Every week we go to a local copy shop in Lima to print up all of the bulletins, teaching notes, inserts, event flyers, and other items that we distribute on Sunday mornings at FRC-Lima. Usually we drop off all of the originals at the copy shop on Wednesday, and then pick them up on Friday or Saturday, in advance of the Sunday morning services.
Today we went to the copy shop to pick up this week's print materials. When we arrived, the young girl who usually makes all of the copies for us had a long, sad face, and looked at the floor when we greeted her.
That's normally not a good sign.
And indeed it wasn't.
In a voice barely above a whisper, she told us that on Wednesday she left all of our originals near the trash can and - you guessed it - the trash man threw our originals out along with the rest of the trash.
Ah, the adventures in international ministry!
We firmly, but patiently and lovingly, advised our friend to never, ever leave any clients' materials anywhere near a trash can, and also told her to be thankful that the discarded papers were not important originals such as a will, testament, contract, or manuscript. Fortunately for us and for her, we were able to race home and e-mail all of the documents to her, and she is making all the copies for us this afternoon.
And, of course, we received a nice, big "Mil disculpas!" from her as well.
There are times in international ministry when even the most basic things will get screwed up.
Like making copies.
It is during those times that your patience will be greatly tested.
Proverbs 14:29 (NIV) - "A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man displays folly."
Even in a copy shop in Lima, Peru.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Numb
Back in the early '90s, U2 had a song called "Numb" on their Zooropa CD. My trusty old Webster's Collegiate Dictionary defines "numb" as "devoid of sensation; devoid of emotion; indifferent."
Being numb can kill a ministry.
There are times in ministry when we will be exhausted, when we will hit a wall, when we will think about throwing in the towel, when we will start searching for other things to do, when we will start to go through the motions, when we will stop caring so much, when we will become apathetic, when we will lose our "first love" (Revelation 2:4), and when we will become devoid of sensation, devoid of emotion, and indifferent.
We become numb.
Numbness is the opposite of passion. Without a passion for your ministry, you'll never succeed.
If you feel yourself becoming numb these days as you minister around the globe, then you need to examine your life and your heart. What is leading to this numbness? Enemy attacks? Financial stresses? Relationship pressures? Culture shocks? You need to determine the cause of the numbness, and then decide how to alleviate it. Maybe you need to rest more. Maybe you need to delegate more. Maybe you need to pray more. Maybe you need to worry less. Ask God to show you how to get rid of the numbness, and He will do so.
Get back the sensation, the emotion, and your first love. Lose the numbness. Regain the passion you once had.
Being numb can kill a ministry.
There are times in ministry when we will be exhausted, when we will hit a wall, when we will think about throwing in the towel, when we will start searching for other things to do, when we will start to go through the motions, when we will stop caring so much, when we will become apathetic, when we will lose our "first love" (Revelation 2:4), and when we will become devoid of sensation, devoid of emotion, and indifferent.
We become numb.
Numbness is the opposite of passion. Without a passion for your ministry, you'll never succeed.
If you feel yourself becoming numb these days as you minister around the globe, then you need to examine your life and your heart. What is leading to this numbness? Enemy attacks? Financial stresses? Relationship pressures? Culture shocks? You need to determine the cause of the numbness, and then decide how to alleviate it. Maybe you need to rest more. Maybe you need to delegate more. Maybe you need to pray more. Maybe you need to worry less. Ask God to show you how to get rid of the numbness, and He will do so.
Get back the sensation, the emotion, and your first love. Lose the numbness. Regain the passion you once had.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Hello Goodbye
"You say goodbye, and I say hello."
That's what John, Paul, George, and Ringo sang more than 40 years ago, and it seems to be the theme song these days in Peru.
Because of the worldwide financial crisis, we have lost 5 families in recent days at FRC-Lima.
3 of the families lost jobs in the mining industry in Peru, and were sent back to their home countries of Australia, Canada, and the USA.
2 of the families were US missionaries who saw their financial support from US churches dry up completely due to the worldwide financial crisis. They are returning to their hometowns in the USA very soon.
5 familes, all very faithful in attendance and service at FRC-Lima, and now gone.
But, at the same time, we had 20 new people visit us on Sunday.
It's never pleasant to lose people at church, particularly when they are good, loyal, faithful people with servants' hearts. But God has seen fit to place them elsewhere now, and to start new chapters in each of their lives.
