the reluctant leader

2 Simple Keys to Long-term Success in Ministry & Life

Today I preached at two of the eleven weekend worship services at Victory U-Belt (aka University Belt).

I think I need to go to the U-Belt more often. Going back to where it all started is good for my memory, and good for my soul. The U-Belt reminds me why we stayed in Manila beyond the one month we signed up for. That was twenty-eight years ago. Hard to believe it has been that long ago. Time really does fly when you are having fun.

I was twenty-five. Deborah was twenty-two. We were clueless. We knew two things: campus ministry and small group discipleship. So we got busy doing small group discipleship on the campuses of the U-Belt. Soon those students we were discipling started small groups of their own. Then others did. And others. And others.

Now there are over five-thousand people leading Victory discipleship groups all over Metro Manila. And, that church we helped start in Manila's U-Belt twenty-eight years ago is healthy, strong, and influential, meeting in sixteen Metro Manila locations. It has sent missionaries and planted churches all over the Philippines, Asia, and the world.

As I look back on twenty-eight years of making disciples, training leaders, and planting churches in Asia, I am convinced that ministry success is relatively simple. Not easy. Simple. At least it was for us.

Long-term ministry success simply comes down to this:
1. Dare to believe.
2. Refuse to quit.

If you are young and clueless, just starting out in ministry, DARE TO BELIEVE. If you have been at it for a couple of decades, REFUSE TO QUIT.

Over the years we have had countless opportunities to quit. I am glad we passed on every one of them. Every time we rejected a good opportunity to quit, another would soon present itself. And we would pass on that one too. No regrets for not quitting.

Too many people believe for too little and quit too soon.

If you will simply dare to believe and refuse to quit, you will wake up one day amazed at what God did in, for, and through you.

Top 7 in 2011: Victory Year-End Video Report

A couple of weeks ago I posted a blog called, "Church Growth: Are You Playing the Numbers Game?" Turns out some of my numbers were not accurate. Victory actually baptized 4613 people in 2011, not 4183 as reported in my blog. My apologies to the 430 new believers who were left off the original count.

Numbers do matter. To God and to us.

Here's Victory's 2011 Year-End video with some numbers that matter. Enjoy.

 

 

 

 

Church Growth: Are You Playing the Numbers Game?

A couple of decades ago when I was a fledgling church-planter, I didn't have a clue what I was doing, but I didn't let that stop me. In those days church growth was all the rage. I read church growth books and took a pilgrimage to Korea in an attempt to learn how to grow a church. I think my primary motive was love for the lost, probably mixed with a bit of self-absorbed insecurity and youthful ignorance.

Early on I had this idea that as long as there was one lost person in my city, then my church was not big enough. I still think that way, and I hope I never get over my obsessive compassion for the lost.

While church growth books and seminars seem to now be out of style in most Western circles, I remain convinced that un-churched, de-churched and anti-church people still matter to God, and they should matter to us. I am convinced that we are supposed to do our best to engage our communities with the gospel. If we do a decent job of engaging, our churches will grow. And, that is a good thing, whether our growth is organic, organized or orchestrated.

Anyone concerned with growth will eventually have to deal with numbers. The trick is to figure out which numbers really matter and which numbers don't.

Many church leaders make the mistake of thinking that the two numbers that matter the most are the offering amount and Sunday attendance. Those two numbers often deceive us and never tell the whole story.

Yesterday I received a year end report from my Manila office that contained a lot of numbers about our church (Victory). Some of those numbers were vital, others were simply interesting. Here are 3 of the most important numbers on that report and why they matter to us: 91, 5009, 4183.

91 WORSHIP SERVICES in 16 Metro Manila venues with 58 preaching pastors. Victory is a multi-site multi-service multi-generational church that meets all over Metro Manila. Because leadership development is important to us, we do not use digital sermons, only live preachers. So, for us to grow from 80 services in 14 locations to 91 services in 16 locations, we had to identify, instruct and empower new preachers, kids pastors, worship leaders, head ushers and other leaders. Because we increased the number of venues and worship services, our attendance increased 31.4% from 2010 to 2011. We have averaged about 30% annual growth for 10 consecutive years. But, the most important number is not how many show up, but how many we raise up to places of leadership. That's why discipleship numbers are so important...

