Shortly into my first position as a women’s ministry director, I oversaw our church’s annual women’s retreat. Read: I planned, organized, and promoted the retreat; I handled registration, set up, and emceed; I communicated with the speaker, the worship team, the retreat center, the tech people, and the last-minute photographer (because I forgot about that); I answered a million questions, managed the budget, conducted the feedback survey, and wrote the thank you notes. The retreat’s execution was surprisingly good by God’s grace, but the process totally missed the mark—and just about killed me. No one knocked on my door to volunteer, and I didn’t ask for help. I quickly learned three truths about volunteers: most volunteers don’t volunteer, most volunteers don’t know how to do what you need them to do, and most volunteers don’t stick around long. But we need them. Committed, prepared, unpaid workers are necessary for our women’s ministries. So how do we find “volunteers” (even when no one has volunteered)? How do we train them for their assigned roles? And how do we keep them involved? Choose Volunteers Ministry volunteers are God’s workers and ultimately chosen by him, but he commissions us to discern his will and invite them to serve. Scripture records many examples of God choosing volunteers. He appointed leaders, prophets, kings, judges, priests, and disciples, and his choices hold great lessons for us. We mustn’t miss the fact that, first and foremost, God knows his people well—their gifts, abilities, stories, wounds, and weaknesses. He sees hearts and prioritizes character over appearance, while being fully aware no one is righteous, not even one (Rom. 3:10). As we’re trying to fill our ministry needs, we need to simultaneously do two things. First, we pray earnestly about God’s choice for each role, asking him to give us glimpses of the hearts he sees so completely: Lord, show me your picks—the upright ones, the humble hearts who know and love you, who trust you and depend on you. Don’t let me overlook the women you want to use. Second, we spend time getting to know the women in our church. We need to listen to their stories and sorrows, find out about their interests and experiences, and discover their gifts and motivations. Please don’t send out a survey. Talk to them. I know it’s not efficient. It’s personal—and it’s worth it. In Scripture, we never see God fill slots. God doesn’t say, “I need a king. Who wants to be king?” Or “We’re short three priests. Are there any volunteers?” Or perhaps, “I need one more disciple . . . I’ll post about it on Facebook.” No. God chooses. He appoints. And he bases his selections on his knowledge of his people—their character, their gifts from him, and the potential he knows is there. Do you need teachers? Look for women who love the Word and are being changed by it. Do you need greeters? Seek out welcoming, attentive women. How about help with registration? Out there somewhere is a spreadsheet lover. (And when I found her for my retreat team, it was a game-changer.) Do you need teachers? Look for women who love the Word and are being changed by it. That’s not to say we can never ask for volunteers, but I encourage you to pursue gifting and godliness, not just availability. God has gifted every believer and placed each one in his body for the growth and good of the whole. For all the work he wants done, he has prepared people to do it. We just need to find them and invite them to get involved. Train Volunteers Once we’ve found women to serve (after our “Hallelujahs!”), we must train them. A closer look at the biblical narratives reveals the vast inexperience of God’s chosen ones. They were right, just not ready. They needed leading, guiding, correcting, and teaching. So do our volunteers. Please don’t assume everyone will do a great job on the first attempt—and don’t sideline those who fail to. (I’ve seen this happen, and it’s wounding.) Imitating Jesus, we prioritize the person over the task. Plan ahead and build in training times. Make sure a new volunteer has a role model of both character and skills—either you or another woman you respect. Explain the expectations, clearly and practically. Don’t assume she knows how to make the coffee or who Sarah is that she needs to give a receipt to. Provide training and resources commensurate with the responsibility. For example, teachers and group leaders will need more preparation than greeters. And be sure to let her know who to go to with questions. After she serves, provide feedback that’s honest, kind, and always for the purpose of helping her grow and improve. Don’t skip this piece. One of God’s most gracious gifts to us is his correction for the purpose of our growth. Share lots of positives and include one gracious suggestion that would help her develop in her ministry. Then provide her with a second opportunity. Keep Volunteers As volunteers experience this level of commitment to their growth, they’ll be far more motivated to keep serving. We often lose volunteers because they came, filled a slot, did a task, and went home. But ministry is about people. It’s personal. It’s relational. Your volunteers are your sisters. Take the time to know them, and be sure to thank them. Let them know you love them, not just what they produce or accomplish, and that should they step out of serving for a time, you’ll still love them (and so will God). Share with them what God is teaching you and encourage them to do the same. Be transparent about your weaknesses, benefit from their strengths, and lean into his grace together. We often lose volunteers because they came, filled a slot, did a task, and went home. But ministry is about people. Your volunteers are your sisters. Teach them by example to work hard and rest well. Practice having unhurried conversations about their lives outside of ministry. Make sure, following the conclusion of an event or program, that you schedule time to celebrate what God did and how they served. And don’t assume that because they decorated the tables beautifully this time, they’ll want to have that role forever. Help women find their sweet spot where serving and growing to know and love God with their sisters is filling them, not just a slot. Choosing volunteers, training them to serve, and keeping them involved is a time-consuming responsibility. It might mean you’ll end up with fewer ministry programs, but Lord willing, it’ll mean having more women involved in ministry. It’ll almost certainly mean you’ll do less for the next women’s retreat because a helpful team will use their many gifts, freeing you to use yours. As women’s ministry directors, we’re not meant to execute every task ourselves. We have the privilege of helping our sisters walk in the good works God prepared for them (Eph. 2:10)—and he’s glorified as we do.

