June 2002
Page 1 - Beware of the Stronghold of Cold Love By Francis Frangipane
Page 2 - God Will Guide Us By Kevin McClure
Page 3 - Beauty By Mary Ann Herzan
Page 4 - A Lutheran Charismatic Bible School
Page 5 - Q & A - Speaking in Tongues By Paul Anderson
Page 6 - Directors Note
Fathers and mothers want their children to succeed. They need to find out their dreams and help them fulfill them. Each child's dream is different. Parents lay down their lives for their children, serving them by leading them, providing for them, guiding them, disciplining them. The vision of that family could be the combined vision of all the members. In the same way, leaders are called to lay down their lives for those in the church. They help them fulfill their dreams, to walk into their God-given calling.
Jesus said that "the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many" (Matthew 20:28). He said that "the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep" (John 10:11).
A leader is like a coach, wanting every team member to succeed, to contribute to the team. The focus is not on making the coach look good; it is on making the player look good. It can be easy for pastors to treat members as if they are there to fulfill the vision and program of the pastor. But as one pastor put it, "Programs serve to develop people rather than people developing programs." The goal is to see people develop into their full potential, not programs. People who are treated in this way, as good parents treat their children or as good coaches treat their players, develop as God intends, and they learn to serve the family or the team and not just their personal interests. People who feel like they are serving the plans of the pastor and don't buy into the vision may feel used or manipulated.
Lutheran Renewal succeeds if and only if it helps pastors, congregational members, and churches to succeed. It is a service organization. Conferences and congregational missions have as their goal the building up of individuals and congregations, not the building up of Lutheran Renewal. We are grateful for the many who support us with prayer and finances to enable us to continue serving others. Isn't it wonderful that we are all called to serve a higher vision than our own!?
Paul Anderson