And, hopefully, the 20 folks who visited us for the first time on Sunday also will be starting new chapters in each of their lives, with us here at FRC-Lima.
"You say goodbye, and I say hello."
We may even sing that next Sunday at FRC-Lima!
That's what John, Paul, George, and Ringo sang more than 40 years ago, and it seems to be the theme song these days in Peru.
Because of the worldwide financial crisis, we have lost 5 families in recent days at FRC-Lima.
3 of the families lost jobs in the mining industry in Peru, and were sent back to their home countries of Australia, Canada, and the USA.
2 of the families were US missionaries who saw their financial support from US churches dry up completely due to the worldwide financial crisis. They are returning to their hometowns in the USA very soon.
5 familes, all very faithful in attendance and service at FRC-Lima, and now gone.
But, at the same time, we had 20 new people visit us on Sunday.
It's never pleasant to lose people at church, particularly when they are good, loyal, faithful people with servants' hearts. But God has seen fit to place them elsewhere now, and to start new chapters in each of their lives.
And, hopefully, the 20 folks who visited us for the first time on Sunday also will be starting new chapters in each of their lives, with us here at FRC-Lima.
"You say goodbye, and I say hello."
We may even sing that next Sunday at FRC-Lima!
Friday, February 20, 2009
"I Could've Done More"
Many of you have seen the epic Steven Spielberg movie, "Schindler's List." It tells the story of Oskar Schindler, a businessman and member of the Nazi Party who saved the lives of over 1,100 Jews by having them work in his factories during World War II. If the 1,100 Jews had not been working in Schindler's factory, and on Schindler's list, then they surely would have been sent to concentration camps and executed.
Toward the end of the film, after the Germans had surrendered, the war had ended, and the concentration camps had been liberated, Schindler bids farewell to the 1,100 Jews he saved from death. But he laments that what he did was insufficient.
"I could've done more," Schindler cries. "I could've saved more lives. My watch could've paid the price to save more lives."
Oskar Schindler saved 1,100 Jewish lives in World War II, but for him it was insufficient. Schindler went to his grave always believing that he could've done more.
Can you do more? What more can you do in your ministry? In John 15:1-17, Jesus says that we are not just to bear fruit, but to bear much fruit. Not just one orange, but a whole grove. Not just one grape, but a whole vineyard.
Are you comfortable and satisfied with your ministry? Don't be. Do more. Don't just bear fruit, but bear much fruit. The more you bear, the more you should want to bear.
Toward the end of the film, after the Germans had surrendered, the war had ended, and the concentration camps had been liberated, Schindler bids farewell to the 1,100 Jews he saved from death. But he laments that what he did was insufficient.
"I could've done more," Schindler cries. "I could've saved more lives. My watch could've paid the price to save more lives."
Oskar Schindler saved 1,100 Jewish lives in World War II, but for him it was insufficient. Schindler went to his grave always believing that he could've done more.
Can you do more? What more can you do in your ministry? In John 15:1-17, Jesus says that we are not just to bear fruit, but to bear much fruit. Not just one orange, but a whole grove. Not just one grape, but a whole vineyard.
Are you comfortable and satisfied with your ministry? Don't be. Do more. Don't just bear fruit, but bear much fruit. The more you bear, the more you should want to bear.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
E-Mail = E-Jail
Yesterday I read online about a British missionary couple who pled guilty to sedition charges in Gambia, a predominantly Muslim nation in West Africa. They were sentenced to one year of hard labor and also fined US$8,600.
The missionaries had sent out an e-mail to supporters that contained some language which they may have considered comical, but which was considered incendiary by the Gambian government. The language appeared to suggest engaging in hostilities against Muslims. Someone read the inflammatory e-mail and forwarded it to Gambian authorities, who then decided to prosecute the missionary couple.
Watch your words, be they spoken, written, or e-mailed. Words that might be considered humorous or comical in one culture may have incendiary repercussions in another culture. An e-mail that may contain a message or humor only intended for your supporters may wind up in someone else's hands, and with troublesome consequences.
Proverbs 25:11 (NIV) says, "A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver." A word unaptly spoken - or e-mailed - may cost you your freedom. Take care with your words. And your e-mails.
The missionaries had sent out an e-mail to supporters that contained some language which they may have considered comical, but which was considered incendiary by the Gambian government. The language appeared to suggest engaging in hostilities against Muslims. Someone read the inflammatory e-mail and forwarded it to Gambian authorities, who then decided to prosecute the missionary couple.
