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Review by Tina Von Wald

Overview

James M. Kouzes and Barry Z. Posner set out to help organizations achieve the extraordinary by providing leadership practices that enhance and create positive work environments.  The authors described the five practices of exemplary leadership, five ways to make a difference and ten commitments of exemplary leadership.  They defined what people look for in their leaders and listed credibility as an essential ingredient. The second half of the book divided each of the five practices: model the way, inspire a shared vision, challenge the process, enable others to act and encourage the heart.

Kouzes and Posner stated, “The Leadership Challenge is about how leaders mobilize others to want to get extraordinary things done in organizations.  It’s about leadership that makes a positive difference in the workplace and creates the climate in which people turn challenging opportunities into remarkable successes.”[1]  The authors desired to cultivate self-motivation for the purpose of accomplishing great things through the organizations created reflective evaluations.  They emphasized that leaders improve the work environment by developing the employees for change, adaptability, prosperity and growth.  The authors believe,  “Our ongoing aspiration is that this book contributes to the revitalization of organizations, to the creation of new enterprises, to the renewal of healthy communities, and to greater respect and understanding in the world.”[2]  They hoped to bring a fresh perspective to creating healthy work environments.

Meaningful Material

In the final chapter of the book the Kouzes and Posner surmised that leadership happens through relationships that impact how a leader leads, “Leadership is about relationships, about credibility, about passion and conviction, and ultimately about what you do.  You don’t have to look up for leadership.  You don’t have to look out for leadership.  You only have to look inward.”[3]  The emphasis on encouraging others to speak into the leader’s life, doing life with others and learning from others demonstrates a similar model to the one that Christ illustrated while he lived on earth.

This book attests to leadership principles founded in the Truth.  The authors do not write from a Christian perspective, but their practices support behaviors and actions that Christ exemplified.  This reader identifies with the idea of leadership as relationship with others and self.  They contend that everyone who leads has a responsibility as a role model for those they interact with on a daily basis; “Everyone-and that literally means every person-is potentially a role model for someone, and this means that leadership must be everyone’s business.”[4]  The leader has responsibility to navigate through life making personal changes to leadership while also encouraging others to follow and become better leaders. In ministry, pastors have a call to bring health to the church through self-evaluation and development of people through relationships.

Significant Statement

At the end of the book the authors made a significant statement in regard to love.  “The best-kept secret of successful leaders is love; staying in love with leading, with the people who do the work, with what their organizations provide, and with those who honor the organization by using its products and services. Leadership is not an affair of the head.  Leadership is an affair of the heart.”[5]  This is a fresh perspective on leadership with a definite Christlike thrust.

This statement happens for the authors after they have studied leadership for a long time, and they determine that love is the key.  This love refers to passion for the job, the people, the values and furthering of the passion and love, which resembles the similar undertones to the message of the gospel.  The author’s revelation came through study, interviews and analyses.  Passion about where and what is led gives great value to the individual, or employees and the organization.

Critique of Content

The books strength offers practical steps for leadership growth, providing substantial research to support the listed practices.  “The Leadership Challenge is evidence-based.  Analyzing thousands of case studies and millions of survey responses resulted in The Five Practices framework.”[6]  In putting these steps into practice a leader can do so with confidence that these practices come out of much research and development in work environments.

Written from a secular perspective, the book does not acknowledge these principles as biblical thus indicates a weakness.  One example of a biblical perspective but a lack of recognition of Truth (Phil. 2:3), “Perhaps the very best advice for all aspiring leaders is to remain humble and unassuming-to always remain open to learning more about yourself and the world around you.”[7]  Identified throughout the New Testament, Jesus exemplified humility.

The book set out to research and provide leadership principles a leader can refer to as they continue on their leadership journey.  “Think of the book as a field guide to take along on your leadership journey.  Think of it as a manual you can consult when you want advice and counsel on how to make things happen and move forward.”[8]  The layout of the material makes for easy reference and suggested practices.  Kouzes and Posner succeed in achieving their goal in writing this book.

Recommendation

This book offers practical suggestions for enhancing leadership, with proven steps to take at the end of each practice.  The Leadership Challenge can provide a fresh perspective to leaders desiring self-improvement or looking for action steps to take for betterment.  This material works those at entry level leadership positions up to the highest levels of leadership.

Conclusion

The Leadership Challenge demonstrates the importance of leadership practices through research and interviews with leaders from diverse walks of life by including practical steps to implementing practices proven successful in leadership.  The material provides real world practices to reference as you lead, no matter what level of leadership.

[1]James M. Kouzes and Barry Z. Posner, The Leadership Challenge (New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.,

2017), xi.

[2]Kouzes and Posner, The Leadership Challenge, xiv.

[3]Kouzes and Posner, The Leadership Challenge, 295.

[4]Kouzes and Posner, The Leadership Challenge, 298.

[5]Kouzes and Posner, The Leadership Challenge, 313.

[6]Kouzes and Posner, The Leadership Challenge, xii.

[7]Kouzes and Posner, The Leadership Challenge, 308.

[8]Kouzes and Posner, The Leadership Challenge, xiii.

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Unassuming. Overlooked. Unimportant. Disinteresting.

At times, rural communities have been assigned these terms by outsiders who, at best, muster up decidedly apathetic words to describe small, out of the way, places. While lack of care for small towns remains a concern, it pales in comparison to some of the demeaning words people attribute to rural communities.

