Church of God LifeBuilders

Leonard C. Albert

Someone said that a leader is an ordinary person with extraordinary determination. The best definition that I have found is perhaps also the briefest: leadership is the activity of influencing people to cooperate toward some goal which they come to find desirable. In short: leadership is influence. How do we identify a leader? What are the qualities that effective leaders possess?

For the last 35 years I have observed hundreds of leaders representing every level of church administration. Here are some of the qualities that they all seem to possess:

Focused Objective

When I say “Henry Ford” what comes to mind? Hamburgers? No! We remember Henry Ford for automobiles. He was focused on producing a quality car that people could afford. Leaders have one-track minds. Paul had this. In Philippians 3:13 he said, “. . . this one thing I do.” There was one all-absorbing, burning, consuming compassion in his life. Nothing meant anything to Paul but getting out the gospel and getting people saved.

No Confidence in the Flesh

All great Christian leaders realize that their ability is a God-given blessing. They know that human effort cannot accomplish God’s divine plan. The truth is that God uses us, but it is His anointing in us that really makes the difference. I have a friend who always says, “You have to realize that you can’t so that when you do, you’ll know you didn’t!”

Cooperative Spirit

Effective leaders know that they must learn to work with others. I hear so many people say, “I don’t care what people think of me.” The truth is that if God sets us apart as leaders, we must care about what others think. A good leader never does anything he can give someone else the privilege of doing!

Loves People

Leadership in the Christian realm demands a love for people as a basic prerequisite. People are the main product of the church. People are not used to reach our goal . . . they are the goal! I once heard a well-known speaker say, “I love to speak, I just can’t stand the people!” Ezekiel could weep for the souls of men. I wonder if that is done a lot today in the church. When you look around and see the hopelessness, the sadness, the despair of this world it should cause you to have a love for the lost.

No Root of Bitterness

We find that leaders always draw opposition from others. Your ministry gifts will attract controversy. This causes misunderstanding, confusion and if you are not careful, bitterness. A bitter spirit has neutralized the effectiveness of many great people. They somehow could not overcome their personal feelings against those who opposed them in ministry. I have learned a great lesson from successful leaders: get over it! Don’t let the pain of your past affect the possibilities of your future.

Disciplined Life

It has been well said that victory in the Christian life is a “long obedience in the same direction.” Leaders must possess that sterling quality of consecration. Paul said, in Romans 12:1, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” Great leaders walk in holiness, humility and love.

A leader is one who sees what ought to be done, what can be done and how to do it. Thus leadership is the ability to see—awareness; the faith to believe—attitude; and the courage to do—action. Let’s allow the Lord to help us cultivate these qualities in our lives.

God Is Looking for Leaders!

Are you available? Could you honestly say, ” God, if You’re looking for a willing vessel, You have just found one here?!”

• God is looking for leaders like Moses, who refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, but was willing to go with God.
• Generals like Joshua, who knew God and could pray and shout things to pass rather than blow them to pieces.
• Administrators like Joseph, who knew God and had the answer to famine.
• Preachers like Peter, who would not be afraid to look people in the eye and say, “Repent or perish,” and tell them to denounce their personal as well as national sins.
• Mothers like Hannah, who would pray for a child that she might give him to God, rather than women who are delinquent mothers of delinquent children.
• Children like Samuel, who would talk to God in the night hours as a child, grow to maturity and accept the call for full-time service.

Where are these people? Are you one? My dear brother or sister you could be if you would only allow God to direct your path. We have the greatest example of leadership in Jesus who could and did save from the uttermost to the uttermost. He never wrote a book but became the greatest leader of all time. Think of it! Millions follow Him today and He was only here on earth for 33 years and only three of those years as an incredible leader. His one goal? He came to “seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10).

Leonard C. Albert

There is a new enthusiasm among believers today. Everywhere you look someone has on “witness wear.” There are T-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, pins, pendants and emblems. The problem is that some folks imitate the outward while never having the inward motivation for active service for Christ.

Our generation wants to cocoon and enjoy the freedom to do whatever they please. With this in mind, I feel that the biggest challenge to the church will come from within. Christ does not just want our admiration . . . He wants our life. Our activity is not for the short term. He is after lifelong commitment which has been called “a long obedience in the same direction.” Everywhere we look we see crowds without commitment Thousands of people gather for Bible study. Tens of thousands meet and worship each week. But, alas, many have only identified with a cause and a crowd. Don’t let this happen in your church!

