July 2010 - Ministry Leadership Team

Over these last couple of days I have heard some wonderful stories of what God is doing in and through you, God’s church. We had five first time commitments at Kid’s Games and a number of recommitments. It is not the number that is impressive but the change in young people’s lives. Hearing the story of one of the children, who has no Christian background and for whom this was their first Kid’s Games, and the way in which they are so excited about Jesus and reading more about him, is absolutely uplifting. I also heard the story of a young mum who has just joined one of our play groups and who is experiencing an amazing sense of being loved and cared for. Another story involved children who are 8 and 9 years old praying for their Kid’s GIG leader. GREAT STUFF!!!

These are just some of the stories of what God is doing. Whilst I am incredibly encouraged by this I have a very strong sense that there is even more “Breakthrough” that God is wanting us to walk into as a church. I shared this with the Ministry Leadership Team on Tuesday and called them to trust God more, take courageous steps and make big decisions. Below is some of the growth stretches I see for every member of the MLT:

Glen: multiplying faith life groups and leaders and coaches.
Heather: developing the financial viability of the counselling centre so we can continue to keep good counsellors and expand the service.
Tim R: developing youth discipleship and multiplying youth faith life groups (and for these to be so effective there is little or no drop out of young people when they finish youth ministry). Also the development of life groups in the Carbrook area.
Craig: a clear vision of how corporate worship helps build the Kingdom of God through LUC and developing more teams and leaders to help us move into this.
Liz: increase the teams for pastoral care and prayer so we have a very strong “net of care” across LUC.
Libby: helping more and more people and leaders catch the vision and passion in her heart for children and young families so we see a multiplication of fruitfulness
Tim B: growing teams that will strengthen and multiply resources and communication across our church.
Jim: passionately pursuing discipleship with staff and students. Jenny Munns: (Jenny’s position is funded by the government and she leads our Pitstop ministry; and whilst not part of the MLT has an important role in our= outreach): expanding Pitstop beyond PPP to include health and finances; and not just running successful programs but helping people move closer to Jesus and connect more fully with LUC.
Me (Graham): calling forth success in and through the MLT; calling every member of LUC to genuine discipleship; shaping our church around the discipleship process so that more and more and more (and multitudes of) people are coming to faith in Christ and growing as His disciples.

I was very clear with the team that stepping into this “breakthrough” in God did not require people to work harder but to trust God more, take courageous steps and make bold decisions I share this with you not just so that you can pray for each member of the Ministry Leadership Team but as a call to arms, a call to prayer, a call for God to release more of His unlimited power, a call for each of us to step into what we know God is calling us to do and not to back off or get sidetracked. We are together the body of Christ and it is only as EACH one of us trusts God more, take courageous steps and make bold decisions that WE as a church will fulfil our potential in helping build God’s Kingdom.

Yours in Christ
Rev Graham Keech
Senior Minister