VISION NEW ENGLAND

Recently, I had the privilege of spending time with an amazing group of ministry leaders, talking about issues related to leading teams/committees of volunteers, within our local churches.  As part of our time together, I shared with the group some information that is found in Kenneth Gangel's book, Feeding and Leading.  In this book, the author shared what his research had found to be 10 of the key reasons why "lay" people walk away from the work of the ministry that they were doing.  Here's what he shared, 

"Why do lay people leave the ministry?  Because…

1. Willing people become overworked and burned out
2. Volunteers don’t receive much-needed help 
3. Lay people have personal and spiritual needs of their own which aren’t being met in the framework of their ministries 
4. We do not adequately show appreciation 
5. They have not been provided proper equipment and materials 
6. They have not been trained adequately for the ministries they have been asked to carry out 
7. Friction has developed between or among the workers in a given ministry area 
8. They have lost interest, enthusiasm, and commitment for ministry 
9. Supervision is inadequate or perhaps even abrasive 
10. Evaluation has not been carried out or results have not been identified as a positive thrust for ministry improvement" *

It's been my experience, as well as the experiences of a number of others with whom I discussed this issue, that the morale and performance levels of the people on the teams/committees in our churches tend to be at their highest when:

• Everyone knows what's expected of them
• Their roles are aligned with their personal giftedness and passions
• They have the proper training, knowledge base and support to accomplish what's expected
• They are recognized and rewarded for their efforts and their achievements.

Given these realities, what responsibilities do we have as leaders, to the members of the group that we are leading?  Let me suggest that our responsibilities as team/committee leaders (and even as leaders of "paid" staff) must include:

• Insuring that every member of the team/committee knows:
  • What's expected of them
    • How? - A very simple job profile (tasks, timing, etc...)
  • What they can expect from us
    • How? - Include it in the job profile 
• Insuring that there is:
  • A process in place for people to discover/discern their giftedness, passions and ministry "fit"
    • How? - A ministry giftedness/fit personal "inventory" for individuals to use for discovery/discernment
  • A process in place for ministry recruiting, interviewing and placement that is based on "fit" versus based on "necessity"
    • How? - Start with a simple set of "ministry fit"-based interview questions
• Insuring that each team/committee member has the necessary resources to accomplish his/her goals and tasks
  • How? - Providing the right training, information, materials, funding, and team support that is needed
• Insuring that we put things in place (evaluations, communications, "celebration" venues, etc...) to recognize and celebrate member efforts and achievements
  • How? - A simple evaluation (1x per year?), recognition communications (emails, texts, Facebook postings, phone calls, handwritten notes, etc...), celebration venues (1x a year celebration dinner, 1x a quarter meeting, etc...)

As leaders of teams/committees/departments in our congregations, we really can have a significant influence on the retention, effectiveness and achievements of the volunteers who are seeking to serve God in their local church.  Any time or effort it might require of their leaders to provide these things for them will be well worth it for all of us! 

* (Feeding and Leading, Kenneth Gangel, Baker Publishing)

(blog posting by Keith Tolley, Vision New England)

I love having people come to my home... I love serving delicious food and talking and hearing stories and laughing and just being with others who are enjoying themselves.  Last autumn I was encouraged to invite a few friends to my house ... but they came specifically to help me plant daffodils.  I buy the bulbs each October in sacks of one hundred and though my goal of 5,000 "daffs" had been reached the previous year, I thought that over two days we could get an additional 900 into the ground. I wasn't prepared for three friends to get into the work and within just a few hours all of those bulbs were nestled 8-12 inches under the surface.  So what was I to do?  Friends were already coming to help plant on the very next day... I had to go buy more bulbs!

When I arrived at the big box store, the bulbs were not in their usual place.  So my first reaction was "Oh no, the bulbs have all be sold!"  But after a brief search, there they were over on a side isle.  The best news was that their price had been greatly reduced...  So, I bought another 1,900 bulbs (that's 19 bags) and triumphantly brought them home.  Yes, my husband was a little surprised, but he knew about my daffodil "mania"... so all he did was laugh and shake his head in wonder.

It took two more days to plant all those bulbs.  Amid much laughter and general happy camaraderie, we got all of them into the ground... though several hundred waited until the October snows had melted.

But this has been a crazy weather winter.  Starting with New England's October snow storm... and over a million people without electricity... then a very mild  season... to near summer temperatures in March. Would the daffodils still rise up and bloom? Would these precious little round modules make it through a crazy winter?

As every year nears completion, I have another habit besides planting daffodil bulbs: I pray and humbly believe that God will lead me to choosing a word for the coming year.  My husband Bill and I did this together for many years... Our word for 2011 was "thankfulness". And the Scripture that we chose was I Thessalonians 5:18... "Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's Will for you in Christ Jesus."

