The Power of Influence

The Power of Influence
                                    “… and Geshem says it is true.” (Nehemiah 6:6)
Back in the nineteen eighties when I did my Management Studies one of the University tutors took a tutorial on the subject of power, authority and influence.  To illustrate the subject, he told a story about a company that was going through an important change.  The company directors had made careful plans so that no one would lose their job.  They published the information ahead of time so that no one would be caused unnecessary anxiety.  However, a shop steward (Union representative) suggested that you could not trust the directors, and this led to panic and industrial unrest.  Some left the company and moved to other companies.  The directors’ plans for a smooth transition were ruined.

Now the authority in this situation belonged to the directors, but because of his close working relationship with other employees the shop steward hadinfluence.  Clearly, the outcome showed that it was he who also had thepower!  Not necessarily what you might expect.

I went through a similar situation when working as a CEO of a charity.  Many of the key staff members, including the former CEO lived in community.  He regularly contradicted information I provided and made my life unbearable. No matter what I tried, his influence proved greater than my authority and I quit after three years.

In the UK we are being faced with making an important decision in a referendum in June.  Over the last few weeks I have been wondering whether the outcome on that day will come from informed knowledge or biased influence.  I fear that many will make the decision based on the editorial position of their daily newspaper. Day after day they will be deliberately steered in one direction.

As Christians, we too are easily swayed by popular opinion rather than taking the trouble to check it out for ourselves.  This even affects how we understand doctrine and interpret Bible passages.  If you hear enough of the same message Sunday after Sunday, you might easily think it must be true.  Sadly, I recently came across two churches where Christians have been affected by unbalanced teaching which seemed to have biblical authority because it was being taught with strong conviction.  There used to be a TV comedy programme entitled “Never mind the quality; feel the width”.  I sometimes think that some churches and preachers operate on the basis of “Never mind the truth; feel the passion!”

The book of Nehemiah tells us how Nehemiah led those who rebuilt the walls of the formerly devastated city of Jerusalem.  It was an important task but also symbolised hope for the People of Israel.  He met with opposition that used many tactics to wear down poor Nehemiah.  The quotation at the top of this article comes from a tactic in which Sanballat accuses Nehemiah of rebellion and the intention of setting himself up as a king.  This is of course not true.  So to add weight to the pressure he is putting on Nehemiah, he adds “Geshem says it is true”.

Fortunately, Nehemiah does not allow himself to be influenced by this tactic.  He knows the truth.

This Sunday many good Christian men and women will seek to open God’s word for a congregation aware that some who do not like what they teach will seek to influence them.  Some will hear those dreadful words “People have been saying…”  I have heard that just a few times and always respond by asking the bearer of the influence to ask any complainers to speak with me.  They have never materialised.

So, where am I going with this.  Firstly, I would urge you to be on your guard.  Don’t be influenced by the prejudices of others.  Study to learn the facts. Secondly, never do the cowardly thing of hiding behind alleged gossip.  Express your own opinion openly, honestly and always graciously.  Avoid using the “other people have been saying” approach.  Thirdly, if you are the one under pressure don’t play the enemies game.  Know the truth and gently declare.  That is what Nehemiah did, refusing to be knocked of course.  But first be sure you are on solid ground in the position you are adopting.

GREAT IDEAS FOR SEASONAL MISSION
The next webinar by Rural Mission Solutions will be led by Gordon Banks, one of our trustees.  He will explain how we can make mission more effective if we take advantage of seasonal changes both in church life and the communities in which our churches are set.  There are bound to be some good ideas for Spring. This is a great session and I urge you to register now to book your place.  Benefit for this 45-minute presentation on Wednesday 2^nd March at 7.30pm.  All you need is an internet connection.

Register now athttps://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2501067168754428930

Praise & Prayer from the Diary
Our Lent programme at Yelvertoft has got off to a good start.  We are discussing the letters to the churches in Revelation chapters 2 and 3.  I hope to put a short video comment on these passages on the Yelvertoft Church website.  Keep a note of the link and come back to it from time to time.

