Russian Ministry

About 20 years ago I flew in to Moscow from Oslo, Norway to visit a Christian Psychologist I had met in California at a conference. The guy who headed a pharmaceutical company owned by my friend was there to meet me in a yellowish Mercedes Benz.

The driver had an Uzzi in the front seat and a Glock on his hip as he took my luggage and placed it neatly into the trunk. He had been a KGB agent under the Communists. That was my introduction to modern Russia after the wall came down.  

It wasn't long before my Psychologist friend took me to visit the shops and Psychology Institute where we saw numerous men sprawled unconscious on the snow. It was January. The Psychologist said the subway and public places were filled daily with drunks.

After hearing about the horrible conditions under which the Russians lived when the Socialists reigned I can almost understand why so many men became addicts. Life in a Socialist nation is hell on earth. The dictators promise free food, free medicine, free education, free housing and free sex but the price is a stream of lies and eternal misery!

This is what our teams deal with in Russia

After 20 years we have teams of Christian volunteers who share the good news that Jesus saves from sin and addictions and misery. Thousands are coming to faith in Christ, and many of them enter our discipleship training and learn how to share the gospel and help addicts find freedom. We offer Addiction Recovery for anyone who wants to be free.

All of our materials are designed to equip people to find health and growth and share it with others. 

Our Russian teams need your continued support in prayer and financial gifts. Go to the web to make a donation or send a check to

Sweeten Life Systems
PO Box 498455
Cincinnati 45249

Love Bombs

At one time in my life we came together as a group of Christians who wanted to establish a Jesus Community. We met frequently for Bible study, prayers, singing and mutual ministry. The age range was pretty wide with many of the group college students and others in our thirties and forties. Some were ordained clergy but most were lay persons. There were black and white and a sprinkling of Jewish Believers. Despite the diversity we attempted to accept each other as spiritual equals. 

One of the things we did was sit in a circle and do what we called "Love Bombings". The emotional trauma that comes from painful past relationships can not be repaired without establishing safe places for human contact. Every child is born fearing rejection and abandonment. Dysfunctional families leave scars of abandonment within the souls of every family member. Thankfully, the fruit of the Spirit, when experienced in the cell group as it flows in the Spirit brings substantial healing and restoration to the wounded soul.

Few of us have ever experienced real love and warm acceptance.  When it occurs, the effects are startling, even overwhelming. All of the healing grace of group life contribute to the love encounter.

Acceptance is critical because it sets the stage for acceptance and safety. 

Worship models and powerfully communicates the gracious acceptance and love of God. 

The Word brings healing when released in a caring, interactive manner. 

Personal time allows us to minister together, interact with care and pray for each other with sensitivity and acceptance. 

And now, these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest is love. 1 CO 13:13

Healing Growth Communities

I am interested in producing healthy Christians and healthy churches. Pete Scazzera wrote a good book on the topic a few years ago and currently teaches on the topic but more is needed IMO.

It is hard to think of any emphasis on growth by anyone in modern society.Maybe we are moving too fast. Farmers, recovering addicts and coaches talk about growth and development. The New Testament, on the other hand, is filled with the topic. It was a farming and fishing era so growth was essential to survival.

While getting a Doctorate on the topic of training Christian Counselors I became  interested in the marks of a healing-growth community. I had been a school teacher, a coach and a Counselor Educator. In those jobs  I learned the need to develop intentional communities of learners. It is called a Paideia Community in education.

One topic was group therapy. I found there are guidelines for developing groups that promote awareness, insight, problem solving, setting goals, and emotional catharsis. There are also check lists of things to avoid in educational and counseling settings. We want to avoid these factors that disrupt the health and wellness of the culture/ Paideia.

So, I set out to discover the marks of a Christian healing-growth community. They are found in scripture and education, counseling, and group dynamics. If interested, you can find them in Hope and Change for Humpty Dumpty.

Churches with a Mission

Have you ever known a church with a God-inspired Mission? One that the leaders received from the Lord and cast for the congregation? It might have been radical, different, controversial and new but if molded and moved the congregation to do great things for God?

Frankly I have coached a lot of Pastors, Elders and Deacons whose mission is to keep the doors open for the next Sunday. One Pastor said to me:

"If I did what you are saying I would be fired! My Deacons will not let me move the church forward. They want it to be like if was in 1955. I just want to survive long enough for my kids to graduate from college. I need the salary so I can't rock the boat."

