September 2004

Free Online Training Designed Especially for Church Volunteers

Something crazy and God-like happened to me on Sunday, September 12, 2004, during my ministry to the community of Chrisman, IL (population 1,200). The churches in that town rallied together for a combined church service in the city square in the morning--and later at an evening youth service. God showed up.... and he was looking for me.

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The scene: After the morning community service. I've finished speaking, and I am simply connecting with the people of Chrisman in the city square:

"Ninety-eight years old tomorrow?" I asked incredulously.

"That's right, I'll be ninety-eight years old tomorrow," said the man in a voice that could barely be heard. He looked much stronger than his voice sounded.

"What did you do for work?" I asked.

"I was in the ministry for seventy-two years. That's why you can barely hear me. Over the years, I preached so much that I preached my voice out."

I don't know exactly what happened in my heart at that moment other than to say that it was like an electrical shock ran through my body. God got my attention. Here was the man that I hope to be some day--a man who faithfully preached God's Word until his voice finally gave out.

I asked curiously, "Were you married?"

He said, "I was married to the best minister's wife in the world. We were married and did ministry together for seventy years." He looked away from me for a moment and continued, "She has been in Heaven now for the last four years." He looked to his right and left and said, "Two of my sons are with me today."

It began to dawn on me that I was in the presence of a man I want to be like with all my heart. I was not about to lose this opportunity. So I went into sponge/learner mode as fast as I could--determined not to lose one bit of this opportunity to sit at the feet of this experienced godly man. "What advice would you give to a young preacher like me?" I asked sincerely.

Without a second of hesitation, he said, "Preach the Word! That is exactly what I tried to do my whole life. So I say preach the Word!" I've read this exhortation in Scripture many many times. Even at my official commissioning and licensing for the ministry, the same words were said. And they were meaningful to me then. But somehow, coming from this gentle senior saint, it felt like it was coming from Moses himself!

Thinking back to a conversation I had with a very discouraged ministry friend last week, and knowing that the number one reason many leave vocational ministry is because of discouragement, I asked, "Were you ever deeply discouraged during your seventy-two years of ministry?"

"Yes, I was discouraged from time to time. But it was God's Word that kept me going. I knew God wanted me to preach his Word since I was fourteen. I preached my first sermon when I was seventeen. Throughout my life, God's Word has sustained me--even during the discouraging times."

Again, I've heard this, knew this, and even said similar things. But somehow, because of his years of experience with walking with God, his authentic words drilled deep into my heart.

Other people from the community began to approach our small circle and engage me in conversation. I watched out of the corner of my eye as this man and his two sons slowly walked away. My heart began to race. I was filled with urgency. I MUST ASK THIS MAN TO PRAY FOR ME! The man and his sons were about twenty-five yards away from me when I suddenly ran to them. I did not mean to be rude to the people who had gathered around me, but I HAD to do this. When I caught up with them, I said from behind them, "Sir, will you please put your hands on me and pray for me?" I could not believe those words came out of my mouth. But I felt COMPELLED to have this man pray for me.

He turned around to look me right in the eyes. His eyes widened and he immediately placed his hands on my shoulders and, in that sweet, raspy, and worn out voice prayed the most beautiful quiet prayer of blessing I have ever heard. He prayed that I would flourish in my relationship with God, my wife, and my kids. He prayed I would be faithful to preach the Word. He prayed God would bless me and my ministry beyond all I could ever ask or think--for God's glory. As he prayed I quietly began to weep. I was thinking two things: 1) This must be what it was like to receive the blessing of a patriarch in the Old Testament, and 2) Am I nuts? Am I starting to unravel emotionally here? The answer to this last question--yes. But as crazy as this whole deal was--I KNEW God was in it--and I am glad I listened to the Spirit's voice and promptings.

When he pronounced the "amen," his two sons and I looked up--and I could see one was weeping like I was--and the other was also glassy-eyed. I made eye contact with the man of God and as I went to say "thank you" I could not get the words out because a flood of new tears came. I finally regained my composure, shook the man's hand in gratitude, and watched them walk away.

