DREAMERS LEAD

This last Monday we celebrated the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  For many of us, it was a day off and an opportunity to catch up on routine tasks, or a day to catch an extra moment of rest.  Hopefully in that time, you took a moment to reflect on the impact of what one person can do when they indeed, have a dream.

When we look at Dr. King, we realize we have all been impacted by his dream.   Amazingly, Dr. King did all of this before reaching 40 years old.  He was not limited by the assumptions age that is often placed on us.  He was not limited by the “inexperience” others would assume he would have.  No, he led, and led well, because he was driven by the passion of a dream. 

What we can learn from Dr. King:

• His dream required sacrifice.  Dr. King gave everything he had for the dream he believed in.  For him, it cost him his life.  For us, it will cost us time, money, efforts, and energy.  When we believe in something, we will be willing to count the cost.
• He didn’t wait to accomplish the dream.  Dr. King accomplished all that he did before he was 40.  He gave his great speech at the age of 35.  Don’t let any excuse keep you from the dream and vision God has given you.  What could be accomplished today, that you are putting off until tomorrow?
•  His dream was captivating.  A nation stopped and listen to one man share his dream.  Over 200,000 where in attendance to hear his speech.  Millions more watched on television or listen on radio.  Let your dream be captivating.  It must first captivate you.
• His dream changed the world.  Our dreams should impact those around us.  Our greatest dreams are selfless and benefit all who we minister to.  How are our dreams making things better for those around us?

In the Old Testament, we read the story of Joseph.  He too had dreams.  He faced great sacrifice and tribulation.  His dream changed the world and met the people at the greatest point of need in his time.  Even when faced with the greatest of adversity, Joseph held on to his dream, and saw his dream to completion.  God honors the pursuit of spirit-led dreamers.

Dr. Martin Luther King’s dream served a nation in one of its greatest times of need. Dr.  King left a lasting impact because he was driven by his dream, and his passion to see it through.  What are you dreams and what are you doing to accomplish them?

 Let us dream dreams only God can give us, and let us see them through.

Abe Daniel - District Student Ministries Director

Northern California and Nevada Assemblies of God Student Ministries

A STRONG FOUNDATION

The headline simply read “Whipping past Cuba, Ivan Roars into Gulf of Mexico.”  It would be Florida’s third hurricane in as many weeks.  It seemed endless, and people are growing weary.  As we saw the pictures on the internet, TV, and in the newspapers, we couldn’t help but notice the damage and destruction that these hurricanes leave behind.  Many were left homeless, countless millions had no electricity, and lives were being turned upside down.   

In recent years, we have seen devastation from the series of hurricanes that have come though the south eastern parts of our nation. As I watch the news, with coffee in hand, I am taken back to Matthew 5:45b which states “Because He causes the sun to rise on evil and good, and sends rain on the just and unjust.”  We will all go through storms, and sometimes “hurricanes” in our lives. That is a guarantee. Not one of us is exempt from these trying times.  It is not whether storms will come, the question is what will we do when they do come.

As I watched the news, it wasn’t what was destroyed that caught my eye, but that which remained. Something about these structures enabled them to endure.  The strength of their structures, the depth of their foundations caused them to withstand torrential rains and ravaging winds.  This lead me to examine the spiritual implications for our own lives.

What kind of foundation have I been building, what kind of structure do I have in my life? It needs to be more than just punching my card with token prayers and little Bible crumbs.  It needs to be more than a weekend faith, and a sometimes conviction.  It needs to be a growing and molding of who I am, into becoming more like Jesus.  It needs to be building the very core of who I want to be on the solid foundation of who Jesus is.

Many beautiful buildings were torn apart and at a great cost, because something in their structure was compromised.   What am I doing to prepare for the next big hurricane that is promised to come my way?  What is compromised in my life that may be revealed in the next storm?  Am I more concerned about the outside structure, or am I building a solid foundation that will last?

Our storms might be financial, spiritual, emotional, or relational.  Many were met unexpectedly by the trying times of our current economy.  Very few, if any of us are ready for tragedy when it knocks at our door.  While there is much we cannot be ready for, there are things in place that can prepare us for such times.

