Tools of the Trade

Every profession has tools that are essential to doing a good job. When I was a kid, I would use a pair of pliers to remove the bolts on my bicycle. My father would remind me to use the right tool for the right job - then hand me an adjustable wrench.

Ministry has changed in the last 25 years. I remember using a hand cranked mimeograph machine to produce church bulletins. I thought putting transparencies on an overhead projector was high tech and will never forget how excited I was when the evangelistic film strips I used were converted to video tape.

Today we are blessed with a host of technological advances. Blackberries, I-Phones and a host of web-based resources. Recently I was reminded of a couple of tools that I believe would be very helpful to those of you in ministry. My friend Shawn Mathis has developed a social network for ministry entitled, The Minister Group. If you are involved in preaching or ministry of any kind I would encourage you to register and participate in the growth of this effort. Shawn has a great track record of successful ventures and I believe that his too will prove to be a great resource.

http://www.theministergroup.com/

In addition, Vista Print is a great resource for small run printed items, business cards, postcards, brochures, etc. I recently joined their resellers program and found that I can help others get great discounts on their printing needs. For more information, you can visit them at:

http://www.vistaprint.com/

or you can contact me at trent.wheeler@charter.net

Making Memories

Wow, just a couple of days until Christmas. Last night a friend posted a note asking about the best Christmas gift I ever received. I tried long and hard to remember the "STUFF" I have received through the years. I am grateful for all of it, but nothing jumped out as my favorite.

As I tried to think back I had a different experience. I remembered events, times shared together, special memories from Christmas. I remember the smell of my mom's chocolate spritz cookies, I remember having water gun fights in the house, I remember Tristan and Alyssa dressing up as pirates just last Christmas day.

I know my family will appreciate the gifts I buy them - they are always good that way. What I really want to give my family for Christmas are memories. I want them to look back and laugh and cry, to remember the fun we shared and memories we made together.

My Atari gaming system has gone the way of the dinosaurs! The skittle bowl set that I couldn't live without entertained me for a couple of months (at best) and even the Legos I played with for years and years have now been outgrown. What will never leave me is the sound of mom's voice on Christmas morning, wrestling in the basement with my brothers and watching sapping Christmas movies over and over again.

Now that all the shopping is over, the hustle and bustle of cleaning, wrapping and preparing is coming to head; stop and make some memories with your children. Take them to Opryland Hotel to see the Christmas lights, rent a funny movie that makes you laugh till you cry, play board games or go for hike around Radnor Lake. Be sure this Christmas to give the gift that will reside in the heart of your family forever.

It's a Wonderful Life

Life happens to everyone. God is no respecter of persons and we all understand that He allows the rain to fall on the just and unjust. There is not one of us whose life is free from cares, worries and struggles.

How many times have we looked at the lives of others and wanted to trade places. I wish I was as happy as Linda or as affluent as Bob. Linda and Bob have their own cares and worries, we just don't see them on the surface. It was Henry David Thoreau who said, "the mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation."

I grew up in a house with a lot of boys and a lot turmoil. If there are special rewards in heaven, my mother will be at the top of the list. She not only provided support, encouragement and a loving environment, she left me with memories to last my lifetime as well. As the holidays approach, those are the memories I cling to and those are the memories I want to create for my own children. My memories include watching the Thanksgiving Day Parades, laughing together at Christmas movies and fighting over the chocolate spritz cookies.

Yes, sometimes life deals to us from the bottom of the deck and the sun doesn't come out and shine, but it truly is a wonderful life - if you choose to make it so!!!

Mistakes I've Made

I keep the poem, "Man in the Glass" on the inside cover of my Bible. It is a reminder that regardless of what everyone else in the world might think, I have to live a life of integrity. That doesn't mean that I don't make mistakes (I make plenty), but that I take responsibility for them.

During some of the most challenging years of my life I was part of a men's study group that helped keep me accountable. It was a place where we could bring our problems, our cares, even our struggle with sin and know that we would recieve support while still being held accountable for our behavior.

The church is supposed to be that safe place. That means that God's people have to learn the difficult balance between holding people accountable for their behavior and providing the love, mercy and support they need to grow.

I recall a situation years ago where a young lady refused to "come forward" for sins she had committed in her life. She had seen other young people treated so badly after repenting that she wanted no part of it. The very people who should have held her in their tender arms became her judge and jury.

