A short while back, I asked a veteran missionary to come by so I could pick his brain. What are the key things I should know and do as I enter this new adventure in ministry? He shared many profound insights, but one really stuck in my mind. He asked "What are your priorities?" And then he told me about two approaches that people like me take with this ministry.
Approach #1 - Focus on numbers and events.
Approach #2 - Focus on people.
I guess it's really no different than the approaches we take in the rest of our lives and careers. But this wise missionary drove home his point with this story. He said:
"In the country I served in for years, it got to the point that we could attend a seminar by a visiting speaker almost every weekend. And they were all very informative and helpful. But I never really saw much of a change in the local believers in the weeks and months after the seminar. The speakers, though, had some terrific stories to tell and could reassure their supporters that, indeed, their money was being put to good use for God's kingdom. Forty people came to their seminar! They made a great impact on this trip!"
But did they? Are the numbers sitting in the chairs any indication of the lasting, kingdom impact that was made? That was the question this gentleman was challenging me to think about.
And then he went on. "The greatest impact I have seen in my many years in ministry - both in America and abroad - happens when you invest your time in just a few people. You care for them, train them, spend time with them - in short, you disciple them! Now, the problem with this is that you will have a more difficult time describing your ministry to your supporters. It is easy to write 'I taught 75 people at a seminar for a week and God really moved!' It is much more difficult to send them an email or letter saying 'I have been spending most of my time investing in 5 key leaders in Iran (for example).'"
Then he peered into my eyes and asked me again "What are your priorities?" And I've thought about that alot. And I'm going for #2! It's what God has burdened and gifted me for - it is what makes my heart beat with joy and excitement and passion. To be His agent of transformation in the lives of His children will take time and training and, well, discipleship.
So I ask for your patience and prayers as I seek to find ways to continue to keep you informed and involved with this awesome ministry. I may have the greatest stories to share - but because they are very personal and confidential, I may not be able to talk about them with you. Yet I've already found that concentrating on key leaders bears great fruit.
For example, one of my best students in Iran has already begun taking what she has learned during our group and individual prayer times and using it to help her church members. She has told me of many people being set free already.
Or in Mexico, our investment (on Skype and during our 5 days there) focuses on a very special couple. They are receiving great healing - and are now starting to use the healing prayer lessons they have learned to help others. Their stories are amazing! I will share some of these later as I get permission.
Right now, ministry is about counseling/praying/training on skype - 1 class (soon to be 2) and about 10-12 individual appontments each week. It's about training the telephone counselors for the Iranian TV ministry. It's about talking to church leaders about ministry opportunities they never dreamed of. Each of these are investments in dozens, even 100's of other leaders. Pray that God will continue to guide me to the leaders He wants me to come alongside. Sometimes they are not the obvious ones (to our human eyes).
Kingdom impact - for eternity! May God help me to keep this as my priority!
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Sunday, January 13, 2008
UPDATE FROM MEXICO
Here's our update from our first ministry trip!
“I’m going to be honest with you. In the beginning, I was thinking ‘Why should I go?’ I really didn’t feel like coming. But then something told me that I should. And I think that you showed me a lot of things that are wrong with me or that I’m doing wrong. You made me remember things from my past that I guess I was blocking out. And I realized that I need help because I never felt like that. So I really want to thank you!”
At the end of our time in Mexico, we received thank you notes from the teachers and staff. This one, from C., really hit me. A hard man, obviously resistant, and yet God just kept working and working in his heart.
The teachers of the Elementary/Jr. High School received an intense dose of God’s grace during our 2-day retreat. We talked, prayed, discussed. Our focus – “The Kids Inside.” Some of you have heard me teach about this. For those of you who haven’t, it is essentially a path toward deep inner healing and freedom. We ask God to release those parts of us that were deeply wounded long ago – and still affect our lives. Here’s what one very anxious and fearful woman wrote about her experience:
“It was wonderful to have you with us and I feel like the Lord spoke to my heart. I have inner children that have been thinking they protect me. The Lord has sent you to guide me through this new journey in healing. I am at peace and look forward to using the method you have taught us.”
We also met with the staff of Rancho Santa Marta – a home for children (we often call these “orphanages” – but the truth is that many of these kids have parents – it’s just that they come from such horrible situations that the government has removed them from their families and put them in these homes). We began training them in the basics of “Healing Prayer.” So many of the kids – and staff – have experienced abuse, rejection, abandonment, etc. Pray that the lessons taught sink deep and help many there find God’s freedom!
And, finally, we had the privilege of intensive prayer sessions with a very precious couple at the Ranch. They are two of the key leaders there – and have a powerful ministry. I have been praying and counseling them off and on for years now. But this last week was the most powerful of all. Here are a few of the wife’s words:
“You both mean so much to me. You have been a huge answer to prayer to (my husband) and myself. As I look back at how I used to be I am amazed – was that really me? I am so glad you came to share with our people. Remember that we would love to have you back.”
And that, now, is our prayer. Where do we go from here with this wonderful ministry? The doors are wide open to continue to serve there. We quickly realized that going one time to a location can bear great fruit. But it is only a start. For example, at this home for children, the needs are so great and the wounds so deep that the leaders there need more intense training in Healing Prayer Ministry. As we left, we heard again and again, “When are you coming back?”
This was our first ministry trip with Paraclete. As we anticipated, we learned a lot. But we also left with a host of questions. Foremost among these is how much to commit to any one ministry? My life has been intertwined with Rancho Santa Marta for 22 years now – and we will be going back. But what about other ministries, other trips? Do we focus? Do we only start a few at a time?
So please keep us in your prayers. For ongoing wisdom, to learn the lessons God is teaching us, to know how best to help these wonderful servants in Mexico – and when to return.
