Vision of GlobalFil Alliance Inc.:
A global network of Filipinos committed to international cooperation, cultural revitalization, and national transformation.
Purposes of GlobalFil Alliance Inc.:
To provide educational programs and strategies catering to the unique holistic developmental needs and purposes of Filipino individuals, families, and different communities emanating from different sectors of society, diverse cultural contexts and occurring both locally and globally.
To set up allied centers that would train individuals, families and diverse Global Filipino communities in the context of the adopted countries by advocating cultural dynamism, critical assimilation, citizenship reacquisition and/or contribution to strengthening the Philippines through volunteerism, business ventures, cultural trips, philanthropic activities, sponsorships and partnerships.
To publish helpful information through newsletters, magazines, and a website that promote the Philippines, its language, culture, values, current development, aspirations and its people both local and global.
To forge alliances with similar organizations and institutions and promote linkages with governments, non-government organizations, people’s organizations, and other sectors of society both here and abroad in order to achieve the aforementioned objectives. see links>>>
Partner with us. You may contact us here:
Phone: 655 1390 any time of the day or 631 5454 ofc hrs look for Kaye Macalinao
Mobile: 0927 493 6086 or 0916 316 4243
Email: pinoytotheworld@yahoo.com
BENCHMARKING EFFECTIVE PASTORAL LEADERSHIP
(A published article, The Evangelicals Today May 2004, by Dr. Romerlito C. Macalinao)
Everything rises or falls on leadership. Large churches like Day by Day Ministries, Christ’s Commission Fellowship, Bread of Life, Greenhills Christian Fellowship, Alabang New Life Christian Center, Word of Hope Church, Jesus Christ Saves Global Outreach, and a few others rose in prominence because of leadership. How did these pastors lead their churches to mega-church proportions? A glimpse into their personal lives, using interviews based on the principles of appreciative inquiry, summarizes for us the attributes of effective pastoral leaders. I have organized these qualities using the word LEADERSHIP as an acrostic. I pray that these leadership attributes may become a personal benchmark for every pastor.
Lives for a vision of ministry given by the Almighty God who made him and called him for this purpose. “You did not choose me but I chose you…” (Jn.15:16). First and foremost I see in these pastors, that regardless of age, social status, educational attainment, and physical capability, that when God calls, He imparts His Spirit. What these pastors do is not merely an employment of men but God uses them to deploy men for the service of mankind and for His glory. It is for this purpose that they live their lives. God uses any one who is willing, teachable, and humble. God imparts His missionary presence that cannot be shaken off. When God chooses, we cannot ignore it, deny it, run away from it, hide from it, or find any other conceivable way to escape it, because we have a God who is inescapable and inevitable. To surrender to the call of the Creator and Sustainer of the whole universe is to respond to the highest and noblest purpose of life on earth.
Encourages others to join the work through his example of faith and practice. The unquenchable passion that these pastors exude in their lives, despite insurmountable difficulties, has led people to follow their faith-adventure trail. How can anyone ignore a person whose life is not merely religious, but a genuine showcase of faith in God? Underneath the surface of seeming earthly success and prosperity, these pastors have a genuine desire for something beyond the material. They have spiritual substance that can only come from the Holy and Almighty God. Transparency, integrity, accountability, authenticity, and humility characterize these pastors. There is no illusion of their being a superman, but in all their humanity, they serve as instruments of God for noble purposes. Their people get this because these pastors live this.
Acquires the necessary educational experience and equipping to accomplish the work. Usually educational accomplishment is equated with work accomplishment. In the case of these pastors education is acknowledged, but is not a factor for success. Their success results from a clear word and direction from God. Each of these leaders took whatever education was useful for their ministry, and they have an objective appreciation of its place in the development of leaders. However, they acknowledge that education and the combined elements of spiritual and ministerial goals are what equips effective pastoral leaders.
Depends on God for physical necessities and power for the ministry. Stories of miraculous provisions, healing, seemingly impossible projects, overcoming physical handicaps, deprivations and sacrifices, resuscitations from the dead, feats of physical energy, and more, all point to God's endless and timely answers to His servants who have relied on Him for everything. Their faith was real and they could see the invisible. Doubt was remote in their minds; constant alone was faith no matter the cost. Today, the benchmark for spiritually strong pastors who achieve great things is their dependence on God's power and provision. They never depend on outside comparison. The miracles in their ministry are mentioned only to inspire and demonstrate that with the counsel of God to accomplish His purposes, His great power flows freely in His divinely appointed time and place.