I always struggle with where to lay the blame. When we mess up in life we need to simply ask forgiveness and move forward. When others come to us with a penitent spirit we need to forgive and support them. Some will blame the church for an environment that isn't forgiving, others will blame individuals who will not be accountable for their mistakes. The truth is that both things are true. We make it easier when we create the right kind of culture in the church, but we also contribute to that kind of environment when, as individuals, we are open and honest about our own struggles and mistakes.

AMATEURS

I need to thank my good friend Dale Jenkins for inspiring this post. In a sermon Sunday morning he made reference to an amateur as a person who does something for pleasure rather than profit. While that may no longer be true of the Olympic athlete - it is true of a lot of people in this world. This post is a celebration of those who still play for the love of the game. Those who grab life with all its joys and sorrows and make the world a better place. These are my heroes.

There was the elder who always came by and patted me on the back and told me what a good job I was doing. He always seemed to know when I was feeling down.

There is the husband and wife who used to take me lunch during the darkest days of my life, just to be friends and support me.

There are the ladies who never get public recognition for visiting the sick, carrying meals to the hungry, or sending a card to the bereaved.

There is invisible multitude who daily encourage their children, serve our master on foriegn soil, bear the burdens of brethren, pray for the weak, and engage in limitless good works.

In the past I have heard people say, "Oh, he is just an amateur." We need more amateurs in the kingdom. Today I surrender my professional license! I am looking forward to joining the multitudes who do God's will for the pure joy of service.

Bridging the Gap

I will always recall one of my Bible teachers telling us, "boys you have to learn to preach across the gap." Of course we struggled to understand what Brother Carr was talking about. His response has stayed with me all these years, "Boys, you are going to have to learn early on that you can't live perfect lives, but you have to preach a perfect gospel. Sometimes that means you have to preach lessons that are mighty close to home.

There are places in our lives where we all have to preach across the gap. It is hard to train and correct our children when they throw our own failures and inadequecies up in our face. In teaching a Bible class we sometimes have to deal with topics that haven't quite mastered in our own lives. Some people may call this hypocrisy, but the truth is that we are called to "preach the whole counsel of God" (Acts 20:27).

Recently I have been facilitating a men's study/prayer group on Monday mornings. It is a thrill to have a such a great group of men who are committed to starting their week with Christ. Our current topic of discussion is Patrick Morley's book, "The Man in the Mirror." The title alone illustrates how hard it is to facilitate this discussion. Reading each chapter and trying to evaluate my own life is painful at times. I know the lessons we share on Monday are helping me, challenging me, but sometimes it is like a doctor probing around for an abcess. When he finds the troubled area - it doesn't feel very good.

Preachers aren't the only ones who have to cross that chasm. We all have the difficult challenge of living what we believe and teach. That should also remind us of the importance of showing some grace and understanding to those who walk in leadership positions. They don't live perfect lives, but like the rest of us, they pursue that perfect pattern.

Learning to Give

In most churches our education on giving is limited to two areas: 1) Financial giving and 2) using our talents. We talk of stewardship and that everything belongs to God, but I have heard few lessons that give practical examples of how to be a good steward. Here are a few examples of alternatives to writing a check, that demonstrate good stewardship.

1. Economic Stimulus Act of 2008. This law which was passed on October 3rd and allows individual s 70 1/2 and older to have their IRA withdrawals transferred directly to a charitable organization (or church) with no tax penalty. By using this method it allows a Christian to give 25% to 30% more by avoiding tax penalties.

2. Appreciated Assets. ANY appreciated asset (land, stocks, personal property) that is transferred directly to a charity avoids the capital gains tax. While not many of us want to move stocks or investments right now, a donation of land that has appreciated value allows the donor to avoid capital gains.

3. Estate planning. There are so many ways that Christians can give to God through their estate. There areCharitable Remainder Trusts, Charitable Lead Trusts, Gift Annuities and other estate planning options. The real beauty of wise estate planning is that you can actually give more to your family and the church while avoiding giving that money to Uncle Sam.

If this information is helpful to you, or you would like to learn more about how you can help your church or favorite charity, please feel free to contact me via email or phone and I will be happy to help you with the specifics.

Faith, Family & the Holidays

I will open this blog by confessing that I went to see the movie, "Four Christmases" this past week. While most of the audience found the movie funny, I found it somewhat disturbing. The general thrust of the movie is that a young couple have to visit four families (because of broken home issues) all on Christmas day.