Watch your words, be they spoken, written, or e-mailed. Words that might be considered humorous or comical in one culture may have incendiary repercussions in another culture. An e-mail that may contain a message or humor only intended for your supporters may wind up in someone else's hands, and with troublesome consequences.
Proverbs 25:11 (NIV) says, "A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver." A word unaptly spoken - or e-mailed - may cost you your freedom. Take care with your words. And your e-mails.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Service
"Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country."
These were the words of US President John F. Kennedy at his inauguration ceremony in 1961.
"The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve ...."
These were the words of Jesus Christ, about 2,000 years before JFK.
Today is Presidents' Day in the USA, a national holiday meant to honor the 44 men who have served as the nation's Commander-in-Chief, from George Washington to Barack Obama. Many lofty presidential words, quotes, and speeches will be broadcast far and wide today in honor of these 44 presidents, and JFK's 1961 quote will be among those which are broadcast the most of all.
JFK's words indeed are laudable. I have no idea if JFK based his words on those of Jesus, as found in Matthew 20:28, or not; however, on this Presidents' Day, it is a good time to remember our purpose, and the reason why we do ministry: not to be served, but to serve others. Jesus gave us Himself as the perfect example of this. It is an example that we must follow in ministry and in life.
These were the words of US President John F. Kennedy at his inauguration ceremony in 1961.
"The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve ...."
These were the words of Jesus Christ, about 2,000 years before JFK.
Today is Presidents' Day in the USA, a national holiday meant to honor the 44 men who have served as the nation's Commander-in-Chief, from George Washington to Barack Obama. Many lofty presidential words, quotes, and speeches will be broadcast far and wide today in honor of these 44 presidents, and JFK's 1961 quote will be among those which are broadcast the most of all.
JFK's words indeed are laudable. I have no idea if JFK based his words on those of Jesus, as found in Matthew 20:28, or not; however, on this Presidents' Day, it is a good time to remember our purpose, and the reason why we do ministry: not to be served, but to serve others. Jesus gave us Himself as the perfect example of this. It is an example that we must follow in ministry and in life.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Abraham Lincoln & Perseverance
In 1831, Abraham Lincoln failed in a business venture.
In 1832, Lincoln was defeated as a candidate for the state legislature.
In 1833, Lincoln failed once again in another business venture.
In 1835, Lincoln's fiancee died, shattering him.
In 1836, Lincoln suffered a nervous breakdown.
In 1843, Lincoln was defeated as a candidate for the U.S. Congress.
In 1848, Lincoln once again was defeated as a candidate for the U.S. Congress.
In 1855, Lincoln was defeated as a candidate for the U.S. Senate.
In 1856, Lincoln was defeated as a candidate for U.S. Vice President.
In 1859, Lincoln once again was defeated as a candidate for the U.S. Senate.
In 1860, Abraham Lincoln was elected the 16th President of the United States of America.
Today we celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln. We will remember his courageous leadership during the US Civil War between 1861 and 1865, but perhaps, more than anything else, we should remember his incredible perseverance, all throughout his life, and how we must do likewise in international ministry.
In 1832, Lincoln was defeated as a candidate for the state legislature.
In 1833, Lincoln failed once again in another business venture.
In 1835, Lincoln's fiancee died, shattering him.
In 1836, Lincoln suffered a nervous breakdown.
In 1843, Lincoln was defeated as a candidate for the U.S. Congress.
In 1848, Lincoln once again was defeated as a candidate for the U.S. Congress.
In 1855, Lincoln was defeated as a candidate for the U.S. Senate.
In 1856, Lincoln was defeated as a candidate for U.S. Vice President.
In 1859, Lincoln once again was defeated as a candidate for the U.S. Senate.
In 1860, Abraham Lincoln was elected the 16th President of the United States of America.
Today we celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln. We will remember his courageous leadership during the US Civil War between 1861 and 1865, but perhaps, more than anything else, we should remember his incredible perseverance, all throughout his life, and how we must do likewise in international ministry.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Praying For Oklahoma
Last week in Lima, we were privileged to spend time with Pastor Bobby Gruenewald and Pastor Andrew Statezny. They are pastors at LifeChurch, based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, where Craig Groeschel is the Senior Pastor.
We had a great time conversing with Pastors Bobby and Andrew about a variety of international ministry topics, including Spanish translation work, on-line Internet communities, full video campuses, and how best to achieve a global presence. The conversation was a great blessing for my wife, Dorcas, and I.
