Pastoring Your Community: How Positive Community Relations Brings Favor
Pastor Scott Porter

Hello, my name is Rev. Scott Porter. I am the Senior Pastor at ABIDING WORD CHURCH in Sterling, Illinois.  Sterling is located about 120 miles west of Chicago, IL, in a rural area.  Our population is approximately 16,000 people.

I graduated from Rhema Bible Training in 1986 and moved back home the next day where I became the Associate, Youth, and Children’s Pastors.  In 1988 I became the pastor of our church. In 1988 our home was a dilapidated 100 year old church building.  Hardly anyone in the town knew our congregation existed, and our community impact was minimal if it existed at all. 

What I want to share with you now is important. It’s a verse of scripture that was, thankfully, drilled into me by the instructors at Rhema Bible Training Center. It is Romans 8:16 “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God…” 

Allow me to share with you some of the things that we, as a church, and I, as a pastor have done in our community.  I have two rules to begin:

Rule #1: Be led by the Spirit of God in everything you do as a pastor.  I believe that goes without saying, but I’ve learned that “assumption is the lowest form of knowledge” so we’ll start there. 

Don’t just do something that sounds good, or because it worked for somebody else. Find out what it is God wants YOU to do, and DO IT!  What is God’s Plans and Purposes for you to PURSUE?  Now, the things that I list may spark something in you to do, or it may not.  If it seems right to you and the Spirit of God, BLESS GOD, GO FOR IT!!  

Rule #2: Don’t be a religious fuddy dud. In your community have a reputation of being visible, available, and a likable person.  There are enough “religious wet blankets” out there.  Be real with people.  Be approachable.  Be a blessing.

We’ve gone after the unchurched.  Transfer growth is okay, but it’s not where it’s at. 30-35% of people in America go to church, why are we fishing out of a 30-35% bathtub, when there is a 65-70% ocean out there? 
 
Some theologians believe that Jesus and Paul contradicted themselves in certain parts of the Bible.  We know that is not true, but one of the “contradictions” they point to is found in Mark 16:15 “And he (Jesus) said unto them, ‘Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.’”  Jesus said to GO INTO THE WORLD, whereas the apostle Paul wrote in…2 Corinthians 6:17  “Wherefore COME OUT from among them, and BE YE SEPARATE, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you…”

Now wait a minute. Paul said, “come out and be separate.”  And Jesus said, “Go ye into all the world…”  Which is it?  COME OUT OR GO IN?  IT’S BOTH.  It’s easy to rightly divide this word of truth. We are not to go into the world and partake of their lifestyle, but WE ARE to go into the world as SALT & LIGHT to rock our world for Jesus Christ!!  Not one of us will win the whole world, but in Jesus name, I believe we can touch, and bless, and win OUR world. The world in which we live, in our sphere of influence. 

I’m not a carnal Christian, but I’ve seen too many Christians in my life that are so SEPARATIST in their thinking that their local church congregation turns into a “bless me club” that sadly is made up of as Dad Hagin used to say, “us four and no more.” 

For example, several years ago I went golfing with a local United Methodist pastor and he asked me what we do for evangelism.  I told him about the evangelism program that we were working with at that time.  He sighed and told me of his endeavors at the congregation he was leading.  He was discouraged and exasperated.  The last straw for him, he said, was when one of his leaders, a dear lady told him, “Ask unchurched people to come to church?  But pastor, EVERYONE I KNOW GOES TO CHURCH.”  I truly felt bad for him. My question to the church is, “how can you go into the world, if the only place you’re going is into the church?”  

Remember this, Jesus ate and drank with sinners.  A point of clarification before I continue, I’ve never drank alcohol in my life. Not a drop, not a taste, period.  So I want to make that plain, the author of this article is pretty much a “Beaver Cleaver.”  Yet in Matthew 11:19 Jesus said,  “The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.”

I love the Message Translation of Matthew 11:19 “I came feasting and they called me a lush, a friend of the riffraff. Opinion polls don’t count for much, do they? The proof of the pudding is in the eating."

Jesus ate and drank with sinners.  He socialized with heathens, yet he was without sin.  We need to get out of the mentality that says, “everything and/or everyone in your town is the devil,” and as a church, we’re against EVERYTHING.  A story I tell that shows an example of this type of thinking goes like this.  I was born in Dixon, Illinois.  When I was 4 years old we moved 12 miles away from Dixon to Rock Falls, Illinois.  My father, my grandfather, and my uncles had built a brand new house in the country for us.  That first year the landscaping still had to be completed, and the lawn was made up of dirt without a blade of grass.  Now, for 2 little boys, me and my big brother Mark, it was fun.  We had the luxury of 2 large dirt hills to play on.  These hills would be spread out the next year, and grass seed planted.  Another discovery we made living out in the country was gophers.  You know, those furry little critters that dig holes and burrow in your yard?  Now, my father is from the hills of Virginia, and he was pretty good with his .22 rifle, and he would regularly pick off those little varmints with one shot.  Mark and I would watch out the back window and shout to our father, “Daddy, daddy, there’s a gopher out back!!”  Dad would calmly load his gun, open up his bedroom window from the 2nd floor of the split level, and pow!!  Dead gopher.  Now, you may be wondering what in the world this has to do with the devil?  Everything. 

Notice, my father didn’t go hunting for gophers.  He wasn’t dancing around the backyard with rifle in hand looking like Elmer Fudd saying, “Hewo gopher, come out, come out, wherever you are!! Heh-heh-heh….”   He didn’t hunt for gophers, but when the gopher popped it’s head up, bang, my dad dealt with it.  It’s the same with the devil.  The devil is not on my mind 24/7.  I know he and his crowd are around, but they must not influence my thinking.  No, I like to keep a righteousness consciousness, and be about my Heavenly Father’s business.  The light is green, and that means GO!  If I sense a check in my spirit, a “red light” if you will, I stop, but until then, I’m moving ahead.  Now when the devil, pops his head out of a “hole” and tries to interfere in some way, shape, or form, POW!  I take out the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word (Rhema=spoken) of God, and deal with the varmint.  I guess what I’m trying to say is, don’t be known as the guy or gal in town that’s always against everything.  Plant your flag in the ground as a person and church that is FOR great stuff. 

I’ve believed God for favor with the people of our area, and God has given it to us. One of the definitions of FAVOUR in the original greek from Strong’s is: FAVOR (GREEK) charis, especially the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life.
The Bible tells us that Jesus had favor with God and man.  Luke 2:52 “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.”

We know that Jesus stands alone in a class by Himself as the 2nd person of the Godhead.  The God man, who became flesh and dwelt among us.  Yet, in terms of physical and mental development, Jesus went through much of the same progression that we all did.  He related to other people, and he was loved by God.  A full human life is not out of balance.  Jesus saw the importance of developing in all areas of life, spirit, soul, and body.  We know that the soulish realm is made up of our mind, will, and emotions.  That includes our social, mental, and emotional faculties.  Being a Christian from Illinois (the land of Lincoln) there is something that I always found strange.  In the movies, in the 20th century, there are two people that were always cast to look and act like zombies: Jesus Christ and Abraham Lincoln……..They walk around in a fog, never looking people in the eye, and looking off into a far distant horizon, as if life on earth was nothing but a huge bother.  First of all, honest old Abe was a great joke teller, and loved to laugh, and Jesus was real, with God and man, so you be real too!  I believe that God will grant you and your church such favor in your community that you will (as the definition states) be a “divine influence upon the heart(s)” of the people of your community. 

The early church was real with people.  Acts 2:47 tells us, “Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.”

Our church isn’t a perfect church, but it’s a healthy church.  A healthy church attracts people to Christ. (Like flies to a light). The Jerusalem church’s zeal for worship and brotherly love was contagious. A healthy, loving church will grow in numbers. What are you doing to make your church the kind of place that will attract others to Christ?  An attitude of judgment and condemnation won’t cut it, it only pushes people away.  That doesn’t mean that we condone sin, and compromise a righteous standard.  Yet, God didn’t establish the church to be judge, jury, and executioner in people’s lives.  Our best example is Jesus.  When the woman caught in the act of adultery was brought to Jesus, after her accusers left, He asked, “…Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.”  Here’s the Scott Porter translation, “I don’t condemn you either, but stop doing what you’re doing…”  He didn’t verbally lash her, but He also didn’t say, “aw, it’s alright, have fun!”  No, he drew the moral line in the sand, but embraced her in love and forgiveness.   Without compromise, but reaching out in love and acceptance.  I believe that the church should be the most exciting place to be in your town on Sunday, don’t you?
Do you know who Jesus and the early church had FAVOR with?  It wasn’t the religious people or leaders (with a few exceptions like Nicodemus) No, Jesus and the early church had favor with the people.  That is, the community.  The regular folks.  Really, as a church, isn’t that who we’re after, the people?  John Maxwell wrote, “If you don’t have influence, you will NEVER be able to lead others.”  LEADERSHIP IS INFLUENCE. Influencing people to follow God, and you as their pastor.  “The true measure of leadership is influence, nothing more, nothing less.”  General Colin Powell said, “You have achieved excellence as a leader when people will follow you everywhere if only out of curiosity.” 

One of the first things that our church did after I became the pastor was to join our local Chamber of Commerce.  Most every town has a chamber of commerce, and churches usually get a special rate.  We didn’t ask for the special rate, they offered it.  We have since joined the Rock Falls (just across the river) Chamber of Commerce and will soon join the Dixon Chamber of Commerce.  Dixon is ten miles from Sterling and is the Hometown of President Ronald Reagan.  I have been involved with different committees, served at numerous events, and attended the Illinois State Chamber of Commerce convention in the state capital of Springfield.  Every year at the annual dinner of our Chamber, hundreds of the top business execs, CEOs, and upper management are in attendance. Guess who they ask to say the invocation?  A chamber member.  We were the first church to join the chamber, so a majority of the time, I’ve given the invocation.  It has opened so many doors.  IT’S VISIBILITY & INVESTMENT.  Remember, ministry is spelled, W-O-R-K!!

This is a wonderful time to connect with folks, and network.  It also gives an opportunity to witness in public, the goodness of our God.   It’s ALL relational evangelism! Building trust & confidence with the people of your community.  We have also participated in the annual Chamber Expo at our local mall.  Local businesses set up tables with brochures and information about their organization.  We were the first church to participate, and it afforded us unmatched visibility.  I would work several shifts at this Saturday, Sunday event, and meet scores of people.  We had a number of wonderful families begin attending our church as a result of the Expo. 

Several years ago, we had a businessman’s seminar and invited noted speaker/minister VAN CROUCH.  Van knocked it out of the park with his address, and as a result several local business people checked out our church.  Someone said to me once, “Oh, you are a church full of businessmen?”  No, at the time we had the seminar, we had 2 businessman in our church, now we have a bunch!   

One word of warning when dealing with business people.  Realize that YOU WILL BE TEASED.  You will hear every, “Jesus, God, and Moses went golfing joke..” you’ve ever heard.  You will be put on the spot to see what you are made of.  Here’s my advice:   Don’t be defensive, just let the stereotypes roll off your back.  Be willing to laugh at yourself will help get rid of stereotypes & establishing a good reputation in the community. (President Reagan used self-deprecating humor to his advantage)  Remember that being a pastor, and winning trust in a community is NOT a sprint, it’s a marathon.  I believe it was Pastor John Osteen who once said that one of the reasons Lakewood Church had grown to such a remarkable size under his leadership was, “I outlasted everybody!”  There is something to be said for longevity and stability in pastoral leadership.   

For the last 12 years, in the spring, I have taught a 7th grade class at our local Middle School through the Junior Achievement organization.  It’s a structured curriculum led by local business volunteers, that teaches young people about your personal business experience, saving money, investing money, and giving money.  It has a segment, depending on the curriculum, on your personal values.  The first time I meet the new class every year, I walk up to each student, look them in the eye, give them a firm handshake, introduce myself, and hand them a business card.  That first class is always interesting.  Many of the children aren’t used to shaking hands, or speaking to an adult on an equal basis.  By the last class 6-8 weeks later, each student comes forward for a certificate of completion.  I can say without fear of contradiction, each student is more confident, looks me in the eye, shakes my hand firmly, and says thank you.  It’s a remarkable social transformation.  The greatest part is that I’m NOT told what to say, or what not to say.  I talk about life, ministry, and what it takes to be a pastor, because as you all know.  If you are a pastor of a church, you ARE a businessman.  I believe that I have been afforded this favor, #1: Because of my favor with God and man, but #2: Because I have won our communities trust over the years. 

For 10 years, I was blessed and honored to write a column in our daily newspaper.  It started as a bi-weekly column, then to weekly on the editorial page.  I wrote about anything I wanted too.  The Bible, politics, sports, and general interest.  The column carried a small photo of me at the top, and helped establish me in the area.  

Some of the other community organizations I’ve been involved with include:  Our local United Way chapter.  I served on several of the fundraising committees, and in 1995, I chaired the entire campaign.  We met the goal that year and raised over $700,000 for local charities and organizations. 

We sponsored the chapel for many years at our local YMCA summer camp.  A brand new YMCA was dedicated in the year 2000.  One of the fundraisers for this $6.5 million dollar facility was a re-creation of a Chautauqua that took place in Sterling when the old YMCA was built in 1905.  Who was the speaker at that event in the early 20th century?  The renowned evangelist Billy Sunday.  The 1999 Chautauqua re-creation had Billy Sunday as it’s speaker as well.  Rev. Sunday was played by yours truly.  I went to the Billy Graham Center at Wheaton College outside of Chicago, and studied Billy Sunday.  I listened to recordings of his sermons, and watched one of the only known films of him preaching.  All of his sermons from that 1905 event were printed word for word in the next day’s local newspaper.  So when the day came, I was ready.  I preached Jesus to hundreds of people and raised over $8,000 for the local YMCA building campaign.  The funny thing about that day was when a group of local Presbyterians came up to me and said that Billy Sunday was “a wild preacher!”  I said, “Yes, he was, but he also a Presbyterian!”  You should have seen their faces! 

I’ve worked with our local Habitat for Humanity, served as a police chaplain and rode along with officers at night.  Chaired our local Relay for Life walkathon for cancer research.  Served as the Treasurer and Board member of Sterling 2000, which crafted a multi year plan that will renovate the downtown infrastructure of Sterling, IL.  For many years I served on the board of the Sterling Mural Society.  I love history, and the society has had 18 professionally painted murals depicting the local history of Sterling on buildings throughout the downtown.  I’ve prayed at the dedication of each mural, save one, and one mural has the Rhema Faith shield hidden in it. 

