKH) magazine via e-mail at tkh@kingdomunion.org, also visit some of our past publications at http://tkh.kingdomunion.org. TKH take a normal monthly publishing schedule of the following:  5th – Deadline for all ads and articles for publication in TKH.  6th – The magazine will be proofread and final layout prepared for upload and publishing.  7th – TKH is published. Terms & condition for advertisements and articles:  These conditions shall apply to all advertisements, insets, inserts, sponsored articles or features (herewith referred to as advertisements) accepted for inclusion in all editions of publications published by The Kingdom Herald (“TKH”) under license from Kingdom Builders Association of America, Inc. Any other proposed condition shall be void unless incorporated clearly in written instructions and specifically accepted by TKH. For full Advertisement Terms & Conditions click the following link http://www.kingdomunion.org/tkhads

Who is KBA? The Kingdom Builders Association of America, Incorporated (KBA) is a multicultural 21st century interdenominational association of Kingdom Leaders. KBA is a Christian organization whose God given command is to equip, encourage, and edify Kingdom leaders. Our existence is based on being a union to those who seek daily to fulfill the Great Commission of Christ, through local, state, and national church and ministry leadership; those called and chosen to preach the Gospel as well as those who serve the Kingdom through lay leadership. We stand united to provide a unified voice for Kingdom leadership, as well as provide resources, networking and other opportunities to our members. In KBA you will find that there are no

denominational lines, we are accept members who have a burning desire to continue building the Kingdom of God and who want to make an impact on this world, spiritually, socially, mentally, and physically. KBA is not nor desires to be a denomination or fellowship of churches, neither is membership limited to a particular denomination. The criteria for membership within KBA is to be licensed or ordained clergy; be an active appointed or elected lay leader in your national, state, or local denomination, fellowship, ministry or community. As well as be in agreement with our adopted Statement of Faith. Our members represent diverse backgrounds, and serve in all five-fold ministry gifts. We take pride in knowing that with Christ, all things are possible.

Our primary purpose is to Equip, Encourage, and Edify Kingdom Leaders, with a biblical foundation from Proverbs 27:17, Ephesians 4:4-7 and 1 Corinthians 3:9. We press to continue to be a source of outreach and help to our co-laborers of the Gospel. Iron sharpeneth Iron, so shall a man sharpeneth the countenance of friend. – Proverbs 27:17 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building. – 1 Corinthians 3:9 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. – Ephesians 4:4-7

Preaching When the News Intrudes Eric Reed When President Kennedy was assassinated November 22, 1963, Walter Cronkite interrupted As the World Turns with the tragic announcement. Pastor Gene Boutellier climbed the tower of his Fresno church and began pulling the bell rope. Much later, exhausted from his tolling, he descended and found the sanctuary full of weeping people. Tearstreaked faces turned upward, wondering what he would say. Boutellier told his story to Joseph Jeter Jr. inCrisis Preaching (Abingdon, 1998). The scene was repeated the following Sunday in virtually every church in the nation. People needing hope turned to their pastors. Preachers of that generation called it “The Sunday with God.” When President Kennedy’s son died in a plane crash in 1999, the news media climbed their towers and sounded the alarm. After witnessing a week of non-stop coverage, pastors ascended their pulpits wondering, What should I say? Should I say anything at all? And if they’re like me, they wondered, How do I preach to the endless tide of natural disasters, terrorist attacks, celebrity deaths, and political intrigue? Why does this seem to be happening so often? Preaching At the Speed of Satellite I watched the famed low-speed Bronco chase from a Holiday Inn in Tallahassee, Florida. Returning home from a week-long vacation, I had turned on the television to see what my congregation might be talking about. What I found was a major shift in the way news is processed and presented. With their interminable reportage of O.J. Simpson’s murder trial, the networks discovered an insatiable public appetite for the mindless repetition of scanty facts. With the proliferation of satellite news channels and up-to-the-minute online news, tragedies once

distant now unfold without interruption in our living rooms and offices. And senseless acts, once given some context by those reporting them, are increasingly presented raw, leaving listeners the endless task of sorting and weighing headlines. Are there more wars than there used to be? Or is it that we all have cable access to every rumor of war? Are the earthquakes more severe? Or are we harder rocked by sensurround accounts of them? Whichever the case, the world as seen on TV makes less sense than it ever has. Do parishioners with countless hours of news and analysis rumbling around in their heads come to church on Sunday hoping that the preacher will make sense of it all? To Speak or Not To Speak As a journalist-turned-pastor, I have regularly used the news to illustrate my sermons, but only once have I preached a whole sermon on a news event. In one memorable week, our city was shaken by the drive-by shootings of several children, one of them in our neighborhood; a suspected drug dealer was found slain executionstyle four blocks from our church; and police reported that New Orleans once again led the nation in murders. I had to address the fear that gripped us all. We must deal with tragedies when they are our own, but even if they are distant, terrorist attacks or faraway wars may force the preacher to reconsider the sermon schedule. If my conversations with pastors are any indication, few are comfortable doing so. Timothy Keller pastors Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan. “Some of my folks here have said they wish I’d talk more about current events,” he says candidly. “I’m not sure I’m wise enough to pull it off.” Keller has two concerns. One is that the news will overshadow his message: “When you talk about something that is making headlines, the illustration becomes the point,” Keller tells his listeners, 5

