08Jun 2017 by Nigel Ring

What do you want to leave behind?

Burundi, Equipping, Handing over, Older generation, Serving
Jesus said 'It is finished' as he hung on the cross and yielded up his spirit. This was no cry of relief that the pain was over but rather a shout of victory! Will you be able to say someday 'It is finished' with the same confidence that Jesus had? Do you know what your 'it' is? Will you have faithfully fulfilled 'it'? Recently I ended a series 'Grace-filled or Grumpy?' addressed to those in their later years. I thought I had finished, but have just watched this video 'What do you want to leave behind' by one of my heroes, Simon Guillebaud, who ministers selflessly in Burundi, and I felt I should add a postcript. He talks about his grandmother who was a missionary in Rwanda and was part of the…
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06Jun 2017 by Nigel Ring

Management of Change pt 2 – Leadership Foundations

Administration in the Church, Administrative Skills, Equipping, Management of Change
I continue the series on Management of Change by guest writer Gary Borland. Enthusiasm and Optimism are not enough Like change management, the bookshelves, libraries and online resources offer so much (at times apparently conflicting) material and advice that many simply don’t use any of it. Combine that with coaches, mentors and consultancy firms promising you things they can’t always deliver, and you could be forgiven for thinking that only the particularly gifted can manage or lead. That said, combinations of all of these are required if we are to develop into effective, high performing leaders and managers, rather than simply assuming that osmosis, appointment to a leadership role, experience and a liberal dose of enthusiasm and optimism will win the day. Leadership and management are both vital components of…
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31May 2017 by Nigel Ring

Management of Change pt 1 – Change and Transformation

Administration in the Church, Administrative Skills, Equipping, Management of Change
But the noble make noble plans, and by noble deeds they stand (Isaiah 32:8) Introduction The local church is frequently undergoing change, yet the skills needed to carry out these changes do not come into the normal training packages of leaders in the Newfrontiers family. With this in mind I invited Gary Borland to write a series for me (see below for Gary’s background). Gary, who has extensive experience in this area, has been a key player in helping Guy Miller and his team to define the vision, strategy, and implementation for the Commission sphere of churches, a process that is now agreed and well underway. 'Gary has opened our eyes to the process and skills required to manage change effectively as he has helped us to clarify and articulate our…
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17May 2017 by Nigel Ring

Swallowed by life – book review

Books, Equipping, Healing, Health, News
I was a member of Church of Christ the King in Brighton for over 30 years. A few years ago one of the members, Liz Woodgate, was diagnosed with terminal cancer of the oesophagus hence the title of this recently published book, Swallowed by Life. It is the story of what happened over the following two years at which time she was declared healed! I am not going to spoil the wonder by telling you the whole story but it is very remarkable and brings great glory to God. It is certainly a sign that will make you wonder! The book can also be something of a workshop for us as it teaches us much from the many steps that brought Liz to that wonderful result: Her transparency in her honesty…
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10May 2017 by Nigel Ring

Grace-filled or grumpy? Pt 6 Mobilising older people 2

Equipping, Handing over, Older generation, Serving
In this concluding part of the series I want to continue to help church leaders in the challenging task of ensuring that all members are achieving their God-given place of service in the local church, particularly, in this context, the older members. Crowning Years Recently I attended the thanksgiving service for Alun Davies, a godly church leader whom I loved to visit up to the end of his life in his eighties. Why? Because he reflected and spoke about the wonder and glory of Jesus. He took every opportunity to talk about Jesus, to witness to those he touched, whether a carer who was coming to help look after his wife, June, or a painter who decorated his house. He was one of those I visited to encourage - but…
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03May 2017 by Nigel Ring

Grace-filled or grumpy? Pt 5 Mobilising older people 1

Equipping, Handing over, Older generation, Serving
I now want to speak to church leaders. One of your primary responsibilities is to present every one of your members 'mature in Christ' (Col 1:28) - a life-long process that does not end at 'retirement'! It includes helping them to reach their full potential and bring their gifting to the benefit of the community. When we were chosen from before the foundation of the world it was to walk in the good works God has prepared for us to walk in (Eph 2:10) and that never stops this side of the grave. This series has particularly addressed those who are typically retired – I feel I am qualified to do so! But in using the expression ‘mobilising older people’ I am not speaking of walking frames. What I am talking about…
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