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4 Characteristics of Emotionally Healthy Planning and Decision Making

By
Pete Scazzero
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Father’s Day program ideas for church

For years I believed that if I could simply identify the right planning and decision-making process, we would then make good decisions at the church I pastor. That, it turned out, was both naïve and misguided. Over a 20-year period, however, the dramatic difference between our standard process and emotionally healthy planning and decision making became crystal clear.

The first emotionally healthy principle is the foundation from which all the others follow.

We Define Success as Radically Doing God’s Will

From the time I became a Christian, I believed intellectually that listening for God’s will was vitally important. But it wasn’t until a four-month contemplative sabbatical in 2003-2004 that my approach to planning and decision making was utterly transformed. As a result, my definition of success so broadened and deepened that my leadership and my approach to discerning God’s will experienced an extreme makeover.

What happened? I slowed down my life so I could spend much more time being with God. Listening for and surrendering to God’s will became the focus of my life—both personally and in leadership. I realized that New Life had one objective: to become what God had called us to become, and to do what God had called us to do—regardless of where any of that might lead us. That would be the sole marker of our success. It meant that all the previous markers—increased attendance, bigger and better programs, more serving—had to take a backseat to this one. I was no longer willing to “succeed” at the expense of hearing and listening to the will of God.

Have you ever considered that your ministry, organization or team may be growing and yet actually failing? Why? Because God’s standard of success isn’t limited to growth. Success is first and foremost doing what God has asked us to do, doing it his way and in his timing. Years ago, when I was first wrestling with redefining success, I imagined what it might be like to come before God’s throne at the end of my earthly life and say, “Here, God, is what I have done for you. New Life now has 10,000 people.” Then he would respond, “Pete, I love you, but that was not what I gave you to do. That task was for a pastor in another part of New York.”

Embracing God’s definition of success for New Life over the years was initially difficult for me to accept. It slowed me down and I suddenly felt like I didn’t look as good as the leaders of other more successful ministries to which I compared myself. But as time went on and we leaned into God’s leadership and wisdom for our context, a new freedom and joy emerged.

We Create a Space for Heart Preparation

In emotionally healthy planning and decision making, we don’t simply open meetings with prayer and then leap headlong into our agenda. We begin by creating a space for heart preparation. We intentionally step back from the distractions and pressures that surround us so we can discern and follow God’s will. This preparation takes place on two levels—personal heart preparation and team heart preparation.

Personal Heart Preparation: Before entering a meeting room, our first priority as leaders is to prepare our heart with God. How much time is needed? That depends on the level of the decision or plans being made and how much internal noise might be cluttering your inner life at the moment. The simple principle we follow at New Life is, the weightier the decision, the more time is required for preparation.

Jesus models this kind of heart preparation for us. Before choosing the Twelve, he stayed up all night (Luke 6:12-13). In order to discern the Father’s priorities in the midst of voices clamoring for him to stay in Capernaum, Jesus rose early in the morning for solitude (Luke 4:42-43). Jesus consistently engaged and then withdrew from people and the demands of ministry in order to pray alone (Luke 5:15). Perhaps most instructive of all is Jesus’ struggle to surrender to the will of his Father in Gethsemane. This is, I believe, one of the most significant planning and decision-making texts in all of Scripture. He struggled to surrender to the will of God, we can be sure we will as well.

Team Heart Preparation: In order to make good decisions, we begin our meetings—whether it be a weekly team meeting or a full-day planning meeting—by creating the necessary space for the team to center their hearts before God.

If I am leading the meeting, I’ll begin with two to three minutes of silence, or perhaps we might pray the Daily Office together. I may read a devotional reflection to center us in Christ. The purpose of these opening moments is to create an environment free of striving or manipulating outcomes so we can seek God’s will together.

When our staff team goes off site for one of our three planning retreats in the year (typically September, January and June), we may devote up to half the retreat time to allow team members to meet God personally before we gather to make plans. We like to begin every important emotionally healthy planning retreat with a “being” experience before tackling the “doing” component of these longer meetings.

The Hidden Blessings of Sharing the Gospel With Complete Strangers

By
Greg Stier
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Father’s Day program ideas for church

“He had to go through Samaria on the way. Eventually he came to the Samaritan village of Sychar, near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there; and Jesus, tired from the long walk, sat wearily beside the well about noontime. Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, ‘Please give me a drink.’ He was alone at the time because his disciples had gone into the village to buy some food.” The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans. She said to Jesus, “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?’ Jesus replied, ‘If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.’” John 4:4-10

Though most of our personal evangelism probably happens in the context of some kind of relationship (friend, family member, co-worker, neighbor, classmate, teammate, etc.), there are countless opportunities we have throughout our lives to engage complete strangers with the good news, just like Jesus did with the Samaritan woman in John 4.

To miss those opportunities is to miss the hand of God in our everyday lives. I believe that he is constantly orchestrating “accidental” moments where intentional Gospel conversations can take place.

After the woman at the well went back to town to proclaim her newfound faith in Christ, he told his astounded disciples (a rabbi would never talk to a woman in this culture, let alone a Samaritan woman like Jesus did), “You know the saying, ‘Four months between planting and harvest.’ But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest” (John 4:35). In the same way, we must wake up and look around to see the ripe harvest field around us every day … at the coffee shop we frequent, in the grocery store we shop at, at the baseball game we’re watching, etc.

I decided to get even more intentional about it last Sunday. I took a small group of teenagers and a few other adults to a large shopping mall in the area last Sunday afternoon. We went there praying that God would open up Gospel conversions with complete strangers in the time we were there. And boy, did he ever! Between us we engaged in at least 30 conversations! Many of these were deep and meaningful, and I believe truly made an impact.

One of the teenagers I took was my own 14-year-old son Jeremy. My boy goes to a Christian school and has already engaged all of his neighborhood friends with the message of Jesus. I’m about to allow him to get on Facebook so he can start cultivating online Gospel conversations. But, taking him and a handful of his friends out to the mall a few days ago reminded me of the hidden blessings of sharing the good news with complete strangers.

One of the biggest blessings is that it reminds you of the power of the Gospel. Romans 1:16 tells us, “I am not ashamed of the Gospel for it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.”

The Gospel is like a grenade. It doesn’t matter who pulls the pin … it’s gonna blow up! There’s something inherently powerful about the message of Jesus, so much so that most of the evangelism you read about in the New Testament centers around Jesus and the disciples reaching complete strangers with the good news. These are people they bumped into along the way. They were fisherman, tax collectors, everyday Joes and Jolenes who needed that message of hope.

Pandemic Delays UMC’s General Conference and Its Pending Schism

By
Stephanie Martin
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Father’s Day program ideas for church

One of the many repercussions of the coronavirus pandemic—which has now killed more than 100,000 Americans—is that the country’s largest mainline Protestant denomination is stuck in limbo. This month, the United Methodist Church (UMC) was scheduled to hold its quadrennial General Conference in Minneapolis, with a debate about homosexuality causing a potential schism. But the 10-day meeting and the much-anticipated vote have been bumped to August 29, 2021, still in Minneapolis.

The postponement was announced in March, when safety concerns forced the Minneapolis Convention Center to restrict events. Organizers say securing a new date was complicated by the meeting’s length and size, with attendees coming from across the globe. Planning for the 2020 conference began back in 2013.

Young Delegates Aren’t Happy With the New Date

The new date, at the beginning of the academic year, isn’t ideal, say younger delegates. Several expressed concern and petitioned for a change, but conference organizers say that would mean pushing the meeting into 2022 and losing substantial amounts of money.

The UMC’s Council of Bishops urged the Commission on the General Conference to consider the petition, but the Commission said accommodating the request wasn’t possible. Kim Simpson, chair of the Commission, says, “Including young adults in the General Conference is always an important consideration. We affirm that their voices need to be heard. Unfortunately, this request did not come to the Commission until late in the process.”

Young-adult delegate Jessica Vittorio says her group immediately expressed concern, which “really relates to an injustice.” She and her peers encountered roadblocks such as secrecy while trying to find a solution, Vittorio adds.

Now the Commission is considering tech-related options such as virtual voting to ensure that young people’s voices will be heard next fall. After the recent death of a black man at the hands of Minneapolis police officers, organizers also could face fallout for meeting in that city.

Pandemic Takes Precedence

At what’s expected to be a historic meeting, UMC delegates will vote on a variety of proposals for the denomination’s future. Currently, because the UMC considers “the practice of homosexuality” to be “incompatible with Christian teaching,” it prohibits same-sex marriages and the ordination of gay clergy. The so-called Traditional Plan passed at a Special Session of the General Conference in February 2019, sparking an outcry that made an eventual schism seem inevitable.

