LEAD

LEAD

Newsletter for Servant Leaders of TawagAwit

Serving for the Lord July-August 2011

A Guide to Servant Leadership One of the most challenging roles in any organization is Leadership.

Even how well defined the vision, mission and core values statements of the organization are, it takes a lot of effort for a leader to keep focused, to remain inspired, to sustain interest among the members, etc. There are many role models in leadership as there are countless volumes of books written on effective leadership.

In TawagAwit, we look up to Jesus Christ as our inspiration. We use the Bible as our primary source of materials to becoming leaders for the Lord. We follow Christ’s example of Servant Leadership. The Only Son of the Father, Jesus was the opposite of what people expected their leader to be. He was not born in a palace, he was raised as a carpenter, he had fishermen among his first followers, he associated with ordinary people, he taught in open fields, and he died to bring salvation to humankind.

This newsletter is meant as a guide to Servant Leadership. It aims to provide you the same tools as what Christ gave to the Apostles, as they pursued their mission of spreading God’s Word to the ends of the earth.

LEAD ON: 1 Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee approached him with her sons and did him homage, wishing to ask him for something.

He said to her, "What do you wish?" She answered him, "Command that these two sons of mine sit, one at your right and the other at your left, in your kingdom."

Jesus said in reply, "You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I am going to drink?" They said to him, "We can."

He replied, "My cup you will indeed drink, but to sit at my right and at my left (, this) is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father."

When the ten heard this, they became indignant at the two brothers.

But Jesus summoned them and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and the great ones make their authority over them felt.

But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave.

Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many."

-Matthews 20:20-28

Parents do their utmost to give the best to their children with the aim that they will excel not just in their education, in their work, but most importantly in their lives.

We have heard of the story about a mother working as a laundry woman and sending much of her meager income to a daughter pursuing a degree in the university. How many fathers work abroad, sending remittances for their children’s provisions and education? These parents do not want to be repaid by their children rather they want a bright and prosperous future for their offspring.

It was therefore with good intention for the mother of the sons of Zebedee asked for her sons’ assignment to a prominent position in the Heaven.

But such is not what Christ teaches us: He tells us to be servants, to serve others, even to the extent of giving our own lives, as He did sacrifice His life to give humanity salvation.

To be God’s servant leader, one must: -Serve rather than be served -Have the heart to serve -Look for opportunities to serve -Be selfless, not self-promote -Love all, including enemies

Vatican Notes: In the wake of two terror attacks in Norway that left at least 93 people dead, Pope Benedict XVI called for an end to hatred and ideologies that promote evil. "We are all deeply saddened by the serious terrorist acts," the pope said after praying the Angelus with pilgrims at the papal summer residence in Castel Gandolfo July 24. The pope launched an appeal "to abandon once and for all the path of violence and avoid principles of evil." As a further expression of his condolences and prayers for those affected by the attacks, the pope sent a message to Norway's King Harald V. Written on behalf of the pope by Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Vatican secretary of state, the pope said he was praying for all those affected by "the acts of senseless violence perpetrated in Oslo and Utoya." The pope asked that the country "be spiritually united in a determined resolve to reject the ways of hatred and conflict and to work together fearlessly in shaping a future of mutual respect, solidarity and freedom for coming generations."

Explosives ripped through Norwegian government headquarters in Oslo July 22, leaving seven people dead and dozens injured. Shortly after the bombing, witnesses said a man dressed as a police officer shot at people attending a summer youth camp run by the country's governing Labor Party on the island of Utoya. Police said at least 86 people died at the camp, but authorities were searching the island and the waters just offshore for several missing people... Marking World Maritime Day, Pope Benedict XVI met with a

dozen people who have family members being held captive by pirates. At the end of his recitation of the Angelus prayer July 10, the pope offered prayers for seafarers, "who unfortunately have been kidnapped during acts of piracy." "I hope they are being treated with respect and humanity, and I pray for their families so that they will be strong in their faith and not lose the hope of being reunited soon with their dear ones," he told thousands of people gathered in the courtyard of his summer villa at Castel Gandolfo. As the crowds were leaving the papal villa, the pope met privately with an international group of family members of piracy victims, "giving them serenity" and assuring them of his prayers, said Father Giacomo Martino, director of the Apostolate of the Sea for the Italian bishops' conference. Father Martino accompanied the family delegation to Castel Gandolfo for the encounter, which, he said, brought them "heart to heart with the heart of the church through the Holy Father...Pope Benedict XVI said persistent world hunger was a "tragedy" driven by selfish and profit-driven economic models, whose first victims are millions of children deprived of life or good health. In responding to the crisis, international agencies should rediscover the value of the family farm, promoting the movement of young people back into rural areas, the pope said July 1 in an address to participants in an annual conference on hunger organized by the Rome-based U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization. Meeting with the group at the Vatican, the pope strongly emphasized the theme of economic justice that has figured prominently in his encyclicals and other writings. He noted that millions of men, women and children remain without adequate nourishment today. "My thoughts turn toward the situation of millions of children, who are the first victims of this tragedy, condemned to an early death or to a delay in their physical or psychic development, or forced into forms of exploitation just to receive minimal nutrition," he said. The pope said the cause of such hunger cannot be found only in technical developments such as production cycles or commodity prices. "Poverty, underdevelopment and, therefore, hunger are often the result of selfish behaviors that, born in the human heart, manifest themselves in social life, economic exchange, in market conditions and in the lack of access to food," the pope said. The pope called for support of international efforts to promote the family farm as a key component of national economies. The traditional nuclear family, he said, has shown itself to be a competent instrument for agricultural production and for training of new generations in farming. "The rural family is a model not only of work, but of life and the concrete expression of solidarity, in which the essential role of the woman is confirmed," he said. He said the Bible's injunction to "cultivate and care for the earth" is opposed to exclusive appropriation of such natural resources. (All items taken from Catholic News Service)