5009 DISCIPLESHIP GROUPS (called "Victory Groups") meeting weekly in Metro Manila. That number is probably the most important number we track. It is the foundation of every other number that matters. 5009 represents a 41.8% increase in 12 months. That's a good number and that's good news! We also saw a 29.2% increase (from 1,827 to 2,360) in Training for Victory participation, which is a foundational part of our discipleship training track.

4183 BAPTISMS in 2011. Another important number. Most of our baptisms are conducted at Victory Weekend which had a 71.3% 2010 to 2011 increase from 3149 to 5393 participants.

Are you playing the numbers game? I hope you are, as long as you are tracking the right numbers.

Depending on what kind of church you want to be, some numbers will be more important than others. For us, numbers reflecting evangelism, discipleship and leadership development are the most important numbers we track. The unavoidable and eventual result of evangelism, discipleship and leadership numbers increasing will be more people showing up at our worship services and more money in the offerings.

SUMMARY: Stop obsessing over nickles and noses and start making disciples.

 

 

 

 

 

 

How to Build a Healthy Church Culture

When I am asked how we do discipleship at Victory Manila, I usually point out that our culture (atmosphere, vibe, values, stories...), while invisible and elusive, is much more important than our system or program. Good discipleship material and good methods do not stand a chance in a bad church culture.

Leadership is all about creating healthy culture.

Last week a Malaysian church planter asked me how to create and build healthy church culture. I gave him the following 2 culture-building words:

1. FOCUS. Rather than trying everything that can be done in the name of God, focus your energy, time and money on the few things that really matter.

2. REPETITION. Constantly repeat core values and mission through testimonies, sermons, branding, websites, social media and every other possible means.

At Victory, FOCUS and REPETITION means we constantly repeat the 4 E's: Engage, Establish, Equip, Empower. At Bethel it's the 3D vision: Devotion, Diversity, Discipleship. At Eaglepoint in Malaysia it is Believe, Belong, Become. At Every Nation it is Church Planting, Campus Ministry, World Missions and Social Responsibility.

If a church or ministry does not have a healthy culture it is because the leaders have not narrowed the focus and repeated the same story over and over and over.

I'm Not Really A Pastor, But I Sure Need One

I write a column for Evangelicals Today magazine. My assigned topic this month is "Pastor Appreciation." Here's what I submitted to my editor. 

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Even though lots of people call me "Pastor Steve" I don't think I'm really a pastor. I do not have the title "pastor" on my business card, and every time I take one of those spiritual gift surveys I score almost zero on the pastor part. So, I guess it is only natural that none of the "pastors" who have been major contributors to my spiritual development are real pastors either. They are actually evangelists, teachers and prophets - not pastors.

Whatever I have become as a Christian, a missionary, a church planter, and a leader, I owe a debt of gratitude to three "pastors" who helped shape my life and ministry. I'm scared to think what I would be doing today if these men had not stepped into my life when they did.
 
In the fall of 1975, I was a sixteen-year-old high school kid running from God. By the end of that year, I was no longer running from God; I was following Him. What happened? Ron Musselman, youth pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Jackson, Mississippi happened! For some reason unknown to me, Ron adopted my high school as his mission field, and he picked me as his evangelism project. After mocking Ron and his disciples from a distance for a few months, he finally cornered me and I heard the gospel for the first time in my life. I did not want to repent and surrender my life to Jesus, but Ron continued to pray for me and engage me in God conversations. After a few months, I gave my life to Jesus and the discipleship process shifted into high gear. For the next 18 months, Ron met with me and a few classmates weekly for Bible study and prayer. He established strong biblical foundations in our lives. For the past thirty-six years, I have built my spiritual life on the foundation laid by Ron Musselman. I am forever grateful that Ron picked my high school, that he boldly preached the gospel, and that he faithfully established foundations in my life.
 
In the fall of 1977, I was a freshman business student at Mississippi State University in Starkville, Mississippi. One of the first people I met on campus was Walter Walker. I came to Starkville get a degree. Walter came to Starkville to plant a church that would reach students. For the next four years Walter equipped and empowered me and other MSU students to do ministry. In 1981, when I was one semester from graduation, Walter moved to Nebraska to plant a new church and left me—a twenty-year-old student—in charge of our little church. I constantly thank God for a campus pastor who believed that God could use young people for his purpose. And I thank Walter for not waiting until I graduated to give me an opportunity to minister.
 
