Field Ministry Academy

Last week was one my favorites! I spent the week with eleven other pastors being coached by Daniel in how to think and live in this wild world of ministry. While I could write pages about what I learned, let me share just a couple of the highlights:

• Relationships, relationships, relationships. While structure, strategy, and theology are important, the laughter and joy that come from affectionate connection is vital! The picture that kept coming to me is how a skeleton is ugly and empty. So is structure without love and affection. On the other hand, a body without a skeleton won't make much progress! Both the structure and the heart are vital. My vulnerability is putting too much thought, effort, and trust in the structure.
  
  My hope and prayer is that the friendships that are being forged among us pastors will have a long-lasting impact on our Foursquare movement. Our hope and strength is not in any particular structure or strategy (these tend to come and go on a regular basis), but in vulnerable, affectionate, active, and lasting connection with each other. Friendships like these make Foursquare a movement rather than merely an organization / denomination (bylaws, procedures, theology, etc.).
  
  
• Preparation and flexibility. One of the things I've always admired about Daniel is how he is so prepared and yet so flexible! When I'm highly prepared, I sometimes get rigid in my plan. Last week, I felt so cared for by the immense amount Daniel had prepared for us to go through... and I felt so cared for in that he was willing to let it go (because he allowed us lots of time to interact with each other and also to answer our questions).
  
  
• Ministry is about raising people up to do more ministry. As a pastor, it's so easy to lose sight of the goal! Because there's so much work (logistics, administration, etc.) involved in church, it's easy for church to become the end rather than the means. We use church to grow and shape incredible people, and we reject anything that uses people to grow and shape an "incredible" church.