Your Ministry Matters

Igniting Every-ONE For Service - (look for pastor's TIP)

2011-10-26T13:20:12-05:00

JESUS didn’t leave a manual full of church growth models for the first disciples to choose from. No, He simply said, “Love Me, love and serve others out of love and service for Me, and do it in my Name.”

Aren’t we the ones that made it so complicated with all our programs, high tech media, and the latest, greatest, preacher telling us how “he” made his church such a success. It feels like we missed something… Oh yeah, that we are ONE BODY, with ONE MESSAGE, showing forth ONE JESUS that all may repent and be saved. (Not simply gathered into mega gatherings so we can do and experience mega things that bless His “deserving” body, us.) We "deserve" nothing but God's wrath for sin.

No, we are to empty ourselves of “us” and take up “our” cross as His servants and as ONE represent Him to the world. Jesus didn’t come to be served but to SERVE. That’s His model for us. ONE Body representing Jesus and the Cross to the World.

TIP: Stop differentiating between clergy and laity. First fix that in your mind, and then live it toward the people.

There are differing parts but ONE BODY. Get rid of the hierarchy of church organization and the politics that go with it. Communicate this to the people around you and watch them come alive in UNIFIED, SELFLESS, SERVICE to the Lord. Their Ministry Matters.

Your Ministry Matters!

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FOR PRAYER and INFO...

Mission Uganda is coming. Please pray and support if the Lord leads.

If you are interested or know someone who is, (or should be), pass along this link. It is a short 4 minute introduction about the Ministry Of HELPERS in Scripture. http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=fd8cba67373266062b38

Engaging EVERY Believer

2011-04-26T10:20:09-05:00

Have you ever asked yourself why the 80/20 rule also seems to apply to the local church? (80/20 Rule – 80% of the work is done by 20% of the people.)

Why? If the people who go to your church are “PART” of the living Body of Christ on the earth today, then what's the 80/20 rule doing there?

Jesus said, “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." Matt 20:28

“IF” the “CHURCH” is the representation of Jesus Christ on the earth today, then shouldn't Matt 20:28 and serving be the heart motive of “HIS BODY”? I think yes.

Much of the fault for this dilemma lies with we who preach. What’s been the focus? If the focus is or has been...

Getting the work done inside the building EQUALS 80/20
Filling up the seats EQUALS 80/20
Providing the BEST in a Christian "experience" during services EQUALS 80/20
Making sure the programs offered attract the most people EQUALS 80/20
Making the central focus social issues EQUALS 80/20
Making a name for yourself as a place when the “POWER” of God rules EQUALS 80/20 (Jesus rules!)
Meeting the innate need for fellowship and gathering, (small groups), without the loving confrontation of the Word in dealing with sin EQUALS 80/20

This list could go on and on. Do you want to engage EVERY believer? We’ve listed some popular priorities above. Each designed to fill buildings, keep people on the run to get their ears scratched, and show forth a form of godliness that soothes the conscience but doesn’t change the soul.

Let’s spend some time discovering Jesus’ priorities for “His BODY” in the days and weeks ahead. Every part of His CHURCH is engaged in service.

The serving Jesus talked about in Matt 20:28 isn’t born out of a program. It’s not learned. The heart to serve comes by transformation, not determination.

It starts with, ”You shall LOVE the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength, and with all your mind, (DO this and being ENGAGED in service comes naturally as in...), and ' love your neighbor as yourself.' Luke 10:27

More to come… Your ministry matters!

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FOR PRAYER and INFO...

If you are interested in knowing more about ENGAGING THE BELIEVERS, pass along this link. It is a short 4 minute introduction about the Ministry Of HELPERS in Scripture. http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=fd8cba67373266062b38

THE FIRST CHAPTER OF THE BOOK, "YOUR MINISTRY MATTERS" IS FREE ON LINE AT... "YOUR MINISTRY MATTERS" - BOOK You can have a free download for the STUDY GUIDE for classes and small groups uopn request.

IT WOULD BE LESS EXPENSIVE TO GET THE BOOK DIRECTLY FROM THE MINISTRY.