including non-Christians. “They want to hear eternal truths, not an interpretation of news events.” He wonders too about the unreliability of early reports. He usually waits a year or more before referring to a news event. “It often takes months to get perspective,” Keller says. Keller points to the sermons of the old masters as examples. The only sermons of Jonathan Edwards and others that seem irrelevant now are those preached about national events. Keller says, “It’s remarkable how poorly reasoned those sermons are. That is what originally made me hesitate about preaching on current events.” “But who says a sermon has to last for five hundred years?” counters Joseph Jeter Jr., professor at Brite Divinity School at Texas Christian University and author of the book Crisis Preaching. “All of us would like to preach a five-hundred-year sermon, but it would have to be a very general sermon.” In his research, Jeter found many preachers who refused to speak to news events. “Some said they don’t know what to say; others don’t want to sensationalize. But if your people bring to church a concern they’re confused and disturbed about and nothing is said, that is like looking for bread and getting a stone.” Choosing to address a news event requires discernment: of the likely lasting impact of the event, of the emotional needs of the congregation at the moment, and of the Spirit’s leadership in sermon preparation.

media descended on the tiny community outside Birmingham. “They asked us, ‘Why?’” Clem says. “Isn’t the sanctuary supposed to be safe? Isn’t this going to shatter your faith?” And the larger and harder question: “Why would God let this happen to a church?” “During the crisis is not the time to ask the why question,” Clem goes on. “The real question is ‘What am I going to do with the life I have today, with the family members I have today, with the church I have today?’” Clem’s words to her congregation on Easter morning a week later spoke to the need of the moment: How can we be the comforting church when we’re all suffering? Help with the why question came later. The pastor’s temptation in a crisis-prompted sermon is to offer answers. Although the people may say they want answers, what they really need is help dealing with the overwhelming emotion. A little more than six months after the shooting deaths of fifteen students at Columbine High School, nearby West Bowles Community Church continued to wrestle with the catastrophe while at the same time watching a great revival in Littleton and in their church. “Some wanted to make sense of (the deaths),” says Pastor George Kirsten. “I don’t think we can. Others would say, ‘Where can I turn? Is there any hope? Is there any comfort?’ That’s the issue we addressed loud and clear.”

Lessons Learned Kirsten’s church became a clearinghouse for wise A tornado ripped through Goshen (Alabama) United counsel. Many Columbine Methodist Church during the students came to West Bowles Easter drama on Palm Sunday two days after the shootings to When natural disasters, 1994. The building just talk through their trauma. They terrorist attacks, celebrity exploded, says Pastor Kelly didn’t seek out the counselors deaths, and political intrigue Clem, burying worshipers sent by the school system, crowded in the sanctuary under dominate the news, should according to Kirsten, but went three feet of rubble. When the pastors talk about them? And instead to other teens, youth debris was cleared, twenty were from the church who were if so, how? dead, including Clem’s fourwilling to listen and cry with year-old daughter, Hannah. The 6

them. Both Kirsten and Clem approached the preaching task as fellow strugglers. They expressed what their people were feeling and what they themselves were feeling. “Sometimes that’s all we can do—cry with our people,” Jeter surmises. Craig Barnes calls this “emergency room talk.” Barnes, an author and pastor, recommends the E.R. approach to emotionally wrenching crises. “You don’t have to do a lot of constructive theology in emergency rooms. You just remind people that we live in the hands of God, and that’s a wonderful place to be. The constructive preaching comes in the second wave.”

crisis sermon should draw them to Jesus as Savior as opposed to leaving them with the ‘right’ answer. “We live for those moments when we can stand on the stump and say, ‘I have a word from the Lord.’ If it’s truly a word from the Lord, then it’s not just for the president or the prosecutor. It’s for all of us.” The preacher’s temptation is to exegete the crisis rather than the Scripture. Barnes avoids this by starting with his congregation’s emotions and moving quickly to the text. “All preaching has to maintain both sides of that sacred conversation,” Barnes says. “You have to tell the Lord how it is down here. The people need to hear that. They need to see you as Moses, as the person who is speaking on their behalf before the Lord, in order also to hear the word of the Lord from you.”

Breaking News Can Wait “Crisis rips the veneer off,” Barnes says. “It can be very helpful.” Yet in twenty years of pastoral ministry, Barnes counts only a handful of occasions For the most part, Barnes sticks to his preaching plan. when national news became He has found that his text, sermon fodder. Most he treated selected as much as a year in “All preaching has to maintain briefly—the deaths of Princess advance, has spoken to the need both sides of that sacred Diana and Mother Teresa in the on the few occasions when he conversation” – Craig Barnes same week produced two has preached on a crisis. Like paragraphs to close a message on Keller, Barnes usually waits the cost of following Christ. awhile before referring to Pastoring for nine years in the nation’s capital, Barnes traumatic events. “There are some pretty heroic stories felt pressure to speak to the news. He resisted. For that emerge in the second wave of media coverage. I many months he refused to address the investigation think there is more valuable information there for the that led to the impeachment of the president. “I told preacher.” my congregation I was taking the high road, but when everything finally came out, I had to speak.” News anchor Peter Jennings called while Barnes was preparing his sermon. “He was taking a survey on how churches were handling it. He wanted to know whether I was calling for the head of the president or the head of the special prosecutor. Those were my only two options. “I explained that the gospel is a little bit larger than that. My intent in this kind of sermon is to transcend the options. I want to say something that is clear and useful as people work their way through the issue. The

While crises that directly affect the local church must be addressed immediately, others, more often national or world events, can wait until more information is available and the lasting impact of the event has been determined. A real crisis will still merit attention in a few weeks or months. Until then, inclusion in the pastoral prayer will suffice to acknowledge awareness of the congregation’s feelings. Other crises—and many of the incidents generating nonstop news coverage fall in this category—are simply distractions.

