4.2 – Equipping and Training for Mission

[Nate]

These highlight both the required competency of character and in practical skills. This shows us that we need both of them to be effective ministers in the world. You can be the best person around, but if you can’t preach its going to be hard to pastor effectively! You may be an incredible speaker, teacher, or worship leader, but if you don’t have character or hte fruit of the spirit then it isn’t going to matter!

I appreciate how much ACOP is working to have focuses on both the internal and external parts of the pastor or minister

[Allan]

Leading out of integrity is always 1st. If there isn’t any integrity the ministry will fail. Training either residential or on your own is needed.

[Caleb]

In Christian ministry, we can follow the competencies of David listed in the psalms to better minister to others. First of all our heart needs to be in the right place. Shepherding with integrity of heart for us today means to align our hearts with the heart of God and truly love our neighbors as ourselves. we need to know that God loves the people we interact with in ministry, so we should love them the same.

in ministry today, leading with skilled hands means to base our ministry on scripture and studying the word of God. we need to be skilled with the sword he has given us and always keep learning to hear what he has to say for the church.

[Micah]

I think I’ve seen a lot (certainly not all) of Christian ministry and specifically pastoral roles forsake the integrity of heart and shepherding and focus on leading with skilled hands. It seems to me like there is an emphasis on pastors being the “vision-casters” for the church and leaning towards the CEO mindset of offering a service rather than shepherding people. This is not necessarily out of a crooked heart, but certainly reveals a lack in this kind of leadership that David provided as a shepherd of people. I think that there needs to be a reset of focus of the internal ministry of a leader in the church to shepherd the people in the fellowship first, and part of this is just seeing how some pastors go about loving people well, listening, and providing counsel when needed rather than spending the bulk of the week perfecting a 40-minute sermon.