Picking Leaders

a Biblical thought...
But when our time was up, we left and continued on our way. All the disciples and their wives and children accompanied us out of the city, and there on the beach we knelt to pray. (Acts 21:5)



a Book thought...
According to a global survey the majority of workplace conflict (42 per cent) is caused by generational gaps. (p22)

a Dave thought... by John Denton
What do you look for when picking leaders?

Leaders who are friends or leaders who make friends? The easiest way to find leaders fast is to ask friends for help. This is also one of the easiest ways to get into more strange issues in ministry. Your friends are like you: they look like you, talk like you, have the same interests as you, and connect with others like yourself. If you want to have a youth ministry of “you,” choose leaders who are your friends. If you’d like to build a team that reaches others, look for leaders who make friends, even if they might not choose you as a close friend.

Leaders who are hip or leaders who make others feel hip?

This is another problem that’s common in youth ministry. Leadership is no place for a style contest—it seems tempting to have the fixed-gear riding, really tight pants wearing, techno-listening, youth ministry, but I promise there is more. Leaders are often chosen based on their personal appeal versus how they interact with others. Yes it’s important to have leaders who attract students, but at the same time, those leaders must be looking to build up the ego of the students. Having a bunch of super-hip leaders will only take you so far. Having leaders who know how to make students feel hip is crucial.

Leaders who know the bible or leaders who help teach and engage others in the bible?

Yes there is a difference. Sometimes the smartest leader from the local seminary or Bible College isn’t going to be the most effective leader. It’s key to look for leaders who not only know and understand the bible but have effective skills in communicating God’s word to others.
In building your leadership dream team it’s vital to not let your pride get in the way. When picking leaders think of the overall ministry and not yourself. Yes, it’s important to have a working relationship with leaders, but anything more and you might be missing the point.

Just a thought.

Renee

a Biblical thought...
When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. There were about twelve men in all. (Acts 19:6)

a Book thought...
Childhood is increasingly being cut short, while the traditional adult responsibilities typically emerging in the 20s and 30s are being delayed. Thirty is the new 21! (p2)

a Dave thought...
Last night at Box Hill it was great to be present at the Enrolment of Renee Chomel as a Senior Soldier. Cadet Fiona Kean conducted a great ceremony as we witnessed the swearing in of Renee but it was also challenging to once again read and consider our covenants. Renee gave a very honest and fascinating testimony as she shared her journey as a Pastor’s child being brought up in the Nazerene Church through to becoming a Salvo today. A big part of her introduction to the Salvos revolved around serving at Summer Camps in the US. She went on to share how when Cadet Sonia Jeffrey preached a month or so ago at Box Hill she was really challenged by the Holy Spirit. Sonia had suggested “that it is often the area in your life that you don’t want God to touch that you need to hand over completely to Him”. It was a significant time for many and one that God was a part of. We thank Him for Renee and the commitment she has made to live for Him through this movement.

Just a thought.

Pray the Bible

a Biblical thought...
Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. (Acts 17:11)

a Book thought...
Serving energy builds as we see transformation in the lives of those we serve. (p126)

a Dave thought... http://www.matthewhenry.org/
The aim of the online publication of this “old-made-new” monograph is to assist and encourage modern Christians in both public and private prayer. Surely we all recognize that the Church of our day, at least in the West, is weak in the way of prayer. Few of us, perhaps, understand what prayer really is. We do not pray often. We do not pray with scriptural proportion, nor does our prayer much reflect the language and thought of the Bible. We do not pray fervently. Although we claim otherwise, maybe we really do not believe in prayer!

For those who are called upon to lead the Church in public prayer, or who simply desire to be more faithful and competent in their own private petitions, a scriptural manner of praying provides the order, proportion, and variety which should characterize all our prayers. We have aimed to provide users with a number of helps to assist in achieving this end. The core of the website is the entire text of Matthew Henry’s A Method for Prayer. Reading and re-reading through it will train the Christian in the use of biblical truth and language in prayer.

Just a thought.

Youth Ministry Health Check

a Biblical thought...
The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole family. (Acts 16:34)

a Book thought...
Jesus taught that servanthood isn't about giving it a shot for two years and then losing interest. Servanthood is the primary calling on our lives. (p122)
a Dave thought...
More, the youth dept from The Australia Eastern Territory has produced an excellent tool for leaders to measure and help assist in building a healthy youth ministry...

This youth ministry health check is for your benefit as a leader, to help you to assess your youth ministry emphasis on the Salvation Army's mission to Save, Grow and Serve. It is not expected that you would use this as your only tool of evaluation. We recommend using this as a starting point to create conversation amongst your team and to follow up with your coach or tutor.
Simply fill out the questions below and you will immediately receive an email that scores your youth ministry based on 'Save, Grow and Serve'.

http://salvos.org.au/more/leaders/youth-ministry-health-check/

Just a thought.

Territorial Heritage Commission

a Biblical thought...
Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. "We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God." (Acts 14:22)

a Book thought...
When people get out of the spectator stands and put on a serving uniform, it's usually because God has touched their hearts and they want to make a difference in the Kingdom. (p114)

a Dave thought...
I was recently invited to be a part of the Territorial Heritage Commission. I accepted and last night attended my first meeting. The group was very welcoming and seemed encouraged that someone of my age would be willing to be part of this group. The Commission exists to preserve the history of The Salvation Army but also looks for creative ways to share the stories and artifacts of the past to help inform the future. I personally find our history fascinating and it was love of the early army stories that was the impetus to write 'INSANE - the stories of crazy salvos who changed the world.'

