Equipper Interview

James N Lanza Jr

Tom Rees

PST 443-GIS Disciple Making & Equip. Ministry

Fall 2012

11-6-12

Equipper Interview

1.     What is your process for making disciples?

“I lead by example.  Paul said to ‘Imitate me, as I imitate Christ.’  I cannot disciple anyone if my own relationship with God is strained.”

2.     What is your biggest challenge you face in making disciples?

“I am an extremely introverted person, so I tend to prefer to work alone when given the choice.  I let chances for discipleship come to me rather than seeking them out, which I am sure led to some missed opportunities.  Leading others is a daunting responsibility, and I am always concerned I will steer people in the wrong direction.  Thus, every discipleship opportunity involves a great deal of prayer and dependence on God.” 

3.     Who equipped you for ministry?

“In relation to my specific area of ministry, I really did not have a set person who traditionally mentored me through the process.  It involved a great deal of prayer, mistakes, observations, and finding others who were succeeding in the field and trying to acclimate their techniques to my own personal style.  Christ did the most work on my heart rather than specific interventions.  Working with special needs challenges a person to

4.     What are some ways you equip people for ministry?

“I show them and then let them try.  Sometimes the best way to teach is to let people experience lessons firsthand, mistakes and all.  My area of ministry requires a delicate balance of theory and practice, so it helps to have someone jump in and then refine as the processes unfold.  In my field of service, it is easy to forget the basics, so I also try and reinforce those notions.”

5.     How do you measure your effectiveness?

“Progress can be a red herring.  Some kids flourish, others stay stagnant, but most will move forward to some degree.  I measure my effectiveness based on whether I remain consistent in my therapeutic rapport building and interventions.  Being or feeling burnt-out is a sure sign that I am no longer effective with that particular individual.  It signals my need to either transfer care or return to the well.” 

6.     Where does discipleship making start?

“It starts and ends with Christ.  Nothing can happen unless God draws a person to another and then fosters that relationship.  God must begin the work, and the Holy Spirit is ultimately the one who teaches both individuals.”

7.     Where did discipleship start for you?

“Honestly, my first instance of discipleship was when someone came up and asked me.  Even then, I needed some time to pray about it because I did not think I was ready for that.  I am still not, but it forces me to depend more on Christ in those situations.” 

8.     How would you define a disciple?

“One who follows.” 

9.     What helps you stay effective in your discipleship role?

“Keeping Christ in perspective is key for me.  Trying to see the world through His eyes is the only way to persevere at times.  I burn out easier than most people, so staying rooted in Christ is the only way I have the endurance to continue.  Also, Jesus took time to be by himself, and I find myself needing to do likewise.  Investing in another human is rewarding but taxing, so I know I need to spend my own personal time with God to stay effective.  I have limits, and I need to respect them.”

10.  What do you believe is the most important thing in being a disciple?

“Leaving behind the self and following.  I think there is a fine line here, though.  When it comes to following Christ, there should be no compromise, but I believe that I still have a duty to ‘test everything that is said’ when it comes to discipleship in the church.  Even the best men can be wrong at times, so I cannot shirk my own personal relationship with God.”   

Equipper Interview

James N Lanza Jr

Tom Rees

PST 443-GIS Disciple Making & Equip. Ministry

Fall 2012

11-6-12

Equipper Interview

1.     What is your process for making disciples?

First of all, and perhaps this goes without saying, but to invest in the life of another, we must be in a vibrant and growing relationship with the Lord, for anything of value that we have to offer comes directly from Him (II Cor. 4:7)! 

There are three different aspects of disciple making in my life and ministry.  One way is through the Bible study materials the Lord has called me to write (workbooks).  This may seem impersonal but each time I study the Word and put lessons together, I pray over those God will lead to do them.  The workbooks are written with the purpose of helping women to know God more, not merely know more about Him (Phil. 3:7-11; I Cor. 8:1).  They are crafted in such a way as to encourage/equip them to study the Scriptures for themselves, not simply read the things the Lord has shown me.  My prayer is that this will give them a hunger to dig deeper into the Word and draw nearer to Jesus in every aspect of their lives, and then reach out to others with what they have gained.

