Zero Unemployment

Posted by Bill on January 7, 2012

“Look around you! Vast fields are ripening all around us and are ready now for the harvest. The harvesters are paid good wages, and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life” (John 4:35b-36a).

Unemployment - not in God's economy Unemployment can be a debilitating experience. Several years ago in Poland, the nation’s unemployment was running high at an alarming 20%. Young college graduates were forced to leave home to search for employment in neighbouring countries. Unemployment hits some people very hard … robbing them of peace, satisfaction, fulfilment and joy.

Unemployment exists today in two realms; the material and the spiritual. Regardless of the circumstances in the world, the Lord promises to deliver every believer from material and spiritual poverty. Jesus promises, “Your Heavenly Father already knows all your needs, and He will give you all you need from day to day if you live for Him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern” (Matthew 6:32b-33). If the Lord promises to deliver us from poverty, why are so many of His people living impoverished lives?

God’s promise to “give you all you need” is conditional upon … “if you live for Him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern.” Like a number of other promises the Lord has given for our well being, there are qualifying conditions that need to be satisfied before grace benefits can flow to us. Whilst material poverty may not be a choice, spiritual poverty is. If we choose to fulfil God’s conditional requirements, He will keep His promises – it’s as simple as that. And God has never reneged on a promise! He has an impeccable reputation of being a promise-keeping God.

Whilst it’s a tragic situation for people in life (in general) who are unemployed, it’s more tragic for those of God’s family (His Church). The church is the only institution on earth that can guarantee zero unemployment for its members. Reliable surveys show that in the church today, unemployment is running at around 90-95%! Scripture teaches that if believers are willing to step-up and serve, instead of sitting back to observe, they will be paid handsomely by the Lord. He says (above), “The harvesters are paid good wages.” Hundreds of years of political and traditional influences have kept spiritual harvesters from labouring in His field. Because many believers are not doing, many are not receiving.

Peter says, “God has given gifts to each of you from His great variety of spiritual gifts. Manage them well so that God’s generosity can flow through you” (1 Peter 4:10). Many believers in the world either have no idea what their gifts are, or have chosen not to manage their gifts well. It’s no wonder many of God’s people are living in poverty when they could be enjoying His promised provisions.

Small Groups (or Home Groups, Cell Groups, Life Groups – whatever you chose to call them) are the ideal place for believers to discover, use and develop their gifts. Spiritual gifts are God’s special grace abilities, given to each of us at the time of conversion. Let’s lead others into the harvest field … where the harvesters are paid good wages, and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life.

The harvest field is where God’s generosity flows freely, and it’s the place where there is zero unemployment.

Stretching out for effectiveness!

Posted by Bill on December 10, 2011

“Expect God to lead you along unfamiliar paths. When He does, He will transform the darkness into light before you and make the rough places smooth. You can count on Him to do these things! He will not forsake you.” Isaiah 42:16

In his book, Be All You Can Be, John C. Maxwell says, “The difference between leaders, followers, and losers are: Leaders stretch with challenges; Followers struggle with challenges; and Losers shrink from challenges.” He also adds, “Successful leaders when challenged are like rubber bands – they become useful when stretched.”

An ongoing temptation for each of us in our leadership development is to settle into comfort zones when we reach plateaus along the way in our upward climb. There is a saying, “When you stop growing, you stop leading.” Another word for growing is stretching. We all want to grow but not all of us want to be stretched. We want the gain, but without the pain. Stretching costs – and it guarantees to disturb our comfort. Stepping out of the box is a risky move – it takes us along unfamiliar paths.

I’ve learnt in my life that to remain effective in leadership I must remain open to the stretching opportunities the Lord hand picks for me. In fact, leadership development demands that we search for stretching opportunities, not hide from them. A number of years ago I was invited to Cyprus to facilitate three small groups development discussion meetings. For me, this was a stretching opportunity. I remember working my tail off in getting ready for the new challenge.

Time spent in considering the three questions I was asked to address by my host church stretched my mind further than my experience to discover new principles. Throughout this time of preparation I asked the Lord for fresh insight. I asked Him to stretch my knowledge base and deepen my understanding – to take me forward along unfamiliar paths. I worked hard in going over existing information and researched new material. Carrying a piece of paper with me was useful in noting new ideas that flashed into my mind.

Friends, stretching opportunities seldom come to us at convenient times. They usually come when life seems fast and crazy. At such times, we may be tempted to let opportunities pass by, thinking “my plate is full.” However, I have come to realise that even though our plate is full the Lord may have in mind to expand (stretch) our plate … to grow us some more!

Long before the aircraft touched down on the runway at Cyprus I felt I had grown a lot more in my leadership development. Through my willingness to be stretched I made new and exciting discoveries that strengthened my small groups’ development presentations. Because I let the Lord stretch me a little more, I had more to share with others. Our willingness to follow the Lord along unfamiliar paths will stretch us and make us more effective.

Are you open to being stretched?

Iza says “It works!”

Posted by Bill on November 19, 2011

What can I add to this fantastic testimony from Iza at Christian Fellowship North in Warsaw – especially so soon after our visit…

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Bill, I’m excited! So much is happening!

