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Pastor or Politician

In America one does not have to listen very long in conversations to hear the phrase “politically correct.” Sadly, pastors who pursue political correctness often render themselves powerless in their calling to be difference makers.

In the world of ministry, Pastors are the center of attention. All eyes are on the Pastor and every ear is straining to hear what the Pastor is saying. The words Pastors speak carry life-changing power because pastors are called to be the mouthpiece of God.

This huge responsibility is something every Pastor needs to take seriously! The questions each must ask are:

Do I preach God’s message, or

Do I preach what I believe will make people in “my” church happy?

Do I teach God’s Word, or

Do I teach non-challenging politically correct words of compromise?

During the past five years of this ministry I cannot tell you how many Christians have confided that they wished their Pastor would preach more of God’s Word!

Don’t be shocked.

Our church families are seeing Christianity attacked on every front. Spiritually, America appears to be crumbling before the eyes of the world and our children are the innocent victims.

The “church” as a whole or in part, would seem to any onlooker that we have —

  • invited sexual immorality into our homes (TV, Internet and movies)
  • allowed other religions to infiltrate our schools and colleges without a fight
  • invited sinful compromise into our fellowships in the name of tolerance and acceptance
  • permitted our government (at all levels) to modify laws and regulations which hinder our freedom and ability to minister and share the gospel!

Pastors, it is our responsibility as the Ambassadors and Messengers of God to tell our congregations and family what God says is sin. “Sin” is not a word whose definition you can assume people, and especially young people, fully understand or agree with. When they see people in our churches openly defying God’s word, the word “sin” carries no weight or consequence.

The big issue is that most do not know God’s Word because they are not hearing it, nor seeing it lived in their homes. The “Church” should have open arms to ALL people in order to bring all to the saving grace of Jesus.

The “Church” should be:

  • A living body that is constantly growing
  • Helping people rid themselves of sinful ways (must be taught)
  • Alert to the attacks of the enemy and be acting upon those
  • Learning and teaching people how to be like Jesus
  • Embracing the Holy Spirit as our Helper, Teacher, and Power
  • Proactive as God’s army to make disciples on the earth

As Pastors we need to be aware of what the enemy is doing. The Bible says “satan” is roaming around like a hungry lion seeking whom he can devour. As a man of God, are you aware of what the enemy is doing in your community and city? Do you understand that this enemy is trying to keep you silent and alone! It is our job to protect the sheep and lead with all diligence. You are not alone! (I pray for you to be bold!)

Let us go just a little deeper.

  • Do you believe that as Pastors we need to keep quiet and ignore Islamic teachings that threaten our religious freedoms?
  • Do you really know what their writings say and instruct about Christians?
  • Should we keep silent about homosexuality and its obvious political agenda in America to destroy the traditional perceptions of home and marriage?
  • Should we say nothing of the fornication and adultery running rampant in many church families?
  • Should we seemingly approve by silence the pornography plague that has gripped men and women alike by the tens of thousands?

Politicians are all about getting votes. They will say anything to anybody to get their approval. They will do almost anything, if they believe you will donate to their cause! With politicians money is king. (Note: There are a very few good politicians the previous statements were made to me by one of them who loves the Lord Jesus.)

What would people say about you as a Pastor? Are you more about giving or more about getting? Are you —

  • Pastor or Politician?
  • Leader or People Pleaser?
  • Army General or Civilian?
  • Visionary or Status Quo?

The souls of America and your church family are at stake!

Pastor, I pray that you will take this post seriously. The enemy “satan” is working overtime to divide the Body of Christ and to keep us from sounding the alarm. He is distracting us from telling people they are lost and headed for Hell without Jesus!

Jesus is still the only way to Heaven!  He is still Lord!

I pray that you will become aware of what is happening in your city, community and country. Listen to the opposition and to a variety of Christian leaders on the radio and television. Listen, watch and study across denominational, racial and cultural lines. Become acquainted with fellow Pastors in your neighborhood. Take a couple of Pastors in your city to breakfast and become friends and allies in order to impact your local culture for Christ.

We need to be All-Proactive Pastors who rightly divide the Word of Truth.

We love you and are praying for you. May God shower His grace and blessings upon you and may you faithfully carry HIS Word in your mouth!

Amen

 

 

 

 

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Table Guidelines

Dear Pastor,

Did you know God called you to be His Champion! That’s right. In fact, you are one of His most important Champions on planet earth! 

When God called you to be a pastor/shepherd, you were hand-picked to watch over, teach, nourish, lead, provide for, care for, and protect from every danger His most prized Sheep, that is the People you serve!


Yes, being a pastor is the most important responsibility anyone can have bar none! God has given you the awesome responsibility to care for and manage a very special designated group of His children. You are His Champion, and you are their Champion too!

Being a Champion can sometimes be very difficult. It has many challenges, and the family of the Champion is many times at great risk because the enemies you must face often attack you by attacking your family! As their Champion you must always be on guard and keep yourself prepared for these attacks. As a pastor you are aware of these challenges and leaving yourself unchecked invites disaster.