Probably the most fun I’ve had in a community organization is being a member of the Sterling Noon Rotary club.  Rotary International is a worldwide organization of more than 1.2 million business, professional, and community leaders. Members of Rotary clubs, known as Rotarians, provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world.  There are 33,000 Rotary clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas. Clubs are nonpolitical, nonreligious, and open to all cultures, races, and creeds. As signified by the motto Service Above Self, Rotary’s main objective is service — in the community, in the workplace, and throughout the world.  They meet weekly. Many Rotary clubs will meet at the local YMCA, YWCA, or even a church.  Each meeting begins with an invocation, the reciting of the 4 Way test, and the singing of America the Beautiful.  The 4 Way Test bears repeating.  It governs all that we think, say, or do as Rotarians, and besides, it’s as biblically based as you can get:  1. Is it the Truth?  2. Is it Fair to all concerned?  3.  Will it build goodwill and better friendships?  4. Will it be beneficial to all concerned?  This July, I will be installed as the new President of our local Rotary club, I’ve been a member since 1992.  I believe approximately a dozen or more families have joined our church as a result of my involvement in Rotary.  Once again, I don’t just walk up to people and invite them, or smack them with the biggest King James version of the Bible in my library.  I listen to the Spirit of God on the inside of me, and when He gives me a green light, I ask, or invite, or listen, or pray with people.  I’m there, I’m available, and more often than not, people come up to me and ask, “what time are your church services?”  Then, I tell them, and hand them a business card.  Folks, always have a supply of your church business cards with you.  Members of your local Rotary club are community leaders.  They are eagles.  And if there is one thing you receive from this article, I pray you get this:  PASTOR, YOU ARE A COMMUNITY LEADER WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT.  SO, LEAD!!  I have sat down at our Rotary club, and had a local businessperson sit down with me, and pour there heart out to me about situations in their life.  From the outside, they look successful, put together, and have the world by the tail, but in reality, they are hurting.  Their spouse is ready to file for divorce, their child is on drugs, etc.  They may already go to church somewhere, but they are embarrassed to say anything because of their position in their congregation.  Well, it would be easy to say, “what a hypocrite!”  No, I see a hurting person, who needs the love of God, and compassion.  I listen, and I pray.  Then, I keep confidence.  I tell folks, “I know so many secrets, I’ve forgotten most of them!” J

Build a great relationship with your local media.  For 6 years we had a 15 minute weekly Sunday morning radio broadcast on our local station WSDR (Sterling, Dixon, Rock Falls).  By the way, this is a secular station, not a Christian station!  We were a sponsor on their Chicago Cubs schedules, which were distributed in every tavern/bar in town.  Talk about “targeted marketing!”  For 6 years, we sponsored a weekly program called “God & You”.  I was “live” in studio with the DJ, and we talked about life, ministry, divorce, sickness, healing, church, you name it.  The local DJ, John Rohwer, Jr. was a local radio legend.  He had an aversion to religion, but always treated me respectfully.  Over 15 years, I ministered to him, at times sowing a spoonful of the seed of God’s Word, and sometimes a handful.  In 2007, John was diagnosed with cancer.  In February of 2008, on a snowy night, in a Roman Catholic hospital in Rockford, Illinois, I was blessed to lead John Rohwer, Jr. to Christ.  In May of that year, I preached his funeral.  For the last 6 years, I’ve been on WSDR every weekday morning at 6:16 am for 5-8 minutes.  The station calls me at home, and I start people’s day off with humor, telling stories, sharing a scripture, talking about the Cubs game from the day before, what’s going on at church, and closing with an inspirational thought.  It’s worth it’s weight in gold to us!!  I can’t go anywhere without people mentioning, “Hey!  I heard you on the radio while I was, getting ready for work, going to work, etc.”  Numbers of people have started attending church.  I just share my heart, and keep it real with people.         

In the early 1990s, I was asked by the principal of our local high school to moderate and intervene in a racial dispute between black and white students and parents.  Along with a local African-American pastor, we sat down, talked, discussed, debated, and prayed with the individuals, and thankfully, worked things out.  Today, that high school principal attends our church, and chaired the stewardship campaign to build our new church facility.

I chaperone at our local high schools homecoming and prom dances.  “Instead of cursing the darkness, BE A LIGHT!  LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE.”  We have had our share of tragedies locally.  Six high school students in a six year period have committed suicide.  I’ve been asked to be a member of the school crisis committee, and have been there for hours ministering to grieving students, teachers, and administrators. 

I attend the local high school football games, basketball games, and track meets.  Two of my three daughters have graduated from high school, but I attended before they were in high school, and I will after they have all graduated.  Why do I go?  Because I love kids, and I kind of like sports too!

In our ministerial circles, one advantage that we have is that we do not have a central ministerial office moving us around every 3-5 years.  There are approximately 70 churches in Sterling/Rock Falls.  On average, 12 pastors leave a year.  Of those churches, I am in the top 3 as far as ministerial longevity in the community (24 years).  It’s a marathon, not a sprint.  As people in the community get to know you, you will be called on.

God has blessed me with favor in praying at the dedication of our new State Police HQ with our then Governor Jim Edgar in attendance.  I’ve given the invocation at the State of Illinois Easter Seals banquet in Chicago which was broadcast live on FOX SPORTS Chicago.  I was fortunate to meet Cub’s hall of famer Ryne Sandberg, and Chicago Bulls player Steve Kerr.  Three times, I have opened the Illinois State Legislature in prayer. How did that happen?  I built a friendship over the years with my state representative and state senator.  Knowing your political representatives is important.  Ministers present a unique perspective, since you represent a chunk of the electorate.  I don’t play party politics, but whenever a vote on certain issues that may affect a church, or a moral issue of great importance is being debated, I get a call from my state rep to talk to me about it.  WHY? Because I’m a big political cahuna? No, because I’ve cultivated a friendship with both my state representative and state senator.  I’ve also reached out in the love of Jesus, love to my state representative, and prayed for his needs.  Guess what folks? Politicians are people too.

I have a wonderful church staff that allows me the latitude to pastor our community, and not just the 4 walls of our church.  Yet, even when I was the only pastor on staff at our church, I made it a priority to reach out, be visible, and approachable.  Here’s something good to know.  Go after the community.  Reach out to the unchurched. 

Most of these things that I have done over the years is just #1 Being led by the Holy Ghost and #2: Volunteering and being available. I pray that this will encourage and strengthen you to lift up your eyes, outside of the 4 walls of your church, to see the harvest in your community!  It’s what Jesus called us to do!

Stepping Out Gracefully – Stepping in Effectively
Dr. Earlby and Pastor Brent Coulter

Dr. Earlby Coulter & his wife, Esther, have over fifty years of experience in the ministry, and have been pastoring at Harvest Family Church since 1989. Earlby and Esther both graduated from Bible School in 1962, they were married and entered the ministry shortly thereafter. Pastor Coulter has three earned degrees, B.A., M.Div., and a Th.D. Dr. Coulter earned his degrees while working in various roles of full-time ministry. Brent Coulter joined the HFC Pastoral Staff in 1994 upon graduating from Bible College, and served faithfully for many years as an associate Pastor under Pastors Earlby and Esther Coulter. He became the Lead Pastor at Harvest Family Church in November 2008. Brent and his wife Nicole have two daughters.

It is inevitable that every Senior Pastor’s season of having the responsibility of leading a church comes to an end. For the ongoing viability of a church, every congregation needs to address the issue of succession. The success of this transition depends upon the recognition of its necessity by the Senior Pastor. He has an extremely important role in the transition. It is better for the senior leader to spearhead the transition rather than having the congregation or other leaders within the church experience the pain of asking a beloved ‘Man of God’ to step away or step down from the leadership role.

When a Senior Pastor arrives at the age of 60 (give or take a few years), he should begin to prayerfully assess the possible successors on his staff. If no qualified successor is readily apparent, he should begin the search to add someone to the staff that could possibly become the new Senior Pastor.

We did not have to go through the process of bringing in someone from outside the church staff. We are sure, however, there are others who could speak intelligently to that process of how to conduct such a search successfully.

Once the successor has been prayerfully considered and identified, there is a myriad of areas of training and preparation that need to be addressed.

In our particular situation, we transitioned the leadership role from father (70 years old) who had been pastor for 20 years to son (38 years old) who had been on staff 14 years. Our proceeding thoughts in this article are intended to spark conversation towards a healthy approach to transition.

Our advice in this article is based on the success and difficulties we experienced within each point mentioned.

We have separated the areas of transition, training and possible change into different categories. Each section is simplified and should be part of a much larger discussion.

Start With a Plan

Try to map out changes as they relate to the transition process. Some of these changes will take place in months; some could (and should) happen over years.

As much as possible, during this period of transition, identify and work through changes in conjunction with one another, so that the successor and Senior Pastor can be seen as working on changes together. It takes a lot of good, healthy communication and respect for each other. The longer this period takes place the better, allowing for an adjustment period for staff, congregation and board.

Confidence

The successor must feel confident in front of the congregation and likewise the congregation must have confidence in him.

One practical way to achieve this goal is to have the successor up in front of the people as much as possible, making announcements, receiving offerings, preaching, participating in communion, and water baptism and officiating/assisting at weddings and funerals.

As the actual date of transition is approaching, have the successor preach more frequently, especially when the Senior Pastor is there in attendance. The successor cannot be seen just as a fill-in for the absence of the Senior Pastor, but rather as an intricate part of the leadership team of the church.

Part of the training for the successor is getting used to preaching more frequently, and the church getting used to his specific gifts and emphasis. One inescapable fact: not everyone will take to the successor and his style or approach, and it is important for the successor to be prepared emotionally for this reality, but be secure in his gifts and calling. Pastors are very near and dear to the hearts of people and, consequently, not every congregational member will survive through a transition.

The outgoing Senior Pastor will receive more love and accolades than ever before. It is important, however, that he resist the temptation to allow his ego to disrupt the transition. The exaltation of Jesus and the continuing future success of the local church should be the goals. John’s admonition, “He must increase and I must decrease,” is apropos in the transition context.

Further, the simple practice of celebrating with enthusiasm a well-preached sermon of the successor by the Senior Pastor, will go a long way to increasing the positive impact of the successor in the eyes of the congregation. During the transitioning period, attendance of church events by the Senior Pastor hosted by the successor, is very important because it visually tells the congregation the Senior Pastor is supportive of the successor.

Likewise and very important, the successor needs to verbally honor the Senior Pastor on a regular basis, recognizing that he is much beloved by the congregation.

Working with Church Staff

The relationship between Pastor and staff is very crucial. The successor and the Senior Pastor need to meet together to establish if the existing staff team will remain after the succession has taken place. Once communication has been made to the staff team about the succession, the successor must be free to decide which member of the team/direct reports will continue to be a fit under his leadership. This process should be achieved with a tremendous amount of communication, respect and discussion with each employee (especially in a smaller setting) concerning their future at the church. Most likely there will be some turnover of employees during a transition.

The successor and the Senior Pastor need to establish a plan of transition as it relates to working with the staff and conducting meetings — the eventual and necessary result being that the successor meets with the staff more frequently without the Senior Pastor present.

The successor would then report back to the Senior Pastor about the meetings, therefore giving opportunity of closed-door training/discussions between the Senior Pastor and successor.

As you move to the official succession date, it is important that separate meetings with the senior pastor and direct reports do not happen without the successor present. Clear and open communication is vital throughout this process.

Working with Church Board/Finances

When the successor has been identified, it is important that he be trained to understand the financial activity of the church, the debt (if any), the salary structure of the staff, and the thought process behind that structure,  how budgeting is done, and how goals are met within that structure, how to plan, vision cast and implement a capital campaign. It is important to understand where the financial authority and accountability exist with the church structure.

When dealing with a church board, deacons, elders (as per the specific church structure), the successor needs to be invited into board meetings as a visitor or in some official capacity as dictated by the church’s by-laws. Initially, he will be a silent observer; however after a period of time he should be encouraged to contribute and give his input. Eventually he should take on a role of responsibility within board meetings.

Senior Pastor’s Wife (a note from Esther Coulter)

There is a transition period for the wife also, especially if she has been heavily involved in different areas such as preaching, teaching, administration, counselling, and women’s ministry, etc. She should gradually step down from any leadership role by training new leaders. She has to follow her husband’s lead. Her identity must be secure in who she is as a person as well as who she is in Christ Jesus. She also has to be very supportive of the successor, his wife and family in every way and not be openly or inwardly critical. This allows the wife of the successor to take her place without struggle. For the outgoing Senior Pastor’s wife, this can be a wonderful new season in life.

For the Senior Pastor and his spouse, it is important to not impose a specific type of ministry model on the successor and his wife. The incoming pastoral family may have a different gift mix or interest in the life of the church, such as worship vs. kids ministry; pulpit vs. counseling one on one; or high profile vs. low profile. In any case, the successor and his family should be encouraged to operate in the gifts given to them by God and not be forced to wear Saul’s armor.

Leaving or Staying

Once the successor is firmly established, the Senior Pastor may leave and attend another church; do other forms of ministry, or stay and help the successor in some way such as, teach a Bible class, visit hospitals, or do some counselling if needed, at the discretion of the successor. This has worked in our case because father and son have a good relationship and good communication. We don’t know how this would work outside of a family context. We know other ministers who have gone on to do other forms of ministry outside the church. If the Senior Pastor is leaving, he should leave town because of the awkwardness of attending another church in the same vicinity. Some feelings of awkwardness will exist for a while regardless of what path is chosen.

Practical Thoughts

Pastoral relations during a celebration of marriage or funerals are a very important time. Therefore, it is important for the outgoing Pastor to refuse invitations to conduct weddings and funerals. In general, the congregation needs to be made aware that the former Senior Pastor will no longer be performing weddings or officiating at funerals.

Final Note to Senior Pastors

It is inevitable that the successor will operate differently from the outgoing Senior Pastor. For example, some changes will occur depending on the direction the successor desires to take in worships styles, song selection, dress code, salvation (altar) call approach, etc.

The Gospel will never change, but the ways in which The Gospel is presented will vary from minister to minister and will continue to change as we have observed throughout the history of the church. Therefore, it is imperative that the Senior Pastor does not openly criticize those decisions, which would cause undue tension and completely undermine the successor, abort the transition and confuse the congregation.

The ethic of love would dictate encouragement and support to help the successor succeed and thrive. For the outgoing senior pastor (post transition) there is great joy in viewing the continued success of the local church that he loved and invested in for many years.

There is an ethical nature and social grace to transition that makes it palatable to everyone involved. Transition should include thankfulness for the past and celebration of the future.

Why Would a Pastor Study Psychology?
Dr. Jeff Walker

Rev. Jeff E. Walker was born and raised in the State of Illinois. He attended Central Bible College of the Assemblies of God and is a graduate of Rhema Bible Training Center. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Western Illinois University, a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Master of Arts in Professional Counseling degrees from Liberty University. He received Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees from Oral Roberts University as well as a Doctor of Clinical Psychology degree from Trinity College of Graduate Studies which included an internship at the Betty Ford Center in Rancho Mirage, CA. Jeff and his wife, Melissa, pioneered Victory Christian Center in Palm Springs, CA in 1982, and continue to lead that congregation today.

The primary roles of a pastor are to feed the spirit and to shepherd the soul of each woman or man the Lord entrusts to the care of that minister. The soul, or psuche (I Thes 5:23) in Greek, has much to do with the mental health of an individual. While the Church and pastors seem to have crossed over the hurdles of the subjects of sex and money and those being addressed in appropriate ways from pulpits, one hurdle remains to be jumped. Mental health and psychology may be a final frontier with regard to the efficient and effective application of the Gospel in helping God’s people.

Imagine having a church member who, though attending your church regularly, could not benefit from the transforming power of scripture because of a physical ailment which caused them to be deaf. You would likely do everything in your power (both naturally and spiritually) to assist and encourage such an individual in receiving any available help they needed to have their hearing restored.

There are men and women in your church who suffer from a different kind of deafness. They experience psychological deafness. And they, as those with physical deafness, may not be benefitting fully from your ministry. Whether such “deafness” results from mental illness, a personality disorder or a childhood trauma which has resulted in faulty internalized core beliefs, people can be hindered without proper help.

It is generally agreed among religion and mental health researchers that pastors are often sought in times of emotional difficulty and serve as front-line primary mental health caregivers in many communities. (Weaver, Flannelly, Garbarino, Figley & Flannelly, 2003 and Lish, Fitzsimmons, McMinn & Root, 2003). As such, a pastor who perceives himself as a “professional” might be well served by studying psychology in order to enhance his (or her) ability to meet mental health needs. That doesn’t mean having to earn a degree, necessarily. Simply reading some good books on various subjects could be very helpful for both pastors and their constituents. Here’s the reality….psychology is simply the scientific study of motivation and behavior.

In my experience, today’s churchgoer wants to talk about mental health issues. If we fail to address them, their needs may go unmet or they are left to fend for themselves in that clinical world that can sometimes be unfriendly turf for Bible believing Christians. With a pastor’s informed guidance, they will likely be much safer. The good news is studying psychology does not require us to change our message. No, we maintain a good news message. Our message is simply applied more thoughtfully, skillfully and intentionally. A brilliant man of God, well trained in Theology and Psychology, once made this observation in an attempt to challenge young ministers to work diligently on their preaching, “Both brain surgeons and butchers use a knife. Which one are you?” I believe I am a better pastor and preacher because of my understanding of psychology. I have served the same congregation for 29 years and I’m more confident in the healing and transforming power of God’s Word than I’ve ever been…even after adding Licensed Clinical Psychologist with my Pastor title.