How prepared are we for the next time we get a phone call, and our world is turned upside down?  What will be revealed of our character, our convictions, our faith in Jesus?  I can already see the next storm, it is just on the horizon.  It could be bigger than the last one, it probably will test every area of weakness in the foundation of my life.  We must build a strong foundation to endure what might come.

Scott Tuttle - Student Ministries Operations and Events Director

Northern California and Nevada Assemblies of God Student Ministries

 

ON THE EDGE OF LEADERSHIP

The question is often asked, what separates a successful team, organization, ministry, or company from one the seems to struggle more to get similar results?  Two seemly similar organizations can have drastically different outcomes.  What gives one the edge over the other:  Leadership.  True success is dependent on leadership.

What do success leaders do? 

1. Leaders see the potential in those they lead.  What potential exists in the team that surrounds you?  What potential exists in the students who attend your ministry?
2. Leaders develop a vision people want to follow.  A solid vision will provide a clear direction that people will want to follow.  What vision are you developing to lead your team or ministry.
3. Leaders are willing to work hard to accomplish the vision.  Behind every great accomplishment is someone who has been willing to put in the time to accomplish the vision. What do you need to be doing to get the vision moving forward? 

We have seen this clearly in the sharp turnaround of the San Francisco 49ers.  The team is basically the same from one year to the next, yet the outcome is drastically different.   We can clearly attribute this to the leadership shift that has taken place in the last year, most notably, the hiring of Coach John Harbaugh.  He has raised the level of potential, has given a clear vision, and has worked hard t accomplish it.

Leaders raise the level of those around them.  Remember, everything rises and falls and leadership.  You have all the people you need to do great things.  Here are some things to consider:

• What are you doing to raise the level of potential of those you lead? 
• What are you doing to increase the confidence of those you lead?
• What you are doing to bring out the best in them?
• What are you doing to give opportunity for those you lead to succeed?

Your greatest success will be seeing others lead and succeed.  Give them this opportunity. This will be your greatest edge as a leader.

Abe Daniel - District Student Ministries Director

Northern California and Nevada Assemblies of God Student Ministries

CULTURE: LOVE

John Zick has been a part of our staff as an intern, as an extension of Capital Christian Center's Masters Commission.  Recently John's role has shifted to "Cultural Specialist."  We are excited that John will continue to work with us not only to help us research cultural trends and thoughts. He is working towards credentialing with the Assemblies of God.  John also is a part of Pathway Apprenticeship and has a passion for evangelism. In the next couple of months, he will be launched out of our office as an evangelist through Pathway.   We are excited to have John on our team!  His article is below:

We are supposed to show the world that God is enough, that His love will last you a lifetime. We are the “doctor” and have the equipment and knowledge to stop the pain, but apathy spreads too quickly to control. It’s a virus that sucks the fight right out of us. We say God is all we need, yet eighty percent of young, unmarried Christians have had sex.

Our Christian culture does not know what love is, and God is love… we say it because it sounds cool, it sounds right, it has a ring to it, God’s love is enough. But we search for the same morphine the unsaved person desires. Eighty-eight percent of unmarried young adults are having sex. Eight percent more then Christians, and we get mad and frustrated when they don’t understand God’s love. Forty-two percent of evangelical Christians are in a current sexual relationship opposed to fifty-three percent non-evangelicals. But God is enough, right? Just do as I say, not as I do?

Sex is not the only morphine we use, but in our generation it is one of the main ones. We have to show that God is our addiction. I have recently seen the movie, The Adjustment Bureau. The theme of the movie was a U.S. senator (Matt Damon) and a studio dancer (Emily Blunt) fall in love and this team of people known as “the adjustment bureau” say it is not in the overall plan for them to be together. The whole movie consists of the two going against all odds and fighting for their love against the bureau. It got towards the end of the movie and finally Matt Damon asks them at the peak of his frustration, “Why do you care if we are together?” The bureau responded, “Because once you have her, she will be enough. You will no longer need to seek the high from speaking in front of people and that high is what will promote you to president one day.” (Not word for word but the main idea.)

