1.  Calling:

Only God calls people into the ministry. Jonah was called but ran.  Joshua and Nehemiah were called by circumstance.  Daniel, Hannaniah, Mishael, and Azariah were called by their integrity.  The Bible, and life for that matter, is full of men and women whose calling was predicated by different circumstances; whose ministries were destined by God to meet a particular need.  Each by submitting to God’s purpose – served his own generation by the will of God.

Consider Namaan’s wife’s handmaiden.  Her name is not even mentioned in scripture.  Her task was simply to share the light of Jehovah’s healing power by telling her mistress and master about the prophet in Israel.

Think about Jeremiah.  He was smack in the middle of God’s will yet did not have one convert.  He in stead was abused, tortured, and mocked.  By natural standards, one might conclude that his ministry was a dismal failure.  We need to seek to be faithful to His calling not chase after another mark on a man-made measuring stick.

2.  Character:

Without a doubt one of the most important aspects of ministry is character.  1 Timothy 3:7 reads, “Also, he must be well spoken of by the people outside the church – those who aren’t Christians – so that Satan can’t trap Him with man’s accusations and leave him without freedom to lead his flock.” (TLB)

When it comes to discerning a man’s character, time is our best friend.  Faithfulness, consistency, integrity, in essence, character is seen best through the lens of time.  People take a long time to tag someone as a “good man,” however; it takes only one slip of the tongue or ill-timed action to mar a reputation.  A good name can be destroyed in the proverbial heartbeat.  We need to subject our body and spirit to whatever calling God has for us – even if we are not “there” yet.  Establishing a name takes time – so it’s time to be conscious of our name.

Brother’s Keepers:

When God asked Cain where Abel was, Cain’s reply was the interrogative, “Am I my brother’s keeper?”  I suggest that our response as the church of the living God ought to be a resounding “YES!”  One can put a thousand to flight two can put ten thousand.  A threefold chord is not easily broken.  We need to be knit together with the brethren!

Jonathan mentored a young man who was anointed to take the throne that legally ought to have been his.  It is essential that there be people in our lives that can mentor us and shape our character!  As well, we need peer level influence that will commit to keep us accountable for our attitudes and actions.  It is much safer to travel with someone than try to do it solo.  Should you get a little off track, it’s easier for an “accountability partner” to help make some adjustments than it would be to repair and restore after devastation.

Jonathan and David knit their souls together.  The ministry has some very dark valleys at times.  It makes the trip a little more manageable when we have somebody whose soul is knit together with yours.  It is important to have someone with whom you can discuss dreams, successes, frustrations, mistakes, and failures.  We need some “Brother’s Keepers” in the ministry.

 3.  Competencies

• effective communication

1. Preaching – The passionate communication targeting the heart resulting in commitment and challenge – in essence the altar experience.
2. Teaching – The anointed instructing in the things of God and scripture that produces character growth and maturity.

• identifying, articulating, and casting vision
• motivating people
• coaching and developing people
• synthesizing  information
• persuading people
• initiating strategic action
• engaging (following through) strategic action
• resolving conflict
• developing resources
• acquiring and selecting resources
• delegating authority and responsibility
• reinforcing commitment
• celebrating successes
• decision making
• team building
• instigating evaluation
• creating a viable (working) culture
• maintaining focus and priorities
• upholding accountability
• identifying opportunities for influence
• relating everything back to God’s plan
• modeling the spiritual disciplines
• managing other key leaders
• modeling commitment during difficult times

The skills involved in ministry are the easy part.  Anyone can learn the “how’s” of ministry functionality.  Only God determines the call.  Only an individual can submit his will to allow character to be produced.

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I am not staunchly against the idea, and feel that it’s valid in the sense of a mutual purpose, passion, goal, ownership, etc. Collectively, we need joint responsibility in the church. There is a traditional separation between “clergy” and “laity” that stunts the progress and power of the local congregation.

That said, there is also a Biblical precedent of authority structure within the Church. When speaking of collegial leadership, or eldership, it appears that even in the early church there was a distinction between those being served, those serving, and even those ministering (Acts 6). And even among the apostles, though this seemed to be a collegial leadership group, there was a standout leader named Peter who spoke decisively on behalf of the rest of the group.