Grieving For People You Don’t Know “I’m surprised by how much that hurts me,” my wife said, some months after the death of John Kennedy Jr. “That it hurt at all? Or that it still hurts?” I asked. “Both, I guess. I see their pictures at the magazine stand, and I ache, deeply. Some celebrity deaths you expect to affect you. Diana, certainly. [My wife had stayed up overnight so she would not miss the royals’ wedding on television.] But I didn’t expect to feel this one.” I understood her feelings. In our star-eyed culture, we keep electronic vigils by many bedsides, and the deaths of people we’ve never met become very real to us. Our listeners need help mourning losses both real and imagined. But do tragic, widely reported deaths merit attention from the pulpit? Some instances should be referenced, but most are distractions from the real issues, according to Argile Smith, preaching professor at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. “What separates them from truly catastrophic events is that they are everyday events that happen to famous people.” People are born, live, and die, and except for their fame, most would not make the news. Neither should they make the pulpit. Still, Smith admits, the emotions of his listeners must be considered. “I had prepared to preach on death and resurrection one Sunday. The night before that sermon, Princess Diana was killed. Because that was

what everybody was talking about, I scrubbed my introduction and started with her death. The message wasn’t about Diana, but it spoke to some things people were thinking about.” Smith is watchful when invoking the names of the famous. “Be careful not to make value judgments on dead people or speculate on their salvation,” he warns. “The preacher can help his congregation with their emotions without expressing opinions about the deceased.” In other words, don’t say anything you wouldn’t say at the celebrity’s funeral. In time, Smith says, the preacher develops an internal mechanism for deciding which events are worth talking about. That’s The Way It Really Is The danger of preaching to the crisis too frequently is the temporal rather than the eternal begins to drive the preaching schedule. The preacher becomes reactionary, Chicken Little in the pulpit. On the other hand, ignoring crisis, whether real or perceived, may be seen by our listeners as failure to speak to their needs. By preaching appropriately when the news intrudes, we can show our listeners that God still cares and that he can still be trusted even in catastrophe’s aftermath. Our goal, always, is to help people view the issues of life and death in the light of Christ. “If this world is going to make sense,” Smith says, “it will only be when we see it through the eyes of Jesus.”

Five Right and Wrong Ways to Deal with Criticism Ron Edmondson Criticism accompanies leadership. The only way to avoid criticism is to do nothing. If a pastor is taking a church somewhere—and really even if he or she isn’t—someone will criticize his or her efforts. The way a leader responds to criticism says much about the maturity of the leader and the quality of his or her leadership. Here Are Five Wrong Ways To Respond To Criticism:

1. Finding Fault With The Critic Instead of admitting there might be validity to the criticism, many leaders immediately attempt to discredit the person offering it. 2. Blaming Others Many leaders realize the criticism may be valid, but they aren’t willing to accept personal responsibility, so they pass it along to others. 3. Throwing Back Criticism Often a leader will receive criticism, and instead of analyzing whether there is validity or not, the leader begins to criticize other organizations or leaders.

4. Ignoring An Opportunity To Learn This is a big one, because criticism can be a great teaching tool. It needs a filter, and the person and circumstances need to be taken into consideration, but with every criticism rests an opportunity to learn something positive for the organization or about the leader. 5. Appeasing Many leaders are so fearful of conflict that they attempt to satisfy all critics, even if they never intend to follow through or make changes because of the criticism. If there is no merit to criticism, then don’t act like there is merit. What else would you add as a wrong way to respond to criticism? I’ve been guilty of all of these at one time or another. Awareness is half the battle. Identifying the wrong ways to respond to criticism and working to correct this in your leadership is part of growing as a leader. Let’s be honest! Criticism can hurt. No one enjoys hearing something negative about themselves or finding out that something they do isn’t perceived as wonderful by others as they hoped it would be. Criticism, however, is a part of leadership and, if handled correctly, doesn’t have to be a bad part of leadership. There is usually something to be learned from all criticism. Allowing

criticism to work for you rather than against you is a key to maturing as a leader.

Here Are Five Right Ways To Respond To Criticism:

1. Consider The Source In a stakeholder sense, how much influence and investment does this person have in the organization? This might not change your answer but may change the amount of energy you invest in your answer. Our church meets in two schools, for example, so if the Director of Schools has criticism for me, I will invest more time responding than if it’s a random person who never intends to attend our church. 2. Listen To Everyone You may not respond to everyone in the same way, but everyone deserves a voice, and everyone should be treated with respect. This doesn’t necessarily include anonymous criticism. I listen to some if it, especially if it appears valid, because I’ve learned from that, too, and always wonder if my leadership prompted an anonymous response, but I don’t “criticize” leaders who don’t. I don’t, however, weight it as heavily as I would criticism assigned to a person. (Feel free to leave a comment about anonymous criticism and how you respond.)

3. Analyze For Validity Is the criticism true? This is where maturity as a leader becomes more important, because there is often an element of truth even to criticism you don’t agree with at the time. Don’t dismiss the criticism until you’ve considered what’s true and what isn’t true. Mature leaders are willing to admit fault and recognize areas of needed improvement. 4. Look For Common Themes If you keep receiving the same criticism, perhaps there is a problem even if you still think there isn’t. It may not be a vision problem or a problem with your strategy or programming, but it may be a communication

problem. You can usually learn something from criticism if you are willing to look for the trends. 5. Give An Answer I believe criticism is like asking a question. It deserves an answer, even if the answer is that you don’t have an answer. You may even have to agree to disagree with the person offering criticism. By the way, I save answers to common criticism received, because I know I’ll be answering that same criticism again. One of my favorite is movies is It’s a Wonderful Life. In one scene, George Bailey responds to criticism that the Bailey Building and Loan is going to collapse. I

love how he takes the criticism seriously, considers the importance of the critics, responds as necessary, attempts to calm their fears, and refocuses on the vision. What a great leadership example during times of stress! Obviously this is an extreme example, but it points to a reality that happens everyday in an organization. Many times, people simply don’t understand, so they complain…they criticize. The way a leader responds is critical in that moment. What would you add to my list? Where do you disagree with me here? I’ll try to take the criticism the “right” way!