Dysfunctional. Poverty-minded. Regressive. Declining. Hostile to outsiders.

These words have served as the foundations for some of the negative stereotypes about rural places, and, more importantly for our discussion today, about rural churches, that exist in popular culture. However, others choose to see rural places and churches through a different lens. To those willing to look closely, they see potential in the very DNA of rural communities. The mutual dependence and close-knit nature of rural relationships, coupled with ingenuity, creativity, and a commitment to the good of the community, stand out as positives for those willing to look through new eyes.

Recently, I had the privilege to talk with pastor Bryan Jarrett, lead pastor of Northplace Church in Dallas, TX, and founder of the Water Tower Network, a ministry designed to equip rural pastors to build God’s kingdom in their context. Pastor Bryan described the valuable nature of rural ministry and what led him to pursue developing resources for the rural churches, and the principles he believes can help ministers succeed in this vital work for the Gospel.

The interview revealed a common story centered around the theme of “journey.” Jarrett entered a personal journey to become an advocate for rural churches. Water Tower Network  invited pastors on a journey to more effective ministry in rural places. The invitation for this journey extends to the readers of this article, wherein you may approach rural ministry with newfound confidence and begin to understand the importance of the role in God’s kingdom and the principles.

To begin, it is not an understatement to find airport napkins as unlikely recipients of God-inspired ideas. However, as Jarrett sat in the airport terminal in Chicago waiting for a connecting flight, there may as well have been a burning bush in front of him. Suddenly, God dropped a vision in his heart to invite rural pastors on a yearlong journey of spiritual refreshing, spiritual formation, and an infusion of value to inspire confidence and empowered ministry in their context. This cohort of ministers would serve to continue encouraging each other after completing the yearlong journey.

While the revelation did indeed feel quite sudden, Jarrett explained that it resulted from a long process. When Jarrett left his small town and headed to Bible college, he did so with the intent of never looking back. He wanted to leave behind all the negative aspects of small town living in order to go and make a big kingdom impact. However, as his calling progressed, Jarrett began to appreciate the rural communities’ true potential: a mission field. The rural church ministry calls for the courage to embrace a cross-cultural calling. It demands committed ministers and steadfast faith. It tests the resolve of those who decide to live there, promising high costs for what can feel like unseen rewards. Jarrett noticed that the Church applauded those who boldly sacrificed a comfortable lifestyle to travel overseas and serve small churches on other continents, and reasoned that rural churches deserved the same respect and admiration.

Along the way, Jarrett picked up principles that he considers core values for those who wish to see the kingdom of God gain ground in their small communities. As we talked, I recognized the ease with which he spoke the words of each principle. The well-rehearsed phrases whispered of the Holy Spirit’s consistent and caring work in rural communities. While practical in nature, the guiding principles also carried an incredible sense of hope and encouragement.

1) Create, cultivate, and contend for a Gospel-centered culture.

The Gospel is God’s ultimate answer to rural congregations who struggle with accepting outsiders. In general, most recognize the tight-knit nature of rural communities, and while this quality may serve as an incredible asset to unity, it can unintentionally result in a church that subtly rebuffs the “different” people that visit them Sunday to Sunday. The rural ministry becomes an incredible opportunity to engage in the constant battle against this temptation by exemplifying, teaching, living, vision-casting, and fighting for the radical love of the Gospel.

2) Celebrate the positive changes.

Culture shift often begins by celebrating each positive change. Pastor Bryan asked some rather hard questions, drawing on his own experience.

• Do we highlight the negative ways in which church growth impacts the lifelong congregants?
• Do we reinforce the loss of certain norms instead of reinforcing the creation of new ones?
• Do we speak often from our pulpits of the financial lack, stagnating growth, current church squabble, or other petty business?
• Do we instead focus on the stories of those living the Gospel authentically in front of their rural neighbors?

According to pastor Bryan, you will always get what you celebrate.

3) Strive for excellence.

Rural churches face the temptation to settle for a contented “average” in a small-town setting where change happens at a slow pace and the competition does not seem as fierce. However, the internet age has made the best preaching, worship, stage design, small group ministry, and Christmas production available to even a casual churchgoer. While I am not recommending you figure out how to rig your small stage with pyrotechnics for the birth of Christ next year, Jarrett encourages pastors to refuse to settle for second quality ministry. Instead, the church should include the very best sermon, prayer breakfast, nursery, Sunday school lesson, church potluck, Thanksgiving outreach, and small group session conducted with excellence in mind. We should seek to do our best, practically speaking, for the sake of honoring God and loving his people.

4) Learn to be present—but differently.

In a small town, “being present is part of the mission.” This includes the pastor visiting every member in the hospital, attending important sporting events or life events, and consistent present in the lives of parishioners. However, a growing church demands a shift in the role of pastor. Rural pastors committed to growth may need to find new ways to celebrate “being present” in the lives of the people. The pastor who can mobilize the church for involvement in each other’s lives leaves room for God to grow that church through more and more empowered people working to serve God’s kingdom.

While these principles represent some of the big ideas Jarrett applies in rural churches, the cohort of rural pastors that meets annually through the Water Tower Network takes it a step further. Jarrett grew excited as he spoke about the program. Committing to the journey for a year, each cohort members’ only expense included travel, six times in a year, to Dallas for an incredible journey of spiritual formation and comradery. The goal for each pastor and spouse to leave the sessions filled with a renewed sense of calling, an unshakable resolve for the task of rural ministry, and a deep sense of value for the work they do in God’s kingdom inspires this ministry.