The families in the movie were all dysfunctional in some significant way. I sat through the movie with a number of troubling thoughts:

• Is this really the state of affairs in America?
• How do the issues of divorce and blended families affect my own children?
• What can we all do to help our children navigate through the holidays and provide a positive experience for them.

Whether your family is "traditional" or otherwise, you have issues that you face during the holidays. It may be struggles over where to spend Christmas and New Years, or simply the battles between siblings once school is out for three weeks.

I have always believed that holidays are a time for faith and family. A time to reflect on the blessings that God has given us and a time to share with one another. It is tragic to think that we often worry about how to navigate through family politics rather than accept the blessings we recieve from God. This year in my quiet time and prayer time I will be praying for the families in our community.

"Father, bless the homes and families in our community. There are parents who are struggling, children who are hurting and so very many in want and need. Be with me as a father and husband to put the needs of my wife and children first. Help me to have an understanding heart and an open mind. Give my children and those around us a deeper understanding of your love and will in their lives. Father as I think of the gifts I can give, I pray that my emphasis is on my example. Help me to give my children a foundation of faith, to my community an example of a godly life and to my wife the love and respect she deserves. Father open my eyes to the needs that are around me. Allow me an opportunity each day to touch the lives of others in some small way."

www.trentwheeler.com

A Mind to Work

In all of my years of church work, I have never seen anything that compared to the energy and enthusiasm demonstrated yesterday. I have been in congregations where we have pleaded and begged for members to come out and help with one project or another only to see a handful on the work day.

In Nehemiah 4:6, the children of Israel were commended because the people had a mind to work. It could easily be said of the Spring Meadows Church of Christ that the people had a mind to work. I have to admit however that there were people just standing around yesterday. There were a number of reasons they were standing, but none of them had anything to do with apathy or laziness. Here are a few of my observations:

• There were often more workers than there was work to do. People were standing and asking for something to do, but all the jobs were taken.
• Members of the body were spending time in genuine Christian fellowship. Not just talking about the latest soap opera or their favorite recipe, but talking about the work of the church. I heard discussions about Bible classes, how to use our resources and ways we could reach the community.
• Some of us were just standing in AWE. God is powerful. God is able to do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20). God is working through his people in Spring Hill, TN.

What a day of rejoicing we all enjoyed yesterday. There is a spirit and warmth that I have never experienced any other place. What a blessing it is to be among a people who have a mind to work.

Intangibles

This week I have been in a series of meetings discussing trends in ministry. Throughout the discussions I kept coming back to matters that I believe are critical and important, but often overlooked. I am afraid that all too often churches can get caught up in the latest trends and best practices and miss the heart of our work.

I entitled this blog intangibles, not because these matters are unimportant, but because they are often overlooked. Here are a few of the issues that I believe are critical to effective local work.

Put an emphasis on prayer. While I was in Africa I got in deep discussion of small groups. I often felt alone in defending congregations who have not yet moved to small groups. I found it interesting that the entire time we were in Nigeria I did not see one small group meet (some churches were small groups, but that was another matter). What I did see was a commitment to prayer. Every morning the church doors opened between 5:00 - 6:00 am for the congregation to come together to pray. It was moving and powerful to see the people of God joined in this act of faith and fellowship.

Restore a passion for Bible study. Like most people in ministry I love books. It is not uncommon to read a couple of new books a week, but a few years ago a group of men encouraged me to study my Bible daily. I am reminded of what V.P. Black told me years ago. He said, "Son, you preach what you are full of." The things you read and study will come out in your preaching and teaching. If that is the case, and I believe it is, then the Bible needs to be the first and most important book in my library.

Get engaged in the lives of others. We change our environment and the world around us - one person at a time. We were created to fellowship and interact with others. Allow your life to touch someone elses. Open your heart to the needs of others. Share your tragedies and triumphs with a world traveling blindly through the night.

Projects, programs and proceedures are all good and necessary to effective and efficient work, but lets not forget the important matters that add depth and substance to our faith.

Groupthink

This week I was introduced to the Abilene Paradox. The story goes something like this. A family was sitting on the porch playing dominoes when granddad says, "How about we all head out to that little diner in Abilene." His wife says, "sounds good." Despite having reservations because it was a hot day and a 53 mile drive the son says, "O.K., count me in."

Four hours later they arrive back home after a hot drive and a mediocre lunch. The daughter-in law who had been silent says, "Wasn't a very good trip was it." The son then says, "I really didn't want to go to Abilene," and the grandmother says, "I only went because I thought everyone else wanted to go." Finally, the granddad says, "Well, I only suggested it because everyone looked so bored."

