Social, Congregational & Personal Renewal by Influence Magazine

ISSUE 15 / JAN_FEB 2018

D O U G C LAY / R O BY N W I L K E R S O N / WA LT E R H A RV EY

A Place Called Sherman Park Change: The SixLetter ‘Curse’ Word Renewal as a Way of Life

“In the past I’ve probably picked up the Bible and started reading it over 100 times just to give up after a couple chapters. This time is different . . .

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CONTENTS

COLUMNS

8 If You Ask Me R E F L E C T I O N S O N L E A D E R S H I P

C hange: The Center of the Renewal Process

10 Get Set L E A D E R S I M PA C T I N G T H E C H U R C H A N D C U LT U R E

A Life Prepared to Lead: Meet Doug Clay

14 Like a Leader TOOLS FOR PERSONAL AND CONGREGATIONAL GROWTH

• Live: Getting a Fresh Start for the New Year • Think: Reframe Your View of Leadership • Learn: Resources for You and Your Team

22 Playbook S T R AT E G I E S F O R E F F E C T I V E M I N I S T R Y

• Build: Dream Big in a Portable Space • Know: The Problem of Biblical and Theological Literacy, Together with the Role of Preaching • Invest: Unleashing the Potential in Young Leaders

30 Perspectives ONE ISSUE, TWO PERSPECTIVES ON MATTERS AFFECTING TODAY’S CHURCH

Should Pastors Know How Much People in Their Church Give?

FEATURES

32 A PLACE CALLED SHERMAN PARK Walter Harvey shares eight ministry lessons that can help bring renewal to communities in chaos.

p32 p52

ISSUE 15 / JAN_FEB 2018

42 CHANGE: THE SIX-LETTER ‘CURSE’ WORD Gerad Strong unpacks his church’s journey into a new dimension of health, growth, and renewal.

52 RENEWAL AS A WAY OF LIFE

Butch and Pam Frey reflect on the daily disciplines that restore spiritual, mental, physical and relational health.

p42 p26

p63

62 Multipliers

DEPARTMENTS

LEADERS LEVERAGING THEIR GIFTS FOR GOD’S KINGDOM

Finding New Levels of Vision for Your Leadership • Diversity is an Open Door to the Great Commission • Developing a Vision for Multiplication • Redeeming Sacred Spaces • How a Challenge for More Baptisms

p70

Can Spark a Fresh Fire

70 Make It Count AN EIGHT-WEEK STUDY FOR LEADERSHIP TEAMS

The Shepherding Role of a Leader

80 The Final Note Bible Engagement in an Increasingly Skeptical Age

MAGAZINE

THE SHAPE OF LEADERSHIP INFLUENCE MAGAZINE

SUBSCRIPTIONS

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Influence magazine is published by Influence Resources. Publisher: Douglas E. Clay Executive Director, Influence Resources: Chris Railey Executive Editor: George P. Wood Managing Editor: Rick Knoth Assistant Editor: Christina Quick Senior Editor: John Davidson Contributing Editor: Chris Colvin Designer: Steve Lopez Advertising Coordinator: Ron Kopczick

CONTRIBUTORS Stephen Blandino, Douglas E. Clay, Chris Colvin, Scott Cougill, Butch and Pam Frey, Walter Harvey, Mark Jobe, Andrea Lathrop, Crystal Martin, Matt Nelson, Alan Pastian, Chris Railey, Jared Rodgers, Rick Ross, Ed Stetzer, Gerad Strong, Robyn Wilkerson, George P. Wood

SPECIAL THANKS Douglas E. Clay, Alton Garrison, James T. Bradford, Rick DuBose, Greg Mundis, Malcolm Burleigh

EDITORIAL For info or queries, contact editor@influencemagazine. com.

ADVERTISING Display rates available upon request. Contact advertising@influencemagazine.com. By accepting an advertisement, Influence does not endorse any advertiser or product. We reserve the right to reject advertisements not consistent with the magazine’s objectives. Website: influencemagazine.com Twitter: @theinfluencemag Facebook: facebook.com/theinfluencemag Instagram: @theinfluencemag

Copyright © 2018 by The General Council of the Assemblies of God, 1445 N. Boonville Ave., Springfield, MO 65802-1894. Permissions required for reprints. All rights reserved. All materials published herein including, but not limited to articles, photographs, images, and illustrations are protected by copyright and owned or controlled by Influence magazine of The General Council of the Assemblies of God. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide, www.zondervan.com, The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™ Influence magazine (ISSN: 2470-6795) is published six times a year in January, March, May, July, September and November for $15 per year by Influence Resources (1445 N. Boonville Avenue, Springfield, MO 65802-1894). Periodicals postage paid at Springfield, Missouri, and at other mailing offices. Printed in the U.S.A.

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IF YOU ASK ME

Reflections on leadership

Change: The Center of the Renewal Process

’ve said it here before, but as we start a new year, it bears repeating: Leading change is one of the most important roles of a leader. The new year provides a natural time for us to reflect on the changes needed to avoid the pitfalls of the year before, or to get closer to the preferred future we see. We often set new goals to shrink our waistlines, grow our churches and create healthy margins in our lives. So why do we often end the year the same size we started and feeling worn out? Well, because change is hard, life happens, and we have trust issues. Let me explain. We know we won’t change until the pain of staying the same becomes greater than the pain of change. However, waiting until we reach that threshold can mean negative consequences for those God calls us to lead. Change is hard, no doubt, but if it were easy, there would be no need for you to lead. Change is why you’re there — to lead people (and yourself ) from where they (you) are to where they (you) need to be. Do you really want to wait until the pain of staying the

Chris Railey, D.Min., is executive director of Influence Resources and senior director of leadership and church development ministries for The General Council of the Assemblies of God, U.S.A.

same becomes too great? How much damage or missed opportunity will there be in the meantime? The best time to make a change is the first time you see the need. We start with the best of intentions. We really do. But inevitably, we get distracted, and unforeseen circumstances hijack the change we set out to make. We recognize a need for change, life happens, frustration sets in, and the process repeats. It’s a vicious cycle. This is where greater intentionality and planning come in. We can think about the time and emotional energy it takes to see change through in the same terms we talk about financial planning. We should create margin in how we budget, save for rainy days and surprises, and regularly manage the financial flow. We must do the same with our time and energy, which are both essential to leading personal and organizational change. And about that margin: The reason we don’t have any is because we as leaders often have trust issues. Giving away responsibility is a necessary part of creating margin, but we don’t trust others to do what we’ve been doing. Whether you want to change your waistline or grow your church, you can’t do it without creating margin in your life to lead that change — and you can’t create margin without lightening your current load and giving away responsibility to others. This issue of Influence magazine is unique in that we’ve dedicated the feature articles to an overarching theme: renewal. You’ll find practical and timely articles that address community, congregational and personal renewal. Renewal requires change, and there is no better time than now to make the changes that lead to true renewal in your city, in your church and in your life. There’s a better future out there. Blessings as you lead the way!

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REACHING THE WORLD.

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The dynamic learning environment, practical leadership application, and focus on strategic thinking made my time at AGTS a transformational leadership experience. —Chris Railey, M.A., M.Div, D.Min Sr. Director of Leadership & Church Development AG National Leadership and Resource Center

Springfield, MO • AGTS.edu • 800.467.AGTS

”

GET SET

Leaders impacting the church and culture

M E E T D O U G C L AY

A Life Prepared to Lead INFLUENCE: Tell us a little about your wife, children, and grandchildren. DOUG CLAY: My wife, Gail, is from Athens, Ohio. We met when I was doing an internship with the church plant there in Athens. We’ve been married 32 years. Gail’s background is nursing with a specialization in geriatrics. We have two girls, Ashley and Kaylee, two sons-in-law, and five grandchildren, all under the age of 5.

The 57th General Council elected you as the next general superintendent. That’s a pretty momentous thing to fall on anybody’s shoulders. How did you feel when the ballots were counted and your name was announced? It was surreal. I’m typically a person who predetermines my opening remarks, but this time I didn’t. I went to the podium after my name was announced and made a statement about making sure we are applauding Dr. Wood and his legacy more than my welcome as the next general superintendent. I felt that was a God-inspired moment. It took the focus off of me and back on to Dr. Wood, where it belonged. I wanted to make sure he was honored for his many years of faithful service to the Assemblies of God. The reality of the election didn’t fully hit me until Saturday when Dr. Wood started forwarding emails to me, and said, “Why don’t you weigh in on this.” My thoughts were, Oh, my word, what just happened? One of my life verses is, “The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him” (Psalm 37:23). So, I’m taking this as another step in my life that has been ordered by God.

Doug Clay is the 13th general superintendent of the U.S. Assemblies of God, having been elected to that position at the 57th General Council in Anaheim, California. In this Get Set, he shares his heart and vision for the Fellowship he’s been called and empowered to lead.

What events shaped your life and call to the ministry? I’m a third-generation Pentecostal preacher’s kid from Adrian, Michigan, who was raised in the Assemblies of God. I cut my teeth on the back of church pews. When I was 9 years old, my dad suddenly died of a massive heart attack. I was part of a healthy church at the time, so I never felt disadvantaged being raised by a single mom. I had a lot of spiritual dads — Royal Ranger commanders and youth sponsors, so I grew up with a healthy view of life and the church. I received the call to full-time ministry in the context of the local church. I entered Central Bible College in 1981, and I’ve been chasing that dream ever since. I owe a huge debt to the local church, so I am driven to give myself back to the fulfillment of healthy churches. How have your prayers changed since being elected general superintendent? The Lord gave me three words to pray about, reflect on and build into my spirit following the election. The three words are: wisdom, discernment 11

and anointing. Every day since the election, I’ve asked the Lord for wisdom, discernment and anointing. In my daily Scripture reading, it’s amazing how these themes continue to emerge. That’s what I’m praying for daily in my own life. I’m praying that the seeds planted and watered by past superintendents will continue to flourish — the seeds of church planting and academic scholarships for students, just to name a few. I’m also praying for a renewed commitment to missions in the Assemblies of God. Missions is who we are, and I don’t ever want to abandon that. I want to advance our missiology as aggressively as I can.

The Lord gave me three words to pray about, reflect on and build into my spirit following the election. The three words are: wisdom, discernment and anointing. As you step into the office of the general superintendent, what issues are on the horizon that the Assemblies of God needs to address? Four issues are on my heart right now. The first issue is biblical literacy. I am deeply concerned that our children and grandchildren have a healthy, biblical worldview. We’ve lost some of the delivery systems for the systematic teaching of Scripture, and it is a challenge to creatively find ways to do that. How can we help kids be rooted and grounded in Scripture so that when they are on their own they are not bewildered by a cultural narrative that runs contrary to their biblical worldview? Secondly, the Assemblies of God is made up of many affinity groups or networks, each with different expectations about leadership and the role the leader plays in the ministries of the church. I’m asking God for 12

wisdom and direction on how best to lead the denomination that has these different affinity groups. The third challenge on my heart is the whole issue of human sexuality and teaching about it from a biblical perspective. The purpose of sex, the sanctity of human life, the value of marriage, and other issues of human sexuality are of great importance for the Church. We must teach our children and grandchildren what God says and thinks about these issues. Finally, I see the high cost of Christian higher education as an ongoing challenge. This was a concern under Dr. Wood’s administration, and it will be a continuing concern of mine as well. Tell our readers a little about your new book, Ordered Steps: A Life Prepared to Lead, and where they can order a copy. The book was designed to introduce the Fellowship to me. It’s divided into three sections. Section one is about my family life. Section two talks about my ministry experiences. And the last section articulates the prayers, priorities, hopes and dreams I have for the Assemblies of God. The book can be ordered on myhealthy church.com. Share a final thought with our readers, especially ministers who might be in a season of discouragement. I referenced earlier a verse from the Book of Psalms that I’d like to repeat: “The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him.” Whether you’re in a joyous season or in a valley, God delights in you! He will use the experiences of your life to build character and strengthen you for whatever ministry assignment is in your future. For my minister friends who may be in a season of discouragement, I pray God will baptize you with a spirit of joy, that you’ll find a sense of fulfillment in the place of your calling, and you’ll fall in love with the people God has called you to serve.

LIVE LIKE A LEADER

Getting a Fresh Start for the New Year A N D R E A L AT H R O P

Seek God and chart a course for your next steps.

love the beginning of a new year. It feels like we get a do-over, or a mulligan. Perhaps it is a bit naïve. Just because the calendar changes over (like it does every day), it doesn’t mean all our hurts, habits and hang-ups no longer exist or that our very real problems will wash away overnight. Still, I like it. I like the emphasis on a fresh start, a clean slate. And why not lean into it? Why not take advantage of the cultural, national mood of reflection and looking ahead? Why not take it seriously with Jesus? Surely our lives and relationships warrant this kind of intentionality and time. Many great resources are out there to develop what I call a Personal Inventory. I think it’s a healthy habit for leaders to have a plan they can refer to and reflect on regularly throughout the year.

Theme

Andrea Lathrop is the executive director of ministries at Christ Fellowship in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

For me, this process starts with going away to find quiet. It is intentional and separate from my regular life. I start with a theme, which requires waiting and listening and reviewing what God has been doing. I try hard not to rush this. It’s usually a word or two and a Scripture. The word and theme are just a means to the ultimate end: to know Christ more and allow Him to transform me into His likeness. Then I apply that theme to about a dozen areas of my life (mental, physical, spiritual, work-related, etc.) and across each role I play in my family.

Restrain

I’ve learned the hard way that less is usually better. I limit myself to one to three bullet points under each area. While these bullet points are things I want to accomplish, sometimes they aren’t things I can simply check off a list. They are much bigger than that. Maybe my goal in motherhood is to discover what my children need from me as they venture into new seasons of life. A bullet point like that requires daily commitment. I approach this with a desire to steward my short life on earth — maintaining a big-picture perspective.