 The second are the speaking and teaching opportunities He provides.  I prayerfully seek what passages and principles God would have me share, and try to make them real and relevant, while sharing practical ways to put them into practice.  In this large group setting, I also ask the Lord to arrange “divine appointments” with ladies, and then follow His leading as to how He would have me minister to them (and they always minister to me as well!).  I have been overwhelming blessed by these encounters and have developed relationships with some of these gals that go way beyond the event that brought us together.

The final way is one-on-one mentoring.  I am humbled and encouraged by the doors the Lord has opened for me in this!  I do not have a specific “process,”  I just seek God as to how He would have me proceed, talk it over with the one He has brought into my life to mentor, then forge ahead in the leading and power of His Spirit!

2.     What is your biggest challenge you face in making disciples?

I would say the biggest challenge for me is in the area of one-on-one mentoring, and has to do with seeking God as to who He would have me connect with.  There are times He will put someone on my heart and then as I pray about approaching her, He closes the door.  Sometimes that is a timing issue and other times, it is merely a call to pray for that gal.  Although there is disappointment that comes with this, I am so very thankful that in every mentoring relationship the Lord has led me to, He has made it abundantly clear that it is His will.

3.     Who equipped you for ministry?

My testimony in this is a strange one, because the very first Bible study God called me to be a part of, He called me to teach!  I had no Biblical knowledge, had newly committed my life to Jesus, and was a Business major in college at the time (the Lord eventually led me switch to Secondary Education) and yet He made it perfectly clear I was to do it.  So, especially at the beginning, it was all God!!  I never had the privilege of formally being mentored, yet our precious Lord blessed and trained me directly through the personal study of His Word (Ps. 119:102; 25:4-5), as well as through the teaching at our Ladies Bible study and our pastor’s sermons.

4.     What are some ways you equip people for ministry?

Through the resources He has called and equipped me to put together (devotionals, Bible study workbooks, audio and video message series…).  Also, through encouraging them to go deeper in the Word and serve the Lord in their gifting (Rom. 12:6-8); and arming them with Scriptures that address their fears or speak to the faithfulness of God in whatever they are facing.  I believe it is powerful and effective to also share with them these truths:  God doesn’t need them  (Acts 17:24-25) but chooses to use them (Matt.28:19-20) to be a part of Kingdom impacting work He is doing;  He created them to serve Him in specific ways (Eph. 2:10) and  also will give them everything they need to do everything He calls them to do (I Peter 1:3, II Tim. 3:16-17); and that when we serve Him with the right heart, we store up treasures in heaven which we will lay at His feet (I Cor. 3:11-15;13:1-3 Matt. 6:19-20).

5.     How do you measure your effectiveness?

I pretty much leave that up to the Lord, and keep seeking Him as to how He would have me proceed, while desperately relying on His equipping.

6.     Where does discipleship making start?

I am not completely sure what you are asking in this question.  The call comes from Jesus Himself in Matthew 28:18-20, which I believe is often mistakenly seen as having to do with evangelism but rather deals with how we are to minister to and train those who are saved (meaning disciple them).  In regards to how it starts in the life of an individual Believer, it should begin when they receive Jesus, yet many who make that commitment don’t know that.  Christians tend to present salvation as an end, rather than the beginning of a life long relationship.  I believe it is our responsibility as followers of Christ to present salvation as the start of the journey, then come alongside someone once they accept Jesus as Savior and Lord and train them up in the Word.

