In MY Opinion

In my experience, as a minister/pastor/father, I've encountered 2 categories of "ministers".

1. Those who want to "preach" so bad they can taste it.

2. Those who know they're "called" but are bashful/reluctant & maybe even running from their call.

In MY experience...

• Those who fall into the 2nd category - those who are not reaching for a mic...ultimately have fruitful longevity in ministry that builds over time & have increased favor.

• Those who want the mic so bad, they can taste it...jump from this to that, here to there, and pillar to post because they are only satisfied when they are self-satisfied.

Ministry is not about holding a mic.
Ministry is about being held by a responsibility to serve.

Start in the field. If you can serve when no one is looking, where there's no promise of position or "pay" - you won't have to look for a platform...a platform will find you.

Leaguership
www.russellhylton.com

He's Not A Burden

Serving From Devotion or Obligation

Serving With Devotion

Leadership 101 - Eleven Nuggets

Serve With Excellence

Have you ever been asked to SERVE in any capacity? Were you happy, sad, pumped up or did SERVING put you in a bad mood?

The early church had a challenge in Acts 6 that created an OPPORTUNITY for others to SERVE others with excellence.

Acts 6:1-6

1But as the believers[a] rapidly multiplied, there were rumblings of discontent. The Greek-speaking believers complained about the Hebrew-speaking believers, saying that their widows were being discriminated against in the daily distribution of food.

2 So the Twelve called a meeting of all the believers. They said, “We apostles should spend our time teaching the word of God, not running a food program. 3 And so, brothers, select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will give them this responsibility. 4 Then we apostles can spend our time in prayer and teaching the word.”

5 Everyone liked this idea, and they chose the following: Stephen (a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit), Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas of Antioch (an earlier convert to the Jewish faith). 6 These seven were presented to the apostles, who prayed for them as they laid their hands on them.

The Challenge (Acts 6:1)

• We read in Acts 6:1 that the church was growing rapidly and it caused some growing pains. 
• The Greek speaking believers complained that some of their widows were being discriminated against in the daily distribution of food.

The Solution (Acts 6:2-5)

• A meeting was scheduled by the twelve leaders to SEEK GOD and find a SOLUTION to the challenge. 
• They agreed to find seven men who would be responsible for MANAGING the food program for the widows. 
• Acts 6:3 lists three qualities for these men.

Here are three qualities we need to serve people with excellence:

1. Be respected and of sound character 

• The bible says God looks on the heart and not the outward appearance of a person. 
• Sometimes we’ll recruit people to serve based on the outward appearance, for polished individuals. 
• We need to pray and seek the Lord for people who have the attitude and qualities of a servant.

2. Be full of the Spirit 

• A big key to serving other’s well is being full of God’s presence. 
• I love that it’s being full of the spirit and not pride; self; or serving to get something.

3. Full of wisdom 

• Wow! God fill me with your wisdom to help me serve others and my church well!!!!
• Stephen was one of the seven chosen to serve. 
• Everyone liked this idea, and they chose: Stephen (a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit), Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas of Antioch. 
• These seven were presented to the apostles, who prayed for them as they laid their hands on them. Acts 6:5-6

Results of serving with excellence

• And the message of God kept on SPREADING, and the number of disciples MULTIPLIED greatly in Jerusalem; and [besides] a large number of the priests were obedient to the faith [in Jesus as the Messiah, through Whom is obtained eternal salvation in the kingdom of God]. Acts 6:7

How can you do a better job of serving your church, your community, your family, your company, and others with EXCELLENCE?

Here’s a tip. Start small, and start today. 

Do something and SERVE PEOPLE with excellence.

"Let me know what I can do to help"

I've met lots of people along the journey who've said to me, "Pastor, let me know what I can do to help."  And although I love hearing that, to be honest, time always proves what level they're willing to get involved in.

I love meeting people who are PASSIONATE about serving in Ministry.  Their excitement is contagious. They are like a breath of fresh air with their light hearted outlook.  They are a joy to serve with and their love for JESUS resonates.

However, have you been around people who act bored out of their mind or they hardly smile, serve or share the load?  Have you witnessed their lethargic approach to the work of ministry?  They're not a lot of fun to be around.

Which of the two describes you?

If you attend church but aren't involved, or if you're serving right now and LOVE it (which if you are, I'm glad!), you might not even understand why I would ask this question.

But if you've ever served at a local church as a dedicated VOLUNTEER or a PAID STAFF member, you likely have an idea of what I'm talking about.

Sadly, I've seen a trend in churches that disturbs me.  It's a trend of people who used to serve in ministry but now are content to sit in the pew.