Review

I do my best to review my personal inventory and pray through it once a month. I have a monthly task in my project management system to remind me to schedule time for this review. I may be in the minority here, but I believe planning for a new year is a nuanced journey. It isn’t a one-and-done sort of deal. If we look closely at the work of God in our lives, we know this is how He does most of His work — slowly, consistently and quietly. In a beautiful invitation, Jesus asks His disciples to keep secrets with Him. In Matthew 6:6, He reminds us to give and serve in secret, promising that “your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” This is just one of the ways I try to respond to this invitation. How will you keep secrets with Christ this year? When will you be alone with Him to listen? How will you serve in hiddenness?

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THINK LIKE A LEADER

Reframe Your View Of Leadership ROBYN WILKERSON

Maximize your potential in ministry by changing your mindset.

Dr. Robyn Wilkerson is co-pastor of Trinity Church (Assemblies of God) in North Miami, Florida, along with her husband, Rich. She is the author of Shattering the Stained Glass Ceiling. 16

hat’s the biggest barrier blocking you from reaching your goals today? Did you know your negative thoughts might be erecting the boundaries to your leadership potential? Yep — it just might be you! It’s time for you to shift your thinking. You need to reframe how you view leadership. Your beliefs unconsciously direct you in your moment-by-moment choices and actions. What you believe drives your viewpoint and your mindset in every situation. Your selfperception is a prime basis for how you experience life. You behave according to whom you believe you should be. Maybe someone suggested you couldn’t fulfill your destiny because you are a woman. That person was wrong! Hundreds of existing leadership models express how to network, how to communicate with others, and how to deal with conflict. The problem is, most are based on male leadership examples. Stop thinking your leadership needs to appear the same as male leadership. Our world is in desperate need of your unique leadership, which God predestined to blend into your one-of-akind feminine identity. Cornelia “Corrie” ten Boom was a Dutch Christian watchmaker who, along with other family members, helped many Jews escape the Nazi Holocaust during World War II. She was imprisoned in a Nazi women’s labor camp along with her sister Betsie. Corrie

wrote years later of her conversation with God regarding the condition of their barracks. The circumstances for the inmates were unimaginably horrific everywhere in the labor camp, but Corrie discovered that her barracks were the most uninhabitable because of an infestation of fleas. According to Corrie, she was complaining to God about the fleas when she suddenly realized the fleas kept the prison guards from entering their barracks. Because of the fleas, Corrie and her sister Betsie were able to preach and lead worship services, and hundreds of women received Christ. God allowed the thing she despised into Corrie’s life to protect her ministry. Corrie endured an unspeakable situation. However, by reframing her thinking, Corrie recognized the benefits of the situation for fulfilling her purpose. Reframing turns around frozen thinking and sets your mind free to move toward new ideas, solutions, strategies and resources for a breakthrough in your ministry. Reframing creates a new, positive pathway forward to success. Start today. Looking at a situation from a positive frame of mind transforms an old obstacle into a new opportunity. You have unlimited potential. God wants to do amazing things in your life as you open up your thinking. You must grab this revelation for yourself and believe you are a leader. Start thanking God today for the “fleas” in your ministry, and consider how can you reframe your leadership.

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LEARN LIKE A LEADER Resources for you and your team

Instagram: Beautiful Pictures, Important Message JARED RODGERS

Four tips to help bolster your church’s Instagram presence.

umans have long been visual creatures, as the discovery of ancient cave paintings attests. Instagram, the photo-based social media platform, is simply the next product of the human desire to express. With more than 800 million registered users and 92 percent of those users under the age of 50, Instagram has become the platform of choice for a generation, especially the influencers and tastemakers. This provides the church an opportunity to build community and reach people using the lingua franca of today: pictures.

Here are four tips to help bolster your church’s Instagram presence: 1. Keep it in perspective. Instagram has a reputation for being the cool, hip platform of socialites, pro photographers and lifestyle bloggers (whatever that job title means). Your job is not to compete with them. On one hand, it is important to understand that the defining element of Instagram is beautiful, curated pictures, which the influencers on Instagram have mastered. On the other hand, church leaders should acknowledge that their role is not to get 100,000 followers, build their own personal brand, or sell a product and lifestyle. Your job is to love your community, share the gospel and encourage your followers wherever they are.

BOOKS

THE THOUGHTFUL PASTOR Two recent books explain the inward work and outward expression of thinking G E O R G E P. W O O D e do not often think of the pastorate as an intellectual profession, but it is. A pastor, according to Paul, must be “able to teach” (1 Timothy 3:2). For the apostle, teaching is more than a recitation of facts. Note that Paul himself “debated,” “reasoned,” and “argu[ed] persuasively” with people to convince them to follow Christ (Acts 9:29; 17:2; 18:4,19; 19:8). More generally, Paul viewed the mind as an arena of

2. Pursue quality over quantity. At its core, Instagram is a place to share beautiful pictures. Thanks to advancements in smartphone cameras, it’s easier than ever to shoot incredible pictures in the blink of an eye. This means every account is competing for users’ attention with thousands of other pretty pictures. This shouldn’t scare you away from using Instagram (see tip No. 1), but it does mean that everything you post is important. Rather than posting two photos a day, consider strategically posting three times a week. 3. Variety is your friend. There are countless types of posts you can use to engage your community. Snap a few pics during the service and use them next week to remind people about service times. Gather photos of great

sanctification: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2, emphasis added). For the apostle, a renewed mind was a necessary condition of discerning and doing God’s will. Whether viewed from the angle of professional obligation or personal sanctification, then, the pastorate demands its members think deeply and express their thoughts clearly. Two new books, both written by Christian authors, can help pastors become more thoughtful, though neither were written with that aim in mind. They examine thinking’s inward work and outward expression, respectively. The first book is How to Think by Alan Jacobs (Currency, 2017). He writes: “The person who genuinely wants to think will have

volunteers in action to honor workers and highlight opportunities to serve. Help newcomers get a glimpse into what church will look like when they attend. Share a picture of a church member, along with a testimony of how God is working in that person’s life. Repurpose your preaching through quotes and sermon clips. 4. Leverage your people. Constantly creating content can be a challenge for even the savviest of social media gurus. Nearly every congregation has someone with an eye for photos. Lay out a simple set of guidelines for that person to follow, and turn him or her loose. Empower this individual to take ownership in telling the story of the church. This will diversify your content and allow church members to operate in their gifts.

to develop strategies for recognizing the subtlest of social pressures, confronting the pull of the ingroup and disgust for the outgroup. The person who wants to think will have to practice patience and master fear.” Thinking requires virtue, in other words. Who the thinker is matters as much as what the thinker thinks. Indeed, who the thinker is to a large degree determines whether a thinker can arrive at the right thought in the first place. How to Think outlines the ways our deepest desires — especially attraction to and repulsion from other people — shape and misshape our thoughts. It notices how keywords, metaphors and myths can substitute for critical thinking. Sometimes, our minds are open when they should be shut and shut when they should be open. Fundamentally, Jacobs believes we need to

Jared Rodgers is Communications and Content Strategist for the publishing arm of The General Council of the Assemblies of God, Springfield, Missouri.

BOOKS REVIEWED Alan Jacobs, How to Think:

A Survival Guide for a World at Odds (New York: Currency, 2017). Richard A. Holland Jr. and Benjamin K. Forrest,

Good Arguments: Making Your Case in Writing and Public Speaking (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2017).

RECOMMENDED READING

By Influence Magazine

THE SELF-AWARE LEADER Terry Linhart (IVP Books) Drivers must beware of blind spots, or risk causing an accident. Similarly, church leaders must beware of blind spots, or disqualify themselves from ministry. The Self-Aware Leader helps leaders become aware of how the past, temptations, emotions, pressures, conflicts and margins affect their ministries. It offers guidance for becoming more authentic and effective in leadership.

THEISTIC EVOLUTION J.P. Moreland, Stephen C. Meyer, Christopher Shaw, Ann K. Gauger and Wayne Grudem, editors (Crossway) Theistic Evolution provides “a comprehensive scientific, philosophical, and theological

cultivate “a more general disposition of skepticism about our own motives and generosity toward the motives of others.” This combination of humility and charity — we are not necessarily right, they are not necessarily wrong — is “the royal road” to thinking.

critique of the idea known as theistic evolution” or “evolutionary creationism.” The authors argue that “the mechanism of mutation and natural selection” does not explain the origins of life, that “methodological naturalism” is questionable philosophically, and that theistic evolution contradicts important biblical and theological doctrines.

HOPE FOR THE PRODIGAL Jim Putnam with Bill Putnam (Baker Books) A sizable percentage of kids who grew up in church leave it after age 18. The authors of Hope for the Prodigal — son and father, respectively — offer guidance about how families and churches can create an “ideal” environment to sustain kids in their faith, as well as about how to bring “the lost, wandering, and rebellious home.”

The second book is Good Arguments by Richard A. Holland Jr. and Benjamin K. Forrest (Baker Academic, 2017). It defines an argument not as a yelling-and-screaming match but as “a systematic account of a claim or belief.” An argument presents “objective, factual claims for the purpose of persuading others to acknowledge certain facts about the world.” Successive chapters in the book focus on logic, fallacies, definitions, analogies, cause and effect, and authority. The authors conclude with practical advice about how to state a case — especially a case for faith — in writing or public speaking. Of these two books, I found How to Think most challenging and Good Arguments more conventional, yet I recommend both. Thoughtful pastors must both be good thinkers and articulate good thoughts, and these books will help them achieve those aims.

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PLAYBOOK BUILD

Dream Big in a Portable Space SCOTT COUGILL

Here is how to overcome the challenges of rented spaces without losing your mind.

o become a multiplying church, you must plant churches. While most church planters dream of opening permanent facilities, the high cost, long lead times, and inflexibility can make this launch strategy impractical and unwise. Thus, churches wanting to multiply frequently start in rented spaces, such as schools, movie theaters and community centers, that give them the freedom to expand. This is exactly what is happening through the Assemblies of God Church Multiplication Network (CMN). According to Chris Railey, senior director of leadership and church development ministries for the AG, more than 80 percent of all new churches are launching in rented spaces. How can you do this cost-effectively and well without losing your mind? How have

other churches and networks overcome the challenges of rented spaces — and thrived? It all starts with a team of volunteers.

Equip Volunteers

Church leaders often share that their biggest fear with portability is finding enough volunteers and keeping them engaged. Launching strong in a portable site — defined as one that people must set up and tear down each week — requires more volunteers than churches in permanent facilities need. However, this can present an incredible opportunity for engagement and discipleship that doesn’t exist on a permanent campus. Understanding what volunteers desire can help you bring them on board and keep them involved.

Volunteers want you to know them. Intentional discipleship of volunteers is critical for their growth and continued service at church. When it comes to setup and teardown teams, this is no different. Churches that begin with a strategy of discipleship in the selection and care of their setup team leaders are more successful. This requires team leaders who see the setup/teardown experience not just as tasks to complete each week, but as opportunities to pour into people as they convert the venue into a sacred space. Volunteers want you to need them. Some attendees, especially men, feel intimidated by the idea of serving as children’s workers, prayer team members or greeters. However, they will come early to drive trucks, move cases and set up the audio equipment. Setup and teardown teams give these individuals an opportunity to feel needed. It provides a new on-ramp for interacting with others in your church. As they engage more, they will attend more and grow more — if you care for them in the process. Volunteers want you to care for them. Over my 30+ adult years in church, I have served as a volunteer in many capacities. I have received the annual thank-you gifts of flowers, gift cards and meals. But over all those years of service, I felt most cared for and appreciated when the church invested in leadership development and the systems to maximize my impact as a volunteer. I wanted to arrive at church knowing exactly what my role was, feeling equipped to do that role, and encouraged by my leader. As a setup and teardown volunteer for many years, I felt cared for when my church invested in a system that allowed regular volunteers without much experience to participate easily, set up effectively, create a welcoming environment, and then tear down quickly.

Seek Expertise

I recently crossed the Mackinac Bridge that connects Michigan’s lower peninsula to its upper peninsula. Completed in 1957, it remains the longest suspension bridge with

two towers between anchorages in the Western Hemisphere. Construction took 3.5 years and, tragically, claimed the lives of five workers. As I was in the middle, 200 feet above the icy straits connecting Lake Huron and Lake Michigan, I felt grateful for the expertise and skill of the engineers who designed it. I got straight A’s in math and science in high school and college, but that doesn’t mean I can design a bridge. It turns out that designing outstanding volunteer-centric portable systems that deliver an excellent worship, children’s and visitor’s experience is an engineering specialty as well.

Launching strong in a portable site can present an incredible opportunity for engagement and discipleship that doesn’t exist on a permanent campus. I learned this the hard way while serving as executive pastor of a Los Angeles church that didn’t have a volunteer-centric solution. Our staff tried designing its own portable systems for our two rented venues, with help from a company that normally served permanent church facilities. In short order, we wore out the volunteers and had to move to paid setup and teardown teams each week. Now, as CEO of a company specializing in portable spaces, I have witnessed hundreds of churches utilizing our portability engineers to launch small and large churches with complex state-of-the-art audio, video and lighting experiences — using volunteers who can completely convert a school, theater or community center into a house of worship in an hour. The volunteers don’t even break a sweat and are available to serve in other areas on Sundays. The right equipment and expertise are part of the equation for helping your volunteers succeed. And their success is crucial to building a thriving community and effective ministry that can launch even more churches.