Seven Things Pastors Should

Seven Things Pastors Should Never Apologize For Perry Noble #1 – Never Apologize For Dreaming Big! He’s God…He wants more for the church than we want for it…ask big! We have a HUGE GOD who can do things that are absolutely MIND BLOWING…and if we focus on HIS POWER rather than our limitations we will always be willing to hear what He says and then do it…even though we don’t have all of our questions answered. #2 – Never Apologize For Your Passion! I once had a guy tell me, “Dude, I think you would be more effective as a leader/communicator if you would just calm down a little.” Here’s the problem…I can’t! Jeremiah 20:9 is my verse…Jesus began a fire inside of me on May 27, 1990…and it’s only gotten hotter. You can be consumed with passion…or be content with being passive. One Jesus will use to change the world…the other the enemy will use to dull your soul. #3 – Never Apologize For Wanting To Lead! If you are called by God and gifted by God to lead…THEN LEAD! Here’s the deal…someone is going to make the decisions. Someone is going to call the shots…and if that is the call that God has put on your life then DO IT! BTW…when you do this it IS going to make people mad. AND…if you can’t handle the fact that people ARE going to hate you simply because you try your best to listen to Jesus and then do what He says…you may not be called to lead! #4 – Never Apologize For Not Embracing Someone Else’s Agenda! You have got to understand that, as a leader, if you experience any level of success, other people will always want to attach themselves and their agenda to

you. I often tell people, “Your burden is not my passion!” As a leader we are responsible for embracing God’s vision for our lives…not everyone else’s! I am not saying everyone else’s idea is bad…or even wrong…it’s just that you can’t embrace something that God didn’t truly birth inside of you…and doing so will only lead to personal frustration and your organization trying to manufacture energy for something that they hate! #5 – Never Apologize For Expecting The Best From Others! Leaders cannot be afraid to set high standards…EVER! I believe it is WRONG to expect perfection from others…we’re all humans, we screw up! BUT…it isn’t wrong to expect others to give their best. (BTW…MOST of the time if people see the leader giving their best it will inspire them to do the same!) #6 – Never Apologize For Wanting To Reach More People! From time to time people will take a shot at me for wanting to see more people come to church…and… I AM GUILTY AS CHARGED! I can’t help it…the change in life that Jesus has brought about in me…I want as many people as possible to hear about it! I want as many people as possible to have their lives changed. I want as many people as possible to KNOW that they KNOW JESUS! I just don’t see anywhere in Scripture where that is a bad thing. Don’t EVER apologize for embracing the fact that God has called us to RECONCILE (not REVILE) the world! (II Corinthians 5:16-21!) #7 – Never Apologize For Saying “No” To What You KNOW You Need To Say “No” To! One of the biggest frustrations I’ve ever had as a leader is when I commit “sins of obligation,” you know, when I do something because I feel like I have

to rather than doing it because I truly feel led to do it because of the Holy Spirit’s leadership in my life.

everything often means we have to say “no” to the things that are REALLY important.

Just because we have opportunities doesn’t mean we need to embrace them…because saying “yes” to

“Visionary is who he is, Revolutionary is what he is and suffered pain from their becoming, Chosen for this generation is where he stands, childhood. Elect Lady Davis is Prophetic is how he operate.” the voice that unlocks destines, and the hand that pull women Prophetic, Anointed, Groundbreaking, Heart Changing, out of the pit of hell. Revolutionary, and Unique inside of Unusual are just how you describe his character! Jeremiah Davis is a powerful man Jeremiah Davis has a heart for of God with a prophetic calling on his life. From the age of this generation, where he seven God have given him great ability to carry forth a might teaches this generation through but yet powerful word for the people of God, and fresh his life story; holiness is not a manna from the heart of God. denomination, but a life style; prayer is not something you do, th Jeremiah Davis was born October 25 , 1992 at 9:08am In it’s your life; failure is not an Youngtown, Ohio. option, only success and achievement. Jeremiah first started preaching at the age of seven with such power and anointing that caused the entire neighbor of Jeremiah Davis served as Avondale in Youngstown, Ohio to gather and listen to him president of Y.L.C (Youth daily. Jeremiah was assigned to the pastoral office at the age Leadership Council) from of eight years old for one year at, New Discipleship of Jesus January of 2010- October of Life A.M.E Church; Where Rev. Annie Mae McKnight was 2010 for region 2 in the state of overseer, which led too much more shock to the body of Texas, advocating for foster Christ in San Antonio Texas. youth, where he now serves as a board member Meeting with the Jeremiah Davis serves as a proud and faithful son of “True President of The United States, Praise Spiritual Church” where Pastor Dettra R. Hicks is the and various Governors and Pastor, and Founder located in Everman, Texas. Mayors. In addition, Jeremiah was also elected as Vice Jeremiah D. Davis is President of the youth privileged to the be married department of Greater Solid to God’s daughter, and is Rock Church Inc. located in the husband of one wife Austin, TX in term of Elect Lady, Precious A. February of 2010- August of Malone-Davis whom God 2010. Last but not least is also rising up to change Jeremiah Davis is also a life’s with a powerful great help for KBA message for women that has “Kingdom Builders of been in domestic violence, America.” With much more 15

accomplishments, and successful stories it is noteworthy to mention that Jeremiah Davis has been abused, molested, abandon, and in the foster system. In the mist of all that there was a booked birth from the heart of God to the ears of Jeremiah, and coming soon to the hands of the beloved body of Christ Called “From Broken to Blessed.”