LGBTQ supporters say the pandemic has become another barrier to inclusion. Jan Lawrence of the Reconciling Ministries Network says that while the delay is understandable, “the harm is immense.” The Rev. Henry Gibson, a pansexual youth minister, says delaying one crisis because of another doesn’t make the original problem—a lack of inclusion—irrelevant. “That other crisis doesn’t just go away.”

Others say the 16-month delay is a blessing, giving Methodists more time to think and adapt. Plus, they note, pandemic response has become the priority. “The people who are really in trauma right now cannot pay the price of our differences,” says Council of Bishops President Kenneth Carter. “What is in our minds and hearts is responding to death, illness, grief, loss of work.”

Interestingly, the UMC’s General Conference was upended by disease 220 years ago. In 1800, the meeting was moved from October to May because of yellow fever, and the May date had stuck since then.

Not Even State-Approved Churches Are Safe in China Now

By
Jessica Lea
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three self church
Screengrab Youtube @BitterWinter / Wikimedia Commons

Editor’s Note: Since the publication of this article, Bitter Winter has reported that between January and April of this year, the Chinese government has removed at least 250 crosses from state-approved churches in China’s Anhui province.

The Chinese government is ramping up its persecution of any church in China, even if it is a Three Self church, which is approved by the state. The reason the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is oppressing the very churches it has endorsed seems to be that the party increasingly sees Christianity as inherently Western and therefore inherently opposed to China.

“We have to do whatever the government tells us to,” said the director of a Three Self church in Jiangxi province, according to watchdog site Bitter Winter. “We’ve proven our patriotism, donated money to help curb coronavirus in Wuhan, as they had required. Still, the government says that our church grew too rapidly, and they fear that having many believers is unfavorable to them.” 

The church is located in Jiangjia village in Yangbu town. On April 21, authorities removed the church’s cross, and three days later, they closed the church after removing chairs and religious symbols from the building. The church’s director said, “We don’t know what to do now.”

Authorities took the same course of action with a Three Self church in Gaojia village in Yangbu town, removing chairs and religious symbols and shutting the church down during the last week in April. One official said, “Believing in Jesus is prohibited as per government policy.”

No Protection, Even for a Three Self Church

It’s no secret that China has been escalating its persecution of Christians and religious minorities, growing more invasive in its use of technology, and doubling down on censorship. ChurchLeaders has been following the CCP’s oppression of underground churches in China, such as Early Rain Covenant Church, whose pastor has been sentenced to nine years in prison. 

It is clear, however, that being part of a state-approved church does nothing to give those churches protection from the state. The churches from Jiangxi mentioned above were two out of six state-approved churches in the province that the government targeted at the end of April, removing the crosses from all and closing some of them. 

One church member told Bitter Winter, “We thought that after joining the Three Self Church, the persecution would stop. But we continue to be persecuted all the same. The Constitution provides for freedom of religion, but it’s all a lie. Xi Jinping acts like a good man when we see him, but as a devil behind our backs.”

A 20-year-old building in the city of Fuzhou is another state-approved church that the CCP destroyed in the province of Jiangxi. It was demolished on April 10. One of the church’s members voiced his belief that the protests in Hong Kong and China’s strained relationship with the U.S. are connected to the CCP’s increased antagonism towards Christianity. He said, “Many Christians took to the streets during the protests in Hong Kong last year. The government assumed that the United States incited them, so it now imposes stricter control over our faith and bans our gatherings.”

The CCP is also targeting Three Self churches in other parts of China. On April 24, authorities demolished a state-approved church in Weifang city in Shandong province. The church’s congregation had funded the building of the church in 2009. One resident who was present commented, “It is such a pity that this nice church has disappeared. The government has gone insane!” 

Should Kids Wear Face Masks?—CDC Gives Guidance on Children’s Face Coverings

By
Bri Lamm
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Father’s Day program ideas for church

As businesses and restaurants begin reopening around the country, the most common measure to protect against COVID-19 is to wear a face mask while in public. In many states, this practice is not just recommended, but now required.

That’s because according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, face masks can help prevent the transmission of respiratory droplets from an infected person to those nearby.

But as 2020 becomes the year of the face mask, it begs the question—should kids wear face coverings?

The answer? Well, it depends.

The CDC recommends people over the age of 2 should wear a mask in public settings where social distancing measures are difficult to maintain — places like the grocery store, restaurants, or gas stations.

face masks

Due to the risk of suffocation, the CDC says no child under the age of 2 should wear a mask, as well as any person who is unable to remove the mask without assistance.

It’s important to note that wearing a face mask is a “voluntary public health measure,”  meaning, it’s for the good of others. Experts say that a cloth face covering may not protect the wearer, but it may keep the wearer from spreading the virus to others.

In places like Virginia, where face masks are now a requirement in public, Gov. Ralph Northam has specified that all people over the age of 10 should wear a cloth face covering. In Maryland, it’s anyone over the age of 9, and in much of California, it’s anyone over the age of 12.

Still, experts suggest complying with CDC guidance first, then looking to local and state recommendations. And with all of the information floating around social media, it’s important to always cross-check with either the CDC, the American Academy of Pediatrics, or your own physician before taking information at face value.

 

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children do not need to wear masks if they’re playing in their own yard alone or with siblings, and on outdoor walks where they can be six feet apart from others.

The reality is that getting kids to wear a mask, avoid touching their face and other objects or surfaces, and practice social distancing while in public is easier said than done. As your family transitions to this new normal of wearing face masks, like the n95 mask, experts offer a few tips for getting kids accustomed to the new standard.

  • Decorate it/choose fun prints
  • Put face covering on stuffed animal
  • Practice wearing and looking in the mirror
  • Draw face masks on book characters or coloring pages

As states reopen and preventative procedures continue to change, it’s important to remember that face masks protect others, while hand washing protects us. Stay vigilant, stay safe, and remember, we’re all in this together.

Ravi Zacharias Buried in Casket Built by Prisoners

By
Derek Caldwell
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Ravi Zacharias funeral
Photo by Elizabeth Lauren Jones Photography.
Editor’s Note: After the publishing of this article, an independent investigation found allegations implicating Ravi Zacharias of sexual abuse to be credible. Prior to this report, ChurchLeaders had published multiple articles about Ravi Zacharias and his ministry. Although our editorial team believes his work still has value since it involved articulating the truths of God’s Word, we would be remiss not to disclose the painful truth of Mr. Zacharias’ personal actions that have come to light following his death. For further reading, please see:
Sexting, Spiritual Abuse, Rape: Devastating Full Report on Ravi Zacharias Released
The Story Behind the Ravi Zacharias Allegations (Part 1): Lawsuits, NDAs, and Email Threads
The Story Behind the Ravi Zacharias Allegations (Part 2): ‘Cursory’ Investigations and More Accusations

Editor’s Note: This article about Ravi Zacharias’ funeral originally appeared on RZIM.org. A public memorial for Ravi Zacharias is scheduled for Friday, May 29th at 11:00am ET. It can be viewed here.

Ravi Zacharias was laid to rest on Thursday, May 21, in a private ceremony in Georgia. It was a largely overcast day with glimpses of sunlight piercing through the clouds, a reflection of those who were mourning below with glimpses of hope piercing through the mournful occasion. His family gathered to honor not just the leader of a global ministry or an evangelist-apologist who crisscrossed the globe in the service of Christ, but a loving husband, a nurturing father, and a loyal and generous brother. Sam Allberry, who officiated the service, rightly reminded all that this is not the end of Ravi’s story. Hovering over the whole ceremony was the confidence of the words that had saved Ravi’s life 57 years ago: “Because I live, you will also live” (John 14:19).

Allberry gently ministered to the family through his message of hope and assurance in Christ during the graveside service. He explained that the Christian’s hope is grounded in the assurance of Christ’s life and faithfulness. Since Christ lives, we know that Ravi lives. In that sense, the grave is something of a painful deception. Ravi now rests cradled in our Lord’s earth not as one who has been snatched from life, but as a dear saint ultimately liberated to life everlasting in the presence of his Lord and Savior. Using an analogy fitting of a man who had spent his life spanning the globe, Allberry described the grave as an airport transit lounge visited before one reaches their final destination. We know it is not the final destination because it was not Christ’s final destination. “Our hope,” Allberry said, “is as certain as Jesus’s grave is empty.”

Ravi passed away on May 19 after a short battle with cancer at the age of 74. He died on his mother’s birthday. He is survived by his wife, Margie, their three children, and five grandchildren.

