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Snipers in the Church
Hello Preachers,
From time to time, we find ourselves dealing with snipers in the church. These are individuals who are skilled at staying in the shadows while manipulating weak-minded followers of theirs to undermine your ministry.
How do you deal with these needy souls?
One rule to remember is that you cannot start firing at the forest hoping you'll get your sniper (don't go after the whole church). That's exactly what the devil wants you to do. Then you will be guilty of tearing up the church.
We must pray, watch and wait.
Yes, patience is truly a virtue here, since we often see the effects of destabilization, but may not readily know the source of our trouble.
Don't attempt to counter-attack a sniper. This sort has to be flushed out of his/her hiding place and out into the open before any corrective measure can be effectively utilized to deal with them. They must be exposed, brought out of the shadows into the glaring light before the rest of the congregation will be sufficiently angry with them and comfortable with any disciplinary or corrective measures you try to impose (these are usually popular, well networked and influential people who are generally liked, but only because their true colors are not known by the members).
Again, the best way to accomplish this flushing out is to pray, watch and wait for your God-given opportunity. God will show you when to make your move, or He will do the moving for you if he sees that your moving or waiting may do more harm to the church.
By all means, while you pray, watch and wait, do not lose sight of the fact that the best way to beat your detractors is to not react or speak in the manner their behavior warrants, or in the way they hope, assume and expect you will. If you are able to keep your composure, you have won half the battle already!
Your antagonists thrive on your anticipated reaction to their evil deeds. Disappoint them, and watch God work it out for you.
Remember, the battle is not yours, but the Lord's.
From time to time, we find ourselves dealing with snipers in the church. These are individuals who are skilled at staying in the shadows while manipulating weak-minded followers of theirs to undermine your ministry.
How do you deal with these needy souls?
One rule to remember is that you cannot start firing at the forest hoping you'll get your sniper (don't go after the whole church). That's exactly what the devil wants you to do. Then you will be guilty of tearing up the church.
We must pray, watch and wait.
Yes, patience is truly a virtue here, since we often see the effects of destabilization, but may not readily know the source of our trouble.
Don't attempt to counter-attack a sniper. This sort has to be flushed out of his/her hiding place and out into the open before any corrective measure can be effectively utilized to deal with them. They must be exposed, brought out of the shadows into the glaring light before the rest of the congregation will be sufficiently angry with them and comfortable with any disciplinary or corrective measures you try to impose (these are usually popular, well networked and influential people who are generally liked, but only because their true colors are not known by the members).
Again, the best way to accomplish this flushing out is to pray, watch and wait for your God-given opportunity. God will show you when to make your move, or He will do the moving for you if he sees that your moving or waiting may do more harm to the church.
By all means, while you pray, watch and wait, do not lose sight of the fact that the best way to beat your detractors is to not react or speak in the manner their behavior warrants, or in the way they hope, assume and expect you will. If you are able to keep your composure, you have won half the battle already!
Your antagonists thrive on your anticipated reaction to their evil deeds. Disappoint them, and watch God work it out for you.
Remember, the battle is not yours, but the Lord's.
NAD Plans to Take America for Jesus
At the 2007 NAD Year End meetings, held in Silver Springs, MD, Adventist Church leaders outlined a major evangelistic initiative to reap Gods' harvest. The following is an excerpt of the plans. Follow the link for the full report.
Adventist Ministries Convention - January 18-21, 2009, Myrtle Beach, SC
THE RECOMMENDED GOAL for every pastor, along with his leadership team, is to conduct at least two evangelism series each year in order to help meet the corporate goal of 100,000 baptisms a year.
Since the process of evangelism is analogous to sowing, growing, and
reaping, it needs to be a continuous cycle punctuated by reaping each
year. Although each year may have a distinct emphasis, all three
aspects, Preparation, Proclamation, and Preservation should be included
every year. Steps were recommended for each of these aspects of
evangelism... (click for full report)
Visit these links for more information on this great initiative
Adventist Ministries Convention - January 18-21, 2009, Myrtle Beach, SC
Transitioning from One Church to Another
This video (featuring Pastor Charles Tapp) gives powerful insight into the challenges inherent in making a decision to accept the invitation to another church.
Great stuff!
Great stuff!
Why Should Pastors be Moved So Often?
Have you ever wondered why we Adventist pastors are transferred so often? Is this a good thing for the church, the Pastor's ministry, his family?
