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able to pass them on to others.” - 2 Timothy 2:2

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Blog Entries for: Ministry

Dare to Dream Great Dreams

May 31, 2010

By B. G. Nevitt

When we were younger, my wife Brenda and I used to go out on dates on Saturday nights, but now that we're older, we go out for breakfast on Saturday mornings. During breakfast, one of the things we always do is to take time to dream of what could be.

As a pastor of a growing church, GT Church in Decatur, IL, together we dream of the next steps for the future of our ministry. We discuss messages, programs, and people. It's fascinating to focus on the possibilities for the days ahead. If a church is going to grow, it must plan for growth.

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May 31, 2010 | View or add comments

Out of the Overflow

January 12, 2010

By Gerry Wakeland

"For out of the over flow of the heart the mouth speaks." — Matthew 12:34 NI

At the recent writers conference at the Ghost Ranch there seemed to be a common thread that was articulated in many ways by the attendees, the presenters, the editorial staff, even the staff at the Ranch. The theme was this - as Christian communicators, ministers of the gospel, it is imperative that we operate out of the "overflow." We heard this time and time again. In fact, I've read it over and over in the evaluations. But what exactly does this mean?

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January 12, 2010 | View or add comments

Leading Like Jesus

January 10, 2010

By Alan Fadling

In this season of reflection and writing, I've been focusing a lot on Jesus. I wonder about how He led. Did he do it like a modern C.E.O.? I also think about the structures of His community. Were they mostly organizational structures or organism structures? Business structures or community structures?

What kind of structure best supports the work of ministry? Every church I've served or attended has drawn fairly heavily from contemporary business practices for its structure. This tends to create a bias towards more organizational than organic approach to life and ministry.

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January 10, 2010 | View or add comments

Trigger-Happy Prayer

January 8, 2010

By Ron Benson

I Thessalonians 5:17: "Pray without ceasing."

Easy for you to say, Paul! You're all "apostley" and holy and perfect. What about us normal people?

I love to pray. It's my constant ceasing that gets in the way. I want to pray more in 2010. What sincere believer doesn't? But how do we stop all that ceasing?

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January 8, 2010 | View or add comments

Are You Hitting Your Goals?

September 8, 2009

By Tama Westman

I saw this tip from Mark Victor Hansen, co-creator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, while I was flipping through the pages of the October issue of Success Magazine (If you don't yet subscribe to Success, I encourage you to up your game today with this monthly issue of some of the best leadership advice going).

According to Hansen, you can create a life-goal list in as little as 15 minutes. Sounds easy. Here's how:

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September 8, 2009 | View or add comments

All Dressed Up and Nothing to Say

August 8, 2009

By Golden Keyes Parsons

Have you ever been invited to speak for an event, but didn't have anything to say? I mean you had plenty you could talk about, but you had a feeling that it wasn't Holy Spirit inspired, and you didn't know whether the proposed audience cared a whit about the topic?  

I went to a women's seminar last night that was the big event of the "First" church in our little community. I knew a couple of women who were supposed to be there and who had invited me to come. I joined the women walking through the parking lot to the auditorium. There was a buzz of excitement as I turned my ticket in and picked up a program and song sheet. My friend greeted me with a hug and then went about her responsibilities. I found a seat near the back and sat by myself. No one joined me, not even the one gal I knew fairly well.  

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August 8, 2009 | View or add comments

New World of Messaging

July 14, 2009

By Evelyn W. Davison

As the world continues to turn, things are 'a-changing."  Like messaging!   

When I was a teenage disc jockey, for friends to make a song request, they had to drive by my Dad's little radio station, or our house, and leave a written request in a glass milk bottle on the porch.  Later the phone took the place of my milk bottle, while today the iPhone has captured our connection for attention.

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July 14, 2009 | View or add comments

Driven by Vision, Fueled by God

March 26, 2009

By Tama Westman

God be merciful to us and bless us, and cause His face to shine upon us, that Your way be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations. – Psalm 67: 1-2 (NKJ)

As a Christian communicator, the above verse from Psalm 67 is the bottom line. The Lord blesses each of us with unique gifts and talents, and it becomes our responsibility and privilege to employ these gifts and talents to minister to and serve His children.

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March 26, 2009 | View or add comments

Letting Go...Moving On

March 12, 2009

By Linda Goldfarb

As a syndicated radio talk show host of more than six years, I had developed a nice following of local listeners as well as those who caught my streamed broadcasts globally. Every Saturday morning without fail, I would gather my headset, water, and topic information and head into the station for an hour of fun and quite often thought provoking one-on-one time with my listeners and guests.

When God prompted me to leave my local audience for an unknown global opportunity in radio and E-TV, I must admit, my heart sank as I felt an immediate loss of my friends and status here in my home town. "But what if I fail, what if no one listens in?" Believe me, there was a lot of "what ifs" I verbalized out loud and internally.

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March 12, 2009 | View or add comments

Chasing the Goose with Eyes Wide Open

March 5, 2009

By Julie Ferwerda

Tonight my daughter, who is a senior in high school, expressed her confusion and apprehension about her near future for the umpteenth time. Which college? What to major in? What if I miss out on what God wants me to do? Whose counsel should I pay attention to, and whose is only a deterrent from God's plans for me? What am I supposed to do with my life? I remember all those anxieties and insecurities at her age as if it was yesterday. "God will show you, just be patient," people tried to tell me (and I try to tell her), but it was no use because I did not have the history with God to assure me of His guidance and sovereignty in my life.

In his book, Wild Goose Chase, Mark Batterson likens the surrendered Christian life to a Wild Goose chase, with God being the Wild Goose. You just never know where He's going to take you, but it's sure to be a wild ride. Following God is not for those who cherish predictable, safe, controlled lives, that's for sure. And whether just starting out your adult life or embarking on a calling in ministry, either while trying to discern the movements of the Wild Goose, there's always more uncertainty than clarity!

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March 5, 2009 | View or add comments

Behind the Mask: The Psyche of writers, speakers, leaders

October 11, 2008

By Evelyn W. Davison

As a typical Sanguine, I love words. As a writer, I measure them carefully. So what does “Behind the Mask” mean? What does the “psyche” of writers, speakers, leaders mean?

To the average Joe, “Behind the Mask” means we are probably hiding something. Something secretive! So for Christians, that does not compute. We are to be transparent, letting the “Light” of the love of Jesus shine forth. My experience with most Christian writers is that they do that. Some have trouble, but most do hang their laundry publicly. Those who don’t, don’t last very long.

“Psyche” of writers, speakers and leaders is a whole different arena. Psyche is a word that the Newagers have captured and made mysterious. In reality, psyche means “soul.”

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October 11, 2008 | View or add comments

Beyond the Walls of the Church

May 20, 2008

By Linda Goldfarb

When God opened the opportunity for me to have a radio show, my first response was, "No way, I'm too busy already, life is hectic and full, how could I possibly do one more thing?" Now, 6 years later, I realize if I continue to be obedient to His calling, He will equip me and provide the means and the time.

The concept of moving outside the walls of the church is scary and intimidating. When the opportunity came for my show to move from a Christian station to a much larger secular station, my first thoughts were, "What if no one likes me?" Seriously, I was comfortable and felt I was doing good things for God's kingdom right where I was, so why should I move? It took the wise counsel of a family friend to help me see beyond my fears. He told me, no, he reassured me, that God would not bring me this far to let me fail now.

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May 20, 2008 | View or add comments

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