In 1 Peter 5, Peter addresses “the elders which are among you”. Some say this means plural elders in one congregation, but he opened the letter in ch 1 by addressing “the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappodocia, Asia, Bithynia”, indicating that these are saints and elders in many locations and churches.

Even James, who said, “let them call for the elders of the church” was addressing “the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad”. I realize he specifically noted “elders” in a “church”, and I’m fine with that, but we’re not given indication that these elders comprised a collegiate leadership that negated an individual leader among them.

To me, since scripture seems to indicate more in favor of a mutual burden/responsibility in terms of mission among elders but then clearly points to leaders such as Jesus, Peter, Paul, etc., I lean more heavily to not supporting a strong “collegial eldership” (in terms of pastoral leadership) over a church with the absence of a single visionary leader.

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At such a young age I encountered an experience that, no matter how old or young I was, I could speak of. I could warn of. I could advise about. To deny me the space to speak about my experience would be disrespectful at the least, but potentially damaging to those I could help at the worst. I taught my younger brother the lesson as soon as I could, and to my knowledge he has never made the same mistake I did. It seems there was validity in what I was able to share.

Obviously, I’m headed somewhere with this. I am growing concerned about a trend that is crippling us as a movement. Indeed I’ve written articles and posts about it, and shared my feelings with other men I respect, both older and younger. This trend is that of, “despising the youth” around us.

I realize that we have seen an increasing number of young men and women grow disinterested in traditional Pentecostalism, and an ever-widening gap between those who are considered “young” and those, “old”. But this is not a new problem. I think it’s just becoming more noticed now that it is reaching what, in my estimation, is a critical mass. It has grown to a point where it can no longer be ignored. The concern I have is definitely for those youth and the direction they’re headed, but it’s also for an aging population among us that is further pushing the wedge into this divide rather than mending the breach.

Shame on those among us who, with all seemingly good intentions, further cripple our movement with an exclusionary disrespect and segregation of a generation who will one day replace us. They will not be trained through expulsion, led by castigation, helped by neglect, encouraged by insults or empowered by ridicule. To deride a generation saying they don’t have, “enough corn in the crib”, are “all hat and no cattle”, “wet behind the ears”, or whatever other self-aggrandizing statement can be quickly quipped, is nothing more than a shovel-full of dirt being dug into the grave of our future efforts to evangelize the world.

I am now 39 years old, have been in ministry for more than 20 years, have married, buried, consoled, counseled, prayed with and for more people than I could count, though the faces of radiant joy and overwhelming grief and suffering regularly show themselves vividly in my memories. I have experienced life and death, blessing and cursing, trials and triumphs, successes and failures, injury and healing, miracles and disappointments… yet to some, I am but a “young man”. I realize that I have much more life to live, and many more lessons to learn… in fact, I often feel inadequate with my knowledge and frustrated with the shallowness of my accomplishments. But on this side of the middle of life, I can see that life has taught me many lessons of value. Men my age and even older are still considered a voice of youth or even inexperience by men not much older who may have a few more gray hairs, but perhaps not equal experience or wisdom. Understand that I am not making a case to demand or even desire respect or a “place on stage” from anyone… I am certainly quite confident in the reality of my life and ministry, and receive all the validation I need from the God who called me and the people whose lives I’ve influenced. What bothers me is the pattern I see where aging men further separate themselves from a generation that needs them the most by demeaning their voices, minimizing their experiences, and marginalizing their value among us.

I realize that this may sound disrespectful to an older generation that has earned a place among us as elders and leaders, but that is not the intention. In fact, I love, admire and respect those who have lived a life of sacrifice and paid a price to earn a voice among this world. My intention, rather, is to speak a cautionary word to those who might see their age, position or experience as validation in the suppressing of a voice we desperately need among us.

As the icons and heroes, conference-speakers and camp-preachers of our younger days age and die, we will be faced with the fearful reality that, though there may be some to take their place next year, the crop is growing thinner and thinner. Next decade, if the Lord withholds His coming, how many ministers will we have in our movement? How many pastors, preachers and elders?

Further castigate and demean the youth of today if you wish. Quiet the voice of experience, whether it be young or just “young”, if you wish. Make pithy remarks about the accomplishments of a generation younger than us if you wish. But when we sit on the edge of our bed in years to come with whited hair, frail bones and weathered skin… and when we consider the vast expanse of unharvested fields and lack of laborers in that day… just remember that we had a choice today to contribute to it, or try to make it better.