Ravi Zacharias funeral

The love that many around the world felt for Ravi through his lifetime of work was present in the very receptacle in which Ravi’s body now rests. Ravi’s message of hope in Jesus Christ resonated with many, especially those in prison populations around the world. He developed a special relationship with Louisiana State Penitentiary, known widely as Angola Prison, inspired by his friendship with the late Chuck Colson, a leading figure in prison ministry and the man who first urged Ravi to put his Harvard Veritas lectures into the written form that became his second book, Can Man Live Without God?

Ravi visited Angola a few times over the years, most recently in June of 2019. It was an incredible experience he wrote about in a June 8 Facebook post:

“In the ante room to the execution room is where the sentenced man has his last meal. A prisoner has painted two paintings that grace the wall there. One is Daniel in the Lion’s Den, meaning, “God might still rescue you.” Next to that is another one: Elijah going up on chariots of fire. One way or the other, God will be there for you. …

Even in a dark place, the Gospel is shining with grace and power. That is the only hope for the world because we are all prisoners of sin, and only the cross has the answer and the freedom.”

Ravi Zacharias funeral

The prisoners at Angola held a very special place in Ravi’s heart. In a beautiful example of the Grand Weaver ever-present in Ravi’s life and death, it is these very prisoners who lovingly crafted the casket in which Ravi was buried.

Ravi wrote about his request to be buried in a casket fashioned by Angola inmates in his most recent book, Seeing Jesus from the East (Zondervan, 2020). With great insight, he wrote of the inspirational lessons one can learn from these dear brothers in Christ. Ravi did not know that his words would be full of so much meaning for his loved ones just a few months after they were penned. “These prisoners know that this world is not their home,” Ravi explains, “and that no coffin could ever be their final destination. Jesus assured us of that. Such is the gospel story.” He expands on this message later, writing “The story of the gospel is the story of eternal life. My life is unique and will endure eternally in God’s presence. I will never be ‘no more.’ I will never be lost because I will be with the One who saves me.”

Why This Is the Best Time for Reinvention

By
Phil Cooke
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Father’s Day program ideas for church

I’ve written before that coming out of a crisis can be the best time for rebranding, rethinking, or reinvention of your organization, your career, and your life. Most of the time, people hate change, but as we emerge from a crisis, after hearing phrases like “a new normal,” and “things are going to be different,” over and over, people are naturally assuming change is about to happen. 

So if you’ve been thinking about reinventing your life, this is the moment to make that happen. For me, I’ve had major reinventions in my career about every 10-12 years, and I’ve discovered that seems to be the schedule for most people:

1) At 36 years old I was fired from my job. It was a huge challenge because my wife Kathleen, me, and our two daughters lived in Oklahoma. Career-wise, there wasn’t anything else for me there, and I knew we’d have to move to LA. In retrospect, I realize now that it was actually God who fired me because I knew he’d called me to Hollywood years earlier. But we had a great church, great schools, and our friends were in Oklahoma, so I started rationalizing: “God, maybe I can fulfill the call, but just commute to LA.” So God fired me from my job – but when He did, they paid me a severance which covered the cost for our family to move to Los Angeles and launch our company, Cooke Media Group.

2) My next reinvention happened when I realized that passion wasn’t the answer when it came to my real talent. I had been passionate about pursuing one thing, and it took me 20 years to realize that wasn’t really my gift. That realization caused me to launch a major rethink of my career, calling, and purpose.

3) About a decade later, I had the revelation that my film and television work was starting to look dated.  I had won awards, received a lot of recognition, but suddenly I started looking around at my competitors, the culture, and other professionals, and realized I had gotten stuck in that period when I was doing so well. So I reinvented again.  In fact, I find that’s something an incredible number of people do. We tend to get stuck in a style, method, or role we played during the most successful moment in our career. But the problem is, the world changes and we have to keep changing with it.  So I surrounded myself with younger, highly creative people – who weren’t afraid to push back on my ideas, I started studying the culture, and got back on track.

As a result of those reinventions in my life, here’s my advice to prepare for reinventing yours:

 – The single most important step toward reinvention is to never allow yourself to get stuck – for any reason. I allowed myself to get stuck in Oklahoma and years later, got stuck in my career. Whatever you do, don’t get stuck!

 – Full time employees should always think like freelancers. Always be looking for a better job, training yourself in new skills, and staying on top of the industry. In this economy, you never know how long your job will last.

 – Keep developing relationships. When I was fired from my job, I started getting work immediately because for the last few years I had been reaching out to people, networking, and developing new relationships.

 – Get a side hustle. Before I was fired, I’d been doing small freelance projects on the side for years, and when I was fired, one of those clients was the first to hire me for a new project. That project gave me the confidence to launch out as a freelancer instead of looking for another full-time position.

 – Stay plugged into a church. In challenging times, a church is the one center point that keeps us balanced. You need to be grounded during your reinvention, and your spiritual life is a huge element of that.

The question is – is this the moment to think about reinventing your life? 

This article originally appeared here.

4 Ways to Refresh When Your Soul Is Weary

By
Dan Reiland
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Father’s Day program ideas for church

We need ways to refresh when our souls are weary. Early in March, the prevailing thought was that we’d all be back in buildings for church services by May.

Very few expected the COVID pandemic to go this long.

It’s now May, and only a handful of churches have reopened at very limited percentages of their normal seating capacity.

Some churches are working on plans for reopening in June, still limiting their seating, and many will not reopen till July or August.

One of the major existing questions is, Are your people ready to come back?

How many are ready?

Surveys will help, but it’s more like refueling in flight, we have to move forward to get real answers.

This elongated waiting, combined with so much unknown, is wearing on leaders.

It’s difficult to lead when moving forward is so encumbered.

No one is complaining, but leaders are honest about what feels like a desert experience.

As a leader, personally, I’m accustomed to moving fast. Now, I’m working at full strength, but it often seems more like holding things together (in a holding pattern) rather than moving things forward. Perhaps you feel something similar. Others do, I’m sure.

Leading during COVID is like being in park with your engine running. You are ready to go, but you can’t, not yet, at least not much.

It is good that we can go deeper in discipleship and care for the people we serve, and so many churches are doing just that.

Yet, part of our responsibility as leaders is to “see first.” That’s part of the process of vision. We are to anticipate and “see around the corner.” But when the corner keeps moving, leading becomes weary-making.

So I’d like to offer you some ways to refresh your soul.

Thoughts that may help your current journey be a little lighter, more hopeful, and even more productive.

4 Ways to Refresh Desert Times of the Soul:

1) Know that God is moving, even if it’s hard to see.

A few years back, God said something to me during a prayer time that was one of those moments that you carry for a lifetime.

I was in a hurry that day, so I prayed for a shorter time than usual, and I remember moving quickly as I left my prayer room in the basement. As I was leaving, God spoke clearly, saying, it’s okay for you to go and tend to your work, but I cannot be rushed. I genuinely felt his grace and love and sensed that my prayer time wasn’t measured in minutes, but if I wanted the fullness of His presence, that could not be rushed. Whoa.

Waiting upon God is not always easy, but if you want to know how He is moving, you have to slow down and wait.

I do too.

When we slow down for time with God, His plans become more clear to us. When God chooses not to make His plans clear, His presence alone is enough, but that process can’t be rushed.

Scripture is loaded with the idea of waiting. A few of my favorites are Psalm 27:14, Isaiah 30:18, and Isaiah 40:29-31.

How might God be moving in your church that you don’t see at the moment?

2) Honesty with God is spiritually healthy.

If you are frustrated, weary, anxious, even wondering if God is with you in your ministry, it’s good to tell Him.

If you are wondering about your church’s future, remember it’s His church, and He cares more than you do, so be blunt. Talk to God about exactly how you feel. He can handle it.

This kind of honest conversation with God usually leads to spiritual self-reflection. It’s in these kinds of prayers that the Holy Spirit often leads me to Psalm 139:23-24:

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

Verse 23 uses the word “anxious” (NIV), but you can insert many different words that represent what you are experiencing.

God will meet you there and often begins with the question, “Why?”

Why are your thoughts so anxious?

Typically, I’m reminded it’s me, not God, or life’s circumstances, and He meets me there. My hunch is that it may be similar with you as well.

This process leads to great peace, and your leadership burden becomes lighter because you remember you don’t carry it alone.

3) Figure out where you will get your water.

Desert times, weary times, dry times can leave any leader thirsty. And we can choose to “get our water” or quench our thirst from a number of different sources.

Obviously, God is our primary source.

No one and no thing satisfies to the depth that God does. But in His kindness and according to the design of His creation, God gives us room to be human and allows us to be refreshed in several ways.

But let’s first acknowledge a few ways that may seem like they satisfy the soul but don’t.

