Final Class

It doesn't matter how long one has been in the ministry, we never stop learning! This has been an amazing class. Each week I have left saying to myself, "This has been the best one of all." That held true until the next guest came along.

I have learned many new and exciting ways of how ministry can be done. And I must say the creative ideas were amazing to me.

As I sat and listened to the 'take away' from each of the students I felt mixed emotions:
*Remembering what it was like when we were ready to leave Valley Forge Christian College and 'conquer the world for Jesus'
*Remembering how my heart was over joyed that my Heavenly Father had chosen me, a barefooted little girl from the hills of Kentucky, to work for His Kingdom.
*Remembering the hard lessons of ministry and how with each one I seemed to grow that much more in love with Jesus. Because with each hard place He revealed himself to me in a deeper and more tangible way.
*Remembering how each challenge made me want to push even harder toward God's call upon my life.

It's good to be reminded of where you have come from and have a fresh look at where you are in ministry.

More than anything I want to be in the center of God's will and make a difference in the lives of others. Confession....there are times I want this so bad that I neglect to see that it is actually happening. If anything I have been reminded during these past months to open my eyes and look around...take inventory and see what God has done.

I use to say, "I don't want to miss anything God is doing. I want to be right in the center of it." Well, I have learned that God is always 'doing' and yes I am there...but because of all the 'business of ministry and undue pressure I place upon myself...I don't always see it.

I have been reminded that it's alright to take time off and not feel guilty. And that I don't have to be so hard on myself and others, namely my husband.

I have been reminded that God has not called us all to use the exact same ministry idea, but we each must stay true to our own unique personalities, giftings and talents. Then and only then will be truly happy and contented in the ministry.

The greatest reminder of all was last night, with Gil Trusty. Gil said that when he came to VFCC he quickly excelled. His giftings took him all the way to the top of the class and allowed him to be the graduation speaker. He said, "I was the BIG man on campus. Leaders in the District called me 'the bright star in the horizon in Pentecost.' I might have been the BIG man on campus but my soul was so lean because I was doing everything in my gift not my relationship. I may have been to number one District speaker but my prayer life was gone and my soul was barren. Because I ignored the promptings of the Holy Spirit. I paid not attention to the red flag that kept going up. I sought success, not the face of God."

As I listened to this I was not only reminded of the importance of spending time in prayer, seeking God for directions and heading the promptings and leading of the Holy Spirit...I was once again reminded what can happen when we are leaders don't do what we know we must to survive in the ministry.

In the past few months I have been feeling the prompting of the Holy Spirit in my own life. Calling me to once again inter that place of prayer. However, it seems I make plans to do so and something always seems to come up to take that time. How thankful I am for the gentle reminder I received last night. ...For the Grace of God....

I have already made steps toward that directions and yesterday it came in the mail. I ordered the book and DVD of "When God's People Pray" by Jim Cynbala. What timing, that both would arrive on the very day Gil speaks in class reminding us and warning us of what can happen to those who go after success and minister out the their gifts and not relationship.

When I was at VFCC, years ago, Dr. Brown's wife (can't remember her name) taught a class for the wives of senior. She would always say, "Bloom where you are planted." and "The grass is not always greener on the other side." As I look back over our 28 years in ministry I can say a thousand times over these statement are so true.

Tom I want to thank you for allowing me to attend the class. Thank you for your words of encouragement, for listening to me and praying with and for me. I must say I have never had another man, let along a college professor tell me, in so many words, I was P.M.S-ing! LOL I find that to be the funnest thing ever. Yes, oh Yes God has a since of humor!

Many Blessing Be Upon You!
Cindy McKinley

Guest Speaker ~ Rev. Dan Miller

The Rock Recreation Center
Back Mountain Harvest Assembly of God

Trucksville, PA

Rev. Dan Miller grew up in a farming community located in central Pennsylvania. "I would say my home was like the TV show, 'Leave It To Beaver'. I had great parents who raised me in a Christian home. At a very young age, four or five years old God would appear to me in dreams and visions. When my parents gave their hearts to the Lord we began to travel the country to revival meetings. It never failed, during these meeting God would show the 'truth' about the men on the platform. He would say, "This one is real. You can watch and listen to him." or "This one is fake." or "His faith is weak." Many times I would be called out of a service and prophesied over."

The following are thought provoking quotes from Rev. Dan

* Never go against a man of God.
If you can't served under a man of God then you will never be able to lead others. Your position is one of helps along holding that man up before the Lord, the congregation, and the community. If you can't be subordinate you can't asks other to do so. Always serve your subordinate, even if they are wrong. Unless they are in sin!