Exhibits a standard of excellence that influences his generation, community and the world. These effective pastoral leaders pave the way for excellence through their lives and their ministry. A person who is radically transformed from within exudes a life of excellence that permeates his world. He becomes an agent of change for his generation. An effective pastoral leader’s life not only facilitates, but also demonstrates a life of genuine transformation and excellence. When lives are changed, when the rich share with the needy and the poor are redeemed from the stigma of poverty, and when people's dignity is restored in Christ—that is excellence. Such a testimony is outstanding and the world tags it as an authentic proof of a change that can only be divine. When Christians are actively involved in the multi-faceted nature of life and significantly set the pace in improving society and governance—that is excellence.
Reflects on the ongoing work of God with humility and gratitude. Generally, up-close, without knowing who they are and what they stand for, there is really nothing special about these pastors. In this urban jungle, they are but regular inhabitants that you see daily. Like Paul the Apostle, they all had a passion for what they did, even before God called them to His work. And now that their passion has been redirected they burn from within and without for the Lord. However, in the midst of it all there is a quiet meekness that frees them up to glory only in the work of God through them. They see the enormous task yet to be done, and recognize that only by the grace of God will they thrive as pastoral leaders fit for His use.
Stimulates others to be sensitive to the supernatural ministry of the Holy Spirit. These pastors equip and encourage everyone to tap into the source of unlimited power—the Spirit of God. The Filipino culture is attuned to the spirit-world. To reorient the Filipino psyche to the highest and supreme Spirit is not an easy task. For how can anyone recognize the Spirit who anointed the man from Nazareth, to preach and teach the multitudes with great power, heal the sick, and deliver people from the power of the devil, unless this same Spirit opens the eyes of the heart to see? The Holy Spirit of the Triune God is the source of power. These pastors know that, and through the work of the Spirit in their lives and ministry they guide others to grasp and experience this truth.
Helps people by affirming their calling through discipleship, mentoring, equipping, and serving. This matter of calling is absolutely personal. No one, except the man who claims to be called, knows about his call. However, there is no pulling of punches here for these pastors in terms of providing the necessary context to help their members ascertain their calling. These pastors lead their people through the arduous, sometimes painful, process of Christian growth, ministry exposure and experiences. They provide a time for their people to be observed, tried, tested, evaluated, and affirmed to determine whether one's calling is genuinely from God or not. A variety of means to this end have been put in place to usher someone into the ministry upon proving themselves as indeed belonging to the company of the called.
Introduces strategies and structures that are contemporary and culture-sensitive. Looking at their churches I discovered that they have developed a culture of their own. Their staff size, worship styles, organizational structures, ministry philosophy, mission strategies, and even methods of compensations are diverse but effective. They defy almost any type of stereotyping. The personal and organizational culture of their churches continues to evolve and provide inspiration and life to whoever wants to draw from it, and adopt it.
Prepares the people for the next level of ministry as in bequeathing the leadership and ministry to an intentionally prepared next generation. The recognition of one's mortality is a creative genius to the circumspect who would channel their remaining strength of mind, body, and spirit to the perpetuation of the great work of God. These pastors do it through the nurture and development of young men and women who are passionate and able to accomplish great exploits for God in their generation. In other words, these pastors have leadership succession plans. They are intentional in preparing people to take their place. There is no self-perpetuation. As they serve their generation, they also prepare the next generation of leaders.
The Challenge
These churches have thousands attending their Sunday services and the pastors have stayed in these churches for more than ten years. The challenge to all pastors and churches desiring to have these leadership attributes is twofold.
First, commit yourself to pastor a church for the longest time possible. This is the only way you can be a key participant in the developmental stages of your church. Many well-meaning pastors easily resign from a pastorate because of a relational problem. It is already a given that there will always be problems in the church (look at the seven churches in Revelation). Unless a church is a pastor-killing church, and churches like this do exist, pastors should really pray and evaluate the cost of leaving a church. My former pastorate gave me a book that has been very helpful in this regard and it is worth looking up: The Power of Loving Your Church: Leading through Acceptance and Grace by David Hansen (Bethany, 1998).
To inspire you to stay in your church for the long haul, it is wise to sit at the feet of pastors who have endured and enjoyed long pastorates in one church. What you will learn from these pastors is incomparable to any seminary degree by any standard. Start searching for these long-tenured and fruitful pastors. Pray that you will find one who is willing to mentor you.
Second, commit yourself to intentionally learn. Graciously adapt and apply your learning as you grow with the people God has entrusted to you. The church is a learning community and the pastor will have to inculcate with his leadership a culture of learning. To set in motion the wheels of change in a church is one of the hardest things a pastor can do. The pastor is in a precarious position when he attempts to lead a church through change. He could be kicked out because most people do not like change. In a leadership conference I attended Bill Hybels said, “The pastor will have to model change.”
It should be no surprise that change propelling the church to fully accomplish God’s purpose is not something that would be immediately embraced by any church. Churches have an ocean of learning gaps. To crossover to the other side, the pastor must model change, develop a learning culture within his church, and remain committed over a long period of time. Only then can he muster and master change.