The laity are needed. The work of the church is too big a task for just a select few no matter how gifted or how trained they may be. The doctrine of the laity is so important, that if adequately understood and properly expressed in the life of God’s people, it can bring about a spiritual awakening that will revolutionize the life and ministry of the church.

Any lover of the universal church, and specifically the Church of God, must be concerned with its future, the only future which cannot and must not anticipate retirement. To be wedded to today is to be a widower tomorrow. We live in a new fast-paced, technological society that calls for dramatic change in thinking and action. Most of our present boards, agencies, commissions, associations and departments arose from our early history. The change that has come has been within the structures, not in new structures. Dramatic change is needed in the following areas:

Perception. The laity must be considered equal partners in ministry and recognized as priests in the marketplace. Teamwork with the pastor and his staff is emphasized and well-developed. It would be revolutionary to cultivate such a level of teamwork with lay leaders.

• Enablement. In order for lay ministry to flourish, the support of voting ministers is needed. Laity must be given the responsibility of making decisions in the church that affect their future. Lay leaders must be a vital contributor to ministry, not just “another pair of hands.”
• Education. The laity must be able to defend their beliefs and share them with others. They must become students of the Word. The laity deserve to have an opportunity to receive education that will motivate, educate and continuously train them to enhance teamwork, pride of workmanship, personal growth and productivity.
• Training. Training and discipling are needed in the ministry of elders and deacons. Training is needed in the area of outreach and evangelism so that lay people can be fruitful in ministry.
• Outreach. Ministry has to take place beyond the confines of the local church. We need to reach beyond our walls not only in public relations type ventures but in hard-hitting, soulwinning evangelism efforts. The laity must be released for ministry. This aggressive outreach goal must involve the laity in winning the lost to Christ and getting them into the local church, discovering their “giftedness,” affirming and motivating them, training and discipling them, and giving them meaningful opportunities for service.

The future awaits us, a future which will not tolerate yesterday’s church in today’s world, let alone the world of tomorrow. This is an hour of challenge! And of promise! The choice before the church as we face the future is to continue with our present pattern and style of ministry or to allow for a “second reformation” . . . a reformation of the released power of the laity (God’s people) in the world today. We truly need holy boldness.

By Leonard C. Albert

God is moving in the hearts of men.  He is calling men to stand up for what they believe in—to be faithful in their personal walk with Christ, to their families and to their church.  In order to begin an effective ministry to men in your church or to revive your existing men’s ministry, you need to assemble a team of dedicated people to organize and lead the effort.  Sometimes it is possible to attract men to the local church through exciting events or conferences.  We call these “momentum creating events.”  Years of experience tell us that the only way to keep these men involved is to provide a well-planned, on-going local church men’s ministry with clear purposes and credible people involved.  This section shows how to find the men who will lead other men in the local church.

Campus Crusade for Christ founder, Bill Bright, has often said, “Everything boils down to leadership.”  Dr. Pat Morley, founder of Man in the Mirror Ministries says that, “The height of your men’s ministry will be determined by the depth of your leadership.”

The truth is that in order to begin and/or sustain an effective ministry to men and disciple new ones, you will need to put together a small group of dedicated leaders who truly want to see the church minister to men.  Someone has to organize and lead the effort.  It is essential to choose your leaders wisely.  You will need to choose not only a team leader, but a whole team if you want to reach and disciple men.  Reaching men through other men using groups and teams is God’s idea.  In the Old Testament, King David had his mighty men, Jesus recruited and trained twelve disciples, and the early church had deacons, elders and lay ministers.  The same is true today—you need an organized force to reach men—a band of brothers with an arrow through their heart for men’s ministry in the local church.  Let’s look at a strategy to find them.

