VOICE MAGAZINE

The Value of Sharing - Dr. Richard Gregory"They that feared the Lord spake often with one another: and the Lord harkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the Lord, and thought upon His name." (Malachi 3:16) Recently, while in Belarus and Ukraine, I spoke to a group of missionary pastors there about the importance of sharing their hearts with those in the United States that provide them with financial and prayer support.

Leadership Training by Design Not Default - Jim AmandusThe greatest resource any local church has walks through their doors every Sunday morning. It is people. The strength of a church is not the size of the budget or the programs. It is people. Yet this resource often goes unnoticed or untapped or even worse, misdirected. One of the greatest crimes committed in the local church is to see 80% of the ministry being done by 20% of the people. This 80-20 principle is true in many churches. A church cannot be healthy when it is practicing the 80-20 principle.

"Looking Back, Moving Forward" ("Can I Do It All?") - Dr. Steven R. CyrBehind them lay the bleak, dry wilderness of desert sands. Before them lay the swirling, foaming waters of the river that blocked their entrance into a land flowing with "milk and honey." Their newly appointed leader was faced with a challenge unlike any previous task: to lead the people in a direction they had never been before.

"Preach to the Need" - Dr. Leland DittmanOne of the hardest things I found to do when I first began to preach was to decide on a topic for the Sunday morning message. At the time I was preaching textual and topical messages only. I would spend countless hours going from one subject to the next, pleading with God to show me what text I should use in my sermon preparation. I began to get more and more frustrated and dreaded sermon preparation each week.

"Cultivating a Passion for the World" - Dr. Kenneth A. EppI was a young seminarian full of bright ideas. I walked into the local church where I would worship and serve for the next four years. To be honest, my motives weren't all that pure, because my seminary had assigned me to Christian service in an area church. Nonetheless, I announced my offer of services to the pastor.

The Value of a Leadership Retreat - Dr. Robert L. GrayNehemiah was a great builder and was also an excellent planner. Time spent is planning well spent. Churches that plan their year's schedule will derive many advantages.

Servant or Master? A Perspective on "Time!" - Dr. Harold LongeneckerTo talk about time is easy! To talk about it intelligently is not. More is at stake than a mechanical method for measuring it. As serious Christians, we can come to grips with the mastery of time only as we sense its mystery and majesty.

A Pension for Life: A Testimony of God's Faithfulness - Robert A. BlairToday we are hearing much about Old Age Pensions. Here is a proposal for a Life Pension that is sure and workable, has no harmful features, and tends to the highest good for all. With it goes my testimony to the faithfulness of the Sponsor of the above pension, to do far above what we can either ask or think.

The Pastor and His Salary Package - James W. Rickard

In the middle of the 1960s as a young accountant I began helping my pastor prepare his state and federal tax returns. Needless to say, I was surprised at his meager salary, lack of fringe benefits and his inability to provide for his future financially. His family lived in a church owned parsonage totally controlled by the church. They couldn't even paint a wall without committee approval.

The Few, the Proud, the Hurting......Ministry with the Marines - by LT Alan Garner (CHC, USNR)

Humility Retains Honor - Lenore R. DittmanWhere does the preacher's wife go when she is married to a pastor who is acting like a rat? "She goes to the Lord, that's where!" What does she do? "She prays for the rat!" God is bigger than the fewer than complimentary actions of a soul mate.

The Value of Sharing - Dr. Richard Gregory

"They that feared the Lord spake often with one another: and the Lord harkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the Lord, and thought upon His name." (Malachi 3:16)

Recently, while in Belarus and Ukraine, I spoke to a group of missionary pastors there about the importance of sharing their hearts with those in the United States that provide them with financial and prayer support. I told them that regular communication with their sponsors would go a long way to building the mutual confidence that is so essential to a successful partnership in ministry. I avoided using the term "reports" since that invoked so many bad memories that reminded them of the distrust inherent in the communistic system. From our perspective, "reports" are often expected so that the church investing in missions can know that the missionary is "doing his job." I wanted them to understand that although accountability is important, the emphasis needs to be made that the concept of "speaking often to one another" far exceeds accountability. I illustrated this from the life of the Apostle Paul. Following his missionary journey he returned to the church in Antioch to give his "report." Notice how Acts 14:27 records the event. "And when they had come and gathered the church together they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how He had opened the door of faith unto the gentiles." Paul was careful to point out to the church at Antioch that it was God at work through them. He wanted them to know what the Lord had done. I emphasized to those missionary pastors that it was important that they share what the Lord was doing in and through their ministries.

While the model we use in missionary reporting to supporting churches is deeply ingrained into our missionary thinking, it is important that the church realize that the missionary is also in need of knowing what God is doing in the lives of his supporters. It is vital that the missionary have the confidence that God is indeed blessing his supporters with more than the ability to "give money." A supporting church that has the obvious blessing of God upon its people will be anxious to share the news of those blessings. It is this kind of church or individual that provides effective prayer support. A church or individual that does not share its heart and the spiritual blessings God is pouring out will not provide the kind of support that a missionary needs the most. I trust that all of our churches and individuals involved in supporting missionary church planters in Ukraine and Belarus, or for that matter in other places in the world, will make a commitment to providing the kind of information to those missionaries that will build a mutual confidence that results in a genuine spiritual partnership in ministry. In order to facilitate this, we have made arrangements with the missionary department of the Evangelical Union of Christian Baptists in Ukraine to provide a position in its office dedicated to translating communications from the church planting missionaries to their supporting churches and from the churches to their missionaries. The person filling this position will keep accurate records of each communication from both the missionary and from his supporting churches so that we might be assured that the partnership in ministry that we so desire is being properly cultivated.

During our Annual Convention in June we embarked upon another endeavor that emphasized the importance of "speaking often with one another." Our Adopt a Church Program provides a wonderful opportunity for an established church to become like a parent to an emerging church. The emphasis of this program is the encouragement a fledgling church can receive when it knows that the people of another church are willing to pray with them about their hopes and aspirations and can participate with them in special projects. The key in this endeavor is "sharing." Perhaps your church could become involved in reaching out to a pastor and his people as they seek to plant a church and bring it to maturity.

Paul saw the importance of this exchange of information. In Romans 1:11-12 he shares with the Roman believers "For I long to see you that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift to the end that you might be established; that is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith of you and me." He wrote to the Philippians concerning the health of Epaphroditus for he knew of their concern for him because they had heard that he had been sick. (Philippians 2:25-29) He wrote at least four letters to the Corinthian church and was deeply troubled in his spirit when Titus was not at Troas with a report as to the way the Corinthians had responded to his third letter. (2 Corinthians 2:13) He then shared how he was greatly comforted when he received Titus's report. (2 Corinthians 7:6-7) The sharing of his heart and then the positive response of the Corinthian believers were the source of great joy both to him and the Corinthians.

We are facing a new year and in this issue we attempting to look back on the blessings and trials of the past year and look forward anticipating more of God's faithfulness in the year just ahead of us. Sharing is a source of real encouragement and blessing in this process. It has been so in our own family in this regard. It has been our tradition for many years that on New Year's Eve our family gathers for a special time of sharing. It is important that we all hear how God has been faithful to each individual. Everyone is given the opportunity to testify concerning the details of the Lord's blessings. We go around the circle and articulate these details. It is a time of praise and sometimes a time when tears of gratitude flow. Goals and prayer requests are shared. The hearts of our family are cemented together during this exercise of sharing. The openness that this personal communication provides is so valuable to the health of our family.

Years ago an elderly gentlemen reminded me that as a pastor I should be sure to provide opportunities for God's people to openly share how God was at work in their lives. He pointed out to me that when God's people hear of occasions where He is accomplishing specific things in people's lives it is the source of encouragement and it strengthens their faith. I believe that is what Malachi is sharing with us in the text that introduced this article. It is so important that the Lord makes special note of these times of sharing and complies a record called "a book of remembrance" of the details of these times of sharing. As we approach the New Near it should be a time of reflection and anticipation. It is my challenge to God's children that they endeavor to understand where God has blessed them in this past year and by faith to trust Him for greater and more significant ministry accomplishments in the year to come. This challenge is appropriate for the pastors, elders, deacons and all who occupy the pews. God wants all of His children to anticipate His blessing. Let it be so by His grace and mercy.

