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

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.