Identify the Men Who Can Lead

There are basically three types of leaders: (1) those who are now involved, (2) those who are in training to become leaders, and (3) those who feel that God is calling them in this area.  This brings us to a present truth: your leaders don’t have to start out committed—that can come later.  Here are the steps involved:

• Prayerfully write out a list of the ten or twelve most spiritually respected men in your church.
  • At this point it doesn’t matter how busy their schedules are or even if they are interested or not.
  • Focus on men who have a heart for God and for reaching others.  Let them make up their own minds under God’s leadership.
  • The idea is to identify and equip a men’s ministry leadership team who will in turn produce cutting edge ministry opportunities for the men.  Pray for God to give you favor with these perspective candidates.
• Look for individual leadership team members who have one or more of these abilities:
  • Salespeople.  These men are the “persuaders” because they know how to get other people excited about an idea.  They are forever salespeople because it is just in them to try to persuade others to join in on a plan or idea.  They are great to have on your team because, by instinct, they help others feel the excitement of the challenge and they convey the spirit of “we can do this” when it comes to ministry.
  • Doers.  These are the men who can “cut to the chase” and get the job done.  They are front-line guys who, as we say, can “deliver the mail.”  They have the skills to deliver ministry so tasks are completed properly and on time.
  • Administrators.  These are the men that possess the natural talent to coordinate, plan and troubleshoot.  They have the ability to see “what’s coming down the pike” and be proactive in helping solve potential problems.  They not only do the work, but because they are leaders, they uphold others who also are working.

Schedule a Preliminary Meeting

Approach each of them and say something like this: “God has put it on my mind to explore the need and desirability of starting (or reorganizing) a LifeBuilders men’s ministry in our church.  I believe you are one of a handful of men that the other men in our church would follow. I want to have a meeting to discuss the possibilities.  Would you be willing to pray about coming to this one meeting and give your counsel?”  It is quite possible that not all will respond positively, but hopefully, five or six of the men will step forward for possible leadership positions.

Pointers for the first meeting:

1. Keep the first meeting to a maximum of one hour. If everyone knows it’s a one hour meeting, you can be very productive.  Besides, a long, tiring meeting may create second thoughts about going further.
2. In preparation for this initial meeting, you will want to share your vision for the men of the church.  It is important to understand that the ultimate purpose of any LifeBuilders men’s ministry is to reach and win men to Christ and to disciple them into an authentic Christ-centered relationship.  As you put together a vision statement for your men’s ministry, you want to be specific enough so that others capture a sense of where the ministry is going.  Yet you want to be loose enough with details, so that you can easily incorporate creative new ideas as new leaders join the team.
3. Try to answer these questions before the meeting:
   1. What is the main goal we’ll accomplish through this ministry?
   2. Why do we want a men’s ministry in the church?  (Hint: see #2 above.)
   3. What methods will we use—what is our philosophy of ministry?
   4. How will we create, capture and sustain momentum among our men?
   5. Do we have ideas about what activities and programs we might incorporate into our ministry?
   6. How can we demonstrate that a healthy men’s ministry will strengthen the whole church?

Meeting content:

1. Begin with prayer (about five minutes.)
2. Review the history of ministry to men in your church (about five minutes).
3. Be up front and honest about the blessing and the burdens of previous attempts at men’s ministry.
4. Share the potential of a new or renewed LifeBuilders men’s ministry.  Our new LifeBuilders plan with an emphasis on discipleship will renew your men’s ministry because many men will be won to Christ, discipled and by extension, bless the families in our church and community.
5. Talk a little about the environment for reaching men (about 15 minutes.)
   1. How are men doing?
   2. What are their problems?
   3. How should the church respond?
6. Review our LifeBuilders discipleship materials (about 15 minutes).  Talk about the potential of discipling and training the men of your church.
7. Closing comments:
   1. “It seems clear that God is calling us to reach the men of our church and help them grow.  I would like to suggest that, together, we go through a three week process of designing a men’s ministry for our church using the Church of God LifeBuilders Men’s Ministry material as a guide.  Who would like to give it a try?”

Activities for Leadership Team Members

Later on we explain in detail some of the specific duties of the men’s ministry team members.  At this point it is important to consider the “big picture” of your ministry to men and look at some general areas that will need leadership from the team.  Keep in mind that these individual men can recruit other men to work with them, thus forming a small group or team.  Here’s a list:

1. Strategy and Coordination.  This man is responsible for focusing on strategic (overall, long-term) issues of the ministry.  He helps define identity, themes, and priorities at the ministry level.  He offers advice about the overall direction of the LifeBuilders ministry to men.  This person works with the LifeBuilders team leader to plan the conferences, seminars and ministry events for the men of the church.
2. Community.  This member helps develop a sense of “male friendliness” in the church.  He finds ways to make male visitors feel at home when they visit the church services.  This person will provide various entry points where both newcomers and seasoned attendees feel comfortable, connected, inspired, and transformed.  He actively welcomes and greets individuals at men’s functions.  He also provides follow-up and coordination for people interested in getting involved in other areas of ministry.  This man is responsible for the publishing of a men’s monthly e-mail or printed newsletter.
3. Prayer and Intercession.  This man leads the prayer effort with intercession for people, plans, and activities for the men.  He provides a prayer covering and is available to pray with other teams or men’s groups.  He will be the point man for the “Pastor’s Prayer Partner” program (see LifeBuilders Resource Action Manual for details).
4. Head Coach.  LifeBuilders men’s ministry has developed a plan to train a key leader in each local church to help coach and mentor other men.  This man helps men deepen their spiritual maturity and build genuine friendships.  They coordinate the discipleship training process, put together mentoring relationships and explore approaches for discipleship and spiritual formation.
5. Ministry Projects and Resources.  This man leads the effort to find meaningful ministry for the men of the church.  This will include the LifeBuilders Matthew 25 Men effort.  This man plans and coordinates community outreach and other short-term service-oriented projects.  He is constantly looking for the best materials to win and disciple men such as our LifeBuilders Essentials discipleship course.  He maintains a list of speakers, books, and other resources for the men, and makes these available at monthly meetings and other conferences.

Schedule a LifeBuilders Men’s Ministry Leadership Team Kickoff Meeting

Now that you’ve got the men’s leaders recruited and in place it’s time to release them to lead.  The ways in which these men are released become a model for the way they release others who will work under them.  Always remember that the senior pastor or his appointee is always invited to be a part of this and any other gathering.  Here are some pointers on the content of this meeting:

1. Cast the vision.  Tell the leadership team exactly what should be accomplished through the LifeBuilders men’s ministry chapter.
2. State the purpose. Why do we want a disciple making ministry to the men of our church?
3. Connect LifeBuilders to the church vision. Show how this men’s ministry is vital to the health and growth of the local church.
4. Show the positive benefits of this effort. Explain that the LifeBuilders men’s ministry will not segregate the men, but instead motivate and empower them for leadership and service church-wide.
5. Explain the commitment. Tell the men what you expect from them.  Clarify the amount of time and money necessary to get the job done right.

Summary

The Chinese have many beautiful sayings.  One goes like this: Do not fear going forward slowly.  Fear only to stand still. We do not have the luxury of waiting.  We are now in a life and death battle for the souls of men.  We live in a fallen world, but God is more powerful than that fallen world.  With an effective LifeBuilders Men’s Ministry leadership team we can help protect men from Satan’s proven ability to make them come in second.  We can help keep men safe from the pain and grief that sin brings.  We can help men do excellent ministry in the church.

We believe that it is a winnable battle if we move forward now to reach, train and equip men for ministry.  This is an exciting and fruit producing mission!  Oh yes, here is another ancient Chinese proverb:  The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago…the next best time is now.

Let’s get started!

My heart, soul and mind are just bursting with ideas on how we can reach and disciple 10,000 new men through Church of God LifeBuilders Men’s Ministries.  It is possible and it is happening right before our eyes as we see churches everywhere forming powerful local chapters of men’ groups.

So how do we disciple them?  So many methods come to mind.  Here are a few:

Preaching and Teaching

The age-old starting point for making disciples is the preaching and teaching of God’s Word.  Don’t overlook or underestimate the power to make disciples from the pulpit.  Encourage your pastor to preach sermons with “men in mind.”

Private Study

Men cannot become disciples apart without Bible study.  Pat Morley goes so far as to say that he has never known a single man whose life has changed in any significant way apart from the regular study of God’s Word.  Encourage your men to read God’s Word and become involved . For the last 25 years I have read the entire Bible through in one year beginning in January with Genesis and ending up in December with Revelation.  It has changed my life.

Small Groups

We talked in the last QuickWord® about the effectiveness of breaking the men up into small groups.  This is a dynamic way to build disciples.  Some examples of small groups are:

• Bible studies
• Accountability groups
• Prayer groups
• Share groups
• Men only
• Couples
• Home groups
• Office groups

Most meaningful change takes place in the context of small group relationships.  As men tell their “stories,” the truth of the gospel gets personal as men see the life of Christ lived out in other men.