May we be able to say together with the apostle Paul, “I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven...I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith (Acts 26.19; 2 Tim. 4: 7-8).
Resources:
A Work of Heart: Understanding How God Shapes Spiritual Leaders by Reggie McNeal (JosseyBass, 2000).
Leading Change by John Kotter (HBS Press, 1996). Kotter is the Konosuke Matsushita professor of Leadership at Harvard University Business School.
Leading Congregational Change: A Practical Guide for the Transformational Journey by Jim Herrington, Mike Bonem, and James H. Furr (JosseyBass, 2000). I find this a church version of Kotter’s work.
(AUTHOR’S NOTE: This was published in The Evangelicals Today, May 2004)
Everything rises or falls on leadership. Large churches like Day by Day Ministries, Christ’s Commission Fellowship, Bread of Life, Greenhills Christian Fellowship, Alabang New Life Christian Center, Word of Hope Church, Jesus Christ Saves Global Outreach, and a few others rose in prominence because of leadership. How did these pastors lead their churches to mega-church proportions? A glimpse into their personal lives, using interviews based on the principles of appreciative inquiry, summarizes for us the attributes of effective pastoral leaders. I have organized these qualities using the word LEADERSHIP as an acrostic. I pray that these leadership attributes may become a personal benchmark for every pastor.
Lives for a vision of ministry given by the Almighty God who made him and called him for this purpose. “You did not choose me but I chose you…” (Jn.15:16). First and foremost I see in these pastors, that regardless of age, social status, educational attainment, and physical capability, that when God calls, He imparts His Spirit. What these pastors do is not merely an employment of men but God uses them to deploy men for the service of mankind and for His glory. It is for this purpose that they live their lives. God uses any one who is willing, teachable, and humble. God imparts His missionary presence that cannot be shaken off. When God chooses, we cannot ignore it, deny it, run away from it, hide from it, or find any other conceivable way to escape it, because we have a God who is inescapable and inevitable. To surrender to the call of the Creator and Sustainer of the whole universe is to respond to the highest and noblest purpose of life on earth.
Encourages others to join the work through his example of faith and practice. The unquenchable passion that these pastors exude in their lives, despite insurmountable difficulties, has led people to follow their faith-adventure trail. How can anyone ignore a person whose life is not merely religious, but a genuine showcase of faith in God? Underneath the surface of seeming earthly success and prosperity, these pastors have a genuine desire for something beyond the material. They have spiritual substance that can only come from the Holy and Almighty God. Transparency, integrity, accountability, authenticity, and humility characterize these pastors. There is no illusion of their being a superman, but in all their humanity, they serve as instruments of God for noble purposes. Their people get this because these pastors live this.
Acquires the necessary educational experience and equipping to accomplish the work. Usually educational accomplishment is equated with work accomplishment. In the case of these pastors education is acknowledged, but is not a factor for success. Their success results from a clear word and direction from God. Each of these leaders took whatever education was useful for their ministry, and they have an objective appreciation of its place in the development of leaders. However, they acknowledge that education and the combined elements of spiritual and ministerial goals are what equips effective pastoral leaders.
Depends on God for physical necessities and power for the ministry. Stories of miraculous provisions, healing, seemingly impossible projects, overcoming physical handicaps, deprivations and sacrifices, resuscitations from the dead, feats of physical energy, and more, all point to God's endless and timely answers to His servants who have relied on Him for everything. Their faith was real and they could see the invisible. Doubt was remote in their minds; constant alone was faith no matter the cost. Today, the benchmark for spiritually strong pastors who achieve great things is their dependence on God's power and provision. They never depend on outside comparison. The miracles in their ministry are mentioned only to inspire and demonstrate that with the counsel of God to accomplish His purposes, His great power flows freely in His divinely appointed time and place.
Exhibits a standard of excellence that influences his generation, community and the world. These effective pastoral leaders pave the way for excellence through their lives and their ministry. A person who is radically transformed from within exudes a life of excellence that permeates his world. He becomes an agent of change for his generation. An effective pastoral leader’s life not only facilitates, but also demonstrates a life of genuine transformation and excellence. When lives are changed, when the rich share with the needy and the poor are redeemed from the stigma of poverty, and when people's dignity is restored in Christ—that is excellence. Such a testimony is outstanding and the world tags it as an authentic proof of a change that can only be divine. When Christians are actively involved in the multi-faceted nature of life and significantly set the pace in improving society and governance—that is excellence.
Reflects on the ongoing work of God with humility and gratitude. Generally, up-close, without knowing who they are and what they stand for, there is really nothing special about these pastors. In this urban jungle, they are but regular inhabitants that you see daily. Like Paul the Apostle, they all had a passion for what they did, even before God called them to His work. And now that their passion has been redirected they burn from within and without for the Lord. However, in the midst of it all there is a quiet meekness that frees them up to glory only in the work of God through them. They see the enormous task yet to be done, and recognize that only by the grace of God will they thrive as pastoral leaders fit for His use.