Leadership Training by Design Not Default - Jim Amandus

The greatest resource any local church has walks through their doors every Sunday morning. It is people. The strength of a church is not the size of the budget or the programs. It is people. Yet this resource often goes unnoticed or untapped or even worse, misdirected. One of the greatest crimes committed in the local church is to see 80% of the ministry being done by 20% of the people. This 80-20 principle is true in many churches. A church cannot be healthy when it is practicing the 80- 20 principle.

When I first came to Highlands Community Church I took an inventory of our workers. I wanted to know how many people were involved in ministry and how many were not. I discovered we were close to this 80-20 principle. This principle was producing three unhealthy things in our church. First, dedicated leaders were being overworked. Second, gifted people were ministering in areas of their weakness. Third, the majority of the inactive congregation were living in disobedience. This one issue is the single greatest deterrent to the spiritual health of the local church! Many churches know and endure the 80-20 principle. But the challenge is not to endure it but to change it! But, can you change it? If so, how do you

change it? The answer is that this principle can be changed. Leadership training can be by design not by default. Let me explain how.

I established the one-ministry-per-person rule in our ministry. This rule says each person has only one ministry, and every person has a ministry. The pastoral staff and ministry leadership committed ourselves to this principle even if it meant shutting down ministries. What happened was amazing! Other people began to step forward into ministry because they knew they would not be overworked. Leaders had permission to not continue ministries for which God had not raised up leaders. It developed patience and faith in the Spirit's role to raise up people whom He had gifted with a heart for ministry.

This led us to a second fundamental issue: how do you effectively train and place people into ministry? How can the church intentionally develop ministers? How do we train leaders by design rather than default? We believe that the answer to that question will determine the health of our ministry.

In our ministry we contextualize our leadership development around these five key areas: spiritual

gifting, heart, abilities, personality, and experiences. We call this the SHAPE of a leader. (1) The following is a brief examination of each of these five components that comprise our leadership training:

S-piritual giftH-eartA-bilitiesP-ersonality E-xperiences

Spiritual GiftThe question that is to be asked here is: What is this person's spiritual gift? Spiritual gifts can be confused with natural talents, the fruit of the Holy Spirit, or Christian roles. Spiritual gifting from the Holy Spirit is an ability through which the Holy Spirit works in other people's lives to bring them to maturity in Christ. The Bible clearly identifies the type and function of spiritual gifts given to believers. The four major lists of gifts are found in Romans 12:3-8, 1 Corinthians 12:1-11, 27-31, Ephesians 4:11-12 and 1 Peter 4:9-11. All gifts are given to help the church fulfill its purposes. Within our ministry we utilize our own spiritual gift inventory.

HeartThis asks the question, "What do I love to do?” God works through people's desires and passions. In fact, Scriptures reveal that at times God even cultivates those desires in a person's heart. Revelation 17:17 states, "God has put it into their hearts to accomplish his purpose." The Apostle Paul was even more specific when he said in Philippians 2:13, "for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose."

God has given each leader a unique, emotional heartbeat that races when we encounter activities, subjects, or circumstances that interest us. We instinctively feel deeply about some things and not about others. A person's heart can be identified by what he has done in the past. In our analysis of our leaders we want to know their accomplishments at home, school, work, clubs, or hobbies. What are the things they enjoy? We identify the things people believe they did well.

This God-given motivation serves as an internal guidance system for our lives. It determines what a person's interests are, and what will bring them the most satisfaction and fulfillment. It also motivates a leader to pursue certain activities, subjects, and environments. The development of a leadership team requires the alignment of a person's gifting with their heart.

AbilitiesThis looks at the area of natural talents, and it asks: What natural talents and skills do I have? The construction of the Tabernacle is a graphic illustration of this significant area. Exodus 31:3 indicates that God had given certain craftsmen their skill, ability, and knowledge in all kinds of crafts. And that is just as true in the New Testament as it was in the Old Testament. That is why Paul asserted in 2 Corinthians 3:5 that his competence came from God. One of the most common excuses people give for not getting involved in ministry is, "I just don't have any abilities to offer." But nothing could be further from the truth. The key is matching a person's abilities with the right ministry.

One example of this is how we purpose to identify the various abilities of people that can be a match to our ministry. We have 26 specialized abilities that we look for in potential leaders. These range from the arts, people skills, and technical skills to researching and mechanical abilities.

While many skills can be learned, it is also equally true that people are born with innate abilities. When people say, "He or she just seems to have a natural talent for that!" it's possibly true. At the same token many skills can be learned, and that learning is usually not primarily in a classroom. Some of the most basic skills are learned at home, through shops, internships, or on the job. Church leadership has the responsibility to study the abilities of their people in order to place them in ministry.

PersonalityWhere does my personality best suit me to serve? That is the question that is to be answered for each person who is on a leadership team or that is being trained. There are many fine personality assessment tools available.

Every person who steps into ministry is to be examined in each of these four areas. We ask each prospective leader to rate themselves in these four areas. We want to know their organizational skills in contrast to their creative skills. Second, we want to know if they are objective thinkers or subjective thinkers, because of how each style processes information. Third, we want to know the strengths of the social skills of a leader. How good are they at listening and caring for others? How well do they communicate their own thoughts and ideas? Are they an extrovert or an introvert? Fourth, we want to know their emotional stamina. Stress and pressure must be processed constructively for a leader to be effective in the long haul.

ExperiencesThis area asks, "What experiences have I had?" One of the most overlooked factors in determining the ministry God has for a potential leader or a member of a professional staff is their past experience. God uses a person's hurts and problems that have been overcome with God's help. Since our greatest life messages come out of our weaknesses, not our strengths, we should pay close attention to what we have learned in the school of hard knocks.

The Apostle Paul explained to the Corinthians that God never wastes a hurt (2 Cor.1:3-4)! Because this is true, then we examine and reflect on the following four practical areas with both the professional pastoral staff and the lay leadership teams:

Your spiritual experiences--meaningful decisions and times with God; your painful experiences-- problems, hurts, trials that have taught you; your educational experiences--your favorite subjects in school; your ministry experiences--how you have served in the past.

Is the 80-20 principle at work in your church? How intentional are you in training and placing people in ministry?

1. The SHAPE concept has been developed by the educational ministry of Saddleback Community Church, located in Lake Forest, California. This concept has been modified for application within Highlands Community Church.

Looking Back, Moving Forward" ("Can I Do It All?") - Dr. Steven R. Cyr

Behind them lay the bleak, dry wilderness of desert sands. Before them lay the swirling, foaming waters of the river that blocked their entrance into a land flowing with "milk and honey." Their newly appointed leader was faced with a challenge unlike any previous task: to lead the people in a direction they had never been before.

A glance over Joshua's shoulder reminded him of the past forty years he and the people of Israel had spent wandering in the wilderness. A painful reminder of the mistake that occurred forty years earlier. Moses had been in charge back then. The people had refused to cross over the Jordan and take possession of the Promised Land. Forty years of aimless wandering, blinding sand storms, and the death of an entire generation followed their deliberate disobedience to God's instructions. "Not a man of this evil generation will see the good land except Caleb . . . and Joshua" was God's pronounced judgment for their disobedience.

Looking back motivated Joshua to look forward and to accept the challenge of the conquest that lay before him that day. It was a watershed decision. One that would set the course of history for an entire nation.

Facing the end of one year and the beginning of another provides an opportunity to reflect on the past and dream about the future. The challenge facing pastors today is the same challenge faced by Joshua: to lead their people in the way God desires them to go, in a direction they have not gone before. Joshua's experience at the Jordan River provides some insights for the coming year.

