Serving Strong

Are you learning but never seem to get any smarter?

Ken Blanchard, Paul J. Meyer and Dick Ruhe have published the book, Know Can Do! in which they highlight the obstacles that prevent people from implementing what they learn. These obstacles include:

• Information Overload (too much learning in too little time)
• Negative Filtering (holding onto negative thought processes which prevent an open mind)
• Lack Of Follow-Up (not having a plan to put the new knowledge into action)

I have indicated in previous posts that there are two well-documented realities:

1. First Reality: There is overwhelming evidence that pastors are struggling with burnout, depression, stress, low self-esteem, loneliness, and obesity. Some say is is a result of the very profession pastors are in. They are expected to be all things to all people. Plus they are dealing with people and their struggles.
2. Second Reality: There is an over-abundance of information that addresses burnout, depression, stress, low self-esteem, loneliness, and obesity. I Google'd "stress" the other day resulting in over 285,000,000 hits in 0.5 seconds. The first page of results gave me enough information to learn what good stress is, what bad stress is, what its effect is on my life, and steps I can take to reduce the bad stress from my life.

There is a gap between the struggle pastors face and the resources that sit in bookshelves and websites across the world. The problem is in what the autuhors highlight in Know Can do!

Coaching is the key to filling this gap. With a personal coach, a pastor overcomes the obstacles mentioned above:

• The learning is in smaller bits of information more frequently
• The pastor and coach discover a positive perspective for longer-lasting impact
• The pastor and coach design a follow up plan of action that is do-able

Check out more about what coaching is.

Contact me if you're interested in exploring a coaching benefit for yourself. Learn the art of weaving balance and self-care into the fabric of your ministry.

Definitions

Here are a few of the terms that will help you understand the heart and passion of Serving Strong:

• Serving Strong - effectively fulfilling a calling without prematurely burning out.
• Servant - anyone, in any career or position who understands that their life and work are a calling by God to serve other people.
• Tentmaker - a servant whose livelihood is derived primarily from the marketplace, as opposed to a church staff person (aka, volunteer or unpaid servant).
• Staffer - a servant whose livelihood is derived primarily from being on staff at a local church or parachurch organization.
• Span of Care - the context within which the Servant serves.  For example, a mother may sense a call to serve her family.  That would be her Span Of Care.  A minister's Span Of Care may be is his congregation, and so on.  It's the group of people the Servant feels called to serve.
• Self Care - those activities that a Servant engages in to keep fresh and on top of their calling.  Without it, the Servant runs the risk of running dry, becoming resentful, and burning out.
• The Moment - the actual times when serving is taking place with the Servant.  An example of a moment is when the executive (with a burden to teach underpriviledged youth how to read) is actually in front of a group of teens teaching.
• The Calling - what the servant is asked by God to do, given the servant's gifts, abilities, context, and opportunities.  In his book, Summoned To Lead, Leonard Sweet writes, "In leadership, hearing a vision is more important than casting one.  Leadership is a 'calling' - a call you respond to, not a position you assume or a role you train for.  The summons could come when you least expect it.  Are you listening?"

Keep checking.  Definitions are added periodically.

Who is a minister?

For too many years we've misunderstood the role of the "pastor".  He was the one to visit the sick in the hospital.  He was the one to call on the needy.

But we are ALL ministers.  This doesn't mean we all have to go to seminary and become scholars.  It means we've each been gifted and called to meet a need.  It's just that simple!

Here are some examples of ministers who sense a call on their lives to meet needs...

• the executive who "semi retires" to help start a hang out for youth in his small town
• the housewife who meets with a few younger mothers to encourage and mentor them
• the baseball legend who starts a business to distribute food to the poor in a foreign land
• the young man who travels with his band to sing songs of praise in a classic rock style
• the little league football coach who has his team over to his house for wings and relationship building
• the treasurer of a successful company who goes to class in his evenings to earn a degree to become a missionary in his "retirement" years
• ...and the list goes on
• ...and on
• ...and on
• ...and on
• ...and on

For another view, visit Success To Significance to read real life stories of people who have reached their "half time" of life who get the feeling that there is something more to life than achieving wealth and success.

We've each been given gifts.  God has a calling waiting for each of us.  There is a need to be met that ONLY YOU can meet.

What are YOUR gifts?

What is God's calling on YOUR life?

What is the NEED you meet?

Step 1 to effective ministry

7 Habits of Highly Effective People;  The 12 steps; 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership;  10 Steps to a Perfect Retirement Portfolio....

Everyone has a program with the right number of steps to the outcome you desire.  Some programs require the steps to be accomplished in sequence.  Other programs give you the freedom to pick and choose the steps in your own order.

But to effectively meet needs and stay strong, there's one step that must be in place AT ALL TIMES.  This step must be the first you take.  It must also be the step you return to again and again.  All other steps are subordinate to this one.  It's central.  It's key.  What is it?

Step one:  Maintaining a healthy, vibrant, dynamic, intimate relationship with God.

Without this relationship, your ministry will eventually suffer.  You will eventually suffer.  Your life will become unbalanced.  Your calling will become a job - an obligation.  Your passion will melt and give way to resentment.  You will experience depression, burn-out, and oppression.

But WITH this relationship, your ministry will be fruitful.  You will sense a peace, whether things are clicking along or not.  You will sense the need to take needed breaks.  You will be able to understand your successes and failures in the context of God's overall design.  And even if you do become confused and tired, you will have a friend who holds your future and is more than capable of "...making all things work together for good..."

If you are meeting needs and reading this and your relationship with God is a 2 on a scale of 10 - consider taking some time away from your ministry to work on it.  It's crucial to your marriage, your self care, your parenthood, and those whom you are called to help.

If you are an 8 on a scale of 10, I urge you to also take time away from the ministry grind and work on making it a 9.  It's that important.

How do we maintain this kind of relationship with our Creator?  Good question.  Perhaps the topic of another post or one of your comments...

READ THIS FIRST

"Ambition without contribution is without significance."  This is a quote from one of my favorite movies, The Emporer's Club.

I don't presume to know it all.  I just have a passion to rub shoulders with people who have a heart to help meet the needs of people.  If the posts in this blog help you or make you think about your ministry in a deeper way, that would be great.  I am a continual learner.  I make mistakes.  I don't have many answers - I have a lot of questions - seeking God's perspective on stuff.  I want to have depth in my ministry efforts and go the distance.  That's a desire I have for you as well - DEPTH and DISTANCE.  Read on...

Experts say that many people approaching 40 years old or so, begin thinking about making an impact that will far outlast their own lifespan.  Some call it a legacy.  They look around and see the needs of those around them (or perhaps in a foreign land).  They have developed skills throughout life that can be applied to these needs.

Does this describe YOU?  Do you want to make a difference that will impact others for eternity?

For many, it involves ministry.  Some go into full time Christian service.  Others work on a bi-vocational basis.  And still others volunteer their time as they earn a living from the marketplace.

Regardless of the calling, meeting needs can take its toll on a person.  It requires commitment and perseverance.  If we're not careful, our service can performed at the expense of family time and personal self care.

If you have a heart for ministry; if you can relate to this - I would love to meet you and talk with you about your unique calling, challenges, and dreams.  Perhaps with my background, experiences, and training - I could partner with you to reach the goals & objectives you feel God has placed in front of you.  Shoot me a quick email (coach@progressmax.com)

This blog is designed to address your unique challenges, successes, pitfalls, and vulnerabilities of the person with a heart for ministry.  I hope you stay connected.  Lend your input.