So as I prayed and sought the LORD's direction for 2012, He led me to the word "Trust"...and the passage of Proverbs 3: 5... "Trust in the LORD with all you heart and lean not on your own understanding." 

Trust and daffodils... two subjects so vastly different yet so alike.  I planted 2,800 daffodils last autumn... not knowing how last year would end or what this year would bring.  But my faithful God knew that besides the bright glorious yellow flowers I would truly need to place all my trust in Him.  Not in doctors or medicines... not in friends and family... not in weather forecasts or stock prices or low interest rates.  I would truly need God for each day and many dark nights.  And I had to trust that He really would lead me as the Good Shepherd to green pastures and quiet waters.

If you have ever lived on a farm, you probably already know about planting seeds and then waiting.  Sometimes the waiting can seem like forever... truthfully, sometimes it will be years before the harvest can be made.  If we get anxious and start digging around in the ground the seedlings or bulbs can be destroyed. Or if we just throw our hands up in the air and with exasperation stomp off to start a new planting, we will miss the spring bounty.

In the devotional book Jesus Calling, Sarah Young writes... "Walk with Me in holy trust, responding to My initiatives rather than trying to make things fit your plans... A mind preoccupied with planning pays homage to the idol of control.  Turn from this idolatry back to Me. Listen to Me and live abundantly."

Now nearly all my daffodils are gone, yet I wonder as the leaves bud and the forest greens... "What will happen next?"  I am believing and trusting God... I am waiting, but still praying: "LORD, help my unbelief.  Help me to grow in trust this year."

This could be a REAL prayer for many of us: "Yes, LORD, help me grow in trusting You this year. Help me. Help even me." 

As I sit in a big quiet house, my prayer centers back on trust: really trustingGod when I cannot see or figure out what direction I should take.  And this uncertainty  connects me with thousands of other pastors' spouses.  From the research VNE gathered early last year, the major concern of trust came forward in these stated concerns:

• The need for safe friendships,
• Freedom from the fear of judgment, ridicule and gossip,
• Ability to have balance and set healthy boundaries,
• Help for the reality of isolation and loneliness,
• Need for receiving and giving human encouragement,
• Divine wisdom for mothering and a plethora of family issues,
• Accepting and using  the giftings of Christ and His Holy Spirit,
• The ability to keep focused on God and Christ,
• AND marriage issues.

Trust in God... NOT my own understanding.  We spouses share the need for relationships (with the triune God and with the people He places in our physical spheres) and that could put us in the a scary place: will God faithfully help me in and through all my life situations?  Will He be there for me even when I go through a crazy winter season?  Will the daffodils still bloom in my yard?

(blog posting by Karen Luce, Director of VNE Pastors' Spouses' Ministry)

A number of years ago, Vision New England, in partnership with the Ockenga Institute, took part in a year-long research project that sought to assess and identify the “unique characteristics” of New Englanders.  Through an in-depth look at an extensive variety of data sources, as well as multiple “roundtable” conversations with groups of pastors and ministry leaders across New England, a list of distinctive culture “traits” emerged.  This list was not intended to be an exhaustive list, nor as equally representative of all subcultures in the Region.  But it did provide a framework for developing some critical questions and observations related to the kinds of attitudes and behaviors that are impacting what happens in New England churches, at a number of different levels of congregational body life.

At a recent meeting of pastors and ministry leaders, I had the opportunity to share this list with those who were in attendance, and it was fascinating to hear how consistent this list is with their perceptions of what continue to be the significant influencers to the governance, the ministries and culture of the churches they serve in.

And so, in this month’s posting, I thought it would be helpful to share our findings, once again.  Here are, what our study identified, as eight(8) characteristics/traits of New England culture:

Trait ONE:  New Englanders Tend to Resist Change

• Despite the pervasiveness of modern media and technology, old attitudes and behaviors persist in astonishingly many arenas in New England.  At its social core, New England is known for people who “stayed and hung on”, whereas others seeking opportunities may have gone West, to the South, or elsewhere.

Trait TWO: New Englanders Tend to Value Tradition

• Tradition permeates all facets of life in New England – even its cemeteries.  New Englanders tend to have a sense of continuity with the past, partially because the past is so rich with significant events.

Trait THREE: New Englanders Tend to Be Roman Catholic

• While Roman Catholic loyalties may tend to run deeper in ethnic groups, the Roman Catholic tradition has been a strong influence in many areas of the Region.

Trait FOUR: New Englanders Tend to Have a Secular Mindset

• Despite the fact that many of New England’s best-known educational institutions were founded by churches, the secular mindset became dominant at most of these institutions of learning many decades ago, with the students carrying that mindset into daily life.

