Music is my passion. I enjoy worshiping God with it, but I can't deny its ubiquitous nature in the world around us. It is everywhere, and it moves people emotionally (both in the positive and negative). I think this is why I tend to gravitate toward music that speaks to me about God, but does it in such a way that is highly musical, creative and is generally making some positive and spiritual cultural impact. What is generally thought of as Contemporary Christian (CCM) and especially the popular worship genre is everywhere in the Christian culture, but has left hardly a dent on the rest of the world. Jesus said something about being salt (what's the point if it's tasteless) and light (what's the point if it is hidden under a bushel). Here are a few of my top picks (mostly current) that you may not find at the local Christian bookstore, but move me towards God. Hopefully they will do the same for you and some of your friends. CD's are listed from newest to oldest.
Neko Case – Fox Confessor Brings the Flood [2006] Neko's voice compells the listener. Her songwriting stirs the soul. "John Saw that Number" lights up those old time gospel feelings, "A Widow's Toast" tells it like it is, and she calls the listener to "Hold on, Hold on" to what is true. A modern masterpiece.
Calexico / Iron & Wine – "In the Reins" [2005] A southwestern band and a folk artist combine for an incredible well written and performed EP. The title track "He Lays In The Reins" is worth the price of admission, or at least a $.99 download from iTunes.
Nickel Creek – Why Should the Fire Die? [2005] Although most of the songwriting content focuses on love lost, this young bluegrass/pop outfit delivers with passion and fun. "Doubting Thomas" strikes the heart with the challenges of belief and unbelief, while other songs might have you dancing a jig in your kitchen.
Bill Mallonee – Dear Life [2004] The former front man for Vigilantes of Love (VOL) draws an honest picture of life as a struggling Christian with a true heart towards God. The songwriting is great and you may find "Kidz on Drugz (or Life)" to be on repeat for many days.
Johnny Cash – American Recordings (I) - [2002] The first (and I believe the best) of many Cash CD's produced by Rick Rubin. Johnny comes back raw and rasping out old favourites like "Why Me Lord" from an older perspective. "Redemption" tell the story and the "Beast In Me" cuts a clear path of repentance for Johnny and the listener.
Emmylou Harris – Wrecking Ball [1995] "Wrecking Ball" is probably the finest example of what I would call a great album. Produced by Daniel Lanois it also features Neil Young, Steve Earle, Lucinda Williams, and Larry Mullen, Jr. Musically, it takes high marks and respect from the artistic world. Emmylou's voice trembles with sweet emotion. Spiritually, it takes you closer to Jesus and to the heart of what it means to be human and live in this world. This CD is both light and salt. Featuring songs like "All My Tears", "Every Grain of Sand" and "Orphan Girl." One of the best Christian CD's you will ever find, not found in your local Christian bookstore.
Jason Johnston is a Church Planter in Mississauga, ON <<www.housechurch.ca>>
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Churches Partnering in Mission
“God bless you greatly, it is very pleasing for us to have the power to include you each year and we thank you for your aid.” Those are the words of Pastor Nito Castro Vilarino, a Spanish Free Methodist church planter in Madrid. This summer, for the second year, a Canadian team of young adults worked alongside Nito and his wife Lili in their outreach to marginalized youth in a suburban park.
This partnership began three years ago when a Canadian FM exploratory team met with Nito and Lili to understand their vision for ministry. For the past two years the Free Methodist Church in Westport, Ontario, has sent team leaders Ike and Kathy Doornekamp to continue building the relationship and contribute to their ministry. Chris Crozier, the son of Westport pastor Rusty Crozier, was with the Encounter team in 2005 and is back in Madrid spending 6 months working alongside Nito and Lili.
In the current global situation we need to realize that the centre of the Christian world has moved to the southern hemisphere. Post-modern, post-Christendom, North American Christians are steadily losing any influence we had just because we were “Western Christians.” Latin American, African, Asian Christians are taking the lead in evangelizing their own countries and people groups. What’s different about their approach, however, is that they are asking to work at this task together with North American Christians, rather than independently.
Paul Gupta, president of the Hindustan Bible Institute in India says, “If we are going to develop healthier environments of interdependency we must understand we are all on the same page; we are all dependent, must have a global mindset and must find ways of working together in order to create a synergy that will make a difference. We must develop systems of mutual trust and accountability.”
The underlying missiological principles in the partnership model are 1) that God gives vision, gifts and resources to all parts of his body, whether in Canada or in Cambodia; 2) that the Great Commission – to take the Jesus story to all people groups – is given to all believers, whether in Canada or in Cameroon. Therefore in our present globalized world, the whole family of Jesus-followers needs to be involved, working together, in the mission of the Church. Each part of the family brings vision, gifts and resources to the table.
A developmental partnership in Christian ministry is a cooperative relationship between two autonomous bodies whereby each enables the other to grow in its capacity to initiate and carry out change for the sake of the gospel. Our experience has shown that Canadian churches involved in partnerships gain as much from the partnership as their international partners.
Developmental partnerships have three characteristics: relationship, vision, and results. Relationship is the means by which trust, communication, and collaboration are made possible – “do we know each other well enough to respect and trust each partner’s contribution to the whole?” Vision is a compelling picture of what the partnership can achieve and how it is going to get there – “what can be done together for the Kingdom and how are we going to do it?” Results describes the partnership’s capacity to deliver tangible outcomes – “what are we getting done?”
Partnerships between local congregations and international ministries represent a unique opportunity for church involvement in mission. These partnerships take all the available mission education, intercultural sensitivity, and mobilization resources of a local church and Global Ministries input, and integrates them into a comprehensive expression of the life of a local church in mission.
In the summer of 2006, Ricelawn FMC in Welland, ON sent Senior Pastor Bob Snider, ministerial intern Chris Payk and his wife Terri, as well as board member Germain Coloumbe, to Taipei, Taiwan on an exploratory trip. Ricelawn Church is investigating the possibility of a long-term partnership with a church in Taipei, one of our identified Gateway Cities. Chris and Terri spent 6 weeks working alongside Pastor Daniel Lo in the Mu Cha FMC, while Bob and Germain spent a couple weeks in Taipei and outlying regions. From this initial visit a 3-5 year ministry partnership is developing.
Barrie FMC sent an exploratory team to Accra, Ghana, last summer, and this year John-Mark and Loreli Cockram [ministry leaders at Barrie] have moved to Ghana for a two year assignment in partnership with the national church-planting team there.
Ecclesiax FMC in Ottawa has been sending teams to northern Quebec for a number of years, partnering with aboriginal Christians to encourage wholeness and healing in several First Nations communities.
Trull’s Road FMC in Courtice, ON sent a team to Hyderabad, India this summer as part of the ongoing partnership between them, New Horizons FMC in Sarnia, ON, and the Hyderabad Mission District. This year’s team included retired Tyndale Seminary professor, Roy Matheson who conducted Spiritual Warfare seminars with pastors and lay leaders.
Speaking of Trull’s Road’s partnership in India, Pastor Barry Taylor suggests that “a lot of time can be spent in just getting things done locally towards the great commission. The trouble with that kind of thinking is that it creates too much selfishness, even if it is dealing with kingdom work. Seeing how as a church we can strive to be strategic and intentional about our kingdom work locally and globally keeps us from getting entrenched in our own problems and needs.”
Wesley Chapel, Toronto, ON and Northview FMC, Regina, SK have been partnering in Sri Lanka along with Mississauga Tamil FMC, for several years now. This summer’s team included 3 from Wesley Chapel and 4 from Northview.
Each of these partnerships has developed over a period of several years. Getting their local church vision aligned with ministry possibilities beyond their doors is the first step. But then diving into the risk-taking exploratory visits, developing workable partnerships between people of different cultures, then embarking on long-term investments of people and resources.
Sometimes churches are intimidated by the idea of developing an international partnership. Pastor Barry Taylor feels that “we are by no means perfect in this endeavour. We are striving to improve and be more effective, less self-focused. One of the best ways that we can be effective in battling this pull towards self has been to see where in the world God is at work and join him there. Through the leading of the Holy Spirit and some seasoned workers (like Pastor Doug Griffin of New Horizons, in Sarnia) we began a partnership with the Free Methodist Church in India, specifically the Hyderabad Free Methodist Mission District. Even though it is the furthest away our church has ever partnered, we are finding people’s hearts turning to see what they can do. They are seeing the world from a broader reality.”
“We have done two trips – one in September of 2004 when I travelled to Hyderabad with Doug Griffin (kind of a fact finding trip). This past August we had a team of 6 people go to resource and teach pastors there. We have given funds to support pastors, raised money to help purchase ministry property and helped develop existing property. This involvement, in turn, has helped us to see that God is at work around the world. It has been encouraging to know that our going and offering encouragement has blessed the church there. But perhaps in greater ways we are blessed by them and their incredible faith.”
Rev. Dan Sheffield is the Director Intercultural and Global Ministries for The Free Methodist Church in Canada
This partnership began three years ago when a Canadian FM exploratory team met with Nito and Lili to understand their vision for ministry. For the past two years the Free Methodist Church in Westport, Ontario, has sent team leaders Ike and Kathy Doornekamp to continue building the relationship and contribute to their ministry. Chris Crozier, the son of Westport pastor Rusty Crozier, was with the Encounter team in 2005 and is back in Madrid spending 6 months working alongside Nito and Lili.