JDD: I become aware of the association for the president. I joined because I saw a vision that was original and unique that God could take somewhere. I wanted to become apart because what God is doing in this season Sitting under the covering of “Getting It Right Ministries” of the association I didn’t want since fifteen years old, Jeremiah learned how to hear the to miss it. voice of God from his spiritual father, and pastor Prophet Isaac Black Jr., Jeremiah Stepped out on faith, with the TKH: So tell us a little bit about support and mentorship of Prophetess Juanita Bynum who who you are, family, your believe that God is going to do the unexpected and watch origin, current church/ministry; each dream become a reality, and every vision be birth; and what you do there. Moving form broken to blessed, Jeremiah sought out “Greater Destiny Ministries” from the realm of the spirit with a global JDD: I am 20 years old. Married mission, which is to change lives, and provoke repentance by to a beautiful daughter of God. ushering his people into the very true presence of God, and With no children at this time proclaiming that out of your great mess God can create with the exception of many spiritual sons and daughters. I greatness. am currently a son of True Jeremiah adopted 1st Corinthians 9:22 as his life mission Praise Spiritual Church in ("Become all things to all people that we may save some"); Everman, Texas and I am one of he also births his goal to the world. ”Making a difference the pastor associated ministers where there were no differences" as his Child. Jeremiah who opens up the service, and Davis is truly making a difference in the words, “21st make preaching easier for her. century.” TKH: Do you operate any other ministries outside of your church? TKH: How did you feel when you were informed that you JDD: Not at this time. would be in the “spotlight”? JDD: I was very humbled. It was unexpected, however I TKH: What do you desire to see know God is doing the unexpected in this season of over happen in a greater way through your work with KBA as well as lives. your personal ministries? TKH: How did you become aware of the association? And JDD: God be glorified in what prompted you to join? 16

EVERYTHING!! Even in our common conversation that we are no earthly good. Be God may be pleased with our everyday life styles. spiritual, not deep! So go do what you like, but spiritual TKH: Given the current state of the church with scandals enough to know what right, and among those in ministry and leadership; where do we go from what wrong. If you remember here? nothing else I say remember this; the more normal you are, JDD: It may sound crazy, but it is in fact true that we have the more anointed you are. I say forgotten who the church is, and what our purpose is. We as that because people that know individuals must realize that the church is the bride of Christ, who they are don’t have to work and our purpose is to be best wife possible. Wives are to so hard to show it, and pretend support their husband, and be a product of who they are, and that they are just so full of God. when that does not happen we MUST go back to God and However, if you know who you seek him for the answer. The body of Christ has gotten so are, then it just comes with the caught up in being the “NEXT” whatever, that we forgot the personality. basics; living holy. So where do we go from here, you ask? Back to laying on our face, fasting and praying until we hear TKH: So what’s next on your from God for real. This is not a time in God where we are agenda? (As in books, albums, shouting “Won’t He Do It, and Ain’t He Alright” but a time singles, ministry related) where the sinner is crying out and asking, “Can I Do, And Will I Be Alright?” So I say unto you today, From here we go JDD: Next on my agenda is the back to the beginning as Revelation Chapter two tell us, and release of my first book release return back to our first love. that will be in 2014. I’m so excited! TKH: So many of us in ministry and leadership seem to have no life, what is that you do to have fun? TKH: What could you offer as encouragement to your fellow JDD: The things I do to have fun is first be a husband. And if KBA members and our readers? you’re not a husband/wife be a person. You have a personality, and there are things God placed in you that you JDD: In everything you do, like. For example, I like the movies so when a good one come make sure that you don’t offend out, I go. I like skating and seeing my wife laugh when I fall God. Live holy, pure, and a day (I laugh too). I love going to place that very amusing like Biblical fun live. Never, and I sea world, and etc. GO! It is not a sin. I’ve learned and I teach repeat, Never pretend to be people that “Nothing Is Evil Until The Intention Of People something you are not, God is Make It Evil.” Some many people put evil with sin and sin killing copies, and birthing real with evil and that not right because just because you sin don’t people. make you evil! Right? So let’s not be so heavenly minded that

A Royally New Beginning

Father has (John 3:35). As joint heirs, know what that means? Yep, that’s right. Let’s have a look at this in the secular arena:

Fred Willis

Kate Middleton married Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and it became instant news. Mainly because the Prince got married, but also because royalty married a 'commoner'. Royalty was bestowed upon her the moment their wedding vows were performed.

