Dear Salvation Army, How To Build A Healthy Corps

Dear Soldiers and Officers, this is not the end all or be all of Corps Growth or the “How to” guide for all things Corps…but this is a start, a primer of sorts.

I want to delve into this topic of building a healthy corps today because I feel it vital to consider the basic elements that make up a healthy, vibrant corps. All too often we can simply settle, maintain the status quo but never truly experience the thriving pulse of vibrancy. Dear Soldiers and Officers, let’s not settle for mediocrity in our corps. Let’s not plod onward thinking we can’t improve or grow more deeply spiritually as a corporate body.

Here are four basic elements for us to consider today. These are tools to help us experience and create a healthy, vibrant corps. ***(Disclaimer, we are not striving solely for a number increase, nor should we look over the fence at another larger corps and church and exclaim “let’s become them”…embrace your corps’ identity in your community)***

4 Basic Elements To Building a Healthy Corps:

1. Prayer & Prayer Meetings
It seems like some sort of over-simplistic Sunday school answer. “You have a problem? Then pray about it.” But here is reality; those who pray together, weep together, laugh together, strive together, fellowship together will become strong…TOGETHER. Long ago our corps would meet for prayer meetings and they would gather together, sometimes holding hands and pray for the needs of their congregation and community. Some still meet like this…many have ceased to meet in such a way. Soldiers and Officers – THERE IS GREAT POWER IN PRAYER! Both corporately and privately. I don’t mean to sound callous, but somewhere along the way a majority of us stopped meeting like this. I am not sure if we truly believed God would hear us in our prayers or if we just simply got tired of meeting together.

Prayer is a vital spiritual discipline both corporately and privately. It takes concerted effort to pray for each other and for everyone to ACTUALLY SHOW UP to these meetings of prayer. If we want to experience a healthy corps, then we need to pave the way with fervent, meaningful times of prayer upon our knees. The vital signs of our corps may not improve drastically overnight, they may not improve in a month or two…but over time the Lord will grant us a softened heart and a yearning to bring the needs of our corps into focused concentrated prayer. When this happens, true love will spill over us for each other; true fellowship can occur; a sincerely desire to see God transform lives within the corps will also happen within us.

2. Intentional Discipleship
I don’t mean just some printed materials we use in a six week course. I don’t mean just another program to count on a stats sheet…I mean Christian brothers holding other Christian brothers accountable, Christian sisters holding other Christian sisters accountable. Intentional studying of God’s word together, elder Christians guiding a patiently loving younger Christians. Can it begin with a simple bible study tool? Of course, but it has to become something more than just filling out answers and memorizing scripture. Trust is sometimes an issue. Divulging ones personal struggles with another “Christian” brother or sister can be extremely difficult and even embarrassing. One might feel that they are too vulnerable if trust is not first established and coveted in confidentiality. But when we disciple one another…when we yearn to grow together (because let’s be honest, sometimes we just don’t trust others in our corps and we don’t think that they have our best interests in mind) When we can learn this spiritual discipline of discipleship, we can finally grow into the identity the Holy Spirit has been preparing us for since the moment of initial sanctification.

3. Intentional Joy & Fellowship
Not only should we be meeting for pray and discipleship but we ought to be joyously seeking fellowship together outside of the walls of our corps building. I understand we do not all have the same interests and personalities and this might make fellowship difficult at times, but do we make a concerted effort to go to each other’s homes? Are we seeking out times to share a meal together, go to a movie together, maybe take up a hobby together…or even bowl? There can be joy found in laughter and the sharing of life moments together. Are we willing to put ourselves out there? I think that sometimes we are afraid of asking people over or taking a chance to share a meal with another member of our corps because we’re afraid we might not have anything in common or find total rejection. If we are to become a healthier corps, we have to be willing to take a risk and to find intentional fellowship with other soldiers and friends.

Out of these intentional moments, a sweet aroma of love and joy can be expressed, so much so that others might be drawn to our fellowship. People will see this kind of interaction of corps members and long to be a part of something like that. Individual crave acceptance and love. People want to “fit in”…when we make that concerted effort to fellowship with others, we can begin to emit that sweet aroma of joy and fellowship to those around us, and by proxy, we are unknowingly creating a visual type of appealing evangelism.

