Church Health Enthusiast

"A cookie store is a bad idea. Besides, the market research reports say America likes crispy cookies, not soft and chewy cookies like you make." – Response to Debbi Fields' idea of starting Mrs. Fields' Cookies

Building healthy churches requires that we learn how to effectively engage people in ministry. Actually, for pastors, this is a major part of our job description.

“To prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.” Ephesians 4:12 (NIV)

Sadly, many churches never reach their potential, because many ministers fail to provide an intentional process for leading people to find their gifts and place of ministry in the church. Developing people for ministry should be an ongoing process of discipleship. It’s not just about filling ministry positions; it’s about growing people, to help grow the church. I believe the releasing of people into ministry is one of the most neglected leadership practices in the church. People really are the church’s greatest resource.

My prayer for every minister in Ohio is that you will …

View people as an asset.

The secret in getting people to serve is to remember that you need them and to convince them that their contribution is invaluable to the church’s mission.

Teach people the biblical concept of ministry.

I’m not a big fan of the term “lay minister.” It kind of implies a second-rate class of service. From a biblical perspective, there are only ministers. Teach your people that all Christians are ministers.

“Even then God had designs on me. Why, when I was still in my mother's womb he chose and called me out of sheer generosity! Now he has intervened and revealed his Son to me so that I might joyfully tell non-Jews about him.” Galatians 1:15 (MSG)

Let people flourish in their giftings.

People want to be involved; they want to use their gifts to help the church’s ministry effectiveness. People will respond to defined responsibility.

It is an honor to steward people’s lives and callings, and to watch them grow as they minister.

"This 'telephone' has too many shortcomings to be seriously considered as a means of communication. The device is inherently of no value to us." – Western Union internal memo, 1876

In my final few Monday Motivators, I want to share some last words that I pray will be of lasting encouragement.

To begin, God wants His church to be healthy. After all, the Church is the primary instrument that God is using to expand His Kingdom on earth. I’ve heard it said that the local church is the hope of the world. I really believe that.

But healthy churches are not built accidentally. They are built intentionally by ministers who, themselves, are healthy spiritually, emotionally, physically and mentally.

My prayer for every minister in Ohio is that…

You will grow spiritually, being careful not to fall out of love with the Lord, because you’re so busy doing the ministry.

You will view people as your greatest resource, being careful not to use them as a means to an end, but to see them as your whole reason for being in the ministry.

You will expand your thinking, being careful not to become so close-minded that you fail to become a true missional leader.


It is an honor to be part of the greatest building project known to mankind—building the Kingdom! Stay healthy and do your best in this great venture.

Several years ago, when wildfires swept through Southern California, there was a photograph in the newspaper of an entire neighborhood that had been leveled by the fires. All that was left were the foundations. In the midst of all the burned, charred, rubble stood one house that remained completely untouched even by smoke. This gleaming house stood in stark contrast to all of the ruin around it.

When asked why his house was left standing when all the others fell, the homeowner explained how he had taken great care to make his house flame-retardant. This included double-paned windows, thick stucco walls, sealed concrete tile, and abundant insulation. Firefighters said, “It made it clear to us that this would be a place to make a stand.” This man went the extra mile and, as a result, his house survived when the fires came.

Today, our country is being devastated by wildfires of immorality. Satan, a master arsonist, is causing devastation in political and church sectors. Homes and families have been destroyed. Enough is enough! Let’s put this fire out!

The writer of Proverbs asked, “Can a man scoop fire into his lap and not be burned?” (6:27) The answer is no; fire can burn out of control so easily.

If we as ministers allow temptation to go unchecked and allow our sinful natures to prevail, we will likely fall, as surely as a fire spreads by putting gasoline in it. But if we take practical steps to guard ourselves and stay close to the Lord, then we don’t have to fall. Let’s go the extra mile to protect our homes and our lives against the wildfires of immorality.

Stay in the Word
“How can a young person live a clean life? By carefully reading the map of your Word. I'm single-minded in pursuit of you; don't let me miss the road signs you've posted. I've banked your promises in the vault of my heart so I won't sin myself bankrupt.” (Psalm 119:9 MSG)

Keep Full of the Spirit
“Don't drink too much wine, for many evils lie along that path; be filled instead with the Holy Spirit and controlled by him.” (Ephesians 5:18 LIV)

Avoid Compromising Situations
“Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.”
(II Timothy 2:22 NLT)

Watch What You Watch
"If your eye is pure, there will be sunshine in your soul.” (Matthew 6:22 LIV)

Use Common Sense
“His Spirit inhabits even the smallest details of marriage. And what does he want from marriage? Children of God, that's what. So guard the spirit of marriage within you. Don't cheat on your spouse.” (Malachi 2:15 MSG)

Life is funny. And the reason I say that is because I’m pretty sure God has a sense of humor.