Please keep praying for the Chaplaincy Department of HMP Gartree.  Prison chaplaincies provide a vital service and we have been short one full time Anglican chaplain for almost a year.  Another good friend and colleague is off sick and another will probably cease his role in the summer.  Meanwhile, extra work comes my way.  While I value this ministry and derive pleasure from this service I want to see these men on life sentences being best served.  Advertisements have gone out.  Somewhere God has the right man or woman for this important post. Please join your prayers with ours.

Yelvertoft Congregational Church meets on Monday 29^th February for the next important meeting as they seek God’s guidance for the future as I step aside as their Minister. This is an important moment in the life of the church.  I plan to use released time to invest more in rural mission and evangelism.

Katrina Thomas has been offered a part-time position with Rural Mission Solutions to help renew our work with children and families.  Katrina and her family have just moved into the South East from the East Midlands.  She will be working with a rural Parish Church and has another commitment.  We are encouraged by her appointment and hope to see this aspect grow – possibly through a network of part time ministries around the country.

Last Week. It was good to catch up with friends at Herstmonceux Free Church (a former pastorate) on Sunday evening and I spent a difficult 24 hours tackling a complicated situation in East Sussex where I am a co-trustee of a Will left in 1979.  We have had to take a tough decision which may well create challenges over coming weeks.  Unfortunately, my visit to the property left under the will was followed by two days of illness!  We had a great Get Messyat Yelvertoft this Saturday morning.

Coming Up.  This Sunday (21^st) HMP Gartree and Yelvertoft Congregational Church in the morning.  On Tuesday (23^rd) School Assembly in the morning and HMP Gartree in the afternoon.  Thursday (25^th) Early morning Communion at HMP Gartree followed by Lent Bible Discussion in Yelvertoft. Thursday afternoon I travel to Kent and will be working for Action for Christ for a couple of days returning to home for Sunday ministry.

Remember to register for the webinar on Seasonal Mission and Spring Outreach Ideas

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2501067168754428930

Thank you for your prayers and support.

Yours in His service,

Barry
Barry Osborne

The Missing Peace

Many of you will have grieved as I have grieved over the breakdown in the peace talks in Geneva.  Yet I was not surprised by the tactics of the government supported as it is by Russia.  Going into peace talks while launching violent attacks on those who oppose them is not new; it is just tragic.  It brought to my mind the verses in Jeremiah 6 and again in chapter 8 where false prophets are condemned for proclaiming, “Peace, peace when there is no peace”.  In that situation God, through Jeremiah complained against the practice of putting sticking plaster on a wound that needed serious attention (symbolically).

I try to avoid political comment in these letters and the blog.  My situation is somewhat compromised by the fact that I have Armenian Christian friends in the city of Aleppo in Syria – the one in the news at this time.  They are biased towards the government which, for many years, protected the Christians in Syria.  For them, against that background, the alternative must look bleak indeed.  I wonder how many of them might be among the tens of thousands fleeing the city as the government forces supported by the Russians press their attack.

It is only a few years ago that there seemed to be peace in Syria.  In the main the government and the President were popular.  Investment in hospitals and education seemed to be a priority.  All seemed well.  Even the impact of the “Arab Spring” was fairly modest, and I was encouraged by President Assad’s immediate offer to moderate the work of internal security forces and move towards democracy.  But that lasted only a few hours and was replaced by the warning of extreme bloodshed if those who opposed him failed to back down.  How dreadfully his prophecy has been fulfilled.

The presence of IS and various violent forces that have since mingled with the more moderate opposition has brought carnage.  Clearly, terrible things have been done by both sides and the cost of Russia’s intervention seems to be unspeakably dreadful.  There seems little prospect of peace.  The action on the ground (especially in Aleppo) while envoys talked peace is a cruel jest.