Works like Richard Baxter’s The Reformed Pastor and Charles Spurgeon’s Lectures to My Students are commonplace reading recommendations for aspiring pastors. Rightly so. Spurgeon’s book is more than a century old, and Baxter’s dates to the 1600s. While the books may be theologically familiar, their age helps us look beyond the ecclesiology of our cultural moment—or at least keeps us from being too mesmerized by it. In Ancient Wisdom for the Care of Souls: Learning the Art of Pastoral Ministry from the Church Fathers, Coleman Ford, assistant professor of humanities at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and Shawn Wilhite, associate professor of New Testament at California Baptist University, take us back even further to ministry models from ancient pastors who were as close to the age of the apostles as we are to the Reformation. Christian pastors from that patristic era may feel completely foreign to us. We’ve gratefully received much of our orthodox doctrine from them, but pastoral wisdom? They lived in a world with challenges and concerns that don’t feel as pressing to us. So they seem less equipped to help us with ministry. Yet Ford and Wilhite show how these pastors offer wisdom for contemporary pastoral practice. Pursue Wisdom and Virtue The early church fathers offer pastoral wisdom for today’s church because the core of being a pastor isn’t bounded by time and place. Through theological retrieval pastors can creatively draw from the past to influence the present. For example, retrieving insights from the church fathers can “correct three misunderstandings regarding the nature of ministry today”—the pastor as CEO, an obsession with numerical success, and pragmatism over sound doctrine (9–10). Contemporary ministry models often place personalities or programs and systems at the church’s center. These models assume that spiritual practices exist beneath the constant grind of scheduled activities. Pastoral skills have always been important, but the early church fathers recognized that spiritual virtue and theological faithfulness are the foundation. For example, the virtue of humility was at the core of Basil’s ministry because it was key to “unlocking [the] divine glory” every human lost through the fall (25). Similarly, pastors like Gregory of Nyssa pursued “Trinitarian spirituality,” which highlights the fruit of the Spirit and the soul’s ascent to God (36–37). For these fathers, being a pastor was more about holiness than effective management. Being a pastor was more about holiness than being effective management. Yet ancient pastors had to do more than cultivate their own piety. Origen of Alexandria’s life highlights the importance of skilled pastoral ministry as well. The fathers believed that as the pastor fosters virtue in his life and the lives of his hearers, he hones the “skills (exegetical, theological, pastoral)” necessary to “apply the right medicines” to life’s various personal and pastoral ailments (77, 81). Establish a Theological Vision Pastors can’t do ministry off the cuff. They must ground their efforts in a theological vision anchored in Scripture. According to Ford and Wilhite, Irenaeus of Lyons was “an excellent model of the biblical pastor. He was attuned to the depth and spiritual vitality of Scripture, the lifeblood of the Christian” (99–100). This is where the theological vision of pastoral ministry must begin. Likewise, for Athanasius of Alexandria, Christ-centeredness resulted in fighting for orthodox Christian belief. It also enabled a Christ-centered spirituality, reminding us “the Christian hope is not found in the latest church program but in the eternal person of Christ” (134). Similarly, Augustine of Hippo used his theological insights to help the congregation become more spiritually mature. The virtues and theological vision of ancient pastors were enabled by and resulted in particular ministerial practices. For example, Gregory the Great—whose Pastoral Rule should be required reading for all pastors—exemplified a contemplative approach to ministry. He demonstrated how “silence and solitude . . . can provide a much-needed corrective to our obsession with busyness” (182). And John Chrysostom embodies the ability to “faithfully preach in [his] unique context” (205). He preached eloquently but in a way that communicated truth effectively to his people. Learn a Lesson in Proportion In perusing Ancient Wisdom’s table of contents, one might wonder if Wilhite and Ford could’ve written a chapter on “the political pastor,” discussing an early apologist less prone to fall into political idolatry than some in our time. Or, perhaps, they could have written on “the mentoring pastor,” drawing on the ministry of Cyprian of Carthage to discuss the importance of raising faithful ministers to serve the church in the ways promoted in this book. While such topics are important in their own right, this book’s selectivity undergirds its greatest strength: its sense of proportion. Pastoral skills have always been important, but the early church recognized that spiritual virtue and theological faithfulness are the foundation. Though the book offers advice to pastors, it contains few “practical tips” for ministry. Instead, the authors, like Paul, encourage pastors to “keep a close watch on [themselves] and on the teaching” (1 Tim. 4:16). According to Paul, that’s the real key to pastoral success. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to the complexities of pastoral ministry. Instead, as the pastor digs a deep well of virtue and biblical-theological clarity in himself and his hearers, the church draws from that well as needs arise. Ancient Wisdom for the Care of Souls shows that the church fathers are an invaluable resource for the contemporary church. Though few can hope to attain Chrysostom’s preaching prowess, Augustine’s theological acumen, or Athanasius’s tested courage, these heroes of the faith give us something to aspire to. As such, this book is an invaluable resource for retrieving the past as a way forward for today’s church.

