a missional church network
We encourage you to share this with your congregations as well as anyone you might be in contact with looking to connect with a network.
We look forward to seeing you in April!
Recently I had a phone meeting with Paul Caminiti who serves on staff with the Institute for Bible Reading (instituteforbiblereading.org). Formerly, he served as the Bible Publisher for Zondervan and the Vice President of Bible Engagement at Biblica (formerly known as the International Bible Society). Paul shared with me the research that he and his team had discussed: the average America (religious or irreligious) household owns four Bibles – and yet, over 700 people give up Bible reading for good every single day.
The research also found three main reasons people give up Bible reading: (1) People read the Bible in fragments. (2) People read the Bible out of context (3) People read the Bible in isolation.
What are pastors to do with the disconnect between Americans’ Bible ownership and the lack of Bible engagement? Well, Paul and his team are encouraging people to read the Bible in three ways (as a foil to the findings in the research): (1) Encourage people to read the complete story of God (2) Challenge people to understand the Bible in context (3) Work to have people read the Bible in community.
In our conversation, Paul shares three “mantras” with others in an effort encourage further Scripture engagement:
On the surface, the research and mantras may sound simplistic, yet I find it to be incredibly helpful as I think about people in our church. But I’m left with questions: Where have I (maybe without knowing it) encouraged people to read their Bibles, but not challenged them to engage with it? Am I preaching only out of my “favorite texts” or heavy on the New Testament passages? Where might I be able to provide more context, background and understanding of what was going on in the time of the Biblical story that might help shed light on understanding and impact on my own life?
More questions come to me: Where could we encourage people to read, discuss and live out Scripture together with others, rather than simply prescribing a “personal daily quiet time” approach to Scriptural engagement? Where and how might I encourage people to be fluent with the Bible (like being fluent in Spanish) rather than simply know facts (like just knowing Spanish vocabulary words)? Where can I encourage people to “read real” by asking the tough, hard, complex and uncomfortable questions about the text rather than just moving on and ignoring the questions themselves? Can I challenge people to search for what implications this story/passage has on our personal and communal lives rather than just giving them a few application points at the end of the teaching?
On a ridiculously practical side of things, we’ve taught people in our church (whether they’re seminary graduates or they’ve never owned a Bible) to ask five questions every time they read a Bible passage.
Certainly, there are other questions that could be asked when engaging with Scripture. But try these on for size in your congregation and see if people are engaging the Scriptures more deeply, broadly, frequently and authentically.
by Aaron Graham, Lead Pastor at The District Church (Washington, D.C.)
Originally Posted on November 16, 2017.
This last Sunday we had the privilege of hearing from Pastor Don Coleman from East End Fellowship and Pastor Stuart Royall from 180 Degrees Church. We had a conversation about discipleship and what it means
to be a spiritual mother or father to a younger son or daughter in the faith.
Our Scripture was 2 Timothy 2:2 “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.”
We were highlighting our value of being a multiplying church that develops leaders and churches in DC and beyond and how this all starts through the process of multiplying disciples.
During my freshman year at the University of Richmond almost twenty years ago I met both Stuart and Don. Don was discipling Stuart as they ministered in a under-resourced community in the East End of Richmond and then Stuart started meeting with me to disciple me weekly.
The Apostle Paul says in I Corinthians 4:15 that you may have many teachers, but you do not have many fathers. Having a spiritual mother or father in your life is a rare gift and something to be cherished.
Spiritual mothering and fathering is a great goal to reach toward in discipleship, yet the reality is that most discipleship relationships occur on the counseling and mentoring level. But we must start somewhere and the reality is that spiritual fathering relationships always start off on the teacher or mentor level. But the key is that they progress toward a deeper level of trust and maturity.
Here is a helpful framework that I’ve used when it comes to thinking about discipleship in a 1:1 context. There is:
One of the ways you know if you have a spiritual mother or father in your life is when that person delights in your success as a son or daughter more than their own. Spiritual fathers are willing to lay down their life for their sons.
We have many teachers in life that help us learn. We have many counselors who give us advice. We have many mentors who helps us grow to reach our goals in life. But there are few spiritual mothers and fathers.
My prayer for our churches is that God would raise up men and women of God right here to help mother and father the next generation of disciples.
The huge prayer response from Sunday gave me the sense that there is a real hunger for this.
To God by the glory!
If you were looking to hire a staff role or recruit a key volunteer at the church how would you know if they were the right fit? Is it discernment in prayer? Is it by their experience in ministry? Their skill set and personality? The confidence of a search committee or elder team? A spiritual gifts inventory and enneagram assessment? A feeling in your gut? A combination of the above?
As I look back on my ministry experience, I realize that sometimes I hired or recruited the right person. They were a wonderful fit and they (and everyone around them) thrived. But I also remember that there are many other times where I made the wrong decision and completely blew it. The leader I thought would be a good fit turned out to be a disaster – and I should have seen it coming.