Last night over dinner I learnt from Historian George Ellis that in the early 1900's there was originally 5 corps in Richmond, as Commissioner Hay believed everyone in Melbourne should be able to walk to a local corps. Hay would also decide on whether the corps would get a wooden or brick facility based on the amount of people that could walk to the corps, as he believed that a higher population in the immediate local community could finance the more elaborate facility. It is stories like these of risk takers and other optimistic builders of Gods Kingdom that the Army had huge impact in its early days. I am one who also wants to see a new generation of optimistic, risk-taking kingdom builders change the world and pray that God will still use the avenue of The Salvation Army to do it.

Just a thought.

5 Kinds of Christians

a Biblical thought...
The disciples, each according to his ability, decided to provide help for the brothers living in Judea. This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul. (Acts 11:29-30)

a Book thought...
When you choose to serve out of sheer obedience to God, you discover that He knows more about you than you know about yourself. (p98)

a Dave thought...
To understand the range and differences among Christians, Christianity Today International recently partnered with Zondervan Publishers to commission Knowledge Networks to conduct attitudinal and behavioral research of Christians. In September 2006, more than 1,000 self-identified Christians 18 years of age and older were surveyed on their religious beliefs and practices. The results reveal a number of significant differences. In fact, portraits of five distinct segments emerged from the study. We have named them Active, Professing, Liturgical, Private, and Cultural Christians.

Active Christians 19%
Believe salvation comes through Jesus Christ
Committed churchgoers
Bible readers
Accept leadership positions
Invest in personal faith development through the church
Feel obligated to share faith; 79% do so.


Professing Christians 20%
Believe salvation comes through Jesus Christ
Focus on personal relationship with God and Jesus
Similar beliefs to Active Christians, different actions
Less involved in church, both attending and serving
Less commitment to Bible reading or sharing faith



Liturgical Christians 16%
Predominantly Catholic and Lutheran
Regular churchgoers
High level of spiritual activity, mostly expressed by serving in church and/or community
Recognize authority of the church



Private Christians 24%
Largest and youngest segment
Believe in God and doing good things
Own a Bible, but don't read it
Spiritual interest, but not within church context
Only about a third attend church at all
Almost none are church leaders



Cultural Christians 21%
Little outward religious behavior or attitudes
God aware, but little personal involvement with God
Do not view Jesus as essential to salvation
Affirm many ways to God
Favor universality theology

Just a thought.

Bear Grylls

a Biblical thought...
Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, "Tabitha, get up." She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up.

a Book thought...
Every local congregation should have a unique flavour based on the sometimes quirky mix of gifts, passions, and life experiences of its members. (p91)
a Dave thought...
Man vs. Wild star Bear Grylls stopped by a Florida prison this week to tell inmates about the one survival tool he can't live without: his faith.
During a visit Thursday to the Tomoka Correctional Institution in Daytona Beach, the British adventurer, who has eaten animal eyeballs and camel intestines and confronted some of the world's most poisonous snakes on his popular Discovery Channel show, said his relationship with Christ is what gives him strength.
"I risk a lot to do this stuff, but I've been given a really privileged platform where people know the show. I want to do something good with that," he told roughly 160 inmates gathered for a chapel service. "And that's really why I'm here. I want to say this [faith], deep down, is what strengthens me. It helps me in the difficult places. [And] it's not exclusive."
The talk is one of two appearances he made this week as a spokesman for the Alpha course, a Christian discipleship program developed at the charismatic Holy Trinity Brompton church in London. Grylls also spoke Wednesday night during the annual conference of the ministry's U.S. branch.
Grylls said attending an Alpha course several years ago with his wife, Shara, gave him a chance to ask some big questions about God and His plan for humanity. "Alpha was a really good excuse to ask these questions," he said. "It was kind of low-pressure and easy and it was fun."
As a child, he said he never questioned the existence of God. "I had a really natural faith in God," he said. "I knew God existed. I never asked. I just knew. I felt loved, and it was there. But I lost it."
He met Christians as he grew older, but they seemed judgmental and boring. "I thought, I don't want that," he said. "And I walked right away from it."
He thought his life was OK until his teen years when some close friends suddenly abandoned him. "It's so easy to be brave when everything's OK," he said. "That's another big lesson I've learned. Real bravery is about when it's not going OK."
Sitting alone, he wondered where was the God he knew as a kid, and he began to pray. "I want that same faith and that same friendship and that same relationship and that same freedom again," he said. "If You're there, will You be that friend to me again? Amen."
"And then that was the end of the prayer. Little did I know, actually, that is the prayer. Everything else, really, is academic. That's the prayer: Be my best friend."

Grylls said his faith journey remains a rocky road, "full of struggles and doubts and challenges." But he said he clings to two Scriptures: Psalm 73:23, "You hold me by my right hand," and Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (NKJV).
"We make everything so complicated and so theological and so smart and so together and so confusing," he said. "Actually, all that matters is, I'm holding you by your right hand, and I can do everything with Christ. And that's, for me, is what holds me a lot on mountains when things are going wrong. ... It's what holds me when I'm struggling with my faith and doubts."
An Alpha course will soon launch in the Tomoka prison, and Grylls asked inmates who participate to e-mail him their stories.
"Because that's what motivates me," he said. "It's amazing when I hear the stories. It happens all the time-amazing stories of lives turned around, people finding that simple, simple faith that says, ‘I'm home and I'm held and I'm forgiven.' I've seen the toughest people in the world have their lives turned around."
Does he ever bargain with God when he's caught in a sticky situation? one inmate asked. "I'm a heavy bargainer," he said. "That's all right. The great thing is we have a God who doesn't tire of that. The more He gives, the more He likes to give, so keep asking."

Just a thought.