  • Working harder – Hard work is good, but working harder to fill an inner void is not healthy.
  • Gaining approval from others – The approval that matters most is from God and a small inner circle.
  • Changing how you measure success – Lowering standards may make you feel better in the short term, but over time, it’s only changed lives that matter.
  • Justifying drift – Pressure can make any leader justify unacceptable actions. Drift from God can lower pressure, but it will not increase peace.
  • Unhealthy diversions – Unhealthy diversions may feel good in the moment but can become addictions and should be avoided at all costs.

God has made room for your thirst to be refreshed, your soul satisfied, and your weariness to be lifted through ways such as:

  • The richness of friendships
  • The joy of laughter
  • The pleasure of a hobby you enjoy
  • The need for physical rest
  • The satisfaction of learning and growth

Again, nothing meets your deepest needs like God Himself, but don’t miss out on all that He provides.

4) It’s a great time to deepen relational roots.

In my perspective, everything comes down to relationships.

The first relationship began in the garden with Adam but became broken. It was restored through a relational covenant with Abraham and ultimately offered to all of us through a personal relationship with Jesus.

It’s a foundational biblical truth that relationships are key to our well-being.

Whenever you face a difficult time, a leadership weary time, or possibly a spiritually dry time, a refreshed and a renewed sense of well-being comes from strengthened relationships.

Pause for inventory and investment in your closest relationships:

  • God
  • Family
  • Friends
  • Colleagues

Is there just one that could use your attention today?

This article about ways to refresh originally appeared here.

Do You Really Need to Give That Vision Sermon, Pastor?

By
Daniel Henderson
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Father’s Day program ideas for church

Do you really need to give that vision sermon, pastor? Maybe not. Here’s why.

For many years, I was a confessed “leadershipaholic.” With a desire to be as effective and influential as possible for Christ, I devoured all the latest and greatest expertise from Christian and non-Christian gurus. Naturally, I hoped to be more respected, productive, and validated as a “leader.”

I was also a “visionaholic,” working hard to borrow all the best ideas from other successful ministries so I could inspire the congregation with the bigger and better ideas the Lord had “laid on my heart” in order for our church to continue to grow our numbers and expand our impact. Common wisdom stated that the bigger the dream, the clearer the path, and the more long-term the plans – the better the leader.

Uncertain Assumptions

Over time, my assumptions about vision and leadership began to disintegrate. In spite of the cultural love affair with these concepts, usually viewed as essential for ecclesiastical success, I felt significant unrest as I read my Bible. (The Bible has a way of dismantling our pre-conceived notions.) I finally had to admit that the Bible has very little explicit teaching on the Western ideas of “leadership” and “vision” with which we are so fascinated.

Leadership and Vision in the Bible

I recently did a search of the word “leadership” in the NKJV, ESV, NASB, and NIV versions of the Bible. The word appears in Exodus 33:1, referring once to the leadership of Aaron and Moses. It appears in a prophecy in Psalm 109:8 (NIV only), referring to the replacement of Judas, and is then quoted in Acts 1:20 as they actually replaced the defected disciple. Only the NIV mentions it again in Romans 12:8, within a list of six other spiritual gifts, where it says, “…if it is leadership, let him govern diligently.” Similar discoveries occur when you search for “leader” and “lead”. It is mentioned incidentally (particularly in the Old Testament) and rarely in the New Testament. The Bible is virtually silent on our modern-day notions of Type-A, high-powered, skill-based influence.

Over the years, I often felt compelled to give a vision sermon. This word is referred to, largely in the Old Testament and Acts, as an actual unannounced, unanticipated, supernatural revelation from God or one of His angels. The word never occurs in any teaching passage in the Epistles. Still, for a vision sermon we work hard to script a motivational long-term picture of where the church needs to go, typically using some verses out of context to do so. Seldom is it supernatural. Rarely is it the result of extraordinary corporate prayer and fasting. Typically, it is the product of borrowed ideas from other “successful” leaders and is prompted by pressure from other type-A congregants who are imposing a business model on the dynamic life of the church of Jesus Christ.

His Sufficient Spirit

I am increasingly convinced that the devil doesn’t care what we do to replace the sufficiency, power, and wisdom of the Holy Spirit, as long as we replace Him with something. The more culturally successful, subtle, effective, and clever the replacement – the more dangerous it can become. I would suggest that our obsession with “leadership” and “vision” has replaced our pure and passionate reliance on the person and work of the Holy Spirit. In our day and age, we view the Holy Spirit as an “app” to download along the way to enhance our plans and programs. In reality, the Holy Spirit is the operating system of all that we do. If we want a supernaturally empowered life and ministry – and an eternally significant destiny – we must discern this subtle but important distinction.

Finding the heart and will of the Holy Spirit cannot be assumed, especially in our fast-paced society filled with countless distractions and alternatives. Our challenge is that living and serving in the prompting, wisdom, and power of the Holy Spirit requires us to slow down and pay full attention, often for extended periods of time. It requires self-emptying and the full surrender of our predetermined plans, assumptions, and strategies. This is not easy when our proud flesh is hard-wired for productivity, affirmation, and a sense of earthly significance.

Still, the promise of the Spirit’s work compels us to a focused and full reliance on His leadership and inspiration. The Holy Spirit is the Author of Scripture (2 Peter 1:21; 2 Timothy 3:16), which is the sufficient source of wisdom for aspiring spiritual influencers. He is the indwelling Guide (John 16:13), Teacher (John 14:26), and Revealer of Truth (John 14:17; 16:13). He is our Comforter and Counselor and produces true leadership character in believers by the fruit of His life (Galatians 5:22-23).

The Power of His Presence

Years ago, I did a thorough study of the lives of those throughout the Bible whom God used powerfully. The single common denominator was the phrase, “the Lord was with Him.” This sense of the Lord’s presence and power transcended all the secondary factors of skill, personality, and training. This was also Jesus’ final promise and reassurance: “I will be with you always” (Matthew 28:20). This is a strong reminder that His presence, now living in us by the person of the Holy Spirit, is our sufficiency for influence in this world.

A New Testament Understanding of “Vision”

We’ve become accustomed to vision by “imitation,” which amounts to motivating people based on the ideas and models of other ministries. We even embrace vision by “intimidation”, which is the approach of a leader “hearing from God” and imposing his revelation on everyone else based on some mystical and special hotline to Heaven.

Vision by “inspiration” is seen in the model of Acts 13:1-3, where the leaders were emptied of personal agendas and simply fasted and ministered to the Lord in community, waiting on the affirmed direction of the Holy Spirit. As one friend of mine states, they “stayed one step behind the Lord and one step ahead of the people.” I’ve come to believe that the Lord entrusts His most fruitful plans to those who embrace the most focused passion.

When it comes to “leadership” and “vision,” our most focused passion must be to seek Him, His presence, His power, and His plans as He chooses to reveal them to a praying and abiding people, for His church and His glory.

This article about giving a vision sermon originally appeared here.

When SARS Pushed an Infectious Diseases Doctor Toward God

By
Tan Huey Ying
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Father’s Day program ideas for church

A SARS epidemic that caused a national crisis and international alarm? Hardly anyone would consider that an intervention of grace by a sovereign God.

But 48-year-old infectious diseases specialist and SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) victim, Dr. Leong Hoe Nam, is not just anyone; he is a man whose excruciating experience with SARS while quarantined in Germany was a key step toward knowing his Father’s love.

Many of us would remember 2003 as the year of SARS. Stories of the shared experiences in pain and joy have been told; the actions of heroes honored, the lives of victims remembered. But Dr Leong’s remarkable story towards God is one that few have heard.

A mysterious disease

In 2003, Dr. Leong and his wife, Dr. Lim Hong Huay, were infected with SARS and quarantined in Frankfurt, Germany, for two-and-a-half weeks.

It turned out that Dr. Leong had contracted the virus while treating the first SARS patient in Singapore—“patient no. 1.” He happened to be the infectious diseases doctor on-call the day she was admitted. At the time, her illness was a mystery.

No one knew about SARS then. The working diagnosis of her illness was “atypical pneumonia”—which only meant that she had an unknown lung infection.

But Dr. Leong came down with a high fever and severe body pain—symptoms he attributed to dengue. After plenty of rest and fluids, his fever subsided. So he and his wife decided to go ahead with their plans to attend a conference in New York. Two days into his trip, he fell ill again.

This time, it was he who was diagnosed with “atypical pneumonia.”

Before Dr. Leong and his wife left for Singapore, he called a trusted colleague in Singapore to update him on his condition. By then, patient no. 1’s illness had been identified and the term “SARS” had just been coined.

Unbeknownst to him, Dr. Leong’s phone call would set off a chain reaction which eventually led to his being quarantined in Frankfurt, Germany.

