I am in the Lima airport at my post in Starbucks. I am waiting several hours before my flight home. I am reflecting on another Servant Leadership Training event that surpassed my expectations! I presented the training entitled, "Leadership Lesson From Jesus." I have done a lot of leadership things over the years, but this was a little different presentation that I have ever made. I wanted to keep it as basic as possible for leaders who are young in the Lord and experiencing leadership for the first time in the PNHI project.
In the first chapter I wanted to establish what leadership was from the perspective of Jesus. The one word that describes leadership as exemplified by Jesus is INFLUENCE. I talked about the influence of Jesus during His life and in history - and how He has called us to influence. Three words that describe our impact on any environment we are in: SALT, LIGHT, YEAST.
In the second chapter I wanted to unwrap the paradox of SERVANT LEADERSHIP and Mark 10:35-45. I illustrated that Jesus is the ultimate servant leader, and then gave them a project to do on their own time. Project: read the Gospel of Matthew and when Jesus is doing something write in the margin of your Bible how he is functioning - as a servant, as a leader, or both. Use the following words to describe how he is functioning. For example: in Matthew 4:1-11: as servant - submission; as leader - example; in Matthew 4:23, 24: as servant - serving/healing people; as leader - proactive.
I spent the rest of the time outlining Leadership Lessons From Jesus:
1. He Loved People To Himself
2. He Cast a New Vision
3. He Empowered Others To Lead [Matthew 10; Acts 6:1-7]
4. He Developed a Cohesive Team
5. He Was Able To Develop a Measurable Plan With Measurable Goals [Acts 1:8]
6. He Was Able To Make Difficult Decisions [Buck stops here]
7. He Created a New Kind of Community - a Christ-like Culture
8. He Was Able To Follow-through and Evaluate
I conclude with this true illustration from a few years ago when hurricane Isabella was threatening Washington DC. The guard detail at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was given permission to stand down during the hurricane if needed, even though the tomb had never been left unguarded in the past. The officer in charge said, "I DON'T SEE THAT HAPPENING SIR." And no one stood down even though they were leaning into the wind the entire time. I used this as a metaphor for persevering in leadership. I asked them to lean into the wind when the tough times come - and never stand down.
One hundred and fifty adults attended [190 with children]. What is happening here is that these new believers, leaders, are seeing the Servant Training as an opportunity to have community together with Christ-followers from other barrios. It provides a unique fellowship for them.
Next month John teaches on "Squaring Everything With The Word, and in September Roger Storms is bringing someone from his congregation to teach on "How To Defend Your Faith," a teaching on Apologetics. I would like to attend that one!
Well, Servant Leadership Training has met a need and has been a good thing. Thank you for your support of PNHI.
Tim Coop
This month we would like to share the story of a pair of your girls that are benefiting from the help many women in Perú could receive through the women’s village. We share the story of Monica and her 15 year old sister. Their story is not uncommon in Peruvian culture. Monica is 20 years old and is a native of Cascas, she arrived with her 15 year old sister and two prosecutors to the Women’s Village. They both have been sexually abused by their father.
The problems began between her parents because of economic problems. They argued constantly and her father physically and psychologically abused her mother, previously. Monica grew up witnessing this abusive. She was also punished physically by her father because she often broke things accidentally. At 6 years old she started school, her parents were attacking each other.
At age 10, her parents, siblings and Monica began working on weekends recycling. It is from this age that her father began sexually abusing her. At first he propositioned her to have sex with him, she thought it was normal so she didn’t struggle because it hurt to try. He said he would not harm her, so she would just lie in bed and let her father have sex with her against her will. He repeated this many times for 10 years. He would often wait until everyone was sleeping or if nobody was home.
At age 16 she finished studying at the school and the abuse continued. At age 17 she began studying Computer Science and Information, in the third cycle of studies, she was still being abused so she decided to leave home and go to a friend’s house. She was only gone for three days when her dad found out where she was and sent for her saying that her mother was sick. She went back with him because he said he wouldn’t harm her friends. When she went back to her house she told her mom about the abuse. However, her mom was convinced that she asked her dad to have sex. Years passed and the abuse continued until she learned that her sister also was being abused by her father. Her relationship with her father was even tenser, because he forbid her to have any friends and when he saw her with someone he punished her. Her friend confronted her and said that her father’s reaction is not normal. She confessed to her friend about the abuse and she advised her to report it. Monica went to her sister and they both decided to report the abuse to the authorities. Since her computer class was over she had no reason to leave the house so her sister went to the police. Since she is a minor they held her at the police station. Well her sister didn’t come home from school so Monica said that she would go look for her and bring her home. She found her at the police station.
Since the mother blames both of the girls for the abuse the state attorneys brought them to the Women’s Village because they have nowhere else to go.
The attorneys have expressed their appreciation for the Women’s Village and how much they think it is needed.
The father is now in jail and has admitted to the abuse. However, the mother is still blaming her daughters. The attorneys say that it might be up to 4 months because of the process that needs to be done. Meanwhile both of the girls are getting help at the women’s village.
Dios de bendiga,
Mike and Danell
Greetings to each of you! And I greet you from the growing Body of Christ in Trujillo, Peru!
I have just returned from Trujillo again and want to share with you that the Lords work continues and souls are being won for Christ! Praise God!
However, we also need to be mindful that with successes come roadblocks and times of being discouraged. With that my blog to you this month focuses on what we all need to remember:
"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers." Galatians 6:9,10
How often are we tempted to give up, throw the towel in?
For most of us there are regular challenges to give up. We ALL become weary, tired, challenged as we try and do the right thing; to love, to give, to serve. We become weary when we try and do it all on our own strength...when we take our eyes off the Lord and what He has done for us, and what He has planned for us.
What wearies you?
Financial stress?
Temptation to sexual sins?
Having to work or live with unpleasant people?
Temptation to not keep your commitments?
Others not fulfilling their commitments or responsibilities?
Work? hours, insecurity of the future, nasty boss, etc.
Being tired from having so many responsibilities; work, family, church, club, sports, finances, taxes, keep the cars running, challenges with your mate or kids, taking care of others dependent on you?
The list could go on and on.
BUT the call is to not let ourselves become weary in doing good. REJECT the evil, the cop out, the not doing what is RIGHT. We will reap a harvest IF we don't give up.
This all certainly applies to what we are doing in Peru and what all of us in the States are doing/living here for Him.
The enemy is at work all around us. God is depending on us. He needs us to trust in Him and do His work, tired or not. We will tire faster if we don't keep HIM first. Keep Him first, are you doing that? It is the make or break factor.
God Bless!
John & Carla Hendee
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