Don Carson discusses Jesus’s warnings of false prophets, wars, and persecution before the end times as outlined in Matthew 24:1–28. Carson suggests Jesus’s response to the disciples about the end times interweaves the fall of Jerusalem in AD 70 with his return. The church should expect opposition and persecution as part of the period leading up to Jesus’s return, so Carson encourages Christians to be strengthened in prayer, looking to Jesus’s prophecies and teachings for guidance and hope.

2024 Echoes '1984'

The network evening newscasts wasted no time welcoming Minnesota Governor Tim Walz to the bright lights of national politics as he was announced as Vice President Kamala Harris’s chosen running mate. And it was a warm welcome, indeed. ABC, as the most Harris-sycophantic network, ran a flattering profile of Walz within the broader report on the pick and the rally, unlike NBC and CBS which did standalone reports focused solely on Walz.  Here’s how ABC condensed Walz’ resumé for viewer consumption: RACHEL SCOTT: Walz grew up in rural Nebraska, served 24 years in the Army National Guard. He moved to Minnesota, his wife Gwen's home state, taught high school social studies, coached the football team. In 2007, Walz unseated a Republican, serving six terms in Congress. The two-term governor codifying abortion rights in the state after the fall of Roe versus Wade, enacting gun safety legislation, and guaranteeing free lunches in public schools. Walz laughing off criticism that his record is too liberal. WALZ: What a monster. Kids are eating and having full bellies so they can go learn, and women are making their own health care decisions. The report ran nearly five minutes, but not one second was dedicated to Walz’ dismal handling of the George Floyd riots of 2020, and his unacceptable delay in calling in the National Guard as Minneapolis and other cities nearly burned to the ground. CBS and NBC devoted time to this part of Walz’ history.  Other things not covered: some of Walz’ truly controversial initiatives as governor, such as his signing of legislation making Minnesota a “trans refuge” state. Per The New York Post: Walz, 60, a former high school teacher, signed the so-called “Trans Refuge” bill into law in April 2023, prohibiting the enforcement of out-of-state subpoenas, arrest warrants and extradition requests for people who travel to the North Star State from other states for gender-affirming care. A month earlier, the Democrat signed an executive order protecting gender-affirming care in Minnesota, including puberty blockers, surgeries and hormone therapy.  The action also called upon state agencies not to approve health insurance plans that didn’t cover gender-affirming operations.  “As states across the country move to ban access to gender-affirming care, we want LGBTQ Minnesotans to know they will continue to be safe, protected, and welcome in Minnesota,” Walz said in a statement at the time.  On “codifying abortion rights”, the fundamental “freedom” most ardently championed by the Harris-Walz campaign and their media allies, we get awful clarity about what that means, precisely. As reported by Mary Margaret Olohan: As Democrats and media outlets accuse former President Donald Trump of dramatizing the Democratic abortion agenda, data from the Minnesota Department of Health shows that at least eight babies who survived abortions in the state were left to die. Under a 2015 Minnesota law, the state formerly was required to report whether abortions resulted in the live birth of a baby, what actions were taken to preserve the life of that baby, and whether the baby survived. Those reporting requirements exposed that between Jan. 1, 2021, and Dec. 31, 2021, physicians performed five abortions that resulted in a baby’s live birth. None of those babies survived. None received lifesaving care. Two of them received “comfort care”, the type of care first described by then-Virginia Governor Ralph Northam and which we are told NEVER happens. To add insult to injury, Walz changed the rules after these deaths. None of the networks covered these inconvenient parts of Walz’ record. In fact, they did their level best to hide these items from public consumption. Rest assured, they will become part of the public record, and they will do so a lot sooner than the Regime Media would like. Click “expand” to view the full transcripts of the aforementioned reports as aired on their respective evening network newscasts on Tuesday, August 6th, 2024: NBC NIGHTLY NEWS NBC NIGHTLY NEWS 8/6/24 6:35 PM LESTER HOLT: In a new poll, almost three quarters of Americans say they've never heard of Tim Walz or don't have an opinion on him. But that's about to change as he steps into the spotlight. Here’s Gabe Gutierrez with a closer look.  