Suffering through SARS

Dr. Leong suffered badly from the effects of the SARS virus. He recalled: “I had to cope with hacking bouts of cough. Every single attempt to adjust my posture would result in my coughing out blood.”

Even breathing was difficult. “One evening, I tried to take deeper and deeper breaths but to no avail. I felt suffocated—as if the air had no oxygen—even though I had on a full-face 100 percent oxygen mask.

“The sensation of breathlessness was terrifying.”

He said: “I was not a Christian then but I was not afraid of death, because all of us will die. I just knew I had to avoid mechanical ventilation if I wanted to keep the odds in my favor.”

A Love That Pursues

He soon overcame the virus and started to recover. But he faced a bigger problem: inactivity.

Dr. Leong, a self-declared workaholic, was stuck in a German hospital with nothing to stimulate his active mind. He was someone who needed to be doing or reading something constantly.

“I’m busy. Always busy. Work to me is like cheese to a rat. Give me work, I will do. Give me a treadmill, I will run.”

Back in 2003, mobile phones were still rudimentary and most people still used a dial-up connection for the Internet. Getting hold of something to read in English was almost impossible. The Winter Olympics was showing on the television, but there was only so much figure skating he could endure watching.

But his wife, who was a very young Christian then, had gotten hold of an English Bible. She asked him to read it since there was not much else to do.

Today, Dr. Leong laughs as he recalls his desperation: “I was a reasonably fervent believer of another faith, but that Bible was the only English text that I could get my hands on!”

His wife suggested that he start with the Gospel of Luke since they were both physicians, as was Luke. Dr. Leong obliged, even though he says now that he thinks the Gospel of John would have been much easier to start with.

By the time he was done, Dr. Leong was confronted with the person of Jesus: “Jesus was either an incredibly charismatic and influential leader with a bunch of fools for followers, or there is indeed a true God and Jesus is the Son of God.”

Dr. Leong could not decide if the God of the Bible was real…or not.

He and his wife eventually returned to Singapore and fought in the ongoing battle of the SARS crisis.

On May 31, 2003, Singapore was declared SARS-free, and life went back to normal for the couple. Dr. Leong was not yet convinced of God’s truth. But he felt no pressing reason to resolve this puzzle, so the question was left unanswered.

Finding God

In 2004, Dr. Leong moved to London to pursue his PhD. Life was good: Unlike his life in Singapore, he now had a lot of time on his hands. Weekend road trips out of the city were the norm.

At the insistence of his wife, they found the Chinese Church In London and joined a cell group. Back in Singapore, when Dr. Lim first started attending church, Dr. Leong had thought it was a complete waste of time. “I detested it because Sunday mornings were my precious mornings off!”

But in London, Dr. Leong did not mind attending church and cell group together. In fact, he made friends with a cell member named Marcus Andrew, whose wife was a doctor.

Andrew answered many of Dr. Leong’s questions about the faith and directed him to resources on Christianity as well.

This became a crucial foundation that set the stage for his eventual conversion.

In 2006, Dr. Leong was having trouble in his research—his experiments just weren’t working out. And to make matters worse, he could not find anyone to ask for advice and guidance. He was well and truly stuck.

By then, Dr. Leong had heard enough about God that he decided to pray and ask for help with his work. “God, help me get my experiments working. Just help me.”

Nothing happened.

Dr. Leong started to get frustrated, but he kept praying. Eventually, he started to bargain with God: “OK God, I’ll do it Your way. Whatever You want, I will do. But You really need to help me with this.”

Still nothing.

Then one day, as Dr. Leong was walking from the tube at Hampstead station toward his college, he prayed a different prayer.

“That’s it. God, come what may, I submit to You. If the experiments work, then they work. If they don’t work, I still submit to Your authority in my life.”

Suddenly, he was embraced by God. “I literally felt the warmth of God’s presence. He was hugging me! God said to me, ‘You are my son, you are my beloved son.’ And all my stress and anxiety about work, everything, just melted away.”

Dr. Leong remembers this thought clearly: “OK, it doesn’t matter. Whether my experiment succeeds or not, it doesn’t matter. I’ve got God with me now.”

Two Steps to Faith

Looking back on his journey to faith, Dr. Leong surmises: “If I hadn’t been infected with SARS, I wouldn’t have read the Bible. If I hadn’t gotten away from work in Singapore, I wouldn’t have known God.”

He says that he is often asked if he has any regrets about SARS. The benefit of hindsight is not lost on him; time has passed but the experience is still fresh in his mind.

He takes a moment to compose himself before replying: “God is very, very, very dear to me. If I had to go through SARS a hundred times over just to know the God whom I love, I’d do it.”

He recognises the painful experience of SARS as a necessary intervention and milestone in his personal journey. “If God hadn’t taken me away from the distractions of work, I would never have read the Gospel of Luke.”

And if he had not read the Gospel of Luke, he would never have been confronted with Jesus.

Many might believe that science and God do not mix. But while Dr. Leong works hard at keeping abreast of new developments in science, he leaves room for God to intervene and guide him through every case that he takes on.

In fact, he relies on God’s guidance to the extent that his colleagues have been known to say that he “performs miracles” on his patients. Dr. Leong attributes the good work he does to God, clarifying that it is not his brilliance but, rather, fruits of his obedience to the promptings of God.

“God’s hand is on my work now. Without Him, all the work that I do would be useless.”

The original article appeared in Salt &Light. Salt&Light is a Singapore-based digital ministry with a vision of transforming the marketplace one story at a time.

 

7 Ways to Tell It May Be a God Thing — Discerning Signs From God

By
Ron Edmondson
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Father’s Day program ideas for church

And without faith it is impossible to please God. Hebrews 11:6

We live by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7

For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you. 2 Chronicles 20:12

But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 1 Corinthians 1:27

God calls people to seemingly impossible tasks. It gives Him glory when I can’t do something, but He can. I can do “all things through Christ who strengthens me,” but often what He calls me to do can seem foolish to attempt (at least to others—and sometimes me) at the time. Imagine what the friends of Abraham, Moses and Noah must have thought when God called them to what appeared to be impossible assignments. God calls people to walk by faith into the unknown.

If you know God has called you to something, don’t be dismayed if others can’t quickly identify with your calling. In my experience, God is often raising up others with the same heartbeat, but you can’t always see them at the time, so there may be periods when you have to stand alone on God’s calling. That may be for a season, but at times it could be for years. (Consider the case of Noah.)

With that in mind, what are some indicators that what you are experiencing might just be of God?

7 ways to tell if your callings might be signs from God:

  1. Everyone says it can’t be done. There’s no way. It’s never been done before.
  2. You feel you aren’t qualified. You don’t have what it takes. You’re scared. Overwhelmed. Under-prepared.
  3. There aren’t enough resources available. Not enough money. Not enough people. (Or so it seems.) You don’t have the building, or the location, or the perfectly mapped-out strategy.
  4. It makes no rational sense. Seriously, who in their right mind would do this?
  5. People are questioning your intelligence. Or asking if you are “sure you know what you are doing.”
  6. Accomplishing it would give God all the glory. There would be no other explanation.
  7. It honors God and is true to His Word.

I’m not saying this post confirms what you are attempting is signs from God. It might. It might not.

What I am saying is that you should not dismiss the call you believe God has placed on your life because it doesn’t make sense to others around you—or to yourself at times. God things seldom do. Read a few Bible stories if you need some inspiration—or confirmation of what I’m saying.

Are you in the midst of a God-calling?

Has God called you to things that made no sense at the time?

What would you add to my list of signs from God? 

Honoring 8 Church Leaders Who Have Died From Covid-19

By
Christine Yount Jones
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Father’s Day program ideas for church

Among the 1,000 mothers and fathers, grandparents, mentors, inventors, accomplished artists, and more eulogized in Memorial weekend’s New York Times front page obituary were these men: 8 church leaders who have died from Covid-19 in the last few months.

If you haven’t read it yet, the online experience of “An Incalculable Loss” will change you and enable you to grieve and honor those who have died from Covid-19. Reading it is a holy experience of mourning.

100,000 images of people. 1,000 people with one-line eulogies. People who lived rich lives and were beloved. 

Who took their families to church every week. Who sang in the choir. Served at church raffles. 

Who were in church bowling leagues and prayer groups.

Who served as deacons and Sunday school teachers.

Who loved Jesus and Elvis.

Who made the best food and told the best jokes.

Who survived wars, the Holocaust, and the Spanish Flu.

Who rose each morning at 5 a.m. to read the Bible.

Who were healthcare workers and first responders.

Who died in hospitals and who died alone. 

We honor them.

While thankful for the powerful tribute to these people, we at ChurchLeaders.com want to pay homage to some of the church leaders mentioned in the New York Times’ article by telling more of their story.

