A Healthy Church in Every Community

ISSUE 21 / JAN_FEB 2019

WA L E S KA R A M O S - O R E L LA N A / M AT T H E W D . K I M / SA M FA R I N A

CREDENTIALED MINISTERS COLLEGE GUIDE

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AS PENTECOSTALS, WE BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF A GOD-GIVEN DREAM AND WHAT GOD CAN DO THROUGH THOSE WHO ARE FAITHFUL.

Building a Spirit-Receptive Culture Preaching in Living Color The Emotionally Intelligent Leader

MAGAZINE

THE SHAPE OF LEADERSHIP INFLUENCE MAGAZINE

S U B S C R I P T I O N S

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CONTRIBUTORS Stephen Blandino, Chris Colvin, John Davidson, Jeremy Dunn, Sam Farina, Zenaido Garza, J. Don George, Beth Grant, Sam Huddleston, Matthew D. Kim, Ken Loss, Carter McDaniel, Dan Morrison, Waleska Ramos-Orellana, Christina Quick, Chris Railey, Gabriele Rienas, Dean Sweetman, George P. Wood

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Copyright © 2019 by The General Council of the Assemblies of God, 1445 N. Boonville Ave., Springfield, MO 65802-1894. Permission required for reprints. All rights reserved.

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CONTENTS

ISSUE_21 /JAN_FEB 2019

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

Leading With Sincerity

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 Heart to Serve 4 Questions With Waleska Ramos-Orellana

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12 Like a Leader

TOOLS FOR PERSONAL AND CONGREGATIONAL GROWTH

• Live: Five Attitudes of a Strong Marriage

• Think: To Cancel, or Not to Cancel

• Learn: Getting Your Commentary Library off to a Great Start and Selected Book Reviews

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: Have They Received the Holy Spirit?

• Know: What Every Pastor Should Know About Terminating Staff

• Invest: Seven Ways to Maximize the Giving Moment in Your Church

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32 Perspectives O N E I S S U E , T W O P E R S P E C T I V E S O N M AT T E R S A F F E C T I N G T O D AY ’ S C H U R C H

Is Easter Sunday the Super Bowl of Church?

34 A HEALTHY CHURCH IN EVERY COMMUNITY As Pentecostals, we believe in the power of a God-given dream and what God can do through those who are faithful.

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CHRIS RAILEY and JOHN DAVIDSON

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44 PREACHING IN LIVING COLOR To minister effectively in the 21st century, we need to move beyond colorblind preaching.

MATTHEW D. KIM

52 THE EMOTIONALLY INTELLIGENT CHURCH LEADER We can all grow in our people skills by following these steps.

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SAM FARINA

59 Credentialed Ministers College Guide

• The Case for Continuing Your Education

• Avoiding the Student-Debt Trap

77 Multipliers LEADERS LEVERAGING THEIR GIFTS FOR GOD’S KINGDOM

Spiritual Parenting

• J. Don George: Authentic Spiritual Parenting

• Beth Grant: It Takes Being Real

• Sam Huddleston: Spiritual Parents Never Give Up

• Zenaido Garza: A Spiritual Father to Many

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

Can-Do Leadership: Eight Qualities of Leaders Who Make It Happen

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96 The Final Note Twelve for Twelve in 2019

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IF YOU ASK ME

Reflections on leadership

Leading With Sincerity As you look at the year ahead, consider how you can lead with greater sincerity in your congregation and community.

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.

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here is a lot of insincerity in today’s American culture — a great deal of pretense, rhetoric, opportunism, competing agendas and shifting loyalties. In an insincere world, sincerity becomes a powerful force for forming genuine relationships, building trust and making progress.

Sincerity cuts through the noise and connects with the heart.

Sincerity is rare, and when it’s present, people take notice and respond to it. It stands out against a backdrop of fake news, Photoshopped images and political double-talk.

Most people can tell when you look them in the eye whether you’re fully invested in what you’re saying. Sincerity feels different.

Sincerity characterized the Early Church, according to Luke’s description in Acts 2:42– 47. He writes, “Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved” (verses 46–47).

As leaders with a vision or a dream from God, we desire the kind of favor and growth the Early Church experienced. Apparently, sincerity with one another and in their purpose contributed to the Church’s progress. It was counter-cultural even then, and it helped make the gospel they preached attractive and appealing to outsiders. We could use more sincerity in the Church today. According to Luke, sincerity was born out of the following: 1. Regularity. They met together daily.

There was a rhythm of life and a routine they shared that deepened their love and affection for one another, as well as their commitment to the gospel.

2. Proximity. They ate together, learned

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together, gave together, shared everything with one another, and prayed together. The proximity they shared intensified the impact of their sincerity.

3. Thankfulness. There was a joy and an overflow of praise that came from a genuine thankfulness for Jesus and what they shared in Him. It was absent of pretense and ambition. It was real, and it was compelling.

People are hungry for authenticity, honesty, transparency and sincerity. We see too much of the other stuff every day. As you look at the year ahead, consider how you can lead with greater sincerity in your congregation and community. Allow sincerity to characterize the culture of your church. Cut through the noise, and focus on the things and the people who matter most. Take every opportunity to point to eternal truth.

In this issue of Influence, you’ll find articles from people who sincerely want to see you flourish in your ministry. In the cover story, John Davidson and I get real about the challenges facing the Church in America, and our Fellowship’s bold vision to see a healthy church in every community. Matthew Kim takes an honest and vulnerable look at the need for church leaders to move beyond colorblindness and acknowledge the cultural differences that make up the beautifully diverse body of Christ. Finally, Sam Farina explains what it means to lead with emotional intelligence.

After all, understanding human emotions is vital to forming authentic relationships.

Our genuine hope is that this issue will bless and inspire you as you pursue the mission to which our Lord has called you.

And like the apostle Paul, may you be able to say, “in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God” (1 Corinthians 5:8).

GET SET

Leaders Impacting the Church and Culture

4 Q U E S T I O N S W I T H WA L E S KA R A M O S - O R E L L A N A

A Heart to Serve ”We have been intentional in creating a culture of serving. We seek to follow the model of Jesus, recognizing that He came to serve, not to be served.”

In 2014, Waleska Ramos-Orellana, along with her husband, Roberto, a well-known Hispanic Christian singer, launched Casa de Amor y Fe in Lakeland, Florida. Today, the church holds five weekly services with more than 1,300 in attendance. Pursuing a vision to reach even more for the Kingdom, the church continues to share the love of Christ throughout its community.

INFLUENCE: What has been the key to your

church’s growth?

RAMOS-ORELLANA: The first key to our growth has been the prayer life of the church and the continual search for God’s presence. The second key has been the love, the compassion, and the clear and uncomplicated vision — a vision where everyone has a place to serve, to be accepted, to be loved, and to be restored, regardless of who they are.

That unconditional love and the intentional atmosphere have proven effective in our community. We have paid attention to the smallest of details to make sure, to the best of our ability, the church service can be an entire worship experience, from the parking lot all the way to the end of the service.

How has the Church Multiplication Network been a crucial part of your journey in the church-planting process?

I had the opportunity to be in the CMN Bootcamp in Arizona in 2014. I left so blessed and equipped for what was coming next. That following October, we planted Casa de Amor y Fe, in Lakeland.

During this four-year journey, CMN has been an integral part of our church growth.

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From CMN’s “What’s Next?” (one-year follow-up for church plants), to the CMN Conference, and now the CMN Multiply Cohort, they have provided specific tools for specific seasons in the life of Casa de Amor y Fe. In what ways is your church making a difference in the community?

We have been intentional in creating a culture of serving. We seek to follow the model of Jesus, recognizing that He came to serve, not to be served.

Our church works day in and day out with the homeless, children and nursing homes.

We visit prisons once a month, do street outreach and evangelism, provide meals to those in need through our food pantry. We work with chaplaincy and visit rehab homes and shelters for battered women. We also serve our global missions field in Honduras, where we provide meals for over 1,000 children every day.

The foundation of your community and church is the family. How are you helping to strengthen families?

We are a family based church, and we lead by example. My husband and I have personally discipled the marriages in our church. We believe that the foundation of our community and the church is the family. That is why we dedicate this personal time to work with husbands and wives. Our slogan is, “Perfect marriages don’t exist, but we can have healthy ones.”

That, in turn, has become the DNA of the church and has been one of the keys to our growth. Families who have been restored and healed now restore and heal others.

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LIVE LIKE A LEADER

Five Attitudes of a Strong Marriage GABRIELE RIENAS

Share these sentiments with your spouse for a well-connected relationship.

Gabriele Rienas is a pastor’s wife and professional counselor living in Toronto. She speaks at conferences and events worldwide.

Her book, Own It: Stepping Up to Intentional Living, is available on Amazon.com.

For more information, visit gabrielerienas.com.

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ow’s your marriage? Does the question bring a smile to your face because it’s one relationship in your life that is strong and uncomplicated, or do you squirm because it’s just another area of tension in your life? If it’s the second, then you know firsthand how a stressful relationship can undermine your ministry, your effectiveness and your well-being.

Conversely, a well-connected relationship adds so much life and stamina that the impact is astounding.

The passionate love story in Song of Songs depicts a deeply connected relationship.

One of its foundational strengths is evident in this statement: “This is my beloved, this is my friend” (Song of Songs 5:16). The key is passion paired with the sustaining power of friendship and admiration. Let’s explore some attitudes that contribute to a strong and well-connected relationship.

“We’re in this together.” So much security comes from knowing you are each other’s high priority. This knowledge brings secure connection and confidence, in spite of the many demands of ministry. Communicate this by remaining available, keeping each other in the loop, and expressing positive regard toward each other. Verbally and nonverbally express this mutual message: “I’ve got your back.”

“I like who you are.” Each one conveys admiration and respect to the other — both privately and publicly. Communicate love and respect, even when you see things differently, and even when you don’t agree. When inevitable tensions arise, discussion happens

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without judgment. Admiration is not false when you base it on the other’s incredible value in God’s eyes.

“We connect spiritually.” Find a common way to express your faith and grow spiritually. There is no template for what this should look like because it is unique to each couple. Even though each of you has a preferred way of approaching God, it’s important to develop a way of expressing your faith and your calling as a couple. Look for approaches that are meaningful to both of you and that bring a sense of God’s presence into the relationship.

“We enjoy doing stuff together.” Common interests and shared activities promote closeness. Bonds form when you have fun and laugh often. Do not let your busy ministry schedule dictate every activity. Insist on making space for enjoyable times for the two of you. Your shared activities can be as diverse as the universe. The possibilities are infinite.

“I’ll be here forever.” Your message of unyielding commitment brings security as you remind each other, “I’m not going anywhere.” Confidence blooms when you know that at the end of the day, when the lights are off and everyone has gone home — and even when your position of ministry ceases to exist and you have moved on — you will still be together.

Strong, unwavering bonds are essential to your effectiveness in life and ministry.

A clear resolve to make it work goes a long way toward making the marriage strong and life-giving for the duration.

THINK LIKE A LEADER

To Cancel, or Not to Cancel CARTER MCDANIEL

Eight questions to ask before closing your church because of weather.

Carter McDaniel is executive pastor of Central Assembly of God in Springfield, Missouri.

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o pastor wants to cancel a church service. But at times, acting in the interest of our people’s safety requires us to cancel. The decision to cancel a service is a multifaceted one. Answering eight key questions in advance can help you make the right call.

When do we need to make a decision? This should happen before the first volunteers to arrive at church would need to leave their homes.

Is it appropriate to follow another organization’s lead? This is most feasible for weekday services and events. Consider adopting a policy of canceling weekday events whenever local schools close for inclement weather.

Who makes the final decision? Who participates in the discussion? Trying to get consensus among a group can be difficult when time is of the essence, so it is best to designate one person to make the ultimate call. Of course, that person will likely want or need input from others. While the lead pastor

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typically has the final say, consider including those responsible for facility readiness and leaders of other key support teams in the decision process.

How do we communicate a decision to cancel or not to cancel? Numerous tools are available, such as social media, websites and text messaging. If you determine a communication plan in advance, you can educate your people on where to find the information.

What are the insurance implications?

This is an important consideration that can be easy to overlook. Make sure you understand the types of coverage you have and any exclusions to liability coverage that may exist in your policy. Don’t forget to confirm coverage options for any volunteers whose work may expose them to abnormal, risky conditions. Also, some insurers offer coverage for lost revenue due to cancellations; find out in advance whether you have this coverage and the criteria for filing a claim.

Are there factors beyond our control?

What are the road conditions around the church? If you are in a leased venue, who is responsible for maintaining safe conditions?

Are there financial implications? Canceling a service will mean a lost opportunity to receive an offering. Carrying emergency savings can help pay the bills when your church loses income because of a canceled service.

Providing options for online giving and educating your congregation on using them may help mitigate the financial effects of a cancellation.

How does the timing of a weather event affect the decision? A forecast calling for ice to fall during service times on Sunday morning is typically more difficult to deal with than a snowstorm that happens on Friday.

One last thing: Decisions to cancel can be notoriously easy to second-guess. If you make a decision you later regret, remember that you made the best call possible with the available information. Learn from the experience, but don’t let regret over the last decision influence your next decision!

LEARN LIKE A LEADER Resources for You and Your Team

Getting Your Commentary Library off to a Great Start DANIEL I. MORRISON

How do you select good commentaries that will provide you with the information you need? Here are some suggestions.

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he call to vocational ministry often carries with it some level of preaching and teaching in the congregational setting (1 Timothy 3:2; 2 Timothy 2:24; 4:2). This responsibility can seem overwhelming. Some ministers lack the technical skills to interact with the original languages of Scripture or are a bit rusty in their biblical history or geography.

Thankfully, there are Bible commentaries.

Regardless of your Bible knowledge, you need

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commentaries to guide you in your studying and preparation. Publishers produce a wide variety of them, but how do you select good ones that will provide you with the information you need? Here are some suggestions: Recognize the limits of your study Bible.

Some ministers do not consider using commentaries because they have study Bibles.

They believe these tools provide sufficient information. Study Bibles do provide some information regarding the background of biblical books and explanations of specific passages. But they rarely offer adequate insight for the development of sermon content. Besides, many congregants have study Bibles, so if that’s all you use, you may be repeating what is already in front of your listeners. Bible commentaries provide deeper interaction with the text, unveiling truths of Scripture that can help you bring it to life, frame it in context, and show people how it points to Christ.

Avoid using commentary series by a single

author. Single-author commentaries on the entire Bible, such as Matthew Henry’s commentary, served as useful resources to ministers and lay leaders for many years. However, no one person has expertise in the entire Bible. This lack of knowledge does not discredit their faithful work for the Church.

But when your biblical commentary comes from only one person, it limits your capacity as a leader to read, observe and communicate the text in a way that ministers to a wide variety of people.

Seek diversity in your commentaries. When possible, use a variety of commentaries. This will broaden your perspective regarding your studies. No commentator can sufficiently meet your biblical, theological and pastoral needs; no commentary series can either. A variety of perspectives will challenge you to look at the passage in a way you did not initially consider. You may not always agree with the commentary’s interpretation, but that doesn’t mean the commentator provides an inaccurate reading of the text. It may simply reveal the commentator’s unique perspective.

Find commentaries that meet your needs for sermon preparation. Not all commentaries are created equal. Therefore, you must determine which ones meet your needs. Commentaries often fit into one of three major categories: technical/critical, personal/ devotional, and pastoral/exegetical. Each of these types can benefit the minister and the congregation.