Trait FIVE: New Englanders Tend to Be Self-Reliant

• Rugged winters tended to isolate people and force them to become self-reliant.  A lot of economic activity in the Region is generated by individuals and families.

Trait SIX: New Englanders Tend to Be Reserved

• Most New Englanders agree with the assertion that they are more reserved, however they disagree that New Englanders are “less friendly”.

Trait SEVEN: New Englanders Tend to Favor Insiders

• New Englanders are often considered distrustful of any influences that might change their way of life.  And that includes newcomers coming into the community with new ideas.  The “town meeting system” is often dominated by insiders.  And New Englanders tend to trust local government more than they do state and federal government.

Trait EIGHT: New Englanders Tend to Operate Locally

• With a high value of tradition and a tendency to prefer insiders, it is not surprising to find that local control is favored over state and federal governments.

If the profile of the "typical" New Englander that emerged in this study is still accurate, it has significant implications for New England churches, both internally and externally.  To the extent that New England churches reflect the culture around them, understanding that culture becomes vitally important.

QUESTIONS - What are your thoughts about these TRAITS?  Do you see these as still active “influencers” to the body life culture of the local church?  Are there any others that you see as playing a critical role?  We'd love to hear from you...

(blog posting by Keith Tolley, Vision New England.  Excerpts taken from the Study: "What Are the Unique Traits of New Englanders?", created by New England Research Project.  Keith can be reached at ktolley@visionnewengland.org)

In February this year, 2012, Vision New England’s VOICE asked women: Are you struggling to lead and nurture women into a culture of authenticity? Five “steps” were shared by Suzie Lind about her women's ministry at King's Harbor Church, Torrance, California and I would like to take her insights on authenticity and share how God is working in New England. As a pastor’s wife who is a very recent widow, let me connect these steps into our recently launched Pastors’ Spouses’ Ministry and share my authentic heart... hoping that my realness encourages each of you.

1. You go first - I cannot lead people where I am not willing to go myself. Tell your story and keep the scope of God’s redemption in the forefront.  So in December 2011, I shared through emails that my beloved husband Bill had died of metastasized lung cancer with the complication of interstitial lung disease.  My story is similar to many others: Bill NEVER smoked and was robustly healthy.  We NEVER even guessed that some disease was attacking and already destroying his body.  But in the spring of 2010, right before Easter Sunday when the terrible diagnosis was given, I asked Bill: “What do you want to do now?”   His answer: “I want to continue mentoring with Vision New England.  I want to see REVIVAL and be a part of making it happen.”  And I answered Bill: “OK, I’m with you 100%.”  Bill wanted to keep pressing forward with God’s purposes in the midst of adversity.   
2. Safety - Create a safe place for women to share.  Communicate why this is sacred ground.  It is very true that NOT every one can handle the “sacred sorrows” I experience. When I tell my own story, it is not my intention to gather tons of sympathy for myself (Karen), but to set the stage for open authentic sharing among pastors’ wives.  We will all go through losses and multiple griefs. Without prayer support and Christ-like encouragement, our faith could easily be sapped or suffocated. We know this is Satan’s evil intention: to thwart the plans and purposes of God Almighty... to wreck anything that is Godly. There are many nights all I can do is cry out: “LORD, help.” One of those dark nights in February I began to journal and finished by writing what my heart was crying: “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?”  BUT I awaked the next morning to read the prophetic utterances of David in the sacred ground of Psalm 22:1... “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?  Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning?”  Why was I so amazed that God met me one morning in my bedroom? 
3. Grace - Jesus came that the world through Him might be saved (John 3:17).  Lead by encouraging a spirit of love, grace and compassion.  I am “amazed” by God’s Grace... the whole justification through Jesus, not my own boastful works.  Yet everyone who knows me well can see that I like to dream and make goals and set plans and write lists.  My idea of “real” fun is connected with the exhilaration I feel when crossing off completed items on my to-do lists!  But when the pain is real, and I cry out to God, why am I so surprised when I experience His love and compassion?  Waking up and reading a short Bible verse connects me with my Creator in a tangible demonstration of joint caring.  And receiving emails, phone calls or texts from women who just feel led to share a message they’ve received from God... or give a small gift... or lift up a heartfelt prayer... or bring me a bowl of soup... these aspects of grace could easily be left undone.  BUT the Spirit’s nudges weren’t ignored. Just one simple act of caring speaks volumes to my heart. 
4. Develop a prayer team - A team who prays for women to be released from bondage. I see bondage as the ropes of imprisonment tying us into knots of doubt or despondency.  The five pastors’ wives who trained to be Vision New England mentors have rallied around me with consistent prayers and on-going emails and calls.  They were witnesses to my inner-most fears as Bill’s cancer viciously spread... No one else really got as close to me as these five women.  Why?  Because I knew I could trust their Jesus hearts.  I could share the “scary” vision God gave... a vision I received as we pastors’ wives prayed.  Filled with hope and grace, my God-vision also gave me certainty of my future without my husband.  And when I shared this vision, these women surrounded me with more prayer and gently helped alleviate my fears and shame.  Satan is still the accuser of the brethren and debilitating condemnation is common.  BUT a team of women who love God and seek His face, who are humbly able to let go of judgments, is a force beyond my comprehension.  This team of “warrior” women enabled me to walk on in faith... not knowing or seeing everything clearly... but walking forward. 
5. After care - When people tell their stories, they often feel vulnerable in the after-math.  Our adversary does not want us telling of God’s redemptive power and when we testify, we draw our swords against him.  As pastors’ wives we often need extra prayer support and encouragement.  Why? Because we are out there on the front lines engaged in hand-to-hand and heart-to-heart battles for our pastor husbands, children, families, churches and communities. We are in conflicts everyday for revival and empowerment... keeping our eyes on Jesus and wielding His sword.  One-on-one mentoring and small peer groups are two places where support and encouragement are encouraged and practiced.  One mentor just shared:  “I’ve been meeting with two pastors’ wives. They are all excited and feel like the VNE conference in Manchester and the mentoring with me has inspired them.  So we had an awesome time together catching up and doing an exercise I had prepared for them, then discussing the area group plans.”  Our Father God has designed us for vertical and horizontal relationships. Yes, we need authentic “partnerships” that foster caring and communicating and connecting.  That’s what Vision New England is encouraging through the Pastors’ Spouses’ Ministry.  We’re just beginning, but trust God to do according to His Word, Ephesians 3:20-21...