On a personal note, I’m sure a part of my extensive study of psychology was motivated by my own need to repair brokenness in my life. I love to learn and the educational process was invigorating to my mind and spirit. It was also a wonderful healing adventure…one that is still in progress. Should you decide to study psychology in whatever form that might take, I bless your journey.

REFERENCES

Lish, R. A., Fitzsimmons, C. R., McMinn, M. R., & Root, A. M. (2003). Clergy interest in innovative collaboration with psychologists. Journal of Psychology and Christianity, 22 (4), 294-298.

Weaver, A. J., Flannelly, L. T., Garbarino, J., Figley, C. R. & Flannelly, K. J. (2003). A systematic review of research on religion and spirituality in the Journal of Traumatic Stress: 1990-1999. Mental Health, Religion & Culture, 6, 215-228.

God’s Keeping System: "That Guy" and Other Christian Myths
Virgil Stokes

Virgil Stokes is a Pastor and Teacher, serving churches since 1980 in Oklahoma, New York, and Arizona. He and his wife, Judy, pioneered Faith Christian Fellowship of Tucson in 2004. Prior to entering ministry Virgil worked as a Registered Nurse in the field of mental health and addictions treatment. A recovering addict himself, Virgil has written and spoken extensively on Christian recovery. He is the author of several books, and is the founder of Faith Ministry Training Institute, a training program empowering local pastors to equip ministers in their own churches. Pastor Virgil is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma and Rhema Bible Training Center. His passion is getting people out of the pews and into the harvest.

You may already know about "That Guy." I’ve never known his real name, so “That Guy” will have to do. I’ve asked many people about him. Most claim to know him but are either unwilling or unable to name him. When I first started preaching I thought he must surely have been following me around. It seemed that every place I went, someone would ask me about “That Guy.” My guess is that you have heard of him, too.

When I took my first pastorate, "That Guy” was quickly brought to my attention. He was in my church, too! He was described to me over and over again by sincere and pious saints. They usually started with a question that went something like this: “Pastor, how can a person come to church and act like a Christian on Sunday, lift his hands in worship, be saved and filled with the Spirit, be happy and blessed of God, when they go out and live in sin all week long?"  My response was always, "Who is ‘That Guy’ and what does he do? Where does he sit? I want to meet him!"  In every instance, it was impossible at that moment to find him.

Thus began my quest to actually locate and help "That Guy." I didn’t ever meet him, but I did learn several things in the search. First, a lot of folks just don’t like seeing other people get blessed. It makes them mad and they complain about it, sometimes even accusing another of wrongdoing. Second, some people who are miserable on the inside can do a great job of faking well-being for an hour or two on Sunday, thus giving the false impression that they are happy and content. Third, there are some people who go to church, act like Christians, but don’t really know the Lord. Fourth, and most important, "That Guy" doesn’t exist.

It would be genuinely irritating if there were Christian people who lived in all the blessings of God, enjoyed health, peace, and prosperity, yet lived a consistently immoral lifestyle. The appearance of such a thing has always grated on the people of God. The Psalmist spoke for most of us when he said, "For I was envious of the boastful, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. (Psalm 73:3)". It is even more irritating when we think that someone will live in blessing, serve the flesh, and make Heaven his home just as we do. It’s just doesn’t seem right!!!

Every school of doctrinal thought has some way to deal with “That Guy.”  When I was a kid I went to the Baptist church. There they told me that if I went to the altar and prayed with the deacon I could come back on Sunday night and be baptized. This would then assure me of being saved no matter what. I was “once saved always saved.”  I immediately thought, “Does that mean I can just live any way I want and still make Heaven as long as I prayed the prayer?”  That didn’t seem right.

A few years down the line, after leaving church and living in the world, I came back to the Lord in the Word of Faith, Charismatic move. They were firmly planted in the Pentecostal tradition, with its holiness roots. These folks tended to be quite sin-conscious. Some even said that every time I sinned I lost my salvation. “You don’t want to die with unrepented sin in your life, brother!” The implication being that if I somehow overlooked something, or slipped up and cussed right before I died, I was bound for Hell even if I had served God faithfully for years. That didn’t seem right, either.

A few years ago, I worked in a church where the Pastor decided he would follow after the Calvinist crowd. He told us that man was totally depraved and incapable of making a decision to follow God. In fact, God had already decided who He was going to save before the world was ever created, and that He would save those people and no others. Not only that, but if He wanted to save you then you would get saved no matter what you did. He called that “grace.”  The blood of Jesus was only shed for these “elect” ones, and the rest of humanity would burn in Hell in order to give glory to God by showing He could do as He pleased. He called that “sovereignty.”  Now that sure didn’t seem right.

Most of these folks are good people who love God, and have done their best to deal with the questions that come up when we watch the lives of people. “That Guy” presents all of us with honest questions:  “Can you live like that and still go to Heaven?”  “Are we once saved, always saved?” When a Christian sins does he have to be born again, again? The problem springs from the questions. We ask the wrong ones. Every question that focuses on specific behaviors rather than on quality of relationship takes us away from grace and into law. The moment we start down the road of, “Can I wear jewelry, pick my nose, and get a tattoo?” we have missed the point. The question is, “Have I been born of the Spirit?” If the answer to that is, “Yes,” then God will deal with me in a manner completely separate from lists of forbidden behaviors. He is my Father and He wants to keep me. That is grace.

God Wants to Keep You

And now-all glory to him who alone is God, who saves us through Jesus Christ our Lord; yes, splendor and majesty, all power and authority are his from the beginning; his they are and his they evermore shall be. And he is able to keep you from slipping and falling away, and to bring you, sinless and perfect, into his glorious presence with mighty shouts of everlasting joy. Amen.  
Jude 24, The Living Bible

There is an old lullaby that goes something like "rock-a-bye baby, in the treetop. When the wind blows the cradle will rock. When the bough breaks the cradle will fall, and down will come baby, cradle and all." Many good Christian people have this picture concerning their status in the Kingdom of God. They go through every day fearful that they will inadvertently, in a moment of carelessness or passion, do something that will cause them to fall out of God’s grace. This is simply not true!

Attention all believers: God is working to keep you, not kick you out!!!! The entire mission and heart of our Lord Jesus Christ was to seek and to save that which was lost. He went through all the shame and sorrow of the cross, applied all the power of the resurrection, and dedicated Himself to live eternally to make intercession for us, all for the purpose of saving us to the uttermost. His desire is to save us, not drop us screaming into Hell.

The New Testament is full of references to God’s desire and ability to hang on to us until the Day of the Lord. On the eve of His crucifixion, Jesus prayed that the Father would keep us:

Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are. I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one.      
John 17:11,15

Notice the basis on which Jesus asks the Father to keep us. He appeals to the Name of God. This is an appeal to the Person of Jehovah, to all that He is and all that He does. God is not keeping us based on who we are and what we have done. He is keeping us based on who He is and what He has done. For many people this is difficult to grasp. Human thinking wants to earn salvation. Even though we know we are born into the kingdom by grace, we still want to earn the privilege of staying in the Kingdom.

Peter clearly addressed this issue in his first epistle:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
1 Peter 1:3-5

You are born again through faith in the resurrection of Christ. The motivation behind this wonderful gift rests in the abundant mercy of God, not in you. This new birth entitles you to an eternal inheritance in heaven. The word inheritance refers to something that is yours because of your position in the family. Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament says, "It is the portion or heritage which one receives by virtue of birth or by special gift." Heaven is yours because of your relationship to the Father that came to you by being born into the family. You don’t earn it, you inherit it.

We enter the kingdom through faith in the resurrection power of God. We believe that if we continue in Him we will go to Heaven when we die, or when the Lord returns. The question is how do we manage to stay in the Kingdom in the meantime? How are we supposed to live down here? Peter provides a clear answer. We are kept by the power of God. We access that power daily in the same way we accessed it to be born again. We use our faith, or as Paul put it, “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7)

As surely as we are saved by faith, we are kept by faith. As long as we believe and confess that Jesus is Lord, the power of God will keep us. There is no shortage of power with God. He is perfectly able to keep us, and we can surely see that He wants to keep us.

This all sounds fine until we bump into the issue of sin. What about sin in the life of the Christian? Isn’t there some universal code of justice that requires those who don’t live right to pay the consequences? Isn’t salvation more than a doctrinal issue? Isn’t some change in behavior required? Of course!

Most of our problem comes because we lack understanding concerning what happened to us when we were born of the Spirit. We see ourselves as still under law. We think like insurance actuaries in a system of debits and credits. We have an innate desire to balance the books. This is not the way God’s kingdom works. We have to move into Kingdom thinking.

God adopted us into His family. He deals with us as sons in His house, not as employees or subjects. Like any Father, His desire is to keep us in the family, not disown us and send us away. As a result He deals with our failures, our ignorance, and even our rebellion, as a loving Father not a Heavenly Constable. This does not mean we escape the consequences of our actions, but it means that our actions have different consequences than those of outsiders. Didn’t your dad deal with you differently than he did the neighbor kid?

The whole issue is summed up in a little passage from 1 Corinthians 11 where Paul is dealing with some behavioral issues surrounding the Lord’s Table. In verse 32 he says, "But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world." T. his phrase lets us know that God doesn’t want us to be condemned with the world. The world is condemned to spend eternity in Hell because they have rejected Jesus Christ. Our Father deals with us in a way designed to prevent this from happening.

This is God’s Keeping System. It is designed by God to keep us because He wants us kept. He is a very powerful God and a very wise God. When He designs a system, it works!!! It works because of Him, not us. It works in a way that reflects His nature. It works in a way that reflects our family relationship with Him. It works whether we know it or not. It works whether we like it or not. It just works. Once we know how it works we can quit worrying about “That Guy,” we can stop fretting over our own salvation, and we can begin to enjoy the freedom of grace. We can live as children of God, lovingly corrected when we fail, but confident that we are still part of the family.

Learning these simple truths did several things for me. First, it convinced me that God is very capable of keeping His kids in the family. Second, it brought a great measure of peace to many in my church who had honest questions about their faith and their life experience. Finally, it put to rest forever the search for "That Guy." He doesn’t exist. If you think you know him, think again. If someone seems to fit the description of "That Guy" you must pray earnestly for him because he is either lost or he is a Christian pretending to be blessed. Either way, he needs your prayers.

This article is excerpted and adapted from “You are a Keeper.”  The book is available at www.fcftucson.org or at amazon.com. Inquiries for more information may be emailed to [email protected], or you may phone the office at 520-792-FCFT.

To Opt Out or Not to Opt Out (Part 1 of 2)
By Mark Helland, CPA

Mark Helland, CPA is a partner with the accounting firm of Elliott, Dozier and Helland, PC which is located in Tulsa, Oklahoma. For further information on this topic, Mark’s firm has a short report on basic fraud prevention tactics which is available to you at no cost. Mark can be contacted via email at [email protected] or by phone at (918) 627-2286.

Pastors have several key tax issues that make them uniquely different from other American taxpayers, including the housing allowance, self-employed treatment for W-2 wage earners and the ability to opt out of the social security system. These three issues create a great deal of complexity for pastors as they make decisions that have long-ranging consequences for their financial well being. In my view, the ability to elect to irrevocably opt out of social security is the most complex financial planning issue for pastors as it carries a high degree of long-term consequence if the wrong decision is made.

As a quick overview, pastors are considered to be self-employed for tax purposes even though they receive a W-2 from their church or ministry and are then responsible for the payment of what is called self-employment tax. SE tax is a combination of both the “employee” and the “employer” portion of FICA and Medicare tax, both of which the self employed individual is responsible for remitting. This tax is in addition to regular federal income tax on W-2 earnings as the SE tax is paid to the social security system for the future payment of social security benefits at retirement. While the income tax is assessed only on the pastor’s salary or wage income issued on form W-2, SE tax is assessed on salary or wage income and the full amount received as housing allowance. A mistake we frequently see in our practice is the misunderstanding that the housing allowance is completely free from tax. This is only potentially true for those pastors who have opted out of the social security system and for pastors who have not opted out of social security; the housing allowance is subject to SE tax. Of course, any excess housing allowance above actual housing expenses is subject to regular income tax for all pastors, regardless of whether or not the pastor has elected to opt out of social security or not.

The federal government has historically allowed pastors to opt out of the social security system based on religious opposition to being included in a federally operated insurance program. This is the only valid reason that a pastor can cite to make the election to opt out of the system. The election to opt out of social security is made by completing an IRS Form 4361 which is then filed with the IRS as an irrevocable election. It should be noted that this election only pertains to pastoral income and not earned income from other sources such as part-time employment or a separate business activity. During the past thirty or so years, the social security administration offered two brief time windows for pastors to essentially opt back in to the system but this opportunity is not currently available and there is no indication that this opportunity will ever be offered again.

From my experience in working with pastors who have made the election to opt out of social security, I have very rarely sensed that they did so for religious reasons or for opposition to being included in a federal insurance program. Most of the pastors that I have worked with over the years who have opted out seemed to have done so for one of these two reasons: (1) They do not believe that the social security system will survive to pay the benefits that have been promised and/or (2) They do not want to pay the self-employment tax (especially on their housing allowance) and they believe that they can save/invest the amount that would have been paid as taxes to the IRS and come out ahead over the long term by so doing. I will also add a third argument which I hear from time to time which is a combination of “I just don’t plan to ever retire and that God will provide for me”. I will have to admit that as a young CPA I was firmly in the “opt out” camp and I agreed fully with both of these arguments. If CPA’s could have opted out of social security I probably would have done the same thing at that point in time! However, over the years I have changed my opinion to a now strongly held belief that opting out of social security is dangerous. I will do my best to explain my reasoning for this and offer solutions to those who have already opted out of social security. Let’s look at the two primary arguments for opting out as both have merit and should be carefully considered:

Argument #1 – The social security system will not survive to pay benefits for me:
Based on what we are seeing from the federal government at the present time, this argument is tough to refute. Hardly a month goes by without some ominous article or warning about the social security system with projections that benefits will begin to be paid out to retirees that are in excess of the tax that is collected from current workers. These warnings are even printed on the benefits statements that are issued by the Social Security Administration. I am certainly concerned about the solvency of the social security system (and our government as a whole, I might add!). However, if you use this argument to justify opting out of social security, you have to seriously consider the importance of the social security system to the American economy. Practically speaking, it is almost impossible to imagine a scenario where the system would completely disappear or stop paying benefits to those who have qualified for them. The system is simply too important for this to occur. There is a reason why the social security system has been historically called the “third rail” of government – proposing modification to the social security has been lethal to many a politician’s career over the years. While the retirement age to qualify for social security benefits may be increased and payroll taxes will almost certainly be increased at some point, I do not believe that the system itself could ever disappear or completely disavow its promise to pay benefits to younger workers. I may be wrong, but I simply cannot imagine this scenario ever coming to pass.

Argument #2 – I will opt out and save/invest the additional taxes that I would have paid to the IRS:
This is the weaker of the two primary arguments in my view and is very easy to refute based on what I see every day in our CPA firm. While the theory for this argument is good, it simply does not happen in practice for most pastors. I frequently work with pastors who are fifteen to twenty years away from retirement that do not appear to have saved any significant amount of money and have opted out of social security. In some cases, these pastors also do not have disability insurance coverage or adequate life insurance coverage. It is so easy to set a lifestyle based on a set amount of money and forget that some of the money that is funding this lifestyle was intended to fund retirement. So, what tends to happen year after year is that “life” gets in the way of intended retirement plans – braces for the kids, college tuition, weddings, home improvements, etc. – all have a way of crowding out retirement savings.