ORDERING 20 OR MORE BOOKS WOULD MAKE A 30% DISCOUNT ($9.09 plus shipping) AVAILABLE. PastorTed@YourMinistryMatters.com

Again... FREE STUDY GUIDE DOWNLOAD AVAILABLE FOR SMALL GROUPS, CLASSES, OR PERSONAL STUDY

Chapter 1- When Seven Table Waiters Brought About Revival

2011-02-28T15:04:59-06:00

They Did What?

You read it right. The title isn’t a mistake. However, if anything, the title of this chapter should have had a few more words injected into its middle; “When Seven Table Waiters Doing What Table Waiters Do Brought About Revival.” This account of a heavenly harvest about to be revealed isn’t a chronicle from a turn of the century spiritual awakening. Nope, this is in the Bible. (Book of Acts, chapter 6, to be exact). This time period is during the infancy of the New Testament Church. God was about to give a lesson to this young body, His Church, of how important even the most seemingly insigniﬁcant parts really are. The Head of the Church was about to teach us all that even those in what some might consider minor roles are key to the fulﬁlling of His vision and the harvest of many souls. To make His point unmistakable the Lord uses table waiters. These guys waiting on tables weren’t only the key to harvest, but as you’ll see, their table waiting also brought about reform in many churches. Table waiters! It’s exciting to note here that this move of God wasn’t brought about by the impassioned evangelist’s plea or as a result of a long season of prayer and fasting. Nor was it an apostle setting things in order or the pastor implementing the latest church growth technique. It was waiters doing what waiters do. I’ve got nothing against apostles, evangelists, prayer, fasting, or anything else God is doing or has His hand in. I do struggle with condensing a relationship with Emmanuel to a technique. (But that’s another book!)

If you were to look in Nave’s Topical Bible for the word revival, you’d see a listing for “revivals at Pentecost and times after Pentecost.” It lists nine revivals in the book of Acts. Most of us are familiar with the second chapter of Acts where “those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them” (Acts 2:41). The three thousand added here came about at the culmination of the ﬁrst service of the ﬂedgling church after Jesus ascended. The one hundred and twenty that were in that upper room seeking the Lord had their prayers answered in a big way. The harvest of souls began with this multitude being swept into the Lord’s body. Began is the operative word here. Nave’s also lists eight other revivals in Acts: Acts 2:46–7; Acts 4:4; Acts 5:14; Acts 6:7; Acts 9:35; Acts 11:20–21; Acts 12:24; and Acts 14:1. Take the time to look closely at these verses. Every one of these revivals was signiﬁcant. Every one of those souls was precious, and every one of them was placed in the body perfectly and precisely where God wanted them (1 Corinthians 12:18). Just like today, not every one that came to faith in Christ that day were preachers. I’m sure there were some evangelists and pastors set into the body that day, but there were also elders, deacons, greeters, and table waiters. Every part in the body, not just the preachers, has a vital and signiﬁcant purpose and function. I’m talking about you. Your ministry matters!

Enter the Waiters

Many important lessons from Acts 6 that apply to the church today are greatly overlooked. Jesus values each and every part of His body to the highest degree. When one soul repents, all of heaven rejoices (Luke 15:7). One. There aren’t differing levels of rejoicing among the angels based on where the repentant one ﬁts into the body of Christ. It’d be absurd to think that as a shout went out in heaven declaring, “One came to faith in Christ,” that the angels would wait to see if the new body part ﬁt in as a preacher or a janitor and then adjusted their rejoicing accordingly. Nope, every person is a treasure; every person counts. Every person
has a speciﬁc place in the body (1 Corinthians 12:18).

Every place in the body is vital to the functioning of the body and every joint supplies (Ephesians 4:16). The truth of how important each one, each part, is to the move of God is clearly seen in the account of our waiters in Acts 6:1–7. Let’s take a look at how God afﬁrms that your ministry matters in this example of our seven waiters. We’ll look at it verse by verse.

“Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a murmuring against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were
neglected in the daily distribution” (Acts 6:1).