In the current global situation we need to realize that the centre of the Christian world has moved to the southern hemisphere. Post-modern, post-Christendom, North American Christians are steadily losing any influence we had just because we were “Western Christians.” Latin American, African, Asian Christians are taking the lead in evangelizing their own countries and people groups. What’s different about their approach, however, is that they are asking to work at this task together with North American Christians, rather than independently.
Paul Gupta, president of the Hindustan Bible Institute in India says, “If we are going to develop healthier environments of interdependency we must understand we are all on the same page; we are all dependent, must have a global mindset and must find ways of working together in order to create a synergy that will make a difference. We must develop systems of mutual trust and accountability.”
The underlying missiological principles in the partnership model are 1) that God gives vision, gifts and resources to all parts of his body, whether in Canada or in Cambodia; 2) that the Great Commission – to take the Jesus story to all people groups – is given to all believers, whether in Canada or in Cameroon. Therefore in our present globalized world, the whole family of Jesus-followers needs to be involved, working together, in the mission of the Church. Each part of the family brings vision, gifts and resources to the table.
A developmental partnership in Christian ministry is a cooperative relationship between two autonomous bodies whereby each enables the other to grow in its capacity to initiate and carry out change for the sake of the gospel. Our experience has shown that Canadian churches involved in partnerships gain as much from the partnership as their international partners.
Developmental partnerships have three characteristics: relationship, vision, and results. Relationship is the means by which trust, communication, and collaboration are made possible – “do we know each other well enough to respect and trust each partner’s contribution to the whole?” Vision is a compelling picture of what the partnership can achieve and how it is going to get there – “what can be done together for the Kingdom and how are we going to do it?” Results describes the partnership’s capacity to deliver tangible outcomes – “what are we getting done?”
Partnerships between local congregations and international ministries represent a unique opportunity for church involvement in mission. These partnerships take all the available mission education, intercultural sensitivity, and mobilization resources of a local church and Global Ministries input, and integrates them into a comprehensive expression of the life of a local church in mission.
In the summer of 2006, Ricelawn FMC in Welland, ON sent Senior Pastor Bob Snider, ministerial intern Chris Payk and his wife Terri, as well as board member Germain Coloumbe, to Taipei, Taiwan on an exploratory trip. Ricelawn Church is investigating the possibility of a long-term partnership with a church in Taipei, one of our identified Gateway Cities. Chris and Terri spent 6 weeks working alongside Pastor Daniel Lo in the Mu Cha FMC, while Bob and Germain spent a couple weeks in Taipei and outlying regions. From this initial visit a 3-5 year ministry partnership is developing.
Barrie FMC sent an exploratory team to Accra, Ghana, last summer, and this year John-Mark and Loreli Cockram [ministry leaders at Barrie] have moved to Ghana for a two year assignment in partnership with the national church-planting team there.
Ecclesiax FMC in Ottawa has been sending teams to northern Quebec for a number of years, partnering with aboriginal Christians to encourage wholeness and healing in several First Nations communities.
Trull’s Road FMC in Courtice, ON sent a team to Hyderabad, India this summer as part of the ongoing partnership between them, New Horizons FMC in Sarnia, ON, and the Hyderabad Mission District. This year’s team included retired Tyndale Seminary professor, Roy Matheson who conducted Spiritual Warfare seminars with pastors and lay leaders.
Speaking of Trull’s Road’s partnership in India, Pastor Barry Taylor suggests that “a lot of time can be spent in just getting things done locally towards the great commission. The trouble with that kind of thinking is that it creates too much selfishness, even if it is dealing with kingdom work. Seeing how as a church we can strive to be strategic and intentional about our kingdom work locally and globally keeps us from getting entrenched in our own problems and needs.”
Wesley Chapel, Toronto, ON and Northview FMC, Regina, SK have been partnering in Sri Lanka along with Mississauga Tamil FMC, for several years now. This summer’s team included 3 from Wesley Chapel and 4 from Northview.
Each of these partnerships has developed over a period of several years. Getting their local church vision aligned with ministry possibilities beyond their doors is the first step. But then diving into the risk-taking exploratory visits, developing workable partnerships between people of different cultures, then embarking on long-term investments of people and resources.
Sometimes churches are intimidated by the idea of developing an international partnership. Pastor Barry Taylor feels that “we are by no means perfect in this endeavour. We are striving to improve and be more effective, less self-focused. One of the best ways that we can be effective in battling this pull towards self has been to see where in the world God is at work and join him there. Through the leading of the Holy Spirit and some seasoned workers (like Pastor Doug Griffin of New Horizons, in Sarnia) we began a partnership with the Free Methodist Church in India, specifically the Hyderabad Free Methodist Mission District. Even though it is the furthest away our church has ever partnered, we are finding people’s hearts turning to see what they can do. They are seeing the world from a broader reality.”
“We have done two trips – one in September of 2004 when I travelled to Hyderabad with Doug Griffin (kind of a fact finding trip). This past August we had a team of 6 people go to resource and teach pastors there. We have given funds to support pastors, raised money to help purchase ministry property and helped develop existing property. This involvement, in turn, has helped us to see that God is at work around the world. It has been encouraging to know that our going and offering encouragement has blessed the church there. But perhaps in greater ways we are blessed by them and their incredible faith.”
Rev. Dan Sheffield is the Director Intercultural and Global Ministries for The Free Methodist Church in Canada
The Odessa Project
This entire project began from a vision God gave to Karen to start a simple Bible study in this small community for women who do not attend church. Supported by the Free Methodist’s pastor wife, Karen and a friend started a Bible Study. These two ladies along with a few others started a Bible Study. God has used these women in a miraculous way and the ministry has mushroomed.
Karen is an artist, so she rented a storefront on Main Street where she paints and displays and sells her art as well as a few other local artist’s works.
She calls it "Millcreek Studio". Karen and her husband pay the rent, and their cell group from a church in Kingston where they worship pays for the upkeep.
This store has provided a drop-in place, which provides an environment to come and enjoy coffee, tea and cookies and build relationships with other people in their community using a common interest. They also diversified to include a lending library of Christian books, and a place to just explore their interest in painting and drawing with Karen’s expertise.
The one Bible Study that was started has now grown to 3 weekly Bible studies for women. Monday’s study is predominately for the "churched", and Wednesday and Friday for the "community unchurched"
The other weekly events include a Tuesday night Kid’s art class that also has a Bible Study component. Thursday night there is also a men’s study group. To fill out ministry opportunities, there are regular craft nights, and a “Movie Night” at the FM church in Odessa. There is a special summer program called "Coffee and Cake by the Lake"
Through these activities there have been new friendships bloom and relationships built. As a result of these relationships a practical Serving Ministry has arisen to meet needs, such as transportation to doctor’s appointments, giving them their first ever birthday party, and taking a daughter’s graduation pictures for a single mom with no camera.
This ministry is all about serving and giving. It’s about doing what Jesus would do. It is all about doing practical Christianity.
September 2006 Intentions
The most exciting news is that there have been first time decisions to follow Christ as well as recommitments through this ministry.
The reason for the success is that Karen gives God all the credit for what is being accomplished. Her motto is that she gives all she can without any judging and with no strings attached. God has used Karen and her group in a mighty way to impact this community. It is the talk of the town.Odessa and Kingston!
Written by Donna Elford
Karen is an artist, so she rented a storefront on Main Street where she paints and displays and sells her art as well as a few other local artist’s works.
She calls it "Millcreek Studio". Karen and her husband pay the rent, and their cell group from a church in Kingston where they worship pays for the upkeep.
This store has provided a drop-in place, which provides an environment to come and enjoy coffee, tea and cookies and build relationships with other people in their community using a common interest. They also diversified to include a lending library of Christian books, and a place to just explore their interest in painting and drawing with Karen’s expertise.
The one Bible Study that was started has now grown to 3 weekly Bible studies for women. Monday’s study is predominately for the "churched", and Wednesday and Friday for the "community unchurched"
The other weekly events include a Tuesday night Kid’s art class that also has a Bible Study component. Thursday night there is also a men’s study group. To fill out ministry opportunities, there are regular craft nights, and a “Movie Night” at the FM church in Odessa. There is a special summer program called "Coffee and Cake by the Lake"
Through these activities there have been new friendships bloom and relationships built. As a result of these relationships a practical Serving Ministry has arisen to meet needs, such as transportation to doctor’s appointments, giving them their first ever birthday party, and taking a daughter’s graduation pictures for a single mom with no camera.
This ministry is all about serving and giving. It’s about doing what Jesus would do. It is all about doing practical Christianity.
September 2006 Intentions
- Begin a Prayer walk
- An evening study to accomodate working women
- Build more relationships
- A study to be held in Amherstview
The most exciting news is that there have been first time decisions to follow Christ as well as recommitments through this ministry.
The reason for the success is that Karen gives God all the credit for what is being accomplished. Her motto is that she gives all she can without any judging and with no strings attached. God has used Karen and her group in a mighty way to impact this community. It is the talk of the town.Odessa and Kingston!
Written by Donna Elford
Ignite Ministries
I could see it in their faces and hear it in their voices – passion and determination! Here were six women excited about what God is doing and passionate to find significant ways to accomplish a vision that God has given them. I heard their determination as they talked with Keith and me about a burning desire God has put within them to ignite other laywomen, just like themselves, to make a difference in their circles of influence. Our discussion centered on how what God has put on their hearts could be used by the Lord to see the vision of healthy congregations within Canada and beyond being fulfilled in creative and diverse ways as women catch God’s vision for them.
