Grace
Adventures reaches out to political, business and spiritual leaders for Christ,
one leader at a time. I want to see leaders healthy and fruitful. Since October
is PASTOR APPRECIATION month, I would like to focus this newsletter on our pastors
and spiritual leaders. They are people
too, and need encouragement. Take a look at some startling statistics that reek
in the spiritual leader graveyard:
·
A
staggering 18,000 pastors annually exit vocational ministry never to return
·
For
every 20 pastors who go into ministry, only one retires from the ministry
·
3500
churches die each year
·
80%
of pastors feel unqualified and discouraged in their role according to George
Barna
These
stats are alarming. I grieve many times when I listen to the hearts of
spiritual leaders. Sometimes the grimaces, the third degree burns, and wounds
of the soul I see cause my stomach to turn more than any ER situation I have
encountered. I admire the overwhelming number of spiritual leaders I know.
These statistics can and must change. I delight in spending time with spiritual
leaders, listening to their stories, processing pain, sharing hope, praying and
longing for the Spirit to show up and bring salve to the raw inner places of
their inner world.
Have
you ever seen the show “Dirty Jobs”? The host Mike Rowe, explores the hardiest,
messiest and strangest jobs around. For instance, Mike has highlighted:
·
A
coal miner
·
A
mule logger
·
A
lightning rod installer
·
A
worm dung farmer
·
A
sewer inspector
I’d like to
propose that Mike look at one of the toughest jobs anyone could do – A
Spiritual Leader. It is spiritually, mentally, physically demanding. So this
month pray for spiritual leaders, encourage them, and hug your kids and your
pastor. They deserve it.
The Lion Chaser’s Manifesto:
Quit
living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death. Set God-sized
goals. Pursue God-ordained passions. Go after a dream that is destined to fail
without divine intervention. Keep asking questions. Keep making mistakes. Keep
seeking God. Stop pointing out problems and become part of the solution. Stop
repeating the past and start creating the future. Stop playing it safe and
start taking risks. Expand your horizons. Accumulate experiences. Enjoy the
journey. Find every excuse you can to celebrate everything you can. Live like
today is the first day and last day of your life. Don’t let what’s wrong with
you keep you from worshiping what’s right with God. Burn sinful bridges. Blaze
a new trail. Criticize by creating. Worry less about what people think and more
about what God thinks. Don’t try to be who you’re not. Be yourself. Laugh at
yourself. Quit holding out. Quit holding back. Quit running away. Chase the lion. --Mark Batterson
Read
it. Post it. Live
it.
Prayer Requests for Grace Adventures:
·
Evangelize those who have not yet experienced a personal
relationship with Jesus Christ (Romans 1:16)
·
Establish those who have a desire to grow in their faith
and in their knowledge of the Scriptures (Colossians 2:6-7)· Equip those who have been called to spiritual leadership (Ephesians 4:11-12)
· Encourage the Church to participate in the process with us (1Timothy 2:1-4)
· Enlist & Enable individuals, businesses, and churches to become strategic prayer and financial partners (2 Corinthians 8:3-6)
· Engage those who desire to participate in the ministry by offering their time and talents (Matthew 25:20)
· Entreat God to bless all facets of the ministry as we look to Him for wisdom, guidance and ways to bring Him glory (1 Chronicles 4:10)
· Enjoy the opportunity to witness God move in miraculous ways (Psalm 37:4-6)
and financial partners (2 Corinthians 8:3-6)
Election Year Exhortation
1. Everybody Pray!
OK?
2. Everybody Vote!
OK?
3. Everybody Be Civil! OK? I didn’t hear you!
4. Everybody Needs Jesus! Agree?
John Adams to Abigal
Adams:
My dearest friend, I pray heaven to
bestow the best of blessings upon this house and all that shall hereafter
inhabit it. May none but honest and wise men ever rule under this roof. (Now
inscribed on White House State Dining Room mantle.)
Betting
the Farm on God,
Michael