This was a church on the move and growing. A growing church is subject to growing pains. What started out with Peter’s message on Pentecost had mushroomed into a church of people with needs. Their needs included everything from discipleship for new believers to meeting the needs of the poor, as in this example. I’m sure Peter and the other leaders were giving all they had to establish this growing body of believers. But, as typically happens when either leaders try to do it all themselves or each and every member isn’t in place and in motion, needs go unmet and people fall through the cracks. (We’ll deal with both of these later.) In this case, some folks were starting to complain and it was beginning to get personal. The Hellenists were murmuring because “their widows” were overlooked. Danger. “Their widows” tell me factions are happening. This thing was beginning to splinter and come apart. I’m obviously missing something here, but the crisis that seemed to threaten the existence of this new church doesn’t seem to be much of a crisis to me. The problem was that some older ladies weren’t getting fed. I’m not saying they weren’t important, and I’m sure to them, especially for them, this was a problem, but it doesn’t seem like enough of a problem that it could impede the moving of God in harvest or revival. Look closely at the example the Lord gives us here. It wasn’t prayerlessness, lack of worship, immorality, or lack of sound preaching that was stiﬂing revival. It’s not that an old lady not getting enough to eat isn’t important, but important enough to hamper harvest?

Is It Really About the Task at Hand?

The widows not being fed wasn’t really the issue, it was an alarm going off that each part of the body of Christ wasn’t engaged in doing its part. Look around you in your fellowship. What alarms are going off all around you? Can you hear the alarm of the church lawn not being mowed, the sanctuary littered with sheep droppings, nurseries not staffed, children’s ministries without workers, or a host of other parts or opportunities set into the body to be used of God in the local church left undone? Do these seemingly insigniﬁcant parts or alarms really matter? The issue was, and is, that God sets every member in the body where He wills (1 Corinthians 12:18), and He expects every joint to supply (Ephesians 4:16). In the natural or physical realm, we say a person whose body parts do not all work is crippled. Can you imagine a runner trying to run a race without knees? He could run, but it wouldn’t be pretty! What if there was nothing wrong with those knees? What if the problem was the knees didn’t think they’d be missed or that they weren’t important? What if those knees didn’t know or understand their role? What if they just refused to participate? In any case, we’d look with pity on such a person.

For this ﬂedgling ministry and newly launched body of Christ, the real issue wasn’t the unfed widows. It was the body not functioning as it was created. How was the Lord to be gloriﬁed if what He created wasn’t functioning as he designed it? What if the designer of the screwdriver saw it being used to pound in a nail? What would the engineer of the bicycle think if he saw the rider struggling to move ahead on a bike missing a pedal? You may gain some ground getting the nail in or get a little ways down the road on your bike with missing parts, but in neither case will you reach your potential.

Every Part Is Needful

For the Lord’s body on earth to work properly, and for God to get the glory He deserves, the church must function using all its parts and by God’s design. The strength of the church isn’t in the excellence and education of the leadership or in the superiority of the programs and preaching. What holds the church together and is its strength is every part in its place doing what it is set in place to do. Its strength and fullness is found in what every joint supplies (Ephesians 4:16). Unlike many leaders today, those in Acts 6 understood this truth.

“Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables” (Acts 6:2).

These leaders walked in an understanding of their role as parts of the body that today are often overlooked. Yes, pastors and leaders have a part to play, but they’re not the whole part. Just like the mouth or eyes are individual parts of the body but don’t constitute the whole body, so are leaders in the body of Christ. The mouth and eyes are dependant upon the entire body, likewise the pastor and other leaders are dependant upon each and every part of the Lord’s body, the church. No part is designed to function autonomously. Each part is made to need the others and support the others. Proof that this is not understood in much of the Lord’s church today is easily found in the high rate of burnout and attrition among pastors today.

According to Reverend Tommy Barnett, for every ten people going into pastoral ministry today, only one will still be standing at age sixty-ﬁve. Reverend Kim Wenzel of Smoldering Wick Ministries states that between one thousand and ﬁfteen hundred pastors leave the pulpit every month, and that’s only in North America! The problem of pastors and leaders trying to do it all isn’t new or unique to the modern church. It is easily found in the Old Testament book of Exodus.