First of all, Joshua considered his future in light of the immediate past. The wilderness wandering was fresh on his mind as he stood before the raging waters of the Jordan River and heavily armed adversaries ahead. The years of desert sands and aimless wandering gave Joshua motivation for choosing to cross the Jordan and face the enemies ahead. He was tired of "maintaining the status quo" of circular travel around the desert. The step of faith into the raging waters of the Jordan River was preferable to the aimless wandering of the previous years.

The past year is a motivating factor to those who take the time and think about what they could have accomplished for the Lord. Who hasn't wished for a more consistent prayer life, a more productive evangelistic outreach, a deeper fellowship with God? More often than not, good and worthwhile things crowd out the best and eternal things in our Christian lives. If only there were twenty-five, or twenty-six hours in a day, we would spend more quality time in prayer and worship around God's throne!

A more productive year ahead begins with a careful evaluation of the past one. A healthy dissatisfaction with the "status quo" can be the motivation to step out in faith to greater challenges in the year ahead.

Second, Joshua was faced with the challenge of invading the enemy's territory. Battles are won only when one advances into enemy territory. In forty years of desert wandering, the Israelites faced few enemies and enjoyed few victories. Their greatest challenge was survival in the harsh, desert environment. When Joshua committed to following God's plan and led the people into enemy territory, challenges and victories took on enormous proportions. There were walled cities to conquer. Armies to defeat. A land of

milk and honey to possess. The challenges and victories became goals and milestones because Joshua led the people across enemy lines, into the heat of the battle in enemy territory.

Our church has made a conscious decision for the year ahead not to be content to sit comfortably behind our own lines of defense. We have chosen to invade the territory of the enemy and present Christ in the arenas of darkness. Political, educational, and social interaction has too often been devoid of Christian voices. Often the heat of the battle has been abandoned for a more comfortable time of "fellowship in the barracks." Imagine individual Christians standing up and voicing biblical standards in public school meetings, political debates, and social events and you will begin to see the challenge that Joshua and the Israelites accepted. Jesus himself is building His Church and "the gates of Hell will not prevail" against it. The challenge which lies before us in the coming year is to enter the territory of the enemy and let God do His work in advancing His Kingdom through us.

Finally, in order to march forward into the Promised Land, Joshua was forced to place a priority on seeking God's will on a daily basis. Seeking God's will resulted in victory at Jericho. The unusual battle plan of Joshua chapter six leads to a supernatural victory as a result of listening to God and acting upon God's plan. Joshua chapter 7 records that Israel's attack against the city of Ai ended in humiliation, defeat, and thirty-six deaths because of Joshua's failure to seek God's face before launching the offensive. Consulting with God prior to the battle would have allowed Joshua to know that sin had crept into the camp and God's blessings could not be given until the sin was removed. Neglecting God's counsel resulted in frustration and defeat for the entire nation.

God delights in revealing His will to us in a daily fashion because it keeps us coming back to seekHis face so regularly. And in seeking His face on a daily basis we are confronted with sin which"so easily besets us" and reminded of the forgiveness which is available to us all through the blood of Jesus Christ. Seeking God's face also helps us determine the will of God on a daily basis. The model prayer which Jesus taught his disciples to pray was a daily prayer for provision, guidance, and acknowledgment of God's sovereignty in our lives emphasized by the words: "Give us this day." In the coming year, seeking God's face must be a priority if we are to see God's will accomplished in our lives and ministries.

As we approach the New Year, we need to 1) consider the future in light of the past; 2) commit ourselves to advancement into enemy territory for God's glory, and; 3) place the highest priority on seeking God's face each day. By looking back, we can move forward to greater usefulness as God's servants.

Last Sunday morning the citizens of Duckville waddled their way to the First Duck Church. They made their way inside quacking politely, settling into their favorite pews. After a familiar hymn or two, the duck minister took his place in the pulpit. Taking his text from the Duck Bible, he began:

"Ducks, God has given you wings--you can fly." And all the ducks quacked, "Amen!""Ducks, because you have wings you can fly like eagles." And all the ducks quacked, "Preach on!""Because God has given you wings, no fence can confine you!" And all the ducks quacked, "Praise God!""Because God has given you wings, no land animal can trap you!" And the ducks all quacked, "That's right, preacher!""Ducks," the Duck Minister concluded, "God has given you wings!"

When the service was over, they waddled out of the building and as they passed the Pastor they quacked, "Good sermon, Pastor," "Inspiring, Pastor," "Thank you Pastor. Just what I needed to hear."

They all waddled home. No one changed. No one did anything different. No one looked up and no one

took flight!

Hearing the clear directives from the Lord for the coming year is only the beginning. It is as we step out in faith and put into action the Lord's directives that we will experience God's best for the coming year.

“Preach to the Need” – Dr. Leland Dittman

One of the hardest things I found to do when I first began to preach was to decide on a topic for the Sunday morning message. At the time I was preaching textual and topical messages only. I would spend countless hours going from one subject to the next, pleading with God to show me what text I should use in my sermon preparation. I began to get more and more frustrated and dreaded sermon preparation each week.

Then one day I read a quotation from Haddon Robinson which said, "Expository preaching is the communication of a concept, derived from and transmitted through a historical, grammatical, and literal study of a passage in its context, which the Holy Spirit first applies to the personality and experience of the preacher, then through him to his hearers." That was the answer! Expository preaching! I began to realize that if I would be faithful in exegeting the Word of God verse by verse, sooner or later I would speak to every problem and minister to every person in the pew. I found that even though there is only one interpretation there are many applications that God would lead me to apply to the text in such ways as to meet the needs of people.

For the last nineteen years, I have not had to waste precious time trying to decide what text to preach next. Instead, I have systematically preached through various books of the Bible and have found that every subject has been discussed and God has ministered to the hearts of the hearers. I am convinced that the best method to meet the needs of people is through expository preaching.

It is not only important to have the right method when dealing with the souls of men, it is also important to allow God to prepare the man who delivers the message.

The ManHaddon Robinson went on to say, "When a man prepares expository sermons, God prepares the man. Ultimately God is more interested in developing messengers than messages, and since the Holy Spirit confronts man primarily through the Bible, a preacher must learn to listen to God before he speaks for Him."

We who preach God's Word should ever be looking inward in a manner of self-examination. One of the first things that the preacher who meets the needs of his congregation must ask himself is, "Am I walking in fellowship with God so that the Lord can work through a clean vessel? Am I prayed up? Am I so full of the message from the Word of God that when I stand before my flock and look them in the eye, I know that I have something worth sharing? Do they sense their pastor has spent time with the Lord in sermon preparation? Or am I simply getting up behind the pulpit out of obligation and duty because I am the pastor?"

It is easy to lose sight of whom we owe allegiance in the daily business of the ministry. If we are not careful, the pastorate can become a job rather than a calling. Pastors who become immersed in ecclesiastical duties have been known to unintentionally and unwittingly neglect their own spiritual life and then wonder why they are not seeing God use His Word through their pulpit ministry. Listen friends, "Our congregations won't grow spiritually unless we do!" Sheep follow the shepherd! The problem in most churches that are dying today stems from preachers in the pulpit who have stopped growing

spiritually and have become lazy! This is reflected in congregations that lack souls being saved and spirituality in the pews.

Samuel McComb says, "There is, perhaps, no body of men so guilty of frittering away their time in trivialities, in a fussy parade of being busy, as ministers of religion." It seems to me that there are preachers who have time for everything but communication with God through His Word and prayer. It is not only men of conviction whom God uses to move this world. It is men who are intimate with God.

After church services people have come up to me and expressed that God has spoken directly to their needs. "Do I know everyone's perplexing situations in the church?" "Of course not!" When the preacher stays in touch with the One who does know every need, God directs during sermon preparation.