Scott Cougill is CEO of Portable Church Industries, Inc., in Troy, Michigan. 23

PLAYBOOK KNOW

The Problem of Biblical and Theological Literacy, Together With the Role Of Preaching ED STETZER

When people are indifferent toward the Bible and errant in their theology, it keeps them from really knowing God. Here are three remedies to this problem.

ccording to American Bible Society, 87 percent of American households own a Bible. The average household has three Bibles available. But the problem is this: Most Americans have access to a Bible they don’t read. Just 11 percent have read the entire Bible, and the majority (30 percent) of Americans surveyed have read no more than several passages or stories. Even more shocking is that only about a third (36 percent) would describe the Bible as true, while 56 percent describe it as “a good source of morals.” As we process this data, a few things become clear. Over half of Americans believe the Bible is morally beneficial, but most

How much of the Bible have you personally read? ALL OF IT NONE OF IT MORE THAN 10% ONCE ONLY A FEW ALL OF IT 9% SENTENCES 11%

13%

ALMOST ALL OF IT

12%

AT LEAST HALF OF IT

15%

SEVERAL PASSAGES OR STORIES

30%

LifewayResearch.com

haven’t read it in its entirety, and only a third describe it as true. There seems to be a high level of respect for the Scriptures without a belief the contents are applicable to daily life, or even true. But the problem doesn’t stop simply with biblical literacy and engagement. It also extends to theological conclusions. “The State of American Theology,” a joint study between Lifeway Research and Ligonier Ministries, uncovered some interesting theological conclusions that a majority of Americans have reached. • 64 percent of Americans say “God accepts the worship of all religions, including Christianity, Judaism and Islam.” • 52 percent of Americans believe that “Jesus is the first and greatest being created by God.” • 56 percent of Americans agree with this statement: “The Holy Spirit is a force but is not a personal being.” God accepting worship directed toward false gods, Jesus as a created being and not eternal, and the Holy Spirit as less than the third Person of the Trinity are just a few of the many theological errors we uncovered in this valuable research. It is obvious the less people know about God through the Bible, the more errant their theological stances will become as cultural perception, per sonal opinion and public discourse fill in the biblical gaps.

But Can’t We All Just Get Along?

So we see we have a biblical literacy problem, and an errant theology problem, but why is this so important? The answer to this question arises from another one: Can you truly

have a relationship with someone you don’t know or understand? A relationship requires revelation, and the same is true of God. Someone who perceives the Holy Spirit as a force and not a Person does not know the truth of who He is and therefore cannot freely engage in the love of the Holy Spirit or walk in His power. So we see the problem. When people are indifferent toward the Bible and errant in their theology, it keeps them from really knowing God. As people lose sight of the true God, they replace their love with a false god — a god of their own invention. This should deeply resonate and grieve us.

The Solution: Exposition and Experience

The good news is this problem is not new or surprising to God. In fact, God has continued to use and grow His Church for millennia. So how do we solve this problem? I propose three remedies. First, we need biblical preaching. Biblical preaching teaches people week in and week out to rely on the text for their spiritual journey. As they see their pastor doing this, they will look to the Scriptures for answers to life and godliness. And when people open the Bible weekly, they will become encouraged to open it daily. When congregations

Which of the following describe the Bible? (Respondents could select all that apply)

52%

GOOD SOURCE OF MORALS HISTORICAL ACCOUNT HELPFUL TODAY TRUE LIFE-CHANGING A STORY OUTDATED BIGOTED HARMFUL NOT SURE NONE OF THESE

38% 37% 36% 35% 34% 14% 8% 7% 11% 3% LifewayResearch.com

There seems to be a high level of respect for the Scriptures without a belief that the contents are applicable to daily life, or even true. see the Bible treated faithfully and in a way that is hermeneutically responsible, they see a model of how they can and should live that way too. Second, we need dependence on the Scriptures and the Spirit. We must not separate reliance on the Scriptures from a dependence on the Spirit, who informs and deepens our knowledge. We must read the Bible, but we must also allow the Bible to read us. We must grow in knowledge so that we may grow in faith. Third, we need an experience that is informed by the Word. Experience is essential and normal in the Christian life. God designed and created our emotions and perceptions to contribute to our understanding of who He is. Yet human experiences alone are unreliable. As Isaiah says, “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever” (Isaiah 40:8, ESV). People and their philosophies come and go, but the Word of our God remains — true and unchanging — throughout eternity. Verse 9 calls us to announce the good news that lifts up the true God in all His glory. Experiences rooted in the special Word of God point us to the special Person of God revealed in Jesus Christ. When congregations see their leaders living this way, they will cling closely to the Scriptures as their guide for sound theology and powerful experience. Let’s point people to the true God through expositional preaching, dependence on the Scriptures and the Spirit, and experiences informed by His Word. Then they will fall in love with the true Savior.

Ed Stetzer, Ph.D., is the Billy Graham chair of church, mission and evangelism at Wheaton (Illinois) College and serves as executive director of the Billy Graham Center for Evangelism. 25

PLAYBOOK INVEST

Unleashing the Potential in Young Leaders ALAN PASTIAN

You can create a better partnership between generations by doing these four things.

top making fun of millennials. There, I said it. People have maligned millennials as snowflakes, hipsters, safe spacers and crybabies. The older generation has said 20-somethings are lazy, narcissistic and entitled. Of course, the older generation is not free from ridicule either. Millennials tend to perceive those older than them as out of touch, unable to listen, set in their ways and judgmental. God wants a strong partnership between young and old. Unfortunately, many older leaders with good intentions do not know how to harness the energy of millennials and unleash the potential in these young leaders. One of the greatest generational tragedies

in the Bible is when Solomon dies, and his son Rehoboam prepares to take over the Kingdom. This is his moment to lead, to inspire and be someone who has the platform and the presence to bring a nation together under new political power. Rehoboam consults the older leaders who served his father, Solomon, and his grandfather, David. Yet he ultimately fails to benefit from their counsel. In 1 Kings 12:8, we learn that â&#x20AC;&#x153;Rehoboam rejected the advice the elders gave him and consulted the young men who had grown up with him and were serving him.â&#x20AC;? The young king, set up for leadership, poised to lead the next generation into triumph, chose to disregard the advice of the older generation. This led to a divided kingdom. As you read on, the members of the older generation separated themselves, and those of the younger generation applauded themselves. The result was a nation that never came back together. A lack of understanding between generations leads to frustration, discouragement and disunity. It can also stir up feelings of resentment toward the church. So how can we create a better partnership between generations?

Cultivate Reverse Mentoring

Millennials are growing up with access to a volume of information unprecedented in history. Ask them about what they value and how they think about cultural topics, and don’t freak out when you hear perspectives that differ from your own. Millennials are cultural landscape experts. Try collecting and using that information to build sermons, drive community life discussions, and examine new ideas on how things could and should work. As a young man, David told Saul the older king’s armor didn’t work for David’s battles (1 Samuel 17:39). I’m sure it never crossed Saul’s mind that a slingshot could defeat an army. Saul got mentored in “Slingshot 101,” and maybe we should too. Let the younger men and women among you try out their armor and see what they can do. When they challenge your armor, let them take up the slingshot. They might be the 4leaders you’ve been waiting for.

Give Them Permission to Fail

Millennials will fail. They don’t have the life experience or the maturity of the older generation. But it’s a mistake for older leaders to withhold ministry responsibilities from them, giving them mundane tasks until they earn their stripes. This generation wants to make a difference now, and waiting years for a chance to serve takes incredible patience. Unfortunately, some millennials won’t stick around. So, give them a seat at the table to contribute to decisions. If they make a mistake, give them permission to fail forward, and help them get up and go at it again. Try to be less dismissive and more developmental. People were patient with you, so be patient with them.

Leverage Their Passion for Personal Mission Alan Pastian is campus pastor at River Valley Church in Woodbury, Minnesota. 28 6

Millennials are not as interested in climbing ladders as making a difference. Give them a calling rather than a career. Give them purpose to manage instead of portfolios to manage. Cause is important. Tie in compassion and justice to their everyday work. Find creative

opportunities to partner with your missions organizations. Have millennials create awareness campaigns for causes tied to your global projects. Inspire your millennials to build bridges with local needs (backpack drives, food donation opportunities, etc.). It may not fit as easily in your missions box, but you are creating an opportunity for your church to be seen and heard.

Give Them Reasons to Stay with You for the Long Haul

In recent years, some have criticized millennials for their job hopping. Become the leader they never want to leave. Start by setting an example; millennials want role models they can trust. Many parental, political, spiritual, athletic and entertainment role models have let them down. Choose to be one of the few they can look up to. Younger leaders are hungry for mentoring and discipleship. So, build it into your organizational environment. Create a monthly mentorship group at a coffee shop with you and your younger staff. Give them office hours to talk about whatever they need to discuss (both work or non-work-related issues). Create a family environment with those you lead by having dinners together as a staff, with no work talk allowed. Be a father or mother to young leaders in a fatherless and motherless generation; after all, they probably have plenty of instructors (1 Corinthians 4:15). Stop complaining about the person you wish they would be, and start being the person they hoped you would be. Consider the words of Psalm 145:4–6: “One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts. They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty — and I will meditate on your wonderful works. They tell of the power of your awesome works — and I will proclaim your great deeds.” Let’s tell this next generation who God is and who they can be in Christ. Let’s refuse to dismiss these young men and women and choose to bring them into our circles of influence, working with millennials to help them become the next generation leading the world closer to Jesus.

FEATURING

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C O N F E RENC E March 5-7, 2018 | Dallas, TX

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featuring breakout sessions with:

Join us for the first-ever Church Multiplication Network Conference to connect with pastors, leaders, and church planters from all over the country. Hear from incredible speakers, develop your ministry skills, and collaborate with like-minded leaders this March in Dallas, TX.

John & Stephanie Van Pay

Caleb & Chrissy Cole

Sam Chand

Walter Harvey

Robyn Wilkerson

Will Mancini

Geoff Surratt

and more...

PERSPECTIVES

One issue, two perspectives on matters affecting today’s church

Should Pastors Know How Much

oney can be a touchy subject in church. Many people are careful to keep their personal finances private. And members of the congregation often have specific ideas about what the church should do with the money they give. How do we as leaders respond to these expectations? One consideration is whether the pastor should be looking at the books. The question we’re asking in this issue’s Perspectives is this: Should pastors know how much people in their church give? Do you have the right to access personal giving records? If so, should you look at them?

don’t think a senior pastor should know what each member of the congregation gives. It just makes things too complicated, and it hinders a leader’s ability to lead. Let me explain. When people give, they expect a level of privacy, especially in today’s climate of data security concerns. Most people believe that even non-anonymous giving should not be accessible for staff to view. In other words, not letting the left hand know what the right hand is doing allows giving to remain a secret between the giver and God (Matthew 6:3–4). The reason privacy is held in such high esteem is the connection with integrity. The temptation for pastors to prioritize certain givers over others based on the amount of their giving is too great. If one member gives a regular tithe that is much larger than the amount others give, the pastor may change his or her approach to keep that individual happy. Keeping records private removes the potential roadblock of favoritism, something Scripture forbids (James 2:1–13). Privacy issues can also affect a giver’s motivations. If people in the pew knew their pastor looked at their giving reports, I wonder what they’d think. I wonder how it would affect their relationship with the pastor and

their motivation for giving. I believe it would have a negative impact. The phrase from the Sermon on the Mount I referenced earlier is not instruction to pastors about keeping offerings anonymous. After all, Jesus once watched to see what people were giving in a public setting (Mark 12:41). But Jesus’ teaching about giving in Matthew 6:2–4 is actually directed to the giver. It’s about our motivation for giving; it contrasts those who want people to view them as overly generous with those whose hearts are pure. Jesus challenges us to give from sincere motivation. When pastors are unaware of a member’s giving, it removes another stumbling block. True motivation for giving comes from a heart committed to God. It’s not due to pressure, and it’s not done for persuasion. Each of us should decide in our own hearts what to give (2 Corinthians 9:7). When members suspect their pastor is looking over their shoulders while they’re writing their tithe and offering checks, how does this affect their decisions? This doesn’t mean that no one on staff knows what a person gives. Obviously, someone is keeping records for tax reporting purposes. But I think we should draw a line at the senior pastor. To lead effectively, we must lead objectively.

ONE ISSUE. TWO PERSPECTIVES.

People in Their Church Give? Of course, someone on staff has this information. For tax recording purposes, someone must compile and share the data in some way. But the question comes down to how much the senior pastor should be involved in that process. On the one hand, knowing all the details could lead to favoritism. However, there is also a question of discipleship and development. Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide. Weighing and addressing expectations is key to finding the right balance. We hope these two perspectives will provide clarity on this somewhat controversial subject.

he idea that pastors should not know what people in their church are giving because they will play favorites is narrowsighted. First of all, it implies that pastors are weak leaders, easily tempted by favoritism. It also suggests that somehow money is a special issue we must handle in an extreme way. Pastors should use every opportunity to teach their congregations clearly about stewardship. Talk about money, talk about giving, and honor generosity. The only way to develop good stewards in our churches is by leading the charge. And knowing the giving patterns of your people is one way to gauge how often you need to be up front about it. Financial guidance can be part of encouraging your congregation to grow in Christlikeness. In other areas, people do not criticize pastors for taking a personal approach. When it comes to marriage, you ask your members how things are going in their relationships. When it comes to their personal devotional lives, you ask them how often they read their Bibles and pray. When it comes to witnessing, you ask them whom they’re inviting to church or how many conversations about faith they’ve had. The same should be true for giving. Giving is part of spiritual growth. You can’t separate it. And a pastor who isn’t aware of what people are giving won’t be at his or her best to lead them.

Knowing what people give allows you to be more involved in their lives. Being able to honor your givers when they increase their regular tithes because of a raise, when they make a faith commitment and stick with it, or when they make a large donation at the end of the year is crucial in building a culture of generosity in your church. Without those key indicators of personal giving, you won’t be able to identify the opportunities for encouragement. Church members want their pastors to be personally invested in their lives. They seek them out for counseling when times are difficult. Pastors celebrate with them at weddings and childbirth. Finances are as much a part of someone’s life as these other things. When we are aware of someone’s giving patterns, we are more in tune with their flow of life. And when we’re up front about it, we can better earn their respect.

