Life experiences have a tendency to knock our feet out from under us, especially during trying times. 

Getting back up can be hard; oftentimes requiring the help of a family member or friend.

It’s o.k. to ask for help; in fact, this is where Christians can really learn a lot about ministry.  As Christians, we are given many opportunities to help those in need around us.  In the church world we tend to call this “ministering to other’s needs”.  Well, ministry is not just for professional ministers.  Anyone can and should participate in helping people in need.

The next time you are given opportunity to help someone in need, don’t side-step or complicate this moment.  Consider the following acronym – a simple and practical way to HELP.

H – hug

E – encouragement

L – listen

P – prayer

It really is that simple.  Sometimes people just need a hug - a warm embrace that communicates love and special concern.  A hug can work wonders for a wounded soul.

Words of encouragement are very powerful and breathe life into downtrodden circumstances. 

Help can be as simple as taking time to listen to someone’s need and showing sincere concern.  Active listening is something we all need to work on.  We can be easily distracted by what we want to say instead of concentrating upon what others need to share.  Listening can soothe and comfort people in a profound way.

And finally, taking time to pray for someone, right then, opens the door for relational bonding and “miraculous results".

If possible, find a quiet place to pray.  This doesn’t have to be a long, drawn-out religious prayer.  It can be as simple as “Lord, help my friend in need and remind me to lift them up in prayer throughout this week.”

See there, HELP is not so complicated.  Start practicing these simple steps; and before long, you will find helping people to be a natural part of your Christian experience – one that comes with great rewards!

The Church must realize the importance of online social networking before it is too late.

Online social networking is not some fad that will run its course.  Its popularity is growing in leap and bounds.  According to the Pew Internet and American Life Project, “More than half (55%) of all of online American youths ages 12-17 use an online social networking sites.”

If the Church is serious about reaching the next generation for Christ, then serious steps should be made in acquiring tools that bridge the gap between the traditional American Church and today’s young people.  I wonder if this is possible, given traditional models of local church?

If leadership within local churches is not “in-tune” with new technology, especially the internet, how will local churches successfully reach young people in their communities?

Many years ago I helped coordinate a youth retreat at a Methodist outreach center in rural Tennessee.  Over 100 young people attended.  One of the activities they were asked to do was write their names on a small paper bag.  These bags were then taped to a wall everyone passed by each day.

The youth were then encouraged to drop comments into the bags.  These could be words of encouragement, favorite scriptures; anything that was uplifting.  The goal was that everyone’s bag would have “good comments.”

The youth went way beyond the call of duty and made sure everyone, including new people, had new comments in their bags each day.  The youth used this as a form of ministry, and it worked extremely well.

I find similarities between this activity at the retreat and social networking sites.  Young people return regularly to their online profile pages to see if comments have been posted.  According to the Pew survey, “Almost half of social networking-using teens visit the sites either once a day (26%) or several times a day (22%)."

May I suggest that young people use social networking sites to invite “ministry” into their lives.  They want simple recognition and encouragement.  They want to know if anyone out there really cares about them– enough to make comments on their profile page.

Church leaders, I strongly encourage you to “bite the bullet” and spend some serious time exploring new technology, especially online social networking.  The internet can be a powerful tool for ministry in the hands of Christians.  Please seize the moment.

Visit the following research sites:

Pew Internet & American Life Project
www.pewinternet.org
Social Networking Websites and Teens
http://www.pewinternet.org/PPF/r/198/report_display.asp

Barna Research Group

www.barna.org

Surveys about teens and the internet

The Center for the Digital Future (USC Annenberg School)

http://www.digitalcenter.org/

2007 Digital Future Report

http://www.digitalcenter.org/pdf/2007-Digital-Future-Report-Press-Release-112906.pdf

 I talk a lot about “relational synergism” – people working together for greater purposes realized only through concerted efforts. 

My hopes are that more and more people within the Body of Christ will venture beyond “themselves” and into cooperative working relationships with others; becoming powerful instruments for ministry in the Lord’s hands.

Relational synergism helps people “connect", build relationships, and make a difference…together.  In a relational synergistic environment, people are changed and challenged.  This sets the stage for life-giving transformation that impacts people and their community.