8 Church Leaders Who Have Died From Covid-19

Merle Dry died from covid-19

Ordained minister.

Merle C. Dry, 55, Tulsa, Oklahoma

Dry’s obituary revealed “he was passionate about the things of God. Besides being with his wife and children, he was happiest when he was doing something for the church or for the people of the church. It wasn’t a duty to him; it was a privilege to give himself to the service of others. Merle had a deep heart for children’s ministry. His efforts at Crusaders Camp over the last several summers impacted hundreds of lives for the Kingdom of God. One of the proudest moments of his life as a preacher was when he became an ordained minister with the United Pentecostal Church International on March 27, 2015. Merle was an active member of the Metro Pentecostal Church, Tulsa, Oklahoma. He was on the ministerial staff, and was an acting church board member.”

 

Landon Spradlin died from covid-19

Preacher and blues guitarist.

Landon Spradlin, 66, Concord, NC

Emily Brumfield-Hessen wrote of Spradlin on ForeignPolicy.com: “He’d ‘witness’ on street corners and try to get people to kneel on the sidewalk and accept Jesus, even if they’d been lifelong church-goers. He’d go to parties, condemn the drinking, and try to ‘save souls.’ My earliest memory of him was the loud baptisms he performed in the lake in front of my neighbor’s house. He could be obnoxious and self-righteous at times…He was a traveling musician who frequently went out of his way to help the forgotten and the downtrodden, and he never had much money. He condemned drugs and alcohol, but he tried his best to help addicts recover and give them a place to stay when they had nobody else.”

 

Angel Escamilla died from covid-19Assistant Pastor.

Angel Escamilla, 67, Naperville, IL

Escamilla was a pastor at Calvary Church of Naperville. The Chicago Sun-Times reported that “according to the church’s website, Escamilla served for more than 40 years as a pastor, missionary, teacher and associate pastor. Escamilla was married for more than 40 years, and has two sons and 10 grandchildren, according to the website.”

Lead pastor Martyn Sloan wrote of him that he “had the spirit of a dove, the strength of a warrior, the faith of Abraham and when he prayed you knew he was talking to Heaven. If anyone ever spoke into the heavens in prayer, it was Pastor Angel. He will be forever missed on our team and in the church family.”

100+ People Get Coronavirus After Service at Church in Germany

By
Jessica Lea
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church in germany
Adobestock #543241612

Over 100 people connected to a May 10 service at a church in Germany have tested positive for COVID-19. Those who contracted the virus either attended Evangelical Christian Baptist (ECB) church (located in Frankfurt in the state of Hesse) or came into contact with someone who did. German officials are now trying to trace everyone who took part in the service that day. 

“This situation shows how important it is—especially during loosening of restrictions, which is now possible again—that we remain vigilant and do not become careless,” said Kai Klose, health minister for the state of Hesse. “The virus is still there and wants to spread.” 

Church in Germany Follows ‘all the rules’

Germany has 16 states, each of which has the authority to loosen lockdown restrictions at its own pace. Hesse has allowed churches to hold in-person worship services since May 1, as long as congregations follow certain safety precautions. ECB leaders said they followed safety guidelines and disinfected the entire building before the service. They also provided hand sanitizer to attendees and required that people stay 1.5 meters (five feet) apart, per regulations. Wladimir Pritzkau, the deputy head of the church, stated, “We followed all the rules.”

When initial reports about the event at the church in Germany came out Sunday, 40 people had tested positive for the virus, although there was conflicting information about the severity of the cases. Pritzkau said that six of those 40 were in the hospital, while Rene Gottschalk, head of Frankfurt’s local health authority, told DPA News Agency that only one person had been hospitalized and that most of the cases were not severe.

In a later report, Gottschalk told DPA that 180 people had attended the church service and 112 people connected to the service had tested positive for the virus. Most of these infections took place after the service occurred. Gottschalk said that an additional 150 people affiliated with the event are being evaluated for the virus. 

Church leaders have posted a statement on ECB’s website in response to questions they have received regarding the outbreak. Leaders say they are “deeply dismayed” by what has happened and that they are praying for those who have contracted the virus [Editor’s note: Quotes from German church leaders were obtained using Google Translate]. The church’s services have now moved online and leaders are in contact with local health authorities. 

ECB maintains that they did take the mandated precautions of providing hand sanitizer, requiring people to follow social distancing, and controlling how attendees entered and exited the building. However, church leaders say that if they were to repeat the scenario, they would also require people to wear face masks and would not allow singing. They asked for people’s understanding, noting that their deputy is ill and that another church leader is under intensive care. 

The leaders conclude by thanking people both for their support and for their critical feedback and by quoting Romans 15:13, which says, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

‘Wicked,’ ‘Demonic’ Actions of Minneapolis Police Called Out by Leaders

By
Megan Briggs
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Minneapolis police
Screengrab YouTube 23ABC News | KERO

Christian leaders are crying foul after the United States witnessed yet another example of a person made in God’s image being treated inhumanely and consequently losing his life. A bystander filmed a video of a man, later identified as George Floyd, being pinned face down to the asphalt by a Minneapolis police officer. The police officer immobilized Floyd by placing his knee on the back of Floyd’s neck. In the first few minutes of the video, Floyd can be heard pleading for the officer to release him because he can’t breathe. “Please, please, I can’t breathe. Please, man, please,” Floyd is heard saying.

According to the Minneapolis police department’s report of the incident, police were called after receiving “a report of a forgery in progress” at a grocery store. They were informed the suspect, Floyd, was outside the shop and allegedly under the influence. According to the report, Floyd physically resisted arrest. The report also says the police officers called an ambulance because Floyd was suffering “medical distress.”

Video Calls Minneapolis Police Report Into Question

However, the video raises a lot of questions about why the police officers felt they needed to use force against Floyd. For all intents and purposes, the video leaves no doubt as to how Floyd came to be medically distressed. [Please note: we are not linking to the video, which was published to Facebook by Darnella Frazier, due to its graphic nature.]

The video starts with Floyd already lying on the street, an officer sitting on top of him and another officer with his knee in Floyd’s neck. This lasts for at least five minutes. Bystanders, including a woman who identified herself as a firefighter, are seen arguing with the police officers involved. The woman and another male bystander become increasingly agitated as they repeatedly ask officers to check Floyd’s pulse after he stops moving. One person points out that Floyd’s nose is bleeding. At one point, the officer with his knee on Floyd’s neck, identified later as Derek Chauvin, pulls out what appears to be mace when the bystanders move closer, seemingly threatening to spray them if they move any closer.

The end of the video shows Floyd being lifted onto a stretcher by paramedics, completely unresponsive. The police report says “He was transported to Hennepin County Medical Center by ambulance where he died a short time later.”

Minnesota’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) are investigating the incident. Meanwhile, Police Chief Medaria Arradondo announced yesterday that the four police officers involved had been placed on “relieved of duty status.” In other words, they were fired. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said that “this officer failed in the most basic human sense” and that “being black in America should not be a death sentence.”

Floyd’s death follows the death of Ahmaud Arbery, a young black man who was gunned down while he was jogging by a group of white men who suspected him of theft.

‘Big Floyd’ Remembered by Friends and Family Members

Those who knew “Big Floyd” personally are concerned with how their friend and family member might be portrayed, either by the police department or the officers involved. They are sharing stories about a man who, according to one friend, moved to Minneapolis to turn his life around. Vanita Williams told BuzzFeed News that Floyd was working as a security guard at a homeless shelter in an effort to give back and help other people.

“He was articulate, he was grounded, he was spiritual, he was an athlete, he was an organizer, he was a comforter, he was an encourager,” said Williams. “I could just go on and on and on about who he was. That guy did not deserve to die like that.”

Bridgett Floyd, George Floyd’s sister, told the Today Show that her brother was a man of faith. “Faith is something that me and my brother always talked about because he was a God-fearing man regardless of what he done.” Bridgett believes she and her family will see justice. “I believe that justice will be served. I have enough faith to stand on it.”

Lee Strobel: Pastor, You Need an Apologetics Point Person

By
Jason Daye
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Father’s Day program ideas for church

Lee Strobel is a best-selling author of more than 20 books, including his classic, The Case for Christ. He has spent the past 25 years sharing the evidence to support Christianity and encouraging and equipping people to share their faith. Most recently, Lee has founded the Lee Strobel Center for Evangelism and Applied Apologetics at Colorado Christian University. The center seeks to fuel spiritual renewal across the U.S. by equipping churches, ministries and individual Christ-followers to naturally share and defend their faith. Lee has been married to Leslie for over 40 years, and they have two children and four grandchildren.  