IT WOULD BE LESS EXPENSIVE TO GET THE BOOK DIRECTLY FROM THE MINISTRY.

ORDERING 20 OR MORE BOOKS WOULD MAKE A 30% DISCOUNT ($9.09 plus shipping) AVAILABLE. PastorTed@YourMinistryMatters.com

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A Man Walks Into Your Church From The Book Of Acts…

2010-11-26T17:39:49-06:00

Can you imagine the reaction of Dorothy of “Wizard of Oz” fame, when she awoke from her ride in a spinning farmhouse in a strange land called Oz? Suddenly, everything she knew to be true, no longer was. She had a true moment of awakening. Knowledge in an instant that “this is NOT right”! A sudden, clear knowing that everything she knew, wasn’t. As she began to come to grips with where she was not, she uttered in disbelief, “we’re not in Kansas anymore Toto”. Her observation and knowledge was sudden, unmistakable, and without dispute. Everything had changed. Nothing was as it was. Nothing made sense.

I wonder what the response of a Book of Acts believer would be if he were to suddenly awaken and find himself in a New Testament Church of today? Would the church of today resemble in part what they knew; or would it be filled with a semblance of what was; without the substance? For Dorothy in Oz, the house was there but it was certainly off it’s foundation. Much like the church of today…

I ran across a word recently that describes what should be the foundation of ALL New Testament churches: Christocentric. It means, “centering theologically on Christ”. Although most would say they do “center theologically on Christ”, bluntly, plainly, they, (we) do not. Don’t act so surprised! The Bible says this is how it will be before Jesus’ return.

People will turn from “centering” on Christ to “centering” on other things like…

Centering on SELF – An attitude that Jesus exists for us and to fill our desires and expectations. (Even spiritual expectations.) 2 Tim 3:1-2 …men will be lovers of themselves.

Centering on DOCTRINE, POOR – Like selecting the finest of fare from a smorgasbord, men will pick, choose, and string together scripture that may fit them, but doesn’t encompass the whole counsel of God’s Word. The time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 2 Tim 4:3

Centering on LITURGY ABOVE LIFE – The church at Ephesus seemed to have all the right things going on; works, labor, patience, discernment and endurance, Rev 2:1-4. What they lacked was Life, Jesus Christ. …thou hast left thy first love.

Centering on SIGNS – Matt 24:24 False Christs (anointings) …will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive. Miracles aren’t bad, but if centered upon they can cause us to be satisfied with a shadow of Christ instead of the Person of Christ.

We could go on and on with a list. Get the point though, we’re to be Christocentric, (I like that word), centered on Christ. And why not?

Jesus Christ IS the CENTER of everything! ALL things were created by him, and ALL things exist through him and for him. To God be the glory forever! Rom 11:36

Jesus Christ MADE everything! By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth. Ps 33:6

Jesus Christ made everything for HIMSELF! The LORD has made all for Himself. Prov 16:4

Jesus Christ not only made everything, He GIVES IT LIFE, and GIVES IT WHEN, WHERE AND HOW! He gives to all life, and breath, and all things; 26 …And has determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; Acts 17:25-26

Only by the WILL of Jesus Christ does ANYTHING exist! You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created. Rev 4:11

Jesus Christ HOLDS all things together! And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. Col 1:17

Only by Jesus Christ will a man be SAVED! Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12

Can you think of a reason why we shouldn’t CENTER on Christ? In him we (SHOULD) live, and move, and have our being; Acts 17:28 That’s Christocentric!

AND… what of our “Book of Acts” visitor who got dropped into today like Dorothy into Oz? Do you think he’d wonder why there’s a church every 300 feet? Why we can’t forgive one another? Why “Love” isn’t strong enough to get us past OUR hurts and disappointments and disagreements? Why we spend our lives in church and never lead anyone to Christ, baptize a convert, or make a disciple?

I submit, we’ve, you and me, may have lost our first love and therefore are no longer… Christocentric, (I still like that word).

We’ll NEVER win a lost world to Christ and be the parts of One Body Jesus made us to be to His glory, until we are.

