#23
Skills will not earn a crown or guarantee success.
The Magna Charta (Great Charter) of the Lay Pastors Ministry, I Peter 5:1-4, in-cludes a crown of glory to notably successful lay pastors. You are earning your crown now, presentation will happen upon the Chief Shepherd’s return. Don’t let “notably successful” intimidate you. The point in one of Jesus’ parables is that God takes note of those who are good and faithful. Matt. 25:21. Skills will not earn a crown or guarantee success, but God gives both to good and faithful lay pastors .
The Bible says a lot more about character, gifts, and doing than skills
I stole the idea of Seven Habits from Stephen Covey’s, Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. Why seven? I don’t know, but the Spirit is bugging me to offer you Seven Habits of Notably Successful Lay Pastors, a letter for ministry success.
Habit 1: Be Willing The Great Charter focuses us on willing—“Be shepherds of God’s flock…not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be!” Willing is to “take ownership,” make personal sacrifices and have authentic relationships. Understand willing by its antonym, must—dutiful, reluctant, servile. Jesus knew slavish hired hands make poor shepherds. When the going gets tough, they run away .Jn. 10:11-13 Three scriptures teach that willingness is in a born-again person’s DNA: 1) Jesus, whose Spirit is in us, said “I am willing” when the leper begged for healing; Mk 1:41 2) “It is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose; Phil 2:13 3) The Corinthians’ willingness and completion of the task are laced together. I Cor. 8:11-12 God, pleased with your willingness, names you a notably successful lay pastor.●
(Audio/Byeong) As you know, willingness is important for work, and for ministry. Without willingness, it’s hard to keep going. Of course, we may begin something unwilling, but should be willing sooner or later. If we start with the mindset of willingness, it will be wonderful. Personally I have been asking myself, am I willing to join this ministry? Yes. By God’s grace, I got this mind all the way, from the beginning up to now. You may read and teach what Melvin said on those SEVEN qualities continually. Thank you.
COMMENTS
in relation to SEVEN HABITS OF NOTABLY SUCCESSFUL LAY PASTORS[1]
Song Min-sik(Korea) says:
If we were to define the position of a layperson as a lay pastor, it would be that of a ‘supporting actor’ who provides a more effective and dramatic backdrop to the star-studded cast of a popular drama or film.
If a leading actor is a limited position who has certain qualifications and plays a role that is in line with his or her brand, a supporting actor is in a position to play a relatively free role that not only highlights the leading actor by producing a wide range of image changes with a certain degree of aptitude and talent, but also helps the story move forward in a way that makes the flow of the drama comfortable and savoury. In conclusion, the ministry of a lay pastor is a supporting role that supports and highlights the pastoral lead role of the senior pastor.
It is often said that life is an unscripted drama, but for me, everyone is a supporting actor for me. There are many roles in which a lay pastor functions, but I would say that the functioning as a supporting actor is also a great ministry that is a part of a very high level of ministry to achieve and fulfil the very high level of ministry.
In addition, the senior pastor in charge of the church will have the holy burden of directing as a pastoral lead actor in the front line of pastoral work, and depending on the situation, he or she will have to bear the responsibility of the main character who is also the director, but it can be said that the supporting actor is also in a position where it is essential to make efforts as an assistant director to perform technical and technical roles at the same time so that the pastoral direction and acting can be more accurate in the pastoral scene.■
Marie Parma, USA, says:
I first became acquainted with the Lay Pastors Ministry in the early months of 1988 when Dr. Mel Steinbron came to my church, Frazer Memorial UMC, in Montgomery, AL to do a weekend seminar on the caring concept from his book, Can The Pastor Do It Alone?
Twenty lay people from our church attended the seminar and at the end of the weekend we voted unanimously to begin working to implement the ministry in our congregation. Forming a ministry group, the twenty lay people divided themselves into six task areas: prayer, communication, equipping, calling forth, accountability and assignments.
For six months we designed what became known as the Lay Ministry Program and I became the director of the ministry. In the fall of 1988 we equipped our first group of lay ministers. It was exciting to make the assignments to those first lay ministers and to hear the many ways in which they were touching the lives of our congregation. Over the years the ministry grew and the caring climate of our church was heightened. New members were welcomed into the fellowship of the church, comfort was given to the grieving, the gospel was shared
and lives were changed, friendships were formed, attention was given to the sick, members felt connected and were lifted in prayer on a daily basis…and the Lord was glorified.