Technical/critical commentaries approach the biblical text in the original languages and engage additional scholarly materials (academic articles, books and other commentaries). The commentators often translate the biblical texts from the original languages, leading to variations between your translations and the one that appears in the commentary.

Personal/devotional commentaries guide readers through the text. They emphasize personal development, application of the Scriptures to daily life, and introspection for spiritual formation.

Pastoral/exegetical commentaries bridge the gap between the technical and devotional commentaries. These commentaries often address the pastoral duty of connecting the biblical text with the concerns of present-day hearers of God’s Word.

Stop looking for the perfect commentary.

If you are looking for a perfect commentary, stop searching. You will never find it. The art and science of illuminating a text’s cultural and geographic circumstances for a specific audience shift as we apply the gospel in a variety of cultural contexts. Instead of searching for an ideal fit, utilize commentaries for the information you can glean from them to minister most effectively to those God has called you to lead.

Recommendations

Your interaction with commentaries should enhance your study of Scripture — not transform it into a frustrating task that adds to the stress of life and ministry.

Following are some recommendations to aid you in this process. Remember, no single commentary or series will meet all of your needs, so be willing to diversify your commentaries as much as possible.

Technical/critical: • New International Commentary on the Old Testament • New International Commentary on the New Testament • Word Biblical Commentary Personal/devotional: • Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries • Tyndale New Testament Commentaries • The Bible Speaks Today Pastoral/exegetical: • Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament • Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the Old Testament • Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament • The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, rev. ed.

Materials from these series should get your commentary library off to a great start!

Daniel I. Morrison is assistant professor of New Testament and expository preaching at Assemblies of God Theological Seminary (Evangel University) in Springfield, Missouri.

He also serves as a chaplain with the U.S. Navy.

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BOOKS

IN SEARCH OF THE BELOVED COMMUNITY G E O R G E P. W O O D

Three new books explore the shape of racial reconciliation in contemporary America.

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eflecting on race relations in the early days of the Azusa Street Revival (1906–09), Frank Bartleman famously wrote, “The ‘color line’ was washed away in the blood.” That unity was short-lived, however. Deep-seated feelings of white supremacy and Jim Crow segregation quickly redrew the line, resulting in decades of division and disparity between black and white Pentecostals that persist to this day, though to a lesser degree.

The same thing might be said about American Christians and American citizens more broadly. Though progress undeniably has been made, racial divisions and disparities stubbornly persist. This fact should be an affront to Bible-believing Christians, for the blood of Jesus Christ did indeed wash

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away the color line. What the apostle Paul said about the reconciliation of Jews and Gentiles applies to all racial and ethnic divisions: “[Christ’s] purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility” (Ephesians 2:15–16).

The question is, therefore, why racial divisions and disparities persist among American Christians. And what should we do about them? Three new books from evangelical publishing houses point to answers to both questions.

In The Color of Compromise (Zondervan), Jemar Tisby recounts the tragic history of American Christianity’s complicity in racism, from the colonial period to the present day. Racism, in this account, is not merely personal animus. Tisby defines it as “prejudice plus power,” the combination of personal animus with impersonal systemic inequities.

“Historically speaking, when faced with the choice between racism and equality, the American church has tended to practice a complicit Christianity rather than a courageous

Christianity,” Tisby writes about white Christians. “They chose comfort over constructive conflict and in so doing created and maintained a status quo of injustice.” To take just one of many examples, white evangelicals and Pentecostals were silent about the civil rights movement at best. At worst, they opposed it.

Charles Marsh and John M. Perkins take up “the unfinished business of the Civil Rights movement” in Welcoming Justice (IVP Books). In a 1956 speech, Martin Luther King Jr. proclaimed, “the end [of the movement] is reconciliation; the end is redemption; the end is the creation of the beloved community.”

Beginning in the mid-1960s, the influence of black churches in the movement began to wane. “Removed from its home in the church, the work of building beloved community withered and died,” Marsh writes.

For nearly 60 years, however, and starting in rural Mississippi, Perkins has continued to seek the beloved community through faith-based community development. His model of development is based on “the three Rs” of relocation (“incarnational evangelism”), reparation (“sharing talents and resources with the poor”), and reconciliation

(“embodying the message that ‘ye are all one in Christ Jesus’”). Through his life and ministry, Perkins thus continues the work of Dr. King.

Finally, in Woke Church (Moody), Eric Mason encourages the church to “utilize the mind of Christ and to be fully awake to the issues of race and injustice in this country.”

(The word woke is slang for being conscientious about issues of racial and social justice.) According to Mason, a woke church is characterized by four things: awareness of the “overarching truths” that unite the body of Christ; acknowledgement of our nation’s history of racism; accountability for Christians to “reclaim our roles as light and salt in the world”; and action to “bring healing and justice into our spheres [of influence].”

Each of these books is challenging in its own way. The Color of Compromise shines a light on American church history that whites often overlook or downplay. Welcoming Justice is a hopeful book, but it challenges “the cultural captivity of the church,” a captivity that promotes individualism and consumerism over solidarity and generosity. And Woke Church refuses to let readers separate the gospel from justice. All three books are well worth reading.

As I closed each book in turn, I found myself asking three questions: First, have I listened to the experiences of black brothers and sisters, which are often different from my own because our social locations are different? Second, have I taken what I’ve heard and used it for self-examination to identify wrong attitudes, beliefs and behaviors? And third, what actions am I going to take to pursue the beloved community in my church and neighborhood?

This year, the Pentecostal / Charismatic Churches of North America celebrates the 25th anniversary of the “Memphis Miracle,” a landmark in racial reconciliation between black and white Pentecostals. Knowing that Christ has washed away the color line with His blood, let us lean into the reality of the “one new humanity” He has made!”

BOOKS MENTIONED Charles Marsh and John M. Perkins, Welcoming Justice: God’s Movement Toward Beloved Community, expanded ed. (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Books, 2018).

Eric Mason, Woke Church: An Urgent Call for Christians in America to Confront Racism and Injustice (Chicago: Moody, 2018).

Jemar Tisby, The Color of Compromise: The Truth About the American Church’s Complicity in Racism (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2019).

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BOOKS

THE PRAYER-CIRCLED MARRIAGE Joel and Nina Schmidgall’s new book offers great advice about both prayer and marriage.

G E O R G E P. W O O D ome books offer advice about mariage, others about prayer.

Praying Circles Around Your Marriage offers advice about both, under the assumption that couples who pray together stay together. “The richness of your marriage will be determined by how frequently and how fervently God is invited into your relationship,” write Joel and Nina Schmidgall. “Prayer will draw you into unity with God and, as a result, with one another.”

The concept of “praying circles around _________” comes from Mark Batterson’s book, The Circle Maker.

The Schmidgalls are in-laws of Batterson and work with him at National Community Church in Washington, D.C., where Joel serves as executive pastor and Nina serves as director of family ministry. Their book is an excellent addition to the “Circle Maker” brand.

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FIX IT! WHOSE PROBLEM IS IT? Rob Ketterling (River Valley Resources)

When your church faces a problem, who is responsible for fixing it? Pastors often say, “I am,” but taking responsibility for every problem results in burned-out pastors and underutilized church members. Rob Ketterling suggests a better way forward in Fix It!, one that revolves around three simple words: you, them and God. “Define what you’re responsible to do, delegate to others who will share the load, and expect God to do what only He can do, including a change in direction from time to time.” This book is filled with biblical insight, practical suggestions and real-life examples.

HELP! I’M IN CHARGE Rod Loy (Influence Resources)

Help! I’m in Charge examines “stuff leadership experts didn’t tell you,” in the words of the subtitle. Most church leadership experts discuss mission, vision and values from a 30,000-foot level. In this book, Rod Loy gets into the weeds, talking about the nitty-gritty of leadership

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The Schmidgalls identify seven areas (or “circles”) of marriage that couples need to address prayerfully: • developing a shared purpose (Vision Circle) • resolving family conflicts (War Circle) • cultivating personal intimacy (Romance Circle) • balancing marital unity with individual interests (Dance Circle) • establishing a peer network (Support Circle) • responding to unexpected crises (Storm Circle) • impacting future generations (Legacy Circle) “Of course, the purpose of prayer is not to get what we want from God for our marriage,” the Schmidgalls write in conclusion. “Its purpose is to commune with God and gain His heart for our marriage.”

Praying Circles Around Your Marriage offers Biblebased, common-sense, experience-tested advice about prayer-filled marriages. It’s suitable BOOK REVIEWED for private reading Joel and Nina but can also be Schmidgall, Praying used in premariCircles Around Your tal and marriage Marriage (Grand counseling, as well Rapids, MI: as in book clubs Zondervan, 2019). and small groups.

on the ground. Chapter 5, “Your Ability Won’t Get You Far if People Don’t Like You,” and Chapter 9, “Everyone Wants to Be Treated With Respect,” alone are worth the price of the book.

Help! I’m in Charge is biblically grounded, personally authentic, seasoned advice for pastors and other church leaders.

LEADERS: MYTH AND REALITY Gen. Stanley McChrystal, Jeff Eggers and Jason Mangone (Portfolio/Penguin)

John Maxwell famously defined leadership as “influence.” That’s true to an extent, but it’s also too simple because it’s leadercentric, as if influence flows only one way.

In Leaders, Gen. Stanley McChrystal, Jeff Eggers and Jason Mangone profile 13 leaders from diverse backgrounds and fields of endeavor. Based on those profiles, they identify three myths people believe about leaders, then offer a new definition of leadership. It is “a complex system of relationships between leaders and followers, in a particular context, that provides meaning to its members.” This is a fascinating book, biographically informative and analytically shrewd.

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PLAYBOOK BUILD

Have They Received the Holy Spirit?

JEREMY DUNN

Four keys to building a Spirit-receptive culture in your church.

hurch leaders often talk about building culture. The word “culture” has agricultural implications, deriving from the same Latin root as “cultivate.” It remains a fitting association. After all, it takes special care to grow a healthy, flourishing,

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Spirit-receptive church culture.

The process must begin with the seed of the Word of God and the irrigation of the Holy Spirit. We see this in the Early Church, where the baptism in the Holy Spirit and the proclamation of the gospel were inseparable

(Acts 1:8; 2:38; 4:31; 8:14–17; 10:44; 19:4–6).

This is the kind of church culture people are hungry for today. It’s not about being on-trend; it’s about being on fire with a desire for more of the presence of God. We can fill our churches with bells and whistles, but until the Holy Spirit fills the people, we can’t expect to see the kind of life change we find in Scripture. Here are four keys to building a Spirit-receptive culture in your church.

Say “Yes” to God’s Model

Years ago, as an aspiring church planter and future senior pastor, I had a face-off with the question every executive leader must answer: Do I follow the cultural template of the Early Church in relation to the Holy Spirit? I chose an emphatic “yes!”

Building a Spirit-receptive culture requires unflinching conviction from senior leadership. You will encounter questions, skepticism and opposition. There will be distractions that threaten to shake your resolve.

However, you must not lose sight of your “yes.” Keep it at the forefront of your mission, and stay focused on pleasing God over people (Galatians 1:10).

Start Teaching People

Your role is not to fill people with the Holy Spirit. Trying to do God’s job will lead to catastrophic failure and endless frustration. Your job is to teach biblical truth and allow the Holy Spirit to do the filling.

In our church, we intentionally use all avenues to teach about the Person and work of the Holy Spirit. Through our main services, small groups and next steps classes, repeated exposure to these truths conditions people to open their hearts to all God has to offer. After five years of building a Spirit-receptive culture, we are reaping a harvest. Last Pentecost Sunday, more than 100 people received the baptism in the Holy Spirit!

Surrender to the Spirit’s Leadership

If you’ve encountered misguided excess in

the name of spirituality, you may be hesitant to open the floodgate on charismatic expressions. I ask that for a moment you turn off the learned church behaviors and turn on an open heart for what the Holy Spirit wants to do in the lives of the people you lead.

We must not allow someone else’s misrepresentation of the Bible to keep us from accurately and fully representing God’s Word. Our attempts at relevancy are never as relevant as an encounter with the eternal, omniscient God. The Holy Spirit wants to meet people where they are and connect them to their unique divine design. Invite the Spirit to lead, and watch Him accomplish infinitely more than you could ever do in your own power.

We can fill our churches with bells and whistles, but until the Holy Spirit fills the people, we can’t expect to see the kind of life change we find in Scripture.

Submit to Private Encounters

Early on, I made it a priority to have personal encounters with the Holy Spirit, knowing that I could never lead publicly what I do not practice privately. This pursuit helped me develop sensitivity to the Spirit. Personally acknowledging and yielding to the Spirit has allowed me to see corporate moments of deliverance, healings and baptisms in the Holy Spirit, with the evidence of speaking in tongues.

When the Spirit sovereignly moves in our services, I intentionally take a moment to educate people on the biblical reason for what they are witnessing and experiencing. Biblical revelation protects the reputation of the Spirit-receptive church.

The most current stylistic approaches to church will never be as effective as following the lead of the Holy Spirit. I’m not suggesting you shouldn’t strive to be culturally relevant and impeccably excellent.

You can be systematic, excellent, trendy and relevant without sacrificing obedience to the Spirit. But human efforts are no substitute for the work of the Spirit.

For, it’s “‘not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty” (Zechariah 4:6).

Jeremy Dunn is lead pastor of C/LIFE (AG) Orlando in Florida.

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PLAYBOOK KNOW

What Every Pastor Should Know About Terminating Staff KEN LOSS

Four essential components for managing staff terminations.

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Firing a staff member is never easy, but sometimes it’s an unavoidable part of leading an organization into greater health.

In his book, Good to Great, business consultant Jim Collins uses the analogy of a bus: “If we get the right people on the bus, the right people in the right seats, and the wrong people off the bus, then we’ll figure out how to take it someplace great.”

There are four components to the difficult

process of letting a staff person go. Keep in mind that I’m not talking about an individual who has sinned sexually, embezzled church funds, or engaged in other inappropriate or illegal behavior that would necessitate immediate disciplinary action. I’m referring to situations in which a staff member is just not working out. Even after ample training, mentoring and communication, it becomes increasingly, painfully apparent that this person is not a good fit for your team.

Any number of potential issues could lead

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Without communication, the process of change may leave people feeling ambushed.

Ken Loss is lead pastor at New Life Assembly in Lewistown, Montana.

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you to this conclusion. The question is: What do you do next?

First, consider whether there is a genuine conviction that a change needs to take place.

A conviction is simply a fixed or firm belief.

Before moving ahead, you should firmly believe that a change is necessary. However, if you are the only person on the team who feels this way, it may be best to wait.

Leadership expert John Kotter warns that a fragmented management team is ineffective, regardless of the strength of the individual members. It’s important to take into account what those around you are saying.

Be patient with the process, and allow the consensus to build — or let the Holy Spirit show you where you may be wrong on the issue. Spend time in prayer at every step, and make sure you’re hearing from God. After all, no good leader wants to see a team member fail. Part of your job is to equip your staff for success.

However, it’s possible that even after a time of prayer and reflection, you will feel convinced that a staff member should go. In such situations, it’s vital that you communicate; that’s the second component. Talk with your leadership team (e.g., church board, staff members, etc.) to help them understand the necessity for the proposed change.

In my 16 years as the lead pastor at our church, I have only had to do this twice. In both cases, I communicated with the board.

I wanted to know whether what I was sensing resonated with them. I wanted to know their feelings on the issue. After communicating with them, I approached the staff member who needed to go. I entered these exchanges with the conviction that their transition away from our team was what needed to happen for the ministry to proceed as God desired. As difficult as it was, I had to communicate.