“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power in the Church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever. Amen.”

God bless you as you practice authenticity with other women who care. Sincere joy to you, Karen 

(blog posted by Karen Luce, VNE Director of Pastors' Spouses' Ministry; Karen can be reached at lucelovers@msn.com)

“For in this case, the saying is true, ‘One sows, and another reaps.’  I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored, others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.” (John 4:37-38)

“I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth.  So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth.  Now he who plants and he who waters are one…” (1 Cor. 3:6-8a) 

Along our disciple-making journey, there will be times when we are called to enter into the life of someone who is not yet a Christ follower, just for a particular period of time, or just for a particular situation/circumstance that is taking place in their life.   We may spend only a few hours with them.  Or, we might end up spending days, months or even years with them — developing a friendship with them, loving them, sharing biblical truths with them, providing for them, praying for them.  God may call upon us to care for them, to help them, to provide biblically-guided counsel or advice to them, or to share part of our faith “story” with them. 

And then, for whatever reason, we may find that our time with this individual comes to an end.  And after all of our time together with them, we find that they did not come to faith in Christ.  This might happen to us only once, or it might happen to us repeatedly, during our life’s journey…

The concepts of “sowing” and “reaping” are appropriate metaphors for how our disciple-making journey plays itself out during the course of our lives.   

Sowing = to plant seed for the purpose of growth

Reaping = to gather or take in; to get as a return, result, recompense

A significant part of our disciple-making journey will be spent  “sowing” into the lives of others.  Helping them to gain exposure to and experience with the multi-faceted, Jesus-following way of life, helping them hear and understand God’s word, helping them cultivate the heart values of a Christ-follower, etc… 

We may spend the great majority of our disciple-making life connecting with individuals who are not yet Christ followers, and never seeing them actually make a “profession of faith” in this Jesus whom we are passionately pointing them to. 

Sowers are NOT FAILURES — If God calls us into relationships, and we are faithful in answering His call, and we never see “salvation” fruit come forth out of our efforts in this person’s life, it doesn’t mean that we failed.  Sometimes we are way too hard on ourselves, especially when we think that anything short of bringing someone to the point of a "conversion decision" is a failure on our part.  “Sowing” into someone’s life is a critical part of their personal disciple-becoming journey.  It is an amazing privilege to be used by God, in a particular way, for a particular purpose, at a particular time in someone’s life.  And in this, we should rejoice!  

There may be times, however, during the course of our disciple-making journey, when God connects us with someone who others have been “sowing” into, and with whom we receive the privilege of leading into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ.  Not every relationship that we are in will see us leading a person to a “saving” faith in Christ.  We may sow (along with others), while someone else will reap.  Others may sow, and we may reap.  Rarely will we know at first, but always are we to be faithful.

So, whose life have you been sowing into lately?

(blog posting by Keith Tolley, Vision New England)