I need to confess up front that I took this from an article by Erik Rees entitled Seven Principles of Transformational Leadership.  Sometimes there is no need to re-invent the wheel.  I agree with Erik that there are seven things that a leader must do to be effective in today’s church.  I believe these seven principles can also be applied to your home and workplace.  Here they are:

1. Simply–clearly state the mission; answer the question, “where are we headed?”

2. Motivate–gain agreement and commitment to move in the stated direction.

3. Facilitate–equip the team with resources

4. Innnovate–initiate prayerful change when needed.

5. Mobilize–enlist and equip others to fulfill the vision.

6. Prepare–make a commitment to keep learning.

7. Be determined–finish the race.

Former Sr. Pastor Mike Higgins

As the O’Jays said in the song, “For the Love of Money”–Don’t let money fool you or rule you.  Money is a tool that God has given us the ability to acquire so that we can first of all give back to him a portion in a show of appreciation (usually through a church tithe and offering), give to charitable causes, pay bills, save for the future, and buy things we can afford.  Many people worship their money and get nervous when things happen that threaten their wealth.  It doesn’t make any difference how much money you have, you can still be consumed with fear when your money isn’t “right.”  Most divorces are the result of money woes so watch your tongue and your emotions when you are having money trouble.   I Timothy 6:9-10 explains why we must understand the temptations we can fall into as we pursue money as our love and god.  Listen to the words of Paul:

The Corinthian Church had a huge problem.  The church was divided on many things and was full of cliques, separation and dissensions among its members.  The spirit of the city of Corinth had crept into the church.  The church was doing business as “mere” men; they were acting as if they were had never encountered the Spirit of Christ.  It was if they were not Christians at all.  The only thing many of the Corinthians cared about was money and production; sound familiar?

The spirit of the city was reducing the Corinthian Church into groups of exclusive clubs and factions; they were even experiencing unity problems at the communion table.  They had forgotten their calling and purpose–to be used of the Spirit of God to bring transformation to the city of Corinth.

What about us here at Redemption Fellowship?  Is the spirit of Atlanta creeping into our church?  Are we giving in to “mere,” “sinful”  manhood and womanhood and excluding those from our circle who we think are less important and productive than we are?  May the Spirit of God cause us to bring transformation to our community.  We cannot allow ourselves to be controlled by the spirit of Atlanta…or Saint Louis, or Indianapolis, or Dallas, or New York…I think you get it.

Former Sr. Pastor Mike Higgins

What is the purpose of prayer?  Why is it necessary for us to come together and pray as a church?  Why do I have to stop what I am doing and be “still” before the Lord in a church sanctuary?  Can’t I just pray at home?  I believe that part of the answer lies in the fact that the scriptures give us examples of the church coming together to pray for God’s intervention concerning enemies, illnesses, slavery, social justice and revival.  Additionally, for Redemption Fellowship, I believe the answer lies in the fact that prayer is about transformation; it is a “transformation conversation.”  When we as a church come together to have a conversation with our Lord, we as the Redemption Family, are all hearing from heaven together.  Corporate prayer helps us “be transformed” together to His image.  When I hear you pray, I hear your heart being poured out to your Father; my Father; our Father.  Prayer promotes the fact that we are all family.  Of course you can pray by yourself and you should, but amazing things can happen when we come together and cry out to God together as church family.  We are one in the spirit, one in the Lord.  Let’s pray as one voice for the Holy Spirit to transform our church, our nation, our world, and our hearts.

Former Sr. Pastor Mike Higgins

NOTE: Beginning now, First Friday Night Prayer will be called a “Transformation Conversation with the Father.”