YES

FEATURE COVER STORY

Eight ministry lessons that can help bring renewal to communities in chaos

A PLACE CALLED SHERMAN PARK WA LT E R H A RV E Y

n Saturday, Aug. 13, 2016, Milwaukee’s Sherman Park became a flashpoint of angst and racial tensions that had been simmering throughout the summer. That afternoon, a black police officer shot and killed 23-yearold Sylville Smith, a black man who was running from the police while carrying a handgun. It had already been a violent weekend in Milwaukee, with nine shootings, five of them homicides; two of the crime scenes were near the site of Smith’s death. Earlier that month, a double homicide — with one man shot and another fatally stabbed — occurred in the Sherman Park area. Word of the officer-involved shooting spread quickly on social media, and, over the next several hours, people began streaming into Sherman Park. By nightfall, what

Before we can lead for the good of the city, we must listen and learn to live for the good of the city. started as a protest erupted into chaos. Angry young men picked up rocks and bricks and hurled them toward the police. People broke into businesses, looted merchandise and started fires. Sounds of gunfire, explosions, shouting and sirens filled the neighborhood. Frightened reporters fled. Firefighters watched helplessly from a distance, unable to approach the violent scene. As a patrol car, a gas station, and several other businesses went up in flames, the smoke was visible from our

church, Parklawn Assembly of God, located just three blocks from Sherman Park. When Sunday morning dawned, the charred neighborhood resembled a war zone. The fires were dying, but the embers of anger and frustration still burned.

The Surge

The situation was overwhelming. A palpable canopy of hopelessness hung over the city. But in that moment, I sensed God speaking. We were in that place at that time for a reason: to take the love of Jesus to our community and into the world. Obedience couldn’t wait. I could not hold off until the heat died down. I had to lead, follow or get out of the way. I had a few hours before service to mobilize our congregation. Through social media, I spread the word:

“Parklawn, we’re having service. We’re going to walk to the riot area and start cleaning up.” That Sunday morning we marched into the burned-out neighborhood, shoulder to shoulder, black and white. Yes, we were afraid. God didn’t take away our fear, but He gave us grace, and we did it scared. In January 2016, I stood before our congregation and proclaimed 2016 as our Year of the Surge. A surge is a sudden increase in power or movement, a wavelike force. I believe that was a prophetic picture of what God would do in our church and city. We expected an influx of people coming to the altar, throwing up their hands, falling on their knees, giving their lives to Jesus and receiving the baptism in the Holy Spirit. That’s the kind of surge we anticipated. We didn’t know the surge was a crowd of people who had never stepped foot in a church, people living under the radar of employment, education and productive participation in society. The surge came into our church and brought the church outside the four walls. It swept us from our seats, into the streets. It took us to a place called Sherman Park, a place where we met people in need of God’s grace. They were young men with baseball caps, gold chains and silver teeth. They were young ladies who looked like boys. They were people with piercings and tattoos. The surge taught me some things about community renewal and loving my city the way Jesus loves. I want to share eight lessons I learned that will help bring renewal to communities in chaos. I realize most congregations will never experience our unique set of circumstances. Yet these lessons are applicable to any church in any setting, from the inner cities and suburbs to the small towns and remote rural places. Across the country and around the world, hurting, broken people desperately need a remedy that only Jesus can provide.

1. Step into the Chaos

No pastor wants to step into a chaotic situation. Nevertheless, there is a demand for leadership in times of crisis. When unrest occurs, people are looking to us, saying, “What are you going to do, pastor?” The community was demanding change. The members of my congregation were demanding change. Our community leaders and elected officials did not know what to do. People were looking to the spiritual community. Because it was so close to our church, they were looking to me. Naturally, I called for an end to the violence. But if I wanted people to listen, I knew I had to offer more than 35

lectures or sermons. I had to lead the church out of the building and into the chaos. We’re not the Church because we come to church; we become the Church as we go.

2. Show up, Imperfections and All

As a church leader, you will face complex and difficult situations in your community. You won’t have an easy solution for every problem or an answer to every question. Show up anyway. Be present, even in your imperfections. We encountered an angry, frustrated, disenfranchised, disconnected group of young people who were spiritually dead, who had no sense of loyalty or allegiance to 36

authority or government. Yes, they were imperfect. But so were we. They quickly pointed out our imperfections. They asked, “Why are you here?” The place was abuzz with reporters and media helicopters. Everyone from CNN and The New York Times to our local news was there. These young people asked, “Where have you been? Are you here because the cameras are on? We drive by your church on Sundays. We see you, dressed up and looking nice. But will you be back here? Will you come back tomorrow?” We weren’t the only church on the scene. We walked in as a coalition of red, yellow, black, white and brown

God didn’t bury you in your community; He planted you there for His glory. pastors and congregants. Most of the white people with us had never been in that community before. Even as a black pastor who lives there, I was afraid, so I can only imagine how they felt. One of the angry young black men said, “I see all you white people here. I’ll believe in your Jesus if you all come back tomorrow with 200 white people.” And we did. We came back the next night, and the night after that, and the night after that. We kept showing up and showing them our scars. We must become permanent, even in our imperfections, even with our segregation, our denominationalism and all our religious flaws. None of us has it all together. People just want us to be real — and consistently present.

3. Love, Listen and Learn

We can’t simply arrive on the scene and tell people what we think they need. We must go in with love and a willingness to listen. To build a better community, we must first build relationships. Before we can lead for the good of the city, we must listen and learn to live for the good of the city. I was born and raised in Milwaukee. I’ve lived here for 57 years, serving as pastor of Parklawn for 25 years. I thought I had a real sense of love and compassion for my city. However, God took me to a deeper level of concern and involvement through this crisis. The issues facing the urban communities in America are complex and challenging: family breakdown, drug addiction, a lack of education and teaching resources, crime and violence, poverty and economic loss. There is a profound sense of hopelessness. If the Church doesn’t bring hope and light and life into those situations, who will? Don’t wait until a crisis happens to get to know the people in your neighborhood. But if you are in a place of crisis, don’t hesitate to take the love of Jesus into the streets and parks and neighborhoods (safely and wisely, of course). Show up with no agenda other than to love, listen and learn. Then serve in a way the people ask you to serve. Lead in a way that is consistent with Scripture, honors God and points to Jesus. Return the next day, and repeat. Never stop loving, listening and learning.

4. Speak Life

In a world of suffering and sorrow, God is raising up

leaders to speak with relevance, connect the dots between human experience and eternal reality, and offer people a sense of meaning, purpose and hope. The Word of God brings life. If we’re to reach African-Americans, if we’re to reach their cities and neighborhoods, we must speak life to them at their point of need. In Acts 17, Paul encountered a riot in Thessalonica. God used the situation and Paul’s faithful testimony to spread the truth of the gospel and make disciples, not only in Thessalonica, but also in Berea and Athens. Anywhere there is an atmosphere of chaos — whether it’s Milwaukee, Las Vegas, Puerto Rico or little Sutherland Springs, Texas — we can have an Acts 17 moment again. Wherever you are ministering, there are people who need to hear the message of Christ. Whether you are in a chaotic place like Thessalonica, a receptive place like Berea, or a skeptical place like Athens, speak truth and life to anyone who will listen.

5. Put down Roots

In Jeremiah 29, God calls the Israelites to put down roots in the land of their captivity — to build houses, plant gardens, marry, and have children and grandchildren. Though Babylon wasn’t their ideal zip code, God said to “seek the peace and prosperity of the city” and “pray to the Lord for it” (verse 7). God didn’t bury you in your community; He planted you there for His glory. Put down roots, and seek the peace of the city. There’s a term in urban America: white flight. This describes what happened in the past when people of color moved into certain neighborhoods, and the white people, and often the churches, fled. Put down roots where God places you, even when it’s hard, even when the neighbors are different from you, even when the grass seems greener elsewhere. The purpose in life is not to live free from pain, suffering, chaos and strife. The purpose is to bring glory to God. The riot changed the way we approach ministry. We recently launched what we call 40 Days of Community. We combined our two services into one, and at the end of the service, we leave the building and go into the neighborhood, passing out bottled water, knocking on doors and praying for people. The first Sunday, I led four people to Christ — in the streets, not from the pulpit. We won’t transform America’s cities and neighborhoods overnight. But we can trust God to change hearts 37

and lives as we labor faithfully. Sometimes it seems the Church has a short memory. When a crisis occurs, we send in money, resources and our best people to help. But once the bleeding stops, we move on to the next place. There are no quick fixes. We need churches that will remain and invest in the lives of the people, block by block, generation after generation.

6. Be Consistent

We realized the surge would not come through the door and down the aisle unless we provided a path. We must leave the door open and the light on. Shortly after the riot, we hosted a community listening session. We opened the doors of our church on a Saturday, and 600 people came in. We served food and then brought them into our sanctuary, where we talked and

If we’re to reach African-Americans, if we’re to reach their cities and neighborhoods, we must speak life to them at their point of need. listened. It brought a real sense of peace. The politicians were there, saying, “Why didn’t we think of this?” We want to continue to show that same level of love and involvement. Every Saturday since the riot, we have returned to the spot where the riot occurred. Jesus said that when an impure spirit goes out of a person, it may come back with seven other spirits, making the final condition worse than the first (Matthew 12:43–45). We won’t let that happen — not on our watch. We’re filling the void with the life, light and love of Jesus Christ.

We’ve realized we were not as effective as we thought we were. When you start asking the community, they’ll let you know. We were good at having church and Sunday School for Christians. But we weren’t good at engaging our community. When we started listening and learning, we could finally lead. We realigned our church budget, staff and focus. My youth pastor is now also leading community engagement. We realigned our service times, turning our Wednesday night Bible study into a community engagement night. We’re discussing culturally relevant topics like financial management, parenting and sex trafficking — shining a biblical light on the issues people are struggling with in their daily lives. We turned the sanctuary, gymnasium and surrounding rooms into a youth community center on Wednesdays.

pastors to do the same, and they all agreed. This preparation was crucial. We must not neglect our own spiritual development. As we fill our buckets, we will have fresh water to draw and pour into the lives of those God calls us to lead.

8. Follow God’s Lead

You don’t need a crisis to reveal the ministry needs in your community. Find out where God is opening doors of opportunity, and join Him there. In the calm stillness and in the turbulent chaos, He’s already moving behind the scenes to accomplish His purpose. Seek the Spirit’s guidance, and follow where He leads. He might just direct you to a place you least expect — a place like Sherman Park.

7. Invest in Personal Growth

As leaders, finding time to care for ourselves is often difficult. At the beginning of that Year of the Surge, we decided as a church to invest in personal growth. I committed to read an average of one book weekly, listen to one or two podcasts daily, and submit accountability summaries to my leadership team. I asked my elder board and

Walter Harvey is senior pastor of Parklawn Assembly of God in Milwaukee and is vice president of the AG National Black Fellowship.

TOWARD A BRIGHTER FUTURE t’s no secret that America’s minorities are struggling — economically, socially and spiritually. That’s one reason why the Assemblies of God National Black Fellowship and many of our ethnic fellowships exist. For the last six years, I’ve had the privilege of serving as vice president of the National Black Fellowship, a movement of hope across America. We exist to develop and deploy African-Americans as leaders and church planters. We need such movements in cities like Milwaukee, to proclaim Christ through both words and actions. In a time when people are questioning the relevance of the Church, God is empowering men and women to step up and lead compassionately in places of desperation, dysfunction and chaos. I dream of inner cities with safe streets, clean neighborhoods, intact families, ample and fair employment opportunities, well-educated children with healthy self-esteem, and good relationships between citizens and their government officials. I believe it begins with churches making disciples, training leaders and equipping the next generation to follow Jesus. Please pray that peripheral distractions, cultural divisions and a lack of resources will not prevent the Church from accomplishing the work of God and achieving the vision of Christ-centered renewal. — Walter Harvey

FEATURE

RENEWAL

CHANGE: THE SIX-LETTER

‘CURSE’ WORD One church’s journey toward congregational renewal.

GERAD STRONG

ur church was in a death spiral. Bethel Assembly (Rapid City, South Dakota) was 63 years old, and the median age was even older. Our senior pastor resigned and asked me to assume the lead pastor position. I had only been the youth and associate pastor for four years, and the idea of leading a declining church was overwhelming. My wife, Melanie, and I realized our wellestablished church needed to make some adjustments to survive, but we didn’t know where to start. When the church voted us in as lead pastors of Bethel Assembly, we were excited and humbled; we also felt a strong sense of God’s calling. However, those meaningful emotions quickly gave way to the sobering truth of what we were stepping into when an elderly couple approached me to say, “Pastors come and go, but we will always be here!” I knew we needed renewal. The Acts 2 Journey helped kick-start our transformation. It was the beginning of a Spirit-empowered process that exposed the need for a six-letter word that causes so much trepidation: change.

Introducing Change

Change, the ultimate swear word for a well-established church, needed to become the center of our renewal process. Easier said than done! The church struggles with change, perhaps because everything else in the world changes at such a rapid pace. The senior saints and pillars of the church probably struggle the most. They tend to believe the church is the one place that should never change because God doesn’t change. If they sense the tide turning, they often start heading for the doors. When a church has experienced congregational hemorrhaging, the faithful remnant seeks to hold on to the glory days. Hemorrhaging triggers survival mode, and survival mode causes a church to cling to the past, judge the present and fear the future. However, renewal must happen. 44

Change, the ultimate swear word for a well-established church, needed to become the center of our renewal process. The first pastor I served under taught me a simple question I often reference: Is it a principle or a preference? Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). That’s a principle. Congregants may say, “The choruses of today are not worship,” or, “We can’t move to two services because we won’t know everyone,” or, “Small groups are not for me.” Those are preferences. Change is inevitable. However, it becomes more palatable in the context of the principle vs. preference question. It’s a difficult discussion, but a critical one. These types of conversations become more manageable when the leader begins to change the way people think.

It Starts with Me

Even when we recognize the need for change, it’s sometimes difficult to know where to begin. Music and mindsets are easy targets. But I realized I had to lead the way. Change needed to start with me. Pastoring the church through renewal required me to think differently. I acknowledged that I couldn’t manage everything myself. After all, it takes pastors, teachers and others to do the work of the church (Ephesians 4:11– 12). As renewal begins and the church expands, there is a need for high-capacity volunteers and staff. I looked for mature servants who had been faithful in the little things and provided opportunities for them to step up and serve as leaders. I truly believe this was crucial to our success. Even with the right people in place, there were many uncertainties about the future. I didn’t have all the answers. But I had plenty of questions and a desire to learn and hear from God.

Proverbs 2:1–5 says, “My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding — indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.”