If we fail to communicate, we will fail others. Our congregations pay the price. Our leadership teams pay the price. Ultimately, we pay the price in relational collateral.

Without communication, the process of

change may leave people feeling ambushed.

We can help take the sting out of the proposed change by committing ourselves to high levels of clear communication.

Third, use the calendar. Putting objective time frames on staff terminations can help you avoid potentially awkward and embarrassing moments. A date on the calendar holds everyone, including the leadership team, accountable. It may also help with casting vision and projecting optimism about what is coming.

Finally, the previous steps are not possible without courage. When churches release staff members, or ask for resignations, it takes courage. Courage is about facing your fears and doing the right thing.

We all forge relationships with staff members over time. The deeper the relationship, the more difficult it is to tell someone of your conviction that he or she needs to go. I was talking with a business owner recently about this issue. He said it is easier for him to fire someone because his level of relationship with his employees is not the same as mine is within the context of a church staff.

In spite of such difficulties, we must operate with courage. We cannot let our personal relationships with staff members get in the way of what God wants to do in moving our congregations forward. Consider the matter from a stewardship perspective. Mark Rutland, director of the National Institute of Christian Leadership, notes that giving ministry funds to people who are not doing their jobs is a violation of fiduciary responsibility to members and donors.

While the process can take time, the above steps can help you successfully manage staff terminations in your church and provide the best chance of future success for everyone involved.

When you manage these changes well, the results are often refreshing, bringing a sense of security to our congregations, demonstrating competence within the leadership, and inspiring the church to embrace the change, believing that the best is yet to come.

PLAYBOOK INVEST

Seven Ways to Maximize the Giving Moment in Your Church DEAN SWEETMAN

Are you prepared to receive the offering, or is it just an afterthought?

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he conference was full. There wasn’t an empty seat in the house.

Church leaders from around the world had gathered for the annual leadership meeting. After taking care of the business agenda, we began preparing to raise financial support for our church planters and missionaries. With everyone in one place, we were ready for the giving moment.

There was a level of expectation in the room.

Every meeting, we raise money to support our pastors, so attendees knew what was coming.

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But after the pastor responsible for taking up the offering forgot what he was raising money for and talked about an unrelated topic, we received only $1,200, which was far short of our goal. The offering during this meeting occupied just a few minutes of time, and it could have made a big difference. But it fell flat.

Likewise, the giving moment in your worship service may be fleeting, but it can have lasting — even eternal — implications.

The offering is one opportunity you have every week to lead your people to receive grace from God, trust Him with their money and possessions, and participate in

In capturing the giving moment, your goal is to lead people to seek God, receive His grace, and give by faith and with joy.

His work by supporting the Church.

Instead of entering the giving moment unprepared or just letting it slide by as an afterthought, here are seven ways you can maximize your church’s offering time:

1. Study Scripture

It’s hard to talk about money when you don’t feel convicted about what God says concerning generosity. To talk confidently about giving, you need a revelation from the Bible.

Don’t let your personal financial situation keep you from discovering and applying God’s truth on this topic. Like everyone in your church, you are a disciple of Christ and a work in progress. Over time, you will grow in your understanding of the importance of financial stewardship.

2. Cite Scripture

There’s one thing you cannot afford to miss during your offering: the Bible. I’m not saying you have to share a homily on giving, but, at a minimum, use Bible stories, parables, or instructional verses to remind your church of what God says about giving.

3. Share Stories

God is at work in your church. He is giving people new life in Christ. He is transforming people into the image of Jesus. He is restoring marriages, changing hearts and building His Church.

As a pastor, you have a front-row seat to God’s work in the life of your church. But most of the congregation has no idea about all the things God is doing with the resources they give.

During your offering, share stories about changed lives and ministry successes. Let people know their financial support makes it possible for the church to do the work God has called you to do.

Dean Sweetman is the co-founder and CEO of Tithe.ly, and a former pastor of 30 years.

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4. Capture the Giving Moment

The time you ask people to give is what I like to call “the moment.” This moment likely comes after you’ve shared stories, made

announcements, or let people know how they can give. Now you have to capture their attention and lead them to seek the Lord as they make an offering.

Here’s an example of what I’ve said in the past: “Hey, church. I want you to focus for a moment. We’re going to worship God with our money, and then I’m going to pray over the offering.”

In capturing this moment, your goal is to lead people to seek God, receive His grace, and give by faith and with joy.

5. Explain How to Give

To promote giving, you don’t need to be flashy — just informative. You may let people know they can donate with cash or check or give through your church app, online, with a text, or at a kiosk in your lobby. If your church uses a projector, consider sharing a graphic on the screen displaying the ways people can give, to reinforce what you’re saying.

6. Prepare and Practice

The offering in your church takes place every worship service. Don’t overlook this crucial time and just have a member of your staff mumble through the giving moment (or talk about something unrelated).

Redeem the giving moment by preparing what you’re going to say. Plan your stories, know what verses from the Bible you’ll quote, write down your thoughts, and get ready for your worship service.

7. Give Your Visitors a Pass

During every giving moment, acknowledge your guests and let them know that they are under no obligation to give. Taking a few moments to do this may help put visitors at ease by helping them to feel welcome and assuring them you don’t require anything from them.

Don’t be passive about the way your church handles the giving moment. Instead, leverage those few minutes of time you have to help your church excel in the grace of giving (2 Corinthians 8:7).

PERSPECTIVES

One Issue, Two Perspectives on Matters Affecting Today’s Church

Is Easter Sunday the Super Bowl of Church?

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ow do you see the Easter Sunday service?

Perhaps it’s the highlight of your church calendar, something you plan all year with great anticipation. Or maybe you treat it no differently than the other 51 weekends a year.

We all know that Easter is special to

GIVE IT YOUR ALL n sports, the Super Bowl is the goal at the end of the season, what every team plays for. In the Church, we can view the Easter service the same way. It’s the culmination of a lot of hard work, but it’s also a time we celebrate what Jesus has already been doing.

Consider that most of our churches will see more unsaved people walk through the doors on Easter than any other week. And the salvation of lost people is what we are all about. Why wouldn’t we go all in with our efforts and all out to reach them? When we think of Easter as the Super Bowl of Sundays, we’ll come at it with high expectation, great preparation and increased invitation.

As a leader, you need a winning expectation. Anticipate that God is going to do something great on Easter. Believe that when you lift up Jesus, He will draw people to salvation.

Begin with that in mind, and you’ll see just how huge Easter Sunday can be.

With a healthy expectation comes necessary preparation. If you expect great things, you will prepare for them too. Your team should be at their best on Easter. From the parking lot to the stage, everything should provide an atmosphere where the Spirit moves.

Make sure you are ready to welcome all those first-time guests well. Begin with a push for volunteers. Have extra people on

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Christians and non-Christians alike. Although churches celebrate the risen King every Sunday, Easter is the one day set aside just for that purpose. And it’s usually the most highly attended Sunday of the year.

Does that mean pastors should focus extra

hand to handle any overflow. Speaking of crowds, you may need to add a service or provide additional worship spaces. Next, go from outside in, cleaning up and clearing clutter from the parking lot to the lobby, from the bathrooms to the main room. Let those first-time visitors know you’re ready for them.

Invitation is where these all come together.

If you’re expectant and prepared, make a final push for the most visitors you’ve ever had.

Use mailers or door hangers, advertisements or billboards — it doesn’t matter, as long as you get the word out. Give your people easy ways to invite their unsaved friends and family. Organize key volunteers to go door to door in your community.

Many will enter the kingdom of God this Easter, and your church will play a role in that. Their lives will change forever. I can’t think of anything bigger than that.

resources and attention on Easter? Or is it better stewardship to put every Sunday on level footing?

This issue offers two perspectives on Easter services — one that encourages an all-in approach and one that suggests treating Easter the same as any other day. Is one perspective right and the other wrong? In this case, both have some good points to make.

TREAT IT NO DIFFERENTLY aster Sunday is a big day, but it’s still just one day of the year. We celebrate Jesus’ resurrection each week. And any Sunday is an opportunity for people to know Him as their Lord and Savior. You’ll have more guests and attenders on Easter, but that doesn’t mean you should treat this day any differently.

What if you thought of every Sunday like you do Easter? What if you gave each weekend the same level of focus and attention? You might find out that adding excellence on a consistent basis will make your church stronger.

Easter is a good time to put your best foot forward. But changing your style, formula or planning to accommodate visitors is a no-win situation. If you go over the top with elaborate musical numbers or exciting creative elements on Easter, your guests will get a distorted picture

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Jason David photo

Ultimately, which avenue you take comes down to two issues. First, consider the values of your church and ministry. What you believe is important will drive your vision, and that includes how you approach holidays. Second, think about your church’s culture. What do your members want, and how will your community respond? With those things in mind, draw your own conclusions.

of your church. Showing up the next week, they’ll be sorely disappointed because they’re expecting the same over-the-top experience.

You also run the risk of alienating your current audience. They have come to appreciate your church for what it is, not what you think it should be. Giving them more of the same will only increase their devotion to church.

Leverage that devotion to create a place where people know they are welcome any Sunday. Instead of focusing so many resources on one day, motivate a continual sense of excellence throughout the year.

When you see every Sunday as equally important, you will give each service the excellence it deserves. Does your worship team have extra practice for Easter? You should expect them to be prepared and ready every week. Do you push for more volunteers at Easter? Members should feel an obligation to serve each Sunday.

Treating Easter as special may actually lead your church to believe other weeks aren’t as important. Members may lower their standards of service or dampen their expectations that God will move.

Sure, you’ll probably have the highest attended weekend of your year on Easter.

That’s all the more reason to treat it like any other Sunday. Show your guests and regular attenders exactly who you are. And use every opportunity, no matter what space it occupies on the calendar, to point people to Jesus.

When excellence is a continual standard, life change is a weekly expectation.

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AS PENTECOSTALS, WE BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF A GOD-GIVEN DREAM AND WHAT GOD CAN DO THROUGH THOSE WHO ARE FAITHFUL.

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CHRIS RAILEY and JOHN DAVIDSON

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od-given dreams change everything. Godgiven dreams are disruptive, transformative and ultimately redemptive. When God births a new dream in a person’s heart, it triggers a chain of events from which there’s no going back. If you’ve been there, you know. God speaks and works through dreams and visions. And when we hear from Him, our world will never be the same.

That was certainly true for Joseph. As a young man, Joseph had a prophetic dream that revealed God’s plan for him and his family. For this dreamer, however, the journey would not be an easy one. In fact, his brothers became jealous of the dream and sold Joseph into slavery. He faced mistreatment, false accusations and imprisonment — all as a result of his God-given dream.

But because he held on to the dream and remained true to the One who gave it to him, Joseph saw God move in an amazing way. God used Joseph’s faithfulness to preserve the descendants of Abraham so they could become a mighty nation, in fulfillment of His promise.

Any leader should be able to identify with Joseph’s story.

It takes a God-given dream to answer the call and carry on through difficult times. But holding on to that dream gives us a front-row seat to all that God wants to accomplish.

At the Church Multiplication Network, we have a God-given dream: We want to see 10,000 Assemblies of God churches planted in the next decade. In the face of increasing secularization of American society, that may seem audacious, to put it mildly. But we believe in the power of a God-given dream and what God can do through those who are faithful.

As I (Chris) look back at my own ministry journey, I can see the power of the dream God gave me, a dream to start a new work and see a fresh move of God in a hard place. The dream is exciting, but what comes next is hard — at times, confusing — and often challenges our faith and resolve.

Yet the result of faithful perseverance toward a God-given dream is nothing short of miraculous.

We believe that a generation of church planters and missions-minded pastors and leaders will change the face of this country by discipling their congregations and reaching out down their blocks, across their towns, throughout their communities, and into the world.

That’s what happened in the Book of Acts, when the first Church received the baptism in the Holy Spirit.

After God fulfilled the prophecy of Joel 2 by pouring out His Spirit on all kinds of people, the disciples became

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WE BELIEVE THE KEY TO REVERSING NEGATIVE CHURCH TRENDS IS A HEALTHY CHURCH IN EVERY COMMUNITY THAT CAN MAKE THE GOSPEL ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE. pioneers. They saw the work of multiplication as the Holy Spirit moved them, and the Church grew from their hometown, to their region, and out into the world. Since that time, Spirit-filled believers have followed the same path, believing in the principle of multiplication.

The modern Pentecostal movement essentially started out of a small prayer meeting in Los Angeles and now numbers hundreds of millions of believers worldwide.

The Assemblies of God alone comprises more than 3 million members in the U.S. and more than 69 million around the world.

At this point in history, we need to see another move of God in the United States, and we believe this will come

The Need: Are We Really Winning?

through the local church. At the heart of the Church Multiplication Network is a God-given dream to see a healthy church in every community in the U.S. But to accomplish that, it’s going to take a new movement of Spirit-empowered prophets, dreamers and ministers who are willing to embrace the call to bring this dream to fruition.

We’re praying for God to raise up a movement of leaders and churches to answer this call. For Assemblies of God ministers, that may seem like an odd message, given the success our Fellowship has had. Yet we believe everyone needs the gospel, and although we have seen successes, there is much more to do. Healthy churches change everything.

While many denominations are declining across America, the Assemblies of God is growing. Over the past 10 years, the Fellowship has seen the number of adherents grow by 12 percent, to more than 3.2 million people.

At the Church Multiplication Network, we celebrate these successes — and we celebrate a lot because there is so much good news. Churches are birthing parent affiliated churches to reach the unreached across town and across the country. Many church planters are going into places where Pentecostal congregations have never been.

Others are replanting in areas where Pentecostal congregations once served but died out. There are just over 13,000 AG churches in the U.S., and every week those churches are ministering to their communities, bringing people to Jesus, and helping them grow in faith.

However, the Assemblies of God can’t rest on any laurels because there’s much left to do. There are roughly 30,000 cities in the U.S., and two-thirds of them don’t have an Assemblies of God church, which means a large segment of the nation remains untouched by our Pentecostal message.

The number of new churches we plant each year represents about 3 percent of the total number of churches in the Fellowship. With roughly the same share of our churches closing each year, we’re merely breaking even on this front. We are among the few denominations whose church numbers aren’t rapidly declining, which means we’re in a better position than most.

Yet we need to step up our planting efforts if we hope to gain ground.

The percentage of Assemblies of God churches that are either plateaued or declining in attendance has been rising since the early 1990s — with almost 7 in 10 now falling into those categories — and is currently at its highest level in nearly four decades. Only 3 in 10 AG churches in America saw growth of 10 percent or more over the last five years.

Even where we see growth in individual churches, a closer look at the statistics reveals another problem: Much of it is merely transfer growth. A LifeWay Research survey of 1,000 evangelical congregations found that churches average one conversion annually for every 19 people attending (a 19:1 ratio). For growing churches, the ratio isn’t much better — one conversion for every 17 attenders (17:1). In other words, most church “growth” is the result of people moving from one congregation to another.

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There is plenty of work to do, as the fields truly are ripe for harvest. Churchgoing in America is in decline, as more people walk away from their local faith communities.

About 71 percent of U.S. adults identify as Christian, and a quarter are evangelicals, according to Pew Research Center. Yet only 36 percent of Americans attend religious services weekly. And the percentage of people identifying as evangelicals has trended down over the past decade.

Adding to the trouble for our Fellowship, fewer churches are aligning with a denomination. The majority of the 100 largest churches in the U.S. are nondenominational, a designation with which nearly 1 in 5 American evangelicals now identify.

