Using your best assets

In February 2012 I wrote an article for the magazine of the Congregational Federation entitled When did you last service your minister?  (See http://barryosborne.blogspot.co.uk) What had occasioned this article was my awareness of colleagues who suffered from burn out, exhaustion, and depression.  I am glad to say that I have always been well looked after in most of the churches where I have been in ministry.  My members fuss over me and take care of me very well.  Sadly this is not always the case for others.

In the article I compared ministers to other assets, such as cars and houses, that we often spend much time, money and attention on ensuring they are in good order.  I suggested that, for most churches, their minister is their greatest asset.  In this post I want to address the balance (while not losing the importance of caring for your minister) and state that in every church the greatest assets they have are the people who make up that church.

At this point I want to confess to a weakness that I have.  I have been blessed by having a number of talents that I can draw on whether in preparing ministry for a Sunday, or providing leadership to a church or organisation.  I can both speak and sing reasonably well, and God has graciously used my varied ministries - indeed he has used the gifts he has given me.  The weakness is that in a busy life it is all too easy to fall back on one's own abilities instead of creating time to ensure the involvement of others.

It is not that I see myself as a one-man-band.  Nor is it that I do not appreciate the values of delegation and the development of others.  It is just that "doing it myself" is a lot easier and less time consuming.  So the danger is that while my ministry has proved a blessing to many, I might sometimes be a hindrance to the development and ministry of others.  This is not an uncommon problem.  Even as you read this some might be thinking "I do that too" or possibly, "That's what's wrong in our church"!

So I am trying to take myself in hand and address this situation.  In one village there is a Christian couple who are keen to explore God's purpose in their lives.  Despite the demands of a young family and that they both have to work 'she' has started on a training programme with the Congregational Federation, and 'he' has also undertaken a short training course.  Both need mentoring which includes practical opportunities with appropriate feedback.  I need to set aside time to give them support.

Also at Yelvertoft we have experienced some slow growth in numbers but I don't know what each persons particular gifts and abilities are.  What is God calling them to do and become?  Do they already know that or might they need help to discover it?  How can we keep doing the things that God is using to grow the church and ensure that all within the church are growing at the same time?

These are not problems that are exclusive to churches.  Secular organisations also need periodic reviews.  A strategy that is developed to move a church or organisation forward should lead to change. But when the situation has changed it is time to review the strategy or we are in danger of stagnating.  We need to ask what now needs to change, what now are our priorities?

The whole of Paul's teaching in 1 Corinthians chapter 12 emphasises the importance both of all who are part of God's Church and the ministries that the Holy Spirit has given to them.  If we stifle any one of these we deprive ourselves, the Church universal and church local.  Paul spells this out so clearly,  No one should consider themselves so important that they don't need the other more humble parts.  Neither should anyone feel inferior.  God has made us to be interdependent and we need to give full value to each person in the Body of Christ.

But knowing the principle and applying it in practise are two very different things.  But of this I am sure: if we want to see any local church (congregation) move forward and realise its potential we need first to look at our greatest asset - all the people God has given us.  the secret of developing the life of the church is developing the lives and ministries of its members.

Recent Activities
On Sunday 28th April we welcomed a good number of family and friends of Jim Gregory for a special service followed by the interment of his ashes.  Some time ago we had held his funeral service followed by a service of thanksgiving and celebration of his life.  Jim was a lovely Christian man, Welsh and a keen Boys Brigade officer.  Once again last Sunday we sang some hymns to good Welsh tunes and raised the roof with the Boys Brigade hymn (Will your anchor hold...).  The Lord had led me to speak on Jesus revealing God's shepherd heart.  It was encouraging to be told afterwards how God had used that talk to bring someone to a new commitment to follow Jesus.  Please join us in giving thanks.

On Monday we held our bi-monthly Church Meeting at Yelvertoft as we explored the way forward in God's plans.  My congregation had been naughty (they are from time to time) and had secretly agreed to give Doreen and me a personal gift to mark the 50 years of ministry I am celebrating this year!  Some people are too nice!  Please give thanks with us.

On Tuesday I went as usual to HMP Gartree.  Plans for another one of the concerts is still held up because of proposed changes to prison routines.  These concerts provide much needed motivation for the choir members, they are very therapeutic, are good PR for the prison, and provide an opportunity of expressing appreciation for those who volunteer services of various kinds within the prison.  Please pray that we will be able to set a date soon.

On Thursday morning we had another encouraging Bible Discussion meeting looking at Hebrews chapter 11.  Later that day I travelled to Manchester to attend a one-day seminar/training event on the Equalities Act 2010.  This important piece of legislation affects everyone but I was especially concerned about its impact for those of us who minster within secular bodies such as hospitals, prisons, etc.  This was a secular training event but I found that I was not the only Christian present.  Several from various secular organisations have asked to stay in touch with me.  Perhaps we need one another in God's economy!  Please pray that I will be sensitive to anything God may be saying.

During the week I was encouraged that we now have the required four trustees for Mission for Christ (the original charity) so that we can progress essential business and seek to move the ministry forward in a new context.   We are so thankful for the help being given by Ian, the Christian solicitor we so badly needed, and the helpful advice from the Charity Commission.  There are still issues to be cleared up and that will take a few weeks, but every day we make progress.  Please give thanks with us and keep praying that the Lord will remove all obstacles along the way.

Items for Prayer
Please pray for fruitful ministry at Yelvertoft this Sunday.  The following Sunday please pray for Angela who will take the meeting while Doreen and I are away for a few days in Kent.

On Tuesday I will have my regular visit to HMP Gartree.  On Wednesday and Thursday I will be attending the annual meeting of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland at High Leigh Conference Centre in Herts.  These are changing times for Churches Together across these islands and with my colleagues I have been able to make some suggestions about a useful development that would help the mission of the Churches.  Please pray for this important gathering of national Church leaders.

On Friday morning Doreen and I set off for Kent where we will spend a long weekend with her sister.  On Saturday 11th I will share in the Congregational Federation's Annual Assembly where I will be encouraging interest in the forthcoming international conference in July.  On Sunday we plan to attend the meeting at Dunks Green Evangelical Church, near Tonbridge.  This is a village church where we held a mission many years ago and is part of the ministry now of Action for Christ.

Please continue to pray for two female colleagues (both named Elaine) who were recently diagnosed with complicated forms of cancer.

Please pray for Terry Martin, who has been working with us as a trustee of Mission for Christ and Action for Christ.  Terry arrives back in his native USA this week.  We thank God for him and his wife Dana, for their love, generosity in helping to sort out the problems in these organisations.

Please pray for Monica, my colleague in Sunrise Ministries (Rural Mission Solutions) who is currently working in Kenya.  While In Malawi recently she had a nasty fall but has been well looked after both by those who travelled with her and the local people.  She tells me she is recovering well and able to get on with all her work (you try stopping her!).

Please pray for Stephen (I think I may have told you of this fellow servant in rural ministry whose daughter had a brain tumour).  Alison died earlier this week.  Please remember Stephen in your prayers.  Please also pray for Simon, another man with a heart for rural ministry but who has been very unwell.

Please pray for the Sunrise Ministries trustees and our two management teams.  We are so thankful for their fellowship and service in Christ.

Finally
Coming back to my reflection at the start of this post please take a moment to reflect on what kind of an asset you are - or perhaps could be - in the life of your church.  Do you need help discovering your gift?  Do you need help to develop and deploy your gift?  Are there other latent ministries in your church that you have the ability to encourage (without unnecessarily rocking the boat)?

Thank you for your prayers, fellowship and friendship

Barry