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4.2 – Equipping and Training for Mission
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We must have a heart that is open to the Lord and pursuing him fully, but that will only take you so far. You also must be properly trained and have the knowledge and experience to lead well. Having the desire to follow the Lord and be a Godly leader are the first steps, but one must then be spurred to action to learn how to do this well.
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We can apply these competencies to Christian ministry today in a number of ways. Firstly, shepherding with integrity of heart required all people involved in Christian ministry to be checking in with themselves and also being accountable to others. It is important to be honest and lead others around you with integrity. Secondly, leading with skilled hands requires leaders to be constantly improving their skills and abilities. This can include pushing yourself to do something hard, taking some classes, having a mentor. Overall, all people involved in Christian ministry need to be leading in their skills and be improving them always.
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I believe that integrity is something that’s easily overlooked, especially in Christian ministry. It is very, very easy to convince yourself that the sin or even “laziness” that you apply to your personal relationship to God does not exactly translate to your effectiveness in ministry… but it really does. Perhaps there is some grace with God because it doesn’t really sound right to say that God only works through you as much as you’ve given to him. Nonetheless, integrity remains, arguably, paramount when it comes to ministry. Poison from within will always come out in some fashion, so we are to ensure that we are as devoted as we can be behind closed doors so that God will operate in his Grace through us to the utmost that it can in our given contexts.
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To shepherd with integrity is remembering the purpose of our mission is all about God and expanding His kingdom. We are only able to do this with God – it is not by our own works. We must remain skilled by continually seeking spiritual development and remaining connected to God. The Bible is our foundation that we get our skills from.
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