Our First Impressions team are awesome! I love to talk about them everywhere I go because they do such a great job. These are the guys who drive the minibuses, serve teas and coffees, serve as parking attendants and host on our front doors. This week I have asked our team leader, Rebekah Loades, to share some insights for us in growing such a great team.

The BIG ask! People are just waiting to be asked to serve on team.

Ever tried to get someone to try the first piece of a freshly baked cake? What about asking someone to test drive a Nissan 350z? I’m sure most of us wouldn’t find it difficult to ask people to do either of those things!

How about asking someone to serve on your team? Does that bring out hives or make you sweat big time? Why? Do you think that they might say no or that it isn’t very exciting what you’re asking them to do?

Well either way people are often afraid to ask if it’s okay to serve on team! A lot of the time they don’t want to be an inconvenience to you or they don’t think that there is a need - you seem to be coping okay on your own and don’t need any more help.

Why did you get involved in the first place? Most people want to be a part of something bigger than them and feel like they are making a difference in our world - being involved in team is the way that they can achieve this.

Make it easy for people to be involved in what you are doing and start by doing the ASKING!

Some points to consider when doing the BIG Ask:

1.       How do you talk about your team? How you talk about the team will say a lot. Are you enthusiastic and passionate when you talk about it or do you say things like ‘I know it’s not the most interesting thing to do’ or ‘It is a really messy job but someone has to do it I guess’. This kind of language will turn people off straight away before you even ask if they want to be involved! So talk about some of the effects of your team tell them some great stories  – ‘It was worth getting up early to make all the tea and coffee because when I served one lady last week she spoke to me about the miracles that God has been doing in her life – that’s why I love doing what I do’.

2.       Does your team look like its having fun? If your team all look bored and grumpy or like they all woke up on the wrong side of the bed then people won’t want to join it! Inject some fun and create an environment that people want to be a part of. Have Fun! 

3.       Is it easy to be part of your team? What have you done to open up your team for people to join and be a part of? People want to feel included and like they will fit in. Do all of your team wear matching t-shirts? Well what if someone doesn’t feel comfortable in a T-Shirt as they always wear a smart shirt and tie or they are too big to fit into the sizes available? What have you done to allow them to still feel a part of the team, to still feel needed and to still be a part of something bigger than them?

This week I have invited one of my Associate Pastors, Gemma Neill, to share some of her thoughts on developing leaders:

Having served on team with Pastor Tom Rawls for several years now I am continuously inspired by not only his passion for, but his gifting, in developing leaders. I recall a conversation when one church leader asked Pastor Tom where he had ‘found’ so many great leaders for his church, to which Pastor Tom replied, “I didn’t find them, I grew them”.

Pastor Tom’s whole hearted commitment to growing us into all we can be means he has intentionally established a clear and effective leadership development system. One of the most impacting strategies I have observed him to use is what I call, the 5 minute coaching moments.

Pastor Tom is able to make the most of a 5 minute conversation with us to bring encouragement and instruction to our life, or to provide guidance on strategies and wisdom for HR issues within our area of responsibility.

Coaching is a time consuming task and Pastor Tom has invested thousands of hours into developing us, however, coaching doesn’t always have to packaged in a 45minute 1:2:1 meeting at Starbucks! (Although, Pastor Tom does love a vanilla latte with an extra shot!) Significant direction and guidance can be bought to those you are coaching when you stop for 5minutes when you pass them on the stairs, as you share a car journey together, or grab a few moments at the end of an evening.

I would suggest that the reason Pastor Tom is able to make the most of moments like this is linked with other systems he has in place in church life:

1. Weekly Headlines – he knows the highlights of what has happened in every area of church life within the last seven days so is ready and able to discuss this with us at any given moment
2. Other reporting systems – Monthly and quarterly reports provide additional qualitative and quantitative detail so he can focus his input on specific issues
3. Personal growth – every member of the team has a personal growth plan, updates from which are provided on a monthly basis enabling Pastor Tom to bring guidance and advice as required
4. Commitment to leadership development – Pastor Tom’s desire to see us grow and develop is clear to see. His earnest desire to bring out the best in us and invest the wisdom he has gleaned in over 30years of ministry keeps our growth at the forefront of his mind meaning he never misses an opportunity
5. Formal and informal socialising – not only does Pastor Tom work directly with us through team meetings, but he and Pastor Denise regularly open up their home to us for meals, they eat at our homes, we go on cinema trips. All providing opportunity to build relationship, from which flows everything else
6. Prayer – Pastor Tom is in regular prayer for each of us and our families enabling him to bring not only practical coaching advice, but powerful prophetic impact, shaping our lives and our leadership.