Marcin and I each chose three current small group leaders to serve as coaches. I chose Pavlina, Justyna, and Gosia; and Marcin (and Agata) chose Leszek, Dajilidzionki, and Tomek.

I met with each of my prospective coaches, separately of course. I talked with them about how to best develop the small group pastors under their leadership and how to best nurture their groups. We discussed your summary on “Where many leaders go wrong”, devoting more time on the following points that highlight the present weakness of each group:

Choose an apprentice, and form a leadership core of four
Choose a good outreach coordinator (blessing list, etc)
Take each group through the Small Groups Development process (SGD training manual)
Practice pair-partnerships (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)
Plan, pray, and work hard for multiplication

During our discussion we talked about their groups – people who can be in the leadership core (who can be apprentices). It turned out that we were able to identify quite a number of new people who can be leaders! So, I will plan to start training next January, or February.

Marcin, Agata and I met with Pavlina, Tomek and Marta last Saturday. We talked about the growth of our small groups, and that Pavlina had decided to help us (Pavlina would be their coach). So, they can now meet together, call each other and pray for each other with Pavlina, not me or Martin and Agata. And later we also talked about the above points. Actually, Pavlina lead this part of meeting. And Bill, I was so surprised how well it worked! Now, I see, how important it is to first establish coaches. Pavlina and I are “one” in mind, body and purpose! We are becoming a strong leadership team with a plan to help and care for all small group leaders!

So, I’m so excited! It works!

Iza

: Beryl and Iza

: Marcin, Iza and Bill

: Agata, with Emilka and David

Thank you Iza – and THANK YOU LORD for what you are doing in and through the lives of Iza and her colleagues and Christian Fellowship North in Warsaw.

Top Ten Tips – they will take you to the top!

Posted by Bill on November 5, 2011

The writer of Ecclesiastes says, “Since a dull axe requires great strength, sharpen the blade” (Ecclesiastes 10:10a). In other words, why work hard when you can work smart! Now, that’s what I call great advice.

That verse ends with, “That’s the value of wisdom; it helps you to succeed.” The Lord wants us to succeed in our leadership, with our small group.

For the small group facilitator who would like his/her group to be healthy, growing, and multiplying, here are ten proven tips that will ensure your safe and secure climb to the top:

1. Invest time with God. Your daily devotional time matters. How much you feed on His Word, and are filled and led by the Spirit, will affect the life and growth of your group.

2. Pray daily for your group members. Interceding daily for your members will bring insight, wisdom, answered prayers and solutions to challenges. As your members see your love and concern for them in this practical way, and God using you in their lives, you will grow closer to them.

3. Prepare with God. Remember that this is a God-led, Spirit-filled journey and adventure. You only lead as God is permitted to lead through you. Avoid being so busy that you prepare without God. Time with Him is more important than any other area of preparation.

4. Maintain an outward focus. The heart of small groups is evangelism. Ensure that you have an intentional outward focus and that this is regularly communicated to your members. Encourage everyone to pray daily for their unsaved friends.

5. Set goals. As a group, pray for a multiplication date and other personal goals and continually review progress towards these goals. Remember: No goals = little or no growth!

6. Encourage members to “invite”. Regularly remind your members to invite new people to the group. Place those who you would like to come on your prayer list. Pray for them, and then take the opportunities that the Lord presents to invite them.

7. Get to know new people. Look for opportunities both within the church and the community to get to know new people. Find ways as a group to be a support to newcomers. Plan outreach events that will appeal to your friends and newcomers to your church.

8. Meet up outside of the group. Spend time together socially. Become more than once-a-week visitors to each other’s lives.

9. Raise-up leaders. Ensure that everyone has the opportunity to grow and develop. Look to empower through training and equipping the members of your small group for their next step of growth. Let the group see that you are continuing to grow as well. Maybe, try something new!

10. Demonstrate love. If you are praying daily for your group members you will naturally find many ways to show that you care for them. Look for ways to demonstrate love and availability to your members – individually, and as a group.

Friends, everyone can get to the top, and stay on top. It’s not a matter of guess-work or hard-work. By simply observing these ten proven tips, you, and your group, will enjoy progressing to the top of your potential.

Come-on, give them a go – they will take you to the top!

Setting a right focus for success!”

Posted by Bill on October 29, 2011

The business world operates on a highly competitive track. Almost every company and business that is in hot pursuit of success is constantly looking-out for ways of securing a bigger share of the “dollar” market. They aim at becoming the best and biggest in their field. “Best” and “biggest” are two separate but complementary elements of success. These elements cannot be viewed through one lens … they must be viewed separately, through two lenses, together, at the same time … like viewing through the two lenses of a set of binoculars (offering two view points, through one viewing device).

Successful business people understand that these “success” elements must be kept in focus and viewed in the right priority order … best before biggest! They know that whilst the best factor is within their control, the biggest is not (the biggest factor is what results from our best efforts).

In aiming for success, “best” needs to be seen as a priority, prerequisite element to achieving the biggest result. We work hard to make the best of what we have, hoping for the biggest outcome.

Friends, the focus of our efforts must be on doing the best with what has been given to us. If we can maintain such a focus, the biggest, whatever size that is, will automatically result.