In January of 1990, I was an accidental missionary, a reluctant leader, and a clueless church planter in Manila, Philippines. Emanuele Cannistraci (aka "Pastor C") was a traveling minister who made an annual trip to the Philippines. The mission organization that sent us to the Philippines in 1984 had recently disbanded. Seeing we were clueless and alone, Pastor C took us under his wing, treated us like family, and helped us every way he could.  He mentored us—teaching us by word and example how to do ministry with integrity, how to do life with joy, and how to do family with no regrets. He often visited us in the Philippines, and we stayed in his home in California. It would take a book for me to write all I learned from Pastor C. Today he is 79 years old and still circles the globe preaching the gospel and mentoring next generation leaders.
 
I am thankful for the three "pastors" who helped me at important stages in my life, even though they were probably not really pastors. Ron was an evangelist, Walter was a teacher, and Pastor C was a prophet.  But to me they were my pastors.
 
This Christian life was not designed to be a solo journey. That's why we need "pastors" even if they are really evangelists, teachers or businessmen. I have been fortunate to have three great ones in my life at just the right time. How about you?

Remember the Poor

Too busy to blog lately, but I'm re-posting another Christmas blog from the arcives. This was originally posted Dec 22, 2006.

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Last night I made a Christmas memory I hope I never forget. I went with my 18 and 16 year old sons to a Christmas party for about 400 "at risk youth" and their families. It was sponsored by Nashville's Youth Life Learning Center and included kids and staff from all five Life Centers in Nashville.

After the meal, it was gift time. Youth Life Learning Center director, Pastor James Lowe, was better than Santa in the gift giving department. I wish you could have seen the smiles on the faces of these kids when they were given brand new bicycles, skate boards and other gifts. One little boy even received a flat screen TV. When I asked James how he decided what gift to give to each child, James told me he gave them exactly what they asked for. When I asked how he paid for all these gifts, he pointed to the people serving the food and said, "Bethel church members."

These kids went home with much more than nice gifts and a great meal. Pastor James told them one of the best Christmas stories I have ever heard, with Jesus in His rightful place right in the center. I am so impressed with the Youth Life Learning Center staff and volunteers who selflessly serve "the least" as if they were serving Jesus Himself. The best part was knowing that this was not just a one-time-shot, but there is ongoing ministry to these kids, their families and their communities through the Life Center staff and Bethel volunteers.

Last night with the Life Center kids made me think of one my favorite Christmas traditions back in Manila. For as long as I can remember, our church, Victory, has received a Christmas Eve offering for the poor. In past years our Christmas Eve offering has helped orphans, typhoon victims, tsunami victims, and others in need. This year the whole offering will help students through our Life Scholarship fund. Please give as generously as you can this Christmas Eve. I am proud of the fact that the Christmas Eve offering is usually our largest offering of the year, and 100% goes to the needy.

Proverbs 28:27 He who gives to the poor will lack nothing, but he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses.

EN2010 Top Ten

a·maz·ing [uh-mey-zing]-adjective
"causing great surprise or sudden wonder"

Here are my top 10 amazing Memories from EN2010:

10. Amazing Grace in 50 languages

9. Amazing Grace Aiyedogbon "Banquet Table" message

8. Amazing testimonies from the persecuted/suffering church in Iran, North Korea, China, Vietnam, Laos, India,...

7. Stories of God using ordinary poor people in amazing ways: Efren, Yasupadam, Jackie, Laotian student, Bangladeshi student,...

6. 1500 amazing Victory volunteers who served way beyond the call of duty

5. Amazing friends from every nation (well, not quite every nation, but from 50 nations)

4. Classic amazing Jackie quotes like "I'm 100% made in China, but I'm good quality because God made me."

3. Our amazing mission: EveryNationEveryCampus!!!

2. Amazed (& thankful) that the 8000 people on level 3 did not crash on top of the 10,000 people on level 1 when the building started shaking!

1. The amazing goodness of God

See you in three years at EN2013.

"God Told Me" - Are You Sure?

Back in Manila and excited to preach week 2 of our "AND GOD SAID..." series at Victory-Fort 9 & 11 tomorrow. While preparing my sermon, I remembered this story...

A few years ago when our church was meeting in the Star Complex Theater in the Shangri-La Mall, we had all kinds of drop-in visitors. They ranged from the famous to the infamous: celebrities, politicians, professional athletes, socialites, wannabes, and has-beens. We also had loads of “normal” people and our fair share of not-so-normal people. But never did we have a visitor like “Mary.”