Something else that I have found helpful is to listen to myself on tape. It is not always a pleasant experience but it is enlightening and has pointed out weaknesses that I would not have discovered otherwise. Listening to flaws in content or delivery motivates any preacher to improve in order that he may be of greater help to others.

The MessageEven though the preacher and his style of preaching are factors in meeting needs of the congregation, it is still the Word of God that changes lives. We must pay careful attention to the content of the message. Preaching the Word in a way that makes it relevant for today cuts down the need for personal counseling when people listen. Regardless of experts in their field, college professors, medical doctors, lawyers, or millionaires, in our congregations we must remember that they are all poor sinners saved by grace who need the Gospel. The preacher is the expert! So don't ever water down the Word of God. Preach it without apology.

"What makes the message effective and change lives year after year?" First and foremost, expounding the Word of God! "For the Word of God is quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of the soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12). Eternal results take place in people's lives because God blesses His Word. When the Word of God is presented plainly and clearly the hearer understands what God expects from him.

Along with preaching the Word there needs to be personal applications illustrated by our own experience or that of another. In Mark 5:19 Jesus said to the man delivered from demons, "Go home to thy friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for thee." Personal testimony is given a prominent place in Scripture. "Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what He hath done for my soul" (Psalm 66:16). The Psalms are largely devoted to the record of David's personal experiences with the Lord. Why not follow his lead?

For instance, when preaching a series from a book of James, I shared what happened the day that my brother John babysat his five-year-old son, Joshua, while his wife and four other children were out shopping. Little Joshua was playing in the yard as all five-year-olds do. Running up to my brother and touching him, then running away saying, "Can't catch me!" When John realized that he hadn't seen him for about twenty minutes or so he began to look for his son. John checked the house and their yard, but Josh was nowhere to be found. Finally, my brother's eyes focused on the old in-ground swimming pool located in the rear of his property. Quickly he ran to the edge of the lawn where the gate to the pool was slightly ajar. John climbed down the steep sides of the wall into two feet of stagnant water. As he waded into the murky water, he stepped on something. As he looked down, Joshua's face came up to the surface. He had stepped on the little boy's arm. After his nephew was buried, John dealt with his sorrow

through the bottle. He blamed himself for Joshua's death. Six months later, my brother using a shot gun committed suicide at the age of forty-three because he couldn't deal with the pain he was experiencing.

I went on to explain how God can help us deal with anything we face in life. You could have heard a pin drop. It was obvious that God was speaking to hearts through His messenger. When I gave the invitation, many who had been struggling with tragedies of their own came down to the altar and began to allow God to constructively deal with their grief in order to gain victory.

Expository preaching that is God centered, and autobiographical, grasps the attention of the hearers and changes lives by meeting needs from one year to the next. As preachers of the Gospel, we dare not do less.

Cultivating a Passion for the World" - Dr. Kenneth A. Epp

I was a young seminarian full of bright ideas. I walked into the local church where I would worship and serve for the next four years. To be honest, my motives weren't all that pure, because my seminary had assigned me to Christian service in an area church. Nonetheless, I announced my offer of services to the pastor. To my astonishment, he suggested that I consider serving on the Missions Committee of the church. The thought of missions--especially in the local church--had never seriously crossed my mind. For me, "missions" has always been: the annual conference, an occasional missionary speaker in between, the perennial requests for support, and maybe a twinge or two of guilt which I quickly managed to suppress.

Oh, I had known a few missionaries personally. I had just watched them come and go, some impressing me with their national costumes and slides, most of them just passing information along and asking for money. What did that have to do with me? I went on life's way and gave little thought to missions in my own life. Until I walked into that pastor's study! Suddenly, I was confronted with involvement in the nuts and bolts of the missionary enterprise. "What can I lose?" I thought. "It might even be interesting to see how it all works from the church perspective." So I went to my first-ever missions committee meeting, determined at least to contribute in whatever way God might choose to use me, and even a little interested in the subject.

Now, I've always known that God has a sense of humor, but that night He really outdid Himself! I walked in as a missions novice, and I left in a few hours as the newly elected Chairman of the Missions Committee! Sound familiar to anyone?! In the weeks that followed, I scrambled to bring my personal missions database up to speed. God graciously provided a missions mentor, too. The Associate Pastor of the church took me under his wing and began to expand my missions horizons gently but persistently. He challenged me with issues to consider--everything from planning conferences to working with committee members, to setting support levels for missionaries, to screening missionary candidates. Gradually, the Lord used him to open the eyes of my heart to the needs of the world, and to catch a vision of what the local church can do to meet those needs.

I remained in that position for the rest of my seminary days, and we saw the Lord do some wonderful things in the church as our committee members served together. Missionaries were identified and sent; support levels and even support policies were evaluated and changed; most importantly, a passion for missions was kept alive in that congregation. Along the way, He taught us some valuable lessons in the "doing" and "being" of missions:

1. Churches Must Grow Their Own Missionaries.Especially since becoming a mission agency director, I have come to realize the importance of churches

producing their own new generation of missionaries. Many of us in mission agencies have "recruited" new missionaries for years, mostly from colleges and seminaries. Meanwhile, the church took on the more passive role of writing letters to the field, sending monthly support checks to the home office, and planning the next conference (a shortened one, at that). Both then as a mission's chairman and now as a mission leader, I have come to understand that the identification and selection of new missionaries must begin in the local church, and in the families that comprise that assembly. If the church fails to challenge young people-even pre-teens-with the call of God to missions, how can college speakers and agency representatives do it later? If Mom and Dad say to God, "You can have someone else's children (or grandchildren) for missions in Africa, but not mine," why are we surprised when our kids choose "safer" and more "secure" career paths while rationalizing their way out of missionary service? The local church and its families have one of the best opportunities to impact society for Christ-by identifying, selecting, and sending their own children to the mission fields of the world.

2. Oversight and Care of Missionaries.We learned that both the local church and the mission agency have a vested interest in the care of missionaries. This involves such diverse concerns as: MK education, support levels, plans for Home Assignment, and counseling for special needs. One of our first "eye-openers" was to write each of the agencies whose missionaries we were supporting, to ask for their actual support requirements (salary, housing, auto, education and other expenses). Until then, we had used the standard tactic of adding $25.00 or $50.00 per month to a missionary's support each year, just for good measure. And we had failed to take into account whether a missionary was married or single, and if married, how many children they had. Most of us have figured that one out today, but back then it was a paradigm shift for us. So, we changed our support levels dramatically, depending on where a missionary was serving and what the actual needs were in that part of the world. This meant that, for at least some of our missionary family, they were now receiving better member care through increased support.

But missionary care goes beyond evaluating support levels. When missionaries need counseling for special needs, for example, the mission agency can work with the pastoral staff and missions committee of the sending church to insure that the right kind of help is found. Our goal is to work together as mission and church, to meet the needs of some special people who are very important to both of us. Likewise, when a missionary makes a major ministry change or relocates to a different field, the home church should be involved in the decision-making process.

3. Networking.As an inexperienced missions chairperson, I looked for sources of information about missions, within and outside our local church. Back then a new organization was just being formed, now called "Advancing Churches With Missions Commitment" (ACMC). This group enabled us to keep an ear to what other churches were saying about missions, and it provided us with excellent ideas for conference themes, missions policy suggestions, and world statistics. Today, we still affiliate with ACMC as a mission agency, in order to listen carefully to what churches are saying about us and about the missions enterprise.

Networking can also operate at a broader level, where several churches form a "consortium" to fully support a missionary family. Through such partnerships, the missionary often is enabled to reach full support in a shorter period of time and does not have to spend as much time crisscrossing the country to meet hundreds of supporters when he comes back for Home Assignment (furlough).