It’s amazing what can be achieved in just 5 minutes!

I am so thankful to the committed and professional kids team that we have here at Proclaimers. This week I have invited the leader of our Kids and Families Department, Mark Hodder, to share his thoughts on why it’s so important for men to be a role model to what’s been dubbed ‘the fatherless generation’:

We are living in a world filled with huge uncertainty, dangerous insecurity and fading integrity; a world where children need their fathers more than ever before, and yet, it is this generation that has been labelled as 'The Fatherless Generation'. Statistics prove that divorce rates are rocketing, single-parent families are becoming far too common and fathers are simply abandoning their children.
 
A devoted father encourages, supports, protects, nurtures, guides and loves. Without these things, how can a child overcome life's challenges, grow with confidence in who they are and fulfil their God-given potential?
 
Never before has there been such a need for men to rise up within the church and lead the way as role models for the next generation. I believe that we can be those role models. Men of faith, strength, love and compassion, prepared to reach out and be an influence for good in the lives of those who desperately need someone to demonstrate what true masculinity is. Men, passionate about the next generation and committed to doing all they can to help these children become all that they can be.

The Role of an Executive Pastor

The use of the title or term Executive Pastor at Proclaimers:

The term Executive Pastor has been in use in the church for many decades and is used to describe the role of a person appointed to assist the senior pastor. It is a term used in large church contexts to describe the role of a specific person designated to free the Senior Pastor from the many day to day administrative duties in church life as the church grows.

Every church is led by a Pastor. The Pastor's role is to shepherd the flock, however, it is not possible for one person to shepherd a large and growing number of people and to do so effectively. There has to be some delegation of work and function. Spreading out roles and responsibilities reduces the burden on the Pastor's shoulders so they are free to fulfil their primary responsibility in teaching, vision casting, directing the church, coaching and developing leaders, creating culture and caring for people.

The Executive Pastor is appointed to shoulder many of the day to day responsibilities in the church freeing the senior pastor to do what he’s been called to do. The Executive Pastor is there to help the Senior Pastor to get the work of the church done effectively, efficiently and quickly. Their role is to make sure that every aspect of the church’s ministry impacts effectively and according to design.

In a large and growing church every person counts and it is the vision of our church to see that every person is cared for well. To achieve this goal the role of the Executive Pastor is crucial.

Job Description for the Executive Pastor

Vision Implementation
Under the direction of the Senior Pastor, the Executive Pastor is to co-ordinate and organise the programs of the church, in line with the established goals of the church.

Overseeing Daily Activities
The Executive Pastor leads all the day-to-day activities, thereby allowing the Senior Pastor to concentrate on the overall spiritual growth of the church.

Administrative Activities
Under the Senior Pastor's guidance, and in consultation with appropriate committees and staff, the Executive Pastor has to prepare the church budget and manage it. He/She is tasked to relate to others on staff to ensure they operate effectively in their roles and according to their stated goals.

Disciplining and Nurturing
The Executive Pastor's duty also includes coaching individuals and developing their capacity as leaders and disciples of Jesus Christ. He/She is to train and motivate the team, so that the church sends effective leaders into the world to carry forward the message of Christ and His church.

Helping with General Pastoral Duties
Often times the Executive Pastor will handle areas of general pastoral care which may include counselling and general advice offered to members; he/she would perform this ministry alongside others in the church who have as a responsibility for the care of others. His/her role is crucial in allowing the senior pastor to be able to carry out his role of pastoring in a large and growing church.

Facilitate Short-term Ministry Projects
The Executive Pastor is to manage teams of people for short-term ministry projects such as building programs, special church events or community involvements.

In a large and growing church the role of an Executive pastor is crucial if a Senior Pastor is to function effectively. I thank God for the role that Pastor Owen Morgan plays in our church here in Norwich.