This morning, however, we awoke to the news that devastating tornadoes swept across Oklahoma yesterday, leaving at least 15 dead, dozens more severely injured, hundreds homeless, and nearly 30,000 people without power.
Today, therefore, we want to ask you to please take a moment to pray for Bobby, Andrew, Craig, their families, and all of our friends in Oklahoma who have been affected by this killer twister.
Here in Lima, we felt the prayers of so many people back in 2007 when an 8.0 earthquake killed more than 500 people just south of us, and so now is the time to pray for and to help our friends in Oklahoma.
We had a great time conversing with Pastors Bobby and Andrew about a variety of international ministry topics, including Spanish translation work, on-line Internet communities, full video campuses, and how best to achieve a global presence. The conversation was a great blessing for my wife, Dorcas, and I.
This morning, however, we awoke to the news that devastating tornadoes swept across Oklahoma yesterday, leaving at least 15 dead, dozens more severely injured, hundreds homeless, and nearly 30,000 people without power.
Today, therefore, we want to ask you to please take a moment to pray for Bobby, Andrew, Craig, their families, and all of our friends in Oklahoma who have been affected by this killer twister.
Here in Lima, we felt the prayers of so many people back in 2007 when an 8.0 earthquake killed more than 500 people just south of us, and so now is the time to pray for and to help our friends in Oklahoma.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Teach This Book
I just finished reading a great book called "Velvet Elvis." The author is Rob Bell, the well-known pastor of the Mars Hill church in Grandville, Michigan.
In Movement Two of "Velvet Elvis", Bell tells how he became a pastor, and he shares the story about how once he was at a summer camp, speaking at a Sunday morning chapel service in the pines, when he heard "inner words spoken somewhere in my soul that were very clear and very concise." The words that Bell heard were, "Teach this book, and I will take care of everything else."
Teach this book.
That's really what it all comes down to in ministry, doesn't it?
Teach this book.
No matter where you are in the world, and no matter what you are doing in an international church or ministry, and no matter what language or cultural or financial or relational or denominational challenges you may be up against, in the end it all comes down to just one thing.
Teach this book.
You may be a pastor giving a message every Sunday, or you may be leading a ministry involved in showing the compassion and love of Jesus to others, or you may be part of a mission in a persecuted or apathetic or unreached part of this world, using whatever skills and talents and spiritual gifts that God has given you, but once again whatever you are doing comes down to just one thing.
Teach this book.
It's what we need to do in ministry, more than anything else.
In Movement Two of "Velvet Elvis", Bell tells how he became a pastor, and he shares the story about how once he was at a summer camp, speaking at a Sunday morning chapel service in the pines, when he heard "inner words spoken somewhere in my soul that were very clear and very concise." The words that Bell heard were, "Teach this book, and I will take care of everything else."
Teach this book.
That's really what it all comes down to in ministry, doesn't it?
Teach this book.
No matter where you are in the world, and no matter what you are doing in an international church or ministry, and no matter what language or cultural or financial or relational or denominational challenges you may be up against, in the end it all comes down to just one thing.
Teach this book.
You may be a pastor giving a message every Sunday, or you may be leading a ministry involved in showing the compassion and love of Jesus to others, or you may be part of a mission in a persecuted or apathetic or unreached part of this world, using whatever skills and talents and spiritual gifts that God has given you, but once again whatever you are doing comes down to just one thing.
Teach this book.
It's what we need to do in ministry, more than anything else.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Failure & Success
"Failure's hard, but success is far more dangerous. If you're successful at the wrong thing, the mix of praise and money and opportunity can lock you in forever."
The author Po Bronson wrote these words, and they are telling and relevant for anyone involved in international ministry.
Think back for a moment on your life. Think back particularly to the various failures and successes that you've had along the way. How has that combo platter of failures and successes led you to exactly where you are today? Many times God will allow us to fail at something, or to at least not wildly succeed at it, because He knows that He has a better plan for us, as well as for our lives and our ministries, and He knows that a bigger success lies further down the road.
You don't necessarily have to regret the failures in your life. They may have been God's way of making sure that "the mix of praise and money and opportunity" didn't stop you from reaching your God-potential.
The author Po Bronson wrote these words, and they are telling and relevant for anyone involved in international ministry.