Argument #3 – I don’t plan to ever retire and God will provide for me anyway:
I think it is very admirable to plan to work as long as possible, especially when you find your work emotionally fulfilling. However, sometimes this option simply isn’t available to you as the aging process can bring any number of physical challenges or even disabilities of some sort. Additionally, I certainly do agree that God provides for his children but I believe that one of the ways that he provides for his children in our modern society is through insurance! To just simply say that God provides and ignore disability, life or health insurance options that are available seems to me to be putting God to the test to some degree.

In this first of two articles, I have attempted to alert pastors to this critical issue and some of the arguments that are used when deciding to opt out of social security. My bias against opting out of social security has certainly come through, and in the next article I will do my best to explain the full extent of benefits that are offered under the social security system. I will also lay out a full action plan for pastors who have already opted out of social security so that they can make sure that they have adequately planned for their future retirement.

This article is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. It is shared with the understanding that neither the author nor Tony Cooke Ministries is engaged in rendering legal, accounting, psychological, medical or other professional services. Laws and regulations are continually changing, and can vary according to location and time. No representation is made that the information herein is applicable for all locations and times. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought.

© Tony Cooke Ministries, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Offense is a Trap
Rick Renner

Rick Renner is a highly respected leader, teacher, and author within the Christian community, both in the U.S. and abroad. He works alongside his wife Denise to see the Gospel preached, leadership trained, and churches established throughout the former Soviet Union. Rick and Denise are the founders and pastors of the Moscow Good News Church. They reside in Moscow, along with their three sons and their families.

The following is an excerpt from Rick Renner’s latest book, You Can Get Over It: How To Confront, Forgive, and Move On. Click on Rick’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/RickRenner to request a free copy of this book, while supplies last.

As long as we live in this world, we’re going to have to deal with the potential of being offended. We can’t prevent offenses from happening, but we can avoid taking offense and getting bitter. Opportunities to get offended will always present themselves to each one of us. In fact, Jesus Himself told us that it would be impossible to avoid offenses because they will come (see Luke 17:1). Jesus wasn’t being the bearer of bad news when He said that — He was just telling us the truth.

So if there’s one thing we all need to learn, it’s how to deal with people and the offenses that inevitably occur in life. That’s why the apostle Paul wrote in Hebrews 12:14: “Follow peace with all men…” That word “follow” is the Greek word dioko, which means to follow, to pursue, or even to hunt. The use of this word indicates that peace isn’t always easy to come by ― we may have to search for it. And in our relationships with the more difficult people we encounter in life, we will have to aggressively seek peace.

Hebrews 12:14 goes on to say, “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.” This verse bothered me for years because it appeared to say that if a person died with bitterness or strife in his heart, he wouldn’t go to Heaven. After all, the last phrase says, “without which no man shall see the Lord.” But when I pulled out my Greek New Testament to look up this word “see,” I discovered this phrase could be better interpreted: “without which no man shall be admitted into the immediate presence of God.” This verse really isn’t talking about admittance into Heaven. It’s referring to entrance into the presence of God right now. In other words, if a person knowingly harbors bad attitudes, strife, or unforgiveness in his heart, those attitudes can set up a roadblock in his life that prevents him from experiencing the power and presence of God right now.

We’ve all faced situations in our lives that greatly challenge us in our commitment to walk free from offense. I don’t believe that anyone ever wakes up and thinks, I fully intend to become offended by someone today! Offenses tend to catch us by surprise. And if we’re not on guard against the temptation to be offended, we can easily fall into the trap of offense.

That’s why it’s so important for you to commit yourself to living free from offense ― and to make this commitment before you’re faced with the opportunity to become offended. If you’ll make up your mind and settle the matter ahead of time about how you will and will not respond, you won’t slip, trip, and get stuck when the trap of offense is suddenly sprung on the path before you.

The ‘Pygmy Pastor’

I want to share a personal story that I’m not proud of, but it’s one that will illustrate how offense gets started and how it grows out of control if you don’t commit to living free of offense. Something happened between another pastor and me many years ago in the early years of our ministry in the Soviet Union. As a result of my immaturity, I became deeply offended and my behavior ended up becoming just as ugly as the person’s behavior that had offended me. I am thankful that the Lord confronted me and required me to repent in a dramatic way ― dramatic enough that I would learn the lesson and never want to repeat it again. But before I tell you the story, let me begin by saying that he and I are great friends today and are very thankful for each other!

Soon after our family moved to the former Soviet Union in the early 1990s, Denise and I began broadcasting the first daily Christian TV program in the history of the USSR. After a while, we held a large conference ― and to our absolute shock, thousands of people attended the meeting. We saw real New Testament signs and wonders during that conference: Cripples were healed; the paralyzed were restored to health; and the deaf and dumb spoke. It was a miraculous event that caught the attention of the entire nation. During that conference, God asked me, “What are you going to do with all these people who have been saved this week?” Of course, I understood from His question that He was calling Denise and me to start our first church where we lived in Riga, Latvia, the capital of a small Baltic republic that had once been a part of the Soviet Union.

At that time, there were only two aboveground churches in Latvia. All of the other churches were underground, concealed from the sight of the KGB. Of these two aboveground churches, one was a traditional Pentecostal church that had the guts and gumption to emerge into public view. The other visible church had been started by that Pentecostal church’s former youth pastor. This man just couldn’t bear with the religious tradition, so he started a church called New Generation and declared that he and his church were going to lead the way forward for the next generation of believers in Latvia. At the time God told me to start our own church, this man’s church was the most progressive and boisterous church in Riga. As a result, it had grown quickly and made quite a noise within the Christian community.

However, there were things I didn’t like about this pastor’s church. For example, some of the doctrines he taught back then really rubbed me the wrong way. I didn’t believe they were scriptural. I also didn’t like his arrogant attitude toward all the other Protestant churches in Riga and throughout Latvia. He had publicly bad-mouthed a lot of the underground churches, as well as the other public Pentecostal church. Hearing someone talk like that really irked me. It was true that some of the other churches seemed stuck in the traditions of their past, but their congregations were filled with good, faithful people, many of whom had spent time in prison for their faith. I felt they deserved respect.

But this pastor sincerely believed that that all of the other congregations would ultimately merge as a part of his church. So when Denise and I started our church, he wasn’t very happy about it! We were on TV every day, giving voice to the Gospel in the nation where he wanted, but had not achieved, spiritual dominance. And when our church began to grow quickly, he felt threatened. One day he retaliated and started a war of words. Standing in front of his church, this pastor told his congregation, “I know there is another church in Riga that is growing rapidly. But let me tell you what I think about it ― any pastor who is bald [referring to me!] is under a curse of God! Don’t go visit a church where the pastor is cursed!”

When I first heard what this pastor had said, I thought it was funny. But the more I brooded on it, the more I began to get angry about the situation. How dare he say something so stupid to influence and manipulate people! I fumed. People regularly informed me that this man was continuing to make fun of me for being bald ― and was even judging my anointing by virtue of my baldness. I wasn’t upset because he said I was bald; I don’t care about that. I had been losing hair since I was 17 years old, so that didn’t bother me. But his arrogant attitude did bother me. And the more I thought about that, the more annoyed I became. This preacher who continually reproached me in public was a short man. So to get back at him for what he’d been saying about me, I began to change the way I referred to him in public, calling him “the pygmy pastor”!

I had allowed myself to take offense at this pastor’s words and his judgment of me. As a result, those words began to eat me up on the inside. It got to the place where I found myself standing behind my pulpit in my own church, saying something very “un-Christ-like” words about this man to my own congregation. I began, “I understand there is another pastor in town ― I’m not going to say his name ― who has said that any pastor like me who is bald is under the curse of God. But let me tell you what I think…”

I could see Denise squirming in her chair on the front row. I knew she was hoping I’d stop before I said what I was about to say. But I barreled forward full blast and declared, “If you want to know who I think is cursed, I think anyone whose growth has been stunted is the one under the curse of God!” Then I threw down the verbal gauntlet: “I want to make it clear today that if anyone is cursed, it’s a ‘pygmy-sized pastor’ on the other side of town, and I recommend that no one should attend his church!”

At that moment, a feud marked by raging carnality erupted between me and this other pastor. Back and forth, we began to publicly rip at each other with our words. It was shameful.

I was ready to keep spewing my ugly words as long as it took to win this feud. Then the Holy Spirit arrested me long enough to pose a question to me: “Rick, do you want to have revival in your life and in your church?”

“Yes, Lord, you know I do,” I replied.

He asked me again, “Are you absolutely sure you want revival in your church?”

I answered, “Yes, Lord, you know I do.”

A third time, the Holy Spirit asked, “How badly do you want revival in your church?”

I answered, “Lord, you know how desperately I want to see revival. I’ll do anything You ask of me if it will bring revival in my church.”

That’s when the Holy Spirit answered me, “Then I am requiring you to deal with your wrong attitude toward this man, because this foul attitude in your heart will stop you from experiencing revival.”

‘But What About Him?’

“But it was this pastor who picked the fight, not me!” I argued. “Good grief! I was new in town. He could have welcomed and supported me, but instead he called me ‘cursed’ because I was bald and threatened his people not to attend any services at our church. This pastor has done some seriously wrong things against me, Lord!”

Even today ― 20 years later ― people remember the mud-slinging that took place between this pastor and me back in those days. It was really nasty and ugly, yet we were the two largest churches in Riga at the time! The entire scenario was extremely ungodly and out of order.

Then the Lord explicitly told me that I was to go to this pastor and repent for my wrong attitude toward him. So I replied to the Lord, “I have a reason for feeling the way I do toward this man. What about him, Lord? What are You going to do about all the wrong things he’s said and done against me?” (Have you ever said something similar to the Lord when He was dealing with you about your bad attitude toward someone else?)

I’ll never forget what the Holy Spirit said to me at that moment: “I’m not talking to you about this man. I’m talking to you about YOU. I will deal with him for what he’s done to you, but right now I’m dealing with you for your reactions to him.”

Isn’t it interesting that when God deals with us about our wrong attitudes, words, or actions in a difficult situation with someone else, we so often want to justify ourselves by focusing on what the other person did wrong? That’s just what Adam did in the Garden of Eden. He blame-shifted and said, “This woman You gave me.…” when God confronted him about his disobedience. When we do the same, we don’t seem to realize that we’re actually accusing God of being irresponsible for not dealing with the other person instead of us!

When you think about it, it’s really very arrogant of us to ask the One who sees and knows all things, “Lord, don’t You see what that person did? Aren’t You aware of what he (or she) said to me?” No matter how hard we try to get God to focus on the other person or to come into agreement with our side of things, He will always, always point us back to the wrong motivations of our own hearts, because those motivations are the roots that produce any ugly fruit growing in our lives. Jesus commanded us to produce fruit that remains (see John 15:16). However that won’t happen unless we guard our hearts and diligently pluck out any seeds of strife before they develop into deep roots of bitterness that can pollute our lives and produce poisonous fruit.

This was the lesson I was about to learn ― but I definitely wasn’t ready for what the Holy Spirit said next to me! He told me to get in the car, drive across town, go into that pastor’s office, get down on my knees in front of him, and repent for every slanderous thing I had heard, believed about him, and repeated to others. Ugh! That was the last thing I wanted to do, but I knew the Holy Spirit had told me to do it.

When the Holy Spirit asked me to go to him and get on my knees in front of him, my first response was, “NO, I WON’T DO IT! I’m not giving that man the gratification of seeing me on my knees in front of him. I don’t want to give him the pleasure!” I was certain that the moment I walked out of his office, he would tell everyone, “RICK RENNER has bowed before me today!”

For two months, I heard the small, silent voice of the Holy Spirit, asking me again and again, “Are you going to obey Me? Are you going to do what I’ve asked you to do? Are you going to go to that pastor, get on your knees, and repent for your attitude toward him?” I argued with the Lord for two months about the matter, but He just kept saying, “Rick, do you really want revival? If you do, then you have to do what I’m requiring you to do.” It got to the point that the Lord was interrupting my prayer time every day, saying, “Are you going to obey Me? Are you going to obey Me? Are you going to obey Me?” The sound of those words was like a roaring in my mind.

At last I threw in the towel and gave up! I said, “Yes, yes, yes ― I will obey You!” So I asked my associate to go with me for moral support, and I drove across town to this man’s church office. As I sat across the room from the pastor, we talked about the weather, about politics, about our children. Finally, we didn’t have anything else to talk about, and I knew the time had come for me to do what I had come to do. I could get up and leave that room with unfinished business and totally fail this assignment, or I could slip down onto my knees and do what Jesus had asked me to do.

After breathing a deep sigh, I told this pastor, “I’m here today to do something that the Lord is requiring me to do.” He just stared at me, so I continued, “I’ve heard a lot of bad things you’ve said about me. I know about some of your doctrines that I find to be very wrong. [At that moment, I began to slip into the accusatory mode and had to deliberately pull out of it!] But I’m not here to deal with you today. I’m here today to deal with me. You have offended me, and ever since, I have believed every negative thing any person has told me about you. Please accept my apology for repeating those things to others. I’ve been wrong. I have been a source of division. I’m here to ask you to forgive me.”

At that moment, I wanted to hear this man respond, “Well, Rick, I’ve said a lot of bad things about you, it’s true. I need to ask you to forgive me as well.” That would have made me feel so much better. But instead of apologizing to me or acknowledging that he had done anything wrong, he just stared at me with a look of glee in his eyes. I could see that he was relishing every moment of my contrition.

Then the Holy Spirit said to me, “Now it’s time to get on your knees in front of him.”

I argued inwardly with the Lord. Please don’t ask me to get on my knees!

But the Holy Spirit quietly spoke to my heart, “Rick, you need to get on your knees in front of this man to properly ask for his forgiveness.”

So I lowered myself down to one knee, thinking that if I did it halfway, the Lord might be satisfied. But I heard the Holy Spirit say, “BOTH knees!”

I knew full well at that moment that if I wanted to please the Lord and experience a freshness of His presence within our church, I had to fully obey Him, no matter how humiliated I felt or how this man responded. I also knew that if I didn’t get it right this time, I would have to come back a second time. God would not let me off the hook. So I knelt on both knees, looked up at this pastor, and said, “Brother, I repent before God and before you for the ugly attitude and words that I’ve fostered and perpetuated against you.”

That day freedom came into my soul. From that day forward, I didn’t care what this man said or didn’t say about me. I had done what the Lord required of me, and I was free. Even more, I began to take active steps to really pursue peace with him. Denise and I invited him and his wife to our home for dinners on multiple occasions. I also invited him to speak in our church, and I attended his church conferences. I was pursuing, following, and hunting after peace with this man. After all, we were pastors of the two largest churches in the city. If nothing else, we needed to be at peace with each other for the sake of Christ’s testimony in Riga.

It took awhile, but later this pastor also acted on what the Lord spoke to his heart to do in order to pursue peace with me. Since that time, he and I have become very good friends. Today if I visit Riga, we always meet for breakfast and share from our hearts with each other. We have a mutual and genuine respect for one another. The devil had very different plans for our relationship, but we chose to thwart those demonic plans by doing what God told us to do in order to pursue peace with each other.

If you have an offense against someone, you can’t wait until the other person takes action. God may require you to be the initiator of peace. In my case, I couldn’t wait until this pastor chose to reconcile our relationship before I let go of offense. I had to get over it and step out in obedience to the Lord for the sake of His presence in my own life and ministry.

As I look back on that day when I knelt before that pastor in his office, I’d have to say that it was one of the hardest things I’d ever done up to that moment in my life. But I learned a priceless lesson through that experience: The flesh will always want to react when someone hurts or wrongs us. But reacting to carnality with more carnality only escalates the situation into a full-fledged manifestation of strife, creating an atmosphere for every evil work. That’s exactly what the enemy wants to happen so he can move in to bring destruction and ruin into the lives of everyone involved.