Tom Rawls
Senior Minister ¦ Proclaimers

_{I want to acknowledge help on this articel from Priya Johnson at Buzzle.com and Owen Morgan who functions as Executive Pastor at Proclaimers}

It concerns me when all Christians can do is criticise others. Our criticism starts with people in the world and we end up being critics of the church as well. Criticism is a dangerous disease. In turn we condemn others by our judgements.

I heard a quote once from a guy called John Haggai and he said, "It don't take much size to criticise." I know it sounds cheesy but it also holds a profound truth; critics are small minded people.

Why is it when faced with a woman caught in the very act of adultery we want to pick up rocks and kill her. Not only is this action motivated by law but it reflects a religious spirit that is cruel, calouse and cares little for people.

Jesus said we were to be salt to the earth, to add flavour, be an influence and by our very presence seek to preserve the goodness and kindness of God in the earth.

Jesus said, "I don't condemn you." Why can't we look past our own personal preferences and see people? Why cant we look past the sin and see the person? Why does someones lifestyle offend us, threaten us or make us angry? Sinners sin because they are sinners; get over it.

In today's world we will see the horror of sin and stand face to face with the consequences of immorality in the people around us. But we can never forget the words of Jesus found in John 3:17, "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." NIV

It's time we put down our stones of criticism and start to focus our energies on reaching out to a people "caught in the act ..." To love them not condemn them to engage with people not judge them and to connect with them and not try and kill them.

Romans 5:20, "But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound." KJV

Would love to hear your comments. TR 

Matthew 9:13 (The Message): "Jesus, overhearing, shot back, "Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick? Go figure out what this Scripture means: 'I'm after mercy, not religion.' I'm here to invite outsider, not to coddle insiders."

I find it interesting the Christian mindset of "us and them." Jesus calls them outsiders only to differentiate the focus of His mission. It's not a put down to anyone. He is certainly not judging those he calls outsiders.

If anything Jesus is having a shot at the religious leaders of His day for making their focus the insiders! Jesus is making it clear what His focus is and in so doing makes it clear what our focus should be as well.

We must as a church look outwards - we must be externally focused not internally focused. We have to spend more time thinking in terms of how to reach our world not how to keep Christians from straying away from the fold.

Shame on Christians who needed to be coddled - these incredibly high maintenance people who seem to love their problems more than they love Jesus, who exaggerate how huge their need is but spend little to no time exaggerating how great God grace is.

If we look at the simple breakdown of the scripture we see Jesus talking about MERCY for OUTSIDERS and merely RELIGON for INSIDERS.

So ... listen closely; how do we become insiders who move in MERCY and not religion? The answer is by keeping an eye out for outsiders and showing mercy but at the same time resist the temptation to coddle those in the church encouraging them rather to maturity.

Coddling people doesn't prepare them for real life, where as mercy causes people to open up to the Saviour. Pastor shepherd the sheep, lead the sheep and feed the sheep. We nurse those who are sick and labour until Christ is formed in them. As Christian leader though we must resist the temptation to coddle.

Coddle: Dictionary.com says, "... to baby, to indulge, to treat indulgently, to pamper, to spoil." Coddling people keeps them immature and unformed. Coddling spoils people and we become indulgent leaders while keeping the flock childish, juvenile and under developed.

Paul encourages something quite different:

Ephesians 4: 14 - 16, "No prolonged infancies among us, please. We'll not tolerate babes in the woods, small children who are an easy mark for impostors. God wants us to grow up, to know the whole truth and tell it in love—like Christ in everything. We take our lead from Christ, who is the source of everything we do. He keeps us in step with each other. His very breath and blood flow through us, nourishing us so that we will grow up healthy in God, robust in love."

Indicative of Christian maturity is an eye to the outsider. Mature people don't or shouldn't need coddling, we need to desire the mercy and grace to reach out to our world with the message of God's good news.  

Colossians 4:5-6, "Be wise in the way you act towards outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone."

Our churches as well as our conversation should be externally focused. The great misdirection of the church has been to concentrate upon itself. We some times feel we must be judge and jury to the world around us and we use people and their lifestyles to justify our speech.

The Message Bible says it this way, "Use your heads as you live and work among outsiders. Don't miss a trick. Make the most of every opportunity. Be gracious in your speech. The goal is to bring out the best in others in a conversation, not put them down, not cut them out."