1 Timothy 4:12 “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.”

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Unfortunately most people are not taking the responsibility for themselves to have a changed life, which includes altering several things like:

• the way they think
• the places they go
• the friends they have
• and the things they allow or include in their life.

Often there is no real desire to change, mostly just guilt for being the way they are.

God can open the prison doors, but when he taps you on the side and says, “get up and get out”, you’ve got to go. Then, as Peter, realize that was just the first stage of deliverance… there are guards to that prison that you must go past who will put you back in if you let them, and an iron gate to the city that will test you further… and it won’t open until you encounter it.

Acts 12:8 Then the angel said to him, “Put on your clothes and sandals.” And Peter did so. “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me,” the angel told him. 9 Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision. 10 They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him. (NIV)

Deliverance will still require full repentance and a transformed, renewed mind. People can’t escape the fact they must own their responsibility of a continued change of life. When a person receives the Holy Ghost, they receive the power to change. In Romans 12:1-2, Paul is speaking to the church and telling them that the key area of transformation is the renewing of the mind. Many people receive the Holy Ghost but never have their mind renewed. While they have the power to change, they don’t because they are walking around with the same old mind.

Sometimes God’s deliverance comes in different ways, too.

• Sometimes God just gives us a different view of the problem. He teaches us what it problem is.
• Sometimes, He destroys the cause of the trouble Himself (Pharaoh’s army).
• Sometimes He uses us and He uses our own efforts to overcome and destroy the trouble (Noah built a boat).
• Sometimes He causes our enemies (or trouble) to destroy themselves (Gideon and the Midianites).
• Sometimes He helps us to endure the trouble, and sometimes prevents the effects (Joseph).
• Sometimes He puts someone or something in our life to help us through it (Elijah and the ravens, Daniel in the Lion’s den, Paul’s help while in prison).
• Sometimes He doesn’t remove the trouble at all, but prevents the consequences (Paul and the viper bite, the 3 Hebrew boys).
• Sometimes He allows the consequences to come upon us to show us He’s the only thing we truly desire. God will allow our sin to punish us for our wrong… He chastens those He loves.

Ultimately, God will COMPLETELY deliver us when this life is over and our final rest is with Him. Until then, we have this life to “endure to the end”.

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Ron Edmundson described leaders as follows:

• Leaders have a vision that includes other people…
• Leaders are typically the ones who are willing to think bigger…
• Leaders will usually take greater risks…
• Leaders dream bigger than they can complete without others…
• Leaders take people where they are afraid to go…
• Leaders strategize plans they can never accomplish alone…
• Leaders aren’t just talking about it…
• Leaders are actually going somewhere…

If these things do not exist, there is no need for a leader. Some may stay with that leader, but not the ones who want to achieve something greater…. most will leave to find it.

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What are some signs that you are not healthy?

#1 – You cannot remember the last time you clearly heard the Word of God speak to you about an issue in your own life.

#2 – You no longer use the Bible to learn more about Jesus and hear His voice…you are simply using it to find your next sermon.

#3 – You actually begin to hate and despise the people in your church (who, by the way, are the very people you are called to love!)

#4 – You spend more time on the cell phone and computer when you are at home than you do with your own family.

#5 – You are so obsessed with pleasing people and putting out fires that listening to God and doing what He says is no longer the goal of your life and ministry.

#6 – You often dream of being in another church…thinking that if you were somewhere else you would have no problems.

#7 – You are spending time building up people of the opposite sex and having intimate conversations with them that SHOULD be taking place with your spouse.

#8 – You are often overwhelmed with feelings of intense sadness and you don’t know why.

#9 – You can’t sleep.

#10 – You keep telling yourself (and your family) that one day everything is going to slow down.

It doesn’t take all ten to confirm it… if even one of these is a “yes”, it’s time to face the reality and GET WELL! Take a break, see a counselor, consult a friend. Get back on track as soon as possible.

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From http://www.maclakeonline.com

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There are three salient points in this passage that relate to the ministry and secular work:

1. “Tobiah is in the Treasury.”
2. “The Levite is in the field.”
3. “The House of God is forsaken.”