The powerful impact of relational synergism is a rare occurrence.  Only two out of ten teams (groups) of people will experience relational synergism.  Why?  Because getting people to work together is hard work.  Most people tend to be self-focused rather than others-focused.  A “what’s in it for me” attitude has legitimacy; but if not properly balanced, it can sabotage synergy.

Synergy means “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.”  In relational synergism people must be “willing” to harness the power of their independent nature and channel its energy into an organic, progressive process of interdependence.  Common purposes and goals are much greater than individual accomplishments.

This doesn’t mean that we lose our individual identity or our personal hopes and dreams.  It simply means that I will get what I want; and probably more, if I am willing to help others get what they want as well.  This becomes a "win-win" situation for us all.  And if we can brave the oftentimes stormy process of the synergistic environment, we will venture into unimaginable results in our cooperative efforts.

Relational synergism is all about people and good relationships.  For those who wish to experience the power and potential of a synergistic environment, I encourage you to get ready for a “paradigm shift” in your life.  You may discover that relational synergism is something that you have only caught a glimpse of, but never experienced.

I strongly encourage you to venture out into deeper waters of personal experience and invite others to join you.  Once experienced, relational synergism becomes very compelling and beseeches return visits time and time again.

I would also like to recommend three books that will educate you on the value of a synergistic environment:

The Performance Factor: Unlocking the Secrets of Teamwork

By Pat MacMillan

The Wisdom of Teams: Creating the High-Performance Organization
by Jon R. Katzenback and Douglas K. Smith

Seven Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change
by Stephen R. Covey

I remember the story of the man who went to heaven and was immediately greeted by Simon Peter.

As they walk down the street, the man was amazed at the size of the mansions!  He started getting excited about the residence that Peter was leading him to.  They kept walking and walking until they came to the end of the street.

The man acted puzzled and asked Peter:  “Where’s my mansion?”  Peter pointed to a very small dwelling set back from the road.  “That’s my house?” said the man.  “Why it’s no comparison to the other homes on the street.  Why do I get this small dwelling while the other people on the street get huge mansions?”

Peter said, “Well, it’s like this.  All the value you placed upon relationships on earth translates into building materials here in heaven.  Did you not read the Scripture?”

Jesus told His disciples: "Don’t hoard treasure down here where it gets eaten by moths and corroded by rust or—worse!—stolen by burglars. Stockpile treasure in heaven, where it’s safe from moth and rust and burglars. It’s obvious, isn’t it? The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being (Matthew 6:19-21,MSG).”

Peter said, “The reason you permanent dwelling is so small is because that’s all the building materials you sent us up here to work with.”

This illustration makes good sense!  Why stockpile so much here on earth, which is temporal, and forsake your stockpile in heaven, which is eternal.  Everything that we gather here on earth will not make it to heaven.  Have you ever seen a U-Haul following a hearse?

John D. Rockefeller was once considered the richest man in history.  When he died, the lawyer who handled his estate was asked by a reporter, “How much money did Rockefeller leave behind?”  The lawyer paused for just a moment and said with sincerity, “All of it.”

The only things that we take with us to heaven are relationships and the value we place on them.  And if that value translates into building materials, what will our dwelling look like in heaven?

Growth is not always about numbers.  

Just because you have more people in the pew or more dollars in the bank account doesn’t mean you are growing according to biblical standards.  Growth is about “rising to the occasion” or “reaching new heights” in relationships.

The Apostle Paul best described growth in Ephesians 4:12-13, “to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”

In the Message, Ephes. 4:13 is translated, “until we’re all moving rhythmically and easily with each other, efficient and graceful in response to God’s Son, fully mature adults, fully developed within and without, fully alive like Christ.”

Relationships are the key factor in growth potential.  Why?  Because, it is all about people “connecting” with other people.  God wired us for relationships, which are the “avenues” for growth.  This applies to marriage, family, church, or business.  Meaningful relationships can pave the path towards change, progress, and growth.

The positive impact of relationships defines measurable growth.  Carefully ponder the above Scriptures, and you will understand how to measure growth.