Groupthink is the phenomenon of social conformity that plays out when we don't want to be in conflict with what we believe is the group consensus. How often have you seen people try to use groupthink to influence decisions makers. "There are a lot of people who feel the way I do," or "Nobody is going to support that decision..."

God gave us minds and intellect and expects us to use them. We do not have to be disagreeable, or contentious to express a differing opinion. There is real value in open debate and having a dissenting opinion. Even our Supreme Court justices publish the dissenting opinions in a judgment or ruling.

I have a friend who serves on the board of a well-known college. I asked him why he was selected to serve. His answer revealed something very healthy about that institution. "I was selected because I am not afraid to hold a contrary opinion, or to express it if I think the group is wrong.

For far too long our society has preached a doctrine of conformity that has encouraged moral compromise and social decay. Take a minute and make sure your backbone is not made out of rubber, or that your mind isn't so open that your brains fall out. Stand up for what you believe in and have the courage to share those convictions with the world.

By the way, I was thinking of going to Abilene, anyone want to join me?

A Thorny Situation

Conditions and circumstances in life are never quite what you want them to be. Many people add to thier own unhappiness because they believe the grass is greener in another pasture. They walk through life always thinking life would be better if only... If only I had more money; If only my husband treated me better; If only I could fit into the clothes I wore ten years ago.

I believe this is a universal condition. Even the apostle Paul struggled with this his infirmities. Three times he prayed that God would remove the thorn in his flesh (II Corinthians 12:7-8). Paul believed that life would be better, that his circumstances would be more productive if only he could get rid of that stubborn problem in his life.

We don't always enjoy the way God works. Many of the lessons we learn come through hardships and adversity. I don't know how many times I have prayed that some challenge or difficulty will be removed, only to have God say, "my grace is sufficient for you" (II Corinthians 12:9).

God perfects us the same way that gold is refined in the fire. We must walk through the furnace of affliction if we are to come out pure, brilliant and ready for use in God's service. Paul put it best when he said, "Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong" (II Corinthians 12:18-19).

Tomorrow

Anne of Green Gables was one of my mother's favorite mini-series. I think the thing I truly enjoyed about it was the eternal optimism of Anne. No matter what mischief she seemed to find, her wonderful philosophy of life shined through. "Tomorrow is fresh and new with no mistakes in it."

When I look in the rear view mirror of my life, there are lots things that I would do differently given the chance. I am not sure I share the sentiments of the person who says, "I wouldn't do a single thing differently, because it has made me the man I am today." I now understand that had I done a few things differently I could have been a better father, husband, leader, employee and a better representative of God's kingdom. While I can't change the past - I certainly can learn from it.

The good news is, tomorrow is fresh and new with no mistakes in it. Now that may all change by 5:30 in the morning, but for the moment I prefer to put on my rose colored glasses and plan for the best. As David reminds us, "This is the day which the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it" (Psalms 118:24).

Time is a precious commodity. I prefer not to squander it! Tomorrow I might lose my job, wreck my car, or discover I have cancer. Most of those things I have little control over. I can worry about the weather, the economy, or the war in Iraq, but that would rob me of my joy. I could worry about all those things, but why should I allow the future to rob me of the present. For the moment I choose to be happy, I choose to love God and my family, I choose to believe in what is good, noble, and honorable in this world.

What does this all have to do with ministry? I am not sure, except I believe that God created us to love life and love our fellow man. I believe when we hold up our heads, expect the best and walk uprightly with God that others are drawn to that. They want to know what is different about us. My disposition clearly affects my ability to effectively minister to others.

Ministry & Money

This is probably one of the more delicate topics related to faith-based institutions. Every good work needs money to operate, but it often creates a moral dilemma for those seeking financial support. I have been involved in fundraising efforts since entering the mission field in 1988. During that time, I have seen all of the good and bad that comes from with dealing with money. Let’s look at a few important facts surrounding Ministry & Money.

Giving, Tithing, and Stewardship are all important Biblical topics. Some authors have indicated that money is talked about more than any other topic. I don’t know if that is true, but the Word has a lot to say about it. I don’t want to use this column to preach a sermon, so here are my observations.