Frankly, God did something so deep in my heart in this brief encounter with this senior saint that I am still processing it. But it was deep and it was God--and I will never forget it. In some strange God-way, I feel like I received a blessing from Moses himself.

As is often the case, I went to minister, but ended up getting ministered to.

Bill with "Moses" (a.k.a., the Reverend George H. D. Reader). This picture was taken before he prayed for me.

RESPONSE: If God used this true story to speak to your heart in some way to encourage you or to remind you of an important ministry lesson, please take a quick moment right now to share it with us at   info@cadreministries.com

Way Cool Celebration Ideas for Clergy Appreciation Month This October


Honor Your Pastor! OCTOBER IS CLERGY APPRECIATION MONTH! What is Clergy Appreciation Month? Clergy Appreciation Month is a special time that congregations set aside each year to honor their pastors and pastoral families... To continue, click the link below:

http://www.family.org/pastor/cam

Last Call for the Cadre Training Festival!
Cadre's Fall Training Festival

To listen to a one minute promo:
 http://www.cadreinternational.com/training/festival.mp3

WHERE: Peoria, IL
WHEN: Saturday, September 25th, 8:30 AM-12:45 PM.
One day. Three great training workshops. You choose.

Choose one of three GREAT Workshops:

Becoming a High Impact Teacher
 http://www.cadreinternational.com/training/bahit.php

Ministry Is Relationships
 http://www.cadreinternational.com/training/relationships.php

Batteries Included (for volunteer junior high leaders)

Register now--space is limited.

  VIEW DETAILS  
  REGISTER ONLINE

Five Great Training Sessions You Can Use to Train the Teachers and Small Group Leaders in Your Church!


1. The critical importance of preparation.
2. How to engage people in real learning—rather than just lecturing them.
3. How to teach with authority and authenticity—like Jesus.
4. How to lay down a clear, biblical, and life-changing challenge.
5. How to teach the heart—not just the mind—for Bible-based life transformation.
Interested? Then you need to check out The Teaching Genius of Jesus: How You Can Become a PEACH of a Teacher. Each chapter comes with application pages that can be used for personal and small group training. The Teaching Genius of Jesus is an ideal training tool for monthly or quarterly training sessions for teachers and small group leaders.

For more info or to order online, click here
 http://www.cadreministries.com/store/books.html#genius

To order via regular mail, click here for printable order form
 http://www.cadreministries.com/store/mail.html

A Call for You to Brag on an AWESOME Volunteer in Your Church!

Use the electronic megaphone of Cadre Connection to brag on an AWESOME volunteer in your church. Send a picture and short paragraph or two explaining specifically why this volunteer is AWESOME and we’d LOVE to champion him or her in the next edition of Cadre Connection! Send picture and explanation to info@cadreministries.com

Awesome Cadre Volunteer DeWayne Householter (right) from Peoria, IL at 6 AM on a Saturday, September 11, 2004. Getting ready to take Cadre's Time Management for Painfully Pooped-Out People to Geneseo, IL with Bill Allison (left). THANKS DeWayne!

Your Strange But True Allison Family Stories Are Here:

 http://homepage.mac.com/billc323/Personal12.html

(What an incredibly cute baby tigger....)

Cadre is a not-for-profit ministry [501(c)(3)] that exists to make you wildly successful at becoming what God has called you to become as you serve others in your local church and community. We serve as support-based, God-dependent missionaries to come alongside volunteers and those who care for volunteers in the church (globally) to help accomplish their God-given mission. Eph. 4:10-17

We provide free monthly online training for volunteers in the church (Cadre Connection), for volunteer Jr. High Youthworkers (Batteries Included), and for Student Leaders (Spiritual Caffeine). Visit www.cadreministries.com to preview our recent free training or to sign up to receive training in your email-box monthly.

For more information about bringing a certified Cadre trainer to coach and train the volunteer teachers, leaders, and youth workers in your church, contact info@cadreministries.com

For Cadre training sources visit http://www.cadreministries.com/store

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