Leadership Thought: Get in a Small Group; It Might Well Save Your Life.

"All of you should be like minded and sympathetic, should love believers, and be compassionate and humble, not paying back evil for evil or insult for insult but, on the contrary, giving a blessing since you were called for this, so that you can inherit a blessing.” First Peter 2:8-9 (NIV)

Dear Friends, 

This week's Leadership Thoughts have been dealing with the subject of encouragement, and today's thought focuses on the importance of mutual encouragement. As believers we are called to encourage one another.  Ministry is mutual. When I have a heavy heart, I am grateful for a brother or sister who comes along and helps transform my heavy heart into a happy heart. As a pastor, I have found that it is much harder for me to receive ministry that give it. I prefer to be on the giving end than the receiving end, for after all isn't that what a minister is called to do. But thankfully, as I grow older, I find myself getting better at receiving ministry. I recognize that I am becoming more vulnerable and more open to help which is a good thing. And in so doing, I have discovered that gratefully receiving ministry from another person is a gift to them for it provides a wonderful way of blessing and affirming that person.

In this world we truly do need each other. That is why for years each Wednesday morning I gather with a couple of brothers for breakfast. It is a time of mutual ministry, of give and take. There is laughter and learning, and sometimes even a few tears, and we all come away from breakfast better because we have been together.

It is a wonderful thing when two people recognize and commit to a plan of mutual encouragement. Their goal is to encourage one another and to make each other better. I have often seen it happen on the athletic fields, and especially in the weight room. Lifters work in pairs, aiding and supporting one another as each lifts the bar and struggles to realize a certain weight or number of repetitions. As one lifts, the other is shouting out words of encouragement: “You can do it,” “a little bit more,” “just one more.” Each individual wants the best for the other and encouragement is one way to foster and maximize the results. Relationships that have that kind of commitment to help one another and to spur one another on will result in tremendous growth in both peoples' lives. Out of those kinds of relationships, a bond is developed that often results in the kind of friendship that lasts for a lifetime.

CS Lewis, the author of the Chronicles of Narnia series and JR Tolkien who wrote The Hobbit series were both professors at Oxford University. They maintained a close friendship throughout their careers. Every Thursday, they, along with other writers, would meet to have a drink and talk about their fiction writing endeavors, and read passages of their yet unpublished works. It was Tolkien who challenged and encouraged Lewis, an avowed atheist, to explore Christianity, leading to his ultimate conversion. And it was Lewis who encouraged Tolkien to continue writing fiction and to seek publication. Were it not for their friendship and mutual encouragement, the world would not have received the finest writing and apologetics of the 20th century nor perhaps the finest fantasy work ever written. Both encouraged each other and the result was that the Christian world was blessed (Story saved in my files but source not identified).

So, if you don't presently enjoy the benefits of being together with other brothers or sisters in mutual ministry, I encourage you to do so. In our church we have Life Groups, which meet together weekly for food, fellowship, bible study and prayer, and our desire is to see everyone in our church family participate. 

Yours in faith and friendship

Tom

Colossians 3:23-24

P.S. If you don't think isolation from other brothers and sisters is dangerous, just read below

·        Social isolation was associated with about a 50% percent increased risk of dementia. 1

·        Poor social relationships (characterized by social isolation or loneliness) were associated with a 29% increased risk of heart disease and a 32% increased risk of stroke. 1

·        Loneliness was associated with higher rates of depression, anxiety, and suicide.

·        Loneliness among heart failure patients was associated with a nearly 4 times increased risk of death, 68% increased risk of hospitalization, and 57% increased risk of emergency department visits. 1

Reference: www.cdc.gov/aging/publications/features/lonely-older-adults.html