BLOTFREE Vol 4

By Bro Mel B Libre*

You Play, We Pray The New Zealander took a canned beer as he viewed with his mates the telecast of New Zealand’s All-Blacks victory in the inaugural Rugby World Cup in 1987, with the Kiwis defeating France twenty-nine points to nine in the final. The man then decides not to open the can, reserving it for the next World Cup win of the All Blacks.

Fast forward, the man brings his canned beer, only to be frustrated that New Zealand failed again and again in every World Cup. The TV advertisement ends with the Kiwi, now much older, bringing his treasured beer as he and his mates proceed to view the finals with a hope that this year, New Zealand will raise the William Webb Ellis Cup again.

This nation of a little more than 4 million is a superpower in the rough and sometimes brutal game of rugby. The dream of a New Zealand rugby player is to don the All-Blacks jersey, the highest honour for a player. Becoming an All-Black leads to fame and fortune, and provides a ticket to playing in any professional rugby team in the world.

In most, if not all, of the pre-World Cup tests, the All-Blacks are always no. 1 and feared by all teams including its archrival Australia’s Wallabies. The coaching team not just obtains the players with the most talent, but must also have the stamina, be physically fit with achievements in other tournaments.

There is no question about the level of physical and mental preparation of the All-Blacks in its road towards victory.

“There is no space for emotions, just concentrate on being clinical in your games,” told one Kiwi coach to the players of the New Zealand Rugby champ Crusaders in their Super 15 Championship game against Australia’s Reds where the Crusaders lost by 1 point. I say one has to be emotional; one has to be spiritual in pursuit of this journey to victory. We must learn from Jacob: “Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will keep me on this journey that I take, and will give me food to eat and garments to wear, and I return to my father’s house in safety, then the LORD will be my God. And this stone, which I have set up as a pillar, will be God’s house; and of all that Thou dost give me I will surely give a tenth to Thee.”” (Genesis 28:20-22).

Bob Deffinbaugh in his study wrote on Jacob’s victory: “To me, this was a bargain with God. In return for God’s presence, protection, and provision, Jacob would let God be his God... Jacob clung tenaciously to God to accomplish what He promised to do, even when it seemed humanly impossible.”

The win that the All Blacks and its supporters thirst for will not alone emanate from talent, not from might, not from techniques, not from resolve, rather it will come from the One who wills it to happen. “Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,” says the Lord of hosts (Zechariah 4:6).

As a resident of New Zealand, I will take the cause of the All Blacks and New Zealand to the Final Arbiter. Starting on July 31 (40 days before the first game on September 9), I shall begin a “You Play, We Pray” daily rosary for victory of the All Blacks. And on the days when the New Zealand team plays I shall recite all of the mysteries.

Let us make this not just a journey for World Cup victory, but that of the Victory for the Lord. While we do sing, “God Defend New Zealand”, this time let us shout, likewise, in chorus, “God Lead New Zealand to Victory!”

OUR SERVANT LEADERS: St Mary’s Northcote (Mother Chapter) Bro Cyril-Sis Rose Bas Bro Bert-Sis Rosana Adviento Bro Jerry-Sis Josie Matiga St Thomas More Glenfield Bro Peter-Sis Jamelle Gayaman Bro Noel-Sis Gladys Borgueta Bro Jerome-Sis Fara Ortiz Our Lady of Lourdes Glen Eden Bro Nani-Sis Ching Mandawe Bro Sendo-Sis Claudia Menchavez Bro Victor-Sis Aves Hebia St Patrick’s Taupo Bro Edwin-Sis Marie Silerio Bro Deogen-Sis Yolly Chua Bro Danny-Sis Bel Guinto St Mark’s Pakuranga Bro Mikki-Sis Len Guantero Bro Estoy-Sis Elvie Duhig Bro Raymund-Sis Shie Babaran Blessed John Paul II Albany Bro Paul-Sis Jane Angeles Bro Nelson-Sis Maria Victoria Unalivia Sis Nida Gray Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Epsom Sis Cecil Muhal

OUR VISION: Harmony in the World OUR MISSION: To share God’s Word through music and other acts of love OUR CORE VALUES: Godliness. We believe in God and live His Word Offering. We share our talents, time and resources for God’s greater glory Devotion. We commit ourselves to the mission of the Ministry Love. We love God with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our minds and with all our strength Originality. We promote artistry and creativity to express our faith Victory over Sin. We fight Satan in each and every moment of our lives Evangelization. We bring the Light of God to those who are in the dark

Good Shepherd Balmoral Bro Mel-Sis Debbie Libre

Sustainability. We contribute and manage our resources effectively

TaYo: TawagAwit Youth Bro Daryl Guido Sis Kim Guido Sis Ina Esclamado

Unity. We are one with the Lord, one with the Church, one with the community and one with the Ministry