Think back for a moment on your life. Think back particularly to the various failures and successes that you've had along the way. How has that combo platter of failures and successes led you to exactly where you are today? Many times God will allow us to fail at something, or to at least not wildly succeed at it, because He knows that He has a better plan for us, as well as for our lives and our ministries, and He knows that a bigger success lies further down the road.
You don't necessarily have to regret the failures in your life. They may have been God's way of making sure that "the mix of praise and money and opportunity" didn't stop you from reaching your God-potential.
Friday, February 6, 2009
"Mil Disculpas!"
One of the frustrating things about doing ministry in Lima, Peru, is that the level of customer service in the city tends to be very, very low. A few examples:
1. Once my wife and I were in Starbucks (there are 25 of them in Lima), and one of the Starbucks workers spilled hot chocolate all over my wife's outfit. When I asked the worker if Starbucks would pay to launder my wife's ruined outfit, the Starbucks worker said no! The worker tried to pass it all off as an accident, and that the spilled hot chocolate was simply a risk that we undertook if we went to Starbucks. I asked to see the manager, who at first tried to hide in her office, thinking that we would give up and leave. Which we did not. When she finally emerged, I explained the situation to her. She, too, at first was resistant to paying to clean the ruined outfit. After a little bit more persuasion, she finally relented.
2. Another time my wife and I were at the local supermarket (part of the largest chain of supermarkets in Lima), and the bagboy forgot to include a bag of food when he was loading everything into our vehicle, and then he also placed another bag in our vehicle so close to the door that when we later opened the door, all the food fell out onto the street and was ruined. When we returned to the supermarket to tell them about what had happened, the bagboy once again tried to pass it all off as an accident, without any offer of replacing the ruined food or the other bag of food which he had simply forgotten to put in our vehicle. Once again it took a second conversation with a manager before everything was made right.
3. We recently were in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to retrieve two series' worth of materials (pull-up banners, bulletin shells, promotional cards, and small group materials) for FRC-Lima. We were returning to Lima with several heavy suitcases full of materials. We had hired an airport shuttle company to meet us at the airport with a large van, in order to bring us and the materials back to our apartment from the airport. When we arrived at the Lima airport, the shuttle company informed us (after we already had pre-paid) that they did not have any large vans for us, only a much smaller van, and that it was located on the other side of the airport, and that we would have to carry all of our luggage over to it. Supposedly the smaller van didn't have all of the necessary permits and licenses to meet us at the door of the airport. Since it was close to 1:00 AM when this was happening, and there were no other options at the airport, we had to take what they gave us. But they have lost a loyal customer.
Everytime these types of situations happen to us in Lima, the magical phrase that we hear is, "Mil disculpas!" "Mil disculpas!" means, literally, "One thousand pardons!" But "one thousand pardons" means nothing when it is not accompanied by appropriate service or restitution. "Mil disculpas!" in Lima, unfortunately, is usually accompanied by an "I-really-don't-care" attitude and nothing more.
It is, of course, a very frustrating situation to deal with, but then I think about whether or not we may do the same thing at times in ministry. Are there times in ministry when your actions are not matching your words? Are there times in ministry when you talk the talk, but then you don't walk the walk?
James 2:14-26 is all about faith and deeds, and all about putting our faith in action. James 2:14 (The Message) says, "Dear friends, do you think you'll get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do anything?" James 2:17 (The Message) then says, "Isn't it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense?"
That's what was happening to us in Lima in each of the three incidents that I cited above. We were getting words, but no action. It was all talk ("Mil disculpas!") and no action, and it was, just as The Message says, "outrageous nonsense."
Are your actions backing up your words in your ministry? Or is there a bunch of "outrageous nonsense" instead? Poor customer service in Lima has taught me to make very sure that my actions back up my words. My walk has to back up my talk. It's a very important ministry lesson.
1. Once my wife and I were in Starbucks (there are 25 of them in Lima), and one of the Starbucks workers spilled hot chocolate all over my wife's outfit. When I asked the worker if Starbucks would pay to launder my wife's ruined outfit, the Starbucks worker said no! The worker tried to pass it all off as an accident, and that the spilled hot chocolate was simply a risk that we undertook if we went to Starbucks. I asked to see the manager, who at first tried to hide in her office, thinking that we would give up and leave. Which we did not. When she finally emerged, I explained the situation to her. She, too, at first was resistant to paying to clean the ruined outfit. After a little bit more persuasion, she finally relented.