This movement, called IGNITE, is in its infant stage but these women are listening and dreaming about what God may be asking them to do. Our conversation reminded me of Paul’s words to Timothy "to fan into flame the gift that had been given him."
The "embers" that they want to ignite are to not only inspire others, but to also encourage, motivate and equip women to find out what God wants them to do and "fan it into flame". They are not expecting women to come to them. They are hoping to start by holding regional meetings within Ontario and Quebec where women from several local churches can gather to get to know one another and for teaching and inspiration and see where it goes from there.
What they have in mind is not a "one-size fits all" approach. In fact, in their first meeting in the Kingston area, where women attended from 20 area congregations, they talked about different personality styles, spiritual gifts and differing communication styles. Then the women who attended were encouraged to celebrate how God had uniquely made them and return to their churches to serve Him within that framework.
Their motto "start with what you have" was beautifully illustrated in that initial gathering as Karen shared a vision God gave her to start a simple Bible study in the small community of Odessa for women who do not attend church.
She was introduced to the Free Methodist pastor’s wife in the community and together these two women along with a few others started a Bible Study. With her interest in art, Karen (along with the help of others) also established a storefront art studio in the community. This has provided a natural place for fostering relationships as people with a common interest drop in for light refreshments and conversation.
God has used these women in a miraculous way and the ministry has mushroomed among other things to three Bible studies for women, a study for children and one for men.
Commitments and recommitments to Christ have been the result and opportunities for ministries demonstrating "practical Christianity" continue to grow.
IGNITE wants to encourage and facilitate an environment (in regional meetings and through the internet) where other women can build relationships and share their stories of how God is calling them to make a difference.
IGNITE has some other ideas too. They want to find meaningful ways to encourage pastor’s wives and provide a safe place for rest and retreat. They are thinking about ways to encourage women within our churches who are newcomers to Canada and to partner with them to find ways to minister to those in their circles of influence.
They’d love to help build a network of women across Canada that spurs one another on with stories of God at work blessing an ever increasing diversity of ministries ignited by God’s spirit. Another very practical idea they have is to develop a database of speakers and musicians that could be available to local congregations and women’s retreats.
I admire these women and I love their servant attitudes. They don’t know where God is going to take this ministry yet but they are living their motto "start with what you have".
They aren’t about creating another administrative structure. No, it’s about igniting a movement to inspire one another to live out the passion God puts within each of us. I can get excited about that!
For more information on IGNITE Ministries contact Gail Shillington at eagle.fm@sympatico.ca or Colleen Zavrel at peter.zavrel@sympatico.ca.
written by Donna Elford
This movement, called IGNITE, is in its infant stage but these women are listening and dreaming about what God may be asking them to do. Our conversation reminded me of Paul’s words to Timothy "to fan into flame the gift that had been given him."
The "embers" that they want to ignite are to not only inspire others, but to also encourage, motivate and equip women to find out what God wants them to do and "fan it into flame". They are not expecting women to come to them. They are hoping to start by holding regional meetings within Ontario and Quebec where women from several local churches can gather to get to know one another and for teaching and inspiration and see where it goes from there.
What they have in mind is not a "one-size fits all" approach. In fact, in their first meeting in the Kingston area, where women attended from 20 area congregations, they talked about different personality styles, spiritual gifts and differing communication styles. Then the women who attended were encouraged to celebrate how God had uniquely made them and return to their churches to serve Him within that framework.
Their motto "start with what you have" was beautifully illustrated in that initial gathering as Karen shared a vision God gave her to start a simple Bible study in the small community of Odessa for women who do not attend church.
She was introduced to the Free Methodist pastor’s wife in the community and together these two women along with a few others started a Bible Study. With her interest in art, Karen (along with the help of others) also established a storefront art studio in the community. This has provided a natural place for fostering relationships as people with a common interest drop in for light refreshments and conversation.
God has used these women in a miraculous way and the ministry has mushroomed among other things to three Bible studies for women, a study for children and one for men.
Commitments and recommitments to Christ have been the result and opportunities for ministries demonstrating "practical Christianity" continue to grow.
IGNITE wants to encourage and facilitate an environment (in regional meetings and through the internet) where other women can build relationships and share their stories of how God is calling them to make a difference.
IGNITE has some other ideas too. They want to find meaningful ways to encourage pastor’s wives and provide a safe place for rest and retreat. They are thinking about ways to encourage women within our churches who are newcomers to Canada and to partner with them to find ways to minister to those in their circles of influence.
They’d love to help build a network of women across Canada that spurs one another on with stories of God at work blessing an ever increasing diversity of ministries ignited by God’s spirit. Another very practical idea they have is to develop a database of speakers and musicians that could be available to local congregations and women’s retreats.
I admire these women and I love their servant attitudes. They don’t know where God is going to take this ministry yet but they are living their motto "start with what you have".
They aren’t about creating another administrative structure. No, it’s about igniting a movement to inspire one another to live out the passion God puts within each of us. I can get excited about that!
For more information on IGNITE Ministries contact Gail Shillington at eagle.fm@sympatico.ca or Colleen Zavrel at peter.zavrel@sympatico.ca.
written by Donna Elford
A stroke of faith
Baird Point, New York
"Jenna...Jenna...Jenna! Come on honey, wake up!" Each call of my name was punctuated by a tug on my sleeping bag. I pulled the blankets up and over my head sighing as the intruder’s voice became muffled and her nagging quieted." Jenna," Mom sounded smug, "You’re swimming today." She explained that we would be taking off at ten a.m. I soon realized how quickly departure time was approaching. I hopped in the shower singing, `In Christ Alone’, with only 45 minutes to go. Dazed, I soon stepped outside to the awaiting crowd, praying fervently for wisdom and courage.
After a quick chat with my friends, the Penguins, it was time for a – gazillion hugs and a prayer said by my Mom, that petitioned God to protect me and keep me from harm, thanking Him for my crew and the opportunity that He had given me, asking Him to fulfill His purpose for me in all of this.
Once in the water I speculated on my reasoning behind doing all of this, the Penguins. Each one is so special; we form a competitive swim team for kids with disabilities and their siblings. About three years previous to the marathon I realized that we seriously needed a new pool for training. Six years ago, when I started swimming competitively I discovered a passion to see all of the Penguins reach the full potential that God has for them. I knew I couldn’t help get them a new pool on my own, so I prayed. God stirred within me a love for long distance swimming and it became evident that with the help of my coach, Vicki Keith, who is also a world record holder in marathon swimming, I was supposed to swim a marathon.
So now here I was, still swimming. I had hit my first mental struggle; it was night, The wind had not died down as expected, it was throwing waves at me from two different directions, into my face and my sides and they were about 6 feet in height. My right shoulder muscles were torn and incredibly sore, to the point where I could only breathe to my left side, I was requiring Advil every 4 hours. At this point Coach stated, "Jenna, your God must have an awful lot of confidence in you." I was overjoyed. “Isn’t that what every believer wants to hear? That God has confidence in them? So I prayed, "Father, you won’t leave me or forsake me, you love me and give me strength, this is your marathon, have at’er!" God sent me a jewel because I was willing to trust Him. Not five minutes later, a boat of my friends from our church came to cheer me on.
On into the morning of July 19th, these "faith strokes" carried me without difficultly, although there was still much pain. My next struggle came after about 22 hours of swimming. Again my heart sang as the Lord answered my prayers. My sister Natalie got in the water with me and the Penguins came out on a large boat, cheering me on, reminding me that I had to do this. As we rounded Simcoe Island, I was exhausted and sore, not wanting to go on, when the Lord gave me the biggest `kick in the butt’ yet. Vicki turned to me and said, "You know Jenna, you could just touch here at Simcoe Island." I gave her a `you’ve got to be joking’ look and kept on swimming. That thought went back to where it came from and fast. The Lord knew a challenge was what I needed, because I then proceeded to swim the fastest two kilometers of my entire marathon. I know that Jesus was right there with me, making my arms go round because His name was the beat that kept repeating over and over in my head, keeping my arms at a steady pace, “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, breath, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, breath.” The rest of my marathon was swum by His strength alone, one painful faith stroke at a time.
As I stepped out on shore to the awaiting crowd I knew He was smiling down on me and I was only too happy to smile back.
By God’s grace I have now become the first female athlete with a disability to swim across Lake Ontario and have raised over $140,000 towards building a new pool at the Kingston Family YMCA for the Penguins to train in.
Nothing is impossible when you put your faith in Christ.
Written by Jenna Lambert, who attends Harrowsmith FMC, in Ontario
Reflections from a mentor and mentee
Reflections On Mentoring | Roy R. Matheson, Th.D.
From time to time I have been approached by another person and asked if I would mentor them. Often I have responded positively and an interesting journey has begun. Just as often, for a variety of reasons, I have declined the invitation. Since it requires a significant time investment from both mentor and mentee, I want to be assured that the investment of time is a worthwhile and productive one for both of us. I normally have three questions in my mind when I meet with a prospective person. Firstly, I want to know if we can work effectively together, second I need to find out what they are looking for from me and thirdly whether I have what they need. These were the questions in my mind when I first met with Barry Taylor from Trulls Road Free Methodist Church.