Faith or Works: I have sat in board meetings where Executive Directors have emphasized the importance of trusting God and the money will come to the exclusion of getting out and asking. I have seen board members so concerned about the bottom line that they forget to include God in their calculations. What is the balance between stepping out in faith and being a responsible steward? I don’t know that there is a clear-cut answer, but the simplest way I know to explain it, is to pray as if everything depended on God and work as if everything depended on you. Make sure it is God’s voice you hear calling you to step out in faith and not your own arrogance or Messiah complex.

Money & Power Corrupts. This is the greatest challenge I have seen on the mission field. We are so eager to help we place large sums of money in the hands of those inexperienced in handling it. They will see more money in a week than they have seen in a lifetime and it can corrupt local workers who were at one time good men. American diplomacy has failed because we have created an international welfare program. In too many cases, the church has done the same thing.

Finally, never sacrifice your mission to chase dollars. I have seen too many organizations change their vision, mission and values because they believed that the money they would receive justified the move. A well-meaning individual may promise $500, 000 if you will build a clinic in Honduras, or sponsor students in Ukraine. If those works fall under the umbrella of your mission great, if not help steer them to the organization that can fulfill their mission. I have seen dozens of faith-based organizations who lost their vision, then lost their zeal. They chased dollars, rather than pursuing souls and sought financial increases rather than striving to expand the kingdom.

I believe that God requires us to manage money in our personal lives and in our ministries for a series of reasons: 1) It requires us to exercise stewardship; 2) It demonstrates our ability to walk with integrity; 3) and it reminds us that “every good and perfect gift comes from the Father of lights…”

The Great Experiment

Democracy is often called the great experiment. Some very learned men took the best of ancient and modern political systems and tried to build on a foundation of morality and Christian principles to build "one nation under God."

When I look back at the early work of the Spring Meadows Church of Christ, I see some similarities. I wouldn't venture to say that those of us involved had the wisdom or education that many of our founding fathers had, but it was a great experiment in this regard. There were decades of "church experiences," that played a role in what we tried to accomplish at Spring Meadows. Most of us had experienced periods of wonderful congregational growth and the tragedy of division and discouragement. We took those experiences into consideration as we planned.

As we drafted our by-laws, talked about our services and prayed about reaching the community of Spring Hill with the gospel of Christ, we were very intentional in the things that we did. Most of us understood that every step we took set a precident for the future. We did not want to establish human laws that were irrevocable and we wanted to insure that we preached the whole counsel of God. To date our experiment seems to be a success. I do however have some questions I would like your help with:

1) Can you take the lessons learned in a new church plant and implement them in an existing congregation? (i.e. How do you bring about positive change in a struggling work?)
2) As we grow, how do we avoid falling into unproductive patterns?

I believe that most works (new or established) have two fundemental challenges: 1) Not allowing standard practices to become unchangable traditions; 2) In an effort to stay fresh, not chasing every new trend and philosophy that comes down the pike. That takes deliberate prayer and planning. I am not sure what all the answers are, but I would love to hear from the readers about how to bring energy and enthusiasm into an existing work that is struggling and how to keep a good work on track.

A couple of quick items:
1) Please forward this blog to others for response.
2) Please leave your thoughts on the blog for others to see, or if you prefer for them not to be public, please send them to me at trent.wheeler@charter.net

The Battleground State

I am as disappointed this morning as I have been in any election. I have strong political leanings and I prayed fervently during this election. Last night as I watched the election I thought about the "battleground states." When Ohio was called for Obama I struggled, when Florida fell my heart sank.

Despite my disappointment I woke up this morning thinking about the real battleground state. As children of God we are not battling over Ohio, Pennsylvania or Florida, we are battling over the hearts of men. We are fighting that battle one person at a time. I realized this morning that I spent two years living under a socialist government; I have worked in regions where I have been accompanied by armed military guards hired to protect me and slept in villages where the worst kind of abject poverty was evident. In all of those situations God's people not only survived, they endured, the persevered and grew.

Many today are discouraged. We are concerned about the life of the unborn, about gay rights and homosexual marriage and the socialist slant of the incoming administration. Please, please remember that God's people have the unique ability to excel in the most adverse of situations (Daniel in Babylon; Joseph in Egypt, Christians in Rome). God was honored and exalted under the most brutal and despotic nations our world has ever known.

Some of us woke up thinking, "we lost the election." Last night Florida and Arizona passed legislation stating that marriage is between a man and a woman. Arkansas also sent a blow to the gay rights movement by banning unmarried couples from adoption or being foster parents. Prior to this election 27 states had already passed gay marriage bans and today we await the outcome in California (update: California has also banned gay marriage).