Pastor, you also know that sheep can bite! This can hurt both you, your spouse and your children! Leading a church is very much like tending sheep. It has great joy but often has great heartache and pain. As the Champion, we often find ourselves on an island, surrounded by  people and yet all alone. Who can I talk to and who can I totally and fully TRUST? No one, until now!

Today, there is the “Champions Table”. Literally, a table of pastors just like you. Pastors who have decided to meet each week for about an hour to discuss their week and much, much more! This is a Table of 3-4 pastors who have committed under covenant agreement to care for one another in love.

This page explains how you can start a Champions Table. There are also a few comments from pastors who have enjoyed being in a Table for over a decade. Pastor, you do not have to stand alone! Start a Table and see for yourself!

Click here if you would like to see the entire Champions Handbook.

…a three stranded cord is not easily broken.  Ecclesiastes 4:12

Find 3 other Pastors (men with men) who you will agree to meet with every week. These may be Pastors who you are not acquainted with and need to seek out or they may be acquaintances.

If there is a church near your church, consider going over to meet the other pastor if you have not. Take time to visit and get acquainted and then invite him to start or join you in your Champions Table. Pray with him! Repeat this until you have 4 in your Table. No more than 4 – FOUR total is best, the “Jesus Model”, but you may have to start with less.

The first time you meet can be a time of introduction.  Share about your family:

  • What are things you enjoy doing with your wife/children?
  • What are activities you enjoy?
  • Where have you lived?
  • When and where did you commit your life to Jesus?
  • Tell your story: what makes you laugh, cry, angry, shout, sing etc.?   

Just get acquainted with one another. Find something to laugh about! What is your biggest challenge? Share about YOU! Listen intently to each other!

Establish a place and time to meet (weekly) that works for all. It is ok to meet at a church, unless somewhere else is best, and safer for you. Meeting every week may seem like a lot but we have found that it will bring about trust much faster and the needs that arise can be dealt with much more effectively.

Be committed and make attendance a priority! Commit to a minimum of seven (7) weeks to give your Table a chance. You should use first names and avoid titles (i.e. Dr., Bishop, Pastor, etc.). Make it personal! Get acquainted, listen and talk.

View and/or download the How To Booklet


Booklet


The Table Covenant


Covenant Details

Covenant Form

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Champion Maker Questions

Champion Maker Questions

Have I spent enough time in personal prayer this week? (What would God say?)

Have I spent enough personal time in God’s word?

Did my faith waiver any this week and if so how did I struggle; fear, doubt, temptation,     judgement, etc. ?

Have I had any flirtatious or lustful attitudes, tempting thoughts, wandering eyes or exposed myself to any explicit materials (TV, Internet, Mag. Etc) which would not glorify God?

Did anyone tempt me (wandering eyes) or approach me in an inappropriate manner?  What did I do?

Have I been completely above reproach in my financial dealings? Have I been honest with my wife about my spending?

Have I treated my body as God’s Temple? In my(Eating, Morality, Exercise, Purity/Holiness)

Have I prayed with my wife every day in a personal way? (not blessing a meal)

Have I treated my wife as “Jesus loves the Church”? (How much time, listening, helping, appreciating and encouraging her?)

Have I worked to make our home a safe place for our family to spend time alone together?

Have I been a great husband and father this week? What would my wife say?

Have I been a Man of God in ALL my dealings this week? What would God say?

( Have I lied in any of my answers?)

What am I going to do about it this week?

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What is a Table of Champions

The ‘Table of Champions’ is a group that we consider to be “elite” pastors, kind of like the Special Forces! This does not mean they are better than anyone else, it means they embrace accountability, faithfully  pray for fellow pastors, accept the Bible as God’s undisputed infallible word, accept marriage as between a man and a woman, that God created every person unique and either male or female without mistake, and actively seek unity within the Body of Christ by developing relationships with fellow pastors! This group encourages each pastor to start or join a “Champions Table” which is 4 Pastors who meet each week for prayer, accountability and encouragement, either in person or virtually! They hold each other up to a higher standard of achievement for the kingdom of God.
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A Champions Table is a group of four local pastors(leaders) who meet together on a weekly basis for one to two hours to challenge each other, to encourage, to pray for one another and to help attain individual goals. To have a friend you must learn to be a friend. Champion Tables allow pastors to develop trusted friendships that are genuine.

As a pastor I have found it very difficult to trust anyone. I have many friends/acquaintances in my church and denomination, but these are people I would never expose my hurts or weaknesses to. There are times that I have questions and frankly I am embarrassed to ask anyone because of what they might think. Other times I get so frustrated I just want to quit, knowing I can’t it just stays inside of me like a sore that keeps festering.

Does this sound familiar? You may have other issues that only you know about. The Champion Table may be the place that over time you build deep rooted trust. The kind of trust that you can say anything and know your words and feelings are strictly confidential and secure . How refreshing to find a place where I can take my “Pastor Title” off and just be a man.