Key Questions for Lee Strobel

-How has apologetics changed in recent years?

-How can we share the good news of Jesus in the middle of a pandemic?

-How can pastors equip their churches to share the gospel when faced with a crisis like the coronavirus?

-How are you helping churches with their need for an apologetics “point person”?

Key Quotes from Lee Strobel

“I really do think the pandemic has emphasized the need for churches to be up to date and to be active in the area of apologetics.”

“Apologetics really has two functions. One is to deepen the faith of believers so that they’ll be more and more interested in sharing their faith with others…Secondly, there’s a lot of folks out there who have spiritual sticking points.”

“One of the top reasons that young people, 18-29, are leaving the church is because they feel like churches are not friendly toward those who doubt.”

“We have to create safe places in our churches and let people know: It’s ok to have questions. It’s even ok to have some doubts, as long as you pursue answers.”

“We need to help bring apologetics into our Sunday school curriculum for kids.”

“Do a preaching series on these tough questions. Maybe tie it to the pandemic…maybe bring in an apologist you can interview on your platform.”

“In order to emphasize that your church is a safe place to ask questions, think of things you can do to facilitate that.”

“That’s another one you can preach on, the topic of doubt, that doubt is not the opposite of faith, that’s it’s ok to have questions. Look at John the Baptist.”

You Have More in Common With Gen Z Than You Think

By
Mark O'Brien
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Father’s Day program ideas for church

There is a lot being said right now about Gen Z (Gen Z: The Hand They Have Been Dealt | Gen Z: The Culture, Beliefs, and Motivations Shaping the Next Generation). But we need to be careful as we do a deep dive into what makes this generation tick. Our preoccupation with the uniqueness of this generation, might actually isolate us from them instead of drawing us to them. You probably have more in common with Gen Z than you realize.

I believe each generation must travel along the same path in their engagement with God or estrangement from Him. They are navigating the reality of sin, brokenness, relationships, their own internal wiring and development, and the culture they live in. This is often referred to as the human condition. While each generation will have a unique twist to this journey, I believe there is more in common between the generations than there are distinctions.

What You Have in Common With Gen Z

About a year ago, I was having a conversation with a group of veteran youth leaders – whom I highly respect. One of them, who does ministry on the west coast, was asked, “You’ve been doing ministry with middle school students for a long time. What new issues / trends are you seeing in this generation?” The question seemed to catch this youth leader off guard a little. He thought for a second and then responded, “Yes, I suppose there are some new issues these kids are facing, but after eighteen years of working with middle school students I’ve realized that the kids today are dealing with the same issues that the kids eighteen years ago were dealing with.”

Last week, I spoke with a science teacher in our public high school. This teacher said to me, “After thirty-four years of teaching, I’ve noticed that they are still the same kids. The only difference is their earbuds. They are lonely. They retreat into their screens.”

What can we can do for this generation? How can we connect with them:

  • Pray through a list of the teenagers in your life. Ask God to give you compassion and empathy toward them. Ask him to help you hear the beat of their heart.
  • Take a genuine interest in these students. What are their passions, talents, and interests. What do they think about? What do they worry about?
  • Part of being a teenager is navigating a sense of loneliness – help them to realize they are loved and known by God and by you.
  • Use your favorite App to jot down notes about them and remind you to message them.
  • Pray for them and the important things in their life – let them know you are praying for them.

God designed this life around relationships – with him and with each other. Lean into this journey of becoming friends (with your teenagers) who follow Jesus together.

We would love to encourage and equip you in this journey of building Christ centered relationships with teenagers.

This article about what you have in common with gen z originally appeared here.

God’s Timing: In the Grip of Coronavirus, God Is Loosening Our Roots

By
J.D. Greear
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Father’s Day program ideas for church

They say timing is everything. God’s timing.

I have a book coming out this summer called What Are You Going to Do With Your Life? It’s an encapsulation of one of the core messages of the Summit, that all people are called to the mission of God and you should consider doing something new and radical with your life by planting it somewhere where the gospel is not known. In other words, you have to get a job somewhere, so why not get it in a place greatly in need of the gospel, where you can be a part of a strategic church plant? My prayer has been that this book will motivate thousands—maybe even tens of thousands—to go and serve among unreached peoples and in less-evangelized areas in the United States.

When the coronavirus hit, I thought, “Well, great. This is a terrible time for a book about moving your life overseas. People can’t even leave their houses! This is going to go over like a lead balloon.”

Does that sound like a selfish concern during a time like this? Yes.

Is it something that was on my mind? Also yes.

Selfish or not, I was feeling pretty discouraged about the whole thing. And then I received a copy of a short book that John Piper has written called Coronavirus and Christ. In it, he points out how in Acts 7 God used a calamity—a religious persecution that started with the stoning of Stephen—to produce the greatest worldwide expansion of the gospel to date.

The church hadn’t asked for it. They weren’t prepared for it. In one sense, Satan was behind it, with the purpose of discouraging the church. But God used it instead for a miraculous gospel advance.

I wrote Pastor John and told him about my discouragement, and he wrote back and said, “On the contrary, J.D., you should be very encouraged. Many around the world are praying that this very moment, which Satan means for hindering the Mission of the King to the nations, God will use for strategic advance. Your book will be well-timed. May God grant thousands to grasp what God is doing and madden the evil one by turning his tactical ripple against the kingdom into a tidal wave of completion.”

First, let’s just acknowledge that “madden the evil one by turning his tactical ripple against the kingdom into a tidal wave of completion” has to be one of the most Piper-esque lines ever written.

But, second, I believe he is right. In Genesis 50, God points out that what Satan meant for evil, God used for good. This is God’s timing and way: He takes Satan’s tactical ripples of opposition and transforms them into tsunami waves that accomplish his purposes.

In his book, Piper tells this story:

“On January 9, 1985, Pastor Hristo Kulichev, a Congregational pastor in Bulgaria, was arrested and put in prison. His crime was that he preached in his church even though the state had appointed another man as pastor whom the congregation did not elect. His trial was a mockery of justice. And he was sentenced to eight months in prison. During his time in prison, he made Christ known in every way he could. When he got out, he wrote, ‘Both prisoners and jailers asked many questions, and it turned out that we had a more fruitful ministry there than we could have expected in church. God was better served by our presence in prison than if we had been free.’”

The global scope and seriousness of the coronavirus are great. What we need to see is that God’s purposes during this time are greater. God is not waiting for the coronavirus to ebb before he can move again. He will work even in this pandemic to make his name known.

Timing is everything. God’s timing.

As Piper says in Coronavirus and Christ, God can use this time to “loosen the roots” of settled Christians so that the church would become, once again, a movement of people who sense the urgency of the Great Commission and move toward the mission field like never before.

May it be so!

This article about God’s timing originally appeared here.

7 Reasons Why People Criticize Pastors

By
Charles Stone
-
Father’s Day program ideas for church

If you serve in a church, criticism comes with the territory. I doubt that any pastor or leader likes it. But, we must deal with it in a God-honoring way. One way to do that is to understand why people criticize us. I’ve listed below what I believe are 7 reasons why church people criticize pastors with a suggested response to each.

Why Church People Criticize Pastors

  1. They lack spiritual maturity. Some people criticize pastors because they think it’s part of a Christian’s job description. After all, “Pastors need to avoid pride and some good healthy criticism can keep ’em humble.”
    • Response: Don’t be surprised that you get criticized. Make sure that your church has an intentional spiritual formation strategy to help people think and act more biblically.
  2. They feel they are losing the church they once knew. As we get older, we must deal with the inevitable results of aging, slowing cognitive function and reduced flexibility and resilience. Seniors in your church may feel that changes you are bringing are taking away the church they grew up in. Guess what? Unless we stay resilient as we age, when we get older we’ll probably feel the same way.
    • Response: Give a gracious listening ear to seniors and seek to empathize with them by stepping into their shoes. Try to see their concerns from their perspective.
  3. They don’t feel they have a voice. Some church people can feel that their opinions don’t matter and so criticize to get their voice heard.
    • Response: Provide opportunities that give people a way to give input. I’ve heard Patrick Lencioni, leadership author and guru, often say that people will support you if they feel that they’ve been truly heard.
  4. They don’t deal with change very well. Some people are born more adverse to change than others. Their brains are wired that way. Their fear circuits are more easily set off by uncertainty and change brings uncertainty.
    • Response: Recognizing this fact will give you greater tolerance and understanding why some people tend to criticize more than others. Again, empathy will go a long way to help these folks feel more comfortable with change and less critical.
  5. They need to find something or someone toward which to vent their hurt caused by other life issues. Some people in your church project their personal hurts through criticism. Criticism helps ease their angst, at least for the short term.
    • Response: Although this is not a pleasant reality, it is true. A wise counselor once said, “The past is not past until it is processed.” Many in your church still carry heavy loads of guilt and anger that can easily spill over toward you through criticism. I suggest prayer in response to this kind of critic. Prayer could fit into a response for every category I’ve listed, but it’s especially apropos in this case. If you sense that others are projecting their pain toward you through criticism, ask the Lord to heal their hurt and to release their unforgiveness, bitterness, and pain.
  6. They are truly malevolent people committed to your demise.
    • Response: Although I believe these critics are few, they do exist. If you face this kind of person in your church, take bold action. Titus 3.10 commands us to warn a divisive person once and after that have nothing to do with them. Sometimes extreme cases require you to apply church discipline.
  7. They have a point. Sometimes the criticism is valid and you need to hear it.
    • Response: Listen and heed. When the criticism reflects a valid issue, learn from it and make  appropriate adjustments in your life or ministry. Proverbs 27:6 says, “Faithful are the wounds of a friend.”