The issue for the Assemblies of God is whether the Pentecostal message — and the power of the Spirit-filled life — will continue in the United States over the long term, much less the international missions movement that the Fellowship has so strongly supported over its lifetime.

We believe the key to reversing negative church trends is a healthy church in every community that can make the gospel accessible to everyone.

Proximity Matters

Technically, anyone with a smartphone has access to the gospel through the internet and the dozens of apps that are available. But that’s not the same as experiencing the gospel within a healthy, Christ-centered church.

The most obvious benefit of a local church is its availability to people nearby. However, after years of churches leaving urban and rural areas and moving to the suburbs, and the migration of people across the country, there are places that desperately need a church. Millions of Americans simply aren’t close to a life-giving community of believers. In our largest cities, we don’t just need a church but many churches. This is a principle that the big retail chains, such as Starbucks, understand. They put stores where there are people, and in some cities, that means there may be a Starbucks across the street or just down the block from another Starbucks. Successful companies simply go where people are and provide services they want and need.

Can we offer people what they want and need? That’s something to consider, particularly given the increased secularization of the nation. Church leaders know that everyone needs Jesus, but with statistics showing that more and more Americans are either unchurched or

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dechurched, it seems many in our communities don’t know they need Jesus because they may not know about Jesus.

Complaining about the lack of people attending services will not alter the fact that society has changed. It’s not a matter of church not being at the top of people’s minds; for a growing share of Americans, it’s simply not a part of their thinking at all.

According to Barna Group, roughly 4 in 10 Americans qualify as post-Christian (based on a series of questions regarding belief in God and Scripture, Bible engagement,

LOOKING AT THE EARLY CHURCH, WE CAN SEE THAT MULTIPLICATION WASN’T JUST WHAT THEY DID; IT WAS A PART OF WHO THEY WERE.

church attendance, religious self-identification, etc.).

They don’t know the power of the gospel because they often don’t know the gospel itself, and they haven’t witnessed the power of the Holy Spirit, especially through a local church.

To make matters worse, they may not know a Christian, much less a church that can provide them with guidance toward Christ. Over the past several decades, many churches have moved out of cities and into suburbs, buying land and building in new neighborhoods. Often,

however, no church moved back into the neighborhoods they left. As a result, people in those places are without access to a healthy, Spirit-filled church.

Consider a single mother who doesn’t have transportation to get to a church on the edge of the city. She might attend if it were close, especially if she knew someone who would meet her there. If that church also met her felt needs — perhaps offering child care or parenting classes — the chances of getting her in the door would increase even more.

People need access to a healthy church, but they also need to see it in action. In an age of Netflix and on-demand everything, many complain that the church isn’t relevant and needs to become so. We believe a healthy church is always relevant because it speaks to people where they are and offers hope in the midst of life’s struggles. It also provides a welcoming and loving place of community in a nation that has seen an erosion of community life.

God has uniquely equipped us to address the current situation in America. As people of the Spirit, we have a calling to do His work, for His glory. God has empowered us to be His witnesses to the world — through both our words and our actions. We are a people of testimony. We have stories to share of what Jesus has done for us, how He changed us, and how the Holy Spirit continues to move in our lives.

The unreached in America need to hear what previous generations in the Assemblies of God called the full Pentecostal witness. They need to see the power of God in our daily lives as the people attending our churches live it out in their neighborhoods, schools and workplaces.

The Leadership Challenge

God is calling us to raise up leaders who can meet people where they are, from rural communities to inner cities. That means engaging an increasingly secular nation.

According to Pew Research Center, about 23 percent of U.S. adults are religiously unaffiliated, and 7 percent identify as atheist or agnostic — figures that have risen in recent years. We need workers who will plow the hard soil and pray for a harvest.

The Assemblies of God is competing for the hearts and attention of emerging leaders who could help lead this effort. Instead of joining with us, some follow loose networks of churches or brand themselves as nondenominational. For us, that is a missed opportunity. One of the strengths of our Fellowship is the multiplication

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WE BELIEVE THERE IS A NEW CALL IN AMERICA FOR PIONEERING PASTORS TO REACH THE WORLD

BY MULTIPLYING AND PLANTING CHURCHES THAT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES AND BEYOND. that happens when we work together. Whether we’re planting local churches or engaging in global missions efforts, our history has demonstrated the power of Spirit-infused synergy.

Our prayer is that young leaders will catch this vision of seeing a healthy church in every community. It’s clear that Assemblies of God churches are doing well at attracting a cross-section of America. Consider that 53 percent of our Fellowship is under the age of 35. Also consider that 43 percent of our Fellowship is ethnic minority. However, the median age of credentialed ministers in the AG is 56, and the median age of our ordained ministers is 60. As a Fellowship, we have worked on cultivating young leaders, but we need to do more to expand that effort.

Young people are not answering the call to ministry as

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previous generations did. Many have never heard a message about the Great Commission or deliberated over an invitation to say, “Here am I. Send me!” They don’t know how to respond to God’s call on their lives, because no one has taught them. Without an infusion of young people who are passionately pursuing ministry, the average age of our ministers will continue to climb. While every believer can lead in his or her context of life and career, pastors must take seriously the need to call out and raise up the next generation of ministry leaders.

Healthy churches are committed to making disciples and raising up leaders. Many young people are looking for mentoring relationships. Spiritual fathers and mothers in our local churches can encourage and equip a new generation of leaders.

Fearless Multiplication

Together we can develop an environment in which multiplication feels normal, not threatening. There may be a fear of multiplication in the local church for a variety of reasons, particularly because it appears to take away from a church’s resources of money, time and people. There may also be a fear that planting new churches will create competition for existing local churches.

However, looking at the Early Church, we can see that multiplication wasn’t just what they did; it was a part of who they were. Jesus discipled the apostles, and they became spiritual parents. Paul was a spiritual father to Timothy and Titus, among others. And they sent people and resources to plant churches and spread the gospel.

What Jesus clearly taught, and the Book of Acts demonstrated, is that God can multiply what we give Him — far and beyond what anyone can imagine.

In today’s America, with its changing demographics, there is a new mission field just down the block or across town. Models like the parent affiliated church, multisite campuses, and collaborative networks offer ways to multiply and create local churches in places where people can access them.

We simply need leaders who are willing to look past their fears, trust God for big things, and take a step to reach their communities in new ways.

Actions and Attitude

It’s time for us, as a Fellowship, to dream again about how we can change the world, one community at a time. God gave Joseph a dream, and then He used Joseph to save many lives.

God is raising up leaders today to reach a lost and dying world, and we believe He has given us a prophetic call to take strategic action. Dream for what God would have you to do in the place He has put you. It starts with a vision to take the transforming power of the gospel to every city and town and village, to every zip code, neighborhood and street — until everyone hears.

It’s a big assignment, but it begins with small steps.

Here’s a simple way to start: On a map, draw a circle around your church. For a small town, draw a 25-mile circle. In an urban area, draw a one-mile circle. Now look closely within that circle. What are the needs of people who live and work there? How is the church meeting those needs and reaching those people? Are there

ways the church can multiply to become more effective at meeting the needs?

Those are tough questions, but they’re vital because they cause us all to reflect on how strategic we are in this process. In the busyness of ministry, it seems there is little time for strategy, but we must make the time if we want to become more effective.

A healthy church isn’t internally focused but externally focused. And pastors of healthy churches don’t just pastor their congregations but their communities. This will take new ways of thinking that may be uncomfortable.

But church leaders have to understand that we’re in an unprecedented time.

What the local church does will affect the world, and not just in world missions support. America has become an increasingly diverse place, with people coming from around the globe to make a new life here or to work and study short-term. Reaching out to people from diverse backgrounds has the potential not only to change their lives but also to spread the gospel to the countries from which they came.

For healthy churches to maximize their reach, both here and around the world, it will take a God-given dream and a commitment to do these things: • Create spiritual parenting relationships to mentor and equip the next generation of leaders.

• Work collaboratively with other churches, networks, partnerships, and parent affiliated churches to plant new churches and campuses.

• Believe in God’s abundance to overcome any fear, and release leaders and resources to expand the reach of the gospel.

• Bring in both men and women from diverse backgrounds who can reach different areas and people than a church may have traditionally reached.

This may sound lofty, but God will empower us for the work to which He has called us. We must keep three words in focus: give, send and start. Each church can give to multiplication efforts, send leaders, and start a new church or campus.

The needs and challenges are great, requiring us to think creatively about how to go and make disciples. How that disciple making looks will depend on the location.

For rural church leaders, it may mean pastoring a large geographical area. In urban locations, it may mean considering neighborhood by neighborhood how to reach people in each one. Each approach will be unique, but the

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CMN Church Planting/ Leadership Resources Church Multiplication Network (CMN) has an entire team dedicated to developing new resources for growing leaders. CMN strategically partners with proven leaders from across the country to get ministry insights from those who are doing it best.

Last year, CMN launched an entire website dedicated to giving step-by-step instructions on how to plant a church. This free website is called stepstoplant.com. CMN is excited to announce a brand-new sister site to Steps to Plant dedicated to helping existing churches multiply. Check it out at stepstomultiply.com.

Currently, CMN is completing a substantial project that will launch this spring called CMNLead. CMNLead is an online resource library and training platform for pastors and ministry leaders. CMNLead will house everything from video teachings on relevant ministry topics from influential leaders to downloadable sermon graphics and budget templates. The best part is, it’s all free. Follow CMN on social media to be the first to know when it launches.

What are you experiencing in ministry that you wish you had resources for? We want to help.

Send your resource ideas to CMNLead@ag.org.

key is loving our communities, and planting new churches where they’re needed.

We’re humbled in the position we’re in at this time. We believe in the God-given dreams He has given you, just as we are believing in the God-given dream He has given us.

We’re breaking new ground for the Kingdom, but our trailblazing spirit isn’t new. Pentecostals have always been innovators. That was the call at the beginning of our Fellowship’s history, when a group of ministers banded together and pledged to do the greatest work of evangelism the world has ever seen. About 50 years later, the late Assemblies of God leader R.L. Brandt noted that the first disciples took seriously Jesus’ words to go into all the world, and we must do the same. He wrote, “Pioneering and progress are quite inseparable. Future expansion of the AG on nearly every front will be determined largely by the Movement’s pioneering pastors. Without them we die. With them we grow.”

We believe there is a new call in America for pioneering pastors to reach the world by multiplying and planting churches that will make a difference in their communities and beyond.

This multiplication is already happening in pockets around the country. Our prayer is that you will catch the vision. The harvest is plentiful, and the day of our Lord’s return is drawing nearer. If you are faithful to do the work God is calling you to do at this moment in time, the fruit of your labor will last throughout eternity, because God-given dreams change everything.

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, USA. Churchmultiplication.net Stepstoplant.com Stepstomultiply.com CMNConference.com @churchmultiplication @cmnnetwork @cmnnetwork

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John Davidson, Ph.D., is director of discovery and development for the General Council of the Assemblies of God, USA, and director of the Alliance for AG Higher Education.

Preaching in Living Color To minister effectively in the 21st century, we need to move beyond colorblind preaching.

M AT T H E W D . K I M

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hen I see people, I don’t see color.”

Maybe you’ve heard this said, or you’ve spoken these words yourself.

This statement means well by trying to convey that all people are the same, regardless of the color of their skin. Yet there are at least three problems with these words — even when uttered with good intentions: 1 God created all people with distinct races and ethnicities for His pleasure.

2 Those in the majority can choose not to see color, because the systems of power and privilege in the U.S. benefit them.

3 People of color do not have the freedom to choose colorblindness, because society constantly reminds them of their minority status and expects them to assimilate to the ways of the majority culture.

Candidly speaking, we in the Church are often no different from society as a whole. To put it more bluntly, we have a problem with race in American Christianity. We can choose to be blind to it or simply fail to talk about it in the context of the local church. But, we cannot deny it. It’s embedded in our communities, workplaces, schools and churches. This is a pervasive issue for all people, regardless of racial, ethnic or cultural backgrounds.

I cannot solve our race problem in America or in the Church with this article, but I want to show us that so-called colorblindness is a fallacy. It goes against God’s plan and pleasure to create diverse people. To minister effectively in the 21st century, we need to preach God’s Word in living color. This article seeks to help preachers start to understand and to preach to the living colors and experiences of their listeners, to the glory of God.

Are You Living With Colorblindness?

In medical terms, colorblindness is the inability either to see certain colors or to distinguish between them (especially reds and greens). Not being able to distinguish between, for example, blues and greens may not be all

Colorblindness is a failure to love our neighbors as God created them, with their various differences.

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that consequential. However, the inability to differentiate between green and red could have life-and-death consequences for drivers. Despite the danger, a colorblind person might go an entire lifetime without a diagnosis unless someone points it out during an eye exam.

Likewise, many Christians live with unperceived spiritual colorblindness. I want to point out in a loving way that many pastors minister and preach with this kind of colorblindness. They interact with everyone the same way, with little consideration of racial, ethnic, cultural, socioeconomic and other differences.

You may ask, “What’s the problem?” The truth is, colorblindness is a failure to love our neighbors as God created them, with their various differences. Instead, colorblind ministers expect everyone else to live, think and act like they do, and on their terms. Colorblindness often stems from being part of the majority culture, where everyone looks like we do. Some might call this a form of privilegege.

When Christians live with a sense of privilege, we don’t allow ourselves to see and empathize with the pain of others, because their misfortunes and plight do not directly affect us. The call for the Christian, however, is to love

others as Jesus loves us — both uniquely and sensitively.

The irony behind the phrase, “I don’t see color,” is that color and gender are normally the first things we notice about an individual. Things like hairstyles, attire and height are usually secondary features. There’s a clear difference between not seeing color and not wanting to hear about, identity with, feel badly about or help alleviate the pain, suffering and problems many people of color face.

Please don’t get me wrong! This is not a problem for one culture only. All people live with some form of colorblindness.

Beyond Universality to Particularity

Part of the problem in the American church is what we might call our “identity hierarchy.” In her book, Beyond Colorblind: Redeeming Our Ethnic Journey, Sarah Shin describes a person named Eddy, an Armenian-American who said, “Ethnicity doesn’t matter to me because Jesus matters more.”

When thinking about these matters, we like to quote verses like Galatians 3:28: “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

These wonderful passages speak of our standing in Christ, but they don’t end the discussion regarding our individual experiences. Of course, Jesus matters more than our ethnicities. And we are all one in Christ Jesus, so there are no ultimate distinctions. However, just because there are universalities doesn’t mean that particularities are insignificant.

The gospel transcends all cultures, but cultures still have meaning, purpose and worth. To minister and preach to those who are different from ourselves, we want to value their universal identity in Christ and also their particular identities (ethnicity, culture, gender, etc.) enough to learn about them and love them toward Christlikeness.

Let’s take a closer look at the benefits of seeing the color around us, and consider ways to remove colorblindness from our preaching. To begin the process of bringing color into the 21st-century pulpit and pew, I want to unpack a Scripture passage and see how preaching in living color impacts our understanding of the biblical text and how we can apply it to our listeners’ lives.

Interpret the Text in Living Color

It’s Monday or Tuesday morning, and you’re preaching on 2 Corinthians 5:17–21 next Sunday. There are

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several major themes in these verses. First, Paul tells us that in Christ we are new creations who should no longer live according to the flesh. Second, God has reconciled us to himself through Jesus Christ. Third, He has entrusted us with the ministry of reconciliation and the message of reconciliation to share this good news with others. Fourth, God has called us to be ambassadors for Christ.