The first question has to do with compatibility and chemistry. It does not mean the one being mentored must be a clone of the mentor and in many cases it works well if the personalities are quite different. The first time Barry and I met I sensed quickly that this was a man I would like to spend time with and that anything I could offer would be a good investment. Our personalities are not the same but that has proven to be a good thing. I think of three men who acted as mentors to me long before the term mentor was even in use. They were all quite different in personality from me but my life and ministry were greatly enhanced by the time and effort they gave me.
The second question is what they are looking for from me. If someone needs help in the area of music and worship leading I would not be the one. Barry explained he was looking for input in help in his work as a pastor. I have a heart for such ministry and felt I might have something to contribute. Sometimes when people do not know what they are looking for, the relationship is less profitable.
The third question is whether I have something to offer and contribute. I was asked to be a mentor by someone who is a friend and with whom I enjoy having lunch with from time to time. I declined because he needed help in an area where others were better equipped than me to give the direction he needed. Barry and I have met regularly for almost two years. The issues he faces in ministry are similar if not identical to those I have faced in ministering for 27 years in the same church.
Has our relationship been a successful one? Barry is the one who must ultimately answer that. From my perspective it has been time well spent and I trust it will be beneficial for his life and ministry.
Rev. Dr. Roy Matheson is the former Senior Pastor and currently serving as Theologian in Residence at Chartwell Baptist Church in Oakville, ON.
Help along the way | Barry Taylor
I have a confession to make. It is one of those difficult statements to make in a day and age when people are crying out for good leadership. I don't have all the answers. I don't get all the answers right. A few years back when a friend was telling me of a leadership training program and one of the tenants was a mentor I was quite excited. The thought of having someone with greater knowledge and more experience in ministry come alongside and offer up guidance seemed like a huge burden lifter to me.
We all have those times where we are coping well with the work and doing fine. Then there are times when a situation or series of events occurs and you are at a loss to know the next steps to take. Having a mentor for me meant having a sounding board of sound judgement. I know that I am an exception to the rule. All of you other leaders out there have things well in hand and don't need any assistance. Uh huh! Rrright.
I have been meeting with Dr. Roy Matheson for the past couple years now. He has been available to offer up guidance and support, to pray with me and for me. He has been able to resource me through so many different and difficult situations. We get together every four to six weeks for a few hours. Often the agenda is set by the current stressors in my ministry or needs that I seek counsel on.
Only a few weeks ago we were able to share a travel experience together. The Trulls Road Free Methodist Church has been partnering with the Free Methodist Church in India, specifically the Hyderabad Mission District. We had a trip planned in August 2006, to go and teach the FM pastors in Hyderabad about emotional healing and deliverance. This is an area of teaching that Roy is familiar with. (Roy teaches a Spiritual Warfare course at Tyndale.) I was asking for his input and in passing joked "Maybe you should just come with me and teach the course?" To which Roy responded with an "Okay."
It's one thing to meet someone once a month for a few hours, and talk with them on the phone and through email. It's another story altogether to spend 12 days together in another country. My appreciation of him has grown. I mean come on 12 days with me. I can earnestly say that I thank God for Roy. He has been a significant influence on me.
One of the Free Methodist Bishops commented on this. "Several years ago a Free Methodist pastor would have never asked a Baptist pastor to come and teach together. The church has truly changed. (For the better.)" I smiled at the comment because so much more is spent in our conversation not about side issues and rabbit trails but about the core issues and vital subjects. We may joke on occasion about our denominational differences (how Free Methodists are so much more enlightened: and how both of us can’t dance – although I could sell you a picture from India of a Baptist pastor if you are interested.) but those topics don't often come into discussion.
Roy is committed to seeing people grow in their walk with Christ. When we talk about what are calling as leaders this is what it is about. In all of this I feel that we as followers of Christ are to be about the task of journeying with people. The call to make disciples means that we need to share in relationships and sharing sound teaching. This can be counter to some busy professionals thinking. "I've got enough to do without another meeting." I have benefited greatly from my relationship with my mentor. It has also meant that I have now begun to connect regularly with someone else to help them in their journey with Christ. I still don't have all the answers but I have a much better sense of where I am headed and how I am to get there. I also see that just as I need help I can help others along the way.
Rev. Barry Taylor is Lead Pastor at Trulls Road FMC in Courtice, Ontario
Free Methodist Mentoring Stories
Barrie’s Experience
Cliff Fletcher, Lead Pastor - Barrie FMC, in Ontario
We’ve seen some really great things go on here in Barrie. I was asked recently if I would do things differently knowing what I know now, having learned the lessons we’ve learned as a church family. That’s an easy one: "Of course!" The biggee would be, being intentional about creating a "discipleship culture". Here we are today with the number of people that call this home, and we are just now trying to develop this. It would have been so much easier a few years ago, with fewer here. By "culture" we mean that discipleship is so very naturally a part of who we are. We believe that Christian growth happens in community: older Christians investing in younger ones, and peers investing in each other. It is our dream that discipleship would not be a ‘program’ per se, but a way we understand church family. The commission to "make disciples" is an intentional and organic process, where relationships are developed that nurture converts into maturity. It has become my opinion that the church has not practiced discipleship well in North America. For several years I have literally kept an informal survey in my journal. The question I ask individuals in the church is simple enough, "did you experience discipleship when you were younger in your faith?" Almost without exception the question shot back is ‘what do you mean?’ This question only tells me that the language of discipleship is not necessarily familiar or standard in church life. My response is to clarify the question, "did an older Christian pay particular, consistent attention to you at the beginning of your journey so to grow you in the faith?" "Did anyone really know your name, ask about your journey, check up with you for more than one season, pray for you and with you…" The answer to my informal survey is, 98% of the time (though not officially tallied) "no". In fact, as I have this conversation with people I sense across the board a melancholy, an expressed desire to have experienced such a discipling relationship, older to younger. We have emphasized the personal conversion experience at the expense of the more Biblical mandate of conversion in the context of community. We have Sunday school classes, new life classes, programs, but few of us have experienced the gift of an older Christian over a lifetime, keeping tabs on us, calling us on our mess ups, and cheering us on in our better moments. Few of us invite younger believers into arguments we have at home to show how Christian couples fight Godly! Few of us have been brought fishing, or for a car ride or over for tea once a week for 50 years to simply be checked in on – to have Scripture spoken into us, to be prayed for. Too often I hear, "that’s not my ministry" when I ask older believers to jump into discipleship. In fact discipleship is not a ministry – it is relationship and it is what church is meant to be.
The Mentoring Marketplace | Teneshia Samuel
Vulnerability and self-awareness are two things, from what I have learned in my own experience, that create a fruitful and reciprocating mentoring relationship. Five years ago if you were to ask me what a mentoring relationship entails I would have responded by telling you that it is a give-and-take sort of relationship: the giving comes exhaustively from the mentor, while the student remains only on the receiving end of the mentorship. Now, I’ve come to realize that as a mentoring relationship grows, the boundary line separating the ‘giver’ and ‘taker’ becomes blurred, and soon both persons begin treading on the soil that, by convention, belongs to the other.
A mentoring relationship is like a marketplace, where people can meet, display what they have to offer, show interest in the goods of others, and offer criticisms on that which is being displayed. Buyers may enter a marketplace believing that they are venturing in with the sole purpose of purchasing something for themselves when suddenly they come upon someone who is in need of something that only they bear within themselves. For all of those involved in the marketplace, it is expected that everyone be vulnerable, open to shifting his or her stance on various situations. At the same time, every member of the marketplace must be self-aware, rooted in some kind of standard that holds a uniform level of ubiquity among the people – which would be faith in Jesus Christ and reliance on the biblical texts as the authoritative and unwavering Word of God, in the Church’s situation. A mentoring relationship should be a marketplace of individuals, bearing their own unique contextual situations, who are united in mind and purpose. On occasion there will be those who will infiltrate the marketplace with intentions that run against the standard of the community, which is why every member of the marketplace is also responsible for being inquisitive, alert and discerning about which members with whom they should become relationally involved.
While walking through the mentoring marketplace, one can come upon another person with more experience in the marketplace; and he or she may be willing to take the other by the hand in order to reveal the secrets and new developments of the community. The marketplace is also a place where members can carry the loads of others when spiritual or emotional sacks grow become cumbersome. The marketplace is a community of accountability built by people who are willing to open their lives up so that others may have a peek inside. In a mentoring relationship, both persons must be willing to do such a thing, taking turns being curious about the other and willing to be examined.
Reciprocity and the Spirit of Mentoring
Elizabeth Natividad, Pastor of Grace Methodist Church
in Mississauga, Ontario
Such is the way of mentoring. We can be motivated to imitate someone’s behavior – but we may also be inspired to head in the opposite direction. As such – nearly anyone can serve as a powerful mentor. I have personally benefited from both positive and negative mentors. There have been people in my life whose grateful, humble attitude, simple lifestyle and joyful attitude really inspired me. There are others whose sour disposition and victim mentality made me want to deal with the disappointments of life and get on with living checking my heart for any resentment or bitterness in order that I would live a life of grace and freedom.
Mentoring not only happens in our relationships but through the biographies we read. The scriptures are filled with powerful mentors. Again there are positive and negative role models. I’ve always been inspired by Joseph who refused to sin against God and Joshua who continued to serve with faith and dignity when others cowered in unbelief. But then there are the stories of Gideon – who served well until… And of course who could forget Solomon – who had it all – but was led astray by his dating habits! These are a reminder to me that I need to be careful. Surely if the wisest man who ever lived could fumble I am certainly all the more capable, and so I throw myself afresh on the mercy of God.