On the other hand, if we will choose to obey God by responding to an offense in humility and love, we’ll not only dismantle the enemy’s trap, but we’ll also create a platform for God to move on both sides of the situation in a way that will honor Him and promote His purposes.

Seek Peace and Pursue It

Sometimes peace can be gained, but it takes lots of hard work to maintain it. There are a lot of people who come to a resolution and finally obtain peace. But because of subsequent circumstances, they get offended once again and lose their hard-earned peace.

That’s why we’re told in Ephesians 4 that we have to endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (see Ephesians 4:3). That word “endeavor” is the Greek word spoudadzo, which means to hasten, to go as fast as you can, or to put all of your heart into a pursuit. This tells us that it will not be easy to maintain peace in our relationships. We’ll have to continually work at it.

When the writer of Hebrews 12:14 told us to follow peace with all men and “holiness,” he used the Greek word hagios, which means to be separate or to be different from the world. Then the verse goes on to say, “…without which no man shall see the Lord.”

That is exactly what the Lord meant when He asked me, “Do you want to have revival in your life and your church?” When we harbor wrong attitudes in our hearts, those attitudes restrict us from moving up into higher realms of God’s presence and glory. We won’t be able to enter into the full dimension of God that’s available to us because those negative attitudes will block us from experiencing His anointing.

That’s why we are instructed to keep our hearts free of offense. However, to obey that divine command requires spiritual maturity. In fact, the next verse goes on to say, “Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God…” (v. 15). That phrase “looking diligently” as used in this verse is the Greek compound word episkopos, taken from the Greek word epi,which means over, and the word skopos,which means to look. When these two words are compounded, the new word episkopos means one who looks over or one who has the oversight of something. This is a person who has a managerial role or a supervisory position. It is the same word that’s translated “bishop” in First Timothy 3:1.

To get the full idea of what this phrase means, you have to stop and think for a moment about the role of a bishop. A bishop is responsible for churches. If he is a good bishop, he makes sure that the churches under his care have his focused attention so they will grow and thrive. If he is a poor bishop, however, he won’t pay attention to the condition of those churches, and they will eventually fall apart. But whether he does well or poorly, he must give account to God for what happens in those churches because he is the one responsible for them as their bishop.

Now that same word episkopos ― when used in the context of strife, unforgiveness, and offense ― is translated as “looking diligently.” God is plainly telling us here to act as the “bishops” of our own hearts. Just as a bishop is responsible for what happens in a group of churches, we are responsible for what happens in our hearts. This means we can’t blame someone else for what we allow to develop inside our own hearts; God will hold us accountable for it.
 
When people hear this scriptural principle, there’s usually someone who will say, “You just don’t know what So-and-so has done to me. There’s a reason I’m hardhearted and bitter. It’s not my fault. I have a reason to be like this.” When people talk like that, they are basically deflecting responsibility for their own inner attitudes and attempting to justify their own wrong actions in taking offense.

Since offenses come to all of us, we each will have a “reason” to feel offended at one time or another. But not one of us has an excuse for giving in to that temptation. We have to be careful to look diligently to keep our hearts free from offense.

Hebrews 12:15 goes on to tell us why it’s so crucial that we obey this command: “Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled.” This word “root” is the Greek word pidzo, which describes something that is deeply implanted. This tells us that bitterness is not a superficial issue; rather, it develops deep and entangled roots in our souls. The word “bitterness” is the Greek word pikria, which describes something that is inwardly sour, caustic, or sharp. It describes a person who is so inwardly sour and bitter that it shows up on his face as a scowl.

What is in a person will eventually comes out of him. Jesus said, “…Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh” (Matthew 12:34). It isn’t difficult to know what is in people’s hearts. Just let them talk, and their own words will give them away. Eventually what is in them will come out of them. The mouth is the great revealer of the heart. In fact, whatever is in a person’s heart usually dominates the things he or she talks about, whether good or bad.

For example, if you were to strike up a conversation with me, you’d find that I talk about a lot about Russia. I talk about television in Russia, the church in Russia, all of our outreaches in Russia, and so on. Russia dominates my conversation because it occupies my thoughts and fills my heart. Russia is what I think about, what I meditate on. Russia is the place I’ve given my life to for the Gospel’s sake. That’s why it comes out of my mouth.

A person’s mouth is the outlet for the overflow of a full heart. Thus, if his heart is filled with bitterness, that bitterness will manifest itself in his life. Its caustic, defiling presence will saturate his attitudes and be conveyed through what he says and how he reacts in different situations. A person cannot conceal what fills him. Eventually it will come out.

So with that principle in mind, ask yourself this: What does my mouth reveal about the condition of MY heart?

Every one of us should ask ourselves that question. Whatever we meditate on will take root and produce fruit in our lives. Therefore, we have to constantly guard against what we allow to dominate our thoughts. `God doesn’t allow us to justify bitterness in our hearts just because we’ve been wronged or because we have a “good reason.” Those so-called “reasons” are simply traps — designed to hinder or destroy us if we allow them to remain lodged in our minds where they can grow and eventually dominate our thoughts. When we’re wounded by some sort of offense, that wound will fester if we leave it unchecked. We must determine to let go of that offense and move forward.

The Solution for Offense

So what’s the solution to letting go of offense? Jesus told us clearly in Luke 17:3. He said, “Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.”

Jesus started out by saying, “Take heed to yourselves….” That is important instruction, because when you’re offended, the first thing you want to do is take heed to your offender, not to yourself. You want to think about what that person has done and talk about it to anyone who will listen to you. You’ll want to talk about it over and over, relishing in the sympathy you receive as you defile the hearts and minds of those who hear your words.

Bitterness is messy business. It will stunt your spiritual growth because God’s presence absolutely will not rest upon you or cause you to flourish when you’re in that poisonous state of mind. That’s the reason it’s of utmost importance that you obey Jesus’ command to take heed to yourself.

According to the Greek, a better translation of the phrase “take heed” would be get a grip on yourself. That is precisely how you get over issues. It’s how you operate as the bishop ― the overseer and guardian ― of your own heart. You get a grip on yourself by ceasing to focus on who offended you. You get a grip on yourself by taking command of your thought life and refusing to indulge in self-pity.

Jesus went on in Luke 17:3 to share the full solution: “…If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.” We’ll discuss what this part of the verse means in more detail in Chapter Eight, but let’s take a quick look now at what Jesus was telling us to do if we become offended.

Take note of that word “trespass.” It’s the Greek word hamartano, which can denote to violate a rule; to cross a line;or to commit a grievance. If your brother violates you, you are to rebuke him. The word “rebuke” comes from the Greek word epitimao, and it means to forthrightly and directly admonish. Then if he repents, you are to forgive him. This word “forgive” is the powerful Greek word aphiemi. This word means to permanently dismiss, to liberate completely, to discharge, to send away, or to release. The best modern-day translation of this word “forgive” is let it go. Thus, Luke 17:3 could read this way: “If your brother violates you, be straightforward and deal with it. And if he repents, let it go.”

That is precisely how God has forgiven us. Psalms 103:12 says, “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.” God is certainly capable of reaching into the past and dragging up our former transgressions, but He will not do that because He has dismissed those transgressions from us. He will never pull up a reminder of our sins because He has completely released us from them.

Our carnal nature can have a really difficult time with this concept of letting go of offense. When somebody sins against us, it’s easy to wallow in self-pity and start singing that old song, “Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen. Nobody knows my sorrow.” We can start thinking we’re justified in holding on to the offense because we think no one has ever been hurt to the extent we have. (Of course, in these moments, we can also conveniently forget the times we may have hurt someone else in that same manner or worse!)

If we don’t discipline our flesh to let go of offense and self-pity, it will rule as a dictator in our lives. That’s why we have to take our place as the bishops of our own hearts. Just like a child, our flesh needs boundaries and discipline, or it will run rampant over our emotions and thought life. We have to tell our flesh what it can and cannot do ― how it will and will not feel. We have to rein in our emotions and control our flesh by taking control of our thoughts. The way to do this is with our own words. We have to speak to our minds and emotions. Our own voice is the key to our freedom from the debilitating and defiling oppression of offense.

As the bishop of your own heart, you are the only one who has the authority to rip the root of bitterness and offense out of your heart. Jesus said that we could speak to a mountain and it would be cast into the sea (Mark 11:23). There isn’t much need to speak to physical mountains and toss them into the ocean, but a stronghold in the soul is a different matter. Like a mountain, a stronghold can tower over your life and hinder you in so many ways. If you’re ever going to be free to move forward and live fully in the power of God, it’s up to you to release the offenses that built that stronghold in your heart.

Moreover, bitterness doesn’t just hinder your walk with God ― it also impedes your fellowship with others. The fact is, if you’re bound by offense against one person, that bondage will affect your other relationships as well. The poisonous attitudes you carry in your heart against one person will affect how you respond to everyone else.

You may have suffered a hurt or offense in the past that harmed you terribly. In fact, it may have even robbed you of something that can never be returned or restored. But if you refuse to forgive ― if you refuse to let go of anger, animosity, and bitterness ― that offense will continue to work its destruction in your life. A past-tense problem will become a present-tense issue if you refuse to let go of your bitterness. If you don’t get over that past offense, you will give it the power to damage and even destroy your future as you drag it along like a bag of garbage or toxic waste. At some point, you have to just let it go and get over the offense for your own benefit.

Whatever may have happened to you in the past or whatever offense you may be holding against someone else right now, I want you to know that you can walk free. You just have to make the decision to exercise your authority over your own heart. Remember, you can’t be offended without your own consent. Someone can certainly commit an offense against you by speaking or acting inappropriately or unkindly toward you without your provocation. But you cannot be offended unless you take the offense to yourself. You always have a choice.

When someone commits an offense against you and you’re sorely tempted to “take it,” the very first thing you need to do is go to the Lord. Get a grip on yourself as you allow the Lord to deal with you. Let go of the offense that’s trying to get a grip on you.

Jesus commands you to forgive your offender. The tough part comes when someone commits the same offense seven times in a day and each time repents for what he’s done ― and you’re commanded to forgive him every time! To forgive a person once or twice in one day for committing the same offense would be challenging enough. But seven times in one day? That seems almost impossible to the natural mind! No wonder the apostles exclaimed, “Lord, increase our faith” (see Luke 17:5)!

And Jesus didn’t stop there! He took this issue of forgiveness even further in Mark 11:25 (NKJV) when He said, “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.” In other words, forgiveness in its highest form is unconditional. As was true in my experience with the “pygmy pastor,” God requires all of us to forgive those who offend us, regardless of what the other party in the situation decides to do.

Jesus expects us to be mature and to forgive no matter how other people behave. Remember, the word “forgive” is that Greek word aphiemi, which means in modern terms to let it go. If your offender turns to you seven times in a day and says, “Please forgive me ― I repent,” Jesus expects you each time to let go of the offense. Rather than be held hostage by what someone has done to you — or what you may think that person has done to you — Jesus says, “Get a grip on yourself and let it go.”

Perhaps the person who offended you didn’t intend to do so, even though you think his actions were deliberate. Or perhaps the offense was a matter of carelessness or insensitivity. Whatever your offender’s intention or motivation was, you are the one who must decide whether you will permit the offense to hold you captive ― or you will determine to let it go.
 
The only way you can dismiss, release, and let go of an offense is to get into the presence of the Lord and let Him help you. Just come to Him and say, “Lord, I’m not willing to be bound by this offense. I refuse to be imprisoned by these feelings of hurt, rejection, or humiliation. Right now before You, I choose to let it go.” That choice is the first important step toward living a life free of offense.

Getting New Believers Grounded
by Beth Jones

Becoming a Christian is the greatest decision any person ever makes and being a Christian is the greatest adventure anyone can live. And, it all starts with the right foundation––the basics!

For the past 30 years, Beth Jones has been passionate about helping people "get a grip on the basics" through her series of books by the same name. Recently, she wrote a smaller "altar-call" type of book for new converts titled, 7 Basics: Strong Roots for Every Christian.

Inspired by this familiar verse, "And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. (Colossians 2:6-7, NLT) – the 96 page, 7 BASICS is portable, easy-to-read, written in language new Christians will understand and the perfect book to put in a new believer’s hand. 

The 7 BASICS retails for $4.99 each. Our wholesale discount (for bulk orders of a dozen or more and case lot orders of 152 books per case) is 40% off retail or $2.99 each. Friends of Tony Cooke receive special pricing on Beth Jones newest book entitled 7 Basics! Be sure to enter code "Cooke" when placing your order online to get the Friends of Tony Cooke price of $1.99.

Order at http://www.jeffandbethjonesmedia.com/products/7-basics 

The 7 BASICS include:

BASIC #1: Get To Know God
BASIC #2: Get Into The Bible
BASIC #3: Get Real In Prayer
BASIC #4: Get Into A Good Church
BASIC #5: Get Excited And Tell Somebody
BASIC #6: Get Your Head On Straight
BASIC #7: Get Ready For The Adventure

Here are a few excerpts.  

INTRODUCTION

Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.
Martin Luther King, Jr.

Congratulations!

You get it! You are reading this book because somewhere along the way, you welcomed Jesus into your life. You heard about Him and something clicked. You understood the gospel and you responded to God’s invitation.

You may have invited Jesus into your heart today, last week, two years or thirteen years ago. You may have surrendered to Jesus at church, after hearing a sermon or through an altar call. Maybe you prayed the salvation prayer or confessed Jesus as your Lord on your own, in a quiet way or in a moment of desperation. Everyone has a unique story. You may have turned to the Lord while reading the Bible or a Christian book. Perhaps, a family member, friend or coworker led you to the Lord. Maybe you heard the gospel at a concert, in the hospital or while in jail. You may have prayed to receive Jesus into your life after hearing the gospel online, on TV, through a CD, a DVD or a download. Regardless of the path that led you to the Lord, surrendering to God and confessing Jesus, as the Lord of your life is the most important, life-transforming, eternal decision you will ever make.

It’s my hope that through reading this book, God connects-the-dots for you on what it means to be a Christian. I pray your Christian life gets started (or restarted) on the right foot and you develop strong spiritual roots. As your ead the 7 Basics, may you gain a better understanding of God, Jesus, the Bible, church, heaven, hell and all kinds of eternal things. May you truly get a grip on these basics and develop a passion to help others get it.

———————————-

BASIC #1
GET TO KNOW GOD

What were we made for? To know God. What aim should we have in life? To know God. What is the eternal life that Jesus gives? To know God. What is the best thing in life? To know God.
J. I. Packer

When a couple pledges their wedding vows and says, “I do”––those words aren’t the end of the relationship, they’re just the beginning. That young bride or groom doesn’t say, “Well, I did it. I said ‘I do’––now I’ll just go back to living the way I used to live as a single person.” No! That commitment and those vows are the beginning of a new relationship. After the “I do’s”––that married couple can really get to know one another intimately.

The same thing is true in your relationship with the Lord. When you welcomed Jesus to be the Lord of your life, it marked the beginning of your vow. Now that you’ve said, “I do,” let’s get this relationship started!

HE IS THAT INTO YOU

Some people may not be that into you, but God is very into you! He knit you together in your mother’s womb. He wanted you. He knows the number of hairs on your head. He knows when you wake up and when you go to sleep. His eyes are always on you. He orders your steps. He knows your thoughts before you do.

He knows all about you; but He wants to be known––by you. He is knowable and He wants to have a close, personal, heart-felt relationship with you. What do you know about Him? He knows all about you, but how well do you know Him? What is Helike? How does He think? What are His favorite things? If you don’t instinctively see Him as a God of love, mercy, goodness, kindness, favor, faithfulness, generosity, truth or holiness––among many of His characteristics––you are in for a nice surprise.

People have all kinds of unbiblical ideas about God. Some think He’s a far-off, uninterested, detached Being. Some people see Him as a mean Judge ready to slam them for their sins. Others see Him as a wimpy, spineless Being; a cotton candy God of love that just winks at everything. Some people see God as an uncaring, sovereign ruler who causes bad things to happen to good people; or as a ruthless, yet somehow all-wise God who punishes and abuses people to teach them lessons.