As our conversation drew to a close, I asked Jarrett how to apply for the one-year cohort. He assured me that all those who reach out will receive information concerning when registration for the next cohort opens. Pastors interested in such a journey can reach out to the Water Tower Network at kara@northplacechurch.com for the registration information when the next cohort becomes available.

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I have never met a pastor that did not want to make a lasting impact.

I had the privilege recently of talking with Cecil Culbreth, a pastor in the state of Arkansas, who believes he has discovered the best way to have a lasting impact. At first this claim sounded too bold, but with over forty years of ministry experience, Culbreth meets the qualifications to make such a claim. He has served in multiple roles throughout his ministry career. From being a lead pastor for ten years after Bible college, then engaging in full time youth ministry for thirty years, as well as serving the Assemblies of God fellowship in various local and executive capacities. He currently serves as the district secretary for the Arkansas district, overseeing almost 100 missionaries and missionary associates, as well as leading in the task of walking with prospective ministers through the pastoral credentialing process. In short, Cecil meets the qualifications to say he has ‘done it all.’

As we discussed his career, it became clear that a golden thread ran through each distinct and diverse role, and it traced back to a lesson he learned during his first lead pastorate. Cecil described how he worked hard to come up with sermons Sunday after Sunday, only to find himself at a creative breaking point three years into leading a church. To be clear, up to this watershed moment his sermons had not necessarily been bad. He, like many pastors, tried to combine great life lessons, good illustrations, and engaging examples with a biblical backdrop to persuade people to grow in their faith. The problem he encountered was that, in some ways, the Bible really was just a backdrop for his sermons.

Luckily for Cecil, God uses the obvious to teach us the profound. Desperate for a shift, he returned to his notes from his recent Bible college courses. In this very elemental way, God led him to rediscover expository preaching. For the next forty plus years, Cecil would build his ministry with expository preaching as the backbone. First, expository preaching would revitalize his love for the word of God, and by extension, faithful biblical preaching. The passion this revelation gave him would turn a three-year tenure into a decade of service in his first pastoral role. It showed up again as he led the charge in distributing a student focused study Bible (called the Fire Bible), to school campuses nationwide. Expository preaching worked its way into his mentoring, and several pastors in the Arkansas district have begun to change their communities for the kingdom of God due in part to this influence.

As Cecil recounted the incredible ways in which God used expository preaching in his life, I felt compelled to ask an obvious question:

What is expository preaching?

Having taught a class on expository preaching for a number of years, he happily broke down the basic premise. Cecil explained that expository preaching allows the Bible to speak for itself. Instead of finding topics and then supporting scriptures, expository preaching seeks to wrestle with and draw out the main point of a passage of the Bible. Cecil grew more excited as he shared about the great themes of the Bible that emerge as one approaches the text through expository preaching. He chuckled as he spoke of the classic “three-point sermon” and how it could be replaced by finding the one point of a passage of scripture and drawing it out.

The goal of expository preaching seems simple, but Cecil explained that the true process is exacting and demands much of the minister. First, it involves picking a passage of scripture, then reading and re-reading it multiple times through. Without rushing into the sermon, the initial goal is to find emerging themes, thoroughly engage context, and truly letting the scripture speak. He encouraged using commentaries and word studies only after the minister spends sufficient time in prayer and asks the Holy Spirit to speak directly to the minister through the passage.

If expository preaching had simply been about working harder, it would not hold such sway in Cecil’s life and ministry. However, throughout our interview he outlined the incredible benefits he saw from expository preaching and its implementation. Outlined below are a few of those benefits:

1) Expository preaching enriches the devotional life of the minister.

The Word of God, as ministers likely can agree on, has endless depth. In the process of preparing a sermon, digging deep into the passage yields more than a good sermon, it draws the minister closer to God. Frequently, Cecil would meet with other ministers and talk about passages together. That process left each minister with a deeper sense of God’s presence and a greater knowledge of him.

2) Expository preaching leads to church growth.

Cecil spoke of churches in the Arkansas district that exemplified contemporary and growing congregations that affected lasting kingdom change. At the heart of those congregations are ministers utilizing expository preaching to give solid biblical messages that cover a wide range of biblical themes. This in turn, has created solid disciples who can share the word with others with both enthusiasm and depth.

3) Expository preaching can prevent burnout.

When pastors speak of why they move on from congregations, interpersonal conflict, stubborn board members, and church splits rank high on a list of reasons. However, Cecil spoke of hitting a creative wall with sermon building when he spoke of burnout. After years of coming up with topics and straining for fresh illustrations and impactful examples, some ministers may move on because the obligation of the pulpit becomes too much. With expository preaching, Cecil believes the minister will find plenty of sermon material.

4) Expository preaching builds a better sermon.

Cecil believes that preachers can often be tempted to spend all their time trying to come up with a topic, whereas expository preaching allows for the passage to be the topic, cutting down the initial time investment. The majority of a pastor’s prep time can be spent on details, supporting scriptures, illustrations, etc., which has the potential to create a more polished and impactful sermon.