4. Listen To Needs
I don’t merely say “Listen” to imply that we offer canned advice and suggestions, but rather when we actively listen to the needs of those around us we become more inclined to physically bridge that gap for others. When we stop talking about our wants and needs, we can begin to listen to the needs of others. “Others” can be those within our fellowship already as well as those who are on the fringes or living within our community. Don’t draw a line in the sand that separates “Our People” from “Community People”…In God’s eyes ALL people are His, some just don’t know it yet. Make sure that we allow this intoxicating joy to spill out and over not only those WITHIN but also those who are on the outside of the corps walls. When we begin to actively listen to the needs of others, we can begin to hear the pulse of organic evangelism that is created from an Ideas book or another promotional “EVENT”, but rather is done simplistically and genuinely. I am not saying that these other evangelistic ideas can’t be genuine, but from experience, listening to the needs of others silences the groans of prideful, often deaf, arrogant self and refocuses the heart onto true love and service to others.

These are just four ways to build a healthier corps together with you and me…and that neighbor down the street who has never been asked or invited to share in this intoxicating joy of fellowship. Remember, we are saved to save and in the process we can sharpen each other and grow together through holy living.

Just something more for our Army world to ponder today!
To God be the glory!

November 24, 2014 2

An Army of the walking dead? Mentoring…How do we get out of the ‘Dry Bones’ valley?

I admit it, the photo is for shock value only…but I want to convey a point with it, so bare with me and please don’t be offended.

Have you ever been burned out, running low, on empty fumes and feel all support has ebbed away from you? If you haven’t yet experienced that in ministry then perhaps you’re a better person than I or you haven’t truly been in ministry yet.

Let me pick a scab for a moment when I say this: what is the Army doing for mentoring and encouraging its Officers? All too often I feel (perhaps it’s my fault, but perhaps not) as if I’m crawling to Officers’ Councils on an empty tank. This is most certainly not an accusation by any means on my divisional leaders, truth be told I love my divisional leaders…but I’m not a hybrid car that can run for hundreds of miles without a refuel…and going to officer’s councils to recharge just doesn’t cut it for me. One of the biggest problems I see is that as a top down organization we simply do not take the time to encourage our officers on the field as we should. It goes beyond a card, phone call, or e-mail…it’s personal contact we want. It’s trust we want, it’s knowing that what we’re doing makes a difference, that we aren’t just another statistical number on the field of officers. My biggest issue is that we are devoid of mentors, challengers, encouragers and supporters in the Army. It’s not that people aren’t trying to do this but we’ve become so busy with stuff, so busy with deadlines, so busy with meetings that we forget to find the time for our Officers.

I know I’m not the only one who feels this way…I’m just probably stupid enough to voice this concern. I don’t mean to pick scabs but we can’t just salute and go when where we’re going we find we don’t have divisional or territorial support or encouragement. Not to say that it isn’t unspoken, and I don’t want some sort of pat on the back accompanied by a handshake and an ‘atta boy’. We have lost the discipleship component in our Army…this isn’t divisionally this is nationally from what I see. I understand there’s a pastoral care department at territorial headquarters but it’s insufficient for the total forces we have on the field.

I was told a long time ago, if you have any kind of criticism you better have some sort of solution or suggestions don’t just be a negative but reinforce the positive.

Here’s a list of the positives:

1) We care about people

2) We love God and wish to serve and save those people

3) We are nationally and internationally recognized as one of the most trusted organizations.

4) We have sound doctrine and sound ministries

5) We provide and care for financially for our officers and families

These are vital to our ministries and to our families and I will never begrudge the good we do in Jesus’ name.

My desire for the Army is this:

That we stop being an Army of the living dead. By that I mean we have expectations, regulations, procedures in place for everything under the Sun which is a great thing! But what we don’t have in place is Leader to Officer mentoring/discipleship in place. We have phone numbers to call when we’re discouraged, we have a team of “outside” counselors we can talk to but unlike other churches or denominations we do not have a spiritual support system in place by which we can be challenged, encouraged and mentored on a weekly even daily basis.

Some might argue that one needs to find outside mentors to talk with and outside disciplers to challenge us…but who on the outside knows the life of an Officer on the field? Who knows the challenges we face daily and the criticisms we face from corps members or from the public? Sometimes, if we’re honest with ourselves, we feel more like the dry bones in the valley with Ezekiel than we’d care to admit. There has to be something that can be done when we get to this point. Some of us have privately mentioned feelings of unfulfillment or lack of challenge. Some would never say this on the record but some don’t feel connected to leadership because we aren’t challenged positively by them.

