FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Welcome
To: New Student
07/13/00 -- George Gallup, based on one of his polls, claims that 61 million American adults would like to go to work to improve their communities if they knew what to do and how. he estimates that the time these citizens could contribute as volunteers would amount to 245 million hours a week. But to begin to use such resources requires trained competent teams of volunteers and paraprofessional leaders, link them to significant activities, and support their efforts. It is hard to imagine a more exciting volunteer job than that of being a prospector for undiscovered and underused human resources for our Lord, Jesus Christ.
Former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development George Romney has said: "In every community and every state across the country we need a program for voluntary action by the people, not just government action for the people - many problems can be tackled right at home... Nothing can melt such human and Christian
problems faster than the willingness of one individual to involve themselves voluntarily in helping another individual overcome his problems through Christianity.
In the religious community there have always been a variety of opportunities for
volunteers, who have worked as religious education teachers, board and committee members, and many more positions. Many new volunteers have been recruited.
Now that we understand the potential for volunteers, let us take a brief look at how we train the leaders. Here's how big and important it is.
Jesus promises in John 12:32 that when H is lifted up all mankind will be drawn to Him. The Christian Church is lifting up Jesus and drawing people from all walks of life to Him. It is impossible to
conceive that the Christian Church could reach an expanding world without the advent of the "Lay Ministries; which is God's gift to us, in allowing us to help Him draw others to His Father. We cannot refuse Him.
These are the issues that the Christian Leadership Training Institute hopes to address.
This ministry is a offspring of the needs of the Christian Leader in our time. Two thousand years ago, was the beginning of the Christian Church. This ministry is the newest manifestation of that faithful church. We're living in a time of unlimited opportunities for communicating the Good News of Jesus Christ.
The great strength of religion in America comes from its thoroughly democratic character. On the human level, it is a chain of communication "by the people, for the people, and of the people." In the final analysis, it is the willingness of the people to accept their need for religion that becomes it's strength.
Christian's have the most urgent message ever entrusted to humanity and we, must spare no effort in delivering it. Both current Christians and the potential new
members share the common need for Christ's love.
One study suggests there maybe as many as fifteen million Americans who do not belong to a church but are believers with an active faith. Since these people are not attending church some of them must be looking for spiritual support.
When Jesus Christ walked the hillsides of Galilee and Judea two thousand years ago, an estimated twenty to thirty thousand people herd Him and his message of salvation.
The magnitude of the need and the urgency of the hour, call for nothing short of an overall multi-approach strategy involving all kinds of Christian Leaders. What we must do as Christians we must do quickly. The communication of the Good news of salvation through
Jesus Christ cannot be delayed.
We as Christian leaders must convince the non-Christian; that we are here to help get the unsaved into a relationship with Jesus Christ and work in unity one with another, in improving spiritual growth.
Not everyone who hears the Good News has welcomed it, for Isaiah the prophet said, "Lord, who has believed me when I told them?"
One religious leader put it this way; that so-called Christian Countries need evangelization, this is seen in the immoral behavior, the lack of religious vocations, and the failure of Christian families to pass on the Faith to the next generation. Christian Leaders are the hope; that a way would be found to "be the impulse for a new evangelization."
Delores Leckey, a Christian author, and worker for a Christian organization states: "I see the primary role of laypeople as being united to the mission of the church; to bring the Gospel wherever it is needed." "I prefer to use a model of the church that primarily centers on the people and their gifts; from the people will flow all kinds of leadership."
"When I hear a 'good homily,' I am forced to face my own prejudices, my laziness, the parts in need of reform. And
I am freed from a lot of debilitating fears and anxieties; so then I am ready to act for others."
People can get fired up in several ways. One way is when individual members participate in worship services and are encouraged and supported to apply what they hear to their own lives. Individuals begin to think not
only about themselves, then, but about the homeless in their city, the starving in Africa, the troubled people in their own family. Memberships begin to realize that their Church does exist for the care of the whole world; but they learn this, partially at least through their personal prayer and reflection."
