Article Summaries
April 1, 1998
As a service, Leadership offers summaries of all articles three pages or longer, so you can:
- decide which articles are of most interest to you
- glean the essential concepts of articles if you have limited time to read
- easily review the articles you've read.
CHARACTER FORGED FROM CONFLICT (p. 20)
Jim Henry, pastor of First Baptist Church of Orlando, explains how your worst days in ministry can become the best shaper of your soul. What motivates you to take a stand in a potentially explosive situation?
I always engage conflict when the health of the church is threatened. As a pastor, I must protect the sheep. What runs through your mind when you consider entering a conflict?
That I'll get hateful letters, volatile phone calls, that some will leave the church. I've got to be geared up mentally and spiritually to accept that. Whatever stance I take, I will be misunderstood. Given all the conflict you've endured, how have you kept your enthusiasm for God's work?
I recognize that often conflict in church comes from conflict somewhere else, either currently or way back. The church or the pastor merely becomes the lightning rod for it. I try to understand why my critic is upset. But I too have to be willing to say, "I was wrong."
SHIELDING YOUR HEART FROM STRIFE (p. 27)
Jock Ficken, pastor of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Aurora, Illinois, lists 5 ways to limit the impact of conflict on your soul. - 1. Write your prayers to God. This brings the conflict before God, slows me down, and brings clarity to my tangle of thoughts and emotions.
- 2. Go to the circle of friends. I draw on local pastors, staff, my wife to help put the conflict in proper order.
- 3. Sweat it out. Running releases the stress that builds within me.
- 4. Dig for the nugget of truth. Conflict needs to be mined for its nugget of truth. My ministry has been positively shaped more by the hundreds of criticisms I've received than it has by a thousand compliments.
Please complete one of the following:
If you're a Leadership journal subscriber...
...but have not yet registered for online access to CTLibrary.com, you can receive a full-year's access for just $29.95!
Register Here | | If you're NOT a Leadership journal print subscriber...
You're entitled to a special, introductory offer for new subscribers only! Subscribe now and receive a one-year Leadership journal print subscription and one-year access to all Leadership archives for just $39.95!
Subscribe now!
When you log in as a Leadership Journal subscriber, you'll see additional articles noted as premium content only available to CTLibrary.com members. To access the entire CTLibrary requires a CTLibrary subscription. If you would prefer this option, select the offer below that best fits your needs.
|
Like the preview? To read this complete article
and 18,013 more in the archive—JOIN NOW!
Easily find high-quality, well-researched materials that provide a Christian perspective on topics ranging from headlines to history.
Start using this invaluable tool TODAY for preparing your Bible studies, presentations, class lectures, sermons, meetings, and more.
|
It's easy and quick to join:
Brought to You by Christianity Today Int'l |  |
|
| 
Find similar articles
E-mail this page