I've personally seen...

• Pastors who used to lead a church who now just sleep in on Sundays and have given up on all forms of the local church.
• People who only attend when they're "ON" the music team, the greeting team, serving in student/kids ministry, or speaking.
• People who stop attending the moment they stop serving.

Every time I hear this or see this...it breaks my heart!

Please understand, I know the local church is not perfect. but I honestly do believe the PROMISE of the local church is greater than the PROBLEMS of the local church.  And I realize the Church (as Jesus sees it) is bigger than any local church.  But to pretend the local church in all its forms around the world isn't a part of the Church is, well, just not accurate.

Lets me clear, I intend to be part of the local church as long as I live, whether I'm paid to lead or not.  

Why do you attend your church? 

I want to share several reasons why you may be struggling to attend your local church:

1. YOUR IDENTITY IS TIED TO WHAT YOU DO, NOT WHO YOU ARE

• Who are you really?
• A preacher?
• A musician?
• A worship leader?
• A student director?
• An elder?
• An usher?
• A group leader?
• A staff member?

NO...that's not who you are.  You're a child of God redeemed by a Savior who came for you! So many of us define who we are by what we do. 

Before you ignore this, take this test:

If work (or ministry) is your idol, 

if you are successful it goes to your head, 

if you are a failure it goes to your heart.

Maybe your IDENTITY is more tied up in WHAT you do, more than you think.

2. YOU LIKE BEING THE CENTER OF ATTENTION

Many people LIVE FOR THE APPLAUSE. Could it be that you've grown accustomed to being the center of attention, no matter how small your audience may be?

Often my decision that something doesn't FIT "me" is far more a statement about me that it is about whatever I'm uncomfortable with.

3. YOU'RE DISENCHANTED WITH PEOPLE

Yes, church is messy, flawed, disappointing and a times deeply hurtful.  Largely because PEOPLE are messy, flawed, disappointing and at times deeply hurtful. And we live on THIS SIDE OF HEAVEN.

Hurt, unresolved, breeds CYNICISM. and there are SO many cynical former church attenders who simply haven't addressed their unresolved issues.

Part of MATURITY involves realizing that I contribute to some of the MESS. I am part of the problem. And so is almost every leader who has abandoned church.

Jesus never said we would be known for our perfection. But he did say we would be known by our LOVE.

Love owns my share. Love forgives. Love says I’m sorry. Love reconciles. Love works toward a better tomorrow. 

Love sees who you really are and stays anyway.

4. YOU'VE BECOME MORE OF A CRITIC THAN A WORSHIPPER

This one's hard.  Once you've been on the INSIDE, you listen "AT" a sermon as much as you listen "TO" a message. 

You ask “What’s he doing here? Why did he make that transition this way? What’s up with his body language?”

Musicians critique the music. 

Guest services people criticize greeters. 

Graphic design people laugh at other designs.

And lead pastors critique everything.

What’s missing in this picture?

HUMILITY. SUBMISSION. GRACE. That’s all.

5. YOU THINK YOU'RE BETTER OR SMARTER THAN THE PEOPLE WHO MERELY ATTEND

This one’s ugly.

I don’t know what else to say about it except STOP IT! Really.

Okay one more thing. So maybe you are smart. Or more successful. Got that.

If you think you’re too 
important to help someone, 
stop fooling yourself. 
You’re not that important.

6. SOMEWHERE IN THE PROCESS, YOUR PERSONAL WALK WITH GOD WAS ABANDONED 

Leadership is best when it springs from the OVERFLOW of our personal walk with God.

There are many ways unusual church leaders struggle with God, but just because you lost your closeness to God while leading in a church doesn’t mean church is bad.

He loves you, and He loves the church in all of its weakness.

7. YOU'VE FORGOTTEN YOU'RE A FOLLOWER, NOT JUST A LEADER

Originally all of us got into ministry after we decided to become followers of Jesus. That following should never stop.

The BEST LEADERS are actually the BEST FOLLOWERS.

A leader who can only lead but not follow is actually not a great leader. And certainly not a godly leader. 

8. YOU'RE NEGLECTING THE FACT THAT YOU STILL HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY

I know it’s cliche, but the goal is not to attend church or go to church. YOU ARE THE CHURCH.

I think the church is so much stronger when we are TOGETHER, not when we are apart.

While we can all use some REHAB in a back row of a church somewhere from season to season, ultimately, every follower of Christ has a role to play in the local church. Even if it’s not your favorite role or a role you’re used to.

Being involved is one of the best ways to stay engaged, even if it’s not what you used to do or want to do.