I am reminded of how discouraged Elijah was after fleeing from Jezebel. God reminded Elijah that 7,000 still had not bowed to Baal. There are many who are still fighting the good fight, who oppose moral evils and stand for godly principles. No government, regime or political power can rob from you your faith, your principles and your commitment to stand for Christ and honor his high and holy name.

Five Critical Mistakes of Church Planting

Planting new congregation's of the Lord's church is a labor of love. For many it can start with great ambition and vision, but when it comes down to implementing your vision, mission and values it is real work. That is one reason I believe that the term "church plant" is appropriate. You have to prepare the soil, plant the seed, nourish the young plant and consistently work the soil if you wish to reap a harvest.

In my 25+ years of ministry I have been involved in several new church plants in the U.S. and overseas as well as working with revitalizing struggling congregations. During that time I have made more than a few mistakes and watched as others make their share. Here are five critical mistakes that mission teams make in trying to plant new churches. These are in no way comprehensive, but I believe they are a pretty good start.

1. Lack of adequate planning. Too often most of the planning centers on two objectives: 1) Finding a place to meet; 2) What will our worship service look like? Those who wish to expand the kingdom and plant new churches need to consider how they will minister to the church and community, where the necessary finances will come from, what will the culture be within the family and what is their vision for ministry and evangelism?

2. Copying the efforts of others. It is a good idea to study successful church plants, but it is a mistake to copy their formula verbatim. Ministry and evangelism has a cultural component. I am not suggesting that we change the gospel, but that we build our ministry around the needs of the congregation and community (contextual ministry). Each new congregation needs to research the needs of their community and their approach to evangelism within that context.

3. Failing to be flexible. During the planning stages congregations write mission and vision statements, plan their outreach and ministry programs, define their times and methods of worship only to discover some of their initial efforts don't work. Don't be afraid to make changes. I have worked with congregations where we changed our mid-week service to Tuesday night, held workshops in community centers (rather than at the church building), and failed miserably in our initial evangelism efforts, only to improve the process over time.

4. Installing formal leadership hastily. To take a phrase from Jim Collins in his wonderful book, Good to Great; "you need to get the right people on the bus and the wrong people off the bus." While there is a place for everyone to serve in the Kingdom (I Cor. 12, Rom. 12), putting the wrong people in leadership can destroy a church plant (or any congregation). At the Spring Meadows congregation we spent months discussing the "how to's" of installing leadership before we ever established the congregation. So far God has rewarded our efforts with godly shepherds and faithful servants.

5. Under-estimating God. One of the memorable lines in our current work came from one of our elders. After nearly doubling a contribution goal we set one Sunday our good brother said, "We are not very good at goal setting." We must always remember that God is in control, that God must recieve the glory and that our efforts are to expand HIS Kingdom. Paul reminds us that "He is able to do immeasureably more than we can ask or imagine, throught the power that works in us" (Ephesians 3:20).

What are some of the mistakes you have seen in planting new churches?

Using Technology #1

Over a decade ago I wrote an article for the Gospel Advocate entitled, "Surfing the Internet with the Gospel." At that time I thought it was cutting-edge stuff. The article provided basic information on how to use email, bulletin boards and discussion forums to spread the Good News.

A lot has changed in the past decade and innovation is happening at a pace that is hard to keep up with (both in cost and simply the speed of change). In the next few articles I would like to look at a few ways that churches can use technology in a cost effective and ministry focused way.

As workers together in God's kingdom, we have a fiscal responsibility towards good stewardship. Technology is a great tool for the advancement of the kingdom, but it must be balanced with responsible spending and a clear understanding of the desired outcomes. That being said, let's start by looking at some inexpensive ways to use technology in our churches.

Distribution Lists: Email accounts and listserves can be set up with little or no cost to the congregation, but they can have great benefits to the work. In our congregation we have distribution lists for our leadership teams, our deacons, the men in the congregation, women in the congregation and other sub-groups. Distribution lists have been used effectively for years in other organizations, but they provide a great resource for information sharing, communication and congregational updates.

Websites: I am almost ashamed to put this in this article, but believe it or not there are still churches who do not have a website, or if they do - they fail to update their information. I can't speak for other areas, but a significant number of new people in our community found us through an online search. If you have a website here are a few (very few) basic rules to follow. 1) Allow someone to maintain the website who has some experience and will keep the information up to date; 2) Make your site easy to navigate with the most important information at their fingertips (contact information & directions to the building); 3) Make the website interactive. Put surveys, community information, audio downloads and other resources on your site. Please add your suggestions for effective websites at the end of this article.