GABE GUTIERREZ: A white-haired working-class politician from the rural Midwest, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is seen as a plainspoken attack dog, who is not shy about taking on the Republican ticket. TIM WALZ: These guys are just weird. And, you know, they're running for He-Man Women Haters’ Club or something. GUTIERREZ: At 60 years old, he’s just six months older than Kamala Harris, but they're from very different backgrounds. Walz grew up in small-town Nebraska, spending summers working on the family farm. At 17 he joined the National Guard, eventually becoming a school teacher and football coach and meeting his wife Gwen. After moving to Minnesota, the father of two was elected to Congress in 2006 and ran for governor in 2018, winning in a landslide. His progressive record now touted by Democrats includes creating paid medical family leave, legalizing recreational marijuana, and increasing tax credits for low-income families. But Republicans have slammed other bills he signed, making undocumented immigrants ineligible for driver’s licenses, state funded health care, and free college tuition at state universities. Also, in 2020, as George Floyd's killing triggered riots and looting in Minneapolis, Walz drew criticism over why it took him three days to call in the National Guard. WALZ: It is what it is. And I simply believe that we try to do the best we can. GUTIERREZ: But Walz also brings strong union support as Democrats look to appeal to the critical Rust Belt. WALZ: I had an opponent who thought this was a real zinger when we were going at it. He said “Governor Walz is in the pocket of organized labor”. And I said “that is a damn lie. I am the pocket”. GUTIERREZ: A hunter and gun owner, Congressman Walz was once endorsed by the NRA. but that changed dramatically when he became governor, since he’s backed new gun restrictions. Lester.  HOLT: All right, Gabe. Thank you. CBS EVENING NEWS CBS EVENING NEWS 8/6/24 6:34 PM MAJOR GARRETT: Tim Walz's path to the presidential ticket went from the Army National Guard, to the schoolhouse, to Capitol Hill, to the Governor's Mansion. CBS's Ed O'Keefe has more on who Walz is and where he stands. ED O’KEEFE: A quip by Tim Walz two weeks ago about former President Donald Trump and running mate JD Vance grabbed Democrats' attention. TIM WALZ: These are weird people on the other side. They want to take books away. They want to be in your exam room. O’KEEFE: And it caught on.  KAMALA HARRIS: And by the way, don't you find some of their stuff to just be plain weird? O’KEEFE: Born in Nebraska, the 60-year-old governor in his second term has marveled at the interest in him. WALZ: I don't know if every high school geography teacher expects to be in this position at some point. O’KEEFE: He also coached a state champion high school football team. An Army National Guard veteran, Walz first ran for Congress in 2006, concerned about the Iraq War. WALZ: Our troops deserve a plan to win the peace. O’KEEFE: He represented a southern Minnesota district that strongly backed Trump in 2016, and developed a bipartisan reputation that got him elected governor in 2018. Critics blamed him for a flat-footed response in 2020 to violence sparked by George Floyd's murder in Minneapolis. WALZ: This has obviously been the most difficult week in Minnesota in recent history. O’KEEFE: A series of police reforms, including a ban on chokeholds, followed. More recently, he signed bills expanding school meals programs, banning conversion therapy for minors, and protecting abortion services- even visiting a women's health clinic in Minnesota with Harris. He and his wife Gwen have two children, including a daughter conceived through IVF. WALZ: Governor Walz here, out at the State Fair with my daughter. HOPE WALZ: Hope. O’KEEFE: Who has co-starred with him in some of his most popular videos. WALZ: We’re going to get some food. Corn Dog? HOPE: I'm a vegetarian. WALZ: Turkey, then. O’KEEFE: We’re told when Harris called this morning, Walz didn’t initially answer because came up as no caller I.D. She called again, he answered and accepted and the duo has now raised at least $20 million since the announcement this morning. Another sign, Major, of fresh enthusiasm for the Democratic ticket. GARRETT: Not a spam call after all. Ed O’Keefe, thank you. ABC WORLD NEWS TONIGHT ABC WORLD NEWS TONIGHT 8/6/24 6:32 PM LINSEY DAVIS: Tonight, the speculation is over. The Democratic ticket now complete. With her campaign barely two weeks old, today, Vice President Kamala Harris made her most consequential decision so far, naming Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate. Just moments ago, they made their debut during a rally in Philadelphia. Vice President Harris and Governor Walz side-by-side for the first time in