For the most part, while we agree that some rotation is good for all concerned, the frequent moves have largely been based on a tradition, versus real need. In these times of economic uncertainty and high stress, the Pastor and his family deserve much kinder consideration when these moves are contemplated by church leaders.
For the most part, while we agree that some rotation is good for all concerned, the frequent moves have largely been based on a tradition, versus real need. In these times of economic uncertainty and high stress, the Pastor and his family deserve much kinder consideration when these moves are contemplated by church leaders.
Multiplying So that God Can Add to the Church
Have you ever wondered how the church will reach the world for Christ, mathematically speaking? How do we reconcile the fact that "the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved" with the reality that the world's population is multiplying at such a rapid rate.
If we keep emphasizing the "addition" of new members to the church, we will forever be behind in our quest to "Tell the World" about Jesus and make disciples of them.
Multiplication is more productive than addition. It increases at a faster rate. Multiplication results in compounding returns. Addition gives more of a linear increase, with a much slower accumulation of results. Kingdom growth is multiplication growth. Adding to the kingdom of God is not by simply by doing addition, but by doing multiplication.
Multiplication of disciples (ourselves) is the only realistic way to add to the church, if we are to finish the preaching of the gospel.
How do we multiply?
The best example is:
Can you imagine what would happen if there are four other disciples who would also start at step one with you? All five of you would begin with one disciple (yourselves), take just seven steps, leading to one hundred and twenty-eight disciples (you would each be responsible for helping to win one hundred and twenty-seven disciples).
That's amazing! With just five of you starting at step one, you would end up with a total of 640 disciples! And that's starting with five disciples, an increase of 635 disciples.
Even if each step takes a whole year to make a new disciple, that would be 635 new disciples over seven years! You alone, winning one new disciple each year, without those disciples multiplying themselves, would need 635 years to win 635 new disciples. That's the adding approach. Now you see why that approach will never get the work done.
I challenge you to multiply yourself and teach your members to multiply themselves, starting right now. If you find four other disciples in your church to begin step one right away, the Lord will add to the church those who are being multiplied by your efforts.
If we keep emphasizing the "addition" of new members to the church, we will forever be behind in our quest to "Tell the World" about Jesus and make disciples of them.
Multiplication is more productive than addition. It increases at a faster rate. Multiplication results in compounding returns. Addition gives more of a linear increase, with a much slower accumulation of results. Kingdom growth is multiplication growth. Adding to the kingdom of God is not by simply by doing addition, but by doing multiplication.
Multiplication of disciples (ourselves) is the only realistic way to add to the church, if we are to finish the preaching of the gospel.
How do we multiply?
The best example is:
- You reach one person for Jesus. That makes two disciples (you and the person you have won to Christ.)
- Both of you reach one person to Christ. There are now four disciples. (you and the first person you won, plus the two people you subsequently win)
- The four of you now win one person each. All of a sudden, there are now eight disciples!
- All eight now win one each and there are sixteen disciples.
- The sixteen disciples win one soul each, resulting in thirty-two disciples.
- All the disciples win one new disciple to Christ and there are now sixty-four disciples.
- The sixty-four of you all win one person to Christ, resulting in one hundred and twenty-eight disciples.
Can you imagine what would happen if there are four other disciples who would also start at step one with you? All five of you would begin with one disciple (yourselves), take just seven steps, leading to one hundred and twenty-eight disciples (you would each be responsible for helping to win one hundred and twenty-seven disciples).
That's amazing! With just five of you starting at step one, you would end up with a total of 640 disciples! And that's starting with five disciples, an increase of 635 disciples.
Even if each step takes a whole year to make a new disciple, that would be 635 new disciples over seven years! You alone, winning one new disciple each year, without those disciples multiplying themselves, would need 635 years to win 635 new disciples. That's the adding approach. Now you see why that approach will never get the work done.
I challenge you to multiply yourself and teach your members to multiply themselves, starting right now. If you find four other disciples in your church to begin step one right away, the Lord will add to the church those who are being multiplied by your efforts.
Evangelism Tele-seminar with Dr. Carlton P. Byrd
Thursday, May 29 marked the first of a new, monthly tele-seminar feature hosted by PastorsCLASSRoom.com.