Of all the organizations to do that the church is the worst. If you are in survival mode, just lie there with no dreams and let the enemy win. You have my permission. But if you want to build a powerhouse of God for God, read on.

1. Seek God. Pray and do it. Ask God to remind you what thrills you. Why did you enter the Ministry? Excitement about God's love. Enthralled with God's power. Enamored with God's healing? Blessed by a mentor that discipled you and loved you?

2. Forget what Rick Warren and Bill Hybels did. Do your thing.

3. Forget what your Seminary Profs said. Their advice is poison!

4. Talk with your wife and old friends. Remember what turned you on to Jesus before religion turned you off. Pray with some wise men who have been through the storms. Tell the Elders you are seeking God's Mission and Vision. Do not ask them for your vision but ask them for their vision.

5. Study the speech by Martin Luther King, Jr., "I Have a Dream" and almost anything by Winston Churchill.

6. Take a retreat in the mountains and walk among nature until God speaks to you.

7. Find a spiritual coach and pray about God's call. 

Building Up the Organization's Culture of Health and Wellness

                                            
                                             John Wimber modeled Positive Preaching

When speaking we need to follow the advice of a guy not known to pussy foot around with people. In fact, he is known as a man who tends to confront those he disagrees with in a very strong manner. Yet, despite that reputation, he shocks us by this statement.

Hey, guys! It isn't smart to do any trash talking! Instead, try to pick and choose words and tones that build people up in the Lord. Listen carefully and think about their needs right then. In fact, I try to think of ways to give people grace when I speak to them. Eph 4:29-30

Maybe St. Paul was convicted of his usual intemperate manner and the Holy Spirit taught him to cool the harsh rhetoric. We know that Paul was a great speaker so being harsh to listeners would have been contrary to what he learned in school about great preaching that motivates changes.

The pagans thought he was actually the god Mercury who was famous for being a great orator. But attacking the audience is a sure sign of poor speaking ability. Harsh preachers actually stimulate most listeners to do THE OPPOSITE of the preacher's message. Harshness fosters rebellion and reactivity.

If you want to motivate positive changes read my book, Hope and Change for Humpty Dumpty. It offers some great suggestions for enhancing good motivation and lets you know how to restore sinners.

Innovations that Build a Healthy Church

We who lead the church can intentionally do things that "Raise the health and welfare of the entire congregation".

If we Raise the level of the lake it will raise the level of all the boats". 

In fact, it is the main task of a Minister.

Here is Wikipedia definition of an organization's culture.

Organizational culture is the behavior of humans who are part of an organization and the meanings that the people attach to their actions. Culture includes the organization values, visions, norms, working language, systems, symbols, beliefs and habits. It is also the pattern of such collective behaviors and assumptions that are taught to new organizational members as a way of perceiving, and even thinking and feeling. Organizational culture affects the way people and groups interact with each other, with clients, and with stakeholders.

Ministers are the only leaders that speak to a majority of the workforce weekly. It is the goal of every great CEO to build a great organization. The organization is built by intentionally intervening in ways that promote health, welfare and positive attitudes.

The church culture needs to be in the Mission, Vision,  Goals, Sermons, Symbols, Classes, Structure, Committee Meetings, etc.

It must permeate the life of the church. It is done by every good leader. Poor leaders allow the organization to mold them.

Read about a church that fits your ideals and decide to follow their lead. My former Pastor, Dr. Jerry Kirk, just finished a biography with co-author Stephen Eyre.

It can be found at the Prayer Covenant web page. It can inspire you to develop your own Spirit led mission and vision.

I am Speaking Sunday Morning

My friend Brad Rosenberg Pastor of Tri-County Assembly of God is in India so he asked me to speak for him this Sunday at the 10:15 service. This is in Fairfield, Ohio just north of Cincinnati.

TCA was founded in about 1967 as a plant by First Christian Assembly, now The People's Church, near The University of Cincinnati. As an Assistant Dean of Students Karen and I stared a small Bible study in our home a few blocks away. It grew to average 50 to 75 people weekly and many came to Christ out of drugs, sexual abuse, trauma, etc. We were overwhelmed and needed some place to take the students and get support for our kids.

When I walked into Pastor Miller's office with my beard and long hair I must have been a fright. When I asked if I could bring over 50 Jesus freaks to the church I was a disaster. But he said we could and they loved us and helped us for years. We have been friends ever since.

I am preaching Sunday about Renewed Christian Thinking. Brad asks me to teach annually on that topic and I love it. Come on over and join in with me to enjoy a wonderful worship at TCA.