4. Work/Ministry Teams.One of the greatest lessons I learned back then was the strategic importance of congregational involvement in world missions. That used to mean just involving as many people as possible in planning and carrying out the annual missions conference. Today, it may mean helping people plan creatively to

spend part of their year actually serving on a mission field somewhere in the world. In the past ten years, the summer service and short-term team concept has exploded on the church scene. The cost? Lots of planning by the sending church; by those who make up the team; by the mission agency home office which helps with details and acts as a liaison between the church and the field; by the missionaries on the field who will have to coordinate all the details from their end; and by the national believers for whom this ministry often is intended. The results? Fantastic, to say the least. Souls saved (even through the use of interpreters), work projects accomplished that would otherwise have taken years to complete, missionaries encouraged, and the national church strengthened! Beyond such immediate results, the mission agency benefits through exposing many more Christians to its fields of service; and the local church benefits because some of its people come back with a renewed passion for missions.

ConclusionMissions in the local church is more than a quarterly prayer letter, an annual banquet, or a few dollars more for the cause this year than we had last year. It's about keeping Christ's Great Commission clearly in front of our people all the time. It's about keeping the eyes of our people on the whitened harvest fields of the world. It's about keeping the passion for missions alive and burning brightly in our local churches.

Shortly after I came to Berean, the missions chairman of another local church called me one day. He said that his church had an extra $50.00 per month in their missions budget to give away, and did we want it? After resisting the initial temptation to grab the money and run, I asked, "How will that $50.00, if given to Berean Mission, fit into your congregation's missions purpose and vision? After an awkward pause, I suggested that we meet and discuss how Berean might help assist that church in its larger missions enterprise. Not surprisingly, this church of about six hundred lacked a clear missions policy, had not conducted a missions conference for years, and was at a loss how to invest its missions dollars most effectively. So we met with the chairman and his committee, provided information on policy issues, gave suggestions for their first, revived conference, and watched with interest as their passion for missions came alive again.

And, oh yes, one other important result. Not too long ago I talked with that committee chairman, who has now gone on several short-term trips to various countries. He has just put his medical practice on the market, has applied with a mission as a medical tent-maker, and will soon be in the Middle East, bringing physical and spiritual healing to thousands who need it. Missions in that local church has gone from the corporate to the personal level.

So, how's your passion for missions today? As a church, as a person, what is your heartbeat for missions? As we stand on the brink of a new millennium, we face a world of six billion people, over half of whom have not yet made a decision for Christ-and millions have not even heard His Name. The Word of God tells us that there is no other name under heaven, given among men, whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:12). That's why the ministry of missions is so important in your local church. It's more than pot-lucks, costumes, and calls to the field in the Sunday evening service. It's your very life blood. And it's the difference between heaven and hell for those who must yet hear, as you and I go in obedience to our Lord's command.

The Value of a Leadership Retreat - Dr. Robert L. Gray

"They Strengthen Their Hands for this Good Work"

Nehemiah was a great builder and was also an excellent planner. Time spent is planning well spent. Churches that plan their year's schedule will derive many advantages.

For twenty-five years we have scheduled a Leadership Retreat for our church staff.

Purpose: To establish the coming year's goals and schedules for every organization within the church.Who: The leaders of every church organization and their spouses.Time: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.Date: The second Saturday of January.Preparation: Each leader is sent a letter in early November inviting the leader to attend and bring the following information in typed form:

A. Brief review of the past year.B. All dates for regular meetings, plus outings, socials, etc. C. Any suggestions for changes.D. Achievable goals for the coming year.

At the leadership retreat calendars and pencils are supplied for each attendee. In a predetermined order each leader distributes their typed report to all present. Dates are placed on the calendar in pencil. Others, in order, give their reports and any date conflicts are resolved immediately with the intention that there will be no conflict for church facilities and personnel.

In order to avoid interruptions we ask the leader and spouse to attend without their children. We use a lovely location away from the church. At present we have 21 'in church' organizations and desire that each one be represented by its leader or another responsible officer.

The retreat is directed by the pastor. Each session begins with a devotional and prayer. Before the retreat is concluded the corrected calendar is established. All the reports are corrected as necessary and are immediately printed in a nine-by-twelve format with a durable cover. These reports are then distributed to each church member at the Annual Church Business Meeting held in late January.

Value:It is important for leadership to meet together because they are then able to appreciate the many ministries of the church and who are involved in service. Spouses are invited so that they, too, will have an appreciation for the ministries of the church. At lunchtime we go to a nearby restaurant with a reserved room. The cost is underwritten by the church.

This "Leadership Retreat" is not unique with us; however, we recommend this procedure to those who are not yet using it. The final published reports serve as an excellent permanent record of your church ministries. A copy should be filed in the church office for reference.

The exchange of goals, ideas and the establishment of a year's schedule have proven to be beneficial for us. Scheduling conflicts are resolved and we all leave with a deep appreciation for the many individuals who are serving the Lord within the church family.

A spirit of working together, and unity is developed and encouraged by this retreat, which helps us to "strengthen our hands for this good work.”

Servant or Master? A Perspective on "Time!" - Dr. Harold Longenecker

To talk about time is easy! To talk about it intelligently is not. More is at stake than a mechanical method for measuring it. As serious Christians, we can come to grips with the mastery of time only as we sense its mystery and majesty.

The MysteryThe mystery of time is of the same magnitude as space and light, and even today, both are inadequately understood. Einstein's theories are still challenging the scientific community and physicists continue to debate whether light is best explained as waves, particles, or even both. In the middle of this mass of mystery stands time! We sympathize with St. Augustine who said, "If no one asks me to define time, I know what it is. But when I am required to explain it, plainly, I know it not."

The mystery of time is experienced "close up" when we first visit our childhood home after a long absence; stand by the casket of a dad or mother; or realize that we're now the same age as our parents when we thought they were "old."

Our confusion is reflected in the imprecise terms we use when speaking of time. For example, we talk about saving it, losing it, or killing it - all technically impossible. "Time flies," we say, though to where, from where, or how fast is never clear. We even complain, illogically, of its "ravages."

So why talk about something we know so little about? Because it's good for the soul to stand silently in the presence of unexplained mystery. Teddy Roosevelt, vacationing in his North Dakota ranch, invited a guest to join him in gazing at the star-studded sky. After some minutes during which Teddy recited a batch of facts concerning the enormity of space, he said, "Now that we feel sufficiently small, we can go to bed."

The MajestyTime is a mystery, and since all mysteries trace back to God, time is touched with majesty. At a personal level, time connects us to birth and death. It raises questions about where we came from and where we're going. For that reason alone, our experience with time obliges us to think about God.

Time is majestic because it's a stewardship. We are to "remember" our Creator when we're young (Eccl. 12:1); "number our days" (Psa. 90:12); "awake out of sleep," (Rom. 13:11, 12); and "redeem the time," (Eph. 5:14-16). Time is a stewardship because, in Benjamin Franklin's words, it's "the stuff life is made of." And life doesn't belong to us. God just loans it for a while.

Though it's ours only to use, time joins us with eternity. Service rendered in time brings rewards in eternity and judgments in sermons on the stewardship of money, but the stewardship of time is no less important.

Its MasteryTo make this mysterious, majestic reality a servant is an awesome undertaking. It helps to remember that, for all its grandeur, time is woven inextricably into our daily experience and is therefore a crucial element of our existence. Someone has visualized life as a conveyer belt in constant motion. Most of us don't know we're on it until we hit middle age. Then we look around and realize we're all on the conveyer belt together and going to the same place - the grave. Time is awesome, but it's also practical!

We must also understand that each 24 hours provides time enough to do God's will, to care for all our needs: worship, church, family, work, sleep, food, exercise, emotional, recreational, community, etc. Those who complain about "not having enough time" deserve little sympathy. Mark it down: We have time to do what needs to be done.

We must also accept the obligation to use time wisely, a job no one can do but ourselves.

Life goals must be defined. Make a list of things you believe God wants you to accomplish before you die. Far from being presumptuous, this is consistent with a purposeful life.