Your Ministry Matters

The Dangers of 2nd Hand Smoke… and 2nd Hand offence

2010-11-16T18:10:07-06:00

My son, who’s attending college, asked me to help him come up with a topic to write a paper on. The issue had to have two sides, be addressed to a unique crowd, and he had to be able to take a side on the topic and defend it. I suggested the recent law enacted in our state that makes it illegal to smoke in any public place including all privately owned restaurants. He decided to take on that debate.

Having been a former smoker, I was able to offer input from both points of view. When I smoked, I passionately defended the rights of the least of the smokers! Much later in life, before smoking was banned in local restaurants, I wouldn’t go in to a place if I had to sit anywhere near a smoking section. I was passionate from both points of view and wasn’t shy to let others know. In both cases I influenced people according to my viewpoint. I find now, it was a matter of personal perspective.

When I was young and was campaigning for “smokers rights” I’m sure I influenced others to think as I thought. (I feel bad now because ultimately my “personal perspective” affected others lifestyle and health!) And before the smoking ban in our state, I’m sure my “not so favorable” report on what I considered “unfit for consumption” smoke filled restaurants probably wasn’t good for someone’s bottom line. (And, people I influenced may have missed a good meal!) I guess there are times it’s best to keep your opinions to yourself!

Everyone in the Body of Christ has an opinion and "personal perspective" that differs with another from time to time. Doing ministry and working in close quarters allows us to see the best in people and the worst in people. For some reason most of us are more willing to share the “worst” of others with another than we are to share the “best”. I’ve no doubt that the “worst” exists. I’ve also no doubt I’ve been guilty of sharing it with others, especially if that “worst” offended me! What does the Bible say about sharing such “personal perspectives” with others?

In the list provided us in Prov 6:16, starting with “These six things the Lord HATES…, is mentioned, “one who sows discord among brethren”. Does our sharing our “personal perspective” on what we see as the “worst” in others sow discord or peace? (Guilty) Prov 16:28b A whisperer separates the best of friends. (Done it, and had it done to me. Ouch.) These are the things the devil revels in!

God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit dwell as ONE. We, His church, are to be the Living example of that unity. Yet, it seems the church, me included, hasn’t learned the value of the other parts of the Body of Jesus Christ AND we haven’t learned to die to self and “our” perspective. (Only the perspective of Jesus, the Word, matters, and we saw His perspective on sowing discord above!)

Unfortunately many take on a the 2^nd hand offence or the "personal perspective" of others and refuse to eat at that restaurant, or church, as the case may be. Our perspective and offences cause others to miss the good meal the Lord is serving up. So, what are we to do when we hear from another their “perspective” on another in the church?

Prov 26:20 Where there is no wood, the fire goes out; and where there is no talebearer, strife ceases.

2 Tim 2:23 Refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they produce quarrels.

How is it that the Body of Christ, which is known for unity, can’t find enough Grace for one another and love for Christ to deal with our differences according to the Word? “I can’t fellowship there, they hurt me too bad”. (Been there. Sang that sad song. It got me nowhere, especially with God.)

I’ve hurt people with my words and actions from time to time and I’ve been hurt. But, none of the hurts I’ve hurled or received has come near the hurts Jesus bore for my sin. I’ve no right to beat on another, even with my words, after being loosed from an eternal death sentence. That’s not the unity the Lord provided for us and it brings us no closer to winning the lost. In fact, it widens the gap. Why would they want to be like us when we can’t even worship our Lord together because of our “differences”?

Heb 12:14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord. Take special note of the last eight words, I am, “without which no one will see the Lord”. I believe He’s serious.

Please forgive me.

Your Ministry Matters

I’ve Never Heard Anyone “Glow” Over A Sparrow...

2010-11-11T12:33:24-06:00

While we were away we had a chance to see a lot of wildlife, especially birds. There were occasional sightings of rarer birds like the Pileated Woodpecker, Eagles, and the King Fisher. Then there were more of the regulars, among which are the Sparrows.

