22Ten Commandments for Pastors
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FIRSTGLANCE Ministry Ministry is the international journal of the Seventh-day Adventist Ministerial Association and has been published since 1928. Association Secretary James A. Cress Prayer: a theological refl ection 5 Editor Nikolaus Satelmajer What does prayer teach me about God? About myself? Assistant Editor Willie E. Hucks II Consultant to Editor Myrna Tetz What do my prayers reveal to the watching universe? Editorial Assistant Sheryl Beck Ángel Manuel Rodríguez Database Assistant John Feezer IV Professional Growth and Interchurch Relations Anthony Kent IN Refl ections on prayer Contributing Editors Jonas Arrais, Sharon Cress, EVERY 8 John M. Fowler, Clifford Goldstein, Anthony Kent, Peter ISSUE Since “prayer brings balance,” as this author states, the end Prime, Kit Watts of 2006 is a good time for personal assessment. International Editors French John Graz John Watts Inter-American Division Fernando Zabala Letters South American Division Zinaldo A. Santos 3 Consulting Editors Ben Clausen, Raoul Dederen, Ron Flowers, Michael Hasel, Roland Hegstad, Gerry Karst, Called to preach: an interview Kathleen Kuntaraf, Ekkehardt Mueller, Jan Paulsen, 11 Robert Peach, Ángel Manuel Rodríguez, Penny Shell, with E. E. Cleveland and Benjamin William Shea, Russell Staples, Richard Tibbits, Sigve Editorial Tonstad, Ted Wilson, Edward Zinke Reaves Pastoral Assistant Editors John C. Cress, Fredrick 4 Two great preachers discuss the importance of preaching, Russell, Maylan Schurch, Loren Seibold International Advisors Alejandro Bullón, Russell Burrill, preparation for preaching, and making an appeal at the Daniel Duda, R. Danforth Francis, Passmore Hachalinga, John Kakembo, Ilie Leahu, Miguel Luna, Hector Sanchez, end of the sermon. Houtman Sinaga, Bruno Vertallier, Gary Webster, Dateline Measapogu Wilson Derek J. Morris 28 Pastoral Advisors Leslie Baumgartner, S. Peter Campbell, Jeanne Hartwell, Mitchell Henson, Norma Osborn, Leslie Pollard, Dan Smith, Steve Willsey 14 Overcoming ministry mediocrity: Advertising Editorial Offi ce Pastor’s Pastor Ministerial Association Resource Project three steps to a wholesome Coordinator Cathy Payne 30 ministry Cover Illustration Harry Knox Layout 316 Creative Pastors, like athletes, occasionally fi nd themselves in a rut. Subscriptions 12 issues: United States US$29.99; Here are some suggestions to get out of that rut and recover a Canada and overseas US$31.99; airmail US$41.75; single copy US$3.00. To order: send name, address, and vibrant ministry. payment to Ministry Subscriptions, 12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD 20904-6600 U.S.A. Arthur D. Canales Web site www.ministrymagazine.org Queries/renewals/address changes [email protected] (email); Effective committee meetings: a 301-680-6512 (phone); 301-680-6502 (fax) 17 To Writers We welcome unsolicited manuscripts. guide for congregations Editorial preference is to receive manuscripts on diskette with name, address, telephone and fax numbers, and A “must read” primer in leadership and administration, Social Security number (if U.S. citizen or possessing a U.S. Social Security number). Send editorial correspondence especially for pastors who are starting ministry. to 12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD 20904- 6600 U.S.A. 301-680-6510 (phone); 301-680-6502 (fax); Barry Oliver [email protected] (editorial offi ce email). Writer’s Guidelines available on request and on Web site at www.ministrymagazine.org. Ten commandments for pastors Ministry (ISSN 0026-5314), the international journal 22 of the Seventh-day Adventist Ministerial Association © Lessons from the life and ministry of Moses, particularly 2006, is published monthly by the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists and printed by Pacifi c Press® applicable to pastors today. Pub. Assn., 1350 N. Kings Road, Nampa, ID 83687-3193. Member Associated Church Press. Standard mail postage Stan Hudson paid at Nampa, Idaho. PRINTED IN THE U.S.A. The phenomenon of energy Vol. 78 Number 12 24 Bible credits Texts credited to the NEB are from The New English Bible. Copyright © 1961, 1970 by the Delegates of the Oxford exchange University Press and the Syndics of the Cambridge University Press. What is it? And how does it apply to church life and, more Reprinted by permission. Texts credited to the NIV are from the Holy Bible, New International Version. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by importantly, church growth? the International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers. Bible texts credited to RSV are from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible. Copyright © 1946, 1952, 1971 by the Division of V. Peter Harper Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States. Used by permission. 