Don’t let the opinion of others, or even your own ideas or experiences define God for you; let the Lord reveal Himself to you. The primary way God reveals the truth about Himself to us is through His Word. As you spend time with the Lord and reading the Bible, He will become more and more real to you.

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BASIC #2
GET INTO THE BIBLE

A thorough knowledge of the Bible is worth more than a college education. Theodore Roosevelt

The God of the Universe wants to talk to you! That ought to get your attention. God has things to say. The Lord wants to load you up with His Word. A huge treasure of wisdom, knowledge, understanding, revelation and faith awaits you as youstart reading the Bible!

A LOVE LETTER, A MAP AND AN OWNER’S MANUAL

Have you ever loved someone so much that you just had to tell them? Have you ever written or received a love letter? How did you feel when you read words that were written just to you––so you would know how much you are loved?

How about a map? Ever needed your GPS to map out the route for a big road trip? How about an owner’s manual? Ever read an owner’s manual so you could operate all the options on your new car or technological toy?

God’s Word––the Bible––is His personal love letter to you! It’s His map–– His global positioning system––for living. It’s the owner’s manual for every option in life. The Bible is God’s living Word. When you read the Bible, God talks to your heart!

Sometimes people hope God will talk to them through a booming voice from the sky, or by writing on a billboard that comes floating down from heaven. God wants to speak to you, but in most cases, He won’t speak to you through booming voices or billboards from heaven.

The primary way God speaks today is through His Word––the Bible. Through spending time reading the Bible, you will get to know the Lord. You will hear Him speaking to your heart and you find out how much He loves you. You will find the route He wants your life to take. You will learn how to access all the options He’s given you for driving through life. Let’s take a look at the Bible.

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BASIC #3
GET REAL IN PRAYER

Of all things, guard against neglecting God in the secret place of prayer. William Wilberforce

Do you like to talk with people? How about texting? Connecting on Facebook, Twitter or the latest and greatest social media tool? How about meeting up for coffee with an old friend to catch up? There’s something about heartfelt communication that helps us connect with others. The same is true in your relationship with the Lord.

God wants to connect with you! He wants you to get real in prayer.

HAVE A HEART TO HEART

Prayer is simply talking to the Lord from your heart. You don’t have to make it more complex than it is. You don’t have to be kneeling or lying face down to pray––although if you want to do so, that’s fine––you just have to talk to the Lord from your heart.

When you pray, you are having an actual conversation with the Lord. You can picture it many ways. First, you could see yourself talking to the greatest President or King of all time and this would prompt you to be intentional, honoring and respectful in having strategic Kingdom conversations. Second, you could see yourself talking with your Heavenly Father and it will cause you to feel secure and loved as you pour out your heart or seek His insights. Third, you could see yourself talking with your dearest and wisest Friend to seek counsel or ask for whatever you need, knowing that He desires to help you and meet your needs. Fourth, you could see yourself talking with the highest ranking, military Commander in Chief and this would cause you to be humble, submissive, excellent and attentive in your conversations. Get the idea? Our view of God should always be in line with His Word. We don’t invent a God to pray to; we pray to the God we have encountered in the Word.

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BASIC #4
GET INTO A GOOD CHURCH

You can be committed to church but not committed to Christ, but you cannot be committed to Christ and not committed to church. 
Joel Osteen

You were not designed to do the Christian life all by your lonely self. God created you to have relationships with others. He wants you to be connected to people who will connect you to Him!
One of the main vehicles Jesus has established to strengthen, equip and encourage you in life, in relationships and in serving His purposes, is His Church. Jesus is building His Church and it is growing all over the world. We have found that those who are planted in a local church are some of the healthiest, most stable and fruitful Christians we know. Those who bounce all over and never quite get rooted into a local church seem to have a life that reflects instability and confusion.

This is a huge piece of wisdom: get planted in a good church as soon as possible!

You might be fired up and full of zeal today, but if you don’t get connected to a vibrant local church, your fire will slowly die. Being disconnected from the body of believers is like taking a log out of the big, raging bonfire and setting it off to the side. In time, the log that was glowing brightly will go out. God wants you to flourish, not flounder! It’s no wonder the psalmist said this, “Those who are planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God,” Psalm 92:13, NKJV.

So, let’s talk about finding your tribe…

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BASIC #5
GET EXCITED AND TELL SOMEBODY

No one has the right to hear the gospel twice, while there remains someone who has not heard it once.
Oswald J. Smith

When exciting things happen in our lives, it’s natural to want to tell everyone we know. When a girl gets engaged what does she want to do? When a young man buys a new car what does he want to do? They both want to tell everyone their good news! That’s how you should feel about knowing Jesus.

Becoming a Christian is the best thing that has ever happened to you. Knowing Jesus and being completely forgiven of every sin you ever committed is definitely good news. It’s better than winning the championship game, getting a new car, becoming engaged or finding a million dollars! Knowing Jesus is news worth shouting from the rooftops!

If you have been reluctant to share your faith, remember where you came from and look at how far God has brought you. Not too long ago, you were completely separated from God because of your sin. You had a one-way ticket to hell and your eternity was not looking too blissful. While you were still a sinner, God reached down with His love and mercy to touch your life. He worked in your heart for many months or years and drew you to Christ until the day you finally surrendered and confessed Jesus as your Lord.

At that moment, Jesus forgave all your sins, wiped your slate clean, pronounced you righteous and gave you a complete do-over. Not only that, He lives within your heart and He’s promised to help you throughout the rest of your life. If that isn’t enough, He’s in heaven preparing a mansion for you so you can spend eternity with Him in a place where the streets are paved with gold. Now that’s news worth sharing! You have been handpicked to walk with God Almighty––can you think of anything more compelling to tell the world?

HELP YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS GET IT

One of the best ways to stay filled with joy and to experience God’s pleasure is by sharing your faith with others; one of the quickest ways to dry up on the vine is to keep your faith to yourself!

Don’t forget, there are a lot of people who don’t get it. They don’t get the God-stuff. They don’t get Jesus or the Bible or church. They don’t get why heaven and hell matter or why they should care about such things. They don’t understand what’s happened to you. Jesus needs genuine followers who will go into their world to help people get it––people who will share the gospel! If you are willing, God will use you to help others find Christ. Let’s talk about it.

Have you wondered how to tell your family and friends about Jesus? Let’s say you became a Christian today, now what? The church service is over, the conference has ended, the goose bumps have receded and it’s time to go home to family members or friends who don’t share your enthusiasm for the Lord.

What do you do when your spouse uses the Name of the Lord in vain or when your friends call you a goody two-shoes because you’re not doing shots or getting high with them any longer? How do you respond when you’re accused of being too naive or “holier than Thou”? How do you relate to family and friends who don’t understand what Jesus has done in your life?

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BASIC #6
GET YOUR HEAD ON STRAIGHT

We choose what attitudes we have right now. And it’s a continuing choice. John C. Maxwell

How is your Christian life going? Are you enjoying getting to know the Lord? Are you still experiencing the joy of your salvation? Do you have questions? Have you made a few mistakes and wondered if the Lord was mad at you? Are you struggling with some old thought patterns and trying to figure out what to do with them?

No matter what you are facing right now, be encouraged in knowing that God wants to help you get the victory! The process of growth in our lives is called: sanctification. Day by day God sanctifies us, sets us apart and makes us more and more likeJesus. If you’ve been struggling, don’t be discouraged. God will help you. He wants your life to be a progressive experience of one triumph after another. “In the Messiah, in Christ, God leads us from place to place in one perpetual victory parade,” 2 Corinthians 2:14, MSG. After all, Jesus said, “…I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows),” John 10:10, AMP. To enjoy this perpetual victory and the abundant life, you will have to trust the Lord and His Word and get your head on straight.

As a Christian who is serious about walking with the Lord, you can be disconcerted and frustrated when you mess up or when bad, ungodly thoughts enter your mind. Before you became a believer in Jesus, you probably had some stinkin’ thinkin’––but you may not have noticed all the negative thoughts that assaulted your mind. They may have seemed normal for you. However, as you grow in the Lord, you will become aware of the thoughts and behaviors that work against you. As you read the Bible and get closer to God, you will want to get rid of the ungodly ways of thinking and behaving that you’ve been accustomed to. So, to help you overcome whatever battles you may face, let’s unpack some basic truths on what God says about you!

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BASIC #7
GET READY FOR THE ADVENTURE

I just want to do God’s will. And he’s allowed me to go to the mountain. And I’ve looked over, and I’ve seen the promised land!
Martin Luther King, Jr.

There is nothing like the adventure of the Christian life! God has a divine purpose for you to fulfill. You are not some random, unimportant person just stumbling through life; you’re a person of destiny with all kinds of God-given potential! You’ve been marked by God––chosen by Him––to live a life of significance. If you will follow Jesus and live out the faith-adventure He has for you; His fingerprints of goodness, blessing and favor will show up all over your life!

No matter what paths the Lord leads you to take, with God the Father on your side, with Jesus and the power of His Name given to you and with the great Holy Spirit living within you, you will always have the supernatural edge! If all of that isn’t enough, He has given you His living Word to guide you and His wisdom, strength, grace and power to navigate every road and overcome every obstacle. You are poised for a great adventure!

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In addition, there are Chapters titled: Just In Case – a gospel presentation for those who are not yet saved and What Else Do I Need To Know – quick reference guide to other common questions new believers ask. 

Friends of Tony Cooke receive special pricing on Beth Jones newest book entitled 7 Basics! Be sure to enter code "Cooke" when placing your order online to get the Friends of Tony Cooke price of $1.99.

Order at http://www.jeffandbethjonesmedia.com/products/7-basics

Negotiating Transition (Part 2)
Rev. Gary Crowl

Gary Crowl has served in a variety of ministry capacities since 1979. For eleven years, Gary was a part of the staff at Kenneth Hagin Ministries, serving as an Associate Pastor, Assistant Director of the RHEMA Ministerial Association International, the Dean and an Instructor of RHEMA Bible Training Center. Prior to his service at RHEMA, Gary pioneered and pastored four churches and two bible schools in three different nations of the world.  He is a 1979 graduate of RHEMA Bible Training Center and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Church Ministries from Southwestern University.Currently, Gary travels throughout the world, training and educating men and women to discover their purpose in life. Gary’s true passion is focused on providing direction, training, vision, and resources for leaders in unreached nations of the world.

For more information you may e-mail him at [email protected].

At some time or another, every minister will experience transition in his or her life or ministry. Sometimes the transition is simply making changes or adjustments to what God has called us to do. At other times, transition can mean a complete change of ministry direction or focus, moving from one phase of ministry to another. Either way, transition in ministry has its own unique challenges that must be identified and addressed if we are to successfully follow God’s plan for our lives.

Transition can be a potentially vulnerable time for a minister because he or she is faced with the prospect of change, which usually requires personal sacrifice and additional commitment. Change also carries with it the concept of the unknown. Even if the minister has received specific direction from the Lord, there is always an element of the unknown attached to that new direction. For example, during a change of ministry there are usually many minor details that are not clearly known. It is the details of the transition that can create mixed emotions and uncertainty.

Sometimes transition occurs because of circumstances that are beyond our control. At that point we must understand that God is never surprised by anything that takes place in our lives. God’s plan never changes for us, even if we experience minor setbacks.

Regardless of why we are in the midst of a transition, there are several things that can help us negotiate the challenges associated with change. In part one, we looked at these areas:

• Remember God has a master plan for your life
• Keep yourself spiritually healthy
• Prayer is not optional
• Stay Practical

In part two, we will cover four more critical areas to consider when facing transition in life or ministry.

Don’t Give In to Peer Pressure

There may be times when family or close friends genuinely question whether you are moving in line with God’s will. It is normal for those who are close to us to be concerned about the decisions we make, especially if it requires a major change or relocation. There is a great illustration of this found in Acts chapter 21. Paul already received clear direction from the Lord concerning his future ministry. However, as he was walking out the plan of God he encountered close friends who were concerned for his welfare. They were so concerned that they pleaded with Paul to not continue on his journey. Acts 21:12 – And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem. However, since Paul had already received direction from the Lord concerning future ministry, he was not influenced by genuine human concern. This example reinforces the importance of receiving clear direction from the Lord before making a transition. That inward knowing can be an anchor to our souls especially when pressure from without attempts to influence our commitment to follow God’s will for our lives.

In some cases there is a place for wise counsel concerning the decisions we make. In Galatians 2:2, Paul met with those who were considered leaders in the Church and sought advice concerning what the Lord had called him to do. Paul was not seeking permission to continue his ministry; rather he was seeking agreement and confirmation concerning the message and his ministry direction. The Good News Bible reads – I went because God revealed to me that I should go. In a private meeting with the leaders I explained the gospel message that I preach to the Gentiles. I did not want my work in the past or in the present to be a failure. (Galatians 2:2) We should never come to the place in life or ministry that we are not willing to submit ourselves to wise and appropriate counsel when necessary.

Remember, during a time of transition it is ok to be sensitive to the concerns of your family and friends. Let them know that you appreciate their concern. However, don’t loose sight of God’s plan for your life. Remember God rewards obedience to His word, whether written or spoken. If you honor the Lord, regardless of temporal sacrifices and inconveniences, He will bless you and those who are closest to you.

Focus On What You are Called to Do

Charles Swindoll said, “Many people believe in the adage: If you don’t succeed try something else.”(Living Above Mediocrity)  One of the greatest challenges during a time of transition is to stay focused on what God has said to you with respect to your calling. Sometimes it may feel like you are actually going backwards and that everyone else is passing you by, especially if the new direction of ministry is a significant departure from what you were use to doing.

During a recent transition, my wife and I did not have any consistent ministry opportunities in the country where we were living for almost one year. At that time we focused primarily on language and on developing relationships with key leaders. Prior to this transition, it was normal for me to teach or to minister daily, so this was quite a departure from what I was accustomed to. However, as we stayed focused on what the Lord said to us, opportunities began to appear. Now we have several weekly ministry commitments and have to be selective concerning which ones we should pursue.

I have discovered in my own life that once I have received clear direction from the Lord, He may not say anything further about that change of direction until the next step. It is during that time of silence that we must remain focused on what God has spoken to our hearts. We must exercise faith, not only in His written Word but also in His spoken Word to us.

It is also important to not to compare yourself or your ministry with others. There is a temptation to change your approach or ministry focus because others seem to be achieving more results than you. The Bible is very clear on this subject. 2 Cor. 10:12 – For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

Remember, during a time of transition; stay focused on what God has spoken to you concerning His plan and purpose.  Psalm 32:8 – The LORD says, "I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you. (The New Living Translation) As we travel God’s pathway for our lives, He will provide for us, protect us, and guide us into a life and ministry of fullness and significance.

Know Your Own Company

In Acts chapter 4 we have a wonderful illustration of the importance of community; the importance of having a church and a ministerial organization that we call home. In this story, Peter and John were arrested and questioned concerning their ministry. Just think about this situation for a moment. Not only were Peter and John subjected to intense pressure from the religious council, they were pressured to change their message and to compromise their calling. Because of their arrest they more than likely experienced some public humiliation and embarrassment.  Acts 4:23 says – And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them.

All too often when people and ministers find themselves in a difficult situation they isolate themselves instead of seeking help and encouragement. When we isolate ourselves we tend to insulate ourselves from wise counsel, from encouragement and spiritual support. Peter and John understood the importance of having a group of people who believed the same way they believed, who prayed the same way they prayed, and who believed in and supported their work for the Lord.

I believe it is extremely important for every person to be connected to a local church and if called to the ministry to be connected to a ministerial organization. It is important to have individuals who can speak into our lives and who can offer encouragement and support when we face challenging situations.

Remember, during a time of transition; stay connected to your own company. Instead of isolating yourself, make it a point to become more committed to your local church and to your ministerial organization. Keep the lines of communication open at all times, especially when you find yourself in the middle of a difficult situation.