Pastor Carlton P. Byrd, D.Min., Senior Pastor of the Atlanta Berean Seventh-day Adventist Church was the guest presenter. He is one of the North American Division's leading soul winners today, having already won and baptized over six hundred souls in the two years he has been pastor of that church.
This anointed man of God shared some very important principles of preparation and presentation with pastors from six conferences. The highlight of the seminar was his emphasis on creating a culture of evangelism in the local church. While local demographics, church size, culture and resources may vary somewhat, these principles are basically universal in practicality and application.
Byrd emphasized that worship is a primary evangelism forum, and that the worship services of the church should mirror the evangelistic crusade in energy, intensity and intentionality. He argues that people experience culture shock when the regular worship services are drastically different from the high energy crusade they were baptized in. He holds that just as care is taken in choosing the songs and the singers for the crusade, the same should be done for regular worship. He refers to the mid-week prayer meeting as the mid-week worship service, to underscore this salient point.
Education of the church membership was a strong factor presented by Pastor Byrd. He calls for persistent and consistent education during worship and meetings to let the members know that the primary purpose of the church is evangelism. Even funerals are venues for evangelism, he holds.
Another area of deep passion for our presenter is the area of investing financial resources overwhelmingly in Bible Counselors. These carefully selected and trained instructors are assigned to the field to knock on doors weeks before an evangelistic crusade begins. They are required to produce an certain number of interests daily, and meet with the evangelist daily for encouragement, prayer and accountability.
There is much more detail on the seminar, but we shall wait to read all when Pastor Byrd's first book, "Contemporary Evangelism for the 21st Century" is released in late summer or early fall this year. Preview Byrd's book here.
Please continue to visit www.PastorsCLASSRoom.com for daily updates.
Pastor Carlton P. Byrd, D.Min., Senior Pastor of the Atlanta Berean Seventh-day Adventist Church was the guest presenter. He is one of the North American Division's leading soul winners today, having already won and baptized over six hundred souls in the two years he has been pastor of that church.This anointed man of God shared some very important principles of preparation and presentation with pastors from six conferences. The highlight of the seminar was his emphasis on creating a culture of evangelism in the local church. While local demographics, church size, culture and resources may vary somewhat, these principles are basically universal in practicality and application.
Byrd emphasized that worship is a primary evangelism forum, and that the worship services of the church should mirror the evangelistic crusade in energy, intensity and intentionality. He argues that people experience culture shock when the regular worship services are drastically different from the high energy crusade they were baptized in. He holds that just as care is taken in choosing the songs and the singers for the crusade, the same should be done for regular worship. He refers to the mid-week prayer meeting as the mid-week worship service, to underscore this salient point.
Education of the church membership was a strong factor presented by Pastor Byrd. He calls for persistent and consistent education during worship and meetings to let the members know that the primary purpose of the church is evangelism. Even funerals are venues for evangelism, he holds.
Another area of deep passion for our presenter is the area of investing financial resources overwhelmingly in Bible Counselors. These carefully selected and trained instructors are assigned to the field to knock on doors weeks before an evangelistic crusade begins. They are required to produce an certain number of interests daily, and meet with the evangelist daily for encouragement, prayer and accountability.
There is much more detail on the seminar, but we shall wait to read all when Pastor Byrd's first book, "Contemporary Evangelism for the 21st Century" is released in late summer or early fall this year. Preview Byrd's book here.
Please continue to visit www.PastorsCLASSRoom.com for daily updates.
Quinquennial Southern Union Conference Ministerium
We're here at the Southern Union Conference Ministerium, held every five years to enrich and empower pastors and their families from all eight states and eight conferences in the union.
Last night, Pastor Mark Finley, a Vice President of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists kicked of this great convocation of gospel workers with a deep, soul-searching message on the "Spirituality of the Minister." Finley was mightily used of God to remind us of the source of our power.
One thought that certainly stuck in my mind was that it is more prayer and not more work that is needed to have a more effective ministry. "Jesus had a time to pray (scheduled), and place to pray (private), and a method of praying (out loud).
Personal Bible study, saturating the soul with the word of God, serves as a major source of personal power and inspiration -- the antidote for burnout and frustration.
Stay tuned for daily updates on the messages, seminars and the wonderful fellowship we are having here.
Peace.
Last night, Pastor Mark Finley, a Vice President of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists kicked of this great convocation of gospel workers with a deep, soul-searching message on the "Spirituality of the Minister." Finley was mightily used of God to remind us of the source of our power.