Jesus RejectedIt is every Christian’s desire to be like Jesus! Do you know there is one vital example that Jesus gave us that most men do not follow. We call it “The Jesus Model”!  This model can also be seen when studying the lives of Moses and Daniel.

If we are to be like Jesus, to imitate his life, then we must follow his example when it comes to developing deep trusted personal relationships with other men. In the Book of Mark three times it is recorded that Jesus took Peter, James and John aside, leaving the other disciples out. When Jairus’ daughter is raised from the dead, when he took them to the transfiguration, and in the garden of Gethsemene when he was troubled and distressed before his crucifixion he called them to join him. Sometimes people refer to this group as Jesus’ inner circle. It would be fair to say that Jesus might very well have taken them aside many times that are not recorded in the Bible. These four men spent a lot of personal time together. Jesus knew what was about to happen when he went to pray that night in the garden. His human body was about to be broken beaten and utterly mutilated and he wanted his “buddies” his closest trusted friends with him in those final hours. It was these three, Peter, James, and John who he poured more of himself into than any others. He trusted them and he felt safe with them!

 

Moses also had a strong group of 3 men who he leaned on, Joshua, Hur and Aaron. Aaron and Hur held Moses arms up during the battle with the Amalekites while Joshua led the physical fight. Sometimes we need a couple of brothers to hold our arms up and to fight for us.

Daniel had Shadrack, Meshack and Abednigo as his inner circle or trusted accountability and encouragement brothers.

Having men to encourage us and hold us accountable is something every man needs. Jesus allowed himself to be accountable as a man with Peter, James and John. His willingness to take them into his sacred trust is a further demonstration of how important that it is for us to learn to trust! Jesus was well aware as “the Son of God” what was taking place at all times. Jesus was all man and all God and he wanted his friends with him when it counted. He personally set the standard that this is what I need and you need too!

peter simwa and friendsFor Pastors it is a very powerful message for our spouse, church family and leaders when they know we have accountability and a place to unload our burdens when distress and trouble hits us. As a Pastor we are also human, we have the needs of the flesh along with the battles of the flesh. Making the decision to follow Jesus’ example will give genuine relief and freedom.

Finding three men (Pastors) to link arms with will extend your life, improve your marriage, and strengthen your ministry. We call this group of four the Champion’s Table!

Testimonials

“I wanted to drop you a line to express my joy in our All Pro Pastors Champion Table. We have been meeting since May, 2007 now, and the intimacy level is really growing. We have seen barriers come down, and transparency taking place. Our four pastors have learned to lean on and count on one another. Hardly a week goes by that I don’t receive an email or phone call, giving or asking for encouragement. Every pastor needs a Table like ours.”

Fred Harrold, New life Community Church USA

 

“All Pro Pastors has helped me as a man, a husband and a Pastor. The impact of Champion Tables in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania is changing the Kingdom of God for all of Africa. My life will never be the same!”

Ambassador Peter Simwa, Higher Vision Center, Eldoret, Kenya

 

“Our All Pro Pastors Champion Table meets every Tuesday morning. I was at a point where I had decided not to add anything else to my weekly calendar. After a couple of weeks I discovered that the “Champion Table” was not your normal “meeting type” atmosphere as some would think.  It offered open discussion with like-minded people who share the same type of accomplishments, challenges, and needs.  We share the importance of honoring God as the husbands, fathers, and leaders in our homes.  I now look forward to Tuesday mornings as a priority.”

Kevin M. Wynne, FBC Durant USA

Champions Table Foundational Scriptures

Encouragement and Growth

Proverbs 27:17

17 Iron sharpens iron,So one man sharpens another. NASB

Friendly Counsel

Proverbs 27:9

9 Oil and perfume make the heart glad,So a [a]man’s counsel is sweet to his friend. NASB

Several Counselors

Proverbs 15:22

22 Without counsel, plans go awry,But in the multitude of counselors they are established. NKJV

Four Went Together

Matthew 17:1

17 Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; NKJV

Four Worked Together

Exodus 17:12-13

12 But Moses’ hands became heavy; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. And Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. 13 So Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. NKJV

Friends Lift Each other Up and Stand Strong

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

9 Two are better than one,Because they have a good reward for their labor.
10 For if they fall, one will lift up his companion.But woe to him who is alone when he falls,
For he has no one to help him up.
11 Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone?
12 Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him.
And a threefold cord is not quickly broken. NKJV

Friends Share the Load

Galatians 6:1-3

Live creatively, friends. If someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments for yourself. You might be needing forgiveness before the day’s out. Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens, and so complete Christ’s law. If you think you are too good for that, you are badly deceived. MSG

A True Friend You Can Trust!

Proverbs 18:24

24 Friends come and friends go,but a true friend sticks by you like family. MSG

A Friend Walks with us through our Challenges!

Proverbs 17:17

17 A friend loves at all times,And a brother is born for adversity. NKJV

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