A wise officer once suggested a type of supporting ministry idea in which Officers were assigned/appointed together for accountability and for growth of each other. Why not?

Another suggestion was to work within the system to create mentor groups that actually would meet, pray together, share with one another and challenge each other. But the danger at times can be that it would be viewed as just another program or mundane task that is “assigned” to certain Officers.

So what is the solution to this ‘walking dead’ syndrome? I know that I am not the only one who has felt this way…there are many who do. And solutions have to go beyond just assigning prayer groups at Officer’s Councils…these are wonderful but we’re all so busy to keep it up. Solutions also have to go beyond the minimalist’s suggestions of “just pray about it” or “maybe you need to read/study more of God’s word”. Let me just say that this last answer is an insult to all who serve as Officers. Because honestly even the Apostle Paul had supporters and encouragers who remained faithful to him in his ministry.

I don’t believe this is something that we have to ‘grin and bare’. This isn’t certainly isolated nor is it healthy. But I do believe there to be worthy solutions out there that the Army could implement in order to “water the bones” so to speak. As I mentioned before we need too, as individuals must be committed to sharing and being challenged as Officers as well. None of us, hopefully, signed our Officer’s Covenant form wishing for a mundane “cushy” lifestyle without challenge both physically/Mentally and Spiritually. If we are to grow as an army and to water the ‘dry bones’ then we have to make our Officers a priority and not assume that they learned it all at training college and they don’t need help, encouragement and support.

Again there has to be more than just ‘yearly reviews’ and other such program offers. I know our leadership cares for us, but we as Officers need mentors, disciplers and those who will challenge us to continue to grow instead of drying out and become an ‘army of the walking dead’. If feel that if we were to explore some of the reasons for attrition in the Army, we would find this concern to be rather high on the list.

-Just a thought…but let’s keep this conversation going.

Some mentoring sources:

http://www.mennoniteusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/MentoringProgramForBeginningPastors.pdf

http://www.ctsfw.edu/document.doc?id=62

http://dunamisinstitute.org/academics/faculty/detail/5-ec4-advanced-and-specialized-ministry/13-mentoring-program-for-pastors-

September 18, 2013 1

“Doing the will of God”

Jesus got up from the table. Isn’t that unusual for Master of ceremonies to do? He got up. He had been reclined, as they did in those days. There wasn’t a wooden table and chairs as we’re so traditionally used to. He had been enjoying a meal with His disciples. There had been some banter back and forth, some laughter over a good cooked meal. Isn’t that how bonds, throughout time, have been further deepened? Over a meal, together, they bonded, they shared, they loved. Then Jesus got up. What was He about to do? The room was slightly stuffy, and getting warmer. There was a humidity in the air which matched the body heat of those gathered there. As each disciple had eaten their share of the food and had drunken a share of the wine, Jesus did not rest. He didn’t find the nearest lazy boy chair to recline in. He didn’t make his disciples go and do the dishes. He didn’t rest. Instead, He got up and after wrapping a towel around His waist, He filled a basin full of water. The disciples were caught off guard. Some were still chewing the last bits of food and draining their cups of the last drops of wine. Glances were exchanged, expressions of bewilderment and surprise replaced the revelry of celebration.

Having wrapped the towel around His waist and poured the water into the basin, Jesus begins to display for His disciples what a true discipleship looks like: a servant of all. Kneeling down before them, Jesus places himself beneath their dirty, filthy, smelly feet and washes them. He becomes a servant before them. He takes on the very job of a household servant. The son of God stooping down to wiping the dirt from the feet of His people. Is there any better description or account of doing the will of God? The actual Messiah, Jesus kneeling down and cleansing those who needed cleansing the most? Such moments like this had to have left deep impressions upon His followers. Having the One who had been present at the beginning of creation wiping away dirt from their feeble human forms, what a lesson to learn! Master becoming servant. Jesus coming down to their level and preparing them for leadership and for eternity.