Stimulates others to be sensitive to the supernatural ministry of the Holy Spirit. These pastors equip and encourage everyone to tap into the source of unlimited power—the Spirit of God. The Filipino culture is attuned to the spirit-world. To reorient the Filipino psyche to the highest and supreme Spirit is not an easy task. For how can anyone recognize the Spirit who anointed the man from Nazareth, to preach and teach the multitudes with great power, heal the sick, and deliver people from the power of the devil, unless this same Spirit opens the eyes of the heart to see? The Holy Spirit of the Triune God is the source of power. These pastors know that, and through the work of the Spirit in their lives and ministry they guide others to grasp and experience this truth.
Helps people by affirming their calling through discipleship, mentoring, equipping, and serving. This matter of calling is absolutely personal. No one, except the man who claims to be called, knows about his call. However, there is no pulling of punches here for these pastors in terms of providing the necessary context to help their members ascertain their calling. These pastors lead their people through the arduous, sometimes painful, process of Christian growth, ministry exposure and experiences. They provide a time for their people to be observed, tried, tested, evaluated, and affirmed to determine whether one's calling is genuinely from God or not. A variety of means to this end have been put in place to usher someone into the ministry upon proving themselves as indeed belonging to the company of the called.
Introduces strategies and structures that are contemporary and culture-sensitive. Looking at their churches I discovered that they have developed a culture of their own. Their staff size, worship styles, organizational structures, ministry philosophy, mission strategies, and even methods of compensations are diverse but effective. They defy almost any type of stereotyping. The personal and organizational culture of their churches continues to evolve and provide inspiration and life to whoever wants to draw from it, and adopt it.
Prepares the people for the next level of ministry as in bequeathing the leadership and ministry to an intentionally prepared next generation. The recognition of one's mortality is a creative genius to the circumspect who would channel their remaining strength of mind, body, and spirit to the perpetuation of the great work of God. These pastors do it through the nurture and development of young men and women who are passionate and able to accomplish great exploits for God in their generation. In other words, these pastors have leadership succession plans. They are intentional in preparing people to take their place. There is no self-perpetuation. As they serve their generation, they also prepare the next generation of leaders.
The Challenge
These churches have thousands attending their Sunday services and the pastors have stayed in these churches for more than ten years. The challenge to all pastors and churches desiring to have these leadership attributes is twofold.
First, commit yourself to pastor a church for the longest time possible. This is the only way you can be a key participant in the developmental stages of your church. Many well-meaning pastors easily resign from a pastorate because of a relational problem. It is already a given that there will always be problems in the church (look at the seven churches in Revelation). Unless a church is a pastor-killing church, and churches like this do exist, pastors should really pray and evaluate the cost of leaving a church. My former pastorate gave me a book that has been very helpful in this regard and it is worth looking up: The Power of Loving Your Church: Leading through Acceptance and Grace by David Hansen (Bethany, 1998).
To inspire you to stay in your church for the long haul, it is wise to sit at the feet of pastors who have endured and enjoyed long pastorates in one church. What you will learn from these pastors is incomparable to any seminary degree by any standard. Start searching for these long-tenured and fruitful pastors. Pray that you will find one who is willing to mentor you.
Second, commit yourself to intentionally learn. Graciously adapt and apply your learning as you grow with the people God has entrusted to you. The church is a learning community and the pastor will have to inculcate with his leadership a culture of learning. To set in motion the wheels of change in a church is one of the hardest things a pastor can do. The pastor is in a precarious position when he attempts to lead a church through change. He could be kicked out because most people do not like change. In a leadership conference I attended Bill Hybels said, “The pastor will have to model change.”
It should be no surprise that change propelling the church to fully accomplish God’s purpose is not something that would be immediately embraced by any church. Churches have an ocean of learning gaps. To crossover to the other side, the pastor must model change, develop a learning culture within his church, and remain committed over a long period of time. Only then can he muster and master change.
May we be able to say together with the apostle Paul, “I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven...I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith (Acts 26.19; 2 Tim. 4: 7-8).
Resources:
A Work of Heart: Understanding How God Shapes Spiritual Leaders by Reggie McNeal (JosseyBass, 2000).
Leading Change by John Kotter (HBS Press, 1996). Kotter is the Konosuke Matsushita professor of Leadership at Harvard University Business School.
Leading Congregational Change: A Practical Guide for the Transformational Journey by Jim Herrington, Mike Bonem, and James H. Furr (JosseyBass, 2000). I find this a church version of Kotter’s work.
(AUTHOR’S NOTE: This was published in The Evangelicals Today, May 2004)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)