Thanks for your ongoing prayers and support! More updates to come!
“I’m going to be honest with you. In the beginning, I was thinking ‘Why should I go?’ I really didn’t feel like coming. But then something told me that I should. And I think that you showed me a lot of things that are wrong with me or that I’m doing wrong. You made me remember things from my past that I guess I was blocking out. And I realized that I need help because I never felt like that. So I really want to thank you!”
At the end of our time in Mexico, we received thank you notes from the teachers and staff. This one, from C., really hit me. A hard man, obviously resistant, and yet God just kept working and working in his heart.
The teachers of the Elementary/Jr. High School received an intense dose of God’s grace during our 2-day retreat. We talked, prayed, discussed. Our focus – “The Kids Inside.” Some of you have heard me teach about this. For those of you who haven’t, it is essentially a path toward deep inner healing and freedom. We ask God to release those parts of us that were deeply wounded long ago – and still affect our lives. Here’s what one very anxious and fearful woman wrote about her experience:
“It was wonderful to have you with us and I feel like the Lord spoke to my heart. I have inner children that have been thinking they protect me. The Lord has sent you to guide me through this new journey in healing. I am at peace and look forward to using the method you have taught us.”
We also met with the staff of Rancho Santa Marta – a home for children (we often call these “orphanages” – but the truth is that many of these kids have parents – it’s just that they come from such horrible situations that the government has removed them from their families and put them in these homes). We began training them in the basics of “Healing Prayer.” So many of the kids – and staff – have experienced abuse, rejection, abandonment, etc. Pray that the lessons taught sink deep and help many there find God’s freedom!
And, finally, we had the privilege of intensive prayer sessions with a very precious couple at the Ranch. They are two of the key leaders there – and have a powerful ministry. I have been praying and counseling them off and on for years now. But this last week was the most powerful of all. Here are a few of the wife’s words:
“You both mean so much to me. You have been a huge answer to prayer to (my husband) and myself. As I look back at how I used to be I am amazed – was that really me? I am so glad you came to share with our people. Remember that we would love to have you back.”
And that, now, is our prayer. Where do we go from here with this wonderful ministry? The doors are wide open to continue to serve there. We quickly realized that going one time to a location can bear great fruit. But it is only a start. For example, at this home for children, the needs are so great and the wounds so deep that the leaders there need more intense training in Healing Prayer Ministry. As we left, we heard again and again, “When are you coming back?”
This was our first ministry trip with Paraclete. As we anticipated, we learned a lot. But we also left with a host of questions. Foremost among these is how much to commit to any one ministry? My life has been intertwined with Rancho Santa Marta for 22 years now – and we will be going back. But what about other ministries, other trips? Do we focus? Do we only start a few at a time?
So please keep us in your prayers. For ongoing wisdom, to learn the lessons God is teaching us, to know how best to help these wonderful servants in Mexico – and when to return.
Thanks for your ongoing prayers and support! More updates to come!
Saturday, January 12, 2008
SNEAK PREVIEW
I was asked to provide a short article for the upcoming "Paraclete Perspectives" - the quarterly magazine of our mission. Here it is. Pray that this will help all who read it to be moved to prayer and action!
“Please pray for us! We have nothing like this in our country! We need to be free!” Such heartrending pleas came my way after my first teaching/prayer time with 40 house church leaders from the Middle East. They had been learning all day about forgiveness. And now, at the end of the day, I was given 20 minutes to introduce our prayer team and why we were there.
“Let me take you through a prayer exercise to actually forgive those who have hurt and betrayed you.” And we prayed. When I looked up, the tears were streaming – tears of sorrow for the pain, but also tears of joy for the freedom they felt. And then they came – almost all of them surrounding our team, pleading for help.
For 4 years now, a ministry based in the U.S. been leading hundreds of thousands of Moslems to Christ through satellite TV. But what to do next? How to develop leaders and gather house churches when the slightest slip means arrest, torture and possibly death? The internet is a start. But the real leadership development occurs during secret, semi-annual conferences in the Middle East.
The training is powerful. But how do these leaders, deeply wounded by a harsh culture and religion, put it into practice when they get home? As we prayed for them, the Holy Spirit moved with a power and immediacy I have never seen – relationships healed, deep fears overcome, sins confessed, spiritual deliverance, and more. And their freedom has continued.
Pray for these heroes of the faith in the Middle East. And pray for those who are taking this same healing prayer ministry to their brothers and sisters. It is changing their lives – and their world.
“Please pray for us! We have nothing like this in our country! We need to be free!” Such heartrending pleas came my way after my first teaching/prayer time with 40 house church leaders from the Middle East. They had been learning all day about forgiveness. And now, at the end of the day, I was given 20 minutes to introduce our prayer team and why we were there.
“Let me take you through a prayer exercise to actually forgive those who have hurt and betrayed you.” And we prayed. When I looked up, the tears were streaming – tears of sorrow for the pain, but also tears of joy for the freedom they felt. And then they came – almost all of them surrounding our team, pleading for help.
For 4 years now, a ministry based in the U.S. been leading hundreds of thousands of Moslems to Christ through satellite TV. But what to do next? How to develop leaders and gather house churches when the slightest slip means arrest, torture and possibly death? The internet is a start. But the real leadership development occurs during secret, semi-annual conferences in the Middle East.
The training is powerful. But how do these leaders, deeply wounded by a harsh culture and religion, put it into practice when they get home? As we prayed for them, the Holy Spirit moved with a power and immediacy I have never seen – relationships healed, deep fears overcome, sins confessed, spiritual deliverance, and more. And their freedom has continued.
Pray for these heroes of the faith in the Middle East. And pray for those who are taking this same healing prayer ministry to their brothers and sisters. It is changing their lives – and their world.
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