August: marked by majestic dignity or grandeur. (i.e “August lineage” ) Many believers struggle with an identity crisis. Caught between what they were, what they are and what they will be, many go to church and have yet to fully come into the Kingdom. What does this mean? For starters, as believers we can’t identify more as carnally unacceptable than we do as Kingdom Citizens. Paupers in the earth, yet princes and princesses in the palatial presence of Almighty God. We have been crucified and identified with Christ, our identity is in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17). Paul tells us that we have been seated in Heavenly places (Eph. 1). Access beyond those pearly palace gates has been granted to every believer. As believers, we have no business existing beneath the promotion and privilege that comes with being a Kingdom Citizen. Still not a ‘believer’? The bible clearly identifies us as joint-heirs with Christ (Rom.8:17) and Christ has said that He’d received all that His

The bride of Christ is analogous to the former Miss Middleton. Courted by royalty desiring ever so earnestly to marry. Christ is the ''bridegroom'' and the body of believers is his ‘bride’. As believers, we too have the honor of royalty being bestowed upon us by Christ Himself. I liken this to 1 Peter 2:9. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light…” (KJV) Royalty was bestowed instantly once the former Miss Kate Middleton married Prince William, Duke of Cambridge. The same goes for believers, as Paul stated in 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (KJV) Immediately, Kate Middleton was declared the Duchess of Cambridge. Her new beginning as a wife was also celebrated as the Duchess of Cambridge and member of the British royal family. Accepting Christ is not only about Salvation, it’s about accepting who and what Christ is. In Christ, our past is erased. God wants to turn our focus from what we once were to what He has for us. Isaiah 64:4 is repeated in 1 Corinthians 2:9 “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” August is the 8th month of the year. The number 8 symbolizes a new beginning. As you approach this month, walk not only in the new beginning found in Christ, but in the royal lineage of which you are now apart! “In whom also we have obtained an inheritance…” Eph. 1:11a

10 Things Healthy Churches Do Well Joe McKeever On Facebook I posted an invitation for people to say, in one word each, their concept of church, sermons, and church music. To no one’s surprise but mine, I suppose, the responses were all over the map. With so benign a request, I had unearthed acres of pain and anger about the Lord’s people and His churches. Many of the church’s severest critics are faithful brethren who carry scars from mistreatment by the Lord’s own people, the very ones they had been trusting. Write a book on “Why I’m Through with the Church Forever,” and you will make money. Even those of us who love the church and have devoted our lives in her service will feel a need to hear what you have to say. But write a book on “Why I Love the Church,” and you’ll end up with a garage full of your efforts. Those who already love the church will “Amen” you, and critics on the outside will mark you off as deluded. Whether we are a critic or a lover of the church—or for some of us, both—it’s important to remain balanced. Let’s acknowledge that there are both kinds of churches in the world today: good and bad.

Strong and weak. Churches that ought to be cloned and some that should be euthanized. And for these moments, let’s focus on the churches which are healthy and strong, faithful and loving, redemptive and full of grace. There are cases in Scripture of churches getting it right. An incident in Acts 6, comprising only seven verses, is a wonderful illustration of a congregation that faced up to a crisis in a healthy, Christ-honoring way and bore great fruit as a result. Let’s use that Jerusalem church as an object lesson. Here are ten things healthy churches do well, particularly when it comes to dealing with problems. 1. They Expect To Have Problems. Any growing body will have its share of aches and pains. The Jerusalem church had been basking in the sunshine. All was well. God had sent miracles, new believers were arriving daily, and a sense of contentment settled in upon the leadership. Suddenly, from inside the family, a groan went up. Then it swelled into a chorus of complaints. In the distribution of food for the congregation, the widows received priority. But for some reason, Hebrew widows were getting the lion’s share to the neglect of the Grecian widows. Did someone there say, “Oh no! We have a problem! What are we doing wrong?” Did they panic? Did anyone jump ship because the presence of a problem must indicate they were failing God? Not that we can tell. Any church will have the occasional problem. Like a growing child, a lively family, or a thriving business, challenges arise within growing enterprises that have to be dealt with. Not only is it not bad, it could be an indication you’re doing something right. 2. They Handle Criticism Well. The healthiest family will run into a problem from time to time that results in unhappy campers needing to speak up. People who gripe do not think of what they are doing as undercutting their leadership and demoralizing the troops. They are just registering their displeasure at the way something is being done in the church. There is, of course, a healthy way to complain, and there is a type of complaining that is like a cancer in its deadliness, a knife in the cuts and wounds it inflicts, and a slap in the face for the abrupt wake-up it administers. The pastor of a megachurch in Texas, a man who had led that church from near death to become a powerhouse in the Lord’s work, told me one day that he had a deacon who had fought him on everything he had tried to do. I was stunned. Surely, I thought such a strong pastor would have dealt with that character in short order. But he hadn’t. He never told me why he had left that guy in place, but I think I know. Sometimes unfair criticism can perform a useful function. Others hear it and do not want to be associated with that

position. They shrink away from the naysayer and rush to the support and defense of their leaders. A wise pastor will not panic when he learns someone is criticizing. “Consider the source” is always good advice. The “fix-it” mindset in me wants to say that if we incorporate structures into the church organization so people can register their complaints and suggestions, we will not have the murmuring and bellyaching which drive the leadership nuts. 3. They Deal With Problems Promptly. One of the differences in healthy and sick bodies is in their promptness in responding to an infection. Some critics can be left alone safely, since the body has walled them off and they will do no harm—and can actually do some good indirectly. Most problems that arise, however, should be dealt with by specific action. A healthy church will either already have a way to deal with problems, criticism, and trouble-makers, or it will find a method quickly when the need arises. Some years ago, the church I was pastoring received a letter on a Monday morning from a medical doctor and his wife. They had visited our services the previous day, they said, but