7.     Where did discipleship start for you?

As I have mentioned, I never had someone come alongside me and lay the foundations of the faith, encourage me to study the Word, or explain to me what is required of those who are Christians (obedience, service…).  It was when God called me to lead a Bible study that I first began to dig into the Scriptures, and that is when He began to reveal His truths and plan to my heart.  It is also when He gave me a hunger to dig deeper and know Him more.

8.     How would you define a disciple?

I love how the word “disciple” means “learner,” because that is exactly what we are called to be!  I would define it as someone who has received Christ and keeps seeking Him at a deeper level.  This is done through prayer, studying the Word, obedience, service, and whatever else He calls us to do.  Disciple making is a life long process – or at least it is supposed to be.  It is something all Believers should be involved in, both internally (growing) and externally (helping others grow).

9.     What helps you stay effective in your discipleship role?

It all comes down to my relationship with Jesus.  For me to be effective in investing in someone, I need to be sitting at His feet and feeding from His hand.

10.  What do you believe is the most important thing in being a disciple?

I would say it is acknowledging that we never “arrive” as a disciple.  We need to keep pressing on, digging deeper and drawing nearer or we will become complacent and prideful.  Our motivation in doing this cannot be duty or to gain more knowledge, but to know Christ more, become who He created us to be, and accomplish all He has for us, for His glory alone.

Kimberly Kirk   (9/15/12)

570-675-3187

kimberlyckirk@hotmail.com

www.kimberlykirk.com

Equipper Interview

Equipper Interview

For James Lanza

Karl Dyrli

Associate Pastor for Worship Ministries

Fellowship Church

45 Hildebrandt Road

Dallas, PA 18612

570-675-6426

1.     What is your process for making disciples?

In order to participate in the building and making of disciples that God is doing, I seek first to identify those in whom God has called to know Him and who are growing in a particular area.  If I see giftedness in someone, however immature, I will start with a conversation with them.  I seek to ask some open-ended questions and inquire about what God is doing in their lives.  This step is important, in order to get to hear the person’s heart and to prayerfully discern what to do next.

                  After this initial conversation, I would prayerfully consider what type of service and what type of mentor would be beneficial to this person’s growth.  Although this person might be me, it might not be.  I would then seek to connect the person with those opportunities that would stretch them out of their comfort zone.  This is where growth occurs.  This requires a delicate balance between what is challenging for the individual, while at the same time not giving them more than they should responsibly be given.  For example, if teaching is a gift, I would have them lead devotions at worship team practice far before I would give them a Discipleship Class.

                  As they grow through these increasing responsibilities, I would also seek to give them ongoing feedback and encouragement to serve in their area of giftedness and in time to mentor others along the same path as the Lord enables.  One of the most important steps in equipping is to step back and resist the urge to do the ministry for the person, but to give them room to experience ministry on their own.

2.     What is your biggest challenge you face in making disciples?

The time and availability element becomes the biggest challenge.  In order to have ongoing conversations, evaluation, observation, and mentoring, I would need to be able to interact during the week, not on a Sunday morning only.  If someone is interested in being equipped for ministry, but work six long days a week and are not available for ongoing relationship, it would be nearly impossible or at lease very challenging to interact with them in a meaningful way.

3.     Who equipped you for ministry?

The primary equipper in my ministry background would be the director of the Christian camp ministry I participated in for several consecutive summers.  The camp is named Deerfoot Lodge and the director was Chuck Gieser.  He would deliberately plan what new and expanding responsibilities I could have each summer, and would give me room to grow and experience success and failure.  He would then provide a lot of feedback along the way, completed by an extensive end of summer interview that supplied helpful wisdom for future growth.  He mentored me in many ways, and sought to help me grow in faith and ministry through experience.

4.     What are some ways you equip people for ministry?

I seek to provide new experiences for people in ministry.  I also seek to provide feedback and ongoing relational influence to those around me.  The bridge of relationship is the most effective way in which I encourage and seek to build up people in ministry.  In addition, I teach through devotionals and other means to help equip those with whom I minister.