With this thought in mind let me share the words from Jason Althoff, one of our newest men’s leaders from the Terre Haute (Indiana) Church of God.  He is doing a great job of teaching our exciting discipling book for men, titled LifeBuilders Essentials.  He e-mailed us recently to share about how he is setting up his weekly men’s discipleship teaching sessions.  He says,

“I’m giving an introduction to the Ten for 10,000 program and the three-step model on this Sunday morning, followed by the 12 week course each Sunday for the following 12 Sundays from July 12 – Sept 27.  I have set it up as an interactive class, utilizing all materials, multimedia available to me through the program…lessons, PowerPoint’s, videos, appendices….in addition to this, the Lord has commissioned me to draw on some experience I have and some advice the material presents about it being best taught one on one.  Well, with 14 in the class, it will hardly be one on one, however, I have set up that there will be seven groups of two (He sent them out by two’s!) for accountability partnerships or journey relationships, for the duration of the course.  This will work to get the men engaging at least one other brother during the week to go over the lesson, encourage one another, and most importantly to pray for each other, the lesson, the class, and men’s discipleship in general at our local assembly.  Lastly, I have set up that each week, one man will be assigned to present his own topic related to the week’s lesson that the Lord gives him while studying.  It can be whatever they want, but related to the topic in the lesson, and it will be five minutes or so for them to talk…  This makes the class a lot more personal in a classroom setting and keeps the men accountable on a weekly basis while we are not in the classroom.  I have obviously also included that I will be available during the week for anyone needing one on one support.”

We think Jason has the right idea.  Remember that “relationship is the task” and that men grow when they are in relationship with and accountable to other Godly men.  Are you teaching LifeBuilders Essentials to your men?  Would you consider doing it soon?

Also, we are adding more great study materials to our men’s curriculum.  Soon we have two new (new to us that is!) discipleship study courses for stages one and two (that is Walking With Christ and Living for Christ.)  Also, we are adding a study course in apologetics to help men be better witnesses for Jesus.

Thank you for all you are doing to help reach, win and disciple men.  It is some of the most exciting and gratifying work I have ever done.  I am honored to labor with other servants like you.  We call ourselves B.U.M.S. which stands for: Brothers, United together, Ministers and Servants.  Thank God for BUMS!

Blessings on you!

Leonard C. Albert

by Leonard Albert

In Matthew 25, Jesus spoke prophetically of the time when He will say to the blessed of His Father, “I was sick, and ye visited me” (v. 36). They will ask, “When saw we thee sick . . . and came unto thee?” (v. 39). Jesus’ answer suggests perhaps the most profound reason why we should visit people in hospitals. Jesus will say: “Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me” (v. 40).

Think of it! When we visit even the most unlovable people, in the hospital or nursing home, our ministry to them is equal to ministering to Christ himself. What an opportunity we have to win the people who are in these institutions to Jesus! It is a crisis time in their lives. It is a time when they are most receptive to spiritual things. When illness strikes, it makes one realize his dependency on God and his own helplessness.

If properly carried out, hospital visitation can be one of the most fruitful ministries that anyone can do.

When to Visit

Hospital visitation should be carried on daily. Normally, people are in a hospital only for a brief time, and a weekly visit is simply not enough. A good idea may be to divide the hospital into sections and let selected people be responsible for a certain floor, wing, etc. Once the initial contact is made, repeat visits should be made daily.

Whom to Visit

Visit everyone! First, visit the members and friends of the congregation. Then, visit all others who need to receive a friendly visit. An attempt should be made to visit each person as the Lord directs.

How to Visit

Many times people who do hospital visitation become fearful when they enter a room and find members of the family present with the patient. Do not let this be a hindrance. A warm smile and a friendly greeting can be given. It is really surprising how the family enjoys such a visit. It seems to break the monotony for them. A greeting could go like this: “Please excuse me for intruding; my name is [give your name] and I just stopped by to greet [patients name].” The point is don’t pass up visiting people who have others in the room with them; you could win the whole family to Christ! Use an appropriate greeting such as”

“Hello, I’m [give your name] visiting you today from the [name of your church]. How are you feeling today? We hope you will be able to go home soon. We are going to be praying for your health.”

The Gospel Presentation

You may or may not feel that you should make a presentation of the gospel on the first visit. Always try to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. This is one of the blessings that Spirit-filled people enjoy. God can help you to have boldness, power, and authority to witness for Christ (Acts 1:8). Let the Holy Spirit lead you!

