___________________________________________________________________________________________

Gideon’s 300

Dear Faithful Friend of Vision;

“17 O God, you have taught me since I was young, and I am still declaring your amazing deeds.18 Even when I am old and gray, O God, do not abandon me, until I tell the next generation about your strength, and those coming after me about your power.” (New English Translation) …just some thoughts for you to consider.

In fact, I was blessed to have a mom (mainly) and dad who in time came to love the Lord and value his word (especially the book of Proverbs). My mom was a good, though somewhat nontraditional or nonorthodox example. Every morning she would get up early, pour a cup of coffee, pull out her Daily Bread devotion and Amplified bible, light a cigarette and spend time with the Lord. Well, the habit of study is the key, and like the Psalmist, I can say the I have seen some amazing things in my walk with God.

Since age 12, I knew I was to preach and teach the word of God…called by the Lord to a not very typical ministry, but called nonetheless. With a few detours, starts and stops, I have tried to pursue the Lord’s directive, using the vehicle of Vision.  Now that I am (well, not old, but certainly older) my heart is to see the whole word taken to the whole world, so the next generation will go further in helping Christ expand his kingdom through the preaching and teaching of God’s precious word.

 The Vision Concept

 As I stated, my heart since early on was to see the word of God learned and preached. The vision of Vision is to help folks around the world do the same things. Just by sway of reminder, Vision International is a church based or focused training/educational ministry designed to equip for:

• Christian Life

• Christian Service

As an Apostolic Training ministry, we provide curriculum, texts, study guides, exams, CD/DVD training to prepare a man of woman of God to live life to its fullest in God, and for those called to vocational ministry in the church or marketplace, accredited diplomas and degrees.

Whether an adult education program to equip for life, or a degree program for ministry, Vision International Training and Education Network and Vision International University provides flexible, affordable and comprehensive programs, delivered in church, by correspondence or on line, for the advancement of the Kingdom of God. The question for our time is not if we should disciple/equip/train/educate God’s people, but how. We help leaders prepare God’s people in the church and marketplace, preserve the harvest of your work, and expand the Kingdom of God through properly prepared servants. Your partnership with us helps us accomplish this vital, kingdom mission.

Well, summer is almost behind us, and by God’s grace we are hanging in, anticipating the startup of our partner schools around the world.  A special thanks to those who dug a bit deeper to give to help us during the slow financial times of Summer.  WE are not completely out of the woods yet…so your diligent, faithful and generous giving still makes a huge difference for us…especially now. Please remember us in prayer as we continue to:

• Starting Schools of Ministry and conduct

• International Training: I am heading to South Africa, Mongolia, (Australia was wonderful as always) and Dr. Steve Mills will head to Cameroun for graduations and teaching ministry, and we continue to touch nations.

• Christian Literature: I met with Dr. Ken Chant with Denis Plant in Australia…Ken tells me that the promise of the Lord via Prophet Dick Mills was that he would not die until he had written all the Lord had given him to write…so he is now working on the Second Letter to the Corinthians…then we hope he tackles Paul’s smaller letters…which might take him to age 100!

• Counseling & Coaching: Wherever I go, I end up doing coaching and counseling…as we continuously work to help leaders to become all they are called to be and do in Christ.

Again, I want to thank you for your faithful assistance in giving as a Gideon 300 member…God is good…your gifts make a difference…and if you can, please tuck in a bit extra this next month to help us through the summer slump…not a slump in work or challenges, but in finances…we trust the Lord, and what you to know what a blessing you are to us.

“The Whole Word to the Whole World”

Blessings,

Dr. Stan DeKoven

_________________________________________________________________________

Dr. Stan DeKoven on Leadership… an excerpt from his book, Leadership in the Church

 Much of what is taught regarding the ministry is based on the teachings of the church. Throughout the history of the church, the concepts of what a pastor was have changed with the changing perceptions of what the Bible intended a pastor to be. As a student of biblical history attempts to understand the responsibilities and calling of the various ministries mentioned in the Bible, he soon discovers that those understandings change with each new church era.

Much of the problems of the church in modern times can be related to the misunderstandings of the calling, responsibilities, accountability, etc. of each ministry as mentioned in the Bible.

It is understandable that if the church (the Body of Christ) cannot understand the theology of God concerning leadership in the church, the church is doomed to suffer in its efforts to function according to the will and purpose of God.