One mentor in the Old Testament is Eli. Eli was the high priest during Samuel’s youth (1 Sam. 1-4). Eli’s sons acted wickedly and while they had a very high calling to serve in the temple of the Lord, yet they "had no regard for the Lord." "The sin of the young men was very great in the Lord’s sight, for they were treating the Lord’s offering with contempt." ((1 Sam. 2:12b;2:17) In all this we wonder about Eli’s lack of control over his sons. Of course we know no human can control another human being – but a father disciplines, corrects, instructs his children and when necessary allows them to experience all the consequences of their actions. Surely Eli’s sons’ actions deserved some immediate and decisive disciplinary action, yet Eli seemed to be M.I.A. – missing in action. His sons continue to serve in the temple of the Lord despite their brazen disobedience of God. Eli was not doing a great job of mentoring his sons.
But something was remarkably different in his relationship with Samuel. Gordon Macdonald suggests that Eli may have realized late in life his mistakes – and although he could not erase the past, he determined with God’s help to do it differently with Samuel. Certainly we know that from a very early age God’s hand was on the boy Samuel – nevertheless the scripture attests to the fact that Eli had a big hand in the formative years of Samuel’s life. Samuel grew to be a strong godly leader with a durable integrity. His record shines as few others in the Old Testament.
We rarely think of someone like Eli as a likely mentor for the next great leader – but isn’t that the way God works? God takes someone who has been there – in the depths of disappointment, failure and brokenness and restores them to a place of service. In reality the best mentors are not faultless – they are faithful to who God made them to be. Aware of their limitations, good mentors share out of the vast experiences of their lives– both good and bad. As they live life they learn from every experience life offers and share with others on the journey of life.
So I ask myself, am I learning the life lessons God is trying to teach me? Am I willing to share the reality of who I am and where I’ve been with those around me? Am I living faithful to God’s call on my life – embracing both my unique giftedness (what I can contribute) and my limitations (what I need you to add)? Do I receive others with a spirit of reciprocity? Reciprocity is not only at the heart of mentoring – it is the soul of ministry.
A Personal Note
This past summer our church has had the privilege of hiring a youth director – someone I have had a mentoring relationship with for the past four years. I have often been the student – the one learning in our relationship. At the start of the summer Teneshia and I were in a ministry situation where I did it again… I BLEW IT! I said what was right – but in the wrong place and time – which makes it all wrong! Well – when the evening ended I sat down with her and said "that is what not to do!"
The best mentoring is organic – by that I mean that it happens in a relationship which is naturally developing. There is chemistry, communication and an appreciation for the otherness of the person you relate with. That describes my growing relationship with Teneshia Samuel – the author of The Mentoring Marketplace.
Cliff Fletcher, Lead Pastor - Barrie FMC, in Ontario
We’ve seen some really great things go on here in Barrie. I was asked recently if I would do things differently knowing what I know now, having learned the lessons we’ve learned as a church family. That’s an easy one: "Of course!" The biggee would be, being intentional about creating a "discipleship culture". Here we are today with the number of people that call this home, and we are just now trying to develop this. It would have been so much easier a few years ago, with fewer here. By "culture" we mean that discipleship is so very naturally a part of who we are. We believe that Christian growth happens in community: older Christians investing in younger ones, and peers investing in each other. It is our dream that discipleship would not be a ‘program’ per se, but a way we understand church family. The commission to "make disciples" is an intentional and organic process, where relationships are developed that nurture converts into maturity. It has become my opinion that the church has not practiced discipleship well in North America. For several years I have literally kept an informal survey in my journal. The question I ask individuals in the church is simple enough, "did you experience discipleship when you were younger in your faith?" Almost without exception the question shot back is ‘what do you mean?’ This question only tells me that the language of discipleship is not necessarily familiar or standard in church life. My response is to clarify the question, "did an older Christian pay particular, consistent attention to you at the beginning of your journey so to grow you in the faith?" "Did anyone really know your name, ask about your journey, check up with you for more than one season, pray for you and with you…" The answer to my informal survey is, 98% of the time (though not officially tallied) "no". In fact, as I have this conversation with people I sense across the board a melancholy, an expressed desire to have experienced such a discipling relationship, older to younger. We have emphasized the personal conversion experience at the expense of the more Biblical mandate of conversion in the context of community. We have Sunday school classes, new life classes, programs, but few of us have experienced the gift of an older Christian over a lifetime, keeping tabs on us, calling us on our mess ups, and cheering us on in our better moments. Few of us invite younger believers into arguments we have at home to show how Christian couples fight Godly! Few of us have been brought fishing, or for a car ride or over for tea once a week for 50 years to simply be checked in on – to have Scripture spoken into us, to be prayed for. Too often I hear, "that’s not my ministry" when I ask older believers to jump into discipleship. In fact discipleship is not a ministry – it is relationship and it is what church is meant to be.
The Mentoring Marketplace | Teneshia Samuel
Vulnerability and self-awareness are two things, from what I have learned in my own experience, that create a fruitful and reciprocating mentoring relationship. Five years ago if you were to ask me what a mentoring relationship entails I would have responded by telling you that it is a give-and-take sort of relationship: the giving comes exhaustively from the mentor, while the student remains only on the receiving end of the mentorship. Now, I’ve come to realize that as a mentoring relationship grows, the boundary line separating the ‘giver’ and ‘taker’ becomes blurred, and soon both persons begin treading on the soil that, by convention, belongs to the other.
A mentoring relationship is like a marketplace, where people can meet, display what they have to offer, show interest in the goods of others, and offer criticisms on that which is being displayed. Buyers may enter a marketplace believing that they are venturing in with the sole purpose of purchasing something for themselves when suddenly they come upon someone who is in need of something that only they bear within themselves. For all of those involved in the marketplace, it is expected that everyone be vulnerable, open to shifting his or her stance on various situations. At the same time, every member of the marketplace must be self-aware, rooted in some kind of standard that holds a uniform level of ubiquity among the people – which would be faith in Jesus Christ and reliance on the biblical texts as the authoritative and unwavering Word of God, in the Church’s situation. A mentoring relationship should be a marketplace of individuals, bearing their own unique contextual situations, who are united in mind and purpose. On occasion there will be those who will infiltrate the marketplace with intentions that run against the standard of the community, which is why every member of the marketplace is also responsible for being inquisitive, alert and discerning about which members with whom they should become relationally involved.
While walking through the mentoring marketplace, one can come upon another person with more experience in the marketplace; and he or she may be willing to take the other by the hand in order to reveal the secrets and new developments of the community. The marketplace is also a place where members can carry the loads of others when spiritual or emotional sacks grow become cumbersome. The marketplace is a community of accountability built by people who are willing to open their lives up so that others may have a peek inside. In a mentoring relationship, both persons must be willing to do such a thing, taking turns being curious about the other and willing to be examined.
Reciprocity and the Spirit of Mentoring
Elizabeth Natividad, Pastor of Grace Methodist Church
in Mississauga, Ontario
Such is the way of mentoring. We can be motivated to imitate someone’s behavior – but we may also be inspired to head in the opposite direction. As such – nearly anyone can serve as a powerful mentor. I have personally benefited from both positive and negative mentors. There have been people in my life whose grateful, humble attitude, simple lifestyle and joyful attitude really inspired me. There are others whose sour disposition and victim mentality made me want to deal with the disappointments of life and get on with living checking my heart for any resentment or bitterness in order that I would live a life of grace and freedom.
Mentoring not only happens in our relationships but through the biographies we read. The scriptures are filled with powerful mentors. Again there are positive and negative role models. I’ve always been inspired by Joseph who refused to sin against God and Joshua who continued to serve with faith and dignity when others cowered in unbelief. But then there are the stories of Gideon – who served well until… And of course who could forget Solomon – who had it all – but was led astray by his dating habits! These are a reminder to me that I need to be careful. Surely if the wisest man who ever lived could fumble I am certainly all the more capable, and so I throw myself afresh on the mercy of God.
One mentor in the Old Testament is Eli. Eli was the high priest during Samuel’s youth (1 Sam. 1-4). Eli’s sons acted wickedly and while they had a very high calling to serve in the temple of the Lord, yet they "had no regard for the Lord." "The sin of the young men was very great in the Lord’s sight, for they were treating the Lord’s offering with contempt." ((1 Sam. 2:12b;2:17) In all this we wonder about Eli’s lack of control over his sons. Of course we know no human can control another human being – but a father disciplines, corrects, instructs his children and when necessary allows them to experience all the consequences of their actions. Surely Eli’s sons’ actions deserved some immediate and decisive disciplinary action, yet Eli seemed to be M.I.A. – missing in action. His sons continue to serve in the temple of the Lord despite their brazen disobedience of God. Eli was not doing a great job of mentoring his sons.
But something was remarkably different in his relationship with Samuel. Gordon Macdonald suggests that Eli may have realized late in life his mistakes – and although he could not erase the past, he determined with God’s help to do it differently with Samuel. Certainly we know that from a very early age God’s hand was on the boy Samuel – nevertheless the scripture attests to the fact that Eli had a big hand in the formative years of Samuel’s life. Samuel grew to be a strong godly leader with a durable integrity. His record shines as few others in the Old Testament.