Questions and Answers

I found the change we needed in the wisdom of those who took the time to answer my questions and push me to grow. I learned how to build healthy relationships that lead people to find their purpose in ministry and leadership. I learned to give people room to grow instead of boxing them in by the rules of the church. Here are a few of the questions I worked through as we turned our church toward renewal: How do I keep people from leaving the church? When someone walks away, it feels personal — and sometimes it is. But over time I have settled in my heart who I am as a leader and who we are as a church. A statement I heard from one leader resonated in my spirit: “We must choose who we will lose, to choose who we will gain.” It initially seems harsh and judgmental, but that’s not the intention. This counsel relieved the pressure when people left the church who were not in alignment with the vision. I would rather someone leave than stay and feel miserable. We realized the church is only a generation away from closing its doors, and that motivated us in many of our decisions. We wanted to become a multi-generational congregation. Renewal required us to focus on the next generation. We must acknowledge and honor the past while preparing for the future. Our church will not be a fit for everyone, and that’s OK, but arriving at that place of contentment required a change of thinking. 45

What’s the difference between culture and vision? We had great words to articulate our vision. We knew what we wanted people to experience when they walked through our doors. We wore wristbands to remind us and wrote it on the walls and letterhead. However, we quickly learned that words are just that until our behavior and atmosphere match what we say. Vision is what we want people to know about our church. And culture is how they feel while they are here. When a church accepts its God-given vision and understands its culture, there will be powerful moments that will change people’s lives. Pairing faith-filled, visionary words with loving behavior and a welcoming atmosphere prepares the way for God to come in and do the impossible. How do we change our culture? The church and its people are often quick to tell others what is wrong, sinful 46

Vision is what we want people to know about our church. And culture is how they feel while they are here. and unholy. As a result, many unbelievers see Christians as bigots, haters and hypocrites. John 13:34–35 says people will recognize us as Christ’s disciples when we put love on display. We began sharing with our community what we are for instead of only what we are against. We want to be a hospital for the sick to come and find the Healer. We want to lead lost people to the Way. We want our church to be a place of worship and celebration for the King of kings. That is why, after every altar call, we rejoice and applaud. We celebrate! We remind our people of Luke 15:32 often, “But

God has more for YOU.

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we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” We are learning that the power of celebration encourages our people to replicate the teachings of Scripture. Changing culture in a church is not easy if a renewed mindset doesn’t start from the top. It should start with the lead pastor and trickle down to the rest of the leadership. This requires change from the board, ministry teams and ministry leaders. During our orientation for new board members, we remind them of God’s calling on their lives and challenge them to serve as spiritual elders, not politicians. As our board realized they represented the vision of the church to the people, it made a difference in our leadership culture. How can we become healthier? Salvation and water baptisms are vital indicators of church health. Yet there was a time when we rarely saw them. Acknowledging and celebrating God’s work among us helped spark cultural and spiritual changes. Every salvation and every baptism became a cause for celebration. The following year, we experienced an 87 percent increase in recorded salvations and a 400 percent increase in water baptisms. I believe we should measure what matters. Attendance

Changing culture in a church is not easy if a renewed mindset doesn’t start from the top. matters because each number is a soul. Guest retention matters because it reveals whether people feel welcome. Measuring allows for celebrations and highlights ministry areas that need more attention. For example, we noticed Holy Spirit baptism was underemphasized, so we established special ministry services for teaching about the Holy Spirit and inviting people to seek Spirit baptism. How do I “kill” something? Evaluating the church can be a painful and sobering process, but measuring will inevitably reveal well-intentioned ministry that is no longer bearing fruit. Ministries and ministry styles are simply tools to accomplish the Great Commission. However, tools eventually wear out. I quickly learned that simply ending a program implied a lack of respect and dignity. These tools once brought value, life change and eternal hope — and each one represents a person who helped forge it. Simply pulling the plug might hurt someone deeply. Rick Allen, a national facilitator for the Acts 2 Journey,

THE ACTS 2 REVITALIZATION JOURNEY he Acts 2 Journey revitalization cohort helps pastors and church leaders advance their churches into a new dimension of health and growth by the power of the Holy Spirit. Under the leadership of Alton Garrison, AG assistant general superintendent, this cohort process includes four retreats over a one-year period. Each retreat begins with a Friday session for pastors and spouses and addresses leading change, conflict resolution, time management, recruiting team members, casting vision, communication and much more. The Saturday session is for pastors, spouses and the vision teams that pastors select from their churches. Pastors bring eight to 15 people from their congregations to help them plan for the future. A vision team can consist of deacons, staff members and other influencers from a wide range of ages. The vision team is critical to the process as it takes on ownership of the Acts 2 Journey and helps plan and launch the strategy that emerges. The Acts 2 English or Spanish cohorts allow churches of all sizes and geographical locations to receive these vital elements for successful spiritual, relational and numeric growth. For more information, visit acts2journey.com, email acts2@ag.org, or call 417-862-2781.

reminded me that such tools deserve the respect of a beautiful sunset. Change can be a time to pause and reflect on the day that is fading away. We can appreciate a sunset, even while looking forward to another sunrise and the promise of a new day. For nearly nine years, our church operated a community outreach, the Wednesday Night Club. We bused neighborhood kids to our church for dinner, activities and Bible lessons. This ministry was revolutionary for Bethel when it started. It shifted the mindset of the church from an inward to an outward focus. It challenged congregants to volunteer and engage in hands-on ministry. (Notice how Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m honoring the past. If you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t honor the past, people will not dream with you for the future.) We planted seeds of salvation into countless kids over the years. We showed our neighborhood we were a safe place for their children. Over time the ministry became stagnant and exhausting. It was time to consider some difficult questions: Were the volunteers still excited about this ministry and engaged in the mission? Were new families attending because of the program? The answers to these questions were painful. It was time to give this once valuable tool a sunset. We also needed to give our volunteers and congregation a new tool for reaching the kids in our community. It took time and creativity, but we found our sunrise in the adoption of an elementary school in our neighborhood, where we served the same children in a new way. We built a

relationship with the school and now serve them without any strings attached. We honor the teachers and staff by catering lunch for them during preservice and providing snacks for the lounge a few times a month. We place volunteers in and around the building on orientation nights to help neighborhood families find their classrooms and teachers. Bethel volunteers are in the classrooms each week mentoring kids in math and reading. Every year, we partner with the school to provide a bicycle for any child who has had perfect attendance. The first year, the school only needed 12 bikes. Last year, it needed 53. Through this new endeavor, we have seen families and staff from the school enter the doors of our church. The tools may change, but our mission remains the same: sharing the light of Christ in a dark world.

Conclusion

Bethel has experienced a lot of change in recent years. The renewal process has been gut-wrenching and soul changing but entirely worth it. Today, Bethel has a weekly impact of more than 600 people at two different locations. Our once-plateaued church is now a multiplying church with a commitment to seeing not just our city but our entire region discover Jesus Christ. We are investing in rural places to advance the kingdom of God. Our second campus is 85 miles south of the 49

For us, renewal is not only about increased attendance and salvations, but also about the ability to dream beyond what we are today. main campus — in a town of 800 people, where the church was about to close its doors. Nearly 7 percent of that community now attends, and the church has seen its first salvations and water baptisms in more than 20 years. For us, renewal is not only about increased attendance and salvations, but also about the ability to dream beyond what we are today. As our congregation approaches its 70th birthday two years from now, we sense the Lord challenging us to have seven healthy church campuses in underserved locations. Our dream is that each location will impact its region for Christ, giving people the joy of discovering their destiny in Jesus. When you’re willing to face that six-letter word — change — celebrate a healthy culture, settle in your heart who you are not, watch a few sunsets and dream big, God will rock your world! It’s worth the pain and the journey. 50

God has entrusted you with His flock. Be faithful as you carry out His mission. This has been our prayer, and we hope it will become yours. “Since my youth, God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds. Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come” (Psalm 71:17–18).

Gerad and Melanie Strong are the lead pastors of Bethel Assembly in Rapid City, South Dakota.

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FEATURE

Daily disciplines that restore spiritual, mental, physical and relational health. BUTCH and PAM FREY

wo years ago, we reached a point in ministry where we felt depleted. We were aware of the dangers of burnout. We had worked with many missionaries and pastors who had experienced it. Yet we struggled to grasp the reality that we were flirting with it ourselves. When we finally let our guard down to some of our closest friends, they convinced us to take a few weeks to rest, regroup and direct our thoughts away from work and toward God. During our time away, we looked to Him to renew the parts of us that we acknowledged were withering on the vine. We disconnected from email, social media and ministry responsibilities, and we let the Holy Spirit do His work. We didn’t experience a dramatic turnaround, but God birthed an intentionality within us that prompted gradual and fundamental change — both a change of heart and a change in the way we choose to live out our faith. We have sensed a greater willingness to wait on God to intervene in areas where faith and trust don’t always come easily. We also made a conscious decision to use our limited time and energy more intentionally. Not every challenge we meet requires an emotional investment on our part. In fact, most do not. As Pentecostals, we have an affinity for transformational events. Although there may be pivotal periods that lead to a renewal process, we concluded that personal renewal is not a singular event, or even a series of events. Rather, it’s the result of a lifestyle that is in the process of transformation. Renewal may look a bit different for each person. However, there are characteristics of a renewed life that we can trust God to develop in us. Isaiah 40:31 speaks of the renewed strength that comes to those who wait on God: “They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” It’s a divine energy that enables us to weather life’s storms, rise above defeat, and overcome the day-to-day struggles that can easily drain us. Leaning on God’s strength increases our resilience as we encounter crises and deal with everyday aspects of living in a fallen world. As God continues to renew us, we sense the strength His Word promises, and we have fresh vision for the future. There is no separating spirit from mind and body. We are fearfully and wonderfully made, each part affecting the whole, intertwined in a marvelous way. Even so, we must purposefully care for each of those parts in a way that will foster renewal and bring life. Let’s look at the challenges and corresponding action steps related to a holistic renewal process. 54

Personal renewal is not a singular event, or even a series of events. Rather, it’s the result of a lifestyle that is in the process of transformation.

Spiritual

As people of the Spirit, we gravitate toward life. It’s unfortunate that people sometimes mistake trend, style and hype for the Spirit. For those of us with low levels of creativity, it’s liberating to recognize that deeper doesn’t necessarily mean newer. The same spiritual practices that provided stamina in previous generations can

strengthen us today. Four disciplines come to mind. Praying in the Spirit. As Pentecostals, we are no strangers to the experience of speaking in tongues. We may, however, need reminders of the importance of continually relying on the Spirit in this way. Seeking quiet time with God. The art of listening reaps no greater benefit than when we are alone with Jesus. The

To survive the demands of ministry in the 21st century, we must become intentional about finding quiet spaces where we can hear the voice of God. pressure to maintain a certain level of noise and chatter must yield to the need for silence. The past several years, we have craved quiet. We have actively searched for opportunities for quiet times — both in corporate and private settings. To survive the demands of ministry in the 21st century, we must become intentional about finding quiet spaces where we can hear the voice of God. Looking to history. Incorporating into our devotional time the writings and prayers of great Christians who walked the road of faith and ministry before us has given us new insights. For instance, St. Augustine said that if he had to eliminate all but one of the spiritual disciplines, he would keep the examen. This ancient discipline is a simple exercise consisting of reflecting on the day, thanking God for the things we got right, confessing to Him the areas in which we missed it, and seeking forgiveness and strength to do better tomorrow. We can never overstate the importance of acknowledging before God our sins and asking for His merciful forgiveness. We frequently end our day by taking 10 to 15 minutes to pray and quietly reflect. A benefit is a sense of closure to the day. Practicing the Sabbath. Drawing boundaries and guarding a weekly day of rest is crucial. For ministers, finding the time for this may be the most significant challenge of all. Yet a chronic lack of rest stymies the quest for personal renewal.

Mental

Our lives are in constant forward motion, and the health in which we journey into that future depends, to a large extent, on our emotional strength. Negative thoughts, unforgiveness and anxiety bring a fog of heaviness and chronic weariness. We don’t have to live that way. Romans 12:2 reminds us that the renewing of the mind brings transformation. This transformation isn’t a onetime event; it’s a lifestyle — a daily decision to trust Jesus and follow His example. By adulthood, our thinking patterns and the way we view ourselves are well-established. Reprogramming years of negative thought and behavior habits can seem like an insurmountable task. But nothing is impossible 56

with God. He wants His children to experience less stress, anxiety and depression, and more hope, energy and peace. When we slow down and pay attention, we can track our thought processes — those cognitive journeys that bring us to particular conclusions. We can then balance those against the truth of God’s Word and the reality of our current circumstances. Sometimes it’s beneficial to talk with someone who can offer feedback, such as a family member or trusted friend. If needed, we shouldn’t hesitate to seek professional help. How do we change what we don’t know, and how do we determine where to start? Consider four areas of choice that pertain to healthy emotional living. Over the course of a year, we repeatedly decide between two antithetical ways of living life. Forgiveness vs. bitterness. Jesus gave the best example of forgiveness while on the cross when He asked the Father to forgive those who were crucifying Him (Luke 23:34). We can’t go back and undo hurts we caused or injustices and betrayals others inflicted on us. However, we can choose to forgive. We can also learn not to confuse forgiveness and trust. We don’t have to put ourselves back into a volatile situation, and we won’t always forget the pain. But hurtful events can become part of life’s narrative without the bitterness that previously characterized those memories. Just as we forgive others, we must learn to forgive

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Spiritual practices that provided stamina in previous generations can strengthen us today. ourselves. Choosing to learn from personal mistakes and refusing to ruminate on the “what-ifs” or the “if onlys” makes it possible to extend the same compassion to ourselves that we would offer others. Letting God’s grace flow inward allows us to move on in freedom and confidence, rather than remaining bogged down in the past. Truth vs. lies. To deal with truth and the reality of any situation, we must overcome the inner critic. If left unchallenged, automatic negative thoughts (ANTS) will stir up regret about the past, steal joy from the present and drain hope from the future — leaving us with a fatalistic and pessimistic attitude that will define our perceptions. Separating our ANTS (such as I should have done better, I’m a failure, or Nobody likes me) from reality will help us examine the facts clearly and logically to make wise and healthy decisions. We must also guard against making assumptions about things we can’t see or know. Ascribing motives to the behaviors of others or assuming we understand someone else’s point of view is not helpful in the quest for truth. Rational vs. emotional. Emotions alone aren’t enough to determine the accuracy of an idea. Although they can inform us that something is off balance, we must still backtrack our thoughts to their origin to determine the accuracy of a conclusion. Once determined, we can filter those thoughts, distinguish between fact and fiction, and deal with the truth. Emotions such as fear, shame, doubt and anxiety can drive us to form unrealistic core beliefs about ourselves. Balancing those against the Word of God, the truth in our circumstances and feedback from others creates a healthier emotional space for approaching life. Positive vs. negative. Philippians 4:8 provides the foundation for a simple practice of changing personal negativity to a more positive life outlook. Taking time to 58

think about God’s goodness — such as listing three things for which we are thankful at the end of each day — fosters a grateful attitude that contraindicates destructive and unhelpful thoughts. As Christ followers, we shouldn’t base our behavior on how we feel, our circumstances or our interactions with others. Our emotions and desires stem from our thinking, and those thought processes must undergo renewal, through the guidance and powerful help of the Holy Spirit, on a daily basis. Although it may sound trite, if we change our mind, we change our life.