Timing is Everything

Timing is everything might sound a little cliché, but it is never more important than during a time of transition. Many individuals have delayed God’s plan for their lives because of improper timing. Some have questioned their ability to hear God clearly because when they acted on what they thought God was saying, nothing seemed to happen.

Most of the time when God speaks to us concerning our lives or ministry He does not give us a detailed calendar highlighting the specific dates of transition. Usually God reveals what He wants us to do but then we must wait in His presence until we know the proper time to act on what He said. It is during this time of waiting that we can become impatient either because of outward pressures or our own need to press forward with our agenda.

Eccl. 3:1 from God’s Word translation reads – Everything has its own time, and there is a specific time for every activity under heaven: We must understand that God’s timing is interwoven with God’s will. To move out of God’s timing is to move out of God’s will. That is why many people fail or never experience God’s best in life or ministry. You may know what God wants you to do, but even more important is to determine when God wants you to act on what He said.

I remember a great minister once said that he would rather be a few steps behind the Lord rather than moving ahead of His leading. When you are ahead of the Lord you are no longer walking in His light, you are making your own pathway. Unfortunately, we can not see all the pitfalls and difficulties that lay ahead of us, only the Holy Spirit can show us things to come. It is human nature to want to try to help God work out His plan in our lives and ministries. Eph. 6:10 says – Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.  This scripture implies that we can be strong in our own ability. There is a place for natural wisdom and strength. However, God’s assignment requires wisdom and strength that exceeds what we can produce. The reason many people fail or never do discover God’s best for their lives is because they are attempting to do everything with their own strength and relying too much on their own wisdom.  Paul said in 1 Cor. 2:4 – And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:  Notice, there is an enticing element that accompanies human wisdom. However, it is only through the Holy Spirit’s ability that true and lasting change takes place.

Remember, during a time of transition; stay steady until you get the proper timing from the Lord to move forward. The Holy Spirit will witness with your spirit when the time is right. Then when you act you will experience the full anointing and blessing of God to accomplish His will.

Transition times can be challenging times. However, when we take time to hear the voice of God clearly speaking to us and follow His pathway, we can be assured that He will lead us into the full counsel of His will and into a life of blessing, fulfillment and significance.

Negotiating Transition (Part 1) Rev. Gary Crowl

Gary Crowl has served in a variety of ministry capacities since 1979. For eleven years, Gary was a part of the staff at Kenneth Hagin Ministries, serving as an Associate Pastor, Assistant Director of the RHEMA Ministerial Association International, the Dean and an Instructor of RHEMA Bible Training Center. Prior to his service at RHEMA, Gary pioneered and pastored four churches and two bible schools in three different nations of the world.  He is a 1979 graduate of RHEMA Bible Training Center and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Church Ministries from Southwestern University.Currently, Gary travels throughout the world, training and educating men and women to discover their purpose in life. Gary’s true passion is focused on providing direction, training, vision, and resources for leaders in unreached nations of the world.

For more information you may e-mail him at [email protected].

At some time or another, every minister will experience transition in his or her life or ministry. Sometimes the transition is simply making changes or adjustments to what God has called us to do. At other times, transition can mean a complete change of ministry direction or focus, moving from one phase of ministry to another. Either way, transition in ministry has its own unique challenges that must be identified and addressed if we are to successfully follow God’s plan for our lives.

Transition can be a potentially vulnerable time for a minister because he or she is faced with the prospect of change, which usually requires personal sacrifice and additional commitment. Change also carries with it the concept of the unknown. Even if the minister has received specific direction from the Lord, there is always an element of the unknown attached to that new direction. For example, during a change of ministry there are usually many minor details that are not clearly known. It is the details of the transition that can create mixed emotions and uncertainty.

Sometimes transition occurs because of circumstances that are beyond our control. At that point we must understand that God is never surprised by anything that takes place in our lives. God’s plan never changes for us, even if we experience minor setbacks.

Regardless of why we are in the midst of a transition, there are several things that can help us negotiate the challenges associated with change. Always remember the following:

God has a master plan for your life

The Bible clearly states that God has a specific plan and purpose for every individual.

Philippians 2:13 – For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. (KJV)

Philippians 1:6 – Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: (KJV)

Psalm 32:8 – I will instruct you and guide you along the best pathway for your life, I will advise you and watch your progress. (LB)

Jeremiah 29:11 – For I know the thoughts and plans I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace, and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome. (Amplified)

God’s plan and purpose already contains everything we need to successfully fulfill what God has called us to do. God’s plan is fully furnished with His power and ability, His grace and wisdom, His blessing and provision. We must remind ourselves that regardless of what God has called us to do, His plan will always lead us into a life of fullness and significance. We must put our complete faith and confidence in what God has spoken to us concerning not only the present, but also the future.

So during a time of transition, our minds and hearts can experience rest and peace, because we know that regardless of what minor inconveniences we may experience, ultimately the eternal benefits far outweigh the temporal challenges.

2 Corinthians 4:18 – While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Remember, during a time of transition, to keep your mind and heart focused on the reality that God has a specific plan and purpose for you life and as we are faithful to follow Him, He will ultimately bring it to pass.

Keep yourself spiritually healthy

Many people have difficulty with transition because they fail to maintain their spiritual health.

Proverbs 24:10 – If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small. (KJV) The Message version reads – If you fall to pieces in a crisis, there wasn’t much to you in the first place. Many times ministers fail during a time of transition, not because they do not know what to do, but they fail to maintain the spiritual and mental strength necessary to make the transition.

Ephesians 3:16 says – That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; (KJV) This verse indicates that our spiritual strength can be built up or increased. Every transition in life and ministry will require additional spiritual and mental strength. Usually a time of transition suggests that we are about to move into a new or different level of ministry. I have found that when this is the case, God is asking us to deepen our spiritual resolve and commitment. As a general rule this usually requires the minister to assume greater responsibility. The strength needed for this deeper commitment can only come from a life that maintains a close relationship with God the Father through His Word and through prayer.

In Luke 4:4 – And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. Jesus is simply saying that what food is to our physical bodies, God’s Word is to our spirits. If we expect to remain spiritually strong and healthy, then we must consistently feed our spirits on the Word of God.

John 6:63 – What gives life is God’s Spirit; human power is of no use at all. The words I have spoken to you bring God’s life-giving Spirit. (Good News Bible) We must understand that our source of strength is spiritual and that it comes from consistently feeding our spirits on God’s Word. Obviously, our spiritual life will have an effect on our minds and our bodies. That is why it is so important to maintain a healthy spiritual life, especially when the physical and mental demands associated with transition are placed upon us.

Even after you receive clear direction from God, there may arise opportunities for you to give up or to quit. Doubts can come to mind. Adverse circumstances may come into your life to either discourage you or to cause you to become distracted. All of these pressures can drain you if you are not spiritually fit.

Ephesians 6:10,11 – Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Notice that the Devil will try his best to bring distractions into your life, especially when you are about to move into a greater part of God’s plan. How do we stand? How do we overcome? We stand because of our union with Christ, by relying on His strength and by placing ourselves in the full armor of God.

Remember, during a time of transition, maintain your spiritual strength. Strengthen your spirit by daily feeding yourself on God’s Word. Wrap yourself in God’s armor and rely on the power and the strength of the Greater One to help you.

Prayer is not optional

I heard one man say that what we are currently experiencing in our life and ministry is the direct result of what we have or have not prayed about days, weeks, months or even years before. In other words, what we are currently experiencing or not experiencing in our lives, is to a great extent connected to our prayer life. That is why our individual prayer life is so important when it comes to discovering God’s plan for our lives.

Colossians 1:9 – Be assured that from the first day we heard of you, we haven’t stopped praying for you, asking God to give you wise minds and spirits attuned to his will, and so acquire a thorough understanding of the ways in which God works. (The Message Version)

I believe this prayer Paul prayed for the Christians in the Colossian church was inspired by the Holy Spirit. He prayed that they might fully discover God’s will for their lives. Christians today can pray this same way and can expect to know God’s complete will for their lives.

As we spend time praying about God’s plan and purpose for our lives, God begins to unfold or reveal what that plan is. I have found that God doesn’t always reveal His entire plan at one time, but gradually as we are faithful to obey Him in every stage of life and ministry.

Another very important part of prayer is to spend time waiting in God’s presence. Acts 13:2 says, “As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.” We can see as these men waited before the Lord, as they spent time in God’s presence, they received clear direction from the Holy Spirit concerning the plan of God for Saul and Barnabas.

During a time of transition, it is very important for us not to make decisions too quickly. A transition time can be a vulnerable time, a time when many different thoughts and suggestions come into our minds. That is why it is so important to take time to wait in the presence of the Lord, spend much time praying in other tongues, so that the Holy Spirit can give clear and concise direction to your spirit.

Remember, during a time of transition; spend time in the presence of the Lord. Give yourself to much prayer, especially praying in other tongues. As you quiet your mind and listen to the Holy Spirit, you will receive a witness in your spirit concerning the plan and purpose of God for your life.

Stay Practical

Acts 6:2 – Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. (KJV) In this passage we understand that the early church was growing so quickly that the apostles could not adequately handle all of the responsibilities by themselves. So they took it upon themselves to select qualified individuals to help them with the day to day operations of the church. Notice how they made this decision. They said, “..it is not reason that we should leave the word of God and serve tables.” There is no indication in this passage that they made their decision based on a supernatural experience with God. In other words, it appears that they made this decision based on practical observation and common sense.

One of the most difficult things for some people to remember during a time of transition is to stay practical. It is easy at times to become so spiritually minded that we forget about the day-to-day duties that require sober thinking and common sense. Even if we are in the midst of a transition, we still have our daily routines and family responsibilities that must be considered.

If married, we must be especially considerate of the needs of our spouse and children. They may not fully understand the spiritual dynamics of the decision making process during a time of transition. So it is advisable to maintain a sense of normalcy when it comes to where you live, school issues, and relationships with friends and family.  It may even require a person to find temporary employment to offset unexpected or additional expenditures. It is neither unscriptural nor unspiritual to provide for yourself or your family’s needs. As a matter of fact, the Bible seems to indicate the exact opposite (1 Timothy 5:8). During all the transitions that have taken place in my life, I have always maintained the attitude that I am willing to do whatever it takes to obey God and to provide for my family, even if that means finding employment.

It is also important to keep the lines of communication open with your spouse and your family. Openness and honesty are two necessary virtues in creating unity and cohesiveness in relationships. Many times during a transition there are opportunities for misunderstanding due to temporary inconveniences or setbacks. It is during these times that communication can play a vital role in resolving issues. Please make sure that whatever decisions are made, you and your spouse are in agreement. Negotiating transition is much easier when you both agree that you are moving in line with God’s will.  Amos 3:3 – Can two walk together, except they be agreed? (KJV)

I personally believe that how we relate to our children and our spouses during a time of transition can shape their attitudes about life and ministry, and may even potentially affect their view of what it means to serve God. I do not believe that we are to neglect our spouse or children’s needs in order to pursue our own personal ambitions apart from God’s plan. Following God’s plan may require some sacrifices, but when we know God is leading, He will not only furnish the grace and the strength, He will also supply every need and bring blessing into our lives and the lives of our family.

Not only should we consider the responsibilities we have toward our family, it is also important to make sure that we take care of ourselves both physically and mentally. It is important to take time to rest and refresh ourselves. It is much easier to hear the voice of God and to distinguish between emotion and the voice of Holy Spirit when we are rested and refreshed in mind and body.

Remember, during a time of transition; stay practical. Do not neglect the day to day needs that you or your family may have. I believe if you honor your family, God will honor you by supplying you with whatever you may have need of during a transition in life or ministry.

Part two will include:

Don’t give in to Peer Pressure

Focus on what you are called to do

Know your own company

Timing is everything

Four Mistakes Pastors Make with Church Finances
By Dale Marples

Dale Marples and his wife, Betty Jo, are ordained through Rhema Bible Training Center and had been pastors for 24 years before retiring in 2010. They pioneered 3 churches during that time. Dale has a degree from the University of Nebraska in Business Administration and Finance. After serving as an officer and pilot in the U.S. Air Force he became a National Bank Examiner and Executive Officer in banking for 25 years. Dale also was Director of Treasury and Budget for the Oral Roberts Evangelistic Association for several years.

Today Dale has a consulting company, CFO Omaha, Inc., which provides financial management solutions for companies and churches and prepares business plans and financial proposals. He has also developed a financial seminar for pastors, staff members and church boards entitled “Church Finances 911” which is designed to enable church leaders to be good stewards of the finances that have been entrusted to them and to establish a financially sound and stable church.

Contact Information:
[email protected]
www.cfoomaha.com
(402) 502-2255

Everybody handles money, but not the same amount nor in the same manner. I live in Omaha where Warren Buffet lives. Unfortunately, I don’t handle the same amount of money he does nor do I have the same responsibilities that he has.

As pastor of a church, it is your responsibility to see that the finances are handled in a professional manner and protect the financial foundation of your church. Depending upon the size of your church, you may have the direct responsibility of the finances, or they may be delegated to someone in your staff or advisory board. But regardless of your involvement, the final responsibility is yours. What I want to discuss today are four mistakes pastors make with church finances.

The first mistake is symbolized by a term we have all heard: “Jack of all Trades”. Too many pastors have the “Savior” syndrome, and think they can do everything, or that they have to do everything. Jack of all Trades has a nice ring to it, but later it was added to with “and master of none”. This describes the problem. Trying to be the financial person for the church without knowing how to do the job. Someone may say, “So what’s the problem?  I just deposit the money in the bank and write the checks.” If you don’t manage your money and tell it where to go, it will go wherever it wants to go. Someone has to be in charge of the church finances, and if you aren’t, that void will be filled by something else.

Recognize your abilities and what you must give away to someone else. Now I am not saying to “dump” it on someone, but entrust it to an individual who either knows how to do it or can be trained. I have the best doctor. She is very good, but there are times when she knows she is at the limit of her ability and will refer me to a specialist. Know what you can do and don’t try to do a job that you are “master of none”.

The second mistake pastors make in handling the church finances is trying to do a job that is outside of their call. As a pastor, you have been called to “equip the saints for the work of the ministry”. In Acts 6, the disciples focused on their responsibility of continually being in prayer and ministry of the Word. You were not called to be a financial expert, so don’t think that is what you have to be. Do your calling and find someone in your church, or hire a consultant to handle the financial responsibilities, but you have to take care of the flock that God has placed into your care. The world calls that “outsourcing”. I call it common sense.

A church is two things:  a place where people come to receive Jesus and grow spiritually. But it is also a business. And when I say that, I mean that it has to be managed financially like a business. When I worked for Oral Roberts, we had a full financial department. Our job was to manage the finances so that Oral had the financial resources to do what God called him to do. For a church to grow and support the work of the ministry, it must have a sound financial base. That’s why finances are to be handled professionally.

The third mistake pastors make with church finances is not planning the finances like they plan other church activities. You need a budget. Sure I know that is a bad word, but get used to it because it’s not going away. A budget is not a square you fill and say, OK, I have one and then put it away in your files. No, it is a road map for the year and you have to follow it in order to reach your goal. Once you have the budget, then you need a plan for following that budget throughout the year. If you are not on budget, find out why, make the necessary adjustments and get back on track. If you don’t, you will run out of money before you run out of year. A good accounting system is needed to track your income and expenses. All of that takes time, and is a time stealer from the pastor’s prayer and ministry time. If you are not a financial expert, then delegate that to a qualified person but remember you cannot delegate responsibility. As the pastor the final responsibility remains with you.

The fourth mistake pastors make is trying to be too spiritual with the church finances. Many of us have heard the leadership in Bible school talk about “faith checks”. There are places for faith, and your church finances is one of those places, but when it comes to writing a check, you better have money in the account to cover it because your bank doesn’t operate on faith. They work in reality. I know because I was a banker and bank examiner for 25 years. If you want cooperation from your banker, talk to him in real terms. Share your dreams and goals with him. Then go to your advisory board and talk faith and make plans for your church.