My first experience on the national level with the Lay Pastors Ministry was in 1989 when I attended a weekend for mutual consultation and sharing with other ministry leaders from around the country. From that first meeting friendships were formed that have continued. In 1990 Frazer hosted the International Conference for Lay Pastors and a strong bond was established with those in attendance. The conferences that have been sponsored by LPMI have continued to produce inspiration for ongoing ministries as well as information for beginning a Lay Pastors Ministry.
To say that my involvement with LPMI has been one of tremendous blessing would be an understatement. I am overjoyed to be associated with the Lay Pastors Ministry and to know firsthand how God has used gifts of compassion and care in spreading His love to others. I saw lay people making a difference being “God’s love with skin on.”■
Kwaku Sefah Boateng(Ghana) says:
With the critical study of the principles of the lay pastor ministry, there is no doubt in my mine that it is the rediscovering of Gen 1:28 “Be fruitful” I can hear God telling the church today like He said to the spirit of Adam and Eve “Be Lay Pastor Ministry” because when you consider the principles and systems which is expressed in the acronym PACE which stands for Prayer, Available, Contact and Example and all the benefits that it brings to the life of a believer. There is no doubt LPM is built on the foundation of God’s inherent nature of love, care and unity. It is the demonstration of the culture of the kingdom of heaven on earth through the church. For it creates the bond of unity, care and love for the members of the congregation in the church. LPM creates the sense of equality in status among the clergy and the laity but different in functions. Now I can see God smiling, saying finally I have got some of my offspring to figure it out through my son Melvin J. Steinbron.
The kingdom of heaven has return to earth. No wander when God himself came to earth in the body of Christ Jesus, He demonstrated the pastoral care ministry to the world. That is why He was fruitful. He called only the laity but not the professional like the Pharisees and the Scribes. Everything that Jesus did was motivated by His love and care for humanity, His ideology, belief and behavior was the manifestation of the culture of the king of heaven on earth, and that is exactly what LPM stands for.
God’s objective was not to create a religion, because He is not religious but a kingdom of heaven on earth. Religion creates divisiveness but kingdom of heaven (Lay Pastors Ministry) brings love, care and unity. That is what the church is commissioned to manifest on earth, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God will be made know to the authorities in the heavenly places. The Lay pastoral Care Ministry is what God gave to the first couple in the Garden of Eden, and that was what He expected Cain to manifest to his brother Abel. LPM is exactly what Jesus conferred on the first church, pastured by Apostle Peter. However, like the kingdom of God our number one enemy has always been religion and it look as if still it is.
Byeong, Melvin University, says:
Personally, I wanted to do this ministry. I don’t why exactly but wanted to do. How about You? And why?
Different gift of Lay Pastors & Senior pastors: If we look at the book “Reopening the back door” (by Kenneth Hauk, founder of Stephen Ministry), Kenneth said there are different gifts between Lay Pastors and senior pastors, I mean those who are doing pastor care directly, and those who are managing the ministry.
He said in his book, those who are caring for others need compassion, mercy, encourage, and in the other hand, for manager they need leadership, teaching and administration. Yes, this is correct, but sometimes there is opposite in the local church. Some senior pastor has only, I mean, too much on caring style, and some lay people, lay pastors have managing gift; teaching, leadership and administration, so on. But we don’t have to worry about it because we, pastors, can give those people the job for management, as a shepherd or belonging to the Ministry Leadership Group (MLG), so they can use their gifts properly.
We can say some people have soft leadership, I mean they have it on caring gift: culture, good model, but not in leadership. I met one pastor who is senior pastor of University church. He confessed me he has only teaching gift not caring gift, so he was afraid of it. Then I explained to him that Lay Pastors necessity to have caring gift so not to worry of it as a senior pastor. Rather your teaching gift is better as a leader for this ministry.
One is leading person, another is doing person. So they are different, different function, and once they do their job properly, the church is getting healthy and growing.
Two gifts are opposite, I mean we can’t get both gifts at same time as Melvin said already, in the other word; one person might get one gift. Of course there is exceptional, and some extraordinary people may get two sides of gifts, but mostly we, ordinary people, have one side, caring or teaching.