The Closing Prayer

Don’t pray loud prayers! Watch the tone of your voice; be very careful not to be boisterous, because you should not bother others who are in the room. Only one person should pray! Although we love to pray in concert, it is wisdom for only the leader of the conversation to pray. It is not really necessary always to ask permission to pray. It is easily discerned if the people are interested in spiritual things; and when it comes time to pray, the leader should just begin to pray the prayer of faith for the needs of the patient.

What you say in your prayer on behalf of the ill is very important. Many times we talk a great deal about prayer but when we get right down to the actual prayer, we simply do not bring the real petitions of the ill to the Lord. Here are two prayers that we have found to be very effective as closing prayers in a patient’s room:

A Prayer for Healing

“Lord, I have no power, but You have all power and we’re obeying your Word. You said if we lay hands on the sick, they shall recover. You didn’t always say it would be miraculous or instantaneous, but You said `they shall recover.’ Thank you, Lord Jesus, for touching Your child today. Amen.”

A Prayer for Spiritual Needs

“Lord, I take this person and lift him up above the camp of the enemy. I lay him on Your altar, Lord, and pray that You will come against the enemy of his body and his soul with Your power, Your Spirit, and Your precious blood. Break down the enemy’s stronghold, Lord, and bring complete recovery both physically and spiritually. Amen.”

Practical Pointers

• Visit during the regular hospital visitation hours. Two good times to visit are the late afternoon and the evening. Avoid visiting at mealtime or during medical treatments. Always obey all rules regarding visitation.
• Keep your visit brief. Don’t homestead! On average, the visit in each room should last from five to ten minutes. Of course, there will be exceptions. You may wish to spend more time in some rooms. Sometimes it takes a long time to really explain the gospel, and very often there are many questions asked which must be dealt with. Be very considerate of patients’ time—don’t tire them with incessant, idle talk. Enter, share, pray, and leave. In this manner, you will not “wear out your welcome” for the next visit.
• Use tracts. The people have time to read, and reading material is always valued. Remember to select tracts appropriate for this type of visitation.
• Witness to those in other beds. Your acquaintance with one patient can be a bridge to getting to know the other(s). Try to witness to every person in the room.
• Let the patients talk. Let them tell you about their condition, their experiences, etc.; this will open the door for you to talk to them about their spiritual condition.
• Always pray. Whether you win the patient or not, always have a prayer of faith for him before you leave.
• Never forget that you are a guest of the hospital and that you are planting seed for future opportunities. Do not be obnoxious or intrusive.

Do’s and Don’ts

1. Have a cheerful greeting and countenance.
2. Know the person or patient’s name.
3. Be sure to sit or stand so you can be seen and heard.
4. Be sure to sit or stand so the one you are visiting doesn’t face the light.
5. Discuss illness briefly, then speak of those things that edify.
6. Plan to tell the patient or person you are visiting something interesting, positive, and cheerful.
7. Don’t overwhelm the patient with more than one visitor, or at most two, at a time. (See #12)
8. Pray about your visit and the one you are visiting. Ask the Holy Spirit to be in control, to guide the conversation and bring to your knowledge the needs of the one you are visiting. (Spoken or unspoken).
9. Be genuinely interested in the one you visit.
10. Take your cues from the patient or person you are visiting as to the length of the visit or the time to visit.
11. Offer to read, write letters, pray.
12. Observe hospital rules for visitors.
13. Don’t discuss church affairs, except exciting future events.
14. Give: a bookmark, a Sunday school paper, church periodical, a card with God’s Word—give something tangible that will remind the one you visit of that visit and that you care for them. Let the Holy Spirit guide you in this.

by Leonard Albert

Recently I read a most interesting story about a time-management expert who was speaking before a group of eager business students. He began his talk by illustrating the main point he wished to bring home. He put a table beside the lectern and placed a one-gallon, wide-mouthed Mason jar on top of it. He then produced five or six fist-sized rocks and carefully placed them, one at a time, into the jar. He asked the students, “Is this jar full?” They unanimously agreed that it was. He said, “Do you really think so?” and pulled out some gravel from a shelf beneath the table and poured it slowly over the rocks. He shook the jar causing pieces of gravel to work themselves down into the spaces between the big rocks. “How about now?” he asked. The students, quick to catch on said, “Maybe not.” “Right” he said as he pulled out from beneath the table a bucket of sand, which he poured, into the jar. He said, “I know it looks full but there’s still room for more!” With that, he pulled out a small container of water and completely filled the gallon jar to the brim.