Depending on your ethnic/racial/cultural context, you may interpret the passage differently from another preacher. A standard reading of the text means we will read the passage from our own limited, particular, cultural background (even though our aspiration is to read it from the perspective of a Corinthian). We’ll also assume everyone should read and interpret a passage just like us.

While we would agree that new life in Christ is possible with the aid of the Holy Spirit and everyone must be reconciled to God, the second two themes in this text present nuanced interpretations.

One way we can interpret the passage in living color is to consider how someone in our church from a different ethnicity, race or culture might interpret the phrase “the ministry of reconciliation.” Is this reconciliation only vertical (i.e., our reconciliation with God) or is it also horizontal (i.e., our reconciliation with people)?

If we’re approaching the text as a person from any dominant church culture, we might think the reconciliation Paul requires is only vertical. We might think, Why would I need to try to reconcile myself with others?

If they have a problem with me, they need to come to me first. Depending on how we view ourselves, we may not sense the need to be ministers of reconciliation.

The act of pursuing reconciliation takes self-awareness and humility.

A second interpretive question is: What does it mean that we are ambassadors for Christ? “Ambassador” can mean different things to different cultures. Some might read the word and think of ambassadors in the U.N. keeping and promoting harmony around the world. They may interpret “ambassador” as being the savior of other people and other cultures. Even further, some cultures may think this passage is advocating colonialism, depending on their cultural histories. “Ambassador” can take on a variety of meanings.

Interpreting the text in living color means not settling for the first interpretation based on our limited perspectives and experiences. The goal for preachers is to come to the same interpretation of a given passage based on what we

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believe the original author intended. This requires thorough exegesis (historical, grammatical, literary and cultural analysis) and prayerful submission to the Holy Spirit.

There’s a clear difference between not seeing color and not wanting to hear about, identity with, feel badly about or help alleviate the pain, suffering and problems many people of color face. to them. They may have a slightly or completely different interpretation we would never be aware of if we didn’t take the time to ask. We cannot assume everyone interprets the passage exactly as we do. Interpret the text in living color.

Apply the Text in Living Color

However, every person is a cultural being. We interpret the text through our own unique cultural lenses. That being said, we want to interact with those from other cultural backgrounds, asking them what this text means

In addition to interpretation, we want to apply the text in living color. Reconciliation in Christ extends beyond simply sitting next to people from different ethnicities and cultures in the pews during Sunday morning worship services. Racial and ethnic reconciliation, in particular, is manifested by unrelenting and conscientious acts of metanoia — seeking repentance, asking forgiveness and experiencing changed attitudes toward others.

Racial and ethnic prejudices do not escape us completely. Rather, like dormant viruses, they break out in moments of fleshly weakness. True reconciliation requires us to do uncomfortable things.

For instance, as a Korean-American, born and raised in the United States, what does it mean for me to be reconciled to God and to my neighbor? What kinds of questions does this text raise for me as an ethnic minority person?

To whom must I be reconciled?

Three years ago, our family experienced unspeakable tragedy as my younger brother, Tim, was brutally murdered in the Philippines just after his 36th birthday.

This tragedy colors the unique lens through which I now see the world. In my heart, I harbor at times unforgiveness and resentment toward Filipinos. In my pain, I have struggled with bringing the ministry and message of reconciliation to Filipinos because of what happened on their soil.

Similarly, white Americans may read this text and say they need God’s help to be a messenger of reconciliation to Muslims in America or those of other racial/ethnic

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groups with whom there is a rift in relationship. And so on. Being an ambassador for Christ can similarly apply to different cultures in diverse ways.

Does being an ambassador for Christ necessitate moving overseas as a full-time missionary? To whom does God call me to be His ambassador? These are some of the applicational questions I want to ask myself as I minister and preach in living color.

When we speak them from the heart, the phrases “I’m sorry” and “forgive me” are among the most powerful in the English language. In our culture of entitlement, we seldom speak apologies to one another, even when our actions and words have splintered relationships.

Even in the pulpit, preachers veer away from saying “sorry” or asking for forgiveness, in fear that these rueful phrases might somehow diminish their capacity for leadership. Yet when it comes to ethnic and cultural differences, overcoming misunderstandings, misplaced uses of humor and attempts toward reconciliation, no words may possess greater weight or build more trust.

Racism is a systemic problem. Every person struggles at certain points with racist thoughts and prejudiced actions, and that includes preachers. What would it mean for our listeners to hear a heartfelt apology from their preacher who has in some tangible or subconscious way revealed a racist heart?

Conclusion

To minister and preach to those who are different from ourselves, we want to value their universal identity in Christ and also their particular identities … enough to learn about them and love them toward Christlikeness.

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Living with colorblindness is not really an option in the 21st century — especially for Christians. By some estimates, humans are capable of seeing more than a million different colors and shades of color. Why would we, then, settle for seeing a world without color?

God has similarly created a world consisting of people from a wide range of colors and cultures. They live in our communities and worship in our churches — sometimes with great regularity. We can continue to preach, teach, minister to them and disciple them as if their races, ethnicities, cultures and distinctions don’t exist or don’t matter. Or, we can embrace and celebrate who they are, as God has created them to be.

Preaching in the 21st century means preaching in living color. This is just the beginning of a conversation that I hope will continue and grow in our churches, neighborhoods, workplaces, schools and other places where people gather. Preaching in living color means acknowledging how we, and others, read and apply the text.

As we learn what it means to see and live in color, we will make mistakes. We will be awkward. We will stare. We will offend. We will cry. We will feel frustrated. We will want to give up.

But Jesus never said it would be easy to follow Him. He calls us to the ministry and message of reconciliation. I believe He even calls us to — dare I say it — enjoy one another’s differences. May we smile, laugh, embrace and become curious enough to learn new things.

As you sit in your study this coming week, ask the Holy Spirit to show you practical ways to see and preach in living color. You might be surprised at what you can accomplish with His help.

As we attempt to live out this reality in our congregations, we may get a foretaste of heaven as depicted in Revelation 7:9 — to God be the glory!

Matthew D. Kim is associate professor of preaching and ministry at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and the author of Preaching with Cultural Intelligence: Understanding the People Who Hear Our Sermons (Baker Academic, 2017). Portions of this article were excerpted and adapted (with permission) from Chapter 6 of that book.

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THE EMOTIONALLY INTELLIGENT CHURCH LEADER

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WE CAN ALL GROW IN OUR PEOPLE SKILLS

BY FOLLOWING THESE STEPS. SAM FARINA

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work stress-free when I’m with my team,” Pastor Michael (name changed) confided in me. “I trust them, and I trust myself, but I feel high stress working with the church board. I don’t trust some who have small thinking. I am extremely anxious about the budget. This time of year, while preparing and presenting the budget to the board, I am so anxious that even my wife says she’s not sure she likes me.”

As Michael’s church grew in attendance, the budget and staff grew as well. The one thing that wasn’t growing was Michael’s emotional intelligence (EI), the ability to identify, manage and harness his emotions and respond appropriately to the emotions of others.

Michael was emotionally self-aware enough to pinpoint his anxiety, fear and stress, but he needed to grow his EI if he hoped to grow his influence. The negative messages Michael was giving himself and receiving from others deeply affected him, clouding his outlook with a pessimism that sapped his energy, shook his confidence and stole his peace.

Emotional intelligence allows people to alter their emotional state when needed. Emotionally intelligent leaders are also sensitive to what those around them are feeling, and can help them navigate and change their moods — calming them or lifting their spirits, for example. Every church leader needs these skills, but not every church leader has them. Thankfully, we can all grow in emotional intelligence.

Emotions move us and motivate us. They can sustain us through our struggles and crown us in our victories. If we’re not careful, they can also derail us. Everything we do involves emotions. At times, we tap into them to help us reach our goals. At other times, we must overcome them and press on in spite of them.

Emotional intelligence is the synthesis of the heart, mind and soul. It helps us bring our thoughts and feelings into alignment with God’s Word and will, so that we can “take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5). Throughout Scripture, we see that this is God’s desire for His people. Proverbs 16:32 says, “Patience is better than power, and controlling one’s emotions, than capturing a city” (CSB).

Michael needed to shift from his head to his heart — from negative thought patterns to the truths of God. His head was focusing on childhood memories of the financial uncertainty that attended the ministry home in which he grew up. Michael’s thoughts left him feeling helpless and insufficient.

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Emotions move us and motivate us.

They can sustain us through our struggles and crown us in our victories. If we’re not careful, they can also derail us.

When he realized what was happening, Michael was able to make positive changes. He began to define himself from the inside out, in light of God’s truth. Michael relied on the God-given wisdom in his heart and not the words in his head. Growing the EI skills of emotional

self-awareness allowed him to shift from head words to heart wisdom, from pessimism to optimism, from fear and insecurities to the assurance of God’s promises. Rather than leaning on his own understanding, he was learning to trust in the Lord with all his heart (Proverbs 3:5).

Growing his emotional intelligence gave Michael the capacity to see things objectively, the way they were, rather than the way he feared them to be. This is the emotional intelligence skill of reality testing. For Christians, it takes on a new level of meaning as we consider spiritual realities. We can ask God to open our eyes as He did for Elisha’s servant, so we can see Him working on our behalf (2 Kings 6:15–17).

Michael released his fears to the Lord, reminding himself that, by God’s grace, the church had always ended the year with a surplus. Like the Psalmist, Michael steered his emotions toward the reality of God’s goodness: “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God” (Psalm 42:11). Pairing his faith with his developing emotional intelligence helped Michael face the challenges of ministry with wisdom and calm assurance.

Michael’s relationships began to improve as well.

Where his anxiety had previously caused issues with key people in his work and home life, he now kept his emotions in check and put others at ease.

Robert Bolton, author of People Skills, discovered that 80 percent of workers fail to remain in organizations for one reason: poor relationships with other people. People skills — that is, the ability to interact well with others — are crucial for ministry. Emotionally intelligent leaders assess the emotions of those around them and respond with wisdom rather than recklessness (Proverbs 12:18).

Take Inventory

Self-assess your emotional intelligence by answering the following questions: • How easy is it for me to shift my emotions?

• Can I step back and see difficult situations in perspective?

• When I experience negative emotions during conflict situations, do I retain my ability to reflect realistically on what’s happening?

• How am I using internal self-talk to take myself from a negative emotional state to a positive one?

• What situations trigger negative emotions in me, and how do I manage those feelings when it happens?

Assess the emotional intelligence of your ministry

leadership with these questions: • How much laughter or conflict is there within our team?

• Is there a spirit of cooperation or competition among our ministries?

• Do staff members speak up in meetings or keep their mouths shut for fear of facing criticism?

• Are team members inspiring one another, or are they self-absorbed, with little knowledge of what those around them are feeling?

• Do I enjoy coming to work each day, or do I dread entering an environment that feels harsh and unpleasant?

Your answers reveal where you need to grow into a more emotionally intelligent leader. In addition to this self-assessment, ask God to point out any negative thought patterns that you need to turn over to Him. Like David, pray, “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23–24).

Take Action

Reuven Bar-On, a psychologist and pioneer of emotional intelligence theory, wondered why some people maintain better emotional well-being and achieve greater success than others, despite the challenges and setbacks they may face. He concluded that what sets apart certain resilient individuals is their ability to manage emotions.

Emotional intelligence contributes to the harmony of individuals and the organizations they serve. For church leaders, that can mean healthier interpersonal relationships, happier volunteers and staff members, better decision-making and problem-solving skills, improved conflict resolution, stronger teams — and, ultimately, higher ministry impact.

You can grow your emotional intelligence. As a follower of Christ, the first step is recognizing the power of emotions and asking God to help you manage your inner life for His glory. Notice and acknowledge what you’re feeling, but don’t let these feelings define you. Seek the Spirit’s guidance in processing your emotions. Find healthy outlets for working through negative feelings, whether it’s talking with a friend or writing in a journal. Most importantly, spend time in God’s presence. Give these feelings to Him before they become a foothold for the enemy. “‘In your anger do not sin’”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil

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Emotionally intelligent leaders assess the emotions of those around them and respond with wisdom rather than recklessness. to help you see the pain behind the pain response, and to grow your love for others (1 Thessalonians 3:12).

Christ followers must be able to feel what others on the arduous climb of life are feeling. Can you feel the danger, the excitement, the exhaustion, the determination, the pain of those around you? When you perceive the hearts of others, it will revolutionize your leadership — at home, on the mission field of your community, in the church auditorium, in team meetings, and anywhere people are interacting.

Manage, Modify, Change

a foothold” (Ephesians 4:26–27). Ask God to transform you by the renewing of your mind (Romans 12:2).

Pay attention to how your past experiences color your perceptions and impact your emotions today. Identify the people, words or situations that trigger negative thoughts.

Invite the Holy Spirit to search your heart for any areas of hurt, unforgiveness or bitterness that need to come under the authority of Jesus.

Seek feedback from others on how they perceive your emotional state. Do they see you as uptight, aloof, angry or insecure? Wearing your emotions on your sleeve affects how people feel in your presence. Growing in self-awareness and emotional health will make it easier to build relationships and lead people.

Practice empathy. Give people your full attention when you talk with them. Notice their expressions and body language, and consider what those cues say about what they may be feeling. Resist the urge to react defensively when people are harsh or critical toward you.

Remember that hurting people hurt people. Ask God

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Barbara Kerr, professor of counseling psychology at the University of Kansas, created a three-step model for enhancing competency and awareness of emotions.

The first step is managing emotions. Self-regulate negative moods by developing the following habits: • Identify the feeling to bring it to your awareness.

• Acknowledge the feeling, even if you’re not proud of it. Write it down, or talk to someone about it.

• If the feeling is intense, consider taking action to reduce stress. Breathe deeply, go for a walk, exercise, play soothing music, sip water, write, look for humor, change the way you talk to yourself, count backwards from 50, step outside, etc.

• When you are calmer and can take time for reflection, ask yourself: What is the price I pay for feeling this way? What can I do to feel differently?

Michael was talking to himself from the fears in his head and needed to shift to the wisdom of God that was in his heart.

The second step is modifying your assumptions. When we let our emotions lead in relationships, we may jump to conclusions about other people and their motives. We write a false narrative that heightens our insecurities.

Rather than taking the time to understand other people’s perspectives, we label them as evil, selfish, ignorant or incompetent — and then we react according to that false narrative.

Jesus provides the ultimate example of how we should think about and interact with others. He looked past appearances, reputations, stereotypes and biases to see

the heart of the individual. Consider His treatment of Zacchaeus, the Samaritan woman, the thief on the cross, and others. Jesus viewed people with empathy and compassion. He took the time to consider the story behind the person. And He extended grace, forgiveness, healing, restoration and friendship.

We should strive to do the same. It will take compassion, curiosity and discernment from the Holy Spirit. But when we take time to learn the stories and understand the perspectives of others — especially those who push our buttons and try our patience — it’s easier to respond as Scripture teaches, “bearing with one another in love” (Ephesians 4:2).

Michael realized his insecurities were leading him to false assumptions. Identifying the source of his emotional stress allowed him to open his heart to the people he had been shutting out.

The third step is changing your behavior. Practice new behaviors until they become habits. The goal is to develop healthy habits that help you manage your emotions, express a range of feelings appropriately, and promote a sense of optimism.

Michael started praying and spending time in Scripture every morning — before facing the demands of leadership.

This practice helped him hear the wisdom in his heart above the doubts and fears in his head. The words of Philippians 4:6–7 came alive to him: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

For More Information

An assessment, such as the Bar-On EQ-i and EQ-360, can help you discover your emotional intelligence. A certified coach can assist you with creating and practicing an EI growth plan. To find a certified Assemblies of God coach, visit AGCoaching.org.

