Category: Church Development

The following post is from GCI regional pastor Ken Williams.

Ministry burnout is a real threat (see the March issue of Equipper now posted at http://mindev.gci.org/equipper.htm). I think most GCI pastors understand the threat, though not all seek help when experiencing burnout symptoms. Perhaps my story will be a source of encouragement.

In 1995, I was pastoring a church in decline (many of you reading this can relate!). I was experiencing many depression-like symptoms, but not doing much about it. But then an article in Leadership Journal on depression among church leaders got my attention and led me to consider the symptoms I was experiencing.

At the same time, my wife and a couple other friends were concerned about me and encouraged me to get help. I agreed, and visited a competent, experienced counselor who understands Jesus’ gospel. After completing five sessions I understood that what I was experiencing was unresolved grief. I was grieving the loss of the departing members. I was willing to take medication to help me, but in my case the symptoms were relieved through the interaction with the counselor who helped me walk through the grief process.

Through that experience and others I’ve learned over the years that to avoid burnout it is vital that pastors have close, honest friends. Indeed, such friends are a gift from our loving heavenly Father! My wife Nancy is my best friend but it complicates our marriage if I rely solely on her for emotional support.

We all need friends who can be objective and honest with us. And from time to time (as was my case) we may need professional counseling services. Most U.S. health insurance plans cover counseling (such is the case for GCI’s plan). Please avail yourself of this benefit. Self-diagnosis can be inaccurate and incomplete.

Brothers and sisters in pastoral ministry, you are not alone! Please seek help when you need it.

Pastors often ask about how to counsel and otherwise work with couples attending their congregations who are cohabiting (living together outside of marriage).

For an example of how one pastor handled this issue, see the Leadership Journal article at http://www.christianitytoday.com/le/2012/winter/finallydo.html

For current research concerning unmarried co-habitation see the blog post at http://researchnews.osu.edu/archive/cohabit.htm

If you would like to share your pastoral experience with this issue, feel free to do so using the “add a comment” box below.

Below are links to two helpful resources from Verge. They address key skills and approaches related to our active participation with Jesus in multiplying and maturing his disciples:

• Article: http://www.vergenetwork.org/2011/06/27/4-skills-to-make-and-multiply-disciples/
• Video: http://www.vergenetwork.org/2012/02/06/how-to-disciple-people-video/

A free webinar (web-based seminar) on preaching is being offered on March 15 from 1:00-4:00pm (U.S. EST). For information and registration, go to http://preachbettersermons.com/.

This report is from Greg Williams who coordinates the GCI US Pastoral Internship Program on behalf of Church Administration and Development.

In Matthew 9, Jesus exhorts his followers with these words: “The fields are ripe and ready for harvest. Pray that the Lord of the harvest will send laborers into the field.” This exhortation forms the basis for our GCI Pastoral Internship Program. Its goal is to join in what God is doing to prepare the next generation of our church pastors and planters.

The internship program is officially in its toddler stage. We are about to complete our second year with six interns currently in the program. Some of these internships are voluntary, and some include part-time employment with GCI. For more information, including a list of current interns, see Joseph Tkach’s February letter at www.gci.org/letter/1202.

In April we will conduct our first annual Intern Gathering, meeting at Flat Rock, NC. At that meeting of interns and mentors we will discuss program goals, share best practices and hear from participants as we seek to improve the program. We will also receive training from leaders of the internship program at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and we’ll hear from a young church planter and his team from Grace Blue Ridge Church. Please pray for this important gathering. If anyone would like to help scholarship one of the mentors or interns to attend, please contact Greg.Williams@gci.org. The cost for attendance is $500/person.

For additional information about the Internship Program, see mindev.gci.org/internships.htm.

A valuable resource for ministry equipping is Ambassador College of Christian Ministry (ACCM). This online program offers classes in biblical studies and Christian ministry both for credit toward a diploma or non-credit (by audit) – in a flexible format and at a reasonable cost.

Many GCI senior pastors in the US take ACCM classes to fulfill GCI’s continuing education requirement for senior pastors and pastoral teams. Other pastors (elders), ministry leaders and workers find ACCM’s classes to be very helpful to their ministries in Christ’s service.

Following are comments about ACCM from Grant Forsyth who serves as a GCI elder in Michigan.

Being a newly ordained elder, the ACCM program has been most valuable to me. I have really enjoyed the curriculum and the flexibility for people like me. Not only have I learned on a scale that is difficult to quantify, but I have been able to share what I am learning with the congregation and the congregation is enjoying it too.

Because of my job situation, I have pockets of time available to do class work, usually several days and then sometimes weeks before I can get back to it. The flexibility offered by ACCM helps me a great deal.

I really enjoy this resource and the work that has gone into it. It’s a great service to our denomination and it is much appreciated!

As a member of the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE), GCI is frequently updated on NAE initiatives, including the one highlighted here. Your congregation may find this of interest.

Out of concern for the poor, the NAE recently asked some Christian sisters and brothers to share their knowledge and experience regarding the relationship between the changing environment and poverty. The publication, titled “Loving the Least of These: Addressing a Changing Environment,” is the result. You can read more about and download this publication at www.nae.net/lovingtheleastofthese.

 

In a recent LifeWay Research blog post about relating to those outside orthodoxy, Ed Stetzer mentions his positive encounters with GCI and describes our miraculous journey into orthodoxy.

The annual Generations Ministries (GenMin) Summit will be held on March 2-4, 2012 at the Mt. Lebanon Retreat and Conference Center in Cedar Hill, TX (near Dallas).

The Summit is a gathering of GenMin’s camp and short-term mission trip leaders. Each year, the number of young adults and teens attending this gathering has increased. These young leaders are showing great interest in serving GCI churches through GenMin’s camps and short-term mission trips.

This year’s Summit theme is Rooted. It speaks to the reality that we grow and mature by being deeply embedded in the life of Christ. Summit plenary sessions and workshops will cover a variety of topics, including:

• Jesus’ Strategy for Mission

• Women in Camp Ministry

• Effective Organizational Leadership

• Strategies for Equipping Campers for Service in the Local Church

If you would like to register for the Summit or sponsor a young person to attend, go to http://www.gci.org/go/summit12 (sign-in required).

Registration closes February 10. If you have questions regarding the Summit, email Anthony Mullins – anthony.mullins@gci.org.

 

Several GCI congregations are finding that social media (such as Facebook) is a useful tool for communicating with both members and nonmembers. For a helpful article about using social media in ministry, see The (Digitally) Connected Church at http://www.christianitytoday.com/le/2011/fall/connectedchurch.html.