Last week I wrote about my time at the Prayer Summit and the spiritual renewal that I experienced. (Actually I wrote that motivator on Thursday night.) I was all set to come back to Ohio on Friday, spiritually fired-up, and excited to participate at the District HonorBound Conference.

This is how I know God has a sense of humor…

My flight from Springfield to Memphis was smooth and on time. But that’s when all the adventure began. All flights into Ohio were cancelled. After several attempts to re-route my flights, and those being cancelled as well, I had to turn around and go back to Springfield. I was satisfied with a scheduled flight the next day, but actually ended up not being able to get into Columbus until Sunday evening.

After I got home, and began to shovel my driveway and sidewalks, I thought about this – it’s easy to write motivators when you’ve come from a spiritual experience, but can you hear from God and are there valuable lessons when you’re going through a storm (blizzard)? I felt as if the Lord was saying to me, “Find your takeaways in this experience.”

Here’s what I’ve concluded:

Storms are inevitable; they really are a part of life, and often come with little advance warning.

Storms are interruptive, and often force you to change your plans.

Storms vary in their size and impact, and when you are going through yours, it always seems big.

Storms come to Christians and non-Christians alike.

Storms test our faith and patience.

Storms cause us to question whether God is aware or cares.

Storms have the ability to build our faith.

I’m sure there are several other takeaways that we could list, but I am most thankful that in any and every storm, God provides shelter!

Psalm 91
“Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him. For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease. He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection.”

I was privileged to attend the Prayer Summit in Springfield, Missouri this past week, and experienced one of the most spiritually refreshing times of my life. I connected with God in a way like never before.

Going to the Summit, I was excited about hearing Jim Cymbala, (pastor of Brooklyn Tabernacle Church), and getting a few takeaways that might enhance a sermon or two, but God had different plans…as I sat in His presence each day, I realized just how dry and thirsty I was for Him. By the last day, I found myself literally craving His presence. It was awesome! I am still processing all that I absorbed.

Here are a few impressions from this spiritual renewal that motivated me to reflect on how I can reorder my life so that I don’t ever get this spiritually parched again.

Our first and primary calling is to be with Jesus, not our ministry. Our identity should not be found in what we do but rather in Whom we exist.

The anointing is what makes Jesus big in our ministries. Creativity is an asset but never a replacement for the anointing.

We must keep our ears trained to hear the whisper of the Spirit. After all, the Spirit can see things that we don’t see. If we can’t hear His voice, we won’t know what he sees.

As ministers, our job is not to climb the ladder of success but to descend the ladder into servant hood.

I was exposed this week to the shallowness of my spiritual reservoir – I didn’t like it! Thankfully, as I waited on the Lord, God gave me a time of refreshing and an opportunity to drink His strength. I pray this for you!

One of the privileges of being the district pastor is the opportunity I have to be in a different church every week. Ohio has some great churches that are filled with some really great people. In fact, I’m convinced that these people are the Church’s most valuable resource!

I’m often asked about what I am observing in our churches – what’s working, what’s not, trends, structure, style, etc. I’d like to share some of these observations with you in the next few blogs.

This week, I want to encourage you to embrace proof reading and spell checking as a necessity for ministry effectiveness. From bulletins to PowerPoints, I see the need for human review as critical. The problem is, that we have become too dependent on our PC spell checker as illustrated by the following poem (not even a Mac spell checker is infallible).

I have a spelling checker
I disk covered four my PC.
It plane lee marks four my revue
Miss steaks aye can knot see.

Eye ran this poem threw it.
Your sure real glad two no.
Its very polished in its weigh,
My checker tolled me sew.

A checker is a blessing.
It freeze yew lodes of thyme.
It helps me right awl stiles two reed,
And aides me when aye rime.

Each frays comes posed up on my screen
Eye trussed too bee a joule.
The checker pours o'er every word
To cheque sum spelling rule.

Bee fore wee rote with checkers
Hour spelling was inn deck line,
Butt now when wee dew have a laps,
Wee are not maid too wine.

And now bee cause my spelling
Is checked with such grate flare,
There are know faults in awl this peace,
Of nun eye am a wear.

To rite with care is quite a feet
Of witch won should be proud,
And wee mussed dew the best wee can,
Sew flaws are knot aloud.

That's why eye brake in two averse
Cuz Eye dew want too please.
Sow glad eye yam that aye did bye
This soft wear four pea seas.


Seriously, the attention to details – as it relates to our ministry – is critical and Biblical.

Ecclesiastes 12:10 (GW) “The preacher tried to find just the right words. He wrote the words of truth very carefully.”

Philippians 1:10 (KJV) “That ye may approve things that are excellent….”