"Another way Christians can begin to realize the mission of their church is in a corporate way through their contacts with other members through groups and programs of different kinds. When ever a small band of Christian Leaders meet and
undertake a mission - ... - other members might look at these as clusters of caring
people and see that they, too, can get involved."
"And to overcome obstacles for the sake of the Gospel is part of the history of the church. Just think about past leaders; they always managed to do the impossible and the unthinkable; and they were just individuals like you and me, but more deeply rooted in the life of grace, I think."
"To be Christian, it seems to me, means to have this sense that we do belong ultimately to the universal church, and in some way, to the larger world."
"...another function of the church - to provide rest so that believers are renewed and regenerated to take on the world again."
"Taking care of oneself and one's needs are consistent with Christian life; but I do think Christians are also called to go the extra mile, and I think they're called to do this WITH OTHERS. hardly anyone will go out of their way for others if they have to do it alone: the temptation to rationalize oneself out of it is to strong. That's why community is so important - it enables Christians to begin to work together on behalf of
others and the world."
"These people talked about the need for them and their children to form some kind of small communities of faith - not like-minded enclaves where everybody tells each other how great they are
but someplace where they could realize what the mission of the church is. These are generous people looking for a method. These people also said they need a place to get support, where they can deal with both their longings and their anxieties."
"In their hearts and souls they believe the church has a mission in the world, and they all see their professional lives fitting into this. But they would like to meet other like-minded people to discuss their faith and their jobs, and they think the church should call together others not just to church business but to talk about life outside the church walls."
"A few theologians talked about this with the lay people. Their main goal was to put people's view of the church in a clearer perspective. They pointed out that an important question to ask is: "What year is it?" To recall that this is not the 1940's, and not the 1990s. We're living in the '2000s, and so is the church. It helps to remember that the church is part of culture; it works with culture."
"Certainly people are very busy with their families, and jobs, and certainly everybody spends a lot of time worrying about crime and money; but I find that Christians do look beyond all this. Laypeople I know want to take
time to pray. If you ask laypeople about their spiritual lives, you find that many are aware of their need to spend some time each day in Bible Study, and
many do indeed study. You'll also discover that these average, busy laypeople long for an honest-to-goodness spiritual life, the personal
experience and knowledge of God."
But we have to get it to them through more effective Christian Leadership.
(Colossians 1:28-29)
"So everywhere we go we talk about Christ to all who will listen, warning them and teaching them as well as
who know how. We want to be able to present each one to God, perfect because of what Christ has done for each of them."
"This is my work, and I can do it only because Christ's mighty energy is at work within me."
The Lord calls each of us to discipleship.
We are called to serve God and one another.
We are called to serve the Church.
The Spirit of the Lord is upon us.
We are anointed to bring the Good News.
The call of the Lord is a personal call.
He calls us to life, to service, to salvation.
Let us go in peace to follow Jesus' call.
Quality of Life Ministries will provide support and training through the "Christian Leadership Training Institute." Modern
business practices will be utilized in providing a 21st century spiritual based organization. The organization will be oriented to provide non-denominational support (Quality of Life Ministries) and training (Christian Leadership Training Institute).
ANALYSIS OF MINISTRY
Ministry Identification
The target of Quality of Life Ministries is the millions of Christians and Non-Christians who have a need to improve their lives in the spiritual, emotional, attitude, and purpose areas.
The need for support of these individuals should be obvious to anyone. The target adults are individuals, usually subject to the stress and strain of raising a family and living a life -- economic, relational, identity, purpose, etc. They are generally looking forward to coping with their
problems. They are desperate to find ways to live their life more fully and survive in today's world.
Needs of Today's Adults
Today's individuals have unique needs. Among them is the need to appreciate the solutions that exist when applying their religion to everyday problems. Unfortunately there is widespread apprehension toward applying their faith. A
fuller discussion of these needs will follow under the "Christian Leadership Training Institute Purpose" section. Suffice it to say that today's individual has a poor spirit and needs a "spiritual doctor." There is a need to concentrate on the spiritual aspects of the NOW and the FUTURE. A satisfying spiritual or religious life requires an excitement about what lies ahead: about new and challenging religious experiences, and it requires the setting of worthwhile approaches to learning how to achieve them. There is also a distinct need for families to learn how to be a real family.