front of about 12,000 cheering supporters. Walz, a progressive governor, considered a dark horse, chosen after a quick vetting process, managing to edge out popular Pennsylvania Senator(sic) Josh Shapiro. Walz is a retired Army National Guard member. Also, a former high school teacher and football and basketball coach. The Trump campaign immediately going on the attack, calling him a liberal extremist. But top Democrats were quick to embrace the new add to the ticket. President Biden calling Governor Walz a powerful voice for the middle class. Walz is already credited with changing the tone of the race with just one word. ABC's Rachel Scott leads us off from Philadelphia. RACHEL SCOTT: Tonight, Vice President Kamala Harris introducing her new running mate. KAMALA HARRIS: Governor Tim Walz of the great state of Minnesota. SCOTT: Minnesota Governor Tim Walz joined Harris on stage in Philadelphia before a crowd of thousands, calling it the honor of a lifetime, saying he's all in. SCOTT: Supporters lining up hours before their first joint appearance. It's been just 16 days since Harris became a candidate. HARRIS: We are the underdogs in this race. But we have the momentum and I know exactly what we are up against. SCOTT: Harris making the call this morning. HARRIS: I want you to do this with me. Let's do this together. Would you be my running mate? And let's get this thing on the road. WALZ: I would be honored, Madam Vice President. SCOTT: Crowds cheering as Walz left his St. Paul home this morning, flying to Philadelphia to join Harris on a blitz through the battleground states. The decision came down to the wire. Her campaign printing multiple signs with the names of different contenders. Among the finalists, popular Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, and Arizona Senator and former astronaut Mark Kelly. But in the end, Walz and Harris really hit it off. Walz grew up in rural Nebraska, served 24 years in the Army National Guard. He moved to Minnesota, his wife Gwen's home state, taught high school social studies, coached the football team. In 2007, Walz unseated a Republican, serving six terms in Congress. The two-term governor codifying abortion rights in the state after the fall of Roe versus Wade, enacting gun safety legislation, and guaranteeing free lunches in public schools. Walz laughing off criticism that his record is too liberal. WALZ: What a monster. Kids are eating and having full bellies so they can go learn, and women are making their own health care decisions. SCOTT: Walz and his wife have two children, Gus and Hope. Hope a fixture on Walz's social media. WALZ: Hi, Minnesota, Governor Walz here along with… HOPE WALZ: Hope. SCOTT: Walz's star rising in Democratic circles in recent days, after he coined a new line of attack against Republicans. WALZ: These are weird people on the other side. These guys are just weird. That's what they are. SCOTT: Calling them “weird”. WALZ: They want to take books away. They want to be in your exam room, that's what it comes down to. And don't sugar coat this. These are weird ideas. SCOTT: Tonight, the Trump campaign calling Walz a liberal extremist. JD VANCE: And again, the biggest problem with the Tim Walz pick -- it's not Tim Walz himself. It's what it says about Kamala Harris, that when given an opportunity, she will bend the knee to the most radical elements of her party. SCOTT: Senator JD Vance on a tour of his own through the battleground states, saying he reached out to his new rival. VANCE: I actually called Tim Walz. I left a voicemail. I didn't get him, but I just said "Look, congratulations. Look forward to a robust conversation, and enjoy the ride." DAVIS: Let's get right to Rachel Scott, who’s at the Harris-Walz rally in Philadelphia. Rachel, it seems the Harris campaign is really banking on Walz helping to deliver voters in key battleground states in the Midwest and in Pennsylvania. SCOTT: Exactly, Linsey. In fact, this Democratic ticket, Vice President Kamala Harris, Governor Walz, they're continuing their swing through the battleground states, next heading to Wisconsin and Michigan. A source close to the vetting process tells me they believe that Walz will appeal to those Midwestern blue collar voters in those critical states that they need to win. Tonight, Vice President Kamala Harris says they're already seeing momentum in those states. As for former President Donald Trump, tonight, I'm told that his campaign is relieved that it is not Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro on the ticket. At the same time, the former president has been fuming on social media that president Joe Biden is out of this race, Linsey. DAVIS: Lots of excitement in that room. Rachel, thank you.  

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