9. "WHY" HAS DIED ON THE ALTER OF "WHAT" AND "HOW"

Church leadership is a lot of ‘what’ and ‘how’. I find I have to remind myself daily of the ‘why’ of church.

Why?

• Because God is good.
• Because he loves us.
• Because Jesus gave his life for a world he desperately loves.
• Because our cities are full of people who don’t know the love of Christ.
• Because my life is not my own.
• Because the church was Jesus’ idea.
• Because grace ultimately makes all things new.

So does that help? I realize these reasons will not address every issue, and that some will flail against any organized church no matter what is said.

But so many leave unnecessarily. Maybe you’re one of them. If any of these reasons are true, what will you do about them?

I know that working through them has kept my passion and hope for the local church strong, even if it flickers in the wind some days.

Leading & Serving On A Team

I’ve worked for and with various leaders over the years and each and every one was different. They led differently. Some were passive while others were headstrong. They had different priorities for leading an organization. 

As an employee/team member, I found the differences between their leadership styles made it difficult for me to determine how success was being measured and how to make a good impression.

Although every leader is unique, there’s one thing they all have in common:

They all value people who solve problems.

Understanding this principle is key for making a difference on the team. 

We spend a lot of time (sometimes an unhealthy amount) thinking about ways we can impress the people around us. But we won’t make an impression by simply showing up when we're told, putting our heads down, and simply completing our to-do list. Accomplishing these responsibilities are essential, but you’ll never maximize your potential impact by simply clocking in and out every day and doing only what you're asked to do.

If you want to stand out or make a good impression, do more than the basics: Solve problems! Your leader knows every problem your church is facing, which can be overwhelming and stressful. If you take some of the load off of them by solving a few problems, you’ll stand out.

Look for the problems that are presenting themselves and make a plan to solve them. Ask your leader how you can help. Take on a servant’s heart and make your church run smoothly for the good of everyone, and you’ll stand out.

Serving on staff is a privilege and a responsibility.  Here are some strategic things you can do to make yourself an indispensable staff/team member.

1. Find the most important objective your pastors want to accomplish and put yourself in the middle of it.

• Volunteer to lead a team to accomplish the objective.
• Be a good listener. For instance, if you hear frustration from your leaders on why the church has a low retention rate for visitors, make note of it and take initiative to help find a solution.
• See with your leaders eyes. Be close enough to them relationally & professionally that you're picking up on clues & cues.

2. Make strategic connections for your pastors.

• Make sure these relationships are life-giving and not things that give them more work.
• Make sure they are strategic and contribute to accomplishing their present objectives or future dreams.

3. Bring more solutions than problems.

• When you see a problem, it’s tempting to let your pastors know right away about it. Instead, stop and brainstorm solutions. When you tell them the problem, offer several ideas to solve the problem. And when you offer your ideas, volunteer to be a part of the solutions.

4. Think team, not solo.

• Don't always talk about your needs. Instead, offer to sacrifice for other team members or departments. Find ways you can show your ministry is not singular in focus but recognizes it’s part of the whole.
• If you're passionate about your area of ministry, you'll want to talk about it to everyone...especially your leaders. If your leader never hears you talking, with enthusiasm, about your area of ministry or the church as a whole...it may mean you're merely collecting a paycheck or hanging on to a title instead of fulfilling the purpose you declared you were called to.
• If you spend more time talking about everyone else's ministry (national & local) and seem to know who's who, where they are, what they're doing and who they're running with MORE than you talk about or promote your own local church then maybe you need to revisit why you are in your current role.
• If you are passionate about what you're doing everyone will see it, hear it and to your own credit...get tired of hearing about it. However, it will be apparent that you are focused on your assignment and it burns in your heart. That will bring joy to your leaders. 

5. Carry out your assignments & duties with excellence. 

• Every leader must know the condition of their department (flock). Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds. (Proverbs 27:23 KJV)
• How is your department/team doing?  Are you on top of your duties/responsibilities?
• How well do you know the people you're leading? For example: as a youth pastor, I knew where each of my students went to school, what sports they were involved in, who their friends were & what issues they were struggling with. I contacted each of them on a weekly basis (the involved & the uninvolved) to stay connected to them while helping my pastor keep the entire family built up.
• Relationships have to be forged on the benches before they can be trusted in the trenches.
• It's the behind the scenes work, extra time spent & careful planning that yields results. 

Are you serving in your ministry role with the same level of excellence and expectations you do with your secular work? Are you compromising the trust and position you've been given with slothfulness, disinterest, sloppiness or a "just enough to get by" approach?