Goals must be prioritized and constantly up-dated. Goals that are un-prioritized only confuse. When Andrew Carnegie had trouble getting through his daily schedule, he called in a consultant whose advice was simple: prioritize, up-date every day, and be sure to complete the tasks marked "urgent." Follow the plan for a month and report back. At the end of the month Carnegie was delighted with the results and asked for his bill. "Pay what you think it's worth," was the reply, and Carnegie promptly wrote a check for $25,000 - a lot of money in those days.

Priorities are determined by goals. Plan your days to achieve what needs to be done that day and exclude the rest. Wisely formulated and faithfully pursued goals require choices from among the competing options. Every day, certain things must be excluded and certain things included. Imagine a basket full of multi-colored eggs. Each color represents activities of a certain category. The basket is full, so it's impossible to add more eggs. If you find one category of activity missing (no eggs of that color in the basket), the only solution is to remove some eggs and add the color that's missing. Choices can be painful.

Learn to use time in bits and pieces. Michael Ramsey, former Archbishop of Canterbury, was asked when he found time to write. His reply? " A quarter hour on Monday, ten minutes on Tuesday, half an hour Wednesday, Tuesday only ten minutes, Friday an hour, and Saturday a half hour." If we wait for a three hour stretch, we'll often wait in vain.

And though this seems to contradict what I've just said, it really doesn't; Resolve, if possible, to finish what you begin. Avoid the agony of being perpetually "almost finished." A poem by an unknown author in Inspirational and Devotional Verse by Zondervan says it best. . .

In an old English parsonage, down by the sea, there came, in the twilight, a message to me; It's quaint Saxon legend, deeply engraven, has, as it seems to me, teaching from heaven; All through the hours the quiet words ring, like a low inspiration, "Do the Next Thing." Do it immediately, do it with prayer, Do it reliantly, casting all care; Do it with reverence, tracing His hand, Who placed it before you with earnest command. Stayed on omnipotence, trust as you cling, leave all your questionings, "Do the next thing.”

Imagine how the Bible would read if great projects had been started, but never quite finished. "Thus the heavens and earth were [almost] finished" (Gen. 2:1). "So the wall was [almost] finished" (Neh. 6:15). Paul would have said, "I have [almost] fought a good fight, I have [almost] finished my course, I have [almost] kept the faith . . .” (2 Tim. 4:7). And the words of Jesus from the cross would read, tragically, "It is [almost] finished" (John 19:30).

One more suggestion emerges from the foregoing as you define goals and set priorities, Recognize God's authority. He has a vested interest in our stewardship of time and wants to help us manage it well. Someone has noted that . . .

"Jesus mastered the art of time. He never let it master him. He never gave the impression of trying to save time and keep a schedule. . . There was an air of urgency about him, but no feverish hurrying. He has time to sit and talk. . .play with children. . . and pray. He wasn't keeping a calendar, he was fulfilling a mission."

Take a page from His book. Immerse yourself in the mystery and majesty of time! Tackle the mastery of

time and make it your servant. As we learn to do this, we follow in the steps of the Savior who understood more fully than we ever will the magnificent quality of this thing called "time," and having made it his servant, gloriously finished the work given him by the Father.

A Pension for Life: A Testimony of God’s Faithfulness – Robert A. Blair

Today we are hearing much about Old Age Pensions. Here is a proposal for a Life Pension that is sure and workable, has no harmful features, and tends to the highest good for all. With it goes my testimony to the faithfulness of the Sponsor of the above pension, to do far above what we can either ask or think.

My early home life was all that could be desired: the best of Christian parents, and the finest opportunity for early education. In my early teens I entered business and for six years lived with and worked under one of the finest men that ever lived.

A little over thirty years ago I found myself in a new country, in possession of a college diploma, and a graduate of a theological seminary. These I had acquired in diverse places and ways. After three years as minister to a group of fine folks, with a wife who had been a classmate in college, and a little girl who had come into our hearts and home, I found myself in a great heathen land. This had been my ambition from very early in life, and while for years it seemed impossible, now it was a realized experience.

Then came what was in many ways the hardest trial of my life. Because of conditions in the tropics that were not as well understood then as now, I found that I had lost the sight of one eye and that the other eye was affected. Those first days were perhaps the darkest I have ever spent. It seemed that my life-long hope was shattered just in its very infancy. However, my Sponsor did not fail. We came home, and with the aid of kind friends and skillful doctors and surgeons my remaining eye met every need for almost twenty years. Then without a moment's warning my sight was gone, and for the past ten years I have been totally blind. I well remember the first Sunday I was in the hospital after my sight had gone completely. The Sunday school lesson for that day was where Jesus had healed the man who was forty years old and who had been born blind. This man had received a great blessing, and yet I had already received a far greater one. I had my sight for forty years. I had the opportunity for an education. I had lived in three continents. I knew what much of the world looked like and could still see my friends and live in the world that anyone can live in who just closes his eyes. I had far more for which to be thankful than this man in the Sunday school lesson. This assurance has never left me. During the years, three boys had come into our home. Our little girl was smitten with infantile paralysis, and although badly handicapped, finished her college course, thanks to my Sponsor, and for some years has been our efficient housekeeper.

Three years after I had completely lost my sight, my wife who had stood with me all these years, and whom I thought I needed as never before, was taken Home after almost two years of severe suffering and extreme weakness. Three years later my second boy, who was in his third year in college, in preparation for the foreign field, was suddenly taken Home. However, he lives as never before in the hearts and memories of all who knew him. (My other two boys like their sister, have had the privilege of a college education, thanks to their Sponsor, and I hope they will far outstrip their father in every way.)

Seven years ago I secured a trained German shepherd dog, through the Seeing-Eye Dog Program. She was one of the first group of dogs trained in this country. About two years ago my dog was killed in an accident, when I was not with her. In some ways this seemed about the hardest providence to understand, but still my Sponsor did not fail. Some months later I was able to secure another dog. I have traveled thousands of miles with my dogs by train, bus and car. Many opportunities have opened for me to speak and bear witness to my Sponsor's faithfulness because of my dogs. For some of this work I have

received generous recompense but most of it gives me the opportunity to try to repay some of the generous help I have received from doctors and friends.

I did not lose any money in stocks or bonds during the depression and I had no worries about investments. This is one wonderful thing about the Pension that my Sponsor offers-we do not need to be troubled about investments. We just do our daily work and the pension never fails, and while it may not be nearly as large as that promised by some men, yet it always meets every need. In all these years my Sponsor has never once failed me, yet I have failed Him so many times! Yet He, in His wonderful love, weaves another pattern around my mistakes and restoreth the years that the canker-worm hath eaten.

During the years, I have saved from my pension enough to meet my funeral expenses. This I feel will likely be needed, but beyond that I do not know of any future need, and His promise is sure that as our days, so shall our strength be.

I would not exchange my Pension for Life for any other plan that could be offered. What He has done for me He will do for anyone and even in a greater degree, for not many will hinder Him as I have done. "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief"(1 Tim. 1:15).

The following are some of the promises, any one of which is enough coming from Him who never faileth -my Sponsor:

"They that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing"(Psa. 34:10).

"No good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly"(Psa. 84:11).

"He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not also with Him freely give us all things"(Rom. 8:32)?

"My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus"(Phil 4:19). "Even to your old age I am He; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you"(Isa. 46:4).

His conditions (and always a wise sponsor lays down conditions) are that we first accept JesusChrist, His greatest and best gift, and that with Him He freely gives us all things.

The Pastor and His Salary Package - James W. Rickard

In the middle of the 1960s as a young accountant I began helping my pastor prepare his state and federal tax returns. Needless to say, I was surprised at his meager salary, lack of fringe benefits and his inability to provide for his future financially. His family lived in a church owned parsonage totally controlled by the church. They couldn't even paint a wall without committee approval. It was a large farmhouse that was difficult to maintain and expensive to heat. I can remember visiting that parsonage and finding his wife in tears over the frustration of living under those conditions. I can remember thinking, "this is not right." Little did I know how that experience would begin to sow the seeds for the Stewardship Services Foundation ministry. This ministry that would allow me to devote my energies to counseling pastors regarding finances and teach church boards how to structure the pastors' salary packages staying within the limits of IRS tax law. As a result, in 1977 the Stewardship Services Foundation ministry was born.

