Conference: ‘Spirit-led Administration’ – March 3rd 2016

Administration in the Church, Administrative Skills, Equipping
Effective Spirit-led administration is one of the keys to helping churches in their commission to fulfil the Great Commission. This annual conference, organised and hosted by New Life Church in Milton Keynes, has spread its wings this year by inviting an international speaker from Bethel Church, Redding, USA. I do not know Paul personally but have heard much about him and am pleased to pass on the brochure details. Paul Manwaring An incredibly gifted administrator Paul has a passion for seeing the gift of administration released in the church today. He first trained and worked as a psychiatric nurse, and then transferred to the prison service where he became a prison governor with a vision to see lives transformed and restored. A call into full-time Christian ministry led him from…
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Your Questions answered… 2. Delegation

Administration in the Church, Equipping
I am seeking to answer questions sent to me. If you have any feel free to write to me with ‘Question’ in the subject line. This one is about delegation Question As an administrator I am caught between the 2 worlds of the ‘doing the thing yourself’ world & the ‘delegate it to others and keep myself free’ world. Right now I am in the 1st world and how should I get out of it. Because at the end it finally stops with me and so I might as well do it because if others don't do it properly then I have to do it anyway. Answer This is a familiar challenge to the efficient and gifted administrator (and maybe others!). I think there are three things to recognise and…
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Your Questions answered… 1. Volunteers

Administration in the Church, Equipping, Serving, Volunteer
Recently I offered to answer questions related to church administration. While responding direct to the enquirer I felt that some answers might be of wider interest. Question It is increasingly difficult to motivate people to join a team and to stay on in that particular team; most people leave the team or lose interest in serving within 4 weeks. Is that down to poor leadership, poor recruitment or is there a deeper issue with the attitude of serving? Answer Clearly there is something seriously wrong here. Lets look at it together and see if we can diagnose the problem. 1. Understanding Do people in the church understand what serving is about? It is not just about getting a job done but about vision and a desire to be like Jesus.…
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Any Questions?

Administration in the Church, Administrative Skills, Equipping
Since starting this blog I have sought to help equip the church in various ways, particularly in Administration and Ministry with the Poor. I have produced a series of booklets 'Administration in the Church' which may be of interest.                   These are available for £2 each or £5 for the set plus postage from feeding5000isnopicnic@gmail.com. Please put 'Book order' in topic line. Pause for reflection and Q/A Speaking recently to Sidney Nevis, a long-standing friend and church leader in Mumbai, India, he suggested that some would welcome the opportunity to pause for reflection and ask questions about their specific situations. I am happy to be available to help in this way. So if you feel there are issues related to church administration (I…
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Mobilising Volunteers pt 9 – Training

Administration in the Church, Equipping, Volunteers
We have been looking at ways of creating a fulfilling and positive experience for volunteers serving in the church. Personal affirmation As well as team activities there are things that can be done with only a little effort that will make a person feel appreciated. For instance, birthdays provide an annual opportunity to make someone feel special. A card gives the opportunity to express how much that person is appreciated not only for what they do but, even more important, for who they are. It is good to tell people that their lives have a positive effect on others; often people do not realise how others see them and they need commending. You can also add a box of chocolates or flowers to the card. Training Another way of showing…
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Mobilising Volunteers pt 8 – Team Building

Administration in the Church, Equipping, Volunteers
Often people are invited to serve as part of a team. The individuals may well be more diverse than would be the case in an employed environment as the reasons for volunteering are not entirely based on skills and ambition. I remember, for instance, visiting one church overseas and finding that the Deputy High Commissioner for the UK and his family were members of the church. I then observed how he and his wife served faithfully among the children on a Sunday, not too proud to be scrabbling around on the ground with young children getting covered in paint and glue! They knew what it was to serve humbly without seeking any acclaim from man. I am sure the Lord was pleased. For such a couple to be led by…
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