This is Discipleship:

In Jewish custom, a disciple was to do as the Rabbi did. A disciple went beyond just ‘doing’ what the Rabbi did though, the purpose of a disciple was to become the Rabbi. Literally taking on his mannerisms, his theological interpretations, his actions…everything to become just like the Rabbi. Jesus knelt at their feet and washed them. Jesus displayed for his disciples what they were to become to the world around them…servants of God, serving others. Jesus even told them this when He said; “…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 20:26-28)

Discipleship is doing the will of God, not just as a part-time worker, but a full time servant. Many will commit to part-time work as a servant, but few, when faced with choices of comfort and personal gain will accept that full-time role. Yet isn’t that what Christ-followers are called to do? To be full-time disciples in our lives? Full-time disciples of Christ doesn’t mean we give up our professional vocations and don on ropes of white and live off of the land. God can and will use you as His disciples right where you are at. Sometimes He asks us to move and to switch vocations, but many times He can and will use you if you are available for His purposes. True discipleship though looks very much that Jesus with towel wrapped around His waist washing feet. True discipleship may take on roles we feel are beneath us, not befitting one from our status…yet Jesus knelt down and washed the disciples feet, are you prepared to do so as well to those around you? Are you prepared to be a full-time disciple?

William Law once wrote; “The devout, therefore, are people who do not live to their own will, or in the way and spirit of the world, but only to the will of God. Such people consider God in everything, serve God in everything, and make every aspect of their lives holy by doing everything in the name of God and in a way that conforms to God’s glory.” (William Law, A serious call to a devout and holy life)

Do you view your life in this way? Is everything God’s? Are you doing the will of God because you are His humble servant? This is the cost of discipleship, but it’s not drudgery or done with groaning but instead because of love we cannot help but to serve the One who has set us free. Are you prepared to wrap that towel around your waist? Are you prepared to kneel down before those around you and to wash their feet? God doesn’t need any more part-time workers, He wants full-time servants who are committed to do His will.

September 17, 2013 3

Discipleship – Love, Trust, Christ-likeness

Many Christians consider discipleship to be only something the disciples of Jesus went through to become apostles. Others consider discipleship to be something only pastors have to go through. Before we look at what discipleship is, let’s look at what discipleship is not.

Discipleship is not another program.

Discipleship is not simply a workbook to complete.

Discipleship is not about ego or title.

Discipleship is not about boosting membership numbers.

If any of those areas become the focal point of discipleship then the point of true discipleship has been misplaced. I don’t presume to have all of the answers here, but we cannot simply treat this important element of the Christian faith lightly or as just another component to what we’re already doing. I cannot stress it enough but Discipleship in your church is NOT just another program or a stat line in a monthly report! Discipleship is and should be the life blood of spiritual maturation and biblical/doctrinal understanding. It’s not catechism, or indoctrination, please don’t misunderstand what is being said here, Discipleship is mentoring others in the very foot prints of Christ.

I remember my youngest son, Ethan, watching me in the bathroom one morning as I shaved in front of the mirror. Earlier in the year he had received a toy shaving kit which included a plastic faux razor. As I made my shaving stroke up my neck, I glanced over and Ethan was copying me. I shaved my chin and again Ethan mimicked my motion with his little plastic razor. Every movement I made while shaving, he copied me and we both laughed but I will never forget my son wanting to shave just like his daddy.

In a very real sense we too are to copy the movements and emulate the behavior of Christ, who is our heavenly example of godly living here on earth. Holiness is the primary purpose, but discipleship is the conduit by which holiness happens practically. How did the Jesus’ disciples learn and grow in their faith? They did so by watching the actions and teachings of Christ while learning at His feet. When Jesus called his first disciples he said, “Come follow me!” And the Bible says they left their nets and followed him (Mark 1:17). His command was the command of a Rabbi, a teacher who said to these men you can be like me, you will be my disciples.

How does that match up with how the present day Church is leading people into forms of mentoring and discipleship? Perhaps there are some wonderful examples of mentoring and discipling going on out there but by and large many churches fall short in this aspect of ministry. Where does a new Christian go after becoming saved? Do they just get put into a Sunday school or to warm a pew for the next twenty years or more? When people get up from the alter and profess Christ in their lives and want to learn and live it we as more mature Christians ought to come alongside them and help cultivate a healthy long term relationship with Christ. We as elders of churches ought to become their example of godly living so that they too will emulate and reflect Christ in their lives.