We don’t become indispensable by jockeying for power or claiming our rights, but by humbly and intentionally serving our pastors and our team.

We are members one of another! 

You Matter

Dear BFWC Family,

To everyone who volunteers at Bethel Family Worship Center...YOU ARE AMAZING!!!  God is using YOU to reach people...and lives ARE being changed because of the time and effort you put in each and ever week.

Last night was simply off the charts! 1600 people walked on to our campus for a night of fellowship at the FALL HARVEST FEST!  We have never seen so many cars parked on our campus before!  They were lined up and down the streets...It was unreal!

YOU MADE IT HAPPEN!

• You donated candy!
• You showed up to serve!
• You gave away smiles, hugs & handshakes!
• You kept a good attitude when the crowd was overwhelming!
• You served people!
• You invited people!
• You represented JESUS!
• You stayed late to clean up!
• You connected with one another!

EVERYTHING you do matters!

• To our greeters - YOU matter!
• To our ushers - YOU matter!
• To our parking lot team - YOU matter!
• To our Children's Ministries team - YOU matter!
• To our media team - YOU matter!
• To our gate keepers - YOU matter!
• To our hospitality team - YOU matter!
• To our 3one7 Students - YOU matter!

To every volunteer in ANY area of our church - YOU matter!

We're sure there might be days that you are tempted to think, "Does it really matter whether I show up today or not?"  The answer is an astounding YES!  Everything you do matters...and it IS making a difference - both NOW and for eternity!

BFWC...we understand that a church is NOT effective when the pastor ministers to the people - but rather when the BODY ministers to the body!  WE need one another!

And so week after week people show up, work with children, direct traffic, clean the place where we meet...all so we can work together to impact this community...and IT's WORKING!

It is an honor and privilege to serve with you!  We can't wait to see you on Sunday! 

Love,

Russell & Beverly Hylton

Lead Pastors

People First

I worked in banking for several years.  The two busiest days of the month were always the 1st and 3rd of each month.  These were the days that many government and state checks were issued.  I would prepare myself mentally for a long day that would include lines out the door and non-stop traffic.

One aspect of my job was to "cross sell." (Selling an additional product or service to an existing customer.)  One feature that we were encouraged to suggest was "direct deposit."  This would enable the customer to forgo standing in extremely long lines to deposit their check.  We would do the work for them electronically...instantly. 

The customer would win all the way around...no driving to the bank, less gasoline used, no standing in long lines, more time to do other things, etc.

However, not everyone saw this feature as a benefit.  Mostly, our senior citizens.  It seemed like every 1st and 3rd of the month I would go through the same "sales speech" of why they should let their checks be direct deposited. 

Finally, one day after going through my routine speech, a dear elderly lady explained to me that she knew she could have her check direct deposited, it would save time, gas, etc.  However, she enjoyed walking to the mailbox to check for the mail.  She enjoyed getting ready to go to the bank.  She enjoyed handling her personal banking...signing her check, filling out her deposit ticket, standing in line and chit chatting with fellow customers and bank employees.  The "trip to the bank" was something she looked forward to each month. 

I realized at that moment this was not just about convenience or business for her.  She also enjoyed the social aspect of engaging with other people.

In the ministry, it's not just about programs...it's about people.  People who laugh and cry, smile and smirk, and hide their feelings like the old fashioned game "hid-n-seek" hoping for someone to find them.

People are what ministry is all about.

Are you a people person? 

Apostle Paul spoke of his son in the faith as a "people person." 

• Philippians 2:19-22 "But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state.  For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state.  For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's.  But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the Gospel."

Timothy had proven he was a people person.  He proved that he was more concerned with people than he was with his own advancement.

Friends, if we're going to be in the ministry, we must look beyond our own desires and personal advancements.  The big picture is what matters. 

Too often, I meet people who say they want to be in the ministry, but if their heart isn't in it for the right reason, it will show especially when sacrifice is required. 

There comes a time when you'll have to put your needs last for the sake of others.  It will be a sacrifice.  You'll have to wait on your own goals and desires.  However, in the end, you'll be rewarded as you follow the footsteps of Pastor Timothy. 

Prayer Focus

Let us pray that BFWC will be more people-oriented than program-oriented.  Let us aim to meet the needs of the widows, orphans, sick, elderly, lost, and so forth.  Sure, we all have ideas for ministry, plans that are stirring in our heads and hearts, but let us not forsake the day-to-day operations that involve people. 

We pray for more people to minister to more people.

Are you relying on the pastors, elders and deacons to do this?  How about you?  Are you following after Timothy's example?

If you see a need...meet it.  That's real ministry.