* Don't try to meet everybody's needs.
"WhenI first came to Trucksville there was about fifteen to sixteen people. The very first thing I did was to ask some of them to leave. You're not going to keep everybody. Eight of the sixteen left the church. I explained my vision and I knew they were not going to fit into my vision so I introduced them to other churches in the area and remained friends with them to this day."

*Hang your hat on what your good at.
"Don't waste your time doing things you are not good at doing. Bring others along side you who can do the things you are not as gifted in."

* Pastor an area not a church.
"Get a vision for your area and what can happen within the community; not just for what can happen within the walls of your church. Everything is about the community not the Rock Center."

* Don't get mad when people leave and don't make a fuss when they come back.
"There are those who will come and go."

Questions:
* How do you get from 15 to 50?
"You get there by working yourself out of a job. Most pastors are insecure. If you have someone with a preacher's inch, Let them preach. If others come to you with an idea, Let them do it."

* How will you know if you are being successful in doing this?
"If you leave on a vacation and come back only to hear others say, "Oh, Pastor it was a disaster, while you were away." That is not good and you are not doing a good job." If, however, you leave and return to hear, "Pastor it was great! Everything went well. We didn't need you at all." Then you know you are successful. It is vital that you sing peoples praise. They must know how proud you are of them and that they are doing a great job."

People Follow Vision
* If you are asked to serve the community ~ Don't Pray About It ~ DO IT!
Scripture says that: 'The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.' John 1:5
* Don't choose what is safe. Be among the sinners, how else will we be able to lead them to become saints. And we should be able to be around the unsaved without being offended by their language. I suggest you find some unsaved friends.
* We live in a strong Catholic community. The sowing of seed was hard work, but we are now reaping a harvest.
* Don't ask from the community. God has not called us to be takers but givers. If you really want to bless those in the community, offer to pay more than their asking price.

Rev. Dan said they are now running six-hundred and fifty people. "I don't believe in 'member service' ~ soft seating, air conditioner and heating...Jesus said, It is the sick who need a doctor. Don't get me wrong our church is clean and well kept. But it's all about the community. About those who aren't us yet!"

Their Ministry Consist of:
*The Rock Recreation Center
The Center consist of: * 20,000 square foot State of the Art Facilities * Paramount Circuit Training Equipment *Free Weights *Cardio Room *College-sized Hardwood Basketball Court *Volleyball *Lounge *Locker Rooms *Upward Basketball Program *Camps *Leagues *Home School Phys. Ed. *Tournaments *Certified Personal Trainers *Elite Shoulder Rings *Climbing Ropes *...and Much More!

"At this time membership for the center is around 350 families, making it around 1,000 individuals. 10% may be church people but the rest are from the community. "

*The Hope Center
This center is a place for for those who are uninsured and underinsured to come for Free Medical Care, free Legal Advice, Free Vision care, including acuity, cataract, & glaucoma testing. Free Chiropractic evaluations and adjustments & Pastoral Care. "Keeping in mind, It is not about us; it's about the community and those who are not yet us."

*We purchase fire works for the community.
*Provide a Free pig roast.
*Leadership Workshops

Question:
*What drives you nuts on staff?

-Being lazy
-Being a cry babies
Example: Pastor's Appreciation Day...You are paid staff. You are to wait on the volunteer staff. It's should not be Pastors Appreciation Day but Pew Appreciation Day. God will take care of you, He sees when no one else does.
-Don't complain
You can be right ...but you can also be dead right which = a wrong!
-Leaving right after church
We should be the last people leaving the church. Again people don't have to be there. So, come early and stay late. When you are home, you are on call. When you are away rest, be with you family, relax. But when you are back give 100%
-Work hard...Really hard...but take time for your self as well.
-Give to those in need
I always choose to be naive. I choose to believe what people tell me and always error on the side of love and grace. No one has ever taken me...they have taken God but not me.

There is so much more I could say but I had better stop here. Truly I was blessed and yes even comforted by our guest.

Make UP ~ Class Project ~ Option #7 Church Planter Pre-Assessment

Ever since I heard that our District had changed the way they go about new church plants I have wondered how I would personally measure up to the 'test'. Since I needed to make up extra work for my class I decided to take the Church Planters Pre-Assessment.