If you are going to expand or purchase a building or add on to your existing building, this is where you and your advisory board talk faith. Get God’s plan. Then by faith reach out and receive the manifestation. Then go back to your banker and talk reality.

Having been a pastor for 24 years, I know the responsibilities you have of praying and preparing to minister to your flock. You have been trained to do this and it is your calling from God. But the finances of your church are also important and must be handled professionally. How you handle the church finances is a witness to the people in your church and community. They are watching and will make judgment of you and your church based on your financial integrity.

By placing qualified people to assist you in managing your church finances, planning properly and have an organized operating process, you will take stress off of yourself, gain valuable time to minister to God’s flock in your church and establish a sound financial base for the church.

This article is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. It is shared with the understanding that neither the author nor Tony Cooke Ministries is engaged in rendering legal, accounting, psychological, medical or other professional services. Laws and regulations are continually changing, and can vary according to location and time. No representation is made that the information herein is applicable for all locations and times. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought.

© Tony Cooke Ministries, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Ministerial Detox – We All Need Cleansing
Pastor Jim Herring

Rev. Jim Herring is gifted Bible teacher who ministers God’s Word in a passionate, powerful, and practical way. The focus of Jim’s ministry is to help believer’s overcome the trials of life, walk by faith, and reach their full potential in life.

Jim graduated from Rhema Bible Training Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma specializing in Pastoral ministry. He also holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Church Ministry from Southwestern Assemblies of God University in Texas.

Jim and his lovely wife, Samantha, are the founders and senior Pastors of Abundant Life Family Church in Fort Worth, Texas. They lead a vibrant, thriving, and multi-cultural church in the heart of Texas. Jim and Samantha are also the proud parents of two children, Annabel and Andrew.

A sobering and comforting fact we learn from the Apostle Paul is: we all need cleaning.

2 Corinthians 7:1
1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

It is sobering because regardless of our position, title, gifting, or calling, we all have issues that God wants to address in our lives (Psalm 139:24-25).

It is comforting because I am not the only one with a need to detoxify my life.

A popular word in the nutrition industry is detoxification.  The basic concept is our bodies accumulate “toxins” and harmful substances that exert a negative effect on our health.  Detoxification is the term used to describe a process of cleaning the body from those substances so they will no longer be detrimental to our health.  People utilize diets, pills, fasting, and certain liquid formulas to try to cleanse their system.  The principle is: we must put the right things in to remove the “filth” in our system.

In a similar way, ministers can accumulate “toxins” that are detrimental to their own life, their ministry, and the body of Christ.  God wants us to “cleanse ourselves” from these toxins so that we can remove their harmful effects.

Often ministers are proficient at recognizing the depravity in others but ineffective at spotting and correcting their own sins and shortcomings.  Some of us fail to acknowledge or take responsibility for our own issues.  We foolishly exempt ourselves from cleansing because of our call or position.  However, the Bible is full of “called and anointed” individuals that desperately needed cleansing.

1. David, the man after God’s own heart, dealt with lust.
2. Samson and Saul allowed pride to rob them of their potential.
3. Judas yielded to greed and the lust for power when he stole from the Lord and betrayed Him for thirty pieces of silver.
4. James and John sought revenge and yielded to the wrong spirit when they asked the Lord if they should call fire down from heaven and consume a group of people that declined a meeting.
5. Peter allowed the fear of man to drive his life when he left the company of Gentile believers when Jewish brothers showed up.

This small sampling of men should serve as a glaring reminder that we all need cleansing.  If we fail to address the issues in our own life they will eventually address us!

As ministers of the gospel, we must make sure that our pride and position does not blind us from our own need to be cleansed.  Jesus taught us that man has a natural propensity to easily identify the faults of others without taking responsibility for our own.

Matthew 7:3-5
3 And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?
4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye?
5 Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

God wants His men and women to take an introspective look into their own lives and see what needs to be cleansed through confession and restored through a renewed mind.  It takes courage, discipline, humility, and honesty to take a look into the mirror of your own soul.  Unfortunately, some are not willing to look at themselves.  This defiance is unscriptural, dangerous, and displeasing to the Lord.  Thomas Carlyle once wrote, “The greatest fault is to be conscious of none.”

What toxins do we need to make sure we are cleansed from?  What areas do ministers often struggle with?  I want to share three “free radicals” that need to be cleansed from the clergy.

1. Being Cynical

A cynical person exhibits a disdain for and distrust of human nature or motives.  In other words, they don’t trust anyone and they are skeptical of everyone.

Obviously, this is poisonous to ministry work since we are constantly working with people.  Are there people we should refuse to trust?  Absolutely!  Are there people that we should trust?  Absolutely!  The problem occurs when we refuse to trust anyone and we are skeptical of everyone.

How does the toxin of cynicism enter the life of a minster of the Gospel?  Very often the “free radical” of cynicism is loosed into the life of a man or woman of God through betrayal.  When we are verbally attacked, abused, and ambushed by someone we trust, it can damage our future relationships unless we resolve the betrayal.

How do we resolve the betrayal?  Forgive

Ephesians 4:32
32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

I like something Lewis Smedes once noted that expresses the liberating effect of forgiveness.

“When you forgive someone, you set a prisoner free… and then you find that the prisoner was you.”

If we refuse to forgive, betrayal will produce bitterness in our life.  When we embrace bitterness and cynicism, we will severely limit our ability to minister to others on a deep and meaningful level.  It is difficult to mentor at a distance.

We must choose to forgive for our own spiritual, emotional, and physical health.  We must also choose to forgive so we can effectively help and develop others.

2. Being Critical

Effective ministers must be able to delineate between right and wrong.  We must be able to distinguish between truth and error, right and wrong, appropriate and inappropriate, scriptural and unscriptural, godly and ungodly.  However, if we are not careful, our healthy ability to distinguish can degenerate into an unhealthy critical nature.  Instead of celebrating other gifts in the Body of Christ we can become judgmental and disparaging.

Romans 14:4
4 Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.

Notice the following translations.

NRSV
4 Who are you to pass judgment on servants of another?

ISV
4 Who are you to criticize someone else’s servant?

God does not want us to be critical of other ministers or ministries.  One of the main objectives of the enemy is to cause division and separation.  He works relentlessly to separate people from God, husbands from wives, parents from children, and spiritual fathers from their sons.  In addition, Satan wants to cause division and separation in the army of the Lord in order to minimize our strength and power.  He wants us to fight and criticize each other instead of working together to build and expand the Kingdom of God.  A divided army is always ineffective and vulnerable.

Let me share an experience I had.  One day when I was in the office, I received a call from a traveling minister who wanted to come preach at our church.  After we spent some time getting to know each other, he asked me a question.  “Are you a seeker-sensitive church?”  I responded, “Why do you ask?”  The traveling minister said, “Another minister told me you were.”  The accusation of being a “seeker sensitive church” was meant to be critical.  They were suggesting that we did not embrace or encourage the gifts of the Spirit or the move of the Spirit.  The interesting thing is the minister who told the traveling minister we were “seeker sensitive” has never even stepped foot into our church.  I have never had a conversation with him about what we believe or teach.  Unfortunately, this minister was simply being critical of another minister of the same family.  How sad.

Over time I have come to learn that people are often cynical because of betrayal.  People are often critical because of insecurities.  God wants us to work together and build each other up not tear each other down.  He wants us to have a complimentary and synergistic approach to ministry.

How can we “detox” and get rid of a critical nature?

1. Repent for being critical or judgmental
2. Catch yourself when you are tempted to be critical
3. Look for the good in others
4. Develop a sense of fulfillment and value in God’s work in your own life and ministry

God created you, gifted you, and called you to do His work in the earth.  Make sure to recognize that there are many gifts in the Body of Christ and learn to celebrate all authentic gifts.

1 Peter 4:10-11 (Amplified)
10 As each of you has received a gift (a particular spiritual talent, a gracious divine endowment), employ it for one another as [befits] good trustees of God’s many-sided grace [faithful stewards of the extremely diverse powers and gifts granted to Christians by unmerited favor].
11 Whoever speaks, [let him do it as one who utters] oracles of God; whoever renders service, [let him do it] as with the strength which God furnishes abundantly, so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ (the Messiah). To Him be the glory and dominion forever and ever (through endless ages). Amen (so be it).

It is godly to celebrate the diverse gifts in the Body of Christ.  It is foolish to be critical of them. 

“Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain – and most fools do.”
– Dale Carnegie

3. Being Complacent

One of the first characteristics the Apostle Paul delineates for people to be considered for spiritual leadership is desire.

1 Timothy 3:1
1 This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work.

If the devil can’t cause us to be cynical…
If the devil can’t cause us to criticize others…
He will try to cause us to become comfortable and complacent.

A casual study of the life of the Apostle Paul reveals a man who accomplished great things for God.  He started churches, wrote New Testament epistles, developed ministers, and conducted extensive missionary campaigns.  Despite his numerous accomplishments, Paul always maintained an inner drive to finish his race.  He was compelled to make the most of the ministry, gifts, graces, and anointing the Lord had given him.

Philippians 3:12-17 (NLT)
12 I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection! But I keep working toward that day when I will finally be all that Christ Jesus saved me for and wants me to be.
13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I am still not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead,
14 I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven.
15 I hope all of you who are mature Christians will agree on these things. If you disagree on some point, I believe God will make it plain to you.
16 But we must be sure to obey the truth we have learned already.
17 Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example.

Paul told us to “pattern our lives after his”.  One of the things we can definitely learn from Paul is enduring passion and permanent perseverance.

Paul’s paradigm of ministry included the following thoughts:

1. I must finish my race.
2. There are more people that need to be saved.
3. There are more churches that need to be established.
4. There are more disciples that need to be made.
5. There are more people that need to be delivered by the power of God.

While he was thankful for the ministry success he experienced, he was never content.  God does not want us to be content with our accomplishments either.  He wants us to fulfill our ministry, use all of our gifts, and complete the calling we have received.

I want to leave you with the words of the Apostle Paul to a man named Archippus.

Colossians 4:17
17 And say to Archippus, “Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.”

The Message Bible says it this way.

And, oh, yes, tell Archippus, “Do your best in the job you received from the Master. Do your very best.”

Let’s make a commitment to do our best for God!

Let’s get choose to cleanse ourselves from cynicism, a critical nature, and complacency.

Let’s do our best in the job we have received from the Master – our very best!

How Do I Make A Referral?
by Dr. Dale Doty

The first step in making an effective referral is believing that referral is an appropriate and professional service which is in the client’s best interest. If we believe that the client is being short changed by our referring them, we will often not be effective in making referrals.

The second step in making referrals is to know the professionals and other resources available in our community. It is important to get to know professional Christian counselors, hospital personnel, and a variety of physician specialties such as family physicians, pediatricians, obstetricians and gynecologists, and psychiatrists. As we get to know these professionals and how they work, we can feel more confident that those we refer will be in good hands.

A third step in making effective referrals is to be able to convince clients that the referral is necessary. It is important that we be honest with our clients and that we let them know when there is a more professionally skilled person who is best to treat them, or that we may have conflicts in dealing with a particular client or their problems. It is also important that we have enough self confidence and integrity to be able to be honest about the limits of our professional competence. We each have an area of specialty. No professional can be all things to all people.

A fourth step in making effective referrals is to be able to educate the client about what the professional we are referring them to will be able to do for them that we are not able to do. It is also helpful if we can assist the client in becoming more comfortable with the person we are referring to by informing them that we know the person personally, and that in our experience with them they can be trusted and are helpful.

A fifth step in making effective referrals is the ability to allow clients to express themselves and their feelings about referral. Some clients may be angry, some clients may feel depressed or betrayed, and other clients may be afraid. It is important to allow the client to discuss these feelings. It may be necessary for us to offer reassurance and clarification of any misunderstandings. It is also important that we allow clients to know that we do care for them and that we intend no malice or harm by making the referral. Redefining what your relationship will be like after the referral is completed is strongly recommended.

The sixth step is getting the client to make a commitment to follow through with a referral. If we simply say to a client, “I suggest you call a counselor,” and we are not specific about who we are referring to, the chance of follow through is extremely small. If we ask the client if they will commit to making the phone call, and when they will make the phone call to make to appointment, then there is a significantly increased chance of follow through.

Sometimes it is a good idea to allow the client to make the phone call from your office. Particularly, when the client has made a commitment to follow through with a referral, but we sense that if the client hesitates the resolve will weaken, it is a good idea to have the client make the phone call from our office. Sometimes it is effective to ask the client if you can make the phone call for them. Making the initial phone call sometimes makes it easier for the client to follow through.

Most professional offices will ultimately require that the client make a call themselves directly before appointments will be established. If a client is unwilling to talk with a counselor or with an intake counselor over the phone they are often likely to cancel or not show up for their first appointment. Also, many professionals give instructions to help prepare the client for their first appointment and obtain information that will reduce some of the initial paperwork.

A seventh step in making effective referrals is agreeing on what information will be shared with a new professional. If we have previously provided counseling, testing, or any other service, it is important to discuss with the client whether they wish those results be forwarded to the professional we are referring to.

Professionals require a signed release in order to disclose information. Counselors are bound by a code of ethics and laws that require guarding client information and client confidentiality. In the case of pastors and physicians making referrals to professional counselors, it will be necessary to sign a two way release of information in order for information to legally be exchanged as we serve as teammates in helping our clients. It is important that we explain to our clients that working together is in their best interest. As we are able to communicate we are able to work as a team which often speeds the process and increases the chance of successful outcome.

The final step in making effective referrals is follow up. It is important for us to check with clients to make sure that they made the telephone call and established an appointment. It is also important for us to follow up with our clients following their first appointment with their counselor. When people come for counseling they are often confused, anxious, and sometimes disoriented. Sometimes clients will come away from sessions with mistaken impressions or misunderstandings of something that was said in the counseling process. Counseling is a painful process and sometimes raises resistance.

The Problem Of Mis-information. Sometimes clients keep important information from their counselor and expect their counselor to have the ability to read minds or have magical insight so as to know facts without their telling us. As the referring professional, if we communicate with the counselor, we can often help work through whatever resistance or anxiety the client may have continuing the counseling process.

It may also be necessary for the referring professional to give feedback to the counselor on how the client perceived the counseling process. It is helpful to encourage counselees to discuss their anxieties and concerns directly with the counselor. Many clients fear conflict and may not be assertive enough to tell their counselor when the counselor is off the subject or has misinterpreted some of the facts. Also it is important for counselees to be able in the counseling relationship to tell the counselor when they disagree with what is being said. These skills make for the most effective counseling outcomes. Sometimes those refereed need a little encouragement in order to be able to make the counseling relationship effective.

Nearly every professional counselor has had clients who have misquoted, quoted out of context, or selectively misrepresented what was said during counseling sessions. Manipulation is a frequently used coping strategy in clients with emotional problems. Unfortunately, these clients also manipulate the various care-givers providing them with services, and can threaten to sabotage the counseling process. The best solution to this problem is for care-givers to communicate directly with one another. In this way the various helpers can cooperatively develop a treatment plan and coordinate the services they provide. Any attempts to manipulate will be discovered.

How to contact the Christian Family Institute:

You may contact us by telephone or e-mail. Our office hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Evening counseling appointments are available on a limited basis by request.

Expressway Tower – 51st and Lewis/ 2431 East 51st Street, Suite 500/ Tulsa,Oklahoma 74105

Phone: 918-745-0095

Fax: 918-745-0190

This article is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. It is shared with the understanding that neither the author nor Tony Cooke Ministries is engaged in rendering legal, accounting, psychological, medical or other professional services. Laws and regulations are continually changing, and can vary according to location and time. No representation is made that the information herein is applicable for all locations and times. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought.

© Tony Cooke Ministries, Inc. All Rights Reserved