We rarely think of someone like Eli as a likely mentor for the next great leader – but isn’t that the way God works? God takes someone who has been there – in the depths of disappointment, failure and brokenness and restores them to a place of service. In reality the best mentors are not faultless – they are faithful to who God made them to be. Aware of their limitations, good mentors share out of the vast experiences of their lives– both good and bad. As they live life they learn from every experience life offers and share with others on the journey of life.
So I ask myself, am I learning the life lessons God is trying to teach me? Am I willing to share the reality of who I am and where I’ve been with those around me? Am I living faithful to God’s call on my life – embracing both my unique giftedness (what I can contribute) and my limitations (what I need you to add)? Do I receive others with a spirit of reciprocity? Reciprocity is not only at the heart of mentoring – it is the soul of ministry.
A Personal Note
This past summer our church has had the privilege of hiring a youth director – someone I have had a mentoring relationship with for the past four years. I have often been the student – the one learning in our relationship. At the start of the summer Teneshia and I were in a ministry situation where I did it again… I BLEW IT! I said what was right – but in the wrong place and time – which makes it all wrong! Well – when the evening ended I sat down with her and said "that is what not to do!"
The best mentoring is organic – by that I mean that it happens in a relationship which is naturally developing. There is chemistry, communication and an appreciation for the otherness of the person you relate with. That describes my growing relationship with Teneshia Samuel – the author of The Mentoring Marketplace.
Mentoring Leaders: Investing in the future
Bookstore shelves today are lined with volumes on the subject of leadership. They are addressing an important need – or perhaps better, a desperate need. The post-World War II Christian leaders who emerged on the international scene with such vision and energy in the 1950s have largely moved off the stage today.
Dr. Ted’s death in June 2006 brought a sense of joy to me from the standpoint of him being united with Jesus in new and intimate manner. I also felt deep loss as Dr. Ted was one of my mentors and represents the generation of leaders I describe above. Until the final days, Dr. Ted was breathing life and wisdom into younger leaders around him. One of the best books written on the subject of mentoring is his “The Fine Art of Mentoring” and he mentored others until the week he died.
One memory remains of his impact in my own life. At Arrow Leadership, we seek to identify leaders with potential – not potential leaders. We then bring them together for a two year period of an intentional infusion of wisdom through four one week residentials, peer clusters and intentional mentoring. At the residentials we expose the Christian leaders to some outstanding role models and leaders. I invited Ted Engstrom to come and be one of our first trainers when the Arrow Program began in Canada and specifically to teach the module about mentoring.
“Carson, I will be happy to come and help you and Arrow!” I was thrilled as I heard him say this, and then he added, “However.”
Now whenever you hear ‘however’ leading off a new thought, it usually is the prelude to a soft rejection. But that is not what Dr. Ted had in mind.
“I’ll come and teach the mentoring module with two conditions. First is that you teach the module with me. Secondly, I will share my material with you and I want you to teach the module in subsequent classes.”
Little did I know that those words would propel me into a life ministry of mentoring Christian leaders – but that is exactly what has happened. Ted was modeling good mentoring practice. I did teach the module for several years in the years to come and now one of our Arrow graduates is our trainer and continues the legacy of Dr. Ted.
This is but one story of the ripple effect of mentoring, and the other stories in this edition of Mosaic continue to ripple out. Barry, Elisabeth and Cliff are all graduates of Arrow Leadership Program, and Roy has been a mentor for Arrow – undertaking the continuing ministry of investing in others. [See following articles]
Mentors Increase Leadership
Denominations, churches, parachurch organizations, and other ministries require a high degree of leadership competency. Yet, there are not many young leaders rising up with the capacity to take on this role, and intentional mentoring can help the situation. If you have ever been on a search committee seeking a new pastor or Christian leader you have experienced the leadership void – they are not in plentiful supply. Why is that? There are three primary reasons:
First, few are actually called to be leaders. Those who are must be nurtured and developed one person at a time. To develop –really develop – transformational leaders, the process must be highly personalized. I am convinced that their leadership will take the right mix of calling, character, and competency. The long-term results of large scale leadership or motivational events and seminars show little depth in the developing of anointed leaders. Jesus did not do it in a weekend!
Secondly, Christian pastors and leaders are always on the top of the list for the evil one and as such they endure not only the pressures of doing the increasingly difficult job of leading a church today but the invisible spiritual pressure of front line attacks. Many don’t make it. The support networks are simply not strong enough to uphold our leaders. Never before have we faced the vast ethical and leadership challenges that lie before us today. Those leaders who guided the moral fabric of society up to this point are coming to the end of their leadership careers. New leaders must be empowered to take their place.
Thirdly, we have failed to provide consistent, intentional mentoring – calling men and women leaders to rise up to the next level and as a result most denominations find that our lack of identifying and mentoring God’s anointed ones leaves us lacking over the years. The heart of Jesus’s leadership was putting his Spirit in his disciples by mentoring and teaching, and then setting them free to pursue vision, for God. Who is going to accept the call to invest and develop emerging leaders through mentoring?
Mentoring is holistic discipleship and a very Christian practice. Mentoring – the concept, even the word, evokes a variety of responses among Free Methodists. Some are envious that they did not have a mentor in their earlier years and wish in hindsight that they had. Some are drawn to the idea of being a mentor – but question their ability to actually be a mentor to others.
Emerging leaders have questions about mentoring too. Most seek to have a mentor in their life, but when I speak to them about this they respond with doubts regarding the process:
- “How do I go about finding a good mentor?”
- “How will I know what to do with my mentor?”
- “How will my mentor know what to do with me?”
- “Is there a particular pattern to the mentoring process?”
Five Phases of a Mentoring Matrix
There is a pattern and flow of developing leaders in a transformational manner that I describe as a mentoring matrix. It is something that we have observed with over 1100 leaders from the Arrow Leadership Program and consists of five themes that can guide an intentional mentoring relationship over a period of time.
So let me share a process of mentoring that can help to inform and guide your thoughts as you consider being a mentor, or being mentored. I illustrate it like this:
Phase One: Awareness
Self-awareness is at the very core of your development as a leader. You must have an accurate self-awareness, not simply of your abilities, gifts, and skills, but also of the shadow side of your life as a leader. Most importantly, leaders must have absolute clarity on who they are as children of God. Self-awareness is about finding and being secure in your identity in Christ.
This is the hub of the mentoring matrix, around which everything else revolves. The spokes of the matrix revolve around this hub. To have an effective mentoring experience, and to develop as a leader, you must start with an extremely clear awareness of who you are and why you do what you do, and a solid theological foundation for your identity in Christ.
Phase Two: Freeing Up
The second phase of the mentoring process is one of freeing up. Because of our increased awareness of the self, we usually become aware of some things that have been holding us back. It is during this phase that we explore together any areas of life, experience, and history you need to be freed from in order to continue to develop. During this time of discovery together, it may be recommended that you talk with a professional counselor, or engage in prayer counseling with others.
There is nothing to be ashamed of here. Our desire is to see you free to lead, as God would have you lead. We believe God is calling you to godly leadership. We also recommend being vigilant in prayer – asking the Lord to reveal to you any specific areas where you may be held back in your development by chains of bondage attached to circumstances, unhealed wounds, or spiritual wanderings.
The freeing-up stage of the mentoring matrix is really all about satisfying needs. It is searching for and understanding your core needs as an individual and as a leader. We try to help leaders understand these needs, and evaluate where they are turning to have these needs met. Many of us try to meet needs ourselves rather than turning to God and allowing him to meet our needs.
Phase Three: Visioneering
“Visioneering” – is a word that was introduced to me by Andy Stanley. This is one of the more exciting phases of the mentoring process. In fact, it is so exciting that many people want to skip quickly to this phase. I find that men in particular love to get to the visioneering stage. This is a temptation for both the mentor and the mentee. Let me state this strongly: You cannot skip steps in this process without making the mentoring somewhat shallow. In fact, if you jump to visioneering without having a clear understanding of self, or things holding you back, you may be wasting your time, or even damaging your training if the vision is implemented without a solid foundation. If we encourage a vision, when the leader has not dealt with the character and spiritual dimensions of being prepared, we can actually create a dangerous weapon that ultimately hurts the church and divides God’s people.
There’s something very energizing about visioneering. I understand why it is exciting, and I personally love mentoring leaders in this phase. Nevertheless, I am not naive to the risks of moving through mentoring too quickly. I have come to see again and again how important it is to ensure that a leader has a very clear understanding of the first two steps in the mentoring process. Within the Arrow program, we walk alongside leaders for a two-year period, and I am happy and willing to spend eighteen months of that time dealing with the first two stages. I find that if we spend the time up front, the following steps will flow rather quickly – the vision becomes much sharper and focused because of a firm foundation.
There are few things more fulfilling for a mentor than to see the eyes of the mentee when they begin to gain clarity and focus of God’s vision for the mentee’s life. There is a change in the mentee’s spirit, countenance, and energy level, and it is often exemplified by a renewed passion. We want every leader to get to this place, and it is a fun time of mentoring – but we must not short-circuit the process.
Phase Four: Implementing
The fourth phase of the mentoring matrix is that of implementing. This is the stage where we walk alongside leaders and help them strategically begin to step out in leadership toward the, now focused, vision. The mentor is assisting with organizational design and development, with leadership skill and strategic planning. This stage also involves team building and team strategies. It is often important to help younger leaders see the incremental steps required to fulfill a vision. Many young leaders are too eager to get to the finish line without appreciating the importance of taking one step at a time. I am a great believer in incremental steps.