One thought that certainly stuck in my mind was that it is more prayer and not more work that is needed to have a more effective ministry. "Jesus had a time to pray (scheduled), and place to pray (private), and a method of praying (out loud).
Personal Bible study, saturating the soul with the word of God, serves as a major source of personal power and inspiration -- the antidote for burnout and frustration.
Stay tuned for daily updates on the messages, seminars and the wonderful fellowship we are having here.
Peace.
Tidings of Peace
Hello again everyone,
The end of another year is upon us. Christmas is just a couple of days away, and we pastors are wrapping up our visioning for 2008. The Christmas holiday season is a pause for peaceful reflection, family reunions and bracing ourselves for the not-so-stealthy approach of another year that will pass away as quickly as this one did.
Many of our churches have quieted down for the holidays, waiting to pick up arms in congregational conflict again as soon as the New Year dawns. For many of them, conflict is more comfortable than ministry to hurting people who do not know Jesus, the Prince of Peace. Maybe it's because the members themselves have no peace, having never met the Peace Maker... or perhaps have lost their love for Him.
Some Pastors are wary of the constant battles that take away from valuable ministry time. These demon inspired, energy sapping conflicts make for burnt out Pastors and discouraged congregations. The kingdom focus is lost. The thing being fought over becomes the mission of the church. The Pastor becomes the problem.
My CLASS Act consulting service has helped several Pastors find restoration to effective leadership in their congregations, and has also helped several churches regain their kingdom focus. Click here for more information if you desire to break free of the distractions that threaten your ministry.
The end of another year is upon us. Christmas is just a couple of days away, and we pastors are wrapping up our visioning for 2008. The Christmas holiday season is a pause for peaceful reflection, family reunions and bracing ourselves for the not-so-stealthy approach of another year that will pass away as quickly as this one did.
Many of our churches have quieted down for the holidays, waiting to pick up arms in congregational conflict again as soon as the New Year dawns. For many of them, conflict is more comfortable than ministry to hurting people who do not know Jesus, the Prince of Peace. Maybe it's because the members themselves have no peace, having never met the Peace Maker... or perhaps have lost their love for Him.
Some Pastors are wary of the constant battles that take away from valuable ministry time. These demon inspired, energy sapping conflicts make for burnt out Pastors and discouraged congregations. The kingdom focus is lost. The thing being fought over becomes the mission of the church. The Pastor becomes the problem.
My CLASS Act consulting service has helped several Pastors find restoration to effective leadership in their congregations, and has also helped several churches regain their kingdom focus. Click here for more information if you desire to break free of the distractions that threaten your ministry.
Welcome
Welcome to the Pastor's C.L.A.S.S. Room blog. Please visit this space often for musings from me and others on various topics, or leave a post of your own for others to discuss.The ministry is a calling to a life of servant leadership, granted through the mercy of God. This blog will share testimonies, experiences, creative ministry suggestions, challenges, inspiration and encouragement for the men and women who stand behind the sacred desk.
Be sure to visit my website at www.pastorsclassroom.com.
Please be sure to avail yourself of my CLASS Act services if there is a need in your church for mediation in conflict resolution. This powerful ministry has helped several Pastors to regain complete and effectual leadership in their fractured, conflict-ridden churches, while helping the fractured churches to regain their kingdom focus.
Ennis
Church Shootings & Heat-Carrying Deacons
With the recent spate of school, and now church shootings, one has to wonder about the appropriateness of more and more churches contemplating allowing their deacons to pack heat (carry a gun) while singing "Amazing Grace".
The Colorado shootings in December raise numerous questions about what constitutes allowable church security measures. Church is supposed to offer a place of quite, contemplative contact with God. The last thing a worshiper expects at church is to be molested, robbed or shot to death (at least in America). Can you imagine the day when we have to resort to everyone being required to go through metal detectors, full body searches or having your leather bible case scanned in that x-ray machine thing they use at the airport -- before the deacons will let you enter the church building?
Scary as it may seem, we may very well be headed in that direction. That is, if our parishioners are to be protected from the crazed scourge of gun toting hoodlums who are seeking to be famous for taking out tens and possibly hundreds of innocent people as part of their delusional death wish.