PDA's: I resisted getting a blackberry or I Phone as long as I could, now I am wondering why I waited so long. I have always had a bad case of "outoftouchaphobia," but now it has reached chronic proportions. Having voicemail, email and web access at my fingertips 24/7 has its drawbacks, but I feel as though I am right on top of what is happening in the church and in my community.

There is a lot more that needs to be covered, but these are some low-cost ways to begin using technology in our churches. Please drop me a line and let me know what areas of technology are serving your churches, what your favorite toys are, and recommendations you have for responsible use of technology.

Three Steps for an Effective Ministry

All too often we complicate the basic tenants of ministry. We adopt every new idea and trend that is coming down the pike, or we overload our congregation with programs that don't have a clearly defined purpose. Today, I want you to consider 3 basic steps to establishing an effective ministry.

Step One: Take time to identify your congregation's gifts and talents. You will be far more effective in your work if you use the talents people have rather than trying to plug them in where they don't fit. One of the most dysfunctional ministry models out there is to develop programs and then look for people to fill those roles.

If you learn to identify the skills and talents in your congregation, then you can begin to build your ministry programs around the talents you have. One of the best resources I have found for helping members find their gifts is the book, "Life Keys," by Kise, Stark & Hirsch. If you would like a copy of the worksheets I have developed using Life Keys leave me a note and I will send copies of the congregational worksheets.

Step Two: Research the needs of the congregation and community. Start with your own church family. Ask them to help you indentify needs in the church family and in the community. Study your community to see where there may be gaps in community services. Is there a need for Christian counseling, healthcare clinics, financial planning services, marriage workshops, etc? Allow the church to be the light in the community by providing needed services.

Step Three: Look at your members talents and the needs in the church and community and begin to build ministry teams to meet those needs. You won't be able to fill every need, or you may not have the manpower or skills to develop certain programs now. Your work will be far more effective if you build your ministry around your members strengths. If you approach your work correctly, in time your work will prosper and you will develop new people for new programs.

Fireproof a Dynamic Marriage

This past Saturday I spent two valuable hours attending the new movie release FIREPROOF. Not only was it refreshing to attend a movie without profanity and gratuitous sex and violence, but to watch a film with a tremendous message of hope, commitment, and faith.

Three weeks ago Debbie and I began attending the dynamic marriage course at the Spring Meadows Church of Christ. During our first few weeks we learned about our deepest emotional needs and Love Busters (actions and behaviors that negatively impact your marriage). Debbie quickly noted a correlation between some of the themes in the movie and some of the great lessons we are learning in class. Let me share just a few with you.

First, when there is an emotional vacuum or a negative environment in a marriage, people begin to find other ways to meet their emotional needs. Sometimes these are withdrawal, or pursuit of a hobby or activity outside the marriage. More often than not, the withdrawal can lead an individual into an affair or emotional connection to another person.

Second, many of the Love Busters mentioned in class played out in the movie. The visual representation of these actions in the movie helped us to see the negative impact of these love busters. The angry outbursts, annoying behaviors, disprespectful judgements and selfishness all played a powerful role in the struggles this young couple faced. I also appreciate that the movie did not ignore the hard topics like the affects of pornography and unfaithfulness in the film.

Finally, the message of hope that comes through is encouraging. Despite the detoriation that had taken place; when a person surrenders to God and then seeks to meet the needs of their mate wonderful things can happen.

Fireproof is a good movie because it doesn't take a Pollyanna approach to marriage. It shows the hard work that goes into making a marriage great and emphasizes the role that God must play in creating successful marriages.

I would like to encourage all the readers of this post to do three things. 1) Go and see Fireproof. If for no other reason than the fact that we need to support movies with a positive message. If we want good movies to make it to the theaters, we need to support the effort. 2) Encourage everyone else you know to go and see the movie (especially in your churhces). 3) Seek opportunities to improve your marriage. The Dynamic Marriage course from Family Dynamics (www.familydynamics.net) is a great place to begin, but look for opportunities to do all you can to make your marriage great.

Trent Wheeler

Integrated Ministry

"But when you do merciful deeds, do not let your left hand know what your right hand does..." (Matthew 6:3).

