First Time Obedience
What if Christ-followers, those redeemed by His blood and bearing His name, practiced first-time obedience to our heavenly Father? What if we stopped resisting Jesus' mandate to heal the sick, cast out demons, and raise the dead? What if we gave no credence to our own inexperience, qualifications, comfort zones, or reputations in favour of simply following His instructions to the letter—immediately? I believe we would begin to see His kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.
by Jan de Chambrier
MICN Prayer Ambassador
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Long before I became an IC pastor, my marriage and ministry were unexpectedly saved by an IC. We had never been to an IC before, but we felt the need to connect with God in an English-speaking church service – something we had not had access to for a long time. During the service, we were suddenly covered with an amazing healing balm. Neither the pastor, worship team, or any church members had any idea what an impact they had on us that day. And although I had never been to an IC before this, I instantly became aware of how important it is to offer a place of worship for expats in foreign lands.
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Why I Am Not Leaving The Ministry Or The Church
If you read various articles from a variety of different news services, you might have noticed a recent trend. Christian leaders and pastors have decided to leave the ministry. Statistics indicate the rate of pastors and leaders leaving the ministry is unusually high. For some this is simply resigning from the church where they are serving and for others it seems stepping away or distancing themselves from the Christian faith. As someone who has now been in full-time ministry for over 30 years, most of those years as the Senior Pastor, I am aware of the unique pressures we are facing today. And I have had those moments when I wondered if it was worth it. And yet, I still believe there are many reasons not to give up.
In the spirit of the comedian and former host of the Late Show, David Letterman, here are my Top 10 Reasons Why I Am Not Leaving The Ministry Or The Church
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Guidance for IC Search Committees
Over the past twenty years I have assisted numerous international churches when they were looking for a new Senior Pastor. Professionally I am an executive recruiter primarily serving North American evangelical organizations but having met my wife in an international church in Sao Paulo when I was an expat and she was with Wycliffe I understand what makes international churches so special. My assistance is pro bono…just glad to be helping the Lord's work.
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Profile for an effective International Church Leader – Part 1
We often talk of the right fit. A church leader may fit well into one church but not in another: there are plenty of examples of good leaders doing well in the home church but then struggling in the very different world of an international church (IC). How do you discern how well you might fit in an IC, how can an IC decide if a potential leader will be a good fit: these are the issues addressed in this exploration of the best of qualities for effective leaders in international churches (ICs). In our world of ever-growing diversity, and the tsunami of changes and issues flooding the agendas of church leaders, these 13 qualities keep on increasing in importance.
Read Part 1 Here
Profile for an effective International Church Leader – Part 2 –
Where Do You Think You Are Going?
What do you think you are doing? Are you sure that you are leading your international church (IC) toward God's vision for the church? Is your mission well-aligned with, and incorporated into, God's mission? What is God's mission for the nation in which the IC is located?
If you are part of a selection committee for a new pastor or another leader, what criteria will you be looking for in recruiting a pastor to work with God in His mission and building up of the church in God's way?
Read Part 2 Here
Profile for an effective International Church Leader – Part 3 –
Know Yourself Well, or Else!
No matter where you go, you take yourself, your whole self, with you! You can never get away from all you are, the good the bad, and the ugly. Every IC pastor and leader brings inner strengths, weaknesses and vulnerabilities, and personal history that must be honestly understood and addressed. The less you know about yourself, the more your ministry will be shaped in unhelpful ways. And probably, you may not even see it… but others will!
Read Part 3 Here
Profile for an effective International Church Leader – Part 4 –
Open Your Eyes! There Is More To See Than You Realize, And It matters!
Keep your eyes, your ears, and your mind open! Effective IC ministry has much to do with how the leaders understand the complex realities before them. A distorted understanding of the church and its people, and the context in which the church lives and serves God, and the result is distorted applications in every sermon and Bible study.
Read Part 4 Here
AI and the International Church
Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the world in unprecedented ways. It is creating new opportunities and challenges for various sectors of society, including the church. How does AI affect the mission and vision of the International Church movement, a network of churches that seeks to spread the gospel across cultures and nations? I had the privilege of interviewing Dr. Bill Koogler, a theologian and leader within the movement, to get his insights on this topic.
Dr. Koogler began by acknowledging the positive impact of AI on the church, especially in terms of communication, education and outreach. He said that AI has enabled the church to connect with people from different backgrounds and locations, to provide them with relevant and engaging content, and to reach out to those who are marginalized or unreached by traditional methods. He also mentioned some examples of how AI has been used for good in the church, such as:
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Effective Church Websites
"You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matt 5:14-16 NIV)
In today's world, the communication of church ministry information is important in so many ways. For the international church, it has become, I believe, the most important means of drawing people into services, Bible studies, and all kinds of events. In our global society, people are continually on the move. Many find themselves coming into a country or city and wanting to locate a church in which they can worship. Yet for many in foreign countries and unfamiliar cities, this is often no small task.
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Value-adding a Church
"Value-adding" is a term used by economists and others to refer to how a product or service can be enhanced, added to, or improved so that it can attract a higher price. I want to apply this term to a church.
In one way this is a bit foolish! The value of a church is in Christ and all He brings to a church: salvation and hope, love for one another, the power of Word and Spirit, the unity of the body of Christ, and the growing impact of Kingdom promises being fulfilled. His presence in the church gives it a very high value. We cannot make the church more valuable than Christ Himself!.
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As for you… Follow me!
John 21:22: Jesus replied, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? As for you, follow me."
I love these words from Christ to Peter, reported by John… I smile when I think of these two early leaders of the church. Two apostles, great servants of God, but so human, almost childish in the way they were always fighting for Jesus' love. Both of them had the desire to be the first in their master's heart, and John made sure, by writing this down into his gospel, that the world would know he won the battle… What a funny curveball!
Aren't we at times, exactly like them?
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Preaching in the IC
Communicating God's word clearly is a vital building block of church health. It is through preaching of the word that we hear of God's goodness, his faithfulness, his plan for the world, and the hope that we have in Jesus' death and resurrection. God's word shakes us from the slumber of apathetic living. The preached Word soothes our aching souls battered by the realities of life. God's wisdom lovingly points us down the path of flourishing when we turn wayward. Preaching is a vital part of any church, and preaching across cultures is more important than ever.
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Forget Not All His Benefits
Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. Psalm 103:2
Most companies offer an employee benefits package, typically including incentives like health and disability insurance, flexible spending accounts, retirement plans, bonuses, profit-sharing and stock options, paid time off for vacations and sick leave, and/or a myriad of other attractive perks to draw and maintain workers who will serve their company well. As the wife of a retired airline pilot, my favorite benefit has undoubtedly been the privilege of traveling without cost wherever the airline happens to fly, often in first class. This perk has enabled us to minister around the world without requiring compensation from those we serve, and it lasts a lifetime—or as long as the airline lasts.
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