MAKING HAVEN ON EARTH by TOPE A. BANJO
MAKING HAVEN ON
EARTH
Making Your Church More Welcome To Visitors
& More Caring For Members
Copyright © 2013, Tope A. Banjo
Published by VISION BUILDERS,
Tel: +234-1-817 2239 319
……………
1. ‘HAVEN’ ON EARTH?
Church should be a Haven where people feel safe
and sheltered from the harshness in the world system.
You might assume that there's a typographical error somewhere in this book's title, but I admit the opposite, there's no error! The intended word is HAVEN, not heaven, although we are more used to the concept of Heaven on earth.
A Haven is ‘A shelter serving as a place of safety or sanctuary’. This is what God wants for every local church assembly. A place where people feel safe and sheltered from the harshness in the world system. Sometime ago, I attended a seminar where one of the ministers said, “The church should be a haven, a shelter for people.” That was the first time I was hearing the same set of words from another source: Haven, Church, Shelter. For the sake of definition and expression, my use and references to the word ‘Church’ on these pages mean 'the place of meeting', except where otherwise expressly mentioned. Also, I wish to use the word 'Touch' to mean 'To impact someone or be impacted by someone positively with actions'.
Three levels of persons make up every congregation; Leadersm the Workers and the Church Members. I have also endeavoured to deal with issues as it concerns each part in separate subtitled sections.
THE LOCAL CHURCH AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
Workmen ensure that the instruments of their trade always stay in good shape. In the local church, the Lord’s instruments are the appointed Leaders and Worker who execute the vision of their Pastor. As a Leader or Worker, you are vital to your local church assembly becoming a place ‘where people feel safe and sheltered from the harshness in the world system’.
Making Your Church More Welcome To Visitors
& More Caring For Members
Copyright © 2013, Tope A. Banjo
Published by VISION BUILDERS,
Tel: +234-1-817 2239 319
……………
1. ‘HAVEN’ ON EARTH?
Church should be a Haven where people feel safe
and sheltered from the harshness in the world system.
You might assume that there's a typographical error somewhere in this book's title, but I admit the opposite, there's no error! The intended word is HAVEN, not heaven, although we are more used to the concept of Heaven on earth.
A Haven is ‘A shelter serving as a place of safety or sanctuary’. This is what God wants for every local church assembly. A place where people feel safe and sheltered from the harshness in the world system. Sometime ago, I attended a seminar where one of the ministers said, “The church should be a haven, a shelter for people.” That was the first time I was hearing the same set of words from another source: Haven, Church, Shelter. For the sake of definition and expression, my use and references to the word ‘Church’ on these pages mean 'the place of meeting', except where otherwise expressly mentioned. Also, I wish to use the word 'Touch' to mean 'To impact someone or be impacted by someone positively with actions'.
Three levels of persons make up every congregation; Leadersm the Workers and the Church Members. I have also endeavoured to deal with issues as it concerns each part in separate subtitled sections.
THE LOCAL CHURCH AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
Workmen ensure that the instruments of their trade always stay in good shape. In the local church, the Lord’s instruments are the appointed Leaders and Worker who execute the vision of their Pastor. As a Leader or Worker, you are vital to your local church assembly becoming a place ‘where people feel safe and sheltered from the harshness in the world system’.
However, the quality of your service
is a more critical factor. Eccl 10:10 states, “Using a dull ax requires great
strength, so sharpen the blade. That's the value of wisdom; it helps you
succeed.” (New Living Translation) The difference is in your sharpness or
effectiveness in meeting prevailing needs. For Leaders and Workers to sharpen
their skills for more effective service, training is required.
In the most part, and regrettable so, many local church assemblies are yet to appreciate the place and impact of sharpening the effectiveness of their workforce for their day-to-day operations. This is not the example laid by our Lord Jesus who gave good time to the development of His disciples and Workers. It is unfortunate that unlike the secular workplace where workforce development constantly sits on the front burner, church workforce does not usually get such attention for a number of what I consider mistaken reasons. I want to look at just four reasons.
1. No Particular 'Job Description' - For example, what exactly is an Usher's job in church? What training program do you present to a Prayer team? I have often found ministers having this dilemma on a number of occasions when invited to speak at a church or to speak specifically to Workers. Most times when I asked to know the Pastor's focus, I got answers like:
“You know, we just want our Workers to function better”
“Tell them that God wants to use them”
“I want them to be more punctual to church and their meetings”
Truth is, a church Worker's job description could even act like a moving goal post as the congregation's needs arise, increase and even modifies.
2. Our Church Is Rather 'Different' In Some Ways - Workers operate differently from church to church in line with their Pastor’s vision and their congregation’s needs, therefore designing a global training program for all church Workers of each service area is difficult.