Strictly speaking, theology is that which is thought and said concerning God. True theology is thus given by the Bible itself as the revelation of God in human terms. But the Bible gives rise to exposition, reflection and presentation. Hence, there is a theology of the church as well as the Bible, though not in addition or opposition to it. It is this theology that we must accept in the effort to understand the “theology of leadership” or as the term is sometimes used, “pastoral theology.”

The author has chosen to use the subtitle, “In the Eye of the Storm” for this text on Christian leadership. It is known that within the church there are many storms raging. The storms facing leadership occur at all times. The minister who accepts the call of God must be thoroughly trained in the theology of his or her particular calling in order to be able to weather the storms of live that are constantly battering against the efforts of the Christian Church. The eye of the storm is that central core around which the storm rages. In the core (the eye) of the storm there is peace and tranquility. The minister, whatever his/her calling, can find this place of peace in the eye of the storm as he/she seeks to become thoroughly aware of his/her calling and embraces the responsibilities of that calling according to the will of God.

 LEADERSHIP, GROWTH AND ACTIVATION 

One key principle I have learned since the first edition of this book is the importance of activation.  Many leaders have stagnated in their ministries; many have quit altogether.  One continuous word heard is how difficult it is to lead with the resistant people and difficult circumstances I am in.  Well, truly every field is tough, and spiritual leadership is a difficult task.  However, it is God’s intention to see our ministries successful and our lives fulfilled.  I hope the principles provided here will help strengthen the leader in his/her journey.  Further, I have become convinced that a primary cause of leadership stagnation is a lack of healthy activation.  In Ezekiel 34:16, God’s word states the message presented here in beautiful summation are the key elements of ministry leaders must re-focus on.  First, we must seek the lost…the great commission motivated by the Great Commandment must be our first passion.  Following a close second is to bring back the hundreds and thousands of formerly churched into the fold.  We are missing a huge resource for expanding God’s Kingdom through the many disgruntled and disenfranchised Christians needing a leader to care.  Third, we must re-double our efforts in helping the broken, and strengthening the sick in our ministries. 

________________________________________________________________________________

How accurately do you estimate your ability as a leader? Do you think too highly of yourself, not highly enough, or about right?

Recently I came across the concept of “illusory superiority.” Illusory superiority is “a cognitive bias that causes people to overestimate their positive qualities and abilities and to underestimate their negative qualities, relative to others… [It is also called] the ‘Lake Wobegon effect’ (named after Garrison Keillor’s fictional town where ‘all the children are above average’).”

According to the research, 80% of drivers will rate themselves as above average. Other research demonstrates the same lopsidedness in people’s estimation of their own teaching ability, IQ, test scores, memory, job performance, relational capacity, punctuality, sensitivity, consistency, popularity, health, and more. Frighteningly, only 18% of drivers believe they are below average drivers while using a phone for texting or email.

Of course, the simple statistical fact is that only 50% of people are above average in anything! Ironically, people also tend to consider themselves less “susceptible to bias” than other people. We’re not only out of touch with reality – we also pat ourselves on the back for how “in touch” we are!

This shouldn’t surprise us since the Scriptures teach that we are inherently prone to both self-deception and pride.

The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? “I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.” (Jer. 17:9-10)

The prophets prophesy lies, the priests rule by their own authority, and my people love it this way. But what will you do in the end? (Jer. 5:31)

…There is no fear of God before their eyes. In their own eyes they flatter themselves too much to detect or hate their sin. The words of their mouths are wicked and deceitful; they fail to act wisely or do good. Even on their beds they plot evil; they commit themselves to a sinful course and do not reject what is wrong. (Ps. 36:1-4)

Not everyone who says to Me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of My Father Who is in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name and in Your name drive out demons and in Your name perform many miracles?” Then I will tell them plainly, “I never knew you. Away from Me, you evildoers” (Matt. 7:21-23)

You say, “I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.” But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. (Rev. 3:17)

In Christ, we are made new in His image but this is a daily growth toward maturity – it does not happen instantly.

So it’s no wonder that many Christian leaders believe that various mistakes and failures only happen to average or below average leaders and that they themselves are immune to the types of problems that have plagued leaders for centuries. It comes naturally for us to assume that spiritual burnout, doctrinal error, relational failure, crippling or even fatal stress-induced physical collapse, moral compromise, etc. only happen to “other, weaker” leaders.

The simple fact is: you’re probably not better than most other leaders!

The first task of the leader is to face reality – including reality about himself. Now, again, how accurately do you estimate your ability as a leader?

Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers. (1 Tim. 4:16)