“What’s the lesson here?” he asked. One student said, “No matter how busy you are you can always cram in a little more into your schedule.” The expert said, “that’s not it at all.” “The true lesson from this example is that if you don’t put the big rocks in first, you will never be able to put them in later.” Wow! What a truth. Put the big rocks in first. Matthew 6:33 really comes to my mind here when Jesus said “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” If we take care of the big rocks of our life then God will take care of everything else.

What are the big rocks? How about time with your spouse and children? How about time with your Lord? How about your quality time of study, Bible reading, and meditation? How about your education and career choice? Your choice of a marriage partner? Think about what you are doing in the local church. What are some of the big rocks? In this issue of The Coordinator we have looked at writing a purpose statement, how to do hospital visitation and the time factor that must be dealt with. These are definitely big rocks! They must go in first or they simply will not fit in later.

Take a moment and ponder this thought: What are the major things that must be given priority now in my life? You’ll be glad you included these first.

By Leonard C. Albert

Some time ago I heard the story of man who was part of a study group who was visiting a grease factory as part of a school project. This was no ordinary grease factory. It was a model in the industry.

The organization was incredible! Every one knew exactly what to do. There were many workers moving with precision throughout the entire plant. There were huge, stainless steel machines making grease . . . tons of grease. The students were very impressed until one inquisitive lad asked these questions. “Where is the loading dock? How do you get the grease to the consumer?” The tour guide replied, “We do not have a loading dock here because it takes so much grease to run these machines that we don’t have any left over to sell!”

Is this a picture of many churches today? Motion without mission. Good organization, many people working, a lot of activity but no product (the gospel) being delivered to the people who really need it. It seems that the plight of the grease factory is the plight of many churches today: a lot of activity within the four walls of the church but because it takes so much energy inside there is no ministry outside. One pastor said it this way, “The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.” We need to know that we are a “gathered” and “scattered” people. We gather around the centrality of Jesus Christ but we are scattered as salt and light. We are not the “salt of the sanctuary” or the “light of the church” but rather we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. The New Testament church is a church in motion. The work of the church is not only at the church! We are a force pushing out into our communities, neighborhoods, cities and nations.

Forget about just keeping the machinery greased . . . let’s remember that it’s not about grease but grace—we are to talk about God’s “amazing grace.” As a local church lay coordinator you can help change the grease factory story. With God’s help you can be the catalyst for great opportunities for the local church laity. There are so many opportunities for outreach beyond the confines of the local building. Let God show you and your fellow members where to minister today!

Three principles to developing-and keeping-remarkable men’s ministry leaders

Every church deals with turnover. It’s the nature of people to move on to new challenges. Yet among all the church’s major ministries, men’s ministry continues to experience a high turnover of volunteers and leaders-more often a result the “up like a rocket-down like a brick” nature of ministry to men.

For nearly 35 years I have worked with men’ ministry and have seen many leaders come and go.  It is interesting to note that the secret of keeping them is to be found in some of the reasons why they go.

It’s difficult to attract leaders if you have a revolving door of volunteers; but give people incentive to stay and they’ll remain loyal in a thriving environment. To that degree, here are three principles every pastor and church leader should know about developing-and keeping-men’s ministry leaders

Rediscover the Value of Reaching Men

The first principle to developing solid leaders in your church is to create an environment where both the ministry and its volunteers are valued and respected. This starts with the senior pastor.  Promise Keeper’s tells us that if we win a man ninety-three percent (93%) of the time that man will win his family to the church.  Investor’s call this “ROI”-return on investment.  This is the main problem with men’s ministry-it is not high on the priority of the church ministry list.  Of the nearly 7,000 stateside Churches of God I do not know of even one that has a full time men’s ministry director.

We must place a high value on ministry to men.  In most churches, the pastor sets the tone for what is most valued in that body. If his passion is for evangelism, those who are part of his church will most likely have a similar bent for reaching the lost. If the spiritual development of men is important to the pastor, it will be important to the congregation.

People want to be part of something that has significant impact, and few things top the call of raising tomorrow’s leaders. The trickle-down effect of this is a leadership that doesn’t just talk about supporting men’s ministry, but instead backs up their words with action.