Tobiah was an Ammonite servant, who apparently had been freed, and even rose to a position of some political prominence in his society. He had managed to form an alliance with Eliashib, the Hebrew high priest in Jerusalem, a perfect example of an unequal yoking. He was one of the two conspirators who hired a man to warn Nehemiah of death threats and tempt him into entering the Holy Place to save himself. Their intent was either to discredit him in the eyes of the influential priests, or to result in his death, as the Hebrews might expect for one who trespassed into the Holy Place.  Just as Nehemiah had no privilege to enter into the Holy Place, neither did Tobiah have any right to have lodgings in the Treasury. His presence there was a contributing factor in the decline of the material support for the Levites, which forced them to secure their own livelihoods by farming. The Levites’ need to provide for themselves, and their families, resulted in a general diminishing of their service in the House of God.  This is the situation in view when the Lord challenged the people with having “corrupted the covenant of Levi” in Malachi 2:8. It is manifest that Almighty God intended the priests and Levites to be supported through the various tithes and even some of the specified offerings of the people. He expected them to be completely free to attend to preparation and service in the House of God. It is equally manifest that the presence of Tobiah in the Treasury was an obstacle to the  fulfillment of this plan.

Nehemiah asked God to remember him because he removed Tobiah from the Treasury, brought the Levites in from the field, and restored to the House of God and to the people the full-time ministry God had ordained. There are not many things influential laymen can do that should make them bold enough to commend themselves to the Lord, but making sure that the ministry receives that measure of financial support which enables them to give their full attention to the ministry God has given them is certainly one of them.

There are any number of “Tobiahs” that have been allowed to take residence in the House of God these days. There is one related to this topic that needs to be specifically addressed. It is a manner of sacrificing that is easy for a dedicated man of God to adopt, and even easier for the people of God to allow. It has all the appearance of nobility, finds acceptability in the sight of men, and insures that the Lord will be less than pleased. It was a course chosen by the Apostle Paul in his early dealings with the Corinthian church, and one for which he asked forgiveness of them when he was nearing the end of his ministry. “For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong. “ 2 Corinthians 12:13.

What is this particular “Tobiah”? It is the mindset that causes the pastor to hesitate to ask the people to carry their share of the financial sacrifices to support the ministry as it ought to be supported. Ministers seem more than willing to continue in secular work to support not only their own families, but also provide for the needs of their churches. Additionally, the people seem to be content with this easing of their own responsibilities. This thinking is a Tobiah, and it needs to be put out of the House of God. This thinking guarantees that the victim congregation will be inferior to other churches, and the ministry’s energy diverted away from the more important service to God and His people.

It is not the intent of this article to condemn any pastor or minister who must engage in secular employment to provide for his family. There was no condemnation to the Levites who were forced into the fields. Rather, it is the contention of this article that both minister and layman must work together to get the minister into a full-time ministry as soon as it is possible, even if it is burdensome for the congregation, even if it forces ministers into a vulnerability that they would like to avoid. None of us want to be accused of greed, or of devouring widow’s houses (and this article condones neither). But, the fact exists, that while proper support of the ministry will be burdensome to both congregation and minister for a time, properly bearing that burden will also provoke God into making that burden light. The congregation will prosper, and grow as the Lord adds to it.  With these things in mind, please consider the following eight suggestions as a method for moving toward a full-time pastoral ministry.

1. Reassert the principle that it is more important to do it right than it is to merely get it done.
Remember, the foolish man did build a house. He expended all of the labor and resources needed to get a work done that was satisfactory to all outward appearances as long as the sun was shining. It is possible to labor, but to labor in vain. It is more important that you and your work be of God than it is that it solves the apparent and temporary need and desire, or garners the accolades of men. Many widows were in Israel in the days of Elijah, but God sent sustenance to only one widow. Many  lepers were in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, but only Naaman the Syrian was cleansed. Fulfilling His purpose His way ought to be more important to us than anything else.

2. Redefine the paradigm to fit the need rather than simply accepting the dominant example.
You might discover that the existing church model does not fit either your congregation’s need, or the scriptural example. Do not be afraid to follow the leading of the Lord to change how you define “church.” Perhaps a centralized house of worship is not the model you need to follow. Do not follow your own understanding!