It is a serious matter, however one views the situation. If people start feeling that going to church is no longer a safe activity, we could very well be on the verge of a heightened popularity of televangelism and church attendance via the Internet through live streaming of church services, and decreased income from tithe and offerings. Worshipers need to be assured that their worship experience will not be interrupted by the gun fire of manic depressed devils or knife-wielding thugs.
The Church is definitely under satanic attack in America, and Pastors and other church leaders are faced with some very tough decisions about what to do to protect the people we urge to attend the house of the Lord. Sometime ago, while at church on Sabbath, one of my deacons came to me privately to let me know that he is a licensed firearm carrier (and it turns out he was carrying while he was telling me this), and that he would be willing to provide protection when money was being counted or transported to the bank (all I had to do was say the word). At the time, I was not impressed to follow-up with the discussion with him, as I did not want to encourage members in what could become vigilantism. Since the recent spate of senseless church shootings, however, I have been forced to question whether I have the right as a Pastor to simply not take necessary steps that may result in the loss of lives entrusted to my care while I preach. Therein lies the problem - is "necessity" the guiding principle (especially since we do not endorse the bearing of arms), or is there some other compelling factor to be considered here.
I don't know what you think about this issue, but it is certainly one that demands urgent dialog and a protocol for minimizing or preventing the possibility of this occurring in our congregations where we pastor. Should we employ armed security guards? Should we install metal detectors? Should we bond carefully screened deacons and apply for them to be issued licenses to carry? Should we employ off-duty police officers to assist with security? Should we pay the city to have the police patrol the premises during church services and functions?
Then comes the other side of the issue -- what happens when we arm the deacons and the deacons lose their cool with the Pastor in the board meeting? Can you see the headlines... "Shootout at the OK Corral New Life Worship Center"
What a calamity! Where do we go from here?
Also, what do we do about our church schools? I shudder to even think about that.
EA Ennis
The Colorado shootings in December raise numerous questions about what constitutes allowable church security measures. Church is supposed to offer a place of quite, contemplative contact with God. The last thing a worshiper expects at church is to be molested, robbed or shot to death (at least in America). Can you imagine the day when we have to resort to everyone being required to go through metal detectors, full body searches or having your leather bible case scanned in that x-ray machine thing they use at the airport -- before the deacons will let you enter the church building?
Scary as it may seem, we may very well be headed in that direction. That is, if our parishioners are to be protected from the crazed scourge of gun toting hoodlums who are seeking to be famous for taking out tens and possibly hundreds of innocent people as part of their delusional death wish.
It is a serious matter, however one views the situation. If people start feeling that going to church is no longer a safe activity, we could very well be on the verge of a heightened popularity of televangelism and church attendance via the Internet through live streaming of church services, and decreased income from tithe and offerings. Worshipers need to be assured that their worship experience will not be interrupted by the gun fire of manic depressed devils or knife-wielding thugs.
The Church is definitely under satanic attack in America, and Pastors and other church leaders are faced with some very tough decisions about what to do to protect the people we urge to attend the house of the Lord. Sometime ago, while at church on Sabbath, one of my deacons came to me privately to let me know that he is a licensed firearm carrier (and it turns out he was carrying while he was telling me this), and that he would be willing to provide protection when money was being counted or transported to the bank (all I had to do was say the word). At the time, I was not impressed to follow-up with the discussion with him, as I did not want to encourage members in what could become vigilantism. Since the recent spate of senseless church shootings, however, I have been forced to question whether I have the right as a Pastor to simply not take necessary steps that may result in the loss of lives entrusted to my care while I preach. Therein lies the problem - is "necessity" the guiding principle (especially since we do not endorse the bearing of arms), or is there some other compelling factor to be considered here.
I don't know what you think about this issue, but it is certainly one that demands urgent dialog and a protocol for minimizing or preventing the possibility of this occurring in our congregations where we pastor. Should we employ armed security guards? Should we install metal detectors? Should we bond carefully screened deacons and apply for them to be issued licenses to carry? Should we employ off-duty police officers to assist with security? Should we pay the city to have the police patrol the premises during church services and functions?
Then comes the other side of the issue -- what happens when we arm the deacons and the deacons lose their cool with the Pastor in the board meeting? Can you see the headlines... "Shootout at the OK Corral New Life Worship Center"
What a calamity! Where do we go from here?
Also, what do we do about our church schools? I shudder to even think about that.
EA Ennis