Paradigm shift is essential to Lay Pastors Ministry
OLD: The Pastor is called by God to be a minister.
NEW: Every Christian is called by God to be a minister.
OLD: Ministry is the task of the pastor, supported by the people.
NEW: Ministry is the task of the people, supported by the pastor.
OLD: The pastor assists the people in doing what they believe God is calling the people to do.
NEW: Only all of the people together have the gifts required to do the ministry of the church.
OLD: The pastors bear the burden of the ministry. The people hold them up in prayer.
NEW: Both people and pastors bear the burden of the ministry. They hold one another up in prayer.
OLD: The pastor is accountable to God and the members for doing the ministry. Lay people who serve are accountable to the pastor.
NEW: All Christians are ministers and are accountable to God and the church leaders.
OLD: Seminaries are to educate and train certain “called” people for the ministry.
NEW: The church is to educate and train the members to be ministers.●
COMMENTS
in relation to THE NEW MIND SET versus THE OLD
Shanti Moriju (PIS student) says:
Helping others is very important because it shows that we care about the people around us and want to make their lives better. When we help others, we are following the example of Jesus Christ, who came to serve and help people. Helping others also makes us feel happy and fulfilled.
It gives us a sense of purpose and makes us realize that we are part of something bigger than ourselves. Moreover, when we help others, we are building strong relationships and creating a sense of community. We are showing that we are reliable, trustworthy, and willing to lend a hand.
As a Lay Pastor, helping others is not just a duty, but a privilege. It allows us to demonstrate God’s love and kindness to those around us. So, let us always be willing to lend a helping hand, and make a positive impact on the lives of others.
When we help others, we are also helping ourselves. We are learning new skills, gaining new experiences, and growing as individuals. We are becoming more patient, kind, and compassionate people. Helping others also brings joy and happiness to those around us. It creates a ripple effect of kindness that can spread far and wide. When we help someone, they are more likely to help someone else, and so on.
As a Lay Pastor, helping others is a way to show that we value and respect them. It’s a way to say, You are important, and I care about you; It’s a way to demonstrate God’s love and kindness in a practical way.
When we help others, we are also fulfilling God’s command to love our neighbors as ourselves. We are being obedient to God’s word and following His example of love and service.
Helping others is an important part of being a Lay Pastor. It’s a way to show love, kindness, and compassion to those around us. It’s a way to build strong relationships, create a sense of community, and demonstrate God’s love in a practical way.
As we help others, we begin to see the world from their perspective. We start to understand their struggles, their fears, and their hopes. We begin to empathize with them, and our hearts become more compassionate. When we help others, we are also reminded of our own limitations and weaknesses. We realize that we are not self-sufficient, but that we need others to help us along the way.
This realization helps us to stay humble and to appreciate the help that others give us. As Lay Pastors, we are called to serve others, just as Jesus served us. We are called to lay down our lives for others, just as Jesus laid down His life for us. When we help others, we are fulfilling this call, and we are living out our faith in a practical way.
So, let us continue to help others, not just because it’s our duty, but because it’s our privilege. Let us continue to serve others, not just because we have to, but because we want to. Let us continue to love others, not just because it’s a command, but because it‘ a joy.♥
Byeong, Melvin University, says:
This is paradigm shift. Where are you now, and what do you think of this?
We cannot avoid changing concepts in this ministry. Once we start this ministry we have to accept that there should be some change, for instance, our mindset, our leadership, also difference between growth and maturity, and using materials, resources, and self’s preparation. Above all, this ministry started from Ephesians 4:11-12, which is referring to “to equip the saint for the work of ministry.”
As we know, we pastors have done some ministry ourselves before but from now on we change, which means equipping people, so they are doing their ministry, here Lay Pastors Ministry/PACE will also have those changing concepts. What’s the difference between Doing ourselves and Letting them do it by themselves? Of course, there are big differentiations between the two approaches. First start from ourselves but later on start from the laypeople, of course we have to introduce and give them an outline about what it is, but sooner or later its ownership will be in their hands.
Doing it ourselves up to now, but from now we are equipping them, no more doing it ourselves. We call it paradigm shift. However, I found out that paradigm shift and actual behavior are different. Paradigm shift is just like mindset, changing mind from A to B. But actual different approaches, different leadership, different attitudes really matter. People say that they have done “paradigm shift,” but if they have not yet changed, it is actually not changed.
So also someone said Change and Transition is different. The former means moving to a new site, new place, but the latter is psychological change. Of course this is not a correct parable here, but we, as a leader of this ministry, need to change our mindset and also our behavior because we ask people to change, and then they look at us whether we changed or not. People change very easily, but leaders, and we pastors are difficult to change.■
ADDITIONAL COMMENT
by BYEONG
Personal growth and organizational leadership: No matter what organization or institution it is, there is bound to be a leader. He needs two things, then the organization believes that it can succeed.
But there is a book that clearly shows two things. One was Stephen Covey’s Seven Habits, and the other was Jim Collins’ Good to Great. Readers may have better resources, but personally, two books were useful.
First, the Good to Great book was published after researched a number of successful companies around the world, using the term Disciplined Thought, which ultimately boils down to two things. One is that even if there were difficulties in reality, they continued to push ahead. The other is that it focuses on the most important thing. So by leading the company, they were able to create eleven great companies out of hundreds of successful, good companies.
On the other hand, Stephen Covey’s book is about developing good character and good personality. In a way, I came to the conclusion that good character is good in human relations, but that is not enough to succeed and lead a good organization or institution.
It’s not bad to be named “He’s such a nice guy”. However, if the meaning of ‘no ability’ is implied in it, it cannot be accepted only as a compliment. It’s a nuance that it’s not enough. I am concerned about this.
I think the relationship between individual growth and organizational leadership has this relationship. So Stephen Covey’s book is so good, but it will be the additional attraction if the corresponding leadership is developed.
This is also an inevitable task for a leader. The problem will be how individual growth harmonizes with the leadership of the organization and creates synergy. It is natural to have both. In a word, it can be described as “a humble person with expertise.” Professional & Humility. Maybe this is a contradictory thing.
However, it is an inevitable task because you can become a top leader only when you have both. Or else, he can only play the role of a staff member.