When Jesus gave these instructions concerning our giving and good works, I don't believe he intended for every ministry in the church to stand alone. After 25 years in ministry in missions, it continues to trouble me how we carve out our own little area of work and never make an effort to integrate it into the overall programs of the local congregation.

Recently I was doing some training for a church in Alabama. The campus ministry was struggling with a sponsorship program for new university students. The idea was to match each new student with a local family, but it continually ran into administrative difficulties in keeping the program going. During the workshop, we integrated the women's ministry with the campus ministry in this one area. The women's ministry agreed to take charge of administering the program, and knowing these ladies convinced me there wouldn't be any lapses in organization or operations.

During our weekend together we took each ministry team through a complete evaluation of their work programs that included identifying needs, resources and outcomes. Once all of the information was charted, we looked at how each ministry contributed to the mission of the local church; how it overlapped with other ministry programs and how the teams could share resources and support each other's work.

It was encouraging a few months later to return and see how the teams were working together. Taking an integrated approach to ministry helped to conserve resources and improve outcomes. More importantly, the ability to see the ministry of the church as a whole gave the membership a real sense of accomplishment.

I would love to hear from our readers concerning how your congregation is integrating ministry programs to meet the mission of the local church.

Christ & Culture

It was the fourth Sunday in a row for Olua Kemi to bring her prayer before the church in Abuja. Kemi has waited for years in hope that God would open her womb and give her a child. Now she has taken her petition before her brothers and sisters in Christ.

Four weeks of prayers and still no answer from God. What Kemi's Christian family doesn't know is this afternoon she will visit a spiritual advisor and pour out offerings to her ancestors. While syncretism and pagan worship is taught against in our African churches, it is still practiced on a regular basis.

Kemi is caught between Christ and culture. She wants to have faith, she longs for an answers to her everyday problems, but she is immersed in a culture of paganism and idolatry. Like Christians around the globe she caught in conflict between two worlds.

Let me share another story with you. Rachel is a single mom living far too close to the poverty line. She just came out of an abusive relationship and is struggling to keep food on the table for her two children. Every day Rachel struggles with depression, dispair and low self-esteem. She attends a 12 step program at her church, goes to a Christian counselor once a week, and faithfully attends services every time the door is opened.

Saturday night Rachel has a date with a brother in a neighboring congregation. Her self-esteem soars to know that someone might be interested in her. After a quiet dinner at a nice restaurant the couple return to her home, where Rachel's date ends up spending the night.

Kemi and Rachel may live in dramatically different worlds, but they have one thing in common - they share the struggle of living for Christ in a culture of sin. Kemi is surrounded by idols and talisman; Rachel is drowning in a sea of sexuality and promiscuity. Both women respond in a similar way: Kemi begins to doubt if God is hearing her prayers and Rachel isn't sure if the church understands her heartache and loneliness.

The challenge in both situations is to develop an outcome-based ministry. The church needs to find practical answers to life's daily problems. Our preaching and practice needs to be application based. We need to put tools in the hands of church members that help them cope with the cares and concerns of the world.

I am not suggesting we change the gospel, but that we deliver it in a manner that helps people to live for Christ and trascend an ungodly culture.

What Happens when Men Lead?

On Monday, August 18th we are going to begin our own journey through the wilderness. We live in a day when a lot of time and attention is given to the topic of Leadership. Men like Stephen Covey, Jack Welch and Tom Peters have all written volumes on the subject. Charisma, motivational skills, and time management have all been addressed in great detail.

What really happens when men step up in the church and seek to exemplifiy true "male spiritual leadership?" Not the boardroom style, or charismatic leader that sways multitudes, but true biblical leadership that serves from the foot of the table. Leadership that is immersed in humilty, honor and integrity.

In our time together on Monday mornings we will have a short devotional and discussion on what God seeks in male leadership and we will devote time to prayer and support for one another as we venture out to lead in our homes, churches, community and workplace.

We will begin on Monday, August 18th at 6:30 am and look at a how God shaped Moses to lead a nation out of bondage.

Contextual Ministry

Why is it that a minister or minstry program can be tremendously effective in one location and impotent in another. Churches and preachers are notorious for jumping on the latest trends only to realize that they don't work in their neighborhoods.

The problem comes because many congregations have never stopped to look at their work and ministry in the context of the local community and church. Each congregation has a unique makeup and the community they serve has different needs.

This blog is designed to help congregations and ministers look at their community through new eyes and try to see the opportunities and challenges that God has placed before them in context.