2. Another time my wife and I were at the local supermarket (part of the largest chain of supermarkets in Lima), and the bagboy forgot to include a bag of food when he was loading everything into our vehicle, and then he also placed another bag in our vehicle so close to the door that when we later opened the door, all the food fell out onto the street and was ruined. When we returned to the supermarket to tell them about what had happened, the bagboy once again tried to pass it all off as an accident, without any offer of replacing the ruined food or the other bag of food which he had simply forgotten to put in our vehicle. Once again it took a second conversation with a manager before everything was made right.
3. We recently were in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to retrieve two series' worth of materials (pull-up banners, bulletin shells, promotional cards, and small group materials) for FRC-Lima. We were returning to Lima with several heavy suitcases full of materials. We had hired an airport shuttle company to meet us at the airport with a large van, in order to bring us and the materials back to our apartment from the airport. When we arrived at the Lima airport, the shuttle company informed us (after we already had pre-paid) that they did not have any large vans for us, only a much smaller van, and that it was located on the other side of the airport, and that we would have to carry all of our luggage over to it. Supposedly the smaller van didn't have all of the necessary permits and licenses to meet us at the door of the airport. Since it was close to 1:00 AM when this was happening, and there were no other options at the airport, we had to take what they gave us. But they have lost a loyal customer.
Everytime these types of situations happen to us in Lima, the magical phrase that we hear is, "Mil disculpas!" "Mil disculpas!" means, literally, "One thousand pardons!" But "one thousand pardons" means nothing when it is not accompanied by appropriate service or restitution. "Mil disculpas!" in Lima, unfortunately, is usually accompanied by an "I-really-don't-care" attitude and nothing more.
It is, of course, a very frustrating situation to deal with, but then I think about whether or not we may do the same thing at times in ministry. Are there times in ministry when your actions are not matching your words? Are there times in ministry when you talk the talk, but then you don't walk the walk?
James 2:14-26 is all about faith and deeds, and all about putting our faith in action. James 2:14 (The Message) says, "Dear friends, do you think you'll get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do anything?" James 2:17 (The Message) then says, "Isn't it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense?"
That's what was happening to us in Lima in each of the three incidents that I cited above. We were getting words, but no action. It was all talk ("Mil disculpas!") and no action, and it was, just as The Message says, "outrageous nonsense."
Are your actions backing up your words in your ministry? Or is there a bunch of "outrageous nonsense" instead? Poor customer service in Lima has taught me to make very sure that my actions back up my words. My walk has to back up my talk. It's a very important ministry lesson.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Ministry Is Just Like Disneyland
"Disneyland is something that will never be finished," Walt Disney once said. "Something that I can keep developing, keep plussing (i.e., improving), and adding to. It's alive. It will be a living, breathing thing that will need change ... Things will get more beautiful each year ... Disneyland will always be building and growing and adding new things ... Disneyland will never be completed. It will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in the world."
The same should be said for ministry.
Your ministry may not look like the Pirates of the Caribbean, or the Haunted Mansion, or Space Mountain (although it may feel that way at times!), but your ministry should always - always! - be developing, plussing (a slang word that Walt Disney himself made up), being added to, building, growing, and changing, all in ways that will bring more and more people to the feet of Jesus Christ. Your ministry should be a living, breathing thing, and it should give life to others. Your ministry should never be completed, but instead be in a state of continual growth.
Walt Disney wasn't a pastor, but his words and vision can go a long way toward growing and impacting churches and ministries all around the world.
The same should be said for ministry.
Your ministry may not look like the Pirates of the Caribbean, or the Haunted Mansion, or Space Mountain (although it may feel that way at times!), but your ministry should always - always! - be developing, plussing (a slang word that Walt Disney himself made up), being added to, building, growing, and changing, all in ways that will bring more and more people to the feet of Jesus Christ. Your ministry should be a living, breathing thing, and it should give life to others. Your ministry should never be completed, but instead be in a state of continual growth.
Walt Disney wasn't a pastor, but his words and vision can go a long way toward growing and impacting churches and ministries all around the world.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Filling The Bucket
Bill Hybels of Willow Creek Community Church was in Lima yesterday, and my wife, Dorcas, and I were honored to be part of a small group of pastors who met with Hybels and listened to him speak about various pastoral, church, and ministry leadership issues.