Cecil’s final advice to ministers was both personal and professional. He spoke first of one’s personal devotion to God. A minister should read the word for its own sake, be devoted to consistent prayer, and cultivate a walk with God that defies and resists the various temptations of each season of life. In reference to a pastor’s marriage, Cecil encourages prioritizing time with family ahead of a demanding ministry schedule. Finally, he spoke of resisting the temptation to “read topics into” the Word of God. Instead, he encouraged sermons that are consistently founded on the Word of God. Upon hearing these words, I was tempted to treat them as all-to-familiar maxims. However, from his vantage point, working with ministers for a decade or more, Cecil has seen enough ruined lives and fractured churches to recognize the need for consistent practice of the basics. Whether applying to the pulpit or one’s personal life, Cecil’s devotion to expository preaching challenges every minister to grow deeper in their faith and calling.

Reflection Questions:

• Have you ever found yourself with “preacher’s block” when it comes to sermon writing?
• What can you learn from applying expository preaching principles to your own pulpit ministry?
• Which benefit would you most like to see in your ministry out of the four listed above?
• Have you considered meeting with another minister or friend for the purpose of studying a passage together or gleaning from their insights through conversation?

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The Bible gives clear instruction about developing a thankful heart.  We find the words give and thanks used together 73 times in the Bible and 25 times in the New Testament. The repetition of this command gives clear instruction about the attitude believers should cultivate in their personal lives and walk with Christ. The Apostle Paul gave some final instructions in his benediction to the church in Thessalonica,

¹⁶ Rejoice always,

¹⁷ pray without ceasing,

¹⁸ in everything give thanks;

for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you (1 Thess.5:16-18)

These three admonitions guide both actions and attitudes of the heart. Believers should make rejoicing a heart discipline. The world looks for bad news and finds reasons to be discouraged and downhearted, but believers look for reasons to rejoice. Every time life brings circumstances where rejoicing becomes a challenge, believers respond in fervent prayer. Pray, really pray, and make it a continuous part of life. Finally give thanks in everything because “this is the will of God.” Does that mean to give thanks during COVID-19, in record cold, unpleasant circumstances, or personal disappointment? The Bible repeatedly gives the command to give thanks in every situation.

I learned a song during my early years in church that reminds believers to look to the Lord with a thankful heart, “Count Your Blessings.”[1] The singing often paused in the chorus with the phrase, “Count your many blessings, name them one by one.” It almost seemed that the pause gave time to reflect about the blessings God had given with ability to recall His goodness. Then the song picked up with the line with a joyful tempo, “Count your many blessings see what God has done.” Counting blessings helps the heart to become thankful and consider all the good that God has done. Johnson Oatman, Jr. (2016) wrote this and many hymns out of his trusted relationship with God. His father was a good singer, but Johnson did not share the musical gift of his father. “At the age of 36, he discovered he had a hidden talent and could write hymns. He wrote songs almost daily, with an average of 200 songs a year and over 5,000 hymns” (Matthews 2016).  This Methodist minister gave a valuable instruction on keeping a thankful heart through the gift God gave him and the songs that he wrote.

God has provided multiple reasons for giving thanks for Nadine and me so far this year. The first was an uninvited guest who took up residence in our barn. A large gray striped cat showed up soon after Christmas. I enjoy animals, but cats find their place lower on the list of animals I enjoy. Dogs, horses, even cows have a higher ranking than cats, however we needed a cat. Our barn has a high level of attraction for unwanted guest of mice. The difficulty of controlling the mice that searched for a permanent residence in our barn persisted as a continued challenge. The hay, livestock, and dogfood seemed to have a magnetic pull on the mice, and they continued to appear.  We utilized every known type of trap, rodent bait, and deterrent, reducing the population for a short time, but they quickly returned. The shock of mice scurrying across a horse stall or running up the wall by the feed bin proved too much for Nadine. She finally said, “I can’t go into the barn.”

We tried to rehome cats to the haymow of the barn, but the family dogs scared them off or they just left on their own accord. The other deterrents all failed, then came the unexpected gift from the Lord, of a gray striped cat that loves to be petted and has taken up residence in the loft. The neighbors didn’t claim her, and she appears to have claimed us or at least our barn. Our granddaughter, Priscilla and I named her Cat-rina because she was a cat and needed a girl’s name. The Lord sent Catrina to us and we are thankful. The cat food she eats costs little compared to the benefit of a barn free from mice. I have never seen her chase a mouse or carry a mouse, but somehow her presence made the barn an unwelcome home for mice. I have not seen a mouse in weeks when before that was a daily occurrence. Nadine can now walk into the barn without the shock of a mouse darting past and frightening her. We give thanks to God for Catrina.

Got granted us another great blessing just this month with a car new to us. Our Buick Lucerne served us so incredibly well; it has 474,860 miles on it, and we have done little except routine maintenance. God made the Lucerne like the sandals of the children of Israel in the wilderness where they did not wear out; however, it was beginning to show the wear of nearly a half million miles (Deut. 29:5). I first began driving the car with 6,000 miles on it and it remained a faithful vehicle used for our family and the work of the Lord. The car God gave to us has just over 100,000 miles which makes it nearly new to us. We thank the Lord for His provision in this journey.

