Five Fold Ministry Spiritual Parents & Civic Involvement
The USCAL Region 8 Roundtable was convened by Don and Susan Nordin at Faith Chapel in Texarkana, Arkansas with 40 attendees. Because of its size, the group was divided into 6 smaller roundtables on the second day. They were asked to discuss three specific questions and give their responses.
This is an overview:
Q: HOW DO WE TRANSITION FROM A TRADITIONAL MINISTER INTO A 5-FOLD LEADER?
(1) Identify your Gifts Using the Bible
The group concluded that the first step in transitioning to a 5-fold leader is to identify your gifts using Biblical examples. That is, to define your function using Biblical language instead of traditional or secular terminology.
To do this, some suggested, a person may have to forget what they think they know about ministry and start all over.
Defining a leader's role in Biblical terms is important. It aligns function with scripture instead of nesting it within alternative leadership structures that are not 5-fold ministry oriented.
When a leader has accurately identified themselves in the Biblical framework, they can more easily navigate their calling and purpose within the context of Biblical expectations. This creates a model from scripture that can be more easily replicated personally and in the church during the transition process.
(2) Expose Yourself to New Ideas
It is also important to be exposed to new ideas. The means being curious, open-minded, and humble. This allows leaders to engage in dialogue with those who have alternative points of view. It's important to listen to people and refrain from being argumentative and offended when they express opposing opinions.
(3) Connect to People Who Are Already Doing It
Connecting to people who are already doing it is also important. This means that leaders need to attend conferences and engage in roundtable dialogues like the ones offered by ICAL and USCAL.
It is in these environments that leaders have an opportunity to interact with those who have developed these Biblical concepts more completely.
(4) Find Others Who Are on the Same Journey
Besides finding people who can help coach and mentor leaders into understanding and implementing these concepts, it's also important to find others who are on the same journey. Invite people to walk with you and learn together as peers.
(5) Experiment, Take Risks and Make Mistakes
There must be a freedom to learn by trial and error. Leaders shifting their roles into a 5-fold ministry model and leading churches into the same, need to be wise in taking calculated steps over time and encourage people to follow, having earned their trust as a leader. This allows for courageous teaching from the stage and bold moves toward the goal when the timing is right.
Q: AS A LEADER, HOW CAN WE BE SPIRITUALLY PARENTED AND APOSTOLICALLY COVERED?
(1) Learn to be Sons/Daughters, First
As the group pondered this question, it seemed like the most logical starting point was learning how to be sons/daughters, first. The group agreed that many leaders portray an "orphan spirit" and isolate themselves. They refuse help. They have a hard time trusting others because of past abuse. This is something that must be overcome in order to find your tribe.
Sons/Daughters need to invest trust while spiritual fathers/mothers need to be trustworthy. This is the key!
(2) Orient Yourself Around the Concept of Family
Family is the ultimate model for all things relational and organizational. This means that leaders not only need to connect to spiritual parents, but also have a relationship with spiritual brothers/sisters on a peer level.
After that, leaders need to produce sons and daughter on a parental level. This is the logical familial order and should be the goal of every leader who desires to be properly connected in a 360 degree order - above // beside // beneath.
(3) Look for Positive Traits and Avoid of Negative Traits in Spiritual Parents
If a leader is ready to connect, here are some qualities to look for in spiritual parents:
They want their spiritual children to achieve more than they did.
They are easy to be around. It's natural, fun, and enjoyable.
There is a similar spiritual DNA (Divine Nature Activated)
They are doing what you aspire to do.
They are someone you trust with any confession and any secret.
They are honest, transparent, and authentic about their own mistakes.
They know when to be fathers/mothers and when to be generals.
(4) Beware of these Traits and Avoid Them.
Those who advertise for spiritual sons/daughters.
Those who collect spiritual sons/daughters but never produce them.
Those who boast of the number of spiritual sons/daughters they have.
Those who use spiritual sons/daughters for their own benefits.
Those who present networks like a multilevel marketing company.
Those who reveal the secrets told them in confidence.
Q: HOW CAN A LOCAL CHURCH BECOME MORE CIVICALLY INVOLVED?
(1) Make it Your Goal to Be So Valuable to Your City that They Want You to Succeed.
Someone suggested this goal for a local church: If the church was going to close, the mayor and city council would call an emergency session of city council to make sure that didn't happen! This goal creates an appropriate trajectory that intersects the heart of the city with the heart of Christ.
(2) Balance Wisdom and Compassion
The early church changed the world through wisdom and compassion. These two must work in tandem. For instance, some churches have wisdom but not enough compassion to care for the condition of their city. Others may have great compassion but lack the wisdom to find real solutions to problems...
...but wisdom working with compassion can make the changes necessary that allows people to be open to the gospel.
(3) Change Your Definition of Success
The definition of success most used to measure local churches is the number of people they can attract on Sunday morning. Considering this question, perhaps the new definition of success is in order. Consider this: The definition of a church's success is measured by the condition of their city.
How can we, as leaders, declare success by attendance numbers when the city God placed us in is in turmoil and deteriorating? Using this definition would shift the focus outward instead of keeping it inward.
(4) Erase the Line Between Spiritual and Secular
Leaders often consider the execution of their calling exclusively within the scope of the church building. They often do not value the work their congregants are doing in the marketplace every day. Erasing this line may help that perspective.
Leaders must help their followers know that everything is spiritual. If God is sovereign and the earth belongs to Him, then everything we do on it, at some level, is spiritual.
It's also helpful when leaders help people conceptualize the Kingdom of God and its advancement in all spheres of society instead of evaluating them strictly by their level of involvement within the walls of the church building.
(5) Teach Some Form of the Seven Mountains
The group also affirmed the value of the Seven Mountains teachings - whether churches use the mountain metaphor or call them domains, doors, or pillars - or even if the number and names of the spheres are slightly different. Using this construct helps people see their lives in the workplace as an assignment from God.
(6) Be Involved and Available to Solve Problems in Your City
There were many different personal testimonies of how churches can make an impact in the culture. In these testimonies, two words emerged: Involvement and Availability.
Churches and their leaders must be willing to serve the needs of their community, volunteer in schools, take on civic projects and help solve problems.
Ask city leaders what problems need addressed and mobilize churches to address that problem.
Civic leaders and the general population will have a more open ear when they see the church solving problems. This gives the church a seat at the table and a voice in city affairs.
(7) Educate people on Biblical Issues and Encourage Them to Vote
Church leaders need to register their people to vote and encourage them fulfill their civic duty at the ballot box. Many resources are available online that help people learn which candidates best aligns with Biblical values. Help congregants learn and decide.
The group also stressed that leaders must be wise as they walk this path. They must pick their battles wisely in the political realm, because once you pick a side, they lose your voice in the others side.
THE END