A compliment would go so much further than criticism. Being gracious in our speech is the encouragement of scripture. We cannot thunder forth the "word of the Lord" to a nation and its people who no longer recognise the voice of the Lord. We need to be Jesus to them and speak in a way that "... brings out the best in others."

We are delighted to announce that we are partnering with Metamorphic International to run the Water 4 Water Campaign in the UK. This is something that your church could get involved in too so I have asked our Executive Pastor Owen Morgan to let you know what it’s all about:

We’re teaming up with Metamorphic ahead of World Water Day in March to raise money for to provide pump wells for clean water in developing nations. Lindsay Clark (Metamorphic International) and his team have come up with a great way for lots of churches and organisations to get involved. They will provide bottles of water (500ml) which are branded as Water 4 Water. People donate £20 for one bottle of water. That £20 will result in 6 people having clean water for life. We intend to run this to coincide with World Water Day on the 22^nd March.

We will be running one or two church wide events but on the whole we will be encouraging connect groups and teams to create opportunities to raise the money. We will also be encouraging people to get their workplace involved as well.

Did you know that 1 in 6 people don’t have access to clean safe drinking water, that’s 1 billion people. 1.8 million children die of diarreah as a result of contaminated water each year. The goal is to plant wells through local churches primarily in Cambodia, Laos and Kenya.  This is part of a world wide initiative to help over 100,000 people gain access to clean safe drinking water.  The gift of a community well will transform the lives of families and will open the door for local church leaders to build relationships.  In both Cambodia and Laos pastors are persecuted and in many cases jailed for their faith, past projects have shown that the wells can lead to these pastors becoming key and respected leaders within the community.

One of the things we love about Metamorphic is the way they combine Aid and Development projects such as this with Church Planting. All the wells are provided through local churches. Lindsay Clark has been a great friend and advisor to our church for many years and to Tom and Denise personally for even more!

Last year we partnered with Metamorphic and saw 30 wells planted in Cambodia. Our church loved rising to the challenge of putting on creative and fun social events which resulted in people’s lives being transformed.

If you are interested in partnering alongside us please get in contact with our missions team leader John Lee

Johnlee@proclaimerschurch.com
Mobile: 07746855114
Office:  (+ 44) 1603 740064
www.metamorphic-water.org/

Being connected with today is being connected with people. 

It’s easy to connect with today when it’s all about people.

The heart of God is all about people and His relationship with them. For those of us who are the redeemed it’s all about others – it’s all about people – it’s all about loving God and loving people – it’s all about learning to connect with God and then connecting God with people.

It’s all about people and being generous with your time, your attention (some people are just soooooo busy!) your affirmation, your resources and your faith.

Our mission in life is reach people and to introduce them to Christ and get them connected with His church. Sounds simple but people connect people. I mean how can you win people to Christ when you don’t even know them. We just have to develop relationship and rapport with those around us and stop waiting for the "divine connections."

One of the most integral parts of church and its culture is belonging. People want to belong to something, they want a relationship with God and friends and they want to be part of a great family. They want to be a part of a vision bigger than themselves and work together with others of like mind and purpose.

People need people (sorry Barbara!). People need to belong; people were not meant to be isolated and alone.

God says in His word Psalms 68:6, “God sets the lonely in families” and we are that family. Open up your hearts, Jesus says in Matthew 5, “Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.”

Get out more, make more time to connect with others, realise that others are our priority. Connect with people today.

Being connected with God’s today is being motivated by His cause.

The cause of Christ is the Matrix upon which all we do in church must flow. A matrix is something that constitutes the place or point from which something else originates, takes form, or develops.

I believe a church validates its reason for existing by fulfilling this great cause. If we ignore it we too will be ignored. If we seek to fulfill other agendas and make them a priority then we too will be relegated by others agendas.

In Matthew 9:12-13 Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

It means that everything we do as church must flow from this one cause. The cause of Christ – to seek and saved that which is lost – to testify to the truth (John 18:37).

I love that scripture in Acts 20: 24, “However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me – the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.”

Imagine a church totally motivated by this cause of Christ. Imagine the areas a church like this will touch. A city, a Nation - all of Europe; maybe even the world!

Luke 19:9-10, "Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."