We began a training called Church Dynamics last year that provides a series of church leadership resources to help rural churches refocus. A recent highlight occurred during a Church Dynamics class addressing the topic of spiritual fervency. An older lady held a baby for a couple who lead youth ministry in a church that attended, allowing her mom and dad to participate in the meeting. During a break she explained, “This baby has a reflux problem, and she needs prayer.” We prayed for the four-month-old little girl asking the senior pastor to lead, anointing with oil and praying according to scripture as others gathered around the couple and the baby (James 5:14-15). We received word several days later that the baby and mom slept all night for the first time. She could eat without discomfort and the Great Physician had indeed healed this precious child. We feel such gratitude for the hand of the Lord working in the lives of His people.

Believers find encouragement and comfort when following biblical instruction and choosing to spend time counting each blessing. Much of the culture surrounding our society focuses on the problems, believers must focus on the goodness of the Lord and His blessings. Find reasons to rejoice, pray without ceasing, and in everything give thanks. Healthy faith takes note of these key habits, gives opportunity for cultivating these disciplines, and teaches others to “count your blessings and name them one by one,” finding joy and surprises in all the good God has done.

[1] Johnson Oatman Jr. wrote this song early in his time of writing gospel songs and eventually wrote approximately 200 songs a year for a total of nearly 5,000 songs. Oatman served as a Methodist minister but observers noted that he did not have strong preaching skills and served in fill in ministry positions.

The post Developing a Thankful Heart appeared first on Rural Advancement.

Many pastors and church leaders find themselves in a different situation than they expected for their lives and ministry. Some rural pastors have begun expressing their personal discouragement with the events of Covid-19, politics and disappointment with the response some members have shown toward faith and church. For some, the shine has come off the joy of ministry, giving pastors thoughts of leaving ministry. What most thought would be a few weeks of social distancing and extra precautions in March of 2020 now stretches into 2021 with no conclusion in sight. No class or seminar could have fully prepared church leaders for the events of recent months. Uncertainty that most thought would pass quickly and move back to normal now has become a new normal.

How do Christ followers navigate the dark paths of the unknown? What should guide and temper our response to the things we do not understand, do not like, and in the natural realm, cannot change? What can we use to provide a compass to find our way through the maze of months and even years of uncertainty? Those who follow Christ have some things that remain constant even in tumultuous seasons. Believers and leaders live under the lordship of Christ and the authority of scripture and in that understanding, find anchors to remain steadfast providing beacons for our paths.

God is good and He remains in control. Nothing in the season of uncertainty altars the goodness of God. We agree with Joseph when he said to his brothers, “God meant it for good” (Gen. 50:20). God’s goodness does not change during a pandemic or other areas of social, relational, or physical challenge. God works good in a fallen and broken world and He continues to work good even now. “Oh, give thanks to the Lord for He is good, and His mercy endures forever” (Psa. 136:1). Pandemics and political challenge do not alter the nature and goodness of God.

We must continue to fulfill the mission of God through the power of the Holy Spirit. Nothing in the past year changes the call for believers to continue the mission God called them to fulfill. The church of Jesus Christ has always thrived through difficulty and it will continue in this season. The light of the gospel shines brightest in dark hours and it must continue to shine through each of us. People need the message of a Savior now in this season and God’s call to point them to His Son, who is the only one who can save, continues as our premium priority (John. 3:16).

The Lordship of Christ should never resurface as a question for a believer because surrender at salvation settled that fact. We must address the question of how to live out His lordship in present circumstances. A certainty remains, believers must continue to live out His love for each other and love for our world. We must be known by our love for one another as John the Beloved noted, “He who does not love does not know God” (1 John 4:8). Scripture does not require us to agree with our brother; however, we must love them and love our neighbors who may be far from God (Matt. 12:31). Those who live under the lordship of Christ continue to live and walk, in love.

The revealed word of God serves as “a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path” (Ps 119:105). Scriptures teach us how to respond in challenging seasons. The Bible gives clear instruction, although living out that instruction serves as a challenge. The New Testament continually reminds believers to live out life’s journey ‘in Christ.’ Current circumstances call for a biblical response in the daily lives as the people of God

This can only be achieved through the power of the Holy Spirit. We must all pray, “Lord help me to walk and live through the empowering work of the Holy Spirit.” He points people to the Savior, Jesus Christ and helps us to bear the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, meekness, self-control, and faithfulness. The Holy Spirit serves as the helper who enables believers to live out vibrant faith in a hostile and broken world.

Finally, prayer helps us in our meditation, conversation, and action, engaging the only one who has the ultimate power. Prayer in the Spirit becomes a lifeline for believers to remain encouraged and strengthened (Jude 20). Paul encourages believers in uncertain circumstances to pray in the Spirit (Rom. 8:26-27; Eph. 6:18-20). Praying in the Spirit provides an active way to address a world where we do not even know how to pray and refocuses our attention on the Omniscient One, who knows the future, provides comfort, and gives direction for individuals and the church. Congregational and individual prayer provides strength as renewed joy, peace, and faith arise in the face of uncertainty.

Where do go in the seasons of uncertainty? We find our way forward by following the ancient paths. We find peace and direction with the security of following the ancient words in scripture and the knowledge that the scripture repeats multiple times, “I will never leave you or forsake you” (Heb. 13:5-6, Deut. 31:6-8, I Chron. 28:20, Is 41:10-13, Ps 55:22, Matt. 28:20).  People of faith from Genesis to the current hour have leaned into the life of faith. We pray your faith will increase and the challenges of today will strengthen you and your ministry. Take courage, do not quit, God is for you and you will make it through this season!