3. Remap the course to take you where you need to be rather than to get to the more distant goal.
Do you need a church building (see item 1. above)? If so, consider it the more distant goal. A full-time ministry is the more urgent need, so you can spend your time more effectively in the work of that ministry. Financial freedom, for yourself and the congregation is much more important than a building. Remember, in the Book of Acts they had revival without buildings. In spite of what you have been trained to believe, buildings do not build congregations. Congregations build buildings, and they do it when the Lord directs them to do so, or when an overeager leader demands it. Patience, preacher, is still a virtue.

4. Refine your sacrifice rather than surrendering to “spiritual superiority.”
It is sometimes easier for the minister to be the leading giver in the congregation than it is to encourage the people to carry their share of the load. Sometimes we take a special pride in the measure of our dedication and sacrifice, especially if it is greater than that of those we lead. You will eventually have to ask forgiveness for allowing such motives to direct your actions, just as Paul did. It is far better to encourage your congregation to do right, taking the more difficult road, and let them experience the provision of the Lord. You may have to sacrifice that part of your reputation in order to build righteousness into the financial lives of your people.

5. Reeducate the people of the congregation rather than assigning blame for what is lacking.
God’s people do not need to be condemned for failure, but encouraged to succeed. Certainly there are some who will not do right, but that part of the congregation who are being led by the Holy Spirit will be saved by the preaching of what is right. They will learn the truth, and follow its directions, and become what God intends them to be. It was not their idea to put Tobiah in the Treasury, and they will follow a leader who teaches them what is right, and is determined to do it. If you need a third party to do this teaching, obtain one, even if it is simply a qualified lay leader (Nehemiah was neither a Levite or a priest).

6. Reassure your heart and that of the people, that you are part of the LORD’s church.
He knows your needs before you ask Him, and it is His good pleasure to give you the Kingdom. Every good gift and every perfect gift is coming down from Him, and He will freely give you all things along with the gift of His Son. Godliness with contentment is great gain.

7. Reestablish “Leadership Stewardship” rather than imposing sacrifice on the next leader.
Most pastors have trouble with this one. Let it be plainly stated: do not obligate the tithe for any other purpose other than the support of the ministers of the church. If you obligate some portion of the tithes to pay a mortgage, or rent, or any other expense of the facility of worship, you must have some provision to pay off that obligation before you leave that pastorate. The tithe does not belong to you, but to God, and He has designated it to provide a full-time income for the ministry in that congregation. It would be better if you did not obligate the next pastor’s income for any other purpose than being his income. The need for the next man will probably arrive sooner than you expect, and almost certainly sooner than you plan.

8. Reapply the resources.
If the pastor and the congregation obey God’s plan for the finances,  the tithes of ten faithful wage earning families provide an average full-time wage for one minister and his family. There doesn’t seem to be any reason why the senior pastor shouldn’t receive the average income of most well-paid families in the congregation. An associate pastor might receive the average of the second ten, and so on, until the full ministerial staff is working full time in edifying the body of Christ and reaching the lost.

This course may be a means of revitalizing the commitment of the congregation, and enduing them with a fresh anointing of the power of God. This will result in them taking responsibility for the proper care of the facilities of worship, of their brothers and sisters in The Lord, and of the welfare of their leaders. In addition, that will result in an environment of Expectation and evangelization in which the character of Christ can be reproduced into the lives of the redeemed.  Finally, please remember that this article does not criticize any minister who is forced to Engage in secular employment to provide for his family (1Timothy 5:8). There are few Circumstances which will allow for a church to be birthed without the minister going through a time of personal “tent making” to provide for his own family. Each minister who must make that sacrifice is to be commended for endurance and diligence. This is also true for those who pastor churches that are presently too small to support them in full-time ministry. Do not let Tobiah into the Treasury, and if he is there already, kick him out. All of God’s people will be glad when both of you are put in the right place.

Written by Cliff Readout

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What do you do with people who disagree with you… do you call them names in order to shut them down?

Are you open to multiple points of view or you demand compliance and uniformity? [Bonus: Are you willing to walk away from a project or customer or employee who has values that don't match yours?]

Is it okay if someone else gets the credit?

How often are you able to change your position?

Do you have a goal that can be reached in multiple ways?

If someone else can get us there faster, are you willing to let them?

No textbook answers… It’s easy to get tripped up by these. In fact, most leaders I know do.

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