Sam Farina, D.Min., is a professional certified coach (PCC) with the International Coach Federation and founder of The Farina Group, a group of specialists in the field of coaching.

He lives in Dallas.

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The Six Best Books on Emotional Intelligence Daniel Goleman, Richard E. Boyatzis, Annie McKee and Sydney Finkelstein, On Emotional Intelligence (Boston: Harvard Business Review Press, 2015).

Marcia Hughes and James Bradford Terrell, Emotional Intelligence In Action, Second Edition (San Francisco: Pfeiffer, 2012).

Marcia Hughes, Henry L. Thompson and James Bradford Terrell, Handbook for Developing Emotional and Social Intelligence (San Francisco: Pfeiffer, 2012).

Barbara A. Kerr, Emotional Intelligence for a Compassionate World: Workbook for Enhancing Emotional Intelligence Skills (North Charleston, South Carolina: CreateSpace Independent Publishing, 2017).

Steve Neale, Lisa Spencer-Arnell and Liz Wilson, Emotional Intelligence Coaching (Philadelphia: Kogan Page, 2011).

Steven J. Stein and Howard E. Book, The EQ Edge: Emotional Intelligence and Your Success, Third Edition, (Mississauga, Ontario: Jossey-Bass, 2011).

Credentialed Ministers

College Guide 60

The Case for Continuing Your Education

Avoiding the 70 Student-Debt Trap

The Case for Continuing Your Education DOUG CLAY Effective ministry in the postmodern world requires a personal commitment to lifelong learning.

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t is my privilege to introduce Influence magazine’s Credentialed Ministers College Guide. On the next few pages, you’ll find information about undergraduate and graduate programs that will help you continue your education as a minister. These programs are offered by schools in the Assemblies of God Alliance for Higher Education, a network of colleges and universities dedicated to training Pentecostal leaders for the next generation.

The case for continuing your education reflects a commitment to three values: lifelong learning, formal education and Pentecostal worldview.

The Value of Lifelong Learning

Christian life and ministry are all about growth. Drawing on the image of a baby being weaned from its mother, Hebrews 5:12–14

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teaches us that we need to move from “milk” to “solid food,” spiritually speaking.

We need to move from “elementary” teachings to maturity.

To make this move, we need to be lifelong learners in the school of Christ. That is what it means to be “disciples” (Matthew 28:19). A disciple is one who is learning “to obey everything [Jesus has] commanded” (verse 20).

David Mathis explains the value of lifelong learning this way: “The Christian faith is not a finite course of study for the front-end of adulthood. Our mindset shouldn’t be to first do our learning and then spend the rest of our lives drawing from that original deposit of knowledge. Rather, ongoing health in the Christian life is inextricably linked to ongoing learning.”

Being a student of Jesus Christ means having a willingness to learn. As a minister, it

also means understanding the sacredness of your calling. If God has called you to ministry, then a willingness to continue learning is an indicator that you want to do your very best in whatever God has for you (2 Timothy 2:15).

What kinds of things should we continue learning about? I personally have three areas of learning that I focus on: spiritual, technological and cultural. I want to keep growing in my knowledge of God and Scripture so that I can hear His voice clearly for the assignments He has given me. E-living is here to stay, so I want to keep on top of technologies, and utilize them to help me perform my work efficiently and effectively.

And culture keeps posing new challenges to the Church. When I started out in the ministry as an Assemblies of God Bible college graduate, I never could have imagined ministering in a culture that supports the kinds of immorality that 30 years ago nearly everyone opposed. If I don’t continue to learn how culture changes, I’m not going to be able to minister to it effectively. And neither are you.

Effective ministry in the postmodern world requires a personal commitment to lifelong learning.

The Value of Formal Education

Once you are committed to lifelong learning, the value of formal education becomes more apparent.

For one thing, completing a degree is a tangible evidence of accomplishment. It demonstrates to others a level of personal sacrifice and discipline to plow through several years of concentrated reading and writing.

And it shows that you’re willing to learn and receive instruction from others. Increasingly, the people we minister to are formally well-educated. When we pursue formal education too, it demonstrates our seriousness of purpose in ministry and provides added credibility with them.

Formal learning is in our DNA as a Movement. The desire to create Bible schools to further Pentecostal education was one of the five reasons 300 men and women gathered in

Hot Springs, Arkansas, in 1914. Who could have imagined the rich opportunities we would have for Pentecostal higher education in the Assemblies of God today? The fact that formal education is a part of our heritage is also evident in the global footprint of this Movement. Did you know that there are now 2,457 Bible schools and extension sites in the Assemblies of God globally? Where the Assemblies of God has grown, so has our emphasis on higher education.

Finally, formal education for ministry helps us keep knowledge and practice together. When I graduated from Bible college, I thought I had all the knowledge — Bible, theology, etc. — that I would ever need.

Now I just needed to put it into practice.

What I’ve discovered since, however, is that knowledge and practice have a dynamic, twoway relationship. Our knowledge informs our practice, and our practice informs our knowledge.

This dynamic, two-way relationship gives you a great reason to continue your education. Why not build on your practical ministry experience by pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Bible, theology or ministry? Perhaps you’ve already earned your bachelor’s degree. Great! Why not further your formal education with a master’s degree or a doctorate in ministry?

Formal education for ministry helps us keep knowledge and practice together.

The Value of a Pentecostal Worldview

So, all Christians, but especially those who lead the Church, should have a personal commitment to lifelong learning. That commitment will sometimes lead to enrollment in formal education at the undergraduate or graduate level. When that happens, I want to encourage you to consider choosing a school with a Pentecostal worldview.

I do this for personal and professional reasons. Personally, I’m well aware that I would not be where I am today if it were not for my training at an Assemblies of God school. My education was thoroughly Pentecostal in theory and in practice. It was Bible-based and theologically sound, and it took place in

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Doug Clay is general superintendent of the Assemblies of God (USA).

an environment that was spiritually alive.

This unique combination of academic discipline and spiritual fervor — what one of our schools calls “knowledge on fire” — is the hallmark of Pentecostal education.

I am passionate about perpetuating Pentecost into my children’s and grandchildren’s generations. I’m not sure we can do this effectively without a commitment to Pentecostal higher education.

At a professional level, continuing your education is time-consuming and costly.

I think it’s worth the cost, or I wouldn’t be recommending it. (See the interview in this guide about how to afford your education.)

Knowing that many ministers are completing undergraduate or graduate degrees as they continue to minister in the church, AG Alliance schools have improved how they deliver a formal education. You can learn online,

through distance education, and in cohorts.

Please look at what our schools offer in the following pages. The quality and affordability of the education they are delivering today will only benefit your calling.

Conclusion

The new year offers us ministers an opportunity to reflect on the 365 days behind us and to prepare for the 365 days ahead of us. Out of this opportunity, and guided by the Holy Spirit, we write resolutions about the kind of leaders we want to become and the kind of ministries we want to lead in the next year. I encourage you to prayerfully consider making continuing your education one of your New Year’s resolutions in 2019.

Be a lifelong learner! And consider pursuing formal education at one of our AG Alliance colleges and universities!

Avoiding the Student-Debt Trap A Q&A WITH JOSIAH KENNEALY

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ost prospective graduate and underSchool is expensive. graduate students are asking the same The struggle is question: How will I pay for my education? real, but you can John Davidson, director of the Alliance for do it without debt. AG Higher Education, discussed this topic with Josiah Kennealy, author of Debtless: Helping Students Take On Less Debt.

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DAVIDSON: Why did you write Debtless?

KENNEALY: So many young adults I work with have big dreams from God, dreams about marriage, career, family and ministry. They want to make their lives count and really impact the world around them. But debt is the biggest dream killer I’ve ever seen. Student loan debt, specifically, is out of control.

You did a lot of research on student debt.

What did you find?

I went on a mission to find out what’s happening in the economy of student loans and to discover the reality of those taking out student loans. Forty-five percent of students said nobody told them there were ways to

Forty-five percent of students said nobody told them there were ways to pay for college other than student loans.

pay for college other than student loans. The average education loans of current students I surveyed totaled almost $27,000 — and they hadn’t even graduated yet.

Often, students taking out loans are similar to those buying things on a credit card.

It’s so easy to swipe the card and say, “I’ll pay for it later.” They just don’t realize how much they’ll pay for it later. When I asked students to respond to my research survey, the most common response was, “I don’t know how much I have in student loans.” That’s a major problem when students are leveraging their future with loans, and they don’t even know how much they’ve borrowed.

As a person who went to both undergrad and grad school without debt, I want to be a voice that calls back from the Promised Land and says, “Hey, you can do this.” It’s like Joshua and Caleb saying, “Yes, there are giants. School is expensive. The struggle is real, but you can do it without debt. God’s going to help you, and we’re going to be a community of people who cheer you on.”

How can students pay for college without debt?

The most basic thing is to save for your education before you pursue it. High school students can start working and saving now.

Working professionals can set savings goals and save up prior to starting that graduate degree. That may mean you delay starting your program, but it’s worth it to delay for a year or two to avoid being in tons of debt on the back end.

Another thing people don’t like to hear is this: Work while you’re in school. The idea of ceasing work completely to focus on your education for two to four years is unnecessary. I worked 20 to 30 hours per week

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during my undergrad, and full time during my graduate degree, and was able to manage both school and work.

In fact, Dave Ramsey recently found that students who worked at least 20 hours a week had a higher GPA than those who did not work. Working while you’re in school allows you to network, get experience, and build your résumé at the same time you’re building your bank account.

What else can someone do to afford the cost of education?

First, apply for every scholarship you can find, even if you think you may not meet the criteria. Applications don’t take very long but can have a big payout. Millions of scholarship dollars go unclaimed every year simply because no one filled out an application.

Ask your school what scholarships are available, and search them out online as well.

Second, in my research, I found that the average student could save $200 per semester just by buying their textbooks online.

That amounts to $1,600 in savings over four years by working smarter, not harder.

What are the advantages to a student graduating with little or no debt?

My dream when I was younger was to serve as a young adult pastor at my home church. After I finished college, the church approached me and offered me the position, but they weren’t able to pay me because they were in a season of saving. They said I could work there as a volunteer and get another job to help pay the bills. Because I didn’t have any debt, I could tell them, “Yes! I’ll do this without a paycheck.” After six months as a volunteer, I was able to go full time at the church with a salary.

Now my wife and I are in a new season of becoming Chi Alpha campus missionaries. That probably wouldn’t be possible if we both had a lot of debt. But because we’re debt-free, we can step out in faith in our ministry and career without fear of debt holding us back.

Assemblies of God Theological Seminary 1111 N. Glenstone Ave. Springfield, MO 65802 1-800-467-AGTS AGTS.edu

Evangel University

1111 N. Glenstone Ave. Springfield, MO 65802 1-800-EVANGEL evangel.edu

Global University

Northpoint Bible College and Graduate School

Southwestern Assemblies of God University

Northwest University

Trinity Bible College & Graduate School

320 S. Main St. Haverhill, MA 01835 978-478-3400 northpoint.edu

1211 S. Glenstone Ave. Springfield, MO 65804 1-800-443-1083 globaluniversity.edu

P.O. Box 579 5520 108th Ave. NE Kirkland, WA 98033 425-822-8266 northwestu.edu/online

North Central University

Southeastern University

910 Elliot Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55404 1-800-289-6222 northcentral.edu/influence

1000 Longfellow Blvd.

Lakeland, FL 33801 1-800-500-8760 SEU.edu

1200 Sycamore St. Waxahachie, TX 75165 1-888-937-7248 SAGU.edu/ministrydegree

50 Sixth Ave. South Ellendale, ND 58436 1-800-523-1603 trinitybiblecollege.edu

Vanguard University 55 Fair Dr. Costa Mesa, CA 92626 1-800-722-6279 vanguard.edu

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MULTIPLIERS Leaders Leveraging Their Gifts for God’s Kingdom

SPIRITUAL PARENTING

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here are a few people who come along in our lives whose impact on us rivals that of our own parents. They may be peers or employers. They may even be mentors. But a select number become spiritual parents.

Each of these multipliers exhibits a dedication not only to ministry but to investing in those who follow in their footsteps. It’s one thing to begin a good work; it’s another to ensure it continues. The work of a spiritual parent lives long after them.

Pastor J. Don George has a long history in Christian service. In 1972, he answered the call to be the senior pastor of Calvary Church (AG) in Irving, Texas. In January 2018, Ben Dailey succeeded George, who became pastor emeritus. Over the years, George has been a spiritual father to countless ministers.

A 40-year veteran of missionary work in Southeast Asia, Dr. Beth Grant also serves as an executive presbyter for the General

Council of the Assemblies of God. She has been a champion of women leaders, serving as the first chairperson of the Assemblies of God National Task Force for Women in Ministry (now the Network of Women Ministers).

In every area of her life and ministry, Grant has attracted and influenced spiritual children along the way.

Dr. Sam Huddleston’s life took a wrong turn, and he ended up behind bars. But it was during his incarceration that he met his own spiritual father. Huddleston returned to prison — but this time, as a minister, connecting inmates with leaders outside.

Pastor Zenaido Garza has worked tirelessly for more than 50 years in ministry at El Buen Pastor Church in McFarland, California. The list of those he has influenced is long, and their contributions are impressive. But Garza is quick to give all the glory to God for giving him the opportunity to be a spiritual father.

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.

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MULTIPLIERS

Authentic Spiritual Parenting A Q&A WITH J. DON GEORGE J. Don George is pastor emeritus of Calvary Church in Irving, Texas (AG), which has multiple campuses in North Texas and one in Wallace, North Carolina.

“No matter how well a pastor preaches, if they aren’t likeable, then they can’t attract people.”

INFLUENCE: When and how did you become a spiritual father?

GEORGE: I became a spiritual father when spir-

itual sons and daughters were born by the will of God and through the Holy Spirit’s prompting. But one does not become a spiritual parent by just living a long time. I believe I have attracted people by modeling a life of service and possessing a spiritual life that they may want to imitate.

What lessons have you learned in mentoring the next generation?

I learned the impact of living an authentic lifestyle. People don’t like a phony, and they won’t follow one. Young people, especially, are looking for authenticity. I saw that in my own parents. They weren’t one thing in the parsonage and another on Sunday.

People don’t like mood swings, so live a life of consistency. When someone is angry one moment and then joking around the next, it sends mixed messages that are hard to understand.

I have strived to be likeable. I tell young guys whom I mentor that likeability is underrated. No matter how well a pastor preaches, if they aren’t likeable, then they can’t attract people. Likeability requires an even disposition, being pleasant and complimentary. People may admire a critic, but few of them want to be one.

What should spiritual children know about these relationships?

Spiritual relationships are more caught than

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taught. People who have come through our church as staff have said they have learned more by being with me than by what I’ve said in a classroom setting. I’ve often told my staff who want to learn from me, “I’m available to spend time with you, but I’m not going to come find you. You need to seek me out.”

People will be attracted to a certain type of minister who exhibits certain qualities.

But talent cannot be transferred. There are things every spiritual child can model. But there are things they can’t because we all have our own skills.

Every relationship will be tested. We won’t see eye-to-eye on everything. Time together is essential to surviving those tests. So a spiritual child must be willing to trust his or her spiritual parent. I may ask a spiritual child to do something without taking the time to explain every detail of the assignment.

How can spiritual parenting change the world by producing more effective multipliers?

It is essential that leaders see the power of parenting spiritual sons and daughters. I prayed for years that God would help raise up people within my ministry who would be greater than I was, build more than I did, and raise up larger and stronger churches. It’s not just what we do but what we inspire others to do that is important. We should take people seriously whose lives we can influence.