Questions for Reflection

1. How can I encourage myself in the LORD?
2. Who should I contact to encourage them?
3. How should I pray in this season?

The post Navigating the Unknown: From the Directors appeared first on Rural Advancement.

When pastors hear the word “burnout,” most have an adverse reaction to it. In the best-case scenario, “burnout” is a word that applies to other people. A pastor may occasionally think of the problem of burnout, but frequently believes themselves to be insulated for any number of seemingly logical reasons. In the worst-case scenario, burnout is a cause for fear and alarm, a very present reality that is either currently taking over a minister’s life, or at the very least knocking at the door.

Chris Clem experienced both these extremes, and his journey into studying burnout holds wisdom for leaders at any level of ministry experience. Before Covid-19, Chris pastored a church of over 300 people and spread the gospel through use of contemporary worship, an updated building that doubled as a community center, and outreach that focused on showing the love of Jesus to unbelievers. When Covid-19 shut down all his regular avenues of ministry, Chris incrementally began to slip into burnout. Surprisingly, and regretfully, Chris admitted to me that he never saw it coming.

He had always approached pastoral work with energy, excitement, and a strong work ethic. He had previously served as an executive pastor in a Texas church of 4,000 members and served as the executive director for the Significant Church Network, where he counseled and ministered to rural pastors of all denominations. From this role was birthed a passion for the rural church that compelled him to accept a role as lead pastor of a rural church in Highland AK, where he has served for the last fourteen years with wonderful success in terms of church growth and community impact.

The thing about Chris’s story that stuck out to me is that it is hardly unique. When you remove the specific details, you have a pastor who was prepared by God, given a passion to minister to the rural church, and pursued that call through by serving as a small-town pastor and loving his community well. I have met many rural pastors that could fit that exact profile. If you are reading this article, it is highly likely that you fit that profile, whether you are a vocational pastor or are bi-vocational in your calling. Another common trait that we all likely share with Chris is his complete surprise that he could find himself in a place of burnout in ministry.

When contemplating whether or not we are burned out, many of us will give logical reasons why we are not “too worried” about burnout. Pastor Chris had quite a list of why he felt he could handle any trauma or emotionally draining thing life threw at him. He had worked in high pressure church environments. He had worked in revitalizing a small dying church. He even worked in law enforcement, giving him a front row seat to another level of trauma specific to that role. After surviving all of that, Covid-19 and its effects seemed like just another hurdle to be crossed without much concern for his own mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. He was even pursuing his doctorate at that time, and yet still seemed to be passionately doing the Lord’s work. However, in what he describes as a true “bait and switch,” two professors for his doctoral studies asked him to investigate burnout academically, hoping that he would see the signs as they were affecting him personally.

This journey led him to study signs and symptoms of burnout, culminating in his realization that it was closer to him than he first realized. As he studied each new symptom, he began to identify more and more with the emotionally exhausted and disengaged pastor. Ultimately, he realized a startling truth about himself.

He had begun to believe that no matter what he did, or how hard he tried, he could not make a difference.

Pastor Chris has since dedicated his doctoral journey to studying burnout and its effects on ministers in hope that his work can equip pastors to successfully avoid burnout and continue doing effective ministry. We will attempt to narrow down the principles Chris is studying into a few big principles to apply to our lives. In order to fight burnout, Chris seemed to consistently return to the following principles:

1) Get educated.

After reading countless books and spending innumerable hours studying the subject, Chris was convinced that up to 90% of rural pastors could be dealing with burnout and not even realize it. He stressed the need for basic education on what to look for in yourself or in others in order to catch burnout early. One tool he found effective was the MASLACH burnout inventory, which charges a small fee, but asks incredibly intuitive questions to help a pastor figure out where they are on a spectrum of burnout.

He also stressed knowing simple signs for seeing burnout. Emotional exhaustion is a state of existing where you cannot seem to find the passion or energy to pursue ministry as you previously did. Depersonalization means you begin to feel detached from people around you. This is commonly felt as a sense of loneliness, or a sense that your experience cannot be shared or understood by anyone else. A general sense of feeling ineffective or a loss of purpose in “why you do what you do” is also a common sign of burnout. Even knowing these simple symptoms can equip a minister to manage their own burnout or reach out to others who may be struggling.

2) Practice self-compassion.

Covid-19 especially has pushed leaders to the breaking point. With the situation changing weekly, many leaders feel as if the burden rests squarely on their shoulders to successfully navigate their church and community through this time. Chris pleads with pastors to recognize that they do not have to have all the answers, or the expertise, or even the right decisions for their church every single day. A pastor cannot possibly care for the needs of others over the course of decades if they cannot refill their own tank and minister to their own needs. Each person will likely express this principle differently, but it is important to make time for self-compassion.

3) Maintain relationships.

“It’s not a religion, it’s a relationship.” This slogan has permeated Christian culture for over a decade, but burnout increasingly impairs a minister’s ability to connect with Jesus. The only answer is to get creative when connecting with Jesus. Reading the Bible, praying, and reflecting on past experiences with God are viable methods. In addition to this, maintaining a loving family atmosphere and vibrant close friendships acts as a natural barrier against burnout. It can be hard to hear, but if a minister’s marriage, family, and close friendships are not given time and energy, it frankly will not matter what we do in our pastoral role; the end result will ultimately be burnout.

