Author: Phill

Engaging the Culture: 8 Simple Ways

/ Phill

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Charles Arn in “The Silver Bullet for Disciple Making” makes some challenging observations based on his research.

“The most effective evangelism—by far—occurs through meaningful relationships between Christians and non-Christians.”

“…we must be close enough to unbelievers for Christ to be observed and experienced through us.”

“One reason that 85+% of today’s churches are not growing is that the social networks of people in these churches are almost entirely within the church.”

The key is getting Christians and non-Christians together. These principles apply even more so to the tentmakers working overseas. They have the additional complication that they have to cross cultural and ethnic barriers as well. At first glance this task may appear daunting.

Simple habits, practiced well can have a big impact. The key to being an effective tentmaker is to build relationships with the people of the country where you go to serve. Being intentional in developing those relationships does not have to be complicated or difficult. Here are 8 practical everyday actions you can take to effectively engage the culture around you. These have been adapted from an article written to the North American church. In most cases they can be applied to any culture, anywhere in the world.

1. Start conversations. Just talk to the people you come in contact with while going through life. These could be neighbors, co-workers, or even total strangers you come across in the course of daily activities like shopping or sight-seeing.

2. Hang out with people who enjoy the same things you do. Find non-believers who enjoy doing the same things you do – or who can teach you something you would like to learn to do. Find ways to hang out with them and enjoy them while exposing them to “Christ in you.” One caveat to the tentmaker. Find your new friends among the nationals you came to serve with, not the ex-patriot community. It is all too easy to fall into the trap of spending all your time isolated from the nationals around you and live in the “ex-pat bubble.”

3. Volunteer somewhere. Be of service to your newfound community and show them you want to help and be a part of them. Just do it.

4. Tell stories. Everyone likes to hear a good story. Tell people about your life, or stories that illustrate important truths, even Bible stories. Learn to do it well.

5. Get to know your community. Ask questions. People are pleased when you express an interest in them and the history and values of their culture. Besides giving you a reason to talk with them you will find that you learn a lot and will gain valuable insights into understanding and relating to them better.

6. Invite others to join you. Don’t go alone. Ask someone to join you in your activity.

7. Pray with others. When you become aware of challenges non-Christian associates are facing, ask if you can pray for them. Pray with them on the spot, if possible. Prayer with them is key.Then follow up and ask them later how God answered your prayer.

8. Address physical and spiritual needs around you. Be aware of the needs around you and begin to make a difference. If you don’t know of any needs, go back to point #1. Ask those around you. You will be surprised at what you hear. Stay focused and work on one need at a time.

Make these practices part of your daily habits and you will find many opportunities to engage the culture around you. Be diligent in doing these until they become habits. It’s not difficult. You just need to start. Just DO it!

Steps to Embedding Kingdom 
 Values in Your Company Culture

/ Phill

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Doing business as mission means more than having Christians in the senior management team or having a chaplain on board to minister to staff and/or the community. It takes a wholistic commitment to a Kingdom of God mindset.

1. Start by carefully choosing your core values even before you begin making a business plan. Be intentional about what you want to be and how others will perceive you. The values need to be integrated into the whole business plan and your business processes. It is not something to be simply tacked on like an afterthought.

2. Communicate your values. Do not expect people will just automatically pick it up. Your values should be woven into the fabric of your training and related to the tasks your business does. Bring values up in informal conversations as well as formal meetings. Reinforce your values in motivational posters, or other imagery you have in your place of work.

3. Demonstrate your values every way you can. Model them in your own behavior as well as the practices and procedures of the company. Show that it is a natural, effective, fun way to work. Encourage your staff to be consistent in training new staff into the company values and practices.

4. Hire for it. This does not mean that you only hire believers but look for people who are teachable and have at least some of the qualities you are looking for. You need people who can fit your corporate culture. Then build on that.

5. Hold people accountable for operating by the values of the company.Watch how your staff work and coach them when they demonstrate non-conforming behavior.

6. Reward staff demonstrating company values in their work. This is not necessarily monetary rewards – though in some cases it could be. Give them an award, a special privilege, or additional responsibility. The key is that the rest of the staff realizes that behavior consistent with corporate goals is valued and appreciated by the company. Catch them in unexpected moments doing what is desired and brag on them for it.

7. Celebrate and commemorate successful practices. Make it a part of the stories employees tell around the water cooler.

Embedding Kingdom values in your company takes time and consistent reinforcement.

Done well it will define the very essence of what you are and what makes you different than all the other companies out there. It will make your company worthy of the King.

About the Guest Writer

/ Phill

http://globalopps.org/tmbriefs/chris.jpg

This month I have adapted two articles from our guest’s blog to highlight truths about Christians in the marketplace that are too often overlooked in the church in the West. While Chris is a Christian businessman in the United States the principles he presents are true throughout the world and merit reflection by all believers, but especially those who would be tentmakers doing Business as Mission.

I welcome your feedback. Email phill@globalopps.org.

The above articles and the testimony of Chris’ journey come from his blog http://christianfaithatwork.com and is used with permission.