If we have both it’s really wonderful, and it’s God grace. However, in some way, individual has one gift; caring or equipping, once they use theirs properly and do their best, their ministry will maximized. That is God’s plan for us and His desire. But they need to develop their own gift and skill even though it was given by God, because God gave us the gifts but its using and sharpening is our own responsibility.
What is the distinction between two gifts caring and equipping; caring is soft and loving approach. There are so many qualities and elements in caring and mostly warmer but equipping is training style, disciplined, so colder than caring, and stricter to approach.
In some way I think Yin-Yang is there; soft and harden; loving and discipline. Senior pastor has to know this.■
ADDITIONAL COMMENT
by BYEONG
Life Philosophy and Purpose: There is a saying that people gather after seeing the leader’s “philosophy of life.” But getting together and cooperating or helping is a different, which is that there must be a clear purpose.
For example, many people gather for Rev. Billy Graham. Because they heard about his life philosophy. But when they come here, what happens if they don’t his purpose? They will disperse again.
Why are we together, dedicated, and sacrificed? That is because the purpose is clear.
When we gather, we gain strength. We shouldn’t be alone. There are many differences between the energy we have alone, and the energy we create together. If you look at people who have done a great job in the ministry or in the other fields, so-called the cooperative energy has been transformed into a force and power. We need to bring that energy and power together.
There will always be these two things in the ministry, inside or outside the church. Is the philosophy of the life of a pastor/leader recognized by many people and well known? And when they get closer, is the purpose clear? Is it clear that the church’s unique purpose, that is, the purpose God gave to it?
There is the American Institute of Auxano, a young pastor who studied from Dallas Theological Seminary, and he wrote a book called CHURCH UNIQUE (by Willis Mancini). The core of the book is that each church has a clear purpose given by God, and it must be discovered and polished to maximize it.
Setting a purpose is not a simple and not as easy as well. I think we are about setting one of the most important purposes in one’s life. Anyway, no matter how good a person is, it will be difficult to have a good partner without a clear purpose. The purpose should also be to have tangible results. It is difficult for those who cooperate and help to be together forever unlimited. However, in order to be together in the long run, visible and tangible consequences are essential.
Some people expressed about purpose in this way. It’s likened to a convex lens, which we’ve done when we were young. When the sunlight passes through the convex lens, hot heat is collected in one place and the paper burns.
The purpose is the same as the role of these convex lenses. When the purpose is clear, people join forces and commit themselves. However, if the purpose is unclear, people will disperse, as if the convex lens is removed and the heat is not collected.
The work of the Lord, and the great things must not be gathered alone, and the energy and power created together will be exerted when there is a purpose to maximize and create synergy. In other words, it is essential to have a good philosophy of life, and it is up to the leader to clarify the purpose.
나와 멜빈목사님
나는 책을 통해 멜빈 J. 스타인브론 목사님을 처음 알게 되었다. 내가 1990년대 한국의 신학교에서 강의했을 때, 나는 그분의 원서 “Can The Pastor Do It Alone?” (목회, 혼자 할 수 있는가? 로 번역)를 사용했다. 그러면서 나는 멜빈목사님께서 미국의 한 교회에서만 담임하고 계시는 줄 알았는데 나중에야 그분이 미국과 전 세계를 위해 평신도목회(Lay Pastors Ministry) 사역을 하고 계시다는 것을 알게 되었다. 나는 멜빈목사님의 자료를 번역해서 지난 20여간 한국교회에 사용했다.
2000년 미국 세인트루이스에서 열린 국제대회에서 나는 목사님을 직접 뵈었다. 그는 60세 후반쯤 되어 보였고, 나를 모든 참가자에게 소개했다. 그것이 목사님과의 첫 만남이었고 몇 년 후 나는 다른 대회에 갔을 때 목사님의 집을 방문한 적이 있다. 미네소타의 미니아폴리스에 있는 그의 집을 방문했을 때, 사모님은 아파서 침대에 누워계셨다. 나와 멜빈목사님은 지하에 있는 그의 연구실에서 이 사역에 관해 이야기했는데, 그 만남이 정말 도움이 되었고, 나는 그곳에서 매우 용기를 얻었다. 내가 이 사역에 헌신하고 있었기 때문에, 그와 대화하는 것은 정말 실제적이고 소중한 시간이었다.