In this article I will attempt to discuss salary packages and their proper application in the budget process. The most important issue when it comes to this subject is attitude, a proper understanding by the board

as it relates to the salary package issue including the desire to meet the needs of the family in a fair and equitable way. When a church calls a pastor (youth, music, visitation, senior, etc.), it is important to consider the following issues:

1. Pastors should have a cash salary to meet the physical needs of the family independent of the wife having to work. A good starting point would be to review his personal budget and build on it.

2. Full family medical plan that provides adequate health insurance and protects the family and the church from a catastrophic illness or accident (tax-free fringe benefit in most cases).

3. Disability insurance -cash replacement that provides income and protects the family and the church due to a disabling illness or accident (Tax-free fringe benefit).

4. Retirement plan, coupled with Social Security, an amount that would give the pastor approximately 70% of his take home pay at retirement. If he has opted out of Social Security, the plan must be more aggressive to meet his needs. I recommend the plan begin as early as possible with a minimum annual contribution of $2,000, more if he starts the plan after 40 years of age. Pastors should not be in IRA's. They should be in a 403-b pension plan where the deposits are made by the church which exempts the amount from the Social Security tax and makes the distributions eligible for the housing allowance upon retirement which would shelter it from Income Tax.5. Life Insurance-$100,000 of term life insurance with the wife as beneficiary. This protects the church and provides for the family upon a premature death. The church can pay the premiums on the policy but only the premium on the first $50,000 is a tax-free fringe benefit. The pastor should provide his own additional life insurance as needed.

6. Professional Expense Reimbursement Fund -professional expenses incurred while performing his duties (automobile mileage, conferences, entertainment, supplies, anything pertaining to his responsibilities) should be paid by the church. In reality these expenses are incurred for the benefit of the church not the pastor.

7. Housing/Parsonage Allowance -I have advised churches for over 22 years to get out of the parsonage business. I think it is very important to get a pastor into his own home as soon as possible for many reasons. Retirement-owning a home at retirement is a key ingredient to retirement planning. Security -for his family, particularly his wife, privacy. They can decorate how they want, it’s their home! I think it tends to add to longevity-the family feels more attached to the community because there's a stronger sense of belonging. Tax purposes-income tax law provides for generous benefits to the pastor who is buying his own home. Federal and state income taxes are greatly reduced and sometimes eliminated due to the housing allowance and double deduction for mortgage interest and real estate taxes.

8. The self-employment tax is another issue that is often misunderstood. A pastor is a dual status employee. He is an employee for income tax purposes and self-employed for Social Security purposes. Instead of paying 7.65% for his Social Security and his employer paying 7.65% as all other employees do, he must pay 15.3% (less a small credit). I recommend the church include in his salary an amount that would cover the 7.65% that the church would normally pay if he weren't the pastor. Because he must pay taxes on the additional 7.65% a proper increase would be 9.8%.

Now let's express the above in a budget format:This pastor is 40 years of age, and has two teenage children.

Example #1:

This pastor receives a cash salary of $35,000 per year and lives in a church-owned parsonage with a monthly Fair Market Rental Value (FMRV) of $800; the annual FMRV is $9,600. The church pays the utilities (which they should) that amount to $2,400 per year. His annual self-employment tax (Social Security) will amount to $6,642 of which the church agrees to pay $4,606 (9.8% of $47,000).

Pastor's Financial Package Cash Salary- ($35,000 + 4,606)$39,606 Fringe Benefits: Medical Plan $400/mo.4,800 Disability Insurance 800 Retirement Plan 2,400 Life Insurance 400

Total 48,006

The above pastor drives his car an average of 11,000 miles a year for the church which is reimbursed by the church at the current IRS rate of $.315 per mile for a total of $3,465. In addition he spends approximately $1,000 for conferences he and his wife attend, $400 for ministry related books and periodicals, $500 for meals he provides for counselees and church related guests in his home and $300 for miscellaneous expenses. A total of $5,665 is added to the church budget for church ministry expenses on a line item totally separate from the pastor's financial package category.

Example #2:Is the same as Example #1 except this pastor is buying his own home. An additional amount of$14,900 has been added to his cash salary to cover his mortgage payment ($9,600), utilities ($2,400), real estate taxes ($1,500), insurance ($400) and maintenance ($1,000). The church has already been paying the utilities, insurance and maintenance of $3,800 for the parsonage in past years, so this portion of his increase is not new money. His annual self-employment tax will amount to $7,051 of which the church agrees to pay $4,890.

Pastor's Financial Package Cash Salary ($35,000 + 14,900 + 4,890)$54,790 Fringe Benefit: Medical Plan 400/mo. 4,800 Disability Insurance 800 Retirement Plan 2,400 Life Insurance 400

Total 63,190

The professional expense amount of $5,665 would appear in a line item in the budget separate from the salary package category. The pastor would be reimbursed from this line item as he accounts to the treasurer with all details including mileage logs and receipts. A church credit card can be used for many of these expenses.

I realize the above numbers may be currently out of reach for some churches. However, stewardship principles require each of us to be responsible with the resources and families he has entrusted to our care. A good procedure is to assign two board members to review the needs of the staff annually and make recommendations to the full board for consideration. When it comes to our pastors we should take 1 Corinthians 9:14 and 1 Timothy 5:17 very seriously. Addressing all of the above issues at one time may be difficult but by prayer, planning and proper stewardship all the issues can be addressed in the near future.

The Few, the Proud, the Hurting...Ministry with the Marines - LT Alan Garner (CHC, USNR)

The following article is a report from the heart of one of our Navy chaplains serving with the U.S. Marine Corps. What he shares is common to your military chaplains. Your prayerful support is important! [Warren Dane, Ch, Lt Col, USAF (Ret.) Director of Chaplaincy]

The past fourteen months have been a whirlwind! On July 23, 1996 our family of six arrived at Kadena Air Force Base, Okinawa, Japan. After four years of Navy duty in beautiful San Diego, my new assignment was with the 1ST Marine Aircraft Wing. Ministry with the Marines would be quite different, with their unique military culture and traditions. Navy khaki and summer white uniforms would be replaced by "cammies" and "charlies." The legend of the Marine Corps, with its glorious past and tough standards was quite intimidating. Yet, I have discovered the obvious -- that Marines are just people who carry around a lot of hurt and spiritual emptiness. These "wounded warriors" desperately need the healing touch of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Soon after my arrival I was specifically assigned to our Headquarters Squadron. It's a demanding world of processing orders, pushing lots of paper for the General and handling disciplinary cases. Once I had begun to introduce myself around the Squadron, hurting Marines began to stop by for a talk with "the Padre" (as the Marines like to call us). Many of them have marital problems, only made worse when they are sent to "the Rock," as Okinawa is nicknamed, for a one year unaccompanied tour. Most are newly married. Most end up headed for divorce. Many came from painfully fractured families, due to alcohol, abuse and divorced parents. They usually married for some sense of security or self-esteem and joined the Marine Corps to escape their pain and find some sense of purpose. The stress of life in the Corps, especially in a foreign land, just makes things worse. Many try to cover their spiritual pain and emotional hurt with lots of sex, spending and alcohol. Sadly, some lose hope altogether and end their own lives.

One day a new Marine came to my office who was visibly shaken. His hands trembled as he humbled himself to admit he was contemplating suicide. He felt alone and had not adjusted to life overseas. Unable to sleep, he was failing at work and getting into trouble with his chain of command. Feeling like he was a failure, he had not called or written home for weeks. I had just received a letter from his parents asking about his welfare! Of course God's timing is perfect. The good news is that I got this Marine the medical help that he needed and also told him about the love of God. Soon he was back on the job, with a smile for the Chaplain when I passed through his work center.