Our Guest Writer in His Own Words

My name is Chris Patton.  I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, also known as a Christian.  I am a father of three wonderful kids and husband to a beautiful wife.  I am the steward of a business God has entrusted to me for a time and a purpose.  This business is a 100-employee automobile dealership group in a small town in Georgia that sells, services, and reconditions new and used cars, representing six franchises.  I am the third-generation operator of this family business that was started by my grandfather and I am partners with my father and brother.

Though I was a baptized believer since the age of ten, it was just over 10 years ago, in the fall of 2000, when I came to understand that I was not living the life to which God had called me.  I was a good person, and to the majority of people watching, I was a good Christian father, businessman, church leader, and friend.

“Unfortunately, I was basing my actions and behaviors on the world’s definition of a good Christian.”

I say that because it was certainly not based on the definition of a disciple in the Bible.  I had not spent any time reading the Bible for the purpose of aligning my life with it before.  Once I started doing that, everything changed.  I went from being a good man, leading a good American Christian life, to being a true disciple – someone who studies the life of Jesus and tries to apply what is learned to his everyday life.  Like I said earlier, this changed everything!

Change of Focus

Over the next couple of years, my focus slowly changed.  My priorities flip-flopped.  I even attempted to leave my position as President of the family business in an attempt to find another job that would allow me to serve God with more of my time.  I really did not know what God wanted me to do, but I knew it had to be in line with Scripture.  As a result, I knew it would not be continuing on the path I had been on up to that point.

Through a series of events that occurred roughly three years after my awakening, I had my marching orders.  In the fall of 2003, God showed me clearly that I am to do all I had imagined I would do when I attempted to leave the business, but I am to do it through the business.  He showed me that He had put me in my position in our family business for a time and a purpose.  Though profit is certainly necessary and a business cannot survive long without it, profit is not to be my main purpose.  My purpose is to run this business as a Christian business, one that operates for the purpose of honoring Him and advancing His kingdom.

Long Road Ahead

Eight years later, I am still running this business as God’s steward.  I have seen some successes and some failures since starting on the path I have taken.  I still have a long way to go on this path.

Pursue The Gifts You Have, Not The One’s You Want

/ Phill

Do you remember reading about David and Goliath? Do you remember how Saul tried to make David wear armor that would not fit him? I laugh when I try to picture David as a youth trying to walk around in Saul’s armor, potentially bumping into tent posts and stepping into the campfires scattered around.

Finally, David threw off Saul’s armor and wore his own shepherd’s clothes. He left Saul’s weapons in the tent and chose to use the sling and the stones he already knew how to use. These fit him. While he had never fought in a war with other soldiers, he had certainly seen his battles protecting the flocks from predators. Instead of using someone else’s armor and weaponry in this new battle, he went with what was familiar to him.

What Can We Learn?

Apparently, he made the right choice. So what can we as leaders learn from this episode? How do we apply it to what we do on a daily basis?

The first place I think to look is back in the Bible. Let’s consider Romans 12:6-8. In this passage, Paul is telling the Romans that different people receive different gifts from God.

When we receive specific gifts, we should use those gifts according to our faith. If one is given the gift of teaching, then they are to teach. Another may be given the gift of encouragement; they should encourage. You have probably read this and understand it.

I believe this is directly related to the story about David and the armor. You see, Saul was trying to get David to wear armor that was not his. It was not fit for him. It was not comfortable to him. It simply would have been a burden to David. It would have hampered his effectiveness against Goliath.

Gifts From God

The same is true about gifts from God. If God has given me the gift of encouragement, but not the gift of leadership, should I try to lead? Just because I want to lead does not mean that is what I should do. In fact, if God has not gifted me in that area, I will only cause problems if I try to do it anyway. If I am not gifted to teach, but I insist on doing so, what kind of results will I get? I may like the idea of teaching, but if God has not gifted me for it, that is not where I will be most effective.

Look at 1 Corinthians 12 and see more discussion on this. In this passage, Paul takes it further and uses the human body and its parts to illustrate his point. Each part has its job to do. Each job is just as important to the health of the body as the next. All deserve honor. None of the parts should aspire to be another part. Instead, each part should embrace the role they have been given and do the best they can at being that part.

Lessons For Leaders

As leaders, we must do the same.

1. Discover your gifting

David quickly found that Saul’s armor would not work. You need to determine your gifting. There are tools to accomplish this, but you can also ask those who know you best. Pray for God to reveal it to you.

2. Embrace that gifting

David did not hesitate to reject Saul’s armor and revert back to his own tools. Once you know your gifts, embrace them! Know that the Creator of the universe chose you specially for those gifts! They are worthy of honor!

3. Learn how to best apply that gifting

David spent years learning accuracy with his sling and stones. Do not expect overnight results in your gifts. Developing these gifts take time. Through prayer, application, and learning from defeats (as well as successes), you will grow in these gifts.

4. Go to battle!

David went boldly into battle with his tools. Do not be afraid to fight the battles with your gifts. Do not forget you represent God and He has your back!

Now, go out there and use your own armor!

What are your gifts?

The above post is based on a lesson on using your gifts from Dave Anderson’s book How to Run Your Business by THE BOOK.