While there are many more principles to look into, it is important to remember that stopping burnout is not overly complicated. It is something pastor Chris was able to come back from, even as he experienced rock bottom. It is also incredibly important that ministers take it seriously. The church is continuing to be built, with Christ as the cornerstone, through the labors and efforts of pastors and lay people who are reaching people for Jesus. In that equation, you count for a lot. If you burnout, God’s kingdom on earth will be missing a crucial piece in his plan to reach rural communities for Christ.

Questions for Reflection

• If you are being honest with yourself, do you experience any of the signs of burnout mentioned above?
• What do you plan to do in order to learn more about burnout? Perhaps schedule a time in your week to look into it.
• How do you feel like you can practice self-compassion in your weekly routine? Think practically on what you can do to refresh your soul.
• What can you do this week to invest in intimate relationships, whether it be your spouse, children, or close friends? Again, think practical.
• What is one practice/habit that has kept you close to Jesus throughout your life and how will you continue to make time for it?
• Can you come up with a new way for you to connect with Jesus and foster spiritual intimacy?

The post Overcoming Burnout: “No Matter What You do, or How Hard You Try, You Cannot Make a Difference.” appeared first on Rural Advancement.

By Hope Mayes

“Is this where I belong now?” Sitting in an Alabama waiting room chair with other cancer patients in various stages of brokenness, Pastor Chad Payne wondered these thoughts to himself; “Do I belong with this group now? Is this my future?” After being diagnosed with kidney cancer in November 2017, the way this rural minister pastored and led his church was about to change. Payne found three key effective elements in pastoring during illness: support from others, prayer and honesty.

The First Key: Support

The afternoon sitting in that Alabama hospital, he heard the comments of the patients around him, “The doctors think the cancer is coming back…” “The numbers are not looking good…” In this moment, Payne experienced the darkest moment of his whole life; he had never felt more alone. This pastor soon found in these dark situations God’s love came rushing in stronger than previously experienced.

This love came from individuals, families and organizations near and far. Not only did his church, New Life Assembly of God in Woodstock, Alabama show support by taking a large love offering to help Payne and his wife cover medical bills, but multiple other churches and organizations in the area did too. Missionaries from all around the world prayed for his healing, and various friends and family members even offered to donate their own kidneys to his cause. These very humbling acts of kindness reminded this rural pastor and his wife that God continually worked good for them and wrapped them in His love.

The Second Key: Prayer

During this time, God met Payne in ways he did not expect. As an assignment for one of his PhD classes, he spent twenty-four hours alone with God at their district’s campgrounds.

“I got alone and the first day I was there, I couldn’t even pray. I would get silent and it was like there was a tape playing on fast forward in my brain; all the anxiety, fear and questions. I could not get my brain quiet.” – Pastor Chad Payne

With so many thoughts seeding through his mind, he resorted to reading about prayer. He read Mark Batterson’s book, Whisper: How to Hear the Voice of God, then journaled. This exercise effectively quieted his thoughts.

At the conclusion of the twenty-four-hour period, Payne began to feel connected and in sync with God. He found that the private time allowed him to focus and re-center on his Heavenly Father and helped hear His direction about how to pastor through this unexpected time of illness.

The Third Key: Honesty

Although unprepared and caught off guard by the kidney cancer. Payne attempted to keep his circumstances from reflecting on his congregation and community in a negative way. He prioritized complete transparency about the state of his situation. While walking in faith, he did not conceal the anxiety or fear involved; rather, he used his situation as sermon illustrations about the dark moments. Off the platform, he took time to care for himself. Self-care during kidney cancer involved clearing his schedule as much as possible, taking time away, and additional rest. This gave others in the church the opportunity to expand their involvement through volunteer and leadership roles. He learned to humbly received the support for he and his wife needed.

A Conclusion

Since November of 2017, Payne has learned many skills to pass on to others regarding pastoring though illness. The straining and anxious time made him a stronger leader, a stronger prayer warrior, and a stronger witness to share the goodness of God. Payne’s biggest life message declares of God’s goodness; after months of battling state three kidney cancer and being on the edge of stage five kidney disease, he recently received the report that his kidney function has radically improved over the last two years. Though his kidney disease currently remains at stage three, Payne can officially mark February 2020 as two years of being cancer free!

“I once heard someone say, you will attract people because of your strengths but you will connect with people over your weaknesses.” – Pastor Chad Payne

Payne has found this attraction connecting with the other generations. If young people come to believe the reality of Christ, Payne believes his illness removes the superhuman model some would see on the platform. Instead, he worked to convey a real image of Christ by presenting himself as a normal person on and off the stage; laughing at himself, talking about his struggles, and attempting not to take himself too seriously.

Being honest with himself and others, praying through the process, and accepting support from those that care, Payne displayed how to continue pastoring in the midst of illness and found peace in the fact that no matter the circumstance, God’s children always find shelter and peace in the arms of their Father. That is where they belong.

Reflective Engagement:

1. How can you accept support and care from others in timers of challenge?
2. Who do you have that provides support for you? How do you show them your appreciation?
3. Who in your sphere of life needs your support and authentic sacrificial love?
4. When have you prayed through the difficult processes you faced? How now can you arrange essential time for prayer?
5. How can you model authentic responses to current circumstances?