3. It Is No Big Deal. Anyone Can Do Church Work! - For whatever reason, some church administrations believe that church work is a 'no-brainer' activity. It requires no learning, just volunteer and start! This is so far from the truth. The Apostles said, “Seek out men from among you… whom we may appoint over this business (serving tables)” Acts 6:3. This mistaken assumption or impression can cripple any church assembly's potential for becoming a Haven to its visitors and members. We sharpen knives for effective cutting and slicing. Workers require greater attention to prevent their 'service edge' from going blunt from all the stresses they have to handle daily and weekly!
In the most part, and regrettable so, many local church assemblies are yet to appreciate the place and impact of sharpening the effectiveness of their workforce for their day-to-day operations. This is not the example laid by our Lord Jesus who gave good time to the development of His disciples and Workers. It is unfortunate that unlike the secular workplace where workforce development constantly sits on the front burner, church workforce does not usually get such attention for a number of what I consider mistaken reasons. I want to look at just four reasons.
1. No Particular 'Job Description' - For example, what exactly is an Usher's job in church? What training program do you present to a Prayer team? I have often found ministers having this dilemma on a number of occasions when invited to speak at a church or to speak specifically to Workers. Most times when I asked to know the Pastor's focus, I got answers like:
“You know, we just want our Workers to function better”
“Tell them that God wants to use them”
“I want them to be more punctual to church and their meetings”
Truth is, a church Worker's job description could even act like a moving goal post as the congregation's needs arise, increase and even modifies.
2. Our Church Is Rather 'Different' In Some Ways - Workers operate differently from church to church in line with their Pastor’s vision and their congregation’s needs, therefore designing a global training program for all church Workers of each service area is difficult.
3. It Is No Big Deal. Anyone Can Do Church Work! - For whatever reason, some church administrations believe that church work is a 'no-brainer' activity. It requires no learning, just volunteer and start! This is so far from the truth. The Apostles said, “Seek out men from among you… whom we may appoint over this business (serving tables)” Acts 6:3. This mistaken assumption or impression can cripple any church assembly's potential for becoming a Haven to its visitors and members. We sharpen knives for effective cutting and slicing. Workers require greater attention to prevent their 'service edge' from going blunt from all the stresses they have to handle daily and weekly!
4. This Is Just Church. It Does Not Really Matter! - Many think that what we do,
when we do it or how we do most church related operations is really no big
deal. We say, “It is just what we do on Sundays, no serious skills are
required,” but this is so far from the truth. In this light, there is little
wonder too, that people-skills are so weak in church-based work relationships.
Truth is, the same players would not dare to exhibit many foul ups demonstrated
in church on any given day in their corporate workplaces. You see, when we say,
that's 'work' and this is 'church' we so desperately miss the point. The truth
is, after all the prayer and preaching is done men and women, and not angels,
are the instruments that God will use to touch visitors and members. When
church-work begins to matter getting done in ways that really matter, the local
church assembly will be better aligned to impact this confused world.
…………………
Dear Reader,
Thank you for sharing this time with me in 'Making Haven On Earth'. As you get involved in your church and stay faithful in service to God there, you will increase on all sides for good. You will become a factor that helps others feel more welcomed. You will be an example of how Workers and Leaders should relate with worshipers.
May God Bless You Richly!
Tope A. Banjo
OTHER TITLES
I sincerely look forward to you purchasing and enjoying all my publications as E-Book and Print. Thank you!
NOVELS
Merchant of Happiness
Assignment
BUSINESS TRAINING
A Better Workforce Leader
A Better Employee
A Better Church Worker
Business Start-Up 1.0
CHURCH WORK ENHANCEMENT
The Ministry of Helps
Making Haven On Earth
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
Improving Performance & Increasing Results
Christian Living
Potential
…………………
Dear Reader,
Thank you for sharing this time with me in 'Making Haven On Earth'. As you get involved in your church and stay faithful in service to God there, you will increase on all sides for good. You will become a factor that helps others feel more welcomed. You will be an example of how Workers and Leaders should relate with worshipers.
May God Bless You Richly!
Tope A. Banjo
OTHER TITLES
I sincerely look forward to you purchasing and enjoying all my publications as E-Book and Print. Thank you!
NOVELS
Merchant of Happiness
Assignment
BUSINESS TRAINING
A Better Workforce Leader
A Better Employee
A Better Church Worker
Business Start-Up 1.0
CHURCH WORK ENHANCEMENT
The Ministry of Helps
Making Haven On Earth
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
Improving Performance & Increasing Results
Christian Living
Potential
Enjoy Tope Banjo’s Books available for purchase as: i) Epub Version @ Okada Books OR ii) PDF Version @ Vision Builders Resources
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