Discipleship is also about trust. Have you ever been thrust into a mentoring program and been told this is your mentor? Don’t get me wrong, some wonderful stories and testimonies might come from these times, but by and large discipleship cannot be forced upon people who are unwilling. Also discipleship is a two way street. Without a developed comradely, understanding and relational side, the mentor to the mentee relationship is just an obligation and not a longing. When we look at scriptures we find disciples of Jesus loving him, wanting to be like him. Sure they made lots of mistakes…LOTS of mistakes! But there was trust within that relationship, a relationship that changed lives not mandated and dictated terms of submission. True discipleship requires time, love, patience and trust. Without an invested caring, reciprocated relationship, discipleship can and will only go so far. Because if the truth is spoken in love, and yet love isn’t present, why should the one being discipled comply and change?

How have you been discipled? Was it just some program you had to attend? Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with programs, but discipleship and discipleship training is not JUST a program! The disciples of Jesus spent many many hours with their discipler, with their Rabbi. They ate together, they laughed together, there was fellowship, there was trust and genuine love sparked change…not edicts or mandates, but love. Who do you want to emulate today? Who can you ask to come along side you so that you can become more and more like Christ? We cannot do this Christian thing alone, we need help, we need mentors in our lives!

A song that says it all for me is “To be like Jesus” . The lyrics speak for themselves:

“To be like Jesus!

This hope possesses me,

in every though and deed,

this is my aim, my creed;

To be like Jesus!

This hope possesses me,

His Spirit helping me, Like Him I’ll be”

Our goal, our mission : To be like Jesus

Our objective: To find Christian Elders who can challenge us, whom we can trust, and who will hold us accountable in love.

March 7, 2013 9

Calling… the freaks, the geeks, the rejects and the not good enough!

Mark 2:13-17 (NIV)
¹³Once again Jesus went out beside the lake. A large crowd came to him, and he began to teach them. ¹⁴As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him.

The sounds of the crowd echoed off of the small lean-to as they passed. Some of the people scowled as they walked by then shaking their heads in disgust and finally disappearing out of sight. This repeated numerous times within the hour, and the occupier of the rickety shack was used to the looks his line of work emitted from the population. He was a tax collector after all, and the reputation of such an established profession was despised by most and avoided by the rest. The whispers and cursing under the breath was all a part of the hazards of the job. He lets the moment pass by, exhales a deep breath, and then bends over the weathered table again to resume his work.

He is so consumed with his “paperwork” that he almost misses the most epic moment of his life. As the sound of rustling paper replaces the echoes of the passing crowd he begins to sense that he is being watched. He looks up from the stack of papers still needing to be inspected, and sees a man looking directly at him. He doesn’t know how long the man had been there just looking at him, but the tax collector is nervous. “No one looks directly at a tax collector” He thinks to himself, “Why is he just staring at me?” he wonders. Then the most peculiar thing happens. The man calls this collector of taxes by name, “Levi, come with me” He says. For a moment, for one single solitary moment, Levi is absolutely still, as if he is firmly glued to the ground within his work space. “I can’t just get up and go…can I?” He wonders to himself. His entire future hinges on this one pivotal moment in time and he doesn’t know it yet. On one hand if he says “no I’m not going anywhere, I have work to do” then things will remain the same. Taxes will be collected, harsh expressions on faces, and he will always be unwanted within many social circles around town. On the other hand, if Levi does go with this teacher what will happen? What will happen to his family? Will he be able to return home? So much hinges on this decision, so many variables and yet Levi, finding the strength to move once more picks himself up and makes the decision to follows Jesus.

Levi, known to us by the name of Matthew made a crucial decision that day which would not only change his life, but the lives of all those who would one day read his writings also known as the gospel of Matthew, one of the four gospels of Jesus Christ.

Isn’t it amazing that Jesus selected a tax collector, a profession despised by most people in society to help him spread His story of redemption to the world! Among his other disciples were the rejects, outcasts and the not-good enoughs. He turned the world upside down with His message of love, redemption and grace. He used both men and women, Jew and Gentile, rich and poor, the educated and the street smart to convey this all inclusive message to the lost, seeking, and broken.

Still today, the Lord calls to you and to me to follow Him! We may be far from perfect. We may be lacking education, self-confidence, social and peer acceptance and many other inadequacies. Yet He calls us, and can use us if we are available to accept His direction for our lives. Matthew couldn’t have imagined that day where Jesus would lead him, yet he followed. We too are asked to do the same. “Follow me” Jesus says to us…what will your answer be?