I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need. Philippians 4:13
As a new leader in ministry outside the local church, I was challenged, stretched, and often terrified. When a group of Pentecostal leaders from around the United States invited me to speak to them, I was both honored and nervous. To ease my jitters, I went in the night before I was due to speak, just to get ...
The Way of Contentment What makes the difference between a Christian who is frustrated and one who is content? Richard Lewis
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Contentment doesn't mean a problem-free life. Paul was in prison when he wrote, "I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances" (Phil. 4:11). Contentment is a state of mind. As Abraham Lincoln said, "Every man is just as happy as he makes up his mind to be." Contentment is something not easily or quickly learned. The late Dr. Noel Smith told an old friend from his hospital bed, "Just about ...
Context defines success. In Western culture, success means a fulfilling, well-paying job, loving relationships, and some kind of influence or impact on other people. It can be narrowed beyond that, however. Consider others who are in a similar life situation as you. What would your demographic consider "success"? Write a few characteristics in the space below.
When I took over as pastor of a church in the Chicago suburbs, I was on the heels of learning several lessons about ministry—and success—in the context of a small church. But then, in my new church, which numbered about 30, we turned a corner. One Sunday in January our attendance nearly doubled—and most of those newcomers came back. As the spring progressed, we added ...
I was mad. And the more I thought about it, the madder I got. I had attended a seminar entitled "Ministry in the Small Church." I had pastored small churches, but this was my first study of the concept. Now, heading home from the conference, I was mad—at the denomination, at the seminary, at my superintendent, even at myself.
The world judges a person from two perspectives: private enterprise and public impact. A person may be enviously successful in her private life. Yet, since she makes no public impact, she could be called a failure. Consider the reverse. A person may be famous but a failure. Fame has little to do with a person's qualities as a human being.
At least monthly, someone tells me they once had a singles ministry in their church, but it died. When I hear that, I wonder who killed it. Here are some reasons I've found:
Fad-born. If a singles ministry was started to "jump on the bandwagon" of singles ministry, the chances are great that it will fizzle out when some other ministry appears more attractive. A ministry must be founded on need and vision in order to succeed.
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