The following is my score:

Profiles * Planer
Church Planting = 31%
Entrepreneurial Leadership = 68%
Ministry Experience = 55%
Relational Evangelism = 93%

Profiles * Median
Church Planting = 54%
Entrepreneurial Leadership = 73%
Ministry Experience = 60%
Relational Evangelism = 50%

Profiles * Benchmark
Church Planting = 75%
Entrepreneurial Leadership = 75%
Ministry Experience = 75%
Relational Evangelism = 70%

After giving some thought to the test and looking back over my answers I find it somewhat disturbing that I have been in ministry for going on thirty years now and my Ministry Experiences sees to be as low as it is. Maybe I am just not understanding it all.

One thing for sure I want to be and do the best I can for the Kingdom of God!!!!

I also realize the % is high for Relational Evangelism and I am wondering if that is because I have included the entire 30 years of ministry which covers the time we were Children's Evangelist for 8 years.

Class Project ~ Coaching 503

Coaching 503
Change, Transition, and Transformation

Romans 12:1-2 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as living and hold sacrifices, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.

Coaching 503 is designed to help, the would be, coach to be able to do the following:
∙ Understand the dynamics of change, transition and transformation
∙ Use coaching skills and the coaching process to help people navigate through the three
∙ And increase effectiveness as a catalyst for transformation

When it comes to change most people are quick to say, “I don’t like it!” However, if we want to move from one place to another change must take place. In looking at the three aspects of Coaching 503 one must first define and understand the meaning of each.

Change is: external, temporary, self initiated, doing, relationship with others & God

Change always starts in the mind. If we always stay where we stop offering ourselves as an act of worship to God. If one truly wants to be transformed they must first recognize their need for others especially God. To often those longing for changes refuse the cocoon experience, for it is within the cocoon that transformation comes. Unfortunately, if change does not come we will die either physically, spiritually or both.

Transition is: internal, resisted, frustrating, confusing, fearful, painful, a mind shift

In this step of the journey to transformation we become a living sacrifice. In the Old Testament when a sacrifice was given salt placed on it. A dead sacrifice feels no pain. However, if you add salt to the wound of a living sacrifice there will great pain and all that comes with it. Not only is this a painful process it leaves the PBC (person being coached) with feeling of total vulnerability which only adds to the pain. As coaches we must let them know it’s ok to have these feeling and to feel the way they do.

M. Scott Peck says, “The truth is that our finest moments are most likely to occur when we are deeply uncomfortable, unhappy, or unfulfilled. For it is only in such moments, propelled by our discomfort, that we are likely to step out of our ruts and start searching for different ways or truer answers.”

Transformation is: internal, permanent, God initiated, being, new relationships

It is vital that we as coaches understand that transformation is a process and we are to coach people through that process. For that to happen we must first learn we can not tell they what they need to do. Instead we must learn to ask the right questions that will enable them to come up with their own process. (example: Job’s friends vs. God’s response). In doing so we will help the PBC move from surviving to thriving (Philippians 1:9-11; Psalm 63:3-4) which will lead them from bondage to freedom (Galatians 5:1, 13; 2 Corinthians 3:17). Freedom, that’s a great place to
be!

A good coach will be able to help people moved into that transformation place, by
helping the PBC:

∙ Expand their horizon to new possibilities.
∙ Elicit powerful new commitments.
∙ Transform their point of view about themselves.
∙ Foster new ways of being, skills, and practices.
∙ Move past places where they are stuck.
∙ Coaching them to effective action.

Although a business can undergo changes within it structure, changes that will cause the business to expand and grow to new levels, we can’t be so quick to use the work transformation in this setting. For true transformation can only come about once an individual has accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. True transformation happens from the inside out. The old has gone and the new has come. Some individuals have even gone as far as to change their name, all because they have found a new identity in Christ Jesus.

I have personally experienced this type of transformation in my own life I have had the privilege of helping others in their journey as well. It is my desire to see our church fulled with individuals who can sing, “Look What The Lord Has Done” not because they can read the words off the wall, but because they have experienced this transforming power for themselves. I believe as I learn to apply these coaching skills that desire will soon become a reality.

It is so my desire to become a coach that will be able to help people through the process of becoming transformed.

Since taking Coaching 510 and 503 I have begun moving in that direction in two ways:

1. I am involved with the "AG Deepen the Learning Coaching Calls. These calls take place twice a month. To date I have missed only one call, due to the fact that I attended Chapel at Valley Forge Christian College.