We hardly had the Humming Bird feeder stuck to the window and there he was chirping for us to get out of the way. It’s amazing how the "Hummer" seems to float and hang in the air. Blue-Jays abounded with their loud aggressive calls that drive smaller birds away, but that almost florescent color they sport is beautiful! (But, they are loud and forceful!) I’ve got to say though the Cardinal is my favorite. That red! That song! What a joy when he made his daily appearance.

It wasn’t until I got home and Vicki filled the bird-feeder here in Iowa, that I took note of the Sparrow. I thought, "Who “Oohs and Ahhs” over the sparrow?" And, why don’t they? The Sparrow seems to be overlooked, common, and most unremarkable in plumage and color among the birds that visit. But, they’re always there. Why are we so drawn to the colorful and loud?

It made me think how easy it is for us as pastors and leaders to overlook the most faithful in the church. It’s easy to take them for granted and miss the joy of feeding them, meeting their needs, affirming them, and both rejoicing and crying with them. I wondered how often I’ve been guilty of that?

Before I was ever in full-time ministry I used to do a special presentation for churches that opened doors to a variety of denominations where I eventually was able to share the Love of Christ to many young people. Between working during the day and going from church to church in the evening, I never noticed I’d let my “husband and dad” duties slip. My family had become sparrows. I never saw it until the Lord pulled me up short one day. Like anything else the Lord corrects me on, (us on?), this is a mindset I tend to slip back into; “Out saving and educating the world and overlooking the sparrows”.

This same thing seems to happen to the faithful people in the local church who have no agenda but to love and serve Jesus and are always there feeding, the Sparrows.

It’s easy to spot the Cardinal or Eagle in the church. They’re so gifted and so exciting to watch as God uses them to do the spectacular. Focusing on the Cardinals in our churches alone, (the gifted) causes one to “overlook the Sparrows”. Then there are the Blue-Jays among us. They are gifted, but they’re SO loud and eventually drive the smaller birds from the feeder.

George Barna Research and Focus on the Family state, “85% of pastors said their greatest struggle is dealing with problem people such as disgruntled members, elders, deacons, worship leaders, worship teams, board members, and associate pastors.” It’s not an excuse, but it is a fact, a fact that causes us to “overlook the Sparrows”.

I’m challenged and I hope you are too. Take a look at ALL who are at the feeder and make a point to appreciate the Sparrows. They’re easy to spot. They’re the ones who “Do justly, love mercy, (giving it & receiving it) and walk humbly with their God.” Micah 6:8

Your ministry matters!

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FOR PRAYER and INFO...

Pilgrimage With Purpose - (a note from the desert...)

2010-08-14T15:00:38-05:00

After a couple weeks into this time of separation, I believe the word is, "He has stilled and quieted my soul". It's hard not to look to the "end" of this time, but I have come to see, (or at least have begun to see), as the Psalmist in chapter 31 said, "My Times Are In His Hands". That's tough for a guy who starts reading a book by looking at the last page!

2 Cor 4:8-11

8    We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
9    persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed--
10    always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.
11    For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

Verse 11 seems to say it best as I consider the timing and purpose of this experience... "that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh". Truly, that's what I desire more than anything else. I want Jesus to be seen, as through this time my flesh and person becomes less and He all the more glorified.

The heart of the message of the "Ministry Of The Helper" is that ministry starts and ends where you are and with what you have. This works for me too. My ministry that is in front of me: the Lord. My ministry that I have at hand: the Lord. My trust is that I am in His hand and He will be glorified.

While the Lord and I are consumed with each other as He is working in my life, the work goes on in remote places of the earth. You can not stop the Word. It doesn't return empty. It IS life.

We continue to rejoice that the Lord is glorified through the teaching in the book, Your Ministry Matters, in several countries. Our wonderful foreign contacts have offered their prayers for us, and a commitment to continue teaching this life changing message to prepare the church for harvest and revival. Truly, those with eyes to see are laying a foundation of service in the awakening of the "Ministry Of The Helper".

I'll try to stay in contact as I am able. My commitment to the Lord, and the work, and Word He has committed to me remains unscathed. If all I have ever done is all Jesus has for me to do, then I am thankful to have done His will. If He has more for me to do according to His sovereign will and grace, then I am thankful to do His will.