Relational

Although Jesus ministered to the multitudes and to individuals, He sought relationship with a small circle of close friends. Jesus’ most intimate moments, and some of His most intense conflicts, took place within this circle. While ministers frequently emphasize the importance of community, we are sometimes the worst at solidifying this area of spiritual living. The ordinance of Communion establishes and illustrates the importance of both vertical and horizontal relationships as we remember Christ’s sacrifice and look to the future as members of His Church. Just as we acknowledge our faith as a community of believers at Communion, we should live out our faith in the presence of community. When Paul spoke to the Galatians about “bearing one another’s burdens,” he was referring to situations God never intended one person to bear alone. Sometimes God allows circumstances to develop in our lives that we are unprepared to deal with on our own. During those times, members of our community walk alongside us, assuming some of the weight of the burden until it is no longer necessary. For the minister, community can be a tricky business.

Although the local church provides an element of community, ministers should also build relationships of mutual accountability and trust outside the congregation. Here are some questions to consider as you seek community: • Is my community providing a safety net for me and my loved ones — a loving place where we can find shelter from the storm? • Is mutual accountability a part of my community? • Do the members of my community have my permission to speak to the challenging areas of my life and ministry, and do I have permission to do the same with them? • Does my community maintain confidentiality? Aside from contributing to longevity, finding and remaining part of a healthy community can play a key role in personal renewal.

Physical

If our body is a dwelling place for the Holy Spirit, shouldn’t we take care of ourselves in a way that glorifies God and positions us for personal growth and renewal? Some

scholars have estimated that Jesus averaged 20 to 25 miles of walking per day during His ministry. His ability to maintain this pace indicates a history of taking care of himself. When physical health is poor, it can affect the mind and spirit. Sleep, exercise and nutrition are three basic building blocks for physical health. Most adults need seven to nine hours of sleep. Studies show sleep deprivation can lead to poor performance on complex mental tasks. A lack of sleep can also trigger weight gain. Learning to disconnect prior to bedtime is important. Reading a book, as opposed to engaging in social media or watching television, can help calm the mind and body for sleeping. The effects of diet and caffeine intake on sleep vary from person to person, so it pays to know one’s body and what helps with relaxation and sleep. That brings us to diet, which affects more than just weight. Food choices can impact sleep, mood, energy levels and general health. A healthy diet can also have a positive effect on spiritual disciplines. It’s easier to focus

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on prayer, Bible study and ministry when you don’t feel weak and sick. Understanding basic dietary guidelines is essential to eating well. Websites and smartphone apps, such as MyFitnessPal, can be valuable tools. Physical activity is also vital. Some people dismiss the need for exercise, citing Paul’s words to Timothy in 1 Timothy 4:8: “physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things.” Of course, the pursuit of righteousness takes precedence over the pursuit of fitness. But that hardly means Paul and Timothy were sedentary. In fact, life in the first century mandated a level of exercise that is not essential in 21st-century America. Unfortunately, many people today fail to compensate with intentional exercise. Like sleep patterns and diet, there is not a one-sizefits-all plan for physical fitness. For those who are healthy enough for basic exercise, Assemblies of God missionary and personal fitness consultant Brandon Newman recommends incorporating at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise (such as brisk walking) or 75 minutes of intense exercise (such as running) every week. “Doing so will help control appetite, boost mood and improve sleep patterns, as well as reduce the risk of heart

disease, stroke, diabetes, dementia, depression and many cancers,” Newman says.

Conclusion

Although we often think of personal renewal in terms of dramatic events that bring us closer to the Cross, it’s often the daily disciplines — spiritual, mental, relational and physical — that pave the way for renewed health. Regardless of what the year holds, taking inventory of these areas of our lives, prayerfully setting goals and exercising intentionality will make a marked difference in overall health, while putting us in a better place to experience the renewal we crave.

Butch and Pam Frey have served as Assemblies of God missionaries for more than 30 years, ministering in Mexico for 20 of those years. Butch currently serves as member care coordinator for AG World Missions, and Pam serves as a member care consultant. Their work entails crisis intervention, transitional adjustment and many other facets of missionary life.

AG MINISTERIAL HELPLINE

WE ARE HERE FOR YOU! he Assemblies of God cares deeply for the spiritual and emotional health of those who faithfully serve the Fellowship. The General Council in partnership with EMERGE Counseling Services provides confidential, professional consultation via the Ministerial Helpline. The number (see the back of your credential card) is reserved exclusively for clergy, missionaries and spouses. Professional, Spirit-filled counselors are available at no charge 30 hours per week. All details of the call are strictly confidential, and there is no attempt to identify the caller. Callers are provided a personal identification number should a follow-up consultation or referral be desired. Are you lonely, anxious, depressed, depleted, conflicted or stressed? You are not alone. Ministry is difficult. EMERGE is here for you. Don’t suffer in silence ... get the help you need and deserve. Call for prayer, encouragement and confidential consultation. If you would like to follow up with a Christian counselor in your area, simply provide a zip code, and we will forward a list of Christian professionals in your locale who have completed a screening assessment. For anonymous and confidential counseling, call 1-800-867-4011, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. CST, Monday-Friday.

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FINDING NEW LEVELS OF VISION FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP

Chris Colvin is a contributing editor to Influence magazine and specializes in sermon research for pastors and churches. He lives in Springfield, Missouri, with his wife and two children. 62

he Great Commission is a call to the nations. That means we take the message of Jesus to our cities, towns, suburbs, farmlands, and to the world. The target audience, then, is very diverse. Different cultures, nationalities and skin colors will hear the Word of God. Different interests and passions flow through their hearts. But there is one purpose, and that is to see lives transformed through the gospel. Diversity is a loaded word. But whatever political or social implications it holds, it also defines the mix of nations and languages who will come to Jesus at the end of the age (Revelation 7:9). If we are to reach the world with the truth, then we must be ready to embrace vision that is diverse. Twenty-five years of ministering to college students has helped Crystal Martin become well acquainted with diversity. Before coming to the national Chi Alpha Campus Ministries office in Springfield, Missouri, she and her husband, Scott, led Chi Alpha ministry in Arizona, which included leading students on international missions trips. Her passion to send students to the nations is matched only by her resolve to reach the nations who come to us on our college campuses. What she teaches us about diversity in leadership is invaluable. Matt Nelson knows how vision can be diverse yet unifying. A church planter himself, he has sent many people out from his church to plant seeds of their own vision. And now his church, City Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, has spearheaded a new way of helping train and resource church planters. The Seed Network helps people get a leg up on starting churches by providing coaching and resources. Mark Jobe has worked in one of the most diverse cities in America for more than 30 years. His church, New Life Community Church, has over 25 campuses in the Chicagoland area. As he looks back on their humble beginning of restarting failing churches in the city, he sees amazing redemption stories that have played out. Rick Ross has pioneered work and pastored in diverse areas. He knows the key to multiplication in our churches is rich discipleship that begins with water baptism. As the district superintendent, heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s laid down a unique challenge for North Carolina Assemblies of God churches. He has a passion to see lost souls saved and a fire to produce healthier churches in his home state. As you read these testimonies, may they challenge you to find new levels of vision for your own leadership. God wants to do something in our world, both close to home and far away. Are you ready to join Him?

Diversity is an Open Door to the Great Commission A C O N V E R SAT I O N W I T H CRYSTAL MARTI N rystal Martin has spent 25 years ministering to college students through Chi Alpha. But her real passion quickly came to the surface shortly after her wedding. “We had been married six months when I found myself planning a missions trip to Morocco,” Martin says. And from that first trip came a passion to open a pipeline from Chi Alpha to the nations. “The Lord spoke to me and put a call on my life to lead this generation to the nations,” she says. “He started opening a door to the world through our work with colleges and universities. I truly felt a bigness. It felt like a birthing for me.” It’s not always been so clear for Martin. Twenty-one years ago, her husband, Scott, was called to take a position with the national office, and she began to question her place and role. Using her teaching degree, Martin took a job in a public school. But she soon felt a pull back into ministry. “I heard God tell me to make a peaceful home for my family, and He would give me the desires of my heart,” she recalls. Alongside her husband, she launched Chi Alpha Expeditions, a strategic plan to bring missionaries to college campuses in the U.S. and send college students overseas to study and work while sharing the gospel message. That led to the first World Mission Summit. “We need the kindling for a calling to world missions,” Martin says. “But how do we get that? By exposing college students to

missionaries to hear the challenge to go, pray and give.” Recently, Martin was appointed to lead the Network of Women in Ministry. This was a genuine fit for her. “Beth Grant, the first director of the NWM, personally mentored me and saw my position as a way to open a gateway not just to the nations but for women,” she says. One aspect of ministry Martin has always been focused on is diversity. Over the years, college campuses have seen a huge increase in the number of international students, and Martin took note. She realized Chi Alpha leadership should reflect that same diversity, and so should churches. “First of all, you have to embrace the growing pains,” she says. “You have to be willing to give up some comfort to get some impact in return — things like worship preference or power.” She also says you must paint a picture of what diversity can mean for your congregation or ministry, then raise up diverse leaders to be positive voices. “Research in the business world has shown that a diverse team is more creative, flexible and beneficial to the bottom line,” Martin says. And the bottom line for churches is the Great Commission, which Martin has been passionate about her whole life.

“We need the kindling for a calling to world missions. But how do we get that? By exposing college students to missionaries to hear the challenge to go, pray and give.”

MULTIPLIERS

Developing a Vision for Multiplication A Q &A W I T H M AT T N E LS O N

“I’ve seen too many pastors try to do it on their own. I want them to know they’ve got a team on their side because it can be hard.”

As lead pastor of City Church (AG) in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Matt Nelson has his sights set high. He’s cast a compelling vision for multiplication as his church enters its ninth year of existence. Coming from church planting roots himself, that vision is sensitive to the needs of church planters like Nelson.

INFLUENCE: Matt, where did this vision of your church becoming a pipeline for church planters come from? MATT NELSON: It started with our “One Fund” we launched in early 2017. We had a need for more space as we were outgrowing the current building we rent. But this wasn’t just a capital campaign to buy a building. We asked, “What’s the one amount we need to fund our entire vision?” That question had to start with, “What is our vision?” We put a big emphasis on church planting. Our goal is to plant 40 churches in the next 10 years. In January, we launched the Seed Network, focusing on developing, training and resourcing church planters. You can learn more at our website: Seed.Network. What are some of the things that make the Seed Network so special? It starts with an on-site, nine-month residency for select church planters. They come on board with us to see how we’ve done what we’ve done. They become part of our staff before moving on to start their own work. The key to successful church planting, in my opinion, is to have a team that works well together and a network that resources and prepares you well. I’ve seen too many pastors try to do it on their own. I want them to know they’ve got a team on their side because it can be hard.

What made this the right time to launch the Seed Network? In the past, we’ve offered financial help and resources to new church planters, and we’ve made our staff available to them for coaching and guidance. But as God increased our reach, we decided to make it intentional and systematic. It’s so important to put your vision in front of your people as often as you can. We talk about what God is doing in other church plants all the time. As we shared this vision and passion with our people, we’ve been able to onboard nongivers, increase the generosity of our current givers, and fund our vision in whole. Has training and resourcing church planters been on your heart for a long time? I’ve always known that it was part of my calling to train and resource church planters, even when I was a church planter myself. I’ve always believed the greatest impact is through multiplication, not just addition. It produces an exponential impact.

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MULTIPLIERS

Redeeming Sacred Spaces A C O N V E R S AT I O N W I T H M A R K J O B E

“Maybe instead of planting new churches, what if we helped relaunch, restart, revive existing congregations?”

hirty years ago, Mark Jobe was a college student in Chicago looking for a church where he could volunteer and share his talents. He found himself in a small church on the South Side that needed someone to help turn things around. The congregation decided Jobe was that person. “There’s an enormous number of churches in the city that pretty much have the same story. Churches that in the ’40s and ’50s were vibrant, thriving congregations found themselves in larger auditoriums with real small congregations and an inability to know how to turn things around and reach the neighborhood around them,” says Jobe. What was birthed at that small church was the first of many restarts, taking existing churches, with great buildings in growing neighborhoods, that have landed on hard times and breathing new life into them. They have a desire to reach their communities, but

they just don’t have the ability. Pastor Jobe led that first church into a new season of restructuring and growth, eventually becoming New Life Community Church. “Maybe instead of planting new churches,” Jobe says, “what if we helped relaunch, restart, revive existing congregations?” And that’s just what they did. Jobe and his staff led other dying churches through restarts, bringing them under the umbrella of New Life. Members of these congregations were hesitant at first. These churches were where members came to salvation, got married and raised kids. But now that the churches have made fresh starts, they’ve become beacons to their communities again. It’s really about restoring the memory of what made them great and bringing it into a new reality. “We don’t erase the history of the church we work with,” Jobe says. Instead, they lean into what makes the church special — its place in the city. “The mission field has come to the cities of America, and unless we do something about the city, we are neglecting a vast mission field,” says Jobe. That means Jobe’s vision is specific to an urban setting. Reaching diverse neighborhoods requires a different model. “We’re not looking to build a megachurch in the city,” Jobe says. “Our vision is to be a church distributed.” A church distributed can accomplish so much more than a church divided. Restarting is just one part of it, but it’s a vital component. Of New Life’s existing 26 campuses in Chicago, half of them are restarts. To pastors facing struggles who may think a restart is for them, Mark Jobe has some words of wisdom: “Some people think ‘I have to do it all myself.’ But the truth is you may be the liaison to handing off the baton to the next generation.” Though it may feel like an ending, it’s actually the beginning of a beautiful, powerful redemption story God wants to tell. “When we redeem sacred spaces,” Jobe says, “it pleases the heart of God.” And that’s the heart of New Life as well.