One of the prime ways pastors can do this is by providing sufficient leadership training and set in place a system to disciple the men in the church.  This new thrust in training men will involve a small financial commitment but the “ROI” will be great. Bottom line: When pastors make known to the congregation the importance of supporting and volunteering in men’s ministry, leaders and financial support are more inclined to emerge.

Equally as crucial in creating this environment is finding the right leader(s). We recommend that a church begin with a man who is a proven leader and one who has an arrow through his heart for other men.  Then, in turn, this man with the backing of the pastor should find a few other men in the church willing to pay the price to win and disciple men. Too often inexperienced individuals are appointed by default to lead.

A men’s leader’s abilities and experience speaks volumes about how the ministry is valued and perceived by the pastor. Although it is true that skills can be enhanced, good people skills should be a prerequisite for the top men’s leader. They set the tone and atmosphere for the day-to-day ministry operation. They also have the greatest influence on ministry volunteers and those who will potentially become leaders. Fill the position carefully and prayerfully.

Support Men’s Ministry

Once a men’s ministry leader is appointed, those in church leadership shouldn’t automatically assume it’s only a matter of time before the ministry becomes a bustling Mecca for men’s spiritual growth. There will be days when a ministry director leaves the parking lot after a service pondering the sanity of his decision to accept the position.   So many men’s program in the church are “wimpy.”  One of my friends calls it the “Romeo” ministry-”Really Old Men Eating Out!”

What keeps that leader coming back with renewed passion? That’s the second principle of developing powerful leaders: Pastors and church leaders must be supportive and encourage those emerging leaders. This applies to both the ministry’s key leader and its volunteers. Obviously, the director needs to sense the pastor’s support. Knowing your pastor is supporting your every venture makes all the difference. Likewise, volunteering leaders need to know that they have emotional and spiritual support, especially during challenging times.

Men’s ministry is different from any other within in the church. Pat Morley, founder of Man in the Mirror Ministry says that a “man is a hard thing to reach.” It is essential that the leaders are prayed for, supported and encouraged to stay strong and committed.

As most pastors know, a thriving men’s ministry doesn’t happen overnight; it takes a substantial amount of work. It will take about two years to even begin to build a thriving ministry for the men of the local church.  hose leading the charge are required to handle an array of tasks and issues. Many of the men’s leaders in the church feel that their work is not noticed or appreciated.  There is always a mandate for men to do more in the church so any way of showing support and appreciation to the leaders will go far in keeping them active.

Men’s leaders are some of the most tireless workers. As a pastor or church leader, it would be good for you to realize that though it is important to set realistic goals and strive for excellence, it’s equally as important to be considerate and show appreciation.

If you’re a senior pastor, you can set the precedent for this. Reward those who have taken upon themselves this high call of nurturing and discipling the church’s men. When volunteers serve in an environment where they are validated and appreciated two things happen: Turnover is reduced and individuals are more willing to take on leadership responsibilities.

Churches that have perfected the ministry of appreciation, all have one thing in common: They go out of their way to let their volunteers know they’re special and valued. Showing such appreciation doesn’t have to be an expensive endeavor. On days when they serve, provide complimentary CDs of the message in the main service. Throw an occasional workers-only special event for those who help out in the men’s ministry. Hand out certificates of appreciation. These are all inexpensive but effective ways to say “thank you.”

Learn as you “grow and know”

This third principle to developing outstanding leaders-providing ongoing training opportunities-is both universal and continuous (thus the ongoing part).

When men’s ministry workers are properly trained, the quality and effectiveness of the ministry experiences quantum leaps. Training is essential to developing leaders. Well-trained volunteers are more equipped and typically more confident about carrying out their responsibilities. We recommend that you consider attending the Man in the Mirror “No Man Left Behind” leadership training event.  This three day seminar allows the attendees to become men’s ministry specialists in the local church. Church of God LifeBuilders Men’s Ministry also offers a new leadership training event for men called “Discipling Strong Men.” Training is the best investment a church can make in its staff and volunteers.

These three principle are simple and practical and can have profound results when implemented and sustained over time. Developing men’s ministry leaders does not have to be a challenging endeavor. It can be a tremendous opportunity to watch God call forth and empower ordinary people to do extraordinary things for His kingdom through a ministry to men.