In February/March of 1997 I was deployed for six weeks to Australia during OPERATION "TANDUM THRUST," a major joint combat training exercise on the coast of Queensland. The Marines set up a "tent city" at the Royal Australian Air Base. I was the camp chaplain with one Religious Program Specialist (RP) as my assistant. It was great fun meeting Aussie chaplains and they were really enjoying watching our Marines invade their base. I converted a classroom modular into the Marine Chapel and we planted a ten-foot high cross right in front facing the main road. The Marines were thrilled to be in Australia, away from Okinawa and doing what they were trained to do. But you can't run away from your problems, can you? Even there I had occasions to help hurting Marines.

In my small Protestant Chapel community was a young Christian who loved Jesus and was excited about God's Word. At our prayer meeting he bared his heart and told us how his wife has turned against him since his conversion. He admitted that he had wounded his wife deeply before he believed in Christ. He had since asked for her forgiveness, but she didn't believe him and attributed his Christianity to some desperate attempt to keep them together. She was already seeing another man and threatening to return to the States. This brother in Christ was clinging to God's love and praying for his wife's salvation. The next week a tough Gunnery Sergeant broke down and wept as he admitted his marriage was in

trouble. We joined in a circle, laid hands on one another, and prayed. Another brother, a Marine captain, gave a word of praise. His wife had just given birth to their son. He praised God for this healing event, for you see, two years earlier on that same day this Marine's mother and two sisters had died in a plane crash. I stood in awe as this man shared his hurt and the healing grace of God.

Back in the Tent City I noticed that one of our female officers was looking a little down. The next day God gave me an opportunity to sit down with her and ask how she was doing. After some evasive answers she broke down into tears and told me her story. She desperately missed her husband, who was a Marine aviator. He was back in the States in training. They had been together about three months in the last two years. She had given her all to the Corps, but her life felt empty. She had gotten into serious trouble with another officer and they would both have to stand before the Commanding General. That day finally arrived, and as the Chaplain I stood at the General's right hand as this fine young officer confessed her crimes and awaited her punishment. To my amazement, the General said "Chaplain, do you have anything to add?" With the permission of the accused to break confidentiality, I was able to speak in her defense and help the General see the hurt and stress that pushed this Marine over the edge into "conduct unbecoming." He listened with compassion. I was reminded of Jesus' present ministry as our Advocate, seated at God's right hand and speaking in our defense when we stumble and find ourselves accused by Satan. Since then I have encouraged her to find forgiveness and hope in God.

In August I was deployed to Camp Fuji in mainland Japan for two weeks of weapons training. Marines love to shoot things and blow things up. They even invite the Chaplain to join in the fun, which of course I did for the glory of God! While there I was asked to counsel a Marine stationed at Fuji who was borderline homicidal. He was a black American from a very rough neighborhood in Houston, Texas. As I suspected, he had witnessed a lot of gang violence and had seen some friends killed before his very eyes. These hurts, along with the unresolved anger and rage they bring the soul, left this Marine listless, unhappy, and anti-social. He was a powder keg just waiting to explode. I shared with him the Gospel of Jesus, and how Jesus understands violence and pain because he experienced it for us on the Cross. The Marine listened. It was obvious he had never heard this before. He didn't believe in Christ that day, but promised to think about it. Even in far- away Japan, the mean streets of his youth haunted him. He couldn't run away from his sorrow. Thankfully, he couldn't run away from God either.

One last hurting soul I dare not fail to mention- me, the Chaplain. That's right. I have hurts too and need God's healing touch. Chaplains and Pastors are just people who need God's grace, your prayers and encouragement, and sometimes just a friend. Moving my family overseas was very traumatic. At times my wife feels lonely, and I feel guilty when I deploy to distant lands and leave her bearing the responsibilities of our four children alone. Though married seventeen years, our marriage is far from perfect. Satan knows how to hurt us through our spouse and children, and uses us to hurt them too. I have a daughter who is mentally retarded, who gets a lot of rejection from her peers. That hurts, but I thank God that He entrusted her to my care. Many times my heart wanders from God and I feel unworthy to be a Chaplain. Other times my rank and ribbons go to my head and I get sinfully self-sufficient. Some of my fellow Chaplains have disappointed, angered or hurt me deeply. I have failed them too. All of these personal hurts can tempt me to despair, but I remember who I am in Christ and what Jesus suffered and endured to provide us Eternal Life and Salvation. God's Love and His Kingdom keep me going-in Jesus' Name!

Life and ministry among the Marines is not all hurt and pain. There are joy and laughter too. Marines are some of the most dedicated, motivated people you will ever meet. They are proud of their history and traditions, respectful of authority and they value Chaplains because we help take care of them spiritually. I am proud and thankful to serve among them and, if necessary, to stand with them in combat and crisis. Pray for us, all those who

serve in our country's Armed Forces, and for the many Chaplains who faithfully represent Jesus among them.

Humility Retains Honor - Lenore R. Dittman

Where does the preacher's wife go when she is married to a pastor who is acting like a rat? "She goes to the Lord, that's where!" What does she do? "She prays for the rat!" God is bigger than the fewer than complimentary actions of a soul mate.

Nevertheless, a pastor's wife must not become a stalking cat ready to pounce on her prey. Since some women expect their husbands to act in certain ways, they pressure them into becoming something other than who God intends. Preoccupation with approval of a spouse puts distance between the married couple and God.

Yet, because Jesus tells us in Mark 7:20-23 that problems that corrupt and destroy lives originate in the heart, the following statements provided anonymously by preachers' wives I have met along the way, are an attempt to help relationships in need of restoration. Many quotes I received were repetitive.

• "Please know that I am grieved when you speed while driving our car."• "Please don't be critical of me in public."• "Please stop eyeing women's bodies up and down in our congregation and waitresses in

town, etc. because it hurts me and makes me feel uncomfortable."• "Please don't get so caught up in your ministry, your hobby, or new toy, that you neglect your

wife."• "Please let not the sun go down on your anger including your relationship with your wife."• "Please praise your wife in public and show her affection frequently in church. She deserves

your respect and needs compassion from you more than any women in your congregation.• "Please be gentle and patient with me as you are with our church members."• "Please remember that your family are your biggest and lifetime supporters."• "Please understand that in order for me to feel your love you need to listen to me."• "Please include me in our ministry."• "Please don't assume that I'm growing spiritually. I need your input at home, too."• "Please devise a way to show me that you appreciate me in public." Illustration: Three taps

means "I love you!!"• "Please don't allow the television to be a controlling force in our home."• "Please separate your feelings concerning people in our congregation when relating to me

and our children at home."• "Please be an example of your messages preached at church at our house and focus on the

good things."• "Please when counseling females have your wife present." • “Please express your love to our family often."• "Please be compassionate toward women's concerns from the opposite side of your desk.

Hurting women think in ways that they shouldn't when physically touched by a kind pastor."• "Please don't complain about your flock to other members in our church."• "Please don't forget to minister to your missionaries. They need your support."• "Please comprehend that affection, touch, courtesy in action, words of hope and comfort,

and helping in the home when needed and with your own children says to your wife, "We are not only in love and secure in our marriage, but together in the ministry of Jesus Christ. We are going to succeed, no matter how difficult our trials may be!"

• "Please remember that pastors with a pure heart and right motives become victoriously

blessed by God!"

Lest we wives become too puffed up, keep in mind that which should be forbidden in the life of the preacher's wife is seen by her husband and the Lord as well. Sometimes in order to go forward for God, repentance becomes necessary. May the rat-like or cat-like qualities that could be found in anyone of us be cast into the pit of hell as preacher and wife lift up one another to the Lord in prayer and mirror the truth of Christ's love and interest to every soul that we can possibly reach for the Kingdom of God. "For a person's pride brings him low but a humble spirit retains honor" (Prov. 29:33).