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MULTIPLIERS

How a Challenge for More Baptisms Can Spark a Fresh Fire A Q&A W I TH R I CK R OS S

“Water baptisms are soaking-wet proof we are about Kingdom business.”

Pastor Rick Ross has been the superintendent of the North Carolina District of the Assemblies of God (NCAG) for a little over a year. At his inaugural district council, he laid out a big challenge to meet a huge need that God put on his heart. Inspiring pastors in his district and across the country, Ross says water baptisms are the main way we know whether we’re fulfilling the Great Commission.

INFLUENCE: What has God been showing you lately when it comes to churches in your district? RICK ROSS: As I read the first two chapters of Acts again, I was reminded that God interrupted the world not only to fill His disciples with this amazing gift of the Holy Spirit, but to give them power to change the world. The immediate response was over 3,000 people saved and baptized in water that day. I was inspired to believe that we could recapture that. I am believing for another move of the Spirit in North Carolina that will result in 3,000 people being baptized in water. The goal will be for each church to baptize a number of people equal to 10 percent of their current Sunday morning attendance. That’s a very attainable goal. Why is water baptism such an important part of your initiative? I wanted to find one thing that all our churches could rally around. Water baptisms are soaking-wet proof we are about Kingdom business. When our churches focus on salvation, 68

something great happens. When you look at it, what is salvation? Are we just interested in how many hands are raised or how many lives are changed? Salvation requires a commitment. And asking people to be baptized in water is a way to separate real commitments from emotional responses. What resources are you providing to see your vision become reality? First, we handed out wristbands that say, “I am 1 of 3,000.” Each time someone is baptized in an NCAG church, they get a wristband and get their picture taken. We post the pictures all over social media to stir up interest and motivation in our churches. We also provide portable baptism tanks for churches that may need them. And we’re offering four, one-day seminars on Overcoming Growth Barriers for churches. At our first seminar, we had over 100 churches in attendance. How have churches responded so far? The response has been a whole new dimension of excitement all over North Carolina AG. The gift of the Holy Spirit is more than a doctrine we hold to. It is a life-changing event that must radically change the way we do business. And we’re seeing a fresh wind blowing through NCAG churches.

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MAKE IT COUNT An eight-week study for leadership teams

The Shepherding Role of a Leader STEPHEN BLANDINO

8 questions to maximize your impact and influence.

WHAT IS MAKE IT COUNT?

Week after week, you invest time and energy into making every Sunday count. But you also have to think about staff meetings, board meetings, and meetings with key volunteers and other church leaders. Juggling so many meetings can seem overwhelming, especially as you think about developing the leaders around you. Effective leaders are continually looking for great leadership content they can use to develop and mentor other leaders. Make It Count is a powerful, little tool to help you accomplish just that. Each Make It Count lesson is easily adaptable for individual or group discussion, allowing for personal application and reflection among your ministry leaders and lead volunteers. The lessons are useful as devotionals in board and staff meetings and in departmental meetings with your lead volunteers. Studying and growing together is key to building strong and

healthy relationships with your team members, and it is a necessary component to building growing, flourishing churches. These lessons can help you make each moment count as you lead and develop the leaders around you. The following eight, easy-to-use lessons on the shepherding role of a leader are written by Stephen Blandino, lead pastor of 7 City Church in Fort Worth, Texas (7citychurch. com). He planted 7 City Church in 2012 in a thriving cultural arts district near downtown Blandino Fort Worth. Stephen blogs regularly at stephenblandino.com and is the author of several books, including Do Good Works, Creating Your Churchâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Culture and GO! Starting a Personal Growth Revolution.

od calls pastors to shepherd the people they lead. In fact, even if you’re not a pastor, there’s a shepherding element to your leadership. The apostle Peter said, “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them — not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away” (1 Peter 5:2–4). So, what does it mean to shepherd — or care for — the flock God entrusted to you? And how do you maintain a shepherding posture as the church or organization grows? The key to functioning in a healthy expression of a shepherd is to understand the two faces of shepherding: noticing and developing. Noticing focuses on the compassionate side of shepherding. It’s the side of leading that demonstrates care, empathy and emotional intelligence. The old saying, “people don’t

care how much you know until they know how much you care” captures the noticing side of shepherding.

The key to functioning in a healthy expression of a shepherd is to understand the two faces of shepherding: noticing and developing. Developing focuses on the leadership side of shepherding. It deals with identifying, training and empowering leaders. Developing is all about delegating, equipping, and multiplying. In the following lessons, we’ll ask eight questions to help you practically live out the shepherding role of a leader. Four of the questions focus on noticing, and the other four focus on developing. As you read, discuss and apply each lesson, you’ll become better equipped to shepherd the people God has entrusted to your care.

HOW TO USE MAKE IT COUNT

We are pleased to make available the Make It Count Discussion Guide in a downloadable PDF, available through the “Downloads” button on Influencemagazine.com. Each lesson in the PDF Make It Count Discussion Guide is divided into a Leaders’ page and Team Member’s page. The Leaders’ page corresponds exactly to the material in the print issue of this magazine. Print multiple copies of the PDF Discussion Guide for all your ministry leaders and the team members they lead in your church or organization. Key words and concepts are underlined in each lesson on the Leaders’ page. These underlined words and concepts correspond to the blank spaces found on the team member lesson pages. Team members can

fill in the blanks as you progress through each lesson. We trust these lessons will help you make each moment count as you lead and develop the leaders around you.

MAKE IT COUNT Study

THE SHEPHERDING ROLE OF A LEADER: 8 QUESTIONS TO MAXIMIZE YOUR IMPACT AND INFLUENCE

Who’s New … That I Should Meet?

Assess: On a scale from 1 to 10, how connected do you feel to the people God has entrusted to you to shepherd? Insights and Ideas n his first letter to Timothy, the apostle Paul provides a helpful list of qualities leaders I must possess. In Chapter 3, Paul uses words and phrases like “self-controlled,” “respectable” and “above reproach.” Buried in this list is one quality that is often overlooked in leadership circles: hospitable. In 1 Timothy 3:2, Paul says, “Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable… .” Hospitality sets the tone for every interaction we have with people. Without hospitality, you’ll never shepherd your team — or the new people you meet in your church or organization. That’s why it’s important to ask the first shepherding question: “Who’s new … that I should meet?” The “Who’s new” question will help you notice the person on the fringe, and widen your net to welcome the outsider. Jesus was a master at this. While the religious leaders of His day were coddling insiders, Jesus noticed the outsiders. Even if you’re not a naturally outgoing person, you can still be hospitable. Here are three tips to help you meet new people: 1. Be accessible. Leaders are busy people, and sometimes it’s hard to catch a breath or catch a break. But Sunday morning isn’t the time to hide in your office. Get out of the green room, and make yourself accessible to others. You can’t meet people (much less shepherd people) if you don’t mingle with them. 2. Be informed. Gather information that helps you know whom you should meet. For example, do each of your ministry environments have a guest card or connection card? Do you have a way to gather information from people who are interested in volunteering? Do you know who gave to your church for the first time? Being informed is a proactive approach to initiating conversations with new people. 3. Be strategic. Everybody on your staff or team should be answering the first shepherding question, “Who’s new … that I should meet?” In that process, they will meet people you need to meet, too. Regularly ask your team, “Whom have you met that I need to meet?” It might be a key influencer in your community, a new visitor or somebody with great leadership experience. Be strategic and systematic about asking your team to help you meet new people. Reflect and Discuss 1. How accessible are you to the people you lead? If this is a large number of people, how can you remain accessible while maintaining healthy boundaries? 2. What new person do you need to meet this week? What new person have you met recently that somebody on your team needs to meet? 3. What systems do you need to put in place to help you stay informed about the people you need to meet? Apply Schedule to meet with somebody new this week. When you connect, ask that person to share his or her story. This is a great way to make a person feel noticed and cared for and to begin the shepherding process.

MAKE IT COUNT Study

THE SHEPHERDING ROLE OF A LEADER: 8 QUESTIONS TO MAXIMIZE YOUR IMPACT AND INFLUENCE

Who’s Missing … That I Should Call? Team Review: What new person did you meet last week? Assess: Who has been missing lately at your church?

Insights and Ideas s I mentioned in the introduction, four of the eight shepherding questions focus on A noticing, and four focus on developing. The second shepherding question, “Who’s missing … that I should call?” is one of the most appreciated “noticing” questions. People like to know they are noticed, and it’s meaningful when they feel missed. Jesus said, “What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off ?” (Matthew 18:12). Jesus valued the missing sheep. He said we should search for the lost sheep. The truth is, searching begins by noticing. As leaders, we have to train ourselves to look for the lost and to notice when somebody is missing. This particular shepherding question is one that leaders probably get hammered for the most. How many times has somebody missed a month (or two), and now they’re offended because the pastor didn’t call them (even though you may have called plenty of others)? No pastor notices every missing person, and it’s impossible to call every person who has missed a service lately. But what can you do? I would suggest two things. 1. Do for one. Author and pastor Andy Stanley made a powerful point when he said, “Do for one what you wish you could do for all.” This is the heart of a shepherd. It might be impossible to call everyone, but you can call someone. Who is that someone you need to call this week? 2. Develop noticers. The need is too great and the number is too large for one pastor to notice or call every person who misses church. Instead, develop a team of “noticers” who can stay connected in smaller environments. The larger a church grows, the more critical these “noticers” will be. This can happen by sharing the shepherding responsibility with your staff, team or small group leaders. Reflect and Discuss 1. Who’s missing that you should call this week? 2. What could we do to become better about noticing the missing? 3. How can you mobilize other “noticers” in the congregation to provide care, compassion and follow-up? Apply Take 15 minutes to brainstorm with your team a list of those missing at your church. Take the next week to do a concentrated push toward contacting those who have been missing. Be prepared to pray with and provide encouragement to those you haven’t seen in a while.

MAKE IT COUNT Study

THE SHEPHERDING ROLE OF A LEADER: 8 QUESTIONS TO MAXIMIZE YOUR IMPACT AND INFLUENCE

Who’s Hurting … That I Should Encourage? Team Review: What person did you call last week who has been missing recently? Assess: Who are three hurting people in our church? Insights and Ideas he longer I pastor, the more I realize how much people are hurting. Whether it’s physiT cally, relationally, financially or emotionally, pain shows up every Sunday at church and every Monday in the workplace, often masked by fake smiles. As pastors and leaders, we must begin asking the third shepherding question so we can provide hope: “Who’s hurting … that I should encourage?” The apostle Paul painted a stark picture of how we should respond when a brother, sister or member of the church is hurting. He writes, “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves” (Galatians 6:2–3). How many times in leadership are we so busy that we don’t have time to “carry each other’s burdens,” or we feel too important to step down from our pedestal to serve somebody in need? I know I’m guilty. Paul’s words are a humbling indictment: “If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves.” Then, in his first letter to the Thessalonians, Paul said, “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing” (1 Thessalonians 5:11). So, how should we respond to people who are walking through the darkest storms? Here are three practical ways to provide encouragement to the hurting: 1. Prayers. Never underestimate the power of prayer to bring comfort and encouragement to the hurting. Whether it’s in person, by phone or even written in a card, prayers offer deep hope and strength in the middle of life’s biggest challenges. 2. Provision. Sometimes people need provision to help navigate tough circumstances. It might be meals after returning home from the hospital, assistance with a utility bill or someone to take care of the lawn during a medical emergency. Providing for practical, everyday needs is a great way to bring encouragement. Don’t make assumptions. Simply ask, “How can we help?” 3. Proximity. There’s nothing like a personal visit. Phone calls, texts, cards and social media messages are wonderful ways to encourage people, but sometimes the close proximity of your presence breaks the loneliness people feel in their darkest hours. Proximity also allows you to see firsthand the “unspoken needs” that may require some extra provision. Every hurting person has unique needs, and each one responds differently to the encouragement strategies listed above. Begin by seeking to understand the needs at hand, and then put the spiritual gifts of encouragement, mercy and helps to work. Reflect and Discuss 1. Who’s hurting that you will personally encourage this week? 2. Which of the three encouragement strategies — prayer, provision and proximity — do we do best? Which strategy needs more attention or intentionality? 3. What are two other ways we can provide encouragement to the hurting inside the church? Outside the church? Apply Personally encourage somebody who is hurting this week. Then, work with your team to determine how to mobilize the congregation to provide better care for the hurting.

MAKE IT COUNT Study

THE SHEPHERDING ROLE OF A LEADER: 8 QUESTIONS TO MAXIMIZE YOUR IMPACT AND INFLUENCE

Who’s Serving … That I Should Thank?