2. I now have a Life Coach, Vicki Farina, who has taught me much in our time together.

I praise God for the godly men and women He continues to place in my life. His loves for me is beyond my understanding at time. Truly I Am Blessed!

Ellen DiTrolio

Hold On To Your Dreams

Ellen DiTrolio

On April 9, 2011 I attended a Luncheon at Valley Forge Christian College. This luncheon was provided by the young women’s group called “Becoming”

Ellen DiTrolio along with her husband Roco are presently serving Missionary in Residence at Valley Forge Christian College. They came in September of 2010 and this September they will be returning to Argentina once again.

After lunch Ellen shared with those in attendance.

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

‘Told On To Your Dreams’

She accepted Jesus when she was fifteen years of age. After graduating high school she came to Valley Forge Christian College and graduated with a three year diploma in missions. She met her husband Roco at Valley Forge and they dated for four year. However, although she knew God had called her to missions it was sometime later that God placed the same call upon the heart of her husband.”

Ellen said, “Twenty-eight years ago I had a dream. I dreamed of getting a degree one day. Although I received a three year diploma I still didn’t have a degree. Since we have been on campus this past year I have taken advantage of this opportunity and took the classes I needed to bring my dream to pass. And after twenty-eight years I will get to wear my cap and gown on May 6.” Needless to say she was quite excited about this major accomplishment. “A dream has come to pass, she said, and now I have a new dream. I want to a degree in Psychology. My husband and I are already taking classes that will help us help pastors in Argentina. When you fulfill a dream, get another one.”

If God has placed a dream in your heart there are some things you must do for that dream to come to pass.

1. Don’t give up on your dream.
2. Don’t let others talk you out of your dream.
3. Live your own dream.
4. Don’t live someone else's dream.

“I am a Martha who has been called to Argentina. I do not do well speaking in front of large groups of people. My ministry is in small clusters, one on one. I love working in the kitchen. Even though I am not like my husband, who is running every where, speaking here and there. I have gifts he does not have. When your ministry is one on one you really get to know a person. You know the struggles they face day after day. You know about their personal lives.” She went on to say, “When my husband and I are along I will say, ‘honey we really need to pray for (so and so) they have this going on in their life right now.’ He will ask me, “How did you know that?” “So, ladies don’t feel if you are a Martha, a behind the scenes person; a one on one person, that your ministry is not important. It is very important!”

If you want that dream to come to pass you must:
1. Plan for it. If you don’t plan how can it happen?
2. Wright down your plan to make it happen.

Proverbs 4:20-27 My son (daughter), pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words...for they are life to those who find them... guard your heart...look straight ahead...fix your gaze...do not turn to the right or the left...Above all else, guard your heart

“Jeremiah 29:11 speaks of Prosperity, Hope and Future. The enemy will do all he can to stop you .”

James 1:14 says, “but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed.”

“Let’s face it,” Ellen said, “no one says today that I will take the first step to ruin my life. No, it happens with tiny steps at a time.”

Ellen gave this example:

Men don’t like to take directions. “We were traveling and I told my husband, ‘This is the exit we need to take.’ Instead to listening to my directions he continued on and said, “We’ll just pick up the next one.” Only the next one was fourteen and a half miles further down the road. Taking the right exit was a difference of 2 miles vs. 29 miles. Ladies, why not stay on the right path to start with!”

She continued, “If we are no different than others then we have nothing to give. Swearing, tattoos, smoking, drinking, etc....don’t be like everybody else. You have a divine plan to fulfill. Ask God to reveal your weak spot and then choose. When you find yourself standing at the cross road, choose. Choose in the light of eternity. Don’t take this lightly because small choices can change your life. If we are not careful to choose the right way, we will continue to sin in disobedience.”

Two easy steps can we take to prevent this.
1. Put a guard at the weak spot.
2. Get an accountability partner. If you try to guard on your own, you will loose.

Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Satan will do all he can to exploit our weak spots.

Psalms 62:6 Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.

“God gave you a dream; be faithful, be women of integrity, be different than everybody else.”

In her closing statements she encouraged with ladies with the following:

* Don’t stop asking God for new dreams.
* Don’t give up even if no one else believes in your dream.
- Not even if things don’t start out well...keep working toward it.
- Not even if the journey is full of surprises and feels like a roller coaster ride.

Keep on dreaming!

Even if it takes a long time coming to pass. They may not come about in your timing. But they will come to pass in God’s timing.

Don’t let the enemy trick you into thinking it will never happen.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

We then closed our time in praying for Ellen.