내가 1999년에 정식으로 이 사역을 시작한 이후로, 나는 거의 매일, 매 순간 그와 대화했다. 그리고 그는 처음에 나의 스승이었고 나중에는 사역의 측면에서 나의 멘토가 되셨다. 그 당시 우리는 팩스로 연락을 주고받았다. 왜냐하면, 나도 멜빈목사님도 이메일을 안 쓰던 시절이었기 때문이다. 그래서 우리는 팩스를 쉽게 사용했고, 지금도 여전히 그분의 팩스 편지 200페이지 정도를 보관하고 있다.
시작단계에서는 이 사역에 대해서, 어떻게 시작할지, LPM 코리아를 위한 리더십그룹을 만드는 방법, 그리고 자료에 대해서 많은 이야기를 했다. 그분은 내가 그의 모든 자료를 번역할 수 있도록 허락했다. 두 권의 책, 네 권의 메뉴얼, 세 권의 재교육자료. 사실 그분은 나를 많이 도와줬다. 나를 사랑했고, 내가 제대로 성장할 수 있도록 자신의 에너지와 시간을 나에게 투자했다.
나는 멜빈목사님 같은 사람은 더 없다고 생각한다. 멜빈목사님은 나를 정말 도와주시고, 지도해주시고, 가르쳐주셨다. 20여년 알고 지내는 동안 딱 두 번 나에게 충고한 적이 있다: 1) “국제적인 사역을 하려면 영어실력을 더 향상 시켜야한다.” 2) “너는 돈을 만드는 스타일이 아니니 자금 모금에 (fundraising) 너무 매달리지 마라.” 두가지 다 나에게는 좋은 교훈이 되었다. 그분은 절대로 서두르지 않았고 항상 나의 말을 잘 들어주었고, 내가 필요로 할 때마다 항상 거기에 계셨고, 심지어 그가 집에 안 계실 때에도 휴대전화로 통화할 수 있었다. 개 교회 세미나나 목회자모임에서 PACE Training을 마치면 바로 목사님께 전화를 걸곤 했는데, 항상 나의 보고를 즐겨 듣고 또 소중한 조언을 해주셨다. 그는 거의 나의 아버지와 같았다.
목사님때문에, 그리고 그런 긴밀한 소통을 통해서, 나의 사역이 오랫동안 지속 될수있었다. 멜빈목사님은 몇 년 전에 세상을 떠나셨다 (2017년 6월 15일, 97세). 세상을 떠나시기전 95세 정도되셨을때 몇 번 수술하셨기 때문에 내 이메일에 직접 답장은 못했다. 그는 가끔 답장을 보내더니, 거의 마지막 단계에서는 내 이메일을 다 읽지만, 답장은 할 수는 없다고 했다. 비록 내가 그의 답장을 받지 못했지만, 나는 지난 20여년 동안 그랬듯이 세상을 떠나시기 전까지는 여전히 매주 이메일을 보냈다. 어떤 사역이든지 성공하게 하려면 우리 주변에 이런 도움이 필요한데, 그런 도움 없이는 성공할 수 없다.
멜빈목사님은 좋은 자료들을 개발했다. 나는 다른 사람들로부터 그런 자료들을 발견한 적이 없다. 예일 신과대에서도 멜빈사역과 자료를 소개하고, 또 그 자료를 도서관에 기증했다. 거기에서도 사실 이론과 실천을 갖춘 책들이 없었기 때문이었다. 그분은 사역을 스스로 시작했고, 오랫동안 사역을 하셨기 때문이다. 그는 우리가 사역을 해나가는 데 무엇이 필요한지 알고 있었다. 마지막으로, 그는 25통의 편지를 평신도목회자들에게 썼고, 여전히 분기별로 LPMI의 네트워크 뉴스에 편지와 많은 아이디어를 쓰셨다. 나는 그런 20여년 간의 네트워크 뉴스지로부터 유용한 아이디어와 통찰력을 얻고, 그것을 번역하고 편집해서 교회와 학교에 사용했다. 그것들은 정말 소중한 것이었다. 나는 그것이 이 사역의 진짜 피와 살이 되었다고 말할 수 있다. 왜냐하면, 그분을 통해서 나는 이 사역을 성공하게 할 수 있고, 다른 사람들께도 그렇게 해보려고 애쓰고는 있지만, 그분과 같은 스타일은 하기 힘들다는 것을 깨닫게 되었다.●