What We Value

People - Kennedy, ErnestIt has been quite a ride – an unbelievable honour to serve our Lord and you as Interim President for this past year.  Since this is my last editorial, I want to mention how thankful to God I am for the privilege of working with our fine staff, Regional leaders and so many Fellowship pastors and church leaders across our great country.

The staff in the Ministry Centre has noticed a very evident smile on my face—I am really pleased that Steve Jones is coming to give us godly fruitful leadership for the years ahead.  I am so thankful to Steve, Marilyn and their family for investing their future in leading our Fellowship of Churches.  Steve will fit in so well with the values that we have sought to bring into every part of our ministry this year.  He is a godly man, with clear leadership abilities and a heart for our Fellowship and our Lord.

In The Fellowship we have sought to develop *values that we see in the relationship of the Triune God. These values include:

1. Affirmation
Affirmation recognizes the value of each person.  We all need affirmation and encouragement. When Jesus was being baptized by John the Baptist, his heavenly Father said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17).

Have you told your son (or your staff or your church) recently that you love him?  My son is a grandfather and is serving God in a “creative access country.”  Every time we “Skype” there are a lot of things I can’t say because it may jeopardize his ministry, but I always tell him I love him.  Here at the Ministry Centre and across our country we love to affirm each person we work with for God’s glory.

2. Involvement
In whatever place we serve, we need to become involved with each other for God’s glory.  I told our staff when I first took this position that my job was to make them successful. (Of course, when they are successful so am I.)  While on earth, Jesus was confident in his ministry because the Holy Spirit was there for him. “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor” (Luke 4:18).  We are all in this together.

3. Servant Leadership
When we are servants, we show care and concern for others by supporting them in their desire to be the best in their service for Jesus.  One day Jesus said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.  Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,  and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:25). Jesus was such an example to us of servant leadership.

When Jesus was at his lowest point, humanly speaking, in the Garden of Gethsemane, he was cared for by an angel. “Then an angel appeared to him from heaven, strengthening him” (Luke 22:43). Are there any angels on your staff, in your home, your church?  Anyone who reaches out to strengthen a brother or a sister in their time of deepest need?

Your National Fellowship Ministry Centre in our short Mission statement boldly proclaims that we desire with all our heart to serve.

The Fellowship Serves – Regions Deliver – Churches Thrive

Please pray for your National Staff under our new president’s leadership. Pray that in the years ahead, our churches will really thrive under godly servant leadership.

 

* These values are adapted from the book Governance Matters by Les Stahlke.  Ernest is a licensed consultant with the Relationship Model of governance.