Phase Five: Sustaining
In the fifth stage, “Sustaining,” the focus is on assisting the leader to know how to lead and continue to sustain the vision. Often it is at this stage that leaders once again have a difficult time. Once we are past the excitement of visioneering, and the strategic implementation of the vision, it seems as though sustaining is simply not as exciting. The entrepreneurial leader and even those who are less entrepreneurial have a desire to move on. Restlessness sets in.
This restlessness often leads the mentor, and the mentee, back to the core of the mentoring matrix. For you see, after walking through this matrix, leaders learn a great deal more about who they are. Their self-awareness is increased, and as a result, they may find additional things in their person or spirit that need to be freed up.
What I am indicating is that once we have walked through the mentoring matrix, we frequently begin the process again. It is possible for the mentor and leader to walk through the phases of the mentoring matrix several times. It would be better illustrated with a three-dimensional model-one that showed us growing closer to God with each cycle through the mentoring phases.
Five Misconceptions about Mentoring
1. “I can ‘mentor’ people from the pulpit." While a lot of good teaching can happen in church on a Sunday morning or in a Sunday School class – it is often far to general and does not reach the specific needs of people.
2. “Mentoring just happens." It doesn’t! While we can pick up tips from watching those around us, true mentoring works personally and lovingly and is willing to get in close and ask the tough questions – all for the purpose of furthering the mentee’s walk with the Lord and pursuit of their calling.
3. "I’m not ready for mentoring yet." In fact mentoring is a process that should take place throughout our lives. We need different mentors for various seasons of life, but whatever you are facing today – there is someone who can help you to grow and thrive in the season.
4. "Mentoring is a program." Mentoring is much more a lifestyle than a program. It is possible to do group mentoring, but seldom with more than 12 people effectively.
5. "Mentoring is only for leaders." In fact, Christ wants us to mentor one another in each aspect of our lives from our marriage, parenting skills, finding your first job to handling finances. There is no area of life where you cannot benefit from having a mentor.
Get a Mentor, Be a Mentor
If you are looking for a mentor – start by carefully assessing where you are at, and what specific areas you would like mentoring in. Pray and ask Jesus to bring to mind someone who has the obvious skill set to help you in these areas. Then meet with them and ask if they might be interested in helping you in these areas. So let me encourage you by saying that everyone has the ability to mentor others. There are always those who are following a little behind you on the road of faith and life. Resources exist to help get you started and improve your skills at mentoring. So make a difference. Your deep investment into the life of another can help them to step over the speed-bumps in life and be raised up to be a leader for God’s purposes.
Rev. Dr. Carson Pue is president of Arrow Leadership www.arrowleadership.org and author of “Mentoring Leaders: Wisdom for Developing Character, Calling and Competency” by Baker Books 2005.
It's not too late and it's never too soon to get in control of your finances
[scene one]
It’s October and Christmas is coming. You look back over the past year and wonder where your money went and how you are going to afford gifts this year.
You ask your spouse “How much money do we have?”
[scene two]
You go to the ATM machine to withdraw money and there are insufficient funds.
[scene three]
Your fridge breaks down and you need to purchase a replacement but you don't have the cash to do so.
These are all very common situations that many of us have encountered. Our personal financial situation can be a very frustrating and stressful topic and the cause of heated discussions among family members. When we don’t take control of our finances, they end up controlling us. But it doesn’t have to be this way.
We are all planners. Granted, some of us have a predisposition to planning things down to the smallest detail, while others are more inclined to let most things happen. Everyday we spend time planning. It could be for something quite inconsequential – like changing your route to work so you can do the drive through at Tim Horton’s – okay, not so inconsequential for some people. Or it could be planning the details for a family vacation or for retirement.
But when it comes to financial planning and budgeting – something that should be extremely important – we tend to “let things happen” rather than being in control. Whether you are the steward of a little money and feel like you are just “getting by”, or whether God has entrusted you with significant resources, it is equally important to develop and live by a budget or spending plan.
To many people, the idea of living by a budget feels oppressive. In reality, it’s freeing. A budget is simply a spending plan. It allows you to write out your expenditures and order them in terms of importance. It also allows you to plan for the future – to set goals – and provides a framework to help you attain your goals. You are its author.
If you don’t have a spending plan in place, this is a great time of year to start to develop one. As I've been speaking with people about stewardship, in particular their personal financial situation, I often hear “It's too far into the year to start budgeting now. I can see starting in the new year.”
It’s now October 2006 and you probably aren’t too motivated to put a spending plan in place for 2006. I can understand that. But it is a great time to prepare a spending plan for 2007.
Begin by keeping track of your spending. Make a list of all your expenditures and order them in importance – most important first. This may mean keeping track of your spending over the next couple of months. I realize that with Christmas coming, your spending may not be “normal”. Don’t use that as an excuse not to keep track. Simply identify any “Christmas” expenditures as such. Not only will this help you track your normal spending, it will also help you see how much you are actually spending on Christmas.
It is best to keep track for at least two months. Our natural tendency is to change our spending habits when we start keeping track. So if you only keep track for a short period of time, you may not get a realistic picture of your expenditures. Tracking all your spending seems like a daunting task, but once you've done it for a couple months, you’ll see it really isn't that difficult.
The beginning of a new year is a great time to revisit your financial goals. Take some time to pray about your financial goals and then write them down. Include things such as: giving, debt repayment, education, lifestyle (home, automobile, travel, etc), and savings. Some of your goals you may be able to achieve during 2007, others may be long term goals.
As you look at your financial goals, compare them to your current spending patterns. Are they in sync? Or do you need to change some of your spending in order to achieve your goals? This is where the freedom of a spending plan comes in. You will find your financial situation less stressful. Discussions with your spouse will be less contentious and more celebratory. By prioritizing your spending in terms of your goals, you will be in control of your finances.
Stewardship Ministries will be launching its website this fall. You will be able to access it through www.fmc-canada.org or directly at www.generoussteward.org. The website will provide additional information about personal stewardship, budgeting and financial planning. In the meantime, if you are interested in more information regarding stewardship or gift planning, please contact Joanne Bell – Stewardship Development Director.
Mentor Money: Leadership Giving Stream does more . . .
Mentoring is integral to leadership development
Mentoring is an investment in others who will lead after us and they too will become mentors. This is a priority for us. One can tell what your real priorities are by where one’s money is invested.
Recently the Board of Administration of the FMCiC approved a Leadership Development Ministries (LDM) budget. LDM is a way to make more funds available for all candidates for ministry. Let me give you an example of how it works.
LDM is like your personal bank account. Put money in the account and watch it build! Take money out of the account and the balance goes down but you don't mind if you have used the money wisely. The LDM is a budget, but like a bank account. What goes in LDM is Giving Streams donations from the local church,
- Repayment of student scholarship funds,
- Foundational Courses revenues,
- Bequests and Direct Donations,
- Dividends on investments in the Free Methodist Foundation and Lorne Park Foundation
That's how we build the bank account. Now, how do we invest it in mentoring and developing leaders? The LDM fully funds:
l College, Seminary, D.Min and PhD scholarships.
l Foundational Course scholarships,
l Chair of Wesley Studies at Tyndale,
l Grants for Internships.
LDM funds Ministers Retreat and Network Mentoring Resources
What is particularly new is that LDM will now fund Ministers Retreats (the speakers, pastors’ travel subsidies) rather than from operations. Further, as we launch the Network Mentoring plan the resources for mentoring will come from the LDM.
LDM and Leadership Giving Stream
Leadership Giving Stream is one of the best ways you can invest in mentoring and leadership development. Gifts to Leadership Giving Streams will go directly into the LDM and go out to invest in students, interns, and candidates for ministry. We will secure the future of Wesleyan thought and practice through support of the Chair of Wesley Studies and encouraging Wesleyan scholarship through funding PhD candidates.
Make Leadership Giving Stream a regular part of your giving. It’s your chance to invest in healthy leaders for the future, now.
Rev. Alan Retzman is Director of Personnel for The Free Methodist Church in Canada
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT GIVING STREAMS
Acting upon our connectional value, Free Methodist churches in Canada – together – support a number of ministry areas that maximize our impact beyond our local churches. Each church, at the local level, decides what contributions will be made and where those funds will be directed. These "together" ministries allow our influence to expand throughout Canada and beyond.
www.fmc-canada.org/who/coregiving.html
The Story on “theStory”
Sarnia is no different than most Canadian cities in this respect: for decades now, churches in the downtown core have been struggling for survival and are finally closing their doors. Permanently. New church communities are forming in Sarnia as they chase development in the south and east ends of the city. In recent years the downtown is beginning to seem forgotten. Well if Joe Manafo (full time pastor in Calgary), Nathan Colquhoun (Tyndale Student) and Darryl Silvestri (university student) have their way that is about to change.
In February 2004, these three young men began meeting in a private online discussion about the spiritual condition of the downtown in Sarnia. These discussions formed the starting point for their new community of faith. Though physically separated by over 3000 kilometers, the three friends created a private online forum to discuss, share their thoughts and compile resources. With nearly 700 online entries detailing everything from theology to leadership structure to potential locations, the point in time came to test the waters and share the idea of this new endeavour publicly. Email invitations were sent out to family, friends, and local pastors for the initial information meeting that was held on January 21, 2006. With 60 adults in attendance that evening, the vision for this new church plant was shared followed by a time of Q&A where individuals had the opportunity to voice their thoughts and impressions. Soon after, a second meeting was held on April 19, 2006 for those who wanted to explore the possibility of what could be a little further. Over the summer they dealt with the fundamentals of calling, values and mission. Thirty-five adults participated in a dialogue that revealed much about their spiritual journeys and what God was presently speaking to them about.