So, how do we go about in the discernment process? I’ve found a simple and easy to remember guide of 6 characteristics (all starting with C) – along with a guiding question for each – helps the process. Several of the C’s come from other spaces (some even the business world) but I do believe they can be helpful in the church as well.
[1] Character: This character always needs to be first on the list. The leader must be full of integrity and honesty and possess purity in all areas of life. We talk about the need to surround ourselves with F.A.T. leaders – those who are faithful, available and teachable. Great leaders may possess the other 5 C’s below, but if they are not full of integrity and character, don’t consider having them join the team!
Question: Could I completely trust my children with this person?
(2) Competency: Certainly, God can use anyone with any skill set. This is not suggesting a corporate headhunter mentality in the church. People’s value as a child of God is not measured in their productivity or effectiveness. This is simply to make sure that they are the right fit – that their capability and proficiency matches the responsibilities of the job. I’ve seen too many wonderful people hired or put into key roles where they are just not capable of fulfilling the tasks that have been asked of them.
Question: Is this person capable of doing what we are asking them to do in this particular role (i.e. is this the right fit, based on their proficiency and skill set)?
(3) Chemistry: So much of ministry is relationships. Chemistry with those you serve alongside of is important. It doesn’t mean we have to be best friends with everyone we work with. But it is important for us to consider chemistry, both on a personal and an organizational perspective. On a personal side, is there relational and emotional intelligence and spiritual maturity exhibited in their life? Are they kind and caring, do they work hard and yet have a good sense of humor? Do I enjoy working and serving alongside this person and can we be both honest and honoring to one another in these roles? On an organizational side, is this person passionate about the mission of what we are doing here in our church – or are they simply looking to serve with friends or looking for any opportunity to lead?
Question: Is this person someone that could sharpen me and I could sharpen him or her, while also bringing out the best in him or her? And, is there a passion for and a clear alignment with the mission of our church?
(4) Consistency: Trust is built through consistency. A leader must be responsible with big things (finances, people’s stories, relationships, etc) as well as small things (follow-through, showing up on time and when they say they will do something). Therefore, a leader must be full of trustworthiness and dependability.
Question: Have they exhibited consistency in all areas of their life and show themselves to be responsible? Can I trust them to do what they say they are going to do?
(5) Capacity: This C is related to Competency, but slightly different. This is not entirely about skill level; this also involves how much confidence people will be and how much trust they will put in the leader they are choosing to follow. Is there capacity growing or is there an evident ceiling? Those with high capacity have a tenacity to get their hands dirty and “figure it out.” They don’t give up easily. They trust, they persevere, they don’t give up and they push through when things are difficult – and others seem to notice.
Question: how confident will people be in following this person’s leadership, especially into new and uncertain areas?
(6) Calling: This is another significant C. In the secular world, you may be able to possess the first 5 C’s and be good at your job. But in the kingdom, we believe that the Spirit calls us into specific callings of vocation, especially in ministry. Calling is much more sacred and significant than a job or a fun ministry leadership role. Leaders with calling know that God have a confidence that God has brought things together in such a way that they can’t not respond to what He is asking of us.
Question: is this a simply a “good idea” or a true sense of being called to this position?
Certainly, discernment is important. These are not intended to be a formula or an equation; they are intended to be a form use with intention. Understand your context, your people and God’s specific call on your life as you use this tool. But next time you are recruiting or hiring for a key ministry position, utilize the tool of the 6 C’s and see if it is a helpful part of the discernment process.
This year our equippers were able to spend a week with 16 current or future church planters. It was a beautiful week at Holy Trinity Retreat Center in Pikesville, MD, just outside of Baltimore.
We engaged in rhythms of prayer together, talked about church planting, leadership development, developing a culture of discipleship and a lot more.
This was the first year of doing this training that we had more female than male planters attending! We count that as an exciting development.
Here’s what some of the participants had to say about the week:
“It was incredibly helpful and encouraging week. There was a great balance between strategic discussion and tending to our hearts. The opportunity to connect with church planters from around the country was exciting and edifying.”
This last weekend (Oct 7-8) Ecclesia Equipper Bob Hyatt had the privilege of traveling to the Philly area and working with leaders from the Renew Community, Next Gen in Princeton NJ, Redemption Church in Bristol, and the Gate Community Church in Bethlehem PA.
Bob walked these leaders through various models and facets of spiritual formation ending with a fruitful time of personal and corporate discernment of growth/formation opportunities through current challenges.
Bob was also able to spend time with the Renew Community, preaching and bringing greetings from the churches of Ecclesia and from the Evergreen Community in Portland Or. It was a valuable time of connection between sister churches!
If you are interested in having an Ecclesia Equipper check out this- we’d be honored to come and be with your community as well!