The post Pastoring in The Midst of Illness appeared first on Rural Advancement.

by Hope Mayes

God’s plans are always better than our plans…

Jon Sanders thought he had mapped out his life and assumed he had settled into a life-long career; however, the young soon-to-be pastor realized that responding to God’s will remains far better than attempting to direct his own life.

At age 21, when his aspirations to become a professional football player fell from his grasp, young Sanders selected his second-best career option: fighting fires in big-city Illinois. While pursuing his dream job, Sanders wrestled with the thought that God’s plan for him involved more than firefighting. He loved God and the church, yet continued to run for several years from the underlying and growing sense that the Lord had created him to work as a minister. God’s plan conflicted with his personal ambitions.

“Before being obedient, I couldn’t see all that God had in store for my life

and the adventure He was inviting me to take”

Finally, Sanders realized he no longer wanted to spend his life running from the calling God placed in his heart for many years. “Lord,” he said, “If You want me in ministry, I have a really long list of reasons why You are making a mistake and choosing the wrong guy. But at the end of the day, it’s Your will and if You want me to serve You in ministry in a pastoral role, I will.”

After resisting it for so long, the moment Sanders surrendered to God’s plan, he felt peace in God’s will. At this point of surrender, God revealed to the young pastor the next few steps in His perfect plan. His only regret was not obeying God sooner.

God’s plan will be something we love

Immediately upon entering ministry, Sanders knew that God directed and superintended his life in ways far above his own control. His ability to work as a bi-vocational pastor and continue to serve as a fire-fighter made the transition extra ordinary. Sanders testified to many advantages of bi-vocational ministry, such as less financial struggle for the church.

“When pastors find ‘something’ they love and brings them life,

they and the church receive financial benefit”

Today, Sanders loves to help current and aspiring rural pastors discover ways to make money and serve the world using the unique giftings that God has placed inside of them. In addition to shepherding their flock, pastors get to take part in ministry outside the four walls of the church, which can become an affectual component in impacting a community.

God’s plan on our lives will affect others

Pastors often have the opportunity to rub shoulders with the same community they are called to reach while acting in the dual role of a businessperson, farmer, carpenter, or fire fighter, and taking financial pressure from themselves and their church.

Jon has seen marketplace ministry affect the way pastors view their communities. Bi-vocational ministers often have more opportunity to reach out to their communities and represent Christ beyond the walls of the church. It can put into perspective the roles of both the pastor and the congregation in how they should represent Christ to their community. This also pushes the congregation to function in their role within the body of Christ, as they recognize the pastor cannot “do everything.”

Sanders has experienced the many strengths of this ministry firsthand; however, he does not prescribe a bi-vocational lifestyle for every pastor. Sanders believes there are many potential benefits for pastors working in bi-vocational roles in their spare time, in unique areas of numerous giftings. Of course, these benefits only become evident as long as the pastor’s second source of income includes something they love to do; not a draining obligation.

After pastoring in a rural setting for 16 years, Sanders recently entered a ministry of a different form. As the new Director of Content and Conferencing at Rural Matters Institute (RMI) Jon exercises his God-given gifts in a new way. Part of his job with RMI includes executing eight different one-day summits for rural pastors around the country and administrating Rural Matters Institute’s annual National Conference. In 2020, the National Conference will take place in Dallas, Texas starting September 21^st and going through the 23^rd. These events are meant specifically to build up and encourage rural pastors and churches.

This new ministry has provided a fresh opportunity for Sanders to continue his personal podcast, Small Town Big Church, on a larger platform for a wider audience to benefit. The name, Small Town Big Church, conveys that God loves to do big things in small places, rather than the misconception of a numerical reference. Sanders aims to help pastors believe that serving a small church does not mean only making a small impact.

Sanders often reminds ministers that the Lord loves rural. God is not disappointed when He reads the relatively small number on the population sign that sits on the edge of your community. Not at all. Jesus knows, loves and gave his life for every individual in your rural setting.

“Jesus doesn’t read that sign, drop his head in disappointment and say,

‘man, I wish there were more people on that sign.’

He has you pastoring in that place on purpose,

for the purpose of serving them and reaching them for His eternal kingdom.”

When rural pastors believe the mindset that they play in the minor leagues, it effects and projects onto their people. Jesus looks for leaders willing to believe for the impossible to occur in rural communities because it is in these obscure, tucked away places where He receives all the glory.

“If we can get a generation of pastors believing this truth and responding to it by going to the small

places, it is going to be very impactful for the kingdom.”

In his time in ministry, Sanders has seen numerous salvations, baptisms, marriages saved, addictions overcome, and testimonies of God working in the lives of people. “When I look back, I can think of so many cool stories to tell. The coolest part is when all those things come together to transform a life.”

Whether ministering as a bi-vocational pastor, making a podcast, or coaching and encouraging rural pastors through RMI, Sanders life testifies that God’s plans never fails to be the best option, bring the most fulfillment, and produce the most fruit in a believer’s life.

Reflective Engagement:

1. How has God challenged you to surrender your plans to His?
2. What is God calling you to do that you might be holding you back?
3. What gifts do you have that may assist in financial strength for you?
4. Spent several moments asking, “God how do your view this community?
5. How should your view change to line up with His view?

For more information on the Rural Matters Institute, visit, https://www.bgcruralmatters.com/.

Or to listen to the latest Small Town Big Church Podcast, visit https://www.smalltownbigchurch.com/podcast.

The post When God’s Plan Is Not Your Own… appeared first on Rural Advancement.

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