Unfortunately, a great number go out of the way to avoid thinking about practicing
their faith, no less planning and being educated about it, A great deal of unnecessary hardship could be avoided, both spiritually and religiously, if a support and educational program was in place.
The Ministry Need
A vital ministry need has emerged. Christian Leaders have a need to help adults cope with the
stresses of today's complex and demanding world. They need help too bring a peaceful and caring attitude to the forefront; in bringing success out of living NOW, and to help them reach the FUTURE (heaven).
Christian Leadership Training Institute
The basic educational purpose of Christian Leadership Training Institute is to show Christian Leaders how the Christian faith can be a tremendously rewarding way of life and something that everybody should learn about. The route to a successful, peaceful and Christian life will be charted through a two pronged interactive course (Practical and theological training). In all cases, the course will be
taking a distinctly positive, practical "Christian" approach.
Christians have a lot going for them. Most Christians have acquired considerable
church teaching about achieving heaven in the faith; but they are concerned with how to take that faith and live it in the everyday world; and they would like the church to provide it to them. In essence, if they can cope with the day-to-day world, they have the ingredients for a
truly enjoyable life style and will look forward to a after life.
Unfortunately, many Christians (including Non-Christians) do not view it in this context. Rather, they see the Christian faith
as either not relevant or their "Sunday" phase. Contributing to this notion, is our nation's obsession with money. With Madison Avenue continuing to worship the
material market, our minds are flood with goods and services directed to the "today's survival" obsession. At the same time there appears to be a conscious denial of the relevancy of religion in today's world. It is understandable why people view applying their faith with apprehension.
However we feel that society should change their spiritual direction. If they would apply a more positive spirit to the everyday world, the "Future (and Now) Schock" can be conquered. They should be concentrating on a peaceful NOW and a rewarding FUTURE. Rather than longing at the commercial world, or enviously at the benefits of being rich, they should be asking themselves such relevant questions as: How can we enjoy ourselves
more fully with what we have? Were do we want our children and ourselves to be emotionally and
spiritually in five, ten, or twenty years? What type of life style do we want? How should we plan for it?
By putting the Christian faith in its proper perspective, it will be shown that it is a method of unequaled opportunities, a way for new and challenging Christian living experiences, a time to be enthusiastic. We will show how to utilize the Christian faith, to take on self-development programs and/or even to support others through Christian Leadership.
For the future, continued satisfaction requires a hardnosed, sensible Christian Living program. This requires considerable thought and effort before meaningful objectives can be realized. We will provide useful assistance, by exploring all areas of Christian Leadership and Life, again using a practical
easy-to-understand, interactive approach. The theology aspects of Christian living will also receive
considerable emphasis.
Interactive Course
The Christian Leadership Training Institute course consist of staff written and staff researched material with obvious appeal to the specific needs, lifestyle, interests, and anxieties of those finding it difficult in coping with life. As such it will have special significance
or a very precisely defined segment of the world. It will not be a general interest course; but will attempt to
appeal to the mass audience with a better (Christian) way of living.
Educational Philosophy
The most important task for a educational program is that of establishing a strong bond or empathy within the student participant. This can only be done by starting with a valid practical concept and building a deep-seated rapport with the student/participants. It must be sensitive to the Christian doctrine and it must be flexible enough to respond to this doctrine. We will actively seek out the opinions, problems, and needs of its student/participant. It will seek active
INVOLVEMENT.
The Institute must create a personality for itself, one that is obvious and consistent. Hopefully it will project
itself as a responsible, credible, and distinctive educator for the Christian faith. Above all, it
must prove genuinely VALUABLE to the student. It must provide a worthwhile and continuing service if it is to retain its students/participants. In short the ultimate success of a specialized educational
program, such as ours rests with its product and how well it meets the needs of God and the individual.
May Gods blessing be on us all.
George Hach
President
For More Information Contact:
Quality of Life Ministries
804 Southmoor,RLB,IL.60073-2458
Tel: 847-546-0361
FAX: 847-546-0867
Internet: george0361@netzero.net
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