MULTIPLIERS

It Takes Being Real A Q&A WITH BETH GRANT Dr. Beth Grant has been a missionary to Southeast Asia and also serves as an executive presbyter for the General Council of the Assemblies of God.

“For me, the biggest part of spiritual parenting is taking responsibility.

God brought them into my life for a reason.”

INFLUENCE: When did you fully realize your impact as a spiritual parent?

GRANT: When I was chairing the Task Force for Women in Ministry 15 years ago, I became more aware that I had a responsibility for the women I was working with.

Over time, I started listing young ministers whom I knew God had brought across my path. It began as just a small circle, but it grew.

I started to see them more often. I started to list more and more of them. Before long, it was a large circle of ministers God had put on my heart.

What is the most important characteristic of a spiritual parent?

For me, the biggest part of spiritual parenting is taking responsibility. God brought spiritual children into my life for a reason. Part of my role was to see how God had put His hand on their lives — to discern that and then affirm that, and to speak it over their lives. As years went by, I realized my role shifted, and I was put in a position to open doors for them.

One of the greatest gifts you can give someone is a blessing. And one of the greatest tragedies is to withhold that blessing. You can’t just hope for someone or think about the gift God is pointing out. You must put it into words. That’s how the blessing works: “I see God’s hand on your life.”

It may be small, but it’s life-changing.

How does a spiritual parenting relationship form?

It starts very small — when you’re around

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someone, maybe just talking now and then.

And then the spiritual child may initiate it.

“Can we talk? I would like your advice about something.”

And then it just grows from there.

I think what attracts spiritual children to their spiritual parents is a common call. For me, it may be the common work of missions.

Or it may be that God is stirring a similar gift in them. Sometimes I see that God is growing them in a similar direction that He has led me. I know about the costs they’ll pay along the way, the decisions they need to make, or the mistakes they need to avoid. I take that responsibility very seriously.

What needs to happen for that relationship to be beneficial?

Well, first of all, we need to realize that spiritual parenting is not optional. If you are a natural mother or father, you know that parenting isn’t just about celebrating the good; it’s about speaking into the areas in which a child is most vulnerable. When I meet with a spiritual child, no topic is off-limits.

But that vulnerability requires a safe place of confidentiality and trust. We need to be open and honest with each other. So we must model the fact that we are real people, in real marriages, with real kids, in real churches made up of human beings. So I use real-life examples so they can be honest with me, but, more importantly, with themselves.

MULTIPLIERS

Spiritual Parents Never Give Up A C O N V E R S AT I O N W I T H S A M H U D D L E S T O N

Never forgetting where he came from, Huddleston has led ministries over the years that connect inmates with spiritual mothers and fathers on the outside.

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astor, educator, minister, assistant district superintendent, executive presbyter. Dr. Sam Huddleston has had many different titles. But one he holds close to his heart is that of father. He fills that role not just with his own children and grandchildren, but also with those he has nurtured in the faith.

He hasn’t always seen himself as a spiritual parent, though. In fact, it took finally agreeing to a missions trip to open his eyes.

“I didn’t recognize it until I started traveling overseas,” Huddleston says. “Young men would stop me between classes and look at me. ‘You know,’ they’d say to me, ‘you’re like a father. You really are.’ They were pulling things out of me that I hadn’t seen before.”

Huddleston says his relationship with his dad helped shape his spiritual parenting.

“My dad was tough, and my dad was tender,” Huddleston says. “When he spoke, you listened. But there was no one who would cry with you quicker than him.”

Huddleston also had a spiritual father, a man he met years ago when he desperately needed someone to speak the truth to him in love. Huddleston was incarcerated at a California penitentiary when he met Pastor G. Lee Thomas of Sonora, California.

Huddleston gave his life to Christ in that prison, and developed a lasting relationship with Thomas.

“G. Lee Thomas was my spiritual father, and he taught me so much about God,” Huddleston says. “He would tell me that you can never, ever do this without the power of the Holy Spirit.

He taught me the impact of diversity — not just ethnic diversity but surrounding yourself with people who think differently than you or do things you had never thought to do.”

After Thomas recently died, Huddleston

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shared a video at the memorial service showing the late pastor praying over Huddleston’s grandsons. Huddleston says this captures the essence of a true spiritual relationship, which reaches beyond ministry and mentoring to shape lives in ways that can influence generations.

The responsibility of this kind of spiritual relationship goes both ways. Just as biological parents are imperfect, spiritual parents have human frailties and can benefit from the encouragement and prayers of those to whom they minister.

What’s the ideal model for spiritual parenting? There may not be one, but Huddleston’s example comes close. For him, it’s about dedication and commitment — no matter what happens in the relationship.

“My daughter put it this way: She said that I love everyone, and I think anyone can change,” Huddleston says. “And that’s true! I never give up on them. I might disagree with you, but I won’t cut you loose.”

For Huddleston, that tenacity began in a prison cell when a local pastor visited him and didn’t give up on him. Never forgetting where he came from, Huddleston has led ministries over the years that connect inmates with spiritual mothers and fathers on the outside.

Those efforts have been successful in keeping parolees from returning to prison. But even more importantly, Huddleston’s investment has helped foster many spiritual parenting relationships that have changed countless lives for eternity.

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MULTIPLIERS

A Spiritual Father to Many A C O N V E R S AT I O N W I T H Z E N A I D O G A R Z A

Zenaido Garza has been a spiritual father to a long list of people, including individuals who now serve as pastors, church leaders and missionaries around the world.

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or 53 years, Pastor Zenaido Garza has faithfully served El Buen Pastor Church (AG) in McFarland, California. Though he never sought fame for himself, Garza always believed the town of McFarland would become known around the world.

“I did say that a lot,” Garza says. “God placed that in my heart, and I believed it.”

If the name of the town sounds familiar, you may have heard of a Disney film called McFarland, USA. Based on a true story, it is about a high school coach who leads an extraordinary team of Hispanic cross-country runners to a state championship. Several of the young people portrayed in the film came from Garza’s church.

“Four of the runners from the movie grew up in my church,” Garza says. “I dedicated them as babies, they were in our Sunday School classes, in Royal Rangers. Thank God the coach of the group was a Christian man, and a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ, full of love and compassion for the Hispanic people, and added to what I was trying to do.”

What Garza was trying to do often clashed with his own feelings of insecurity. Coming to the United States at the age of 20 to take on the role of senior pastor seemed difficult enough. But when he met some of the more established pastors, Garza suddenly questioned whether he was up to the challenge.

“Every one of them had graduated from Christian colleges and universities,” Garza says. “They were pastoring the big churches of the city.”

Garza felt insecure in his calling and inadequate to pastor his own church. As a migrant farm worker and the son of migrants, Garza often felt out of place. He had received training at a quality Bible institute in Mexico, but still felt unprepared for the road ahead. Garza

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was so discouraged that he nearly gave up on his call before even beginning.

Today, many people are thankful Garza persevered. He has been a spiritual father to a long list of people, including individuals who now serve as pastors, church leaders and missionaries around the world.

One of those people recently wrote, “I am today a pastor for 41 years, and it’s because Pastor Zenaido saw in a young teenager a special calling upon his life.”

Saul Gonzalez is another leader to whom Garza has been a spiritual father. Gonzalez was the youth pastor at El Buen Pastor Church at the time of the events portrayed in the film.

Gonzalez was such an effective leader that Garza had been preparing him as a successor.

However, God had other plans. A church in nearby Bakersfield was struggling and needed a pastor. Though he sensed God prompting him to send Gonzalez, Garza was hesitant.

After some prayer, Garza realized that without his intervention, the struggling church might close. Garza obediently released his spiritual son to serve. Today, Life House Bakersfield (AG) is thriving under the leadership of Gonzalez.

Garza is clear about who deserves glory for any and all of his accomplishments: Jesus Christ.

“He was the Builder, the Miracle Worker,” Garza says. “I was just the instrument He selected and chose to use.”

MAKE IT COUNT An Eight-Week Study for Leadership Teams

CAN-DO LEADERSHIP: EIGHT QUALITIES OF LEADERS WHO MAKE IT HAPPEN STEPHEN BLANDINO

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 Can-Do Leadership are written by Stephen Blandino, lead pastor of 7 City Church (AG) in Fort Worth, Texas (7citychurch.com).

He planted 7 City Church in 2012 Blandino in a thriving cultural arts district near downtown Fort Worth. Blandino blogs regularly at stephenblandino.com and is the author of several books, including Do Good Works, Creating Your Church’s Culture, and GO! Starting a Personal Growth Revolution.

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eadership comes with a host of challenges, uphill struggles and negative voices that tell us why we can’t do what we want to do. Yet, despite the circumstances, leaders are required to lead. They don’t have the luxury of calling it quits when living in the shadow of the mountain. Instead, they have an inner “can-do” attitude that drives them to complete what God has called them to do.

Can-do leaders don’t experience less resistance or smaller problems than everyone else. They just refuse to let the struggles they face, the disappointments they encounter, or the naysayers around them cloud their commitment to move forward. Not only can they do what they need to do, they will.

Can-do leadership is about more than having a strong work ethic. It’s about more than arriving early and staying late. It’s about your perspective, mindset, tenacity and posture toward being solution-focused. That’s where we’ll focus this edition of “Make It Count.” The best can-do leaders share eight qualities: • Positivity: I choose an optimistic outlook • Initiative: I don’t wait for someone to ask • Responsibility: I own it • Decisiveness: I make decisions without bogging down my leader • Solution-minded: I won’t quit until I find the right solution • Mobilizer: I don’t do ministry alone • Resilience: I bounce back after every setback • Grit: I don’t give up until the job is done These eight lessons will equip you to move forward when you face tests in leadership. As you and your team embrace these principles, you’ll go further in the mission God has called you to fulfill, despite the challenges you face along the way.

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HOW TO USE MAKE IT COUNT

We are pleased to offer 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 Leader’s page and Team Member’s page.

The Leader’s page corresponds directly to the material in this print issue of the magazine.

We encourage you to print multiple copies of the PDF Discussion Guide from Influencemagazine.com for all your ministry leaders and the team members they lead in your church or organization.

You will notice that key words and concepts are underlined in each lesson on the Leader’s page. These underlined words and phrases 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’s material.

We trust these lessons will help you make each moment count as you lead and develop the leaders around you.

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MAKE IT COUNT Study

1

Can-Do Leadership: 8 Qualities of Leaders Who Make It Happen

Positivity: I Choose an Optimistic Outlook Assess: In which circumstances is it hardest for you to remain optimistic?

Insights and Ideas

n their book, Spiritual Leadership, Richard and Henry Blackaby observe the importance of leaders maintaining a positive and optimistic outlook. They use George Marshall as an example, writing: “When George Marshall became the U.S. Secretary of State, he was informed that spirits were low in the State Department. Marshall advised his staff, ‘Gentlemen, enlisted men may be entitled to morale problems, but officers are not… . I expect all officers in this department to take care of their own morale. No one is taking care of my morale.’ If leaders cannot manage their own attitudes, they cannot be entrusted with the morale of others. When leaders believe anything is possible, their followers will come to believe that too.”

If you don’t believe it can happen, nobody you lead will believe it either. Can-do leaders understand that both positivity and negativity are contagious. They not only shape our outlook, but they spread to the people we serve, the teams we build, and the organizations we lead.

The apostle Paul understood the importance of an optimistic outlook. In his letter to the Philippians, he offers three insights to cultivate an optimistic attitude: 1. Pray regularly. In Philippians 4:6, Paul said, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Leadership is intense and stressful. Paul’s antidote was to pray regularly, handing over any concerns to the Lord. As your anxiety falls away through prayer, Paul said, “the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (verse 7). Your attitude and outlook will certainly become more positive, too.

2. Live thankfully. Paul also said to pray “with thanksgiving” (verse 6). What would happen if you ended every day by writing down two things from that day for which you were thankful? How might this change your perspective on the day (especially when you’ve experienced a bad day)? Over time, you would develop a habit of gratitude, learning to see the best in every situation.

3. Think positively. Paul described the kind of attitude we should have when he said, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things” (Philippians 4:8). What we think requires a choice on our part. You will never feel your way into positive thinking; you have to make a deliberate decision.

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Reflect and Discuss

1. Which of Paul’s three insights is your biggest challenge? Why? 2. What does it look like to deliberately think positively when everything about your situation says to do otherwise?

3. How often do you express gratitude to God and to others? What does this say about your outlook on life, leadership and ministry?

Apply

To become a healthier and more optimistic can-do leader, start a gratitude journal for the next 30 days. Each day, jot down two things you were grateful for that day, and then take a moment to pray and express your gratitude to the Lord

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MAKE IT COUNT Study

2

Can-Do Leadership: 8 Qualities of Leaders Who Make It Happen

Initiative: I Don’t Wait for Someone to Ask Team Review: What impact has your gratitude journal had on your attitude?

Assess: How likely are you to take initiative to do something without waiting for someone

to ask?

Insights and Ideas

an-do leaders are not bystanders. They don’t wait for someone to tell them what to do; they take initiative. In fact, initiative is one of the best ways to spot an emerging leader.

Proverbs 10:4 warns us, “Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth.”

Those who take initiative are far from lazy. Instead, they choose diligence in all they do.

Initiative even has ramifications for our spiritual health. James said, “If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them” (James 4:17). Knowing what’s good is not enough; we must take initiative to act on what we know.

Can-do leaders recognize the difference initiative makes in their day-to-day leadership.

When we lack initiative, it diminishes our performance and team dynamics in at least three areas: 1. Volunteering. The best team members notice needs and willingly volunteer without waiting for someone to ask. In other words, their initiative doesn’t end with their job description. If another member of the team needs assistance, they willingly offer to help. If somebody asks, “Whose job is it to … ,” their first response isn’t, “Not me.” Can-do leaders can, and therefore often do.

2. Learning. Leaders with initiative figure things out. Their posture isn’t, “I don’t know how to do this; therefore, I’ll just wait for somebody else to figure it out.” Instead, can-do leaders look for ways to improve, grow and implement best practices. Leaders who don’t take initiative to act usually don’t take initiatve to learn and grow.

3. Execution. Can-do leaders don’t procrastinate. Instead, they proactively plan, act and over-deliver. They put feet to their goals, responsibilities and objectives. One reason can-do leaders go further than other leaders is because they don’t just talk about good ideas; they actually make those ideas happen. As Thomas Edison once said, “Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.”

If you have a team member who doesn’t take initiative, you’ll face two constant frustrations: building fires and missing opportunities. In other words, you’ll continually have to spark a fire underneath that team member who lacks self-motivation, or you’ll miss important opportunities because the team member was too slow to act. Initiative makes the difference, personally and organizationally.

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Reflect and Discuss

1. How have you seen initiative in volunteering, learning and execution make a difference on your team?

2. How have you found yourself “building fires” or “missing opportunities” because team members didn’t take initiative?

3. What are some practical things you can do to increase initiative, personally and organizationally?

Apply

Do an assessment of your own initiative. Ask three people who work with you to rate you on a scale from 1 to 10 in the area of initiative, and then to offer you one way you can improve your initiative quotient.

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Can-Do Leadership: 8 Qualities of Leaders Who Make It Happen

Responsibility: I Own It Team Review: What is one way you discovered that you could improve your initiative?

Assess: Which responsibilities are you most willing to own, and which ones are you most tempted to ignore?