The group has also taken time to formalize its relationship with the Free Methodist Church through New Horizons Free Methodist Church. The discoveries of the summer are now on record and will serve as fodder for the core group meetings that will span from September-December 2006. This four month interval will serve in getting the core team ‘on the same page’ in preparation for the public launch in January of 2007.
theStory plans to reintroduce a Christian presence to the downtown area of Sarnia, in its schools, shops and homes. With hopes of housing itself in a store front location, part of the vision of this new plant is to become integrated as part of the community by creating a common space, a high traffic area for those both inside and outside of the church community.
If you would like to learn more about theStory you can visit their website at: http://www.thestory.ca. For more information on all of our church planting projects visit the Lifecycle Project at: http://www.lifecycleproject.org/churchplanting
Jared Siebert is the Director of Growth Ministries for The Free Methodist Church in Canada
Mentoring: it’s not just a cool “buzz” word
This fall issue of the MOSAIC focuses primarily on mentoring. It is a topic that is very close to my heart as I have tried to be an advocate for the great benefits that it can bring to those who choose to participate.
I was eighteen years old when I made a conscious decision to follow Christ. I was very eager to learn as much as I could about my faith – I read the Bible as well as other books, attended classes for new believers, and asked many questions.
I can think of several people who allowed me to meet with them after school, before Sunday services, and on weekends. They took me with them as they visited the elderly and when they handed out soup and sandwiches to the homeless. They called me, prayed with me and helped me walk through some very difficult situations in those early years. I really appreciated spending time with them and sharing their experiences because they spoke with so much more wisdom than I had. Although we never labeled this friendship at the time – looking back now, I realize that they were my mentors.
I often wonder what my life would be like had they not chosen to invest their time (a real commodity) in discipling me. I think of the lives that I have been able to touch because my mentors invested in me – and committed themselves to “being there.”
Can I make a blanket statement? We should all be looking for opportunities to be mentored and to mentor no matter what stage of our Christian lives we find ourselves. Mentoring should be a natural part of our development and does not necessarily have to be a formal or scheduled event. We all have areas in our lives where we could learn from others; and similarly, there are many parts of our lives that others can learn from. I think the real test is seizing those opportunities when they present themselves.
There is an enormous ripple effect that takes place in mentoring. I am able to affect the lives of others positively because my life has been affected. The lives that I have touched will touch others, and so on, and so on, and so on . . . {some of you may remember the 1970's Faberge Organics Shampoo commercial?}
The classic definition of a mentor is “an experienced and trusted advisor or guide.” I still have mentors; individuals whom I believe in and who have walked through situations in their lives that I can now learn from. Recently, I asked one of my friends for advice – “Lisa, this is the way I did it . . but if I had to do it all over again, I would do it differently . . .” Being a mentor does not always mean doing everything right – it does involve pulling back the cover of your life and allowing others to look inside.
Lisa Howden
Managing Editor for the MOSAIC a publication of The Free Methodist Church in Canada
I was eighteen years old when I made a conscious decision to follow Christ. I was very eager to learn as much as I could about my faith – I read the Bible as well as other books, attended classes for new believers, and asked many questions.
I can think of several people who allowed me to meet with them after school, before Sunday services, and on weekends. They took me with them as they visited the elderly and when they handed out soup and sandwiches to the homeless. They called me, prayed with me and helped me walk through some very difficult situations in those early years. I really appreciated spending time with them and sharing their experiences because they spoke with so much more wisdom than I had. Although we never labeled this friendship at the time – looking back now, I realize that they were my mentors.
I often wonder what my life would be like had they not chosen to invest their time (a real commodity) in discipling me. I think of the lives that I have been able to touch because my mentors invested in me – and committed themselves to “being there.”
Can I make a blanket statement? We should all be looking for opportunities to be mentored and to mentor no matter what stage of our Christian lives we find ourselves. Mentoring should be a natural part of our development and does not necessarily have to be a formal or scheduled event. We all have areas in our lives where we could learn from others; and similarly, there are many parts of our lives that others can learn from. I think the real test is seizing those opportunities when they present themselves.
There is an enormous ripple effect that takes place in mentoring. I am able to affect the lives of others positively because my life has been affected. The lives that I have touched will touch others, and so on, and so on, and so on . . . {some of you may remember the 1970's Faberge Organics Shampoo commercial?}
The classic definition of a mentor is “an experienced and trusted advisor or guide.” I still have mentors; individuals whom I believe in and who have walked through situations in their lives that I can now learn from. Recently, I asked one of my friends for advice – “Lisa, this is the way I did it . . but if I had to do it all over again, I would do it differently . . .” Being a mentor does not always mean doing everything right – it does involve pulling back the cover of your life and allowing others to look inside.
Lisa Howden
Managing Editor for the MOSAIC a publication of The Free Methodist Church in Canada
The Heart of a Mentor
The apostle Paul sat in a dimly lit prison cell, knowing that sooner rather than later, the executioner’s sword would swing and he would be cut loose to soar into eternity. No longer seeing through a glass darkly, he would see Jesus face to face…. He would be home!
He had had a life full of adventure and intensity. After a brilliant academic career as a Jewish intellectual, he was arrested by the Lord Jesus himself in a dramatic encounter on the Damascus Road. This jettisoned him into a life of complicated cross-cultural ministry, mystical experiences with the Lord and gritty battles of words with the Pharisees and even, at times with ministry colleagues in the Church. It had been quite a life but the end was drawing near. However, there was one more letter he needed to write. So putting pen to parchment, Paul, the mentor, poured out his heart to Timothy, his understudy.
Whenever Paul prayed, Timothy’s face would be there. They had traveled hundreds of geographical and conversational miles together and just thinking about him brought a lump to Paul’s throat. When they had said farewell the last time, Timothy, now a grown and proven missionary associate, had sobbed. How he missed him and how he ached for him.
Paul’s heart was heavy because it seemed that Timothy’s enthusiasm for his role in what God was doing had been draining away. His drive for reaching seeking people was flagging. He wasn’t his old self; his passion which had once burned so brightly was now only embers, glowing coals on their way to becoming cold ashes. (Glowing coals are great for “Kum-Ba-Ya” moments and toasting marshmallows, but they don’t cast much light on dark shadows!)
Paul’s second letter to Timothy is a mentor’s heart-to-heart letter about rekindling passion. There’s a lot at stake, because Timothy is one person Paul is counting on to take the ministry in Asia to its next level. He opens up his heart by giving Timothy a picture: “Fan into flame the gift of God which is in you!” (2 Timothy 1:6). The old warrior himself surely had known seasons of discouragement and distraction that are the right conditions for the mold of apathy to grow and spread over one’s heart. This letter of deep concern for one of his dearest colleagues and closest younger friends gives us a classic example of the multidimensional approach of an effective mentor challenging apathy and fanning the flames of the heart – especially a heart that is being tempted to snuggle down into a comfortable community of coals and just “glow for Jesus.”
Perhaps you’ll find Paul’s letter helpful too for fanning your own heart into flame. (I find reading Paul’s two letters to Timothy at one sitting helpful when life is getting out of focus.) But it’s important to remember – he’s not yelling at Timothy with capital letters, underlined words and bold exclamation marks. He’s got a lump in his throat and, under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, he is calling out the best in this younger friend whom he loves. Here is what Paul places before Timothy:
1. Remember that there are people who love you, believe in you, and have been praying for you for years – Like who? ... like me, all the time, and like members of your family. [2 Timothy 1:3-5]
2. Remember that God has gifted you uniquely. Never mind about others and their giftings. You know your own areas of giftedness. Focus on them and let them fire up! [verse 6]
3. Fear in any of its forms, except for holy reverence for God, is not from God. His Spirit has filled your spirit with power, love, and self-discipline. It’s there. I’ve seen it. Let it loose again, because when it flows, Jesus shines through in who you are. [verse 7]
4. Forget about carrying the burden of ministry by yourself. You can’t do it. Buy into grace deeply, then you won’t be worrying about what others think and you’ll have God’s perspective on suffering. Suffering is not the worst thing that can happen to you, nor is death. In fact, both are part of the Christian experience. Losing your passion is far worse. [verses 8-12]
5. Don’t forget the central truths of the gospel that I have explained to you and you have seen me live and heard me teach. Don’t just roll ideas around in your head. Keep this stuff in your heart where the Holy Spirit can keep breathing life into it and into you. [verses 13-14]
6. Don’t be distracted by the wrong choices that others make. Stay focused. Recognize the surprising people God sends as encouragers and receive from them as they walk with you.
End of chapter 1. Good stuff, don’t you agree! Read on into chapters 2 to 4. The intensity picks up.
Anybody out there with giftedness that needs to be fanned into flame? I hope you are reading this and receiving it.
Anyone out there in your sphere of influence (perhaps who is even older than you) who is losing their “fire”? God may want to use you as a mentor to walk with them and to speak into their lives. Take them to Him in prayer and listen to what the Spirit quickens in your heart. When you have it clear, and the time is right, let your love pour out, and in humility start walking and listening and eventually in talking with them.
Rev. Keith Elford is Bishop of The Free Methodist Church in Canada
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