01Feb 2011 by Nigel Ring

Planning for Ministry pt 5 – Solution Tree

Christian ministry, Equipping, Good Practice, Planning, Poor
[caption id="attachment_1725" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Equipping Oaks of Righteousness"][/caption] Last time we saw how a careful analysis reveals some of the underlying causes of the conspicuous problem an individual faces. As our example we took Multiple Deprivation as evidenced in an individual's homelessness. If we are to offer a long-lasting sustainable solution to help that person have the dignity of long-term independence it is no use just providing for the things where there is a lack. Examining the roots of the problem allows us to address the true underlying issues. Some of these may be very long-term e.g. improved parenting for the next generation does not solve our particular individual's problem. It is too late. However, help towards employment in order to generate income for housing may be achieved by skills…
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24Jan 2011 by Nigel Ring

Planning for Ministry Pt 4 – The Problem Tree

Christian ministry, Equipping, Good Practice, Planning, Poor
[caption id="attachment_1719" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Equipping Oaks of Righteousness"][/caption] What is a Problem Tree? When we look at a tree in nature we tend to focus on the fruit, and maybe the overall shape, the leaves and the bark. These are ways that help us define the type of tree. But if we look more closely we may notice that it looks unhealthy. To understand why, we need to look at other things. Does the soil provide adequate food? Is there sufficient depth for the roots? What are the environment and climate it lives in - exposure, wind, rainfall, sunshine etc? A Problem Tree works the same way. We see a problem - say street homelessness - for which the obvious answer to solving the problem may appear to be more…
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18Jan 2011 by Nigel Ring

Planning for Ministry Pt 3 – What is God saying?

Christian ministry, Equipping, Good Practice, Planning, Poor
[caption id="attachment_1710" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Equipping Oaks of Righteousness"][/caption] What is God saying? This must be the start of any ministry in the church. If ever we start a ministry because ‘we ought to' rather than because we sense God's leading it will rapidly become a dead work; those running it will burn out and the fruit will be negligible. So how do we know what God is saying? Clearly we may hear in the context of prayer, prophecy or some other way in which God speaks directly to us. However, I find a common starting point is often with one or more members of the church themselves have a sense God is calling them into a particular area of ministry. This may be expressed by a passion - what they…
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10Jan 2011 by Nigel Ring

Planning for ministry Part 2 – Where do we start?

Christian ministry, Equipping, Good Practice, Planning, Poor
[caption id="attachment_1699" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Equipping Oaks of Righteousness"][/caption] A story 25 years ago the elders of our local church (Church of Christ the King) were approached to launch a ‘soup kitchen’ in Brighton. Because the people concerned clearly had gifting and passion we endorsed their initiative and let them explore what God had for them. This is an important principle – build to gifting and passion (see my blog of Sept 29th 2009). This ministry was highly successful in providing food and contact for those who were ‘street homeless’ in the area. Subsequently, this grew into an evening ‘drop in’ with food, and clothes and warm bedding were given to them. That continued but expanded to include a house where 12 men and women could be resident as a step…
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03Jan 2011 by Nigel Ring

Planning for Ministry pt 1 – Project or People?

Christian ministry, Equipping, Good Practice, Planning, Poor
[caption id="attachment_1689" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Equipping Oaks of Righteousness"][/caption] First, I do hope you had a great Christmas celebrating Jesus’ birth and also having family and friends around you. I am aware that for some Christmas is a difficult time and if this applied to you I trust that you knew God’s grace for the circumstances. May 2011 be a fruitful and fulfilling year for you. Last year I shared an eight part series on some aspects of planning but made clear that these were essentially for an event or some other activity with a clear time boundary. Ministry is different. It is open ended so requires a different approach. This will be the subject of my next series. Terminology Before we dive into the subject I would like to express…
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16Dec 2010 by Nigel Ring

Time Management pt 15 – Using an iPhone as a PDA

Administrative Skills, Equipping, Time Management
Earlier this year (January 4th - April 12th) I posted a series on Time Management which I have adapted from the Insight Time Management system of Charles Hobbs over the last 25 years. Throughout the series I focussed on a paper-based method as I considered that to be the best way to convey the principles of the system I use. However, many people use electronic devices (PDAs - Personal Digital Accessories) and I myself have used a Psion 5MX for more than ten years. In light of technology moving on I promised I would return to this topic once I had worked out how to adapt the system to, say, an iPhone. This is the device I shall now consider. The key elements are: 1. Appointments 2. Do it list…
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