I could not help but think of my relationship with God. After sinning and feeling distant, at the peak of my frustration, I ask satan, “Why do you care? What does it matter to you if Jesus and I are together? Can’t you just leave us alone?” If satan was forced to respond with honesty, I feel like he would have to say something similar to the movie plot: “Because God is enough, once you have Him you won’t search any longer, you won’t need anything to fill your void. Once you figure that out you win and I will once and for all lose! But don’t worry that wont happen anytime soon because I have disguised it. If I can’t get you with sex, I will get you with a church addiction, I will have you wanting and needing the very gift God gave you to use for good, it will become your fix.”

If we want our generation and this world to change, God truly has to become enough. Period. We have to show them we don’t need a fix or a quick high, we just need God!

Source; national survey of reproduction and contraceptive knowledge conducted by the national campaign to prevent teen and unplanned pregnancy, Dec. 2009

THE TASK AT HAND

It has been said that vision without task is fantasy, and task without vision is drudgery.   As we begin a new year, many of us start of with great vision of what lies ahead.  We imagine that at the end of this year, thing will be better than they were before.  We see greater impact, greater growth, and greater ministry, in whatever capacity God desires.  

In Scripture we read the story of the talents.  Each servant was given a certain number of talents by his master.  Two of the three came back and had in same way increased what their master had given them.  The third hid his talent, afraid he would lose it.  The master called this servant a wicked and lazy servant because he did nothing with what was given to him.

Here are some things to consider as you move toward the vision God has given you for 2012:

Be faithful to the task at hand. For many of us, the issue is not the vision that lies before us, but the tasks that will be necessary to accomplish the vision.  We have great dreams, but do not do the work necessary to accomplish those dreams. 

Take the risks necessary out of obedience God.  Two o the three servants where willing to take risks with what their master had given them.  The third one did not.  Good stewardship of what God has given us isn’t just holding on to what we have, but willing to take wise risks so that we can see the kingdom of God increase.

Move Forward in your God-given vision.   The enemy’s greatest tool is distracting us from the vision God has given us. Some ignore the task, others are intimidated by the tasks, while some are distracted.  We must find practical ways to keep the vision before us, and to accomplish the tasks necessary to fulfill that vision.

Our tasks substantiate the vision that God has given as. As we move ahead in to 2012, ask yourself these questions: What will my vision be for 2012?  What tasks need to be accomplished to fulfill this God-given vision in my person life, in my family, and in my ministry?

Your greatest potential lies before in the vision that God has given you.  Praying that God leads you in to great things this year!

Abe Daniel - District Student Ministries Director

Northern California and Nevada Assemblies of God Student Ministries

OUTREACH IN THE RAW

I need to start this article off with all honesty as well as sincerity, knowing only one way of writing and that is transparently. If you by any chance happen to read this article you are most likely in the throne room, and no it’s not the throne room of heaven. Was that too real, too soon, and too much info? If so stop reading now! I’m not a person who plays politics or sugar coats things so people feel better about themselves.

When I was asked to write this article on outreach I was honored. But then I started to think about the big outreach my church has coming up, and started thinking about how I could share on the growth we have seen and blessing we have been to our city. But, I have to be honest; I’m over all that. I’m over the idea that outreach, and the vehicle of evangelism, has to be skate parks, free bbq’s and giving things away. That has in fact never been the true meaning of outreach, it has only just been man’s perversion of it. Some pastors are motivated to do outreach and give all sorts of ways to show the wealth of their church or the prominence of their ministry. It has gone from being about the people to being about the bragging rights of pastors.

If I haven’t lost you yet chances are you were not dissuaded by the above paragraph of my own personal complaining. Which is good, on account of I really do love outreach, I have done it all my life. I’ve done the skate parks, giveaways, bbq’s and concerts. They have worth and have a great range of impact but widespread lasting impact does not come from a one-day event or bi-weekly summer event. The core of outreach is just what its name says, plain and simple; reach out. We are called to reach out to the hurting, wounded, and dying. Outreach has become a quarterly event rather than a daily mission. Every day we are passing those in need of someone to reach out and share the hope and love of who Christ is. I could talk about outreaches I’ve done in the past and the growth we have seen but I believe it has all been heard before. I have not reinvented the wheel I just created a new chrome rim but it’s just as shiny as the rest.