As always, there is more than one opinion in such situations.  My Armenian Christian friends in Syria might not agree with my view of the matter; I do not know.  But the clock cannot be turned back and nothing will ever be the same again in that country.  I wonder how similar the situation there has been to what happened in Jerusalem when a sticking plaster was offered to cover up a deep and festering wound.  Perhaps, after the conflict that Jeremiah foretold, Jerusalem looked much as Aleppo does today.

And does God weep? Weeping over the hatred and the carnage.  Weeping over the thousands that flee the country, leaving all that was once precious to them? I believe the heart of God must be deeply moved.  Oh, for a revolution of love and real lasting peace!  May your kingdom come and your will be done on earth as in heaven!

Jesus shows that the pathway to peace is not violence but loving sacrifice, commending his love to us in that while we were his enemies he gave his life for us (Romans 5: 6-8).  A Hindu friend witnessed some unloving behaviour between professing Christians recently and, genuinely perplexed, asked me to explain how that could be.  It made me think of Ghandi’s famous comment, “I’d be a Christian if it were not for Christians”.

While there is much that divides Christians, there is much more that makes us one.  My own Christian tradition has no bishops but I rejoice over the planned meeting between the Pope and the leader of the Russian Orthodox Church.  It’s a great symbol.   I rejoice more that, in the town where I live, Christian leaders and people express their appreciation and love for one another by working together for the glory of God.  We are not seeking uniformity, but are living out the unity that is God’s gift and the consequence of receiving the same Spirit.

Against the background of Christ’s example and such practical fellowship as I have just described the failure of some Christians to live in peace hurts me when I see it.  Jesus allowed for our fallen human nature when he said, “If you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.” (Matthew 5:24-3,24).

If my life were the only ‘book on Christianity’ I wonder how many might be attracted to Jesus, and how many might have been discouraged?
 
A missing piece
In my last letter I encouraged people to click a link to send an email so that I would know that you had read it.  But there was no such link!  Many sent an email anyway, so thank you.  Here is the link this time. This will open an email and all you need to do is send it.  Thanks.
 
Seeking a new Children and Families Worker
Rural Mission Solutions is currently in discussion with someone and believe that she might be the right person to enable us to start re-building our work to encourage and enable rural churches to establish and maintain programmes for children where they can come to know Jesus and grow in faith.  Please pray for guidance.
 
A Missing Chaplain
We are short one full time Anglican Chaplain at HMP Gartree where I also work as a part time voluntary chaplain.  I work with a choir most Tuesday afternoons and lead some services occasionally on Sunday and Thursday mornings.  This summer we shall also be losing our sessional Methodist Chaplain.  My forthcoming retirement for the ministry at Yelvertoft was not so that I could do more at prison, but so I could do more in rural mission.  However, we are facing a crisis.  The post has been advertised several times.  Please pray that whoever is God’s chosen person will hear the call!
 
Yelvertoft faces up to my departure
The church at Yelvertoft is currently considering a possible way forward.  This looks very interesting and I ask your prayers please over the next three weeks.

Reminder of Seminar on Personal Evangelism
Online Seminar on personal evangelism is repeated this coming Monday evening (8th).  If you missed the last one, click here to register.  It will take place at 7.30pm and you can attend from the comfort of your home and for free.  If you are not already confident in sharing your faith with others please book in.  Please also encourage others to register.

From the diary
Sunday 7^th Feb - 10.45 Yelvertoft; 6.00 Newton, near Rugby
Monday 8^th Feb - sharing in the Fresh Expressions Rural Round Table in London.  In the evening I will be running the presentation on personal evangelism.
Tuesday 9^th Feb – HMP Gartree in the afternoon.
Thursday 11^th Feb – Start of Lent study series on the letters to the churches in Revelation.
Saturday 13^th Feb – sharing in an East Midlands Area Executive meeting with several mission projects on the agenda.
Sunday 14^th Feb – 9.15 HMP Gartree; 10.45 Yelvertoft.

Final Reflection
Could you be a missing piece in God’s plan somewhere?  When did you last offer yourself to God’s purposes?  Is there a missing peace in your relations somewhere?  What do you need to do about that?

Thank you for your prayers, encouragement and support.

Barry