Hybels was brilliant all day long, and he generously shared his wisdom and experience on a host of different issues. One item that particularly caught my attention was how he told us that, as pastors and church and ministry leaders, we must be careful not to just "fill the bucket" for people every week; instead, we need to teach people how to become personally engaged in the Bible, so that they can learn to feed themselves spiritually, instead of us just "filling their buckets" every Sunday morning. When we teach people how to feed and fill themselves spiritually, through the Bible, and also how to serve, and also how to become involved in a small group, then we are on our way to developing people who are truly Christ-centered, and who are fully involved in service and ministry.
It was a compelling lesson for me as a pastor, and I also believe that it is a compelling lesson for anyone involved in an international church or ministry.
Hybels was brilliant all day long, and he generously shared his wisdom and experience on a host of different issues. One item that particularly caught my attention was how he told us that, as pastors and church and ministry leaders, we must be careful not to just "fill the bucket" for people every week; instead, we need to teach people how to become personally engaged in the Bible, so that they can learn to feed themselves spiritually, instead of us just "filling their buckets" every Sunday morning. When we teach people how to feed and fill themselves spiritually, through the Bible, and also how to serve, and also how to become involved in a small group, then we are on our way to developing people who are truly Christ-centered, and who are fully involved in service and ministry.
It was a compelling lesson for me as a pastor, and I also believe that it is a compelling lesson for anyone involved in an international church or ministry.
Monday, February 2, 2009
They Say It's Your Birthday
Yesterday was my birthday (my age matches the uniform # worn by Hank Aaron and Reggie Jackson), and we celebrated it Peruvian-style. This included the crowds singing "Happy Birthday" at the end of both services at FRC-Lima on Sunday, plus a big birthday lunch in a Chinese restaurant afterward, and then dozens of congraulatory phone calls at home the rest of the day. Whew! In between, I even carved out a little bit of time to watch the Super Bowl and Bruce Springsteen's awesome halftime mini-concert.
Peruvian birthday traditions are unique. For instance, nobody mails you a birthday card in Peru. It's almost completely unheard of to put a birthday card in the mail for someone. Instead, the card is delivered in hand or by private courier, if in fact you decide to send one. There is a postal service in Peru, of course, but very few people use it, instead preferring in-hand deliveries or the use of one of the many private courier services which exist in the country.
In any case, a phone call is always the preferred manner of a birthday salute in Peru. A phone call is considered more personal. For instance, if someone in our congregation at FRC-Lima has a birthday, my wife and I will call them personally at home. To receive a personal phone call from a pastor is considered more special in Peru than a birthday card, so that's what we do. It's the exact opposite of what I learned growing up in Boston, where a birthday card was considered more personal (and longer-lasting) than a quick phone call. But Peruvians perfer phone calls on their birthdays, so that's what we do. That's also why I received just a few cards, but a ton of phone calls, all day and night on Super Bowl Sunday.
What are the birthday traditions in the country where you are doing ministry? Do you even know what those traditions are? Are you sending a birthday card when you should be making a personal phone call instead, or vice versa? Small touches like birthday greetings - properly delivered - can go a long way toward creating a ton of goodwill for your international church or ministry. It's worthwhle to learn as much as you can about your local birthday traditions.
Peruvian birthday traditions are unique. For instance, nobody mails you a birthday card in Peru. It's almost completely unheard of to put a birthday card in the mail for someone. Instead, the card is delivered in hand or by private courier, if in fact you decide to send one. There is a postal service in Peru, of course, but very few people use it, instead preferring in-hand deliveries or the use of one of the many private courier services which exist in the country.
In any case, a phone call is always the preferred manner of a birthday salute in Peru. A phone call is considered more personal. For instance, if someone in our congregation at FRC-Lima has a birthday, my wife and I will call them personally at home. To receive a personal phone call from a pastor is considered more special in Peru than a birthday card, so that's what we do. It's the exact opposite of what I learned growing up in Boston, where a birthday card was considered more personal (and longer-lasting) than a quick phone call. But Peruvians perfer phone calls on their birthdays, so that's what we do. That's also why I received just a few cards, but a ton of phone calls, all day and night on Super Bowl Sunday.
What are the birthday traditions in the country where you are doing ministry? Do you even know what those traditions are? Are you sending a birthday card when you should be making a personal phone call instead, or vice versa? Small touches like birthday greetings - properly delivered - can go a long way toward creating a ton of goodwill for your international church or ministry. It's worthwhle to learn as much as you can about your local birthday traditions.
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