"My Times Are In His Hands"

Effective Immediately... Medical Sabbatical.

2010-07-28T20:30:28-05:00

Please take a few minutes to read about some important changes for Vicki and I.

Effective immediately I will be going on a 6-12 month medical sabbatical. (Don’t let the word medical scare you too much.) I’m not dying, but according to 3 doctors I’m not superman, who’d have thought? The Doctors have deemed it necessary that I take some time to heal. They want me to leave my post as “Senior Pastor” during that time. For the next 6-8 weeks we’ll be gone from the State of Iowa, seeking the Lord, resting, and healing. After that we’ll continue to follow the Lord and the Doctors orders. If more time away is in order, then that’s what we’ll do.

All that said, the work of YMM that’s in motion, needs to stay in motion. We were just able to fund a “Helps” seminar, taught by nationals, for September in Uganda. The Philippines has one scheduled for late August and they continue to use our material in their Bible schools. India does ongoing teaching on “Helps” in the colleges and also seminars for Pastors.

Our recent trip to the Philippine bore incredible fruit. A senior leader from the Assemblies of God attended and saw the need for a greater number of ministers to be taught. The Philippines Assembly of God has invited me to speak to the second largest gathering of A/G pastors in the nation next April! We are working on funding this already. Please pray about being a part.

Even if I don’t do a lot of traveling myself, the Lord has multiplied our efforts by giving us great contacts in these and other countries who see the need to lay this foundation for a great last days harvest. Your faithful giving means the saving of MANY souls. Thanks for being a part.

The BOOK - “Your Ministry Matters” is at Amazon, Barnes and No

ble, and your favorite bookstore. (Your bookstore will probably need to order it for you.) That helps us cause a demand that gets it on local bookstore shelves.

Future communication and giving needs to be directed to: Your Ministry Matters, 1414 Lynne Drive, Adel, IA, 50003 (Checks can also be made to YMM)

Vicki and I love and appreciate you and are thankful for your partnership!

A Servant Among Equals,

Ted Brancheau

Your Ministry Matters

1414 Lynne Drive

Adel, IA 50003

"Your Ministry Matters" - PHILIPPINE SEMINAR REVIEW

2010-06-12T11:13:03-05:00

PASTOR MELKY STANDING NEST TO ME. (2nd from right)

Hello Pastor Ted!

Kamusta? It was indeed a great privilege to be imparted by your end time teaching for an end time harvest on the “Ministry of Helpers.” Thank you very much for taking your time for us, building us unto greater usefulness for God’s glory and kingdom. Our church is not yet that big but EVERYONE now is excited to do anything for the Lord specially that now almost all of them understood that every ministry matters. For me personally, I have been touched in the area allowing my liver or lungs to function (SEMINAR EXAMPLE) even if I’m not around. Now I have the freedom to travel around propagating this wonderful teaching especially here in the Davao region. Please extend my warm regards to Obie and his wife and of course to sister Brancheau and to every saint there. Till my next e-mail.

In Christ’s love, Pastor Melky and Agnes Golvin

FOR PRAYER and INFO... LOOK AT VIDEO & BOOK ON THE RIGHT

If you’re interested in material of having me come teach this message in your church go to http://www.yourministrymatters.com/ and click on the appropriate link.

If you are interested or know someone who is, (or should be), pass along this link. It is a short 4 minute introduction about the Ministry Of HELPERS in Scripture. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8udUx7cnOQ&feature=player_embedded

YMM Book Review - By Bob Moody, Pastor and Author

2010-05-27T11:08:35-05:00

"Your Ministry Matters"

really matters!

Many books are written about different aspects of ministry. Almost all of them deal with leadership rather than ministry. The subtitle of this book; “From the Parking Lot to the Pulpit” says it all. Ted Brancheau explains in a very understandable way the promise of God’s direction and anointing for all servant ministry. This book will encourage new believers, energize tired believers and help pastors put it all together.

Bob Moody, Pastor and Author

Pastor of Joy Fellowship in Indian River, MI.