would not be back. He said we had failed to provide security in the nursery area of the church. The father said, “After church, I walked up to the window and pointed out my child and said, ‘That one,’ and the lady handed her to me.” He said, “Anyone could have done that. She would have given that child to anyone who pointed out my baby.” That same day, I called a meeting of our leadership to deal with that letter. We all agreed the couple had identified a serious need. We did not leave that room until we came up with a plan for instituting safeguards and a parentalidentification system for the nursery. Then I called on the young family and assured them of our appreciation for their letter. They joined our church and became valuable members of our family. 4. They Depend On Their Lay Leadership. Acts 6:3. The twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said…“Seek out from among you seven men...” Preachers do not have to handle every issue themselves. In an unhealthy church, they may have to. “That’s what we pay them for,” I can hear someone saying. No, sir. You do not. Some ministers are unable to turn over jobs and feel their authority is being undercut if they ask someone else to do anything. This is not authority but a sickness. God does not send His pastoral servants to do everything themselves, but to assist others in finding their spiritual gifts, their calling, their place of service. Problems that arise can provide ideal opportunities for such ministry. I always loved it when my pastor would say to me, “Joe, such-and-such has arisen and we need to jump on this. Can you get with the teachers in that department and deal with this?” Absolutely. He’s trusting me. He’s doing what he should do—find the right person and delegate the responsibility. Later, it was fun to write a report to him on what we did and how the problem was resolved. 5. The Pastoral Leadership Stays With Its Divinely-Given Priorities. Acts 6:2, 4. “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables... We will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” In a healthy body, the head (not the divine “Head,” but the overseer— episcopos) does not stop its activity of receiving information, of thinking and studying, or of learning and analyzing in order to pull another part of the body out of trouble. It stays with its priorities. After all, some other part of the body—an arm, a hand, fingers—is better equipped for rescue work than the head.

One reason so many pastors meet themselves coming and going is that they have misplaced their priorities. They end up printing the bulletin, contacting nursery workers, and filling in for absent teachers. And we wonder why they burn out. 6. The Congregation Chooses Good And Godly Leaders. Acts 6:3. “…seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom…” Nothing speaks to the health of a church like the quality of the people it chooses as its leaders. Take deacons. I’ve seen churches choose able-bodied, mature men of integrity for this work (and more than a few great women, but we’ll save that discussion for another time). And I’ve seen churches—alas, I’ve pastored them—where the congregation chose men on a popularity basis and ended up with well-liked but weak men with no biblical foundation. Pity the pastor who is sentenced to work with leaders who see themselves as big-shots sent to rule over the members and order the ministers but who don’t have a clue as to what the Bible says about anything. In a typical church, the people will know who the godly men and women are and who does not qualify. As a rule, the pastor will not need to give guidance

in the selection of such. What he may need to do, I hasten to add, is to ensure that the process of selecting such leaders is not a popularity contest. My point is very simple: 7. The Congregation Supports Their Leaders And Trusts Them To Do The Job. Once good leaders are chosen, the congregation should get out of their way and let them do the work they were assigned. Invariably, they’ll come in for criticism at some point—it’s the nature of the leadership beast—and will need two things: their pastor to defend them and the congregation to reaffirm their trust. Even when we do not agree with a decision our leaders have made, affirming that they did their best is still wise. The injunction of Ephesians 5:21 to “submit to one another” has to mean something: Even when we disagree with each other, we are still going to be supportive. The church which insists on making every decision, great or small, in its monthly business meeting is sentencing itself to dwarfism and its leadership to misery. This is one element in what Ken Hemphill has called “the bonsai theory of church growth” (in his excellent book of the same name). 8. Solutions Model Christlikeness. Acts 6:5–6. And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch, whom they set before the apostles.... In his commentary on this passage, John MacArthur writes, “The seven men chosen by the church all had Greek names, implying they were all Hellenists. The church, in a display of love and unity, may have chosen them to rectify the apparent imbalance involving the Hellenistic widows.” I think I’d have said it even more strongly: They chose them for that very purpose! Sometimes in churches where I’m teaching this text (and it’s almost always a majority-white congregation here in the deep South), I’ll tell them it’s as though the African-American members of the church were complaining that their widows were being neglected in favor of the Anglo widows. So the congregation chose seven black men—all godly and mature—to take charge of the distribution of food. Think of the statement that would make to the church’s own members as well as to the world! The next time a group of people in your church cry that they are being neglected in ministry, ask yourself what would happen if a representative group of them were put in charge of the work. We need to emphasize that if

this is to work, the group must be mature and godly; otherwise it’s a disaster in the making. 9. Problems Are Dealt With So Well That The World Is Impressed. Acts 6:7. Then the word spread and the number of disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith. The outside world was watching. When a problem arose within the membership, some held their breath. This would tell the tale on the Christians. Would they panic and self-destruct? Would the leadership impose a cult-like autocratic rule over the membership? Or would they handle this legitimate issue in the love which they preached? They got it right. They did it so well that the outside world—lay and priest alike—said, “We like what we see. We want what you have.” No problem which results in this kind of harvest is bad. Any problem which causes the church’s leadership to forget who they are (and Whose they

are) and to adopt the world’s way of problem-solving is no friend. 10. Twelve Other Things Happen Immediately. Whenever God’s people do the hard thing in the Lord’s way—when we love the unlovely, when we forgive our attackers, when we love our enemy, when we soldier on in the face of adversity, when we maintain our joy in the midst of disaster and retaliate with love—twelve things begin to happen from that moment.            

God is glorified. Jesus is pleased. The Holy Spirit is freed to do whatever He had planned. The devil is infuriated. This is not going according to plan. The enemies are puzzled. You are behaving differently from what they had expected. The critics of the church are silenced. The church itself is edified and strengthened. Church members going through hard times are encouraged and instructed. Outsiders are impressed and want some of what they see in you. You yourself are blessed. Your reward in Heaven is great (Luke 6:35a). Your reputation goes through the roof (Luke 6:35b).