Team Review: Which hurting person in your congregation did you encourage last week? Assess: Who are the least-thanked volunteers in your church? Insights and Ideas here are three ways people serve in the local church: time, money and prayer. Some T people volunteer their time, serving faithfully to make ministry happen. Others serve through sacrificial giving, investing resources in Kingdom-advancing ministry. Still others serve by praying relentlessly for God to bring extraordinary transformation in lives. Regardless of how people serve, you should thank all of them. That brings us to the fourth shepherding question: “Who’s serving … that I should thank?” How easy it is to forget that we wouldn’t be where we are without the people who serve alongside us. Like the first three shepherding questions, “Who’s serving … that I should thank?” is all about taking notice, and then responding appropriately. The apostle Paul said, “For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers” (Ephesians 1:15–16). Paul thanked God, and his letter delivered that thanks to the Ephesians. As a shepherding leader, take four simple thank you steps to express appreciation to the people who faithfully serve with their time, money or prayers. 1. Verbal thanks. As you’re walking through the lobby or a ministry environment on the weekends, give verbal thanks to the people who are serving. This costs you nothing, but it speaks volumes to the people giving of their time and talent. 2. Written notes. Take the first 10 minutes of a staff meeting (once or twice a month) to compose handwritten thank-you notes to your volunteers and prayer team members. In addition, send cards of appreciation to first-time donors. Mail quarterly giving statements to all donors, with a short, handwritten note of thanks at the bottom of each letter. 3. Public praise. Celebrate excellent service publicly. Applaud your parking team when they are serving on a bad weather day. Tell stories during sermons of faithful volunteers who delivered exceptional service. Brag on volunteers in front of their peers. Public praise is a major boost to morale. 4. Annual appreciation. Find a way at least once a year to provide an extra level of appreciation. This might happen through a fun retreat, appreciation banquet or gift cards to all of your volunteers at Christmas. Reflect and Discuss 1. On a scale from 1 to 10, how strong is the thank-you culture in your church? 2. What can you do to bump up your score by two points? 3. Who’s serving that you will thank this week? Apply Take 10 minutes as a staff/team to write thank-you notes to the least-noticed volunteers in your congregation. Make this at least a monthly practice in your team meetings. The first four shepherding questions focus on “noticing”: Who’s new I should meet? Who’s missing I should call? Who’s hurting I should encourage? Who’s serving I should thank? These questions require leaders to pay attention and notice the people God has entrusted them to serve. The next four lessons address four additional sheperding questions focused on “developing.”

MAKE IT COUNT Study

THE SHEPHERDING ROLE OF A LEADER: 8 QUESTIONS TO MAXIMIZE YOUR IMPACT AND INFLUENCE

Who’s Emerging … That I Should Believe In? Team Review: Whom did you thank last week for the time, resources or prayers they invest in the church? Assess: Who is a potential leader or volunteer you see emerging in your area of ministry? Insights and Ideas he first four shepherding questions focused on “noticing.” They helped us pay attenT tion to the people around us who are new, missing, hurting or serving. These practical questions help us say to people, “I notice you.” There’s a second set of shepherding questions that are also important. While the first set focuses on “noticing,” the second set focuses on “developing.” The first “developing” question is, “Who’s emerging … that I should believe in?” The apostle Paul intentionally believed in the emerging young leaders around him. To Timothy, he said, “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12). Here are three ways you can express belief in others: 1. Attention. Before you can develop a leader, you have to pay attention to the potential around you. As shepherding leaders, the ball is in our court to see people not as they are, but as they can be. Who around you shows potential to be more and do more? 2. Assessment. Somewhere in the early stages of the leadership journey, you need to assess the individual’s potential. This happens best by observing the three I’s: integrity, interactions and initiative. In other words, on a scale from 1 to 10, how much integrity do they possess (this reveals their character), how do they interact with others (this reveals their people skills), and how much initiative do they take to get things done (this reveals their work ethic)? A simple assessment like this will reveal potential and provide insight into how they need to grow. 3. Affirmation. When you affirm the potential you see in others, it helps them believe in themselves. This can be as simple as complimenting a strength, encouraging early steps of initiative, or even looking a young leader in the eye and saying, “You’ve got this. I believe in you.” Words of affirmation are like jumper cables; they awaken dormant potential just waiting to be tapped. Your belief in people is like a catalyst for development. Each expression of affirmation creates a flywheel of belief that unlocks potential and maximizes momentum. Reflect and Discuss 1. Who was the first person to believe in your potential as a leader? 2. Which of the three steps — attention, assessment or affirmation — did that person take to show belief in you? How else did that individual support you? 3. Who is someone emerging in your ministry you should believe in? What’s the first step you need to take to express this belief ? Apply Take your first step this week to show belief in an emerging leader. How can you affirm that person? What growth environment can you expose that individual to, or what opportunity can you invite him or her to be a part of ?

MAKE IT COUNT Study

THE SHEPHERDING ROLE OF A LEADER: 8 QUESTIONS TO MAXIMIZE YOUR IMPACT AND INFLUENCE

Who’s Rising … That I Should Equip? Team Review: How did you express belief in a young leader last week?

Assess: How do you currently equip volunteers or leaders to serve effectively? Insights and Ideas eople rise one step at a time as leaders. At the various stages of their journey, they P need to be equipped with the necessary resources to keep moving forward. In his letter to the church in Ephesus, Paul said, “So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up” (Ephesians 4:11–12). Equipping isn’t optional as pastors and leaders. It’s a mandate. It’s primary to our calling. God calls us to equip His people to do His work, and that brings us to the sixth shepherding question: “Who’s rising … that I should equip?” People don’t accidentally become better leaders. They engage in a growth process that helps them move from where they are to where they need to be. As leaders, we must be intentional about crafting and encouraging intentional engagement in that growth journey. So, what does that look like in practical terms? Here are three ways to equip the emerging leaders around you: 1. Training. Training comes in all shapes and sizes. You might invite emerging leaders to a conference or seminar, engage them in a small group focused on leadership development or sponsor them to take a course that stretches their capacity. At the very least, you might invite them to a leadership lesson you are teaching to your staff or team. 2. Resources. We live in an age that makes it easier than ever to access great leadership content. As a part of your equipping process, read and debrief a leadership book with a small group of emerging leaders, expose them to podcasts, share and discuss blog articles, and engage in personality, gifting or skills assessments that provide focus for personal growth. Simple growth deposits speak volumes to people and help them feel valued and valuable. 3. Coaching. Coaching is one of the best ways to develop leaders. Coaching helps you take A.I.M. at someone’s potential by providing Assessment, Insights and Motivation. How does it work? In a coaching conversation, assess where the individual desires to grow, provide and draw out helpful insights so they can experience breakthrough growth, and motivate them with words of encouragement and belief. Coaching is so powerful because it provides real-time observation and insight to help a person take giant steps forward. These three ingredients can be practiced personally (without a formal program), as well as included in a church-wide leadership pipeline. Reflect and Discus 1. Who on your team is rising in potential you can equip for greater effectiveness or responsibility? 2. Which of the three equipping strategies — training, resources and coaching — is strongest, and which is weakest, in your equipping process? 3. What changes do you need to make to improve your equipping process? Apply It’s easy to turn equipping into a program. However, the best equipping happens in the context of relationships. Discuss as a team how each of you can personally engage in equipping others. Furthermore, explore how training, resources and coaching can be used in a larger, church-wide equipping process.

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THE SHEPHERDING ROLE OF A LEADER: 8 QUESTIONS TO MAXIMIZE YOUR IMPACT AND INFLUENCE

Who’s Reliable … That I Should Empower? Team Review: How did you begin equipping leaders last week? Assess: Who is a reliable leader you should empower with greater responsibility?

Insights and Ideas he apostle Paul was a multiplying leader who had the ability to empower people for T increasing ministry responsibility. In his second letter to Timothy, Paul said, “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others” (2 Timothy 2:2). Paul didn’t want his words to end with Timothy; they were meant to multiply. This leads us to the seventh shepherding question: “Who’s reliable … that I should empower?” Empowerment allows the gospel to multiply without limit. This multiplying effect is observed when Paul, Timothy and Silas wrote to the church in Thessalonica with these words: “For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia — your faith in God has become known everywhere” (1 Thessalonians 1:4–8). Notice the multiplying ripple in this passage. • First, Paul, Timothy and Silas modeled to the Thessalonian believers lives fully devoted to Christ — “You know how we lived among you.” • Second, the Thessalonians imitated their lives. • Third, the Thessalonians modeled what they had learned to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. • Fourth, the Lord’s message became known everywhere. In this brief passage, we see an extraordinary empowerment culture that allowed the gospel to multiply in influence. As we shepherd the people God has entrusted to our care, we must ask, “Who’s reliable … that I should empower?” so a similar multiplication can happen today. The biggest key to empowering others is found in two words: opportunity and authority. The truth is, you can train, resource and coach leaders, but the greatest leadership lessons are learned in the trenches. If you want to develop leaders, you have to empower people with opportunities to lead, and then release them with the authority to lead. Only then can the ripple of multiplication begin. Reflect and Discuss 1. In your own leadership journey, who first empowered you with opportunity and authority to lead? 2. On your team (or in your circle of influence), who is reliable you can empower to start leading? 3. What level of authority do you need to give them so they can lead effectively? Apply As a team, brainstorm a list of qualities that describe empowering leaders. Next, narrow the list to your Top 5. Then, discuss what practical steps each of you should take to live out those five qualities. Finally, have each person answer the question, “Who’s reliable … that I should empower” this week?

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THE SHEPHERDING ROLE OF A LEADER: 8 QUESTIONS TO MAXIMIZE YOUR IMPACT AND INFLUENCE

Who’s Faithful … That I Should Promote?

Team Review: Whom did you empower last week with a new opportunity and authority to lead? Assess: Who is the most faithful leader on your team? Insights and Ideas variety of things come to mind when we hear the word “faithfulness.” We often think A about the person who shows up every time the doors are open. However, faithfulness is about more than just showing up. Faithfulness is the wise stewardship of resources (abilities, time, money and influence), responsibilities and opportunities. Jesus expressed this understanding of faithfulness in the Parable of the Bags of Gold. He said: “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey … After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more’” (Matthew 25:14–15,19–20). The master empowered his three servants with important opportunities. Only two of the servants rose to the occasion and were deemed faithful. Faithfulness was proven through well-managed opportunity, and well-managed opportunity ultimately opened the door for greater responsibility and larger opportunity. The master said to the first two servants, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” (Matthew 25:21). This same principle is true today. The best way to develop leaders is to observe their faithfulness with current opportunities, and then test their ability with new opportunities. In fact, your delegation list may be your best leadership development tool. Look around and ask yourself the final shepherding question: “Who’s faithful … that I should promote?” Who exhibits the qualities Jesus describes in His parable — qualities that exhibit wise stewardship, multiplication and loyalty? Once you identify a faithful volunteer or leader, determine what responsibility and opportunity to hand to that person next. Reflect and Discuss 1. Who are the two most faithful people (as defined by Jesus’ parable) on your team? 2. To what roles do you need to promote your most faithful team members? 3. What training, resources or coaching will they need in order to succeed in their new roles? Apply The final shepherding question elevates the most faithful on your team to areas of responsibility you can entrust to them. Rather than putting off this promotion conversation, schedule to meet with them this week. In your meeting, express your belief in them, share how you have observed their faithfulness, and then offer to promote them to a new opportunity of leadership. In addition, tell them how you plan to train, resource and coach them for success. Each of the eight shepherding questions are essential as pastors and leaders. Some focus on “noticing,” and others focus on “developing.” The larger your church grows, the more you’ll need to lean into the developing side of your role so that everyone can be noticed, cared for, and equipped for ministry.

THE FINAL NOTE

Bible Engagement in an Increasingly Skeptical Age G E O R G E P. W O O D

How to bring the Word of God to increasingly skeptical generations is a great challenge.

George P. Wood is executive editor of Influence magazine.

he American Bible Society’s State of the Bible 2017 report demonstrates a key challenge Christian leaders will face in the coming years. The authors categorize U.S. adults’ engagement with the Bible in four ways: Bible Engaged — 20 percent believe “the Bible is the actual word of God or inspired word of God. They engage with the Bible at least four times each week.” Bible Friendly — 38 percent believe “the Bible is the actual word of God or the inspired word of God, without errors, but read the Bible less often than four or more times a week.” Bible Neutral — 23 percent believe “the Bible is the inspired word of God but contains factual errors or that it is not inspired but tells how the writers understood the ways of God.” Bible Skeptics — 19 percent fall into this category, which is subdivided into “Bible Hostile” and “Non-Hostile Skeptics.” Bible Hostiles (13 percent) believe strongly or somewhat that “the Bible was written to manipulate or control other people.” Non-Hostile Skeptics (6 percent) believe “the Bible is just a book of teachings.” One could look at these data and conclude

BIBLE ENGAGEMENT, BY AGE 39%

40% 31%

30% 20%

17%

12%

ENGAGED

Millennial

34%

Gen-Xer

32% 26%

25%

10% 0%

31%

that — whew! — the majority of U.S. adults (58 percent) are Bible Engaged or Bible Friendly. There are two problems, however. First, “Half of Bible Friendly adults are Christians who do not have a practicing faith.” In other words, they are Christians in name only. Second, Bible engagement reflects demographic trends. This is most evident at the extremes of the Bible engagement spectrum. According to the report, Bible Engaged adults are Protestant, married females with no postsecondary education; they attend church weekly, reside in the South or Midwest, and are 53 years old, on average. Most read the Bible daily. By contrast, Bible Hostile adults’ average age is 41, and they are “more likely to be an unmarried male from the Gen-X or Millennial generation.” Hostiles are largely non-Christian and unchurched, rarely or never reading Scripture. Among Non-Hostile Skeptics, the average age is 43. “More college graduates fall into this category than any other category. Like their Hostile counterpart, they are largely single and non-Christian, and most are unchurched.” I hope you see the difficulties these data present for Christian leaders. Paul describes the Bible as “God-breathed,” “able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus,” and “useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:15–17). But millennials and Gen-Xers account for 58 percent of all Bible Neutrals and 61 percent of all Bible Skeptics. How to bring the Word of God to these increasingly skeptical generations is a great challenge, one we cannot face squarely until we acknowledge that the problem exists.

33%

31%

FRIENDLY

Boomer

Elder 29%

27%

NEUTRAL

SKEPTIC (all)

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