Our worship leader had just finished the last song and Pastor Ferdie grabbed the mic to welcome visitors and make a few announcements. (As usual, no one was listening to announcements. Does anyone in any church ever listen to announcements?)

The auditorium was full. The only empty seat was in the front row, right next to me. It was empty because Pastor Ferdie was standing on stage making those announcements no one was listening to. During the announcements, an usher seated a (late) first-time visitor in Pastor Ferdie’s seat. In a few seconds, I sensed two eyes boring holes through me. I turned and, as suspected, the visitor was indeed staring at me with wild eyes and a sinister smile. The lights were on, but no one was home.

About this time, Pastor Ferdie gave the cue for everyone to introduce themselves to the people sitting around them. She went first.

“Hi, I’m the Virgin Mary. And my three-year-old nephew is the Second Coming of Christ.”

I wanted to say: “Great, I’m Joseph the carpenter. I’ve been looking for you all my life. Will you marry me?”

But I realized that answering a fool according to her folly might cause a major scene, so I decided to respond by saying, “Nice to meet you. And what makes you think you are the Virgin Mary?”

“Because God told me.”

How could I argue with that? God said it. She believed it. That settled it. Or, did that settle it? How do we know if it is really God speaking to us, and not our own imagination or a demon?

To find out more about God's word and God's voice, join us at any of our 70+ Victory weekend worship services.

-- Victory-Metro Manila directory

-- the rest of the above story

The Parable of the Tambays

Spoiler alert: I'm preaching Victory's "Kingdom Stories" series part III at Victory-Fort tomorrow at 9 & 11.

Text: Matthew 20:1-16. (The poorly named Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard)

Main Point: "The Kingdom of Heaven is about Who He is, Not about What I Get"

Context:
- Jesus tells a story about a rich young ruler who was not willing to meet the terms of discipleship. (Mt19:16-24)
- Peter responded: "We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?"
- This response seems to have prompted the parable.

Parable:
Here's the story. Landowner gets a bunch of workers. Some start early in the morning. Others, the "Sampaloc tambays" who were just standing around doing nothing, started work at 9AM, noon, 3PM and 5PM. When the day is over, the landowner pays the tambays exactly the same as those who worked a full day. The early morning crew cried "UNFAIR."

Points:
Mt20:1-4. First key word is "AGREED" which implies a formal contract based on merit and work. The first group had an agreement with the landowner. They had a formal contract based on merit. They planned to earn their wage. This is in sharp contrast with those who were standing around and started work later. The had no agreement. They simply hoped the landowner would "pay whatever was right."

Mt20:5-10. Second key word is "EXPECTED." When they saw how much the tambays were paid, those with a merit-based formal agreement expected to get more than what they had agreed on.
- Are our expectations based on observing what others get, on how much we work, or on our relationship with the "Landowner"?
- Do we relate to God as if he owes us something, or as if we owe him everything?
- Do we serve God because of what we get out of the deal, or because of who he is?

Mt20:11,12. Third key word is "GRUMBLE" which is what always happens when our false expectations are not met. We grumble when someone else gets...
- a raise and we get fired
- healed and we are still sick
- married and we are still single
- recognized and we get ignored

Conclusion:
What was the landowner really like?
- He was "not unfair" - verse 13
- He was generous - verse 15

If God is always the main character and the hero in his stories, then what does this story tell us about God?
- God is not unfair
- God is generous

More tomorrow at Victory-Fort 9 & 11, and at all 73 Victory services in Metro Manila. Don't just stand around, GO TO CHURCH!

Who's the Main Character in My Story, Me or God?

Yesterday I preached a one point sermon at Victory-Fort (Matt13:44-46): GOD IS ALWAYS THE MAIN CHARACTER IN HIS STORIES. Then I asked a question: Who is the main character in your story?

While reading Luke 7 this morning, I was confronted with my own point and my own question. Is God always the main character when I minister and when I preach? I hope so, but I fear that sometimes I sneak into the script. 

Here's Luke's description of what happened when Jesus addressed the crowds: "All the people, even the tax collectors, when they heard Jesus' words ACKNOWLEDGED THAT GOD'S WAY WAS RIGHT"  (Luke7:29)

That's exactly what I hope happens when I minister and when I preach.

I hope the people will acknowledge God, not me.

I hope they will acknowledge that God's ways are right, not that I'm right, or funny, or smart, or a good person, or an entertaining preacher. None of that matters. What matters is that they acknowledge God. And that they acknowledge that He is right. That's what ministry and preaching is all about.