5.     How do you measure your effectiveness?

To measure effectiveness in equipping ministry I will periodically observe the expansion of people who have participated in ministry over the past year.  I will not only look for new people who have experienced and grown, but also for the personal growth within the participants in ministry.  Qualities in which I would look for growth would be faith, humility, fearlessness, faithfulness, wisdom and consistency.  The humble, teachable servant will be growing, while a prideful heart will often be resistant to change and growth.  These can be observed over longer periods of time.

6.     Where does discipleship making start?

In my view, discipleship making begins in the initial going out of the Word of God in the Gospel.  Jesus told His disciples to go and make disciples of all nations, which begins with the going and proclaiming of the truth of the Gospel.  After that, discipleship will be the ongoing spiritual growth of the born-again believer in the context of biblical community.

7.     Where did discipleship start for you?

For me, discipleship began in my home.  My parents modeled a relationship with Christ, and introduced me to the truth through their words and actions.  The foundation of my faith was laid out in my home, as well as in the context of my home church.  My pastor had a lot to do with my own discipleship, through classes and Sunday messages throughout the course of my childhood.

8.     How would you define a disciple? 

I would define a disciple as a regenerated believer in the Lord Jesus Christ who is growing in spiritual understanding, faith and wisdom through the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit, bringing maturity and ever-increasing likeness to the character of Jesus Christ.

9.     What helps you stay effective in your discipleship role?

I need to consistently revisit and challenge myself to the role of discipling and equipping.  It is too easy to settle into routine and forget about challenging others to new areas of growth, faith and service.  I also have to resist the urge to do too much myself and overlook the spiritual growth of others who would and should be doing the work of the ministry instead of me. 

10.  What do you believe is the most important thing in being a disciple?

I would say that closeness in relationship to the Person of Christ is paramount.  As Paul says, “I want to know Christ,” not any other qualification, renders everything else as worthless trash.  Discipleship is not to be simplified down to knowledge alone, or character alone, or experience alone…but to draw close to Christ in a real, personal way.  To lose this is to completely lose the way of discipleship.

Purpose Driven

Rick Warren Purpose Driven Church

Bringing in the Crowd ~

Chapter 13 Worship can be a Witness

Warren points out twelve convictions about worship he reiterates many of his past points ie. You do not need a church building, style is a cultural preference, genuine worshiping is a powerful witness to unbelievers, and we are called to be sensitive when meeting the unbelievers in our community, are just a few. His twelfth point rang volumes with me as he again relieves us of the truth in the tension so many experience: with the words “service” and the “serv-us” in attitude. Offering a seeker service intentionally to meet the un-churched creating an environment that feels safe for them, is backed by the scripture found in Matt. 20:28 your attitude must be like my own for I the Messiah, did not come to be served but to serve. 

Chapter 14 Designing a Seeker Sensitive Service

Getting a chuckle as Warren opens with a story we can probably all relate to. Attending church and the sermon is on Tithing or a guest missionary goes on and on. If we brought a friend this particular week we are certain they are getting nothing from this message. Then on the weeks that a clear message of salvation is resonating, you wish you had brought with you the masses to hear and you sit there alone. Warren asks “Why is this?”  And gives suggestions as to what you do to plan and make it easy for visitors to attend some examples multiply service times, offering child care or Sunday school simultaneously with the services, clear markings as to where the classes are bathrooms etc. Improving the flow and pace of your service for new believers, shorten sermons and keep them engaged, praise music that is upbeat  and prayer time that is inspiring rather than dull and drug out. Warren uses the acronym IMPACT to keep this flow in every service.

Inspire

Movement

Praise

Adoration

Commitment

Tie

Being sure that your guests do not feel singled out from the regular attendees is also very important. Warren suggest not a visitor center but a visitor pad in the pew that everyone fills out and he warns to never have them stand giving their name etc. Being considerate of your guest will leave them feeling encouraged to return again.