My heart is to share the vision of outreach and the potential that it has to change the lives of those reached out to and the one reaching out. The impact of outreach is limitless when the perspective is brought back to the passion of the impact of outreach. The church today has placed outreach in a box that says it has to be an event ever so often that is created and implemented by the church. It has not been classified as what it truly is, living life as a mission and not mundanely. If we are purposeful with every encounter every day outreach becomes a lifestyle not a day at the park with the church folk and burnt hot dogs. Sorry that was tinged with a little frustration.

We don’t need people who live like hell everyday of their lives telling me Jesus loves me when they don’t believe He loves them. We need people who are praying “give me your eyes, your ears and your heart for people”. When we truly seek to see what God sees we don’t see irritating people, we see the broken and hurting heart as it is cultivated into the heart of the Father; drawing us to them to build relationships and minister on a opportunity basis. What I mean by opportunity basis is any and every opportunity.

Now comes the part of the article where I tell you how its worked for me and the growth we have seen in our church and city. However, I don’t want to. I don’t want to tell you it works because based on even the most limited of Biblical knowledge we know it works. Jesus himself said, “Go and make disciples” He asked the disciples if they wanted to be, “Fishers of men”. We know what the word says, we have to stop compartmentalizing it into how we think it should look and recognize that it is in fact the light that is to invade every area of our lives. When a trip to the grocery store becomes more about divine appointments for us to pray with people and encourage others, to date night with the spouse becoming about looking for ways to serve. To illustrate, allow me to share this story with you about a night my wife and I had this past Valentine’s Day.

It was a Valentine’s like any other; dinner, movie and I love you’s all around. But, at some point through dinner we were struck with the idea that a woman in her late 60’s had just gone through a rough divorce. She was left alone and hurting and this was her first Valentine’s Day as a newly single woman. So my wife and I decided that in the middle of our Valentine’s night that we would go to the store and create a Valentine’s Day basket for this woman. So we headed off to the ransacked isles of Valentine’s Day trinkets. After about an hour of rummaging like it was a garage sale, we finalized our sale and left. In the car, my amazing wife put together this package that made the odds and ends we picked look like stars in the night sky (had to go cheesy its about valentines day). So, we dropped the package and a dozen red roses off to her at 10pm that night. Needless to say the outcome was tears and hugs.

I must be honest I hate using stories of myself because I feel that it singles me out like I am particularly better than everyone not doing this. Rather, if anything I am worse. I’ve seen the fruit of that night bud into an amazing relationship and opportunity after opportunity to encourage, support, and love on that woman. And through that I have watched God touch and restore her. And yet I still find myself selfishly going through my days looking to get my stuff done before I give a second thought to living out the mission of what God has called us to do, which is to reach the lost. I am writing this not as one who has by any means perfected this but as one who has struggled and everyday learns more and more that outreach is a lifestyle that yields relationships that yield opportunities that yield change.

I honestly have been so deeply impacted by this revelation in my own life it has absolutely changed my heart and passion for ministry. As a minister my heart is to see peoples live changed by a true encounter and relationship with Gods love. As a younger minister I began cultivating outreach events and began pushing these events out of my heart to see the lost saved. Now through the revelation that outreach is a mindset and everyday mission, I know that my ministry itself has dramatically changed, and grown. Rather than me being an evangelist and reaching out to hundreds of people I know that if I raise up a generation of young people who live daily missionary lives, and outreach than we stand to reach thousands if not millions on a day to day scale rather than thousands once a quarter.

Inevitably I must declare that the truest form of growth is in people not in numbers. You can do the popular thing and find the people that will be attracted but are you doing the things that truly disciple and change lives reproducing followers of Christ who in turn are reproducing followers of Christ. This is truly the way we reach people effectively. Events are great and play a roll in outreach but the truth is an individual reaching out in a lifestyle that is purposefully impacting those they encounter on a daily is where we find the greatest and truest form of outreach, which in turn produces the greatest fruit.

So after reading this what do I hope? I hope you finished the article and got this far. I hope that you were challenged to take a second look at outreach. I hope you were provoked to re-evaluate your day to day perspective. I hope this inspired some sort of great shift of thinking that makes you want to jump up off the throne and go conqueror the world. Most of all I hope that you are encouraged.

Josh Macciola serves as our area leader in the Lake Berryessa Section.

Josh Youth Pastors at Church on the Hill in Vallejo, CA