Anything that can achieve all of this in one motion has to be considered a blessing indeed! Most of us have learned to look behind us and thank God for what appeared an insoluble problem but which He turned into a major blessing. The trick is to give thanks in advance, the moment the problem arises. After all, experience has now taught you that these are opportunities for the Lord to do something special. Aren’t we blessed to have such a sovereign, active, blessing-oriented God!

6 Do-or-Die Roles for Every Senior Leader Michael Warden "The task of leadership is not to put greatness into people, but to elicit it, for the greatness is there already." ~ John Buchan Being the senior leader of an organization is a tough job. Of course, if you are a senior leader, you already know this. People at all levels of your organization regularly place a diverse array of expectations on you and your time. Everyone, it seems, has an opinion on how you should do your job and even what your job should be. And they don't mind telling you (and/or everyone else) when they don't think you're doing it right.

2. Keeper of The Values: Another part of your role is to continually promote and champion the core values of the organization. Every action you take, every conversation you have, every request you make of your team needs to be clearly grounded in and motivated by one or more of your organization’s core values. Anything you’re doing that can’t be directly tied to your core values in this way—either drop it or delegate it to someone else. As the visionary leader of your organization, you are the embodiment of the values. If you don’t live them, who will? As with the mission and vision, any time you see the values not being honored in a process or project, you have full authority to step in and do whatever is required to see that the core values are not undermined.

3. Voice of Reality: Many leadership experts say the chief job of a leader is to “define reality” for those they lead. Another perhaps more useful way to say this is simply “naming what is going on.” Part of the role of the senior leader is to help the team see the truth of where they are and what needs to happen next to move forward. In this sense, you become like the “red dot” on the map in the shopping mall, identifying “We Are Here.” This defining work includes several areas, such as where we are 1. Keeper of The Mission & Vision For The financially, where we are relationally, where we are with respect to our mission, vision, and goals, Organization: Part of your role is to champion the mission and where we are in relation to our values, and so on. vision of your organization and to ensure the team is always moving toward those ends. Because vision 4. Developer of Teams: leaks and mission slips out of focus over time, you Part of your role is to lead, coach, and mentor the have to make it your job to keep the mission front core group of leaders who report directly to you and and center in your people’s eyes and keep casting have significant oversight over the organization as a vision for the better world you’re all trying to create whole—in particular, the core leadership team of by pursuing it. And while you should consistently the organization. For you to do this effectively, this avoid micro-managing your people, in any area team must be filled with people whom you believe where you see the vision or mission not being in and trust and who (like you) think in terms of effectively pursued and honored, you have full “we” instead of “me” (in other words, Stage). You authority to step in and make whatever changes are have full authority to choose those team members necessary to bring that area back in alignment with whom you know you can work with and who have the appropriate skills for this role. the mission and vision. In such a cacophonous environment full of disparate and often opposing demands, it can be difficult for senior leaders to discern just where the line should be drawn between their job and everyone else’s. Regardless of the size of the organization or the specifics of your particular org chart, what are the roles all senior leaders must fulfill in order for their organization to thrive and grow? Opinions vary— so here’s mine: a list of a few of the roles that I believe are essential for all senior leaders to hold.

5. Chief Encourager and Celebrator: Senior leaders are typically wired to always be pushing forward toward the next challenge, so this can be a tough role for them to fill. But celebration and affirmation for a job well done is a critical part of every senior leader’s job. You must be the champion and cheerleader for those you lead— frequently encouraging them as they move toward a goal and regularly pausing to reflect on both victories and defeats and celebrate success as well as lessons learned. This rhythm of engagement and reflection/celebration is essential to your team’s overall health and critical to your role as their leader. 6. Final Gatekeeper for Hiring: While you need not be a part of hiring every person in your organization, you need to be clear on which positions in the organization you want final say over when it comes to hiring, being careful to select those who not only have the skills needed for a particular position but also have the necessary character and willingness to live out the values, mission, and vision of the organization. What do think of this list? What other “essential roles” would you add? Share your thoughts in the comments below or on Facebook or Twitter. “Leadership is not so much about technique and methods as it is about opening the heart. Leadership is about inspiration—of oneself and of others. Great leadership is about human experiences, not processes. Leadership is not a formula or a program; it is a human activity that comes from the heart and considers the hearts of others. It is an attitude, not a routine.” ~ Lance Secretan

New Haven Missionary Baptist Church 3418 Schofield Avenue Indianapolis, Indiana 46218

Overseer Charles H. McClain Jr., Pastor www.newhavenmbc.org

Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church 1901 Amanda Avenue Fort Worth, Texas 76105

Greater Hope Christian Center COGIC 3733 North 7th Street Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53212

Rev. Dr. Bruce D. Datcher, Pastor

Lynell Ray Sr., Pastor

www.theebenzerchurchorg info@theebenezerchurch.org

Empowerment Temple Community Church 3114 North Main St. Taylor, Texas 76574

Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church 2100 Randolph Street Saint Charles, Missouri 63301

Rev. David Henderson, III., Pastor

Rev. Tremaine M. Combs, Pastor

Greater Hope Missionary Baptist Church 2521 Bishop Street Fort Worth, Texas 76105

The Fellowship Church 908 Crawford Street Fort Worth, Texas 76104

Patrick D. Joubert, Senior Pastor

Rev. Sherman L. Johnson, Pastor 34

You can advertise your events, church, ministry, Product, business or organization here; FREE! E-mail us today tkh@kingdomunion.org