Insights and Ideas

hen you rent a car, you do nothing to take care of that car. You don’t check the oil, put air in the tires, or give any attention to maintenance issues. In fact, speed bumps don’t exist when you rent a car. But when you own a car, you have a vested interest in its performance and reliability; therefore, you take care of it.

Unfortunately, we often take a renter’s mentality when it comes to our work and other areas of life. Usually, the ramifications are minimal early on, but the compounding effect of a renter’s attitude is lost momentum, decreased health and missed opportunity. It can even lead to job loss or other negative outcomes.

First Peter 4:10 says, “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” While a steward is not an owner, the steward chooses to manage what the owner entrusts to him or her, with the owner’s interests in mind. Renters may not know the owner, much less care about the owner.

Can-do leaders own many responsibilities, but let’s highlight four of them: 1. Can-do leaders own expectations. Whatever expectations come with their roles, can-do leaders own up to them, never making excuses for why they didn’t do what they should have done.

2. Can-do leaders own assignments. When can-do leaders receive assignments to perform tasks outside their normal responsibilities, they don’t complain about it; they own it and then deliver with excellence.

3. Can-do leaders own growth. Nobody can delegate personal growth to someone else. You have to grow you. You have to cooperate with the Holy Spirit’s work inside you. And you have to be on the front lines of learning best practices to deliver the most effective ministry.

Can-do leaders own their growth.

4. Can-do leaders own the blame. There will be times in leadership when the train will come off the tracks. Everything inside you will want to cast the blame on someone else.

Don’t do it. Own it. Others may have dropped the ball, but you’ll never be able to coach them forward if you can’t model ownership.

To own it, can-do leaders ask the right questions. Others may ask, “Why do we have to go through all this change?” But can-do leaders ask, “How can I adapt to the changing world?”

While others want to know who dropped the ball, can-do leaders ask, “How can I contribute?” Others may ask, “Why won’t my leader train me?” But can-do leaders ask, “How can I invest in my personal development?” Can-do leaders are owners.

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Reflect and Discuss

1. Why are we so resistant to acting like owners?

2. Which of the four areas of ownership are we ignoring in our church or organization?

3. What else do can-do leaders own?

Apply

Which expectation, assignment, growth area or failure have you been refusing to own?

What would it look like for you to own it today? Who needs to know you’re going to own it?

What will you do next?

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Can-Do Leadership: 8 Qualities of Leaders Who Make It Happen

Decisiveness: I Make Decisions Without Bogging Down My Leader Team Review: What area of responsibility did you take greater ownership of last week?

Assess: What kinds of decisions do you have the most hesitancy in making?

Insights and Ideas

hen leaders step into a role, they have to execute responsibilities without constantly bogging down their supervisor. Yes, there’s an initial training period, and yes, a leader should work hard to serve the team by equipping them with the necessary resources to excel. But after that initial orientation period, the best team members learn how to make decisions without relying on their boss for constant direction.

Proverbs 2:6 says, “For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” The same Holy Spirit living in your pastor, or your leader, lives inside you. He is able and ready to give you the wisdom you need to make the best decision in the moment. That does not mean you should never seek counsel or advice. Scripture is clear that there is wisdom among counselors. But if your supervisor has empowered you to make decisions, he or she expects you to do so without needing constant input.

When Moses delegated responsibility to leaders to oversee groups of 10, 50, 100, and 1,000, he simultaneously released the decision-making authority they would need to lead effectively. In Exodus 18:22–23, Jethro told Moses, “Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you. If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied.”

Your leader is under a great deal of stress and needs you to help de-clutter his or her mind by making decisions when appropriate. So, how do you make decisions without bogging down your leader? Start with these eight questions to help you make a D.E.C.I.S.I.O.N.: • DNA. Does the decision authentically reflect our vision, values and DNA? • Excellence. How will we execute the decision to reflect our organization’s commitment to excellence?

• Consequence. What are the potential immediate and long-term outcomes of this decision?

• Impact. How will the decision impact other staff, other ministries or our team’s culture?

• Stewardship. Does the decision reflect wise stewardship of our time, talent and financial resources?

• Investigation. Have we adequately researched and tested the decision?

• Ownership. Are you willing to own the decision, its execution and its consequences?

• Noble. Is this a noble decision that reflects integrity and honors God?

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Reflect and Discuss

1. On what kinds of decisions should you seek your leader’s perspective?

2. What do you need in order to make more decisions without having to get your leader’s input?

3. How do the eight decision-making questions help you?

Apply

Think of a decision you need to make that you are considering bringing to your leader.

Before going to your leader, walk through the eight questions above, and see whether you can make the decision on your own.

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Can-Do Leadership: 8 Qualities of Leaders Who Make It Happen

Solution-Minded: I Won’t Quit Until I Find the Right Solution Team Review: How did the decision-making framework help you make a decision without bogging down your leader?

Assess: Can you share an example of a solution you came up with through a tremendous amount of tenacity?

Insights and Ideas

he leadership landscape always comes with problems. About the time you solve one problem, it seems like three more line up right behind it. The lowest-level leaders have the ability to spot a problem. In fact, nonleaders are quite capable of finding problems.

It takes a can-do leader to do something about the problem.

Jethro was a solution-minded can-do leader. After watching Moses serve as judge for the people from morning till evening, Jethro pointed out the problem. He said to Moses, “What is this you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge, while all these people stand around you from morning till evening?” (Exodus 18:14). If Jethro had ended the conversation there, he wouldn’t have been much help. Again, anybody can point out a problem.

After Moses gave an excuse for not doing things differently, Jethro challenged his perspective with a fresh solution. “Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their disputes to him” (Exodus 18:19). Then Jethro mapped out a plan for Moses to delegate authority to leaders who would oversee groups of 10, 50, 100, and 1,000. Yes, Jethro pointed out the problem, but he quickly offered a solution to resolve it. To become a solution-minded leader, embrace the following three R’s: 1. Resist. Resist an inflexible attitude and the temptation to make excuses. Moses’ initial response was to make an excuse: “The people come to me to seek God’s will. Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me, and I decide between the parties and inform them of God’s decrees and instructions” (Exodus 18:15–16). Moses was so deep in his problem that he couldn’t see any other way to lead.

2. Research. Aggressively search for creative answers inside and outside of your network of relationships and sources of knowledge. Solving new problems requires new ways of thinking, and new thinking requires new sources of knowledge.

3. Refuse. Refuse to take “no” for an answer. Keep searching, reading, studying, talking and researching until you find the best way to solve the problem. Don’t quit in the middle.

Everything feels like a failure in the middle, but persevere until you find a solution.

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Reflect and Discuss

1. When was a time you became so immersed in a problem you couldn’t see your way out? How did you finally find a solution?

2. With what problems do you struggle to maintain a flexible, solution-minded attitude? How do you push forward?

3. Who is your go-to person when you need to solve a problem? How could you broaden your “research pool” to help you embrace new thinking, and thus new solutions?

Apply

Think of a tough problem you are dealing with right now. Apply the three R’s (resist, research, refuse) to the problem. What’s the first step you need to take?

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Can-Do Leadership: 8 Qualities of Leaders Who Make It Happen

Mobilizer: I Don’t Do Ministry Alone Team Review: How did the three R’s (resist, research, refuse) help you solve a tough problem?

Assess: Are you more inclined to do ministry alone or with a team? Why? Insights and Ideas

he eight qualities in this series of lessons are characteristics of can-do leaders, not can-do achievers. What’s the difference between a leader and an achiever? Achievers are doers, and leaders are developers. Achievers are limited by their own time, talent and expertise. Leaders are only limited by the time, talent and expertise of the team they develop around them. Achievers do ministry alone. Leaders do ministry with and through others.

Achievers are focused on what they can do. Leaders are focused on activating and mobilizing the can-do in others.

Moses started out as a can-do achiever. He worked long hours (morning till night), listening to the concerns of the people, and providing judgment on their various disputes. But his father-in-law, Jethro, saw the lid in Moses’ life. He told Moses, “What you are doing is not good. You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone” (Exodus 18:17–18).

That conversation became the catalyst for change. Moses took Jethro’s advice, recruited qualified leaders, and mobilized those leaders to help carry the load. Can-do leaders mobilize others for ministry in three ways: 1. Mobilize with resources. Every person on your team needs resources to carry out his or her responsibilities. Those resources might include tools, equipment, supplies … anything necessary to do the work. According to Gallup, having the right equipment to do the job is one of the keys necessary to increase employee engagement.

2. Mobilize with training. Resources alone are not enough. A good mobilizer provides the training necessary to excel. Some training is transactional. It’s the kind of training needed for doing specific tasks in a specific role. For example, greeters need to know how to greet, café workers need to know how to make coffee, and pilots need to know how to fly a plane.

They need training to carry out the transactions their jobs require. But people also need a second type of training: transformational training. This is training in skills like leadership, teamwork and emotional intelligence. These skills are valuable in any type of role. Be sure to provide your team with both transactional and transformational training.

3. Mobilize with authority. Finally, every can-do leader must provide team members with decision-making authority. You don’t need order-takers; you need people who can think, decide and act on their own. If they don’t have the authority to make decisions, they’ll never help you or the organization.

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Reflect and Discuss

1. What kind of resources do you need to provide to the members of your team?

2 Do you primarily conduct transactional training or transformational training with your team? How can you intentionally provide both?

3. What decision-making authority do you need to release to your team?

Apply

Identity one thing you can do to provide the resources, training and authority your team needs. Then, mobilize your team to succeed with those keys.

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Can-Do Leadership: 8 Qualities of Leaders Who Make It Happen

Resilience: I Bounce Back After Every Setback Team Review: What progress have you made in mobilizing your team for greater success?

Assess: How do you typically handle setbacks in leadership?

Insights and Ideas

artin Luther, father of the Reformation, translated the New Testament into German while confined to the castle of Wartburg. Ludwig van Beethoven wrote his best masterpieces after going deaf. Thomas Edison rebuilt his invention factory after it burned to the ground. Edison was 66 years old when he made that bold decision.

Resilience marked each of these leaders. They learned to bounce back after every setback. Hardship is the curriculum in the school of leadership. It has the power to refine the very best leaders. Those who are shaped by it reveal the greatest can-do attitudes.

When the apostle Paul was in prison, he wrote a letter to the believers in Philippi and offered extraordinary perspective from a prison cell. He said, “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14).

Then he said, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4).

Finally, Paul said, “I can do all this through him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13).

Paul endured every hardship imaginable — rejection, beatings, shipwreck, imprisonment, snakebite, and more. But Paul refused to let setbacks undermine his calling. He was resilient, never abandoning the task before him. He even told his young apprentice Timothy, “Fight the good fight of the faith” (1 Timothy 6:12).

Can-do leaders will face hardship, setbacks, pain and difficulties. There are times when leadership will feel like a crushing weight. So, how do you stay resilient? There are two keys that are critical in the journey: 1. Inner resources. You need inner resources to withstand the pressure. Those inner resources are things like prayer, God’s Word, gratitude and the welcomed work of the Holy Spirit. Paul said, “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being” (Ephesians 3:16).

2. Outer support. No matter how good you are, you are not good enough to do ministry alone. You need family, friends, coaches, counselors and teammates with whom you can journey together. God designed us to need Him, but He also designed us to need one another.

If you’re going to win the long race of can-do leadership, you have to access both inner resources and outer support on a regular basis.

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Reflect and Discuss

1. What are some of the hardest ministry battles you’ve faced, and how did you bounce back from them?

2. How have inner resources helped build your resiliency and fed your can-do spirit?

3. Who have been the greatest sources of outer support when facing tough times? How did these people help you hang on to a can-do spirit?

Apply

If you’re in a difficult season right now, set aside extra time to build your inner resources through prayer, worship, God’s Word and His Spirit. Then, schedule time with people who will encourage you. These are the resources God uses to build your resiliency.

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Can-Do Leadership: 8 Qualities of Leaders Who Make It Happen

Grit: I Don’t Give Up Until the Job Is Done Team Review: How has increasing your inner resources and outer support helped you become more resilient?

Assess: How would you define grit?

Insights and Ideas

homas Edison once said, “Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.” Can-do leaders possess the grit necessary to keep going. While resilience helps you bounce back, grit helps you thrust forward, no matter how high the mountain stands before you.

Angela Lee Duckworth, an author and professor of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, has extensively researched the subject of grit. She observed, “Grit is passion and perseverance for very long-term goals. Grit is having stamina. Grit is sticking with your future, day in day out, not just for the week, not just for the month, but for years, and working really hard to make that future a reality. Grit is living life like it’s a marathon, not a sprint.”

Not only does grit have benefits in the moment, but there is a long-term blessing that comes with grit, too. James 1:12 says, “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”

So, what does it take to increase your grit? Start with these three keys: 1. Inspiring purpose. If you don’t believe in what you’re doing, you’ll quit the minute you lose interest. Grit requires a purpose that is clear, convincing and compelling. It has to be something worth giving your time, talent and resources to; otherwise, you’ll throw in the towel when the going gets tough.

2. Long-term perspective. The late Edward Banfield, who was a professor at Harvard University, discovered through research that long-term perspective was the single most accurate preditor of upward social and economic mobility in America. Long-term perspective enables you to keep your eye on the ball, regardless of what life throws your way.

3. The right people. Long, hard roads can become discouraging over time. Even for the most dedicated person, life can beat the life out of you and make you want to quit. To remain gritty, surround yourself with people who will coach and encourage you when you’re feeling down and discouraged.

Can-do leaders don’t quit until the job is done. Their grit thrusts them forward when it would be easier to abandon ship.

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Reflect and Discuss

1. What struggles in your leadership have tested your grit? How did you remain gritty to the end?

2. Which of the three keys to becoming gritty is most difficult for you? Why? 3. What are we facing in our ministry right now that requires the collective grit of the entire team? How can we encourage and support one another at this critical moment?

Apply

What are you tempted to give up on right now? To increase your grit, answer these three questions: • What purpose am I trying to accomplish, and what’s at stake if I give up right now?

• What challenges are testing my long-term perspective, and how can I regain my focus?

• Whom can I spend time with this week who would provide some encouragement?

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THE FINAL NOTE

It would take just 12 minutes per day to read the whole Bible in a year.

That’s something virtually everyone could manage.

hat would it take to get every member of your congregation reading through the Bible? In today’s busy world, it may seem like an impossible dream. But as a new year begins, it’s a great time to talk about spiritual disciplines.

While people are looking ahead, setting goals, and thinking about how they can improve their lives in 2019, challenge them to start a daily Bible-reading habit.

The fact is, people can and will carve out CHRISTINA QUICK time for the things that matter to them. Two decades ago, Facebook and Instagram didn’t exist. Yet U.S. adults now spend an average of 45 minutes a day engaging with social media platforms, according to Nielsen. And adolescents and adults aged 15 and older spend, on average, 2.8 hours daily watching television, according to the American Time Use Survey from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Squeezing in a little Netflix is one thing, but many people assume they could never find time to wade through the entire volume of Scripture. However, Crossway publishing company recently calculated the average time for reading through each book of the Bible and came up with some disarming figures. As it turns out, it takes 74 hours and 28 minutes to read every verse from Genesis to Revelation. At that rate, it would take just 12 minutes per day to read the whole Bible in a year. That’s something virtually everyone could manage.

Challenge your congregation to spend at least 12 minutes per day, for the next 12 months, reading God’s Word. (For those who are already reading the Bible, ask them to consider adding 12 minutes to their daily study time.) Depending on an individual’s pace, it may take longer to read the entire Bible. But the point is to develop a Bible-reading habit and grow in biblical literacy. That’s a New Year’s resolution worth keeping.

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Christina Quick is assistant editor of Influence magazine.

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