ECCU Blog

Has it ever occurred to you that we need to be patient about learning patience? In terms of challenges and disappointments, no other season of my life has been as difficult as the past couple of years. But God, in his goodness, is faithful to strengthen our faith and deepen our knowledge of Him even in times of trial—especially in times of trial.

So, it is in this season of difficulty that I am—by God’s grace—growing more patient. Leader to leader, I’d like to share with you what I’m learning.

Deep patience comes only through trials. James 1:2-4 tells us to, “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance (perseverance). And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

Through our trials we are sanctified, becoming more like Christ. There is joy in that! God uses life’s challenges to refine us, producing patience as we wait upon the Lord.

Deep patience sees God’s perfect timing in all things. Do you believe the Lord works all things for His purposes, and in His perfect time?  

Ecclesiastes 3 talks about how there is a season and time for everything:

• A time to seek: There are times when we eagerly build and gather (like building, growing, and expanding our ministry).
• A time to lose: In our earthly experience, nothing lasts forever. There is a time when God makes it clear that He has taught us all He intends in good times. Now a few years of famine and testing will be required.
• A time to keep: There are times when we need to hang on, to get everything we can out of a situation; to make the best of it. Times to do all we can to work through challenges. 
• A time to cast away: Then there are times when we just need to let go, to quit trying to hang on to every dime. This is the time to cut losses and move on, trusting God to restore, provide, and renew.

A time of difficulty is a time for patience. For waiting upon the Lord. Yes, we need to be busy in our labors, diligent in our efforts, and innovative in seeking godly, wise solutions. Yet our peace comes from patiently waiting and trusting in God’s perfect timing.

Deep patience sees God’s hand in everything. Nothing is outside of God’s power and control. Not even evil. Psalm 37:7 says, “Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.”

Even if we are shocked by behavior, or wrongs done against us, we can be confident that God has not forsaken us. He is greater and higher than any earthly power.

God will make all things beautiful in his perfect time. I’ve been ready for this season of difficulty to be over for a long time now. But God reminds me, “Be patient. In due time, you will see my timing is perfect.” I believe God brings us through the trials in His time, not ours. But He does bring us through. Psalm 40 tells us, “I waited patiently for the LORD; And He inclined to me and heard my cry. He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay, And He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; many will see and fear and will trust in the LORD.”

Are you learning to be patient about learning patience? What is God teaching you?

I’d like to add to Mark Jones’ last post on the importance of transparency in your ministry. If you dig a little deeper into the practicalities of transparency, you find an important discipline: Accountability. And accountability is what U.S. Senate Finance Committee member Charles Grassley is after.

After peering into the finances of some of the nation’s largest media-driven ministries, Senator Grassley has requested that a commission be formed to tackle the issues of concern. The cool part? Senator Grassley requested the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) to spearhead this effort. 

The senator could have asked for a number of organizations to form a commission and make recommendations to him. That he asked ECFA to take the lead is a tribute to ECFA’s long standing reputation as an organization representing the highest levels of integrity and accountability among evangelical ministries members. ECFA has also set the standard for financial accountability even for non-ECFA members and other religious groups. 

In a January 5, 2011, letter to ECFA, Grassley asked ECFA for “input on how to address these issues and to help facilitate discussion on whether these issues can be addressed without legislation.” He said, “ECFA has a proven track record of accountability with its member organizations and is uniquely situated to work with representatives from the religious and broader nonprofit community.”

ECFA accepted the challenge and created the Commission on Accountability and Policy for Religious Organizations (ECFA.org/commission)  The commission will address some of the most challenging tax and policy issues involving religious organizations—issues that could potentially affect every house of worship and every member of the clergy in America. They include:

• Whether churches should file the same highly-detailed annual information return that other nonprofits must file (Form 990)
• Whether legislation is needed to curb reported abuses of the clergy housing allowance exclusion
• Whether the current prohibition against political campaign intervention by churches and other nonprofits should be repealed or modified

I’m privileged to be one of several ECFA-appointed commission members and am grateful for the opportunity. Personal and professional accountability and integrity are essential in ministry. I hope and expect that the work of the commission will raise the accountability bar for all religious organizations and further demonstrate why Congress and government agencies do not need to seek additional legislation or regulation that could hinder the freedoms we now enjoy. 

Are you an ECFA member? Post a comment and tell our readers how this relationship has bolstered your ministry’s accountability and integrity.

Most families have traditions. Some of our fondest memories are of the special things we enjoy as families at Christmas time—apple pie, looking at lights, a candlelit Christmas Eve service.