2 MINISTRY December 2006 L ETTERS AFTER ALL, SHOULD NOT THE REMNANT BE LIKE THE ORIGINAL? Multichurch districts: New are already following these principles. I and title to that interview (“Through a land Testament model? believe North America needs to consider not sown,” Ministry, October 2006). hank you for dedicating an issue of the same. I was enthralled by the natural TMinistry magazine to ministry in the I realize this idea is not popular, but it simplicity of Mrs. Paulsen’s recital of the life multichurch district (August 2006). Hav- is biblical. It makes the mission of saving experiences of her husband and herself. ing been the pastor of a multichurch the lost a priority. And after all, isn’t that To me it could not but be reminiscent district, I understand the challenges of what the remnant is all about? of that scriptural classic of felicity and this situation. In fact, most of our pastors —David Klinedinst, Personal Ministries faithfulness, the book of Ruth. The have these kinds of districts. director, Christian Record Services, Lincoln, recounting of their experiences breathes However, the truth is that the Nebraska, United States the freshness of their native Norwegian multichurch concept is closer to the mountain air and the unspoiled simplicity biblical example of the early New Preaching without notes of heart of country folk. Testament church. There don’t seem to hanks for the article by Derek Mor- Now I feel I know our world church be any examples of paid pastors hovering Tris on “Preaching Effectively Without president: warm, humble, unsophisticated, over a church. The New Testament Notes” (October 2006). His article set me and always ready to help. Never driven by churches were lay-led churches—led by free from the pulpit! So far, I’ve preached ambition, yet, step by step, their lives elders, deacons, and other dedicated three sermons without notes. While I’m have moved forward and Elder Paulsen’s laity. Those paid by the tithe functioned still apprehensive about not taking my responsibilities increased. In whatever as church planters/evangelists who manuscript into the pulpit, my preaching capacity he has served, he was in the place raised up believers in unentered areas. has gone well. The tips were just what I God’s providence had appointed, faithfully What would happen if the Adventist needed. Thanks for printing the article. fulfi lling that task, and, when some higher church chose to follow that example? At least one pastor’s preaching life has responsibility needed to be fi lled, he just Perhaps place fi ve to six lay-led churches been changed! seemed to be the proper person for that in a district and allow the pastor to spend —Jeff Scoggins, pastor, Minnesota Conference task. So their lives progressed, never look- part of his time training and equipping of Seventh-day Adventists ing back. Now, as ever, in the same spirit, them and the other part of his time evan- effectually fulfi lling the service to which gelizing those cities with no Adventist “Through a land not sown” they have been appointed. presence. hat a fi ne, fi ne classic of Christian What a fi ne classic of genuine Chris- After all, should not the remnant Wexperience, integrity, and service tian experience and devoted service! be like the original? Some of the other was featured in the interview of Kari Paulsen —Ronald V. Edwards, pastor (retired), England world fi elds, such as the African divisions, by Sharon Cress; with what a fi tting text CORRECTION: • In the October 2006 we attributed to Pastor John Skrzypaszek the title D.Min. He is, however, currently a candidate for the degree of Doctor of Ministry, with hopes of successfully defending his dissertation in 2007—The Editor. Ministry Subscriptions Make Great Gifts! Download a subscription form at www.ministrymagazine.org/pdfFiles/subscribe.pdf One-Year Subscription (12 issues): United States: US$29.99 • Canada and overseas: US$31.99 December 2006 MINISTRY 3 E DITORIAL A walk through God’s garden Nikolaus Satelmajer ecently my wife and I visited Frie- Other ministers “spring up like grass have little hope—will fi nd life from the densau Adventist University, lo- in a meadow, like poplar trees by fl owing One who is the Vine of life. Rcated within an hour’s drive from streams” (Isa. 44:4). Perhaps during this December marks the end of the year Berlin, Germany. It’s one of the many year you have experienced a renewal in most countries. We may fi nd this a postsecondary schools operated by the in your ministry. Or perhaps you have good time to review our lives, for just as Seventh-day Adventist Church that pro- helped a colleague experience such a gardener must assess the condition of vide ministerial training as well as classes a renewal. In either case, new joy has the garden and just as God reviews His in other areas. entered your life. garden—His garden of ministers—we On the well-kept campus we vis- However, reason for concern does need to assess ourselves. Those who fi nd ited the attractive Bible garden, which exist within the garden. After a few that pride has become an obstacle can features a selection of the 110 plants, words of introduction, the prophet Joel turn to the Servant of servants—Jesus trees, fl owers, vegetables, and herbs paints a discouraging picture of judg- Christ.