Criticism is never pleasant, but sometimes necessary.

In my third book, People Pleasing Pastors: Avoiding the Pitfalls of Approval Motivated Leadership, I quoted a bold statement by author Edwin Friedman who wrote a great leadership book, Failure of Nerve. He said, “Chronic criticism is, if anything, often a sign that the leaders is functioning better.”

Whether or not what he says always holds true, I do believe that it you aren’t facing at least some criticism in your church, you’re probably trying to lead too safely. I also believe that to lead at our best, we must respond to all criticism in ways that honor God and respect the criticizer.

What other kinds of critics have you seen in the Church?

This article about why people criticize pastors originally appeared here.

FAQ: How Are You Training Leaders These Days?

By
Mark Howell
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Father’s Day program ideas for church

I get questions. A lot of questions. Some come in a comment right here on the blog. Others come in an email. And some come when I’m speaking at a conference or workshop.

Here’s a very frequent question:

“How are you training new leaders these days?”

Great question! I love it because in the question you can see that the asker already understands that times change and what may have worked in the past may not work today.

A Short History of My Leader Training Journey

When I stepped into the small group ministry role at Fellowship of the Woodlands in 2000 there was an 8 session small group leader training class already in place. I’m sure it may have been a good idea at one time. However…I ran it one time and then determined that requiring potential leaders to complete an 8 session leader training class as a prerequisite to leading was not a good idea.

It was not a good idea for three reasons:

• First, it was a serious barrier to entry to many reluctant leaders (and as you know, the best leader candidates almost never volunteer to be a leader).

• Second, it turned out that competing the class was not a good predictor of who could attract and retain group members.

• Third, adults learn on a need to know basis. On-the-job training is much more effective because as adults lead they will be confronted with many situations that will inspire an eagerness to listen to a coach.

Enter the Small Group Connection Strategy

Shortly after we realized the 8 session leader training class was an ineffective strategy (both for identification and training), we discovered the small group connection. We learned that the small group connection was a much better leader identification strategy. We also discovered that the leaders who were identified were very coachable.

How did we train the leaders who were identified at the connection? We invited them to a 90 minute leader orientation meeting that consisted of some coffee, donuts and very basic training. We also connected them to a coach who provided on-the-job training as required.

Enter the HOST Strategy and Church-Wide Campaigns

One of the limitations of the small group connection strategy is that it only connects the people who attend the connection. Self-evident, I know, but it is a limitation.

How to connect people who don’t (or won’t) attend the connection? Invite people who…

1. Have a HEART for unconnected people (that’s the “H” in HOST).

2. Will OPEN their home six times (that’s the “O”).

3. SERVE a simple snack (you get the idea).

4. TELL a few friends.

How do you train people who volunteer to HOST a group of their friends, neighbors, co-workers and family? For a number of years we required them to attend a short HOST orientation meeting at a convenient time. Very similar to the small group connection strategy.

Is There a Better Way to Provide Training?

The best way we’ve discovered to provide training today is by distributing a set of short videos that cover “the need to know” skills a new leader needs right out of the gate. I tripped across a couple hints of how this could work back when I interviewed Steve Gladen about Saddleback’s Leadership Pathway. We make them available on our website and on a thumb drive that is distributed in the HOST kit.

Want to see a very good sample of what the video looks like? Saddleback is leading the way in this innovation and you can see their videos right here: Saddleback’s Video Training for New Hosts

A Few Concepts That Made This Change Inevitable:

There are several factors converging that make it obvious that a change is needed:

• People are busy and it is becoming increasingly more difficult to get new, toe-in-the-water hosts to make time for an orientation.

• It’s more and more common for people to come from further than 20 minutes away, making meeting times even more difficult to schedule.

• Mobility is a key to training and leader development.  If you’re not yet providing mobile options for training yet, you will have very little choice in the very near future.

What do you think?  Have a question?  Want to argue?  You can click here to jump into the conversation.  

What if You Really Believed God Has a Plan and Is With You?

By
J.D. Greear
-
Father’s Day program ideas for church

How would your outlook on life change if you believed—I mean, really believed—that God has a plan and is with you, in every single situation?

I heard pastor Andy Stanley summarize Joseph’s entire life with that one question. It’s the question that Joseph presents to all of us: What if you actually believed that God was with you? In that divorce you just went through, in that bad grade you received, in the prejudices you’ve experienced, in the addiction you’re battling…how would that look different if you knew that God had a plan even in the midst of all that pain?

Joseph’s life has to qualify as one of the most painful and unfair in the Old Testament: He was sold into slavery by his own family, and then imprisoned for years for a crime he didn’t commit. Yet his life looked different, precisely because he knew that God was in complete control. That’s why he’s able, at the end of his life, to look his brothers in the face and say, “You meant this for evil, but God meant it for good.”

“God meant it for good.” The slavery, the false accusation, the years in prison. Joseph looked at that and saw the hand of God. Why? Because he knew that God was with him just as much in the pit and the prison as he was in the palace. What if you believed that?

That doesn’t mean, of course, that the evil wasn’t actually evil. No, Joseph doesn’t downplay the pain of his life, like we often try to. Part of experiencing God’s healing for our past involves facing up to the fact that people have sinned against us. It’s just that the discussion doesn’t stop there. God overwrites that evil for his plan and for our good.

Now, we don’t always get to see what that whole plan is. Joseph did, but only at the end. In the middle, all he had to hold on to was the promise of God’s presence. Apparently, that was enough.

I recently read about Corrie Ten Boom’s story (in Eric Metaxas’ Seven Women). She was a Dutch Christian who helped Jews escape Nazi Germany, until she was caught and sent to a concentration camp. It was a humiliating experience, filled with suffering. Because of the filth she lived in, she and most of the other women in the camp had fleas. Corrie’s sister tried to encourage her to “thank God even for the fleas,” to which Corrie replied: “There’s no way God can make me grateful for a flea.” But then a few days later, while they were meeting in secret for a worship service, it dawned on her that the guards would never inspect their barracks. If they had, they would certainly have confiscated their Bibles, beat them or worse. And suddenly she realized why: The guards were afraid of getting fleas. Even in the fleas, she said later, God was at work!

Can you thank God for the “fleas” in your life? Even if you don’t get to see why he put them there? He may have put them there to grow you in some area. Or to enable you to minister to others in a similar situation. Or you may have to wait until heaven, when God flips the tapestry of your life over, and the seemingly scattered threads are revealed to be a beautifully woven picture.

The Apostle Paul would put it this way: “We know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” (Rom 8:28). But what is God’s purpose? We often quote that verse as a way of hoping that everything will “turn out alright.” But that’s not God’s purpose. His purpose is in the next verse: that those who are in him would be “conformed to the image of his Son” (Rom 8:29). God’s biggest purpose in your life isn’t to trade out every bad event for a better one; it’s to conform you to look more like him.

You might say, But I want to know why. And I understand. I want that, too. But 10 seconds into eternity, we’ll see things for how they are, and none of our current struggles will carry the same weight. Paul calls our current affliction “light and momentary” when compared to what awaits us in glory. Paul’s suffering wasn’t JV, either. He was beaten, stoned, shipwrecked, abandoned by his closest friends. But compared to heaven, the worst earthly experience will only ever be, in the words of Mother Teresa, “like a bad night in a cheap hotel.”

Looking at Joseph’s life, we see that God didn’t waste a single event. He was with Joseph in the pit. He was with Joseph in the prison. He was orchestrating everything in Joseph’s life, and he was doing it by Joseph’s side. If you are in Christ, you have the same confidence: God is with you in your pit and your prison. And he’s creating something beautiful, even if you can’t see it.

For more, be sure to listen to the entire message here.

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