The Holbrook family has lots of traditions around Christmas, including Christmas stockings for all 14 grandkids strung up the stairs at Grandma and Grandpa’s house. Perhaps our most meaningful tradition—for the past decade—is a special gift Cindy and I give to our kids and their families. We choose a Scripture passage that Cindy prints out on nice paper and present to each family on Christmas morning. Our copy hangs on the wall in our family room amidst all our family photos. It’s the first thing I tend to notice when I enter the room, and it’s our prayer for our family for the entire year.  

Of course the most meaningful tradition at Christmas isn’t a tradition at all, or at least we hope it’s not just that. It’s the worshipful celebration of the birth of the Lord Jesus. For some, the advent tradition has taken on special meaning as a powerful way to remember Christ’s birth—the Incarnation—during the two weeks leading up to Christmas day. God calls us to remember, and to use symbols that help us remember His faithfulness and grace. 

Traditions are good things. They bind us together in special ways. They help us remember. The tradition of giving gifts at Christmas does all this, and it also reminds us of God’s good gifts to us—especially the greatest gift of all…

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son….

The question is unavoidable this time of year: “What are you thankful for?” While it may seem routine at times, something wonderful happens when we really stop to think about it. We become thankful.

While this year has been marked with challenges, I am overwhelmed with gratitude when I reflect on the blessings in my work and ministry. Here are just a few that come to mind:

• I have the privilege of working with people who live out their faith in the workplace. I see this often in the way they care for one another. They are thoughtful, paying attention to each other’s needs. When one is walking through difficulties, the others rally around with cards of encouragement, meals, and prayer. This is truly a beautiful thing to see in the workplace.
• I am honored to work with so many ministries that are making a huge impact for the kingdom. They are a joy to work with, even when we can’t give them everything they want. As much as we want to say “yes” to every request, there are times we are unable—and yet ministries respond graciously. When they could choose to be angry or difficult, instead they give a blessing.
• And I am thankful for a board of directors who volunteer amazing amounts of time, hundreds of hours a year, without pay. They carry a big responsibility and burden, and they do it because they care about the ministry of ECCU. I am deeply thankful.

What blessings do you see in your ministry? What are you thankful for?

I want to touch on a subject that we don’t hear much about: kindness. For the believer, kindness is rooted in our response to how much God loves us, and the sacrifice He made on our behalf.  He lavished the riches of His grace on us.  From that abundance we love others and in large measure express that love through acts of kindness.

Kindness is not just saying kind words but doing them, living them. The Lord Jesus was a perfect example of kindness. He went around helping all manner of people. They lined up for hours, maybe days to hear his words and receive healing. But the Word says that Jesus helped people regardless of whether they deserved it. He ambushed them with kindness. For many, it was the last thing they expected. Remember the woman at the well? Instead of judging, the Lord was kind to her.

There are a lot of examples in Scripture. Remember when Paul and the other criminals were on that ship to Rome and they got shipwrecked in the last part of Acts? They swam ashore from this sunken ship to the isle of Malta. It says in Acts 28, “When they had been brought safely through, then we found that the island was called Malta. And the natives showed us extraordinary kindness; for because of the rain that had set in and the cold they kindled a fire and received us all.”

We also find a wonderful story in 2 Samuel 9 about King David showing unexpected—and life-changing—kindness to a young disabled man by the name of Mephibosheth. This story is in the context of the Lord Himself showing extraordinary kindness to David.  Psalm 18:50 says, “He gives great deliverance to His King, and shows loving kindness to His anointed, to David and his descendants forever.” Kindness ultimately is an expression of the very character of God. David recognizes that he is the chief recipient of God’s loving kindness and, in turn, shows kindness to another.

Then there’s this wonderful reference in Acts 9 about a young woman in Joppa named Tabitha. “This woman was abounding with deeds of kindness and charity, which she continually did.” Can you imagine being referenced in the Bible and the only thing it mentions is that you’re kind, doing acts of charity and love? Not bad.

God calls us to be kind and gentle people. For me, it doesn’t come very quickly or easily. But by God’s grace all of us can be kind in ways that glorify Him in very practical, tangible ways. Colossians 3:12 says, “So as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”

What does kindness look like in your ministry? I know of one church—Cornerstone Community Church in Simi Valley, CA—whose vision includes a significant financial commitment to meet the needs of impoverished children worldwide.

How are you, as a ministry leader, perpetuating kindness in your ministry? How would embracing kindness influence your mission and vision and the funding to pursue them?

I look forward to your comments.