WHAT HAPPENS WHEN MMM HAS THE COURAGE TO RELY ON GOD
WHY WE LEADERS OF MENTORING MEN FOR THE MASTER, INC. MUST LEAD WITH COURAGE
Joshua 1:8-9
TO: BOD of Mentoring Men for the Master
FROM: Dr. Bill Bennett, Founder/CEO
Mentoring Men for the Master, Int’l. holds membership in the prestigious ECFA which not only holds us responsible in the area of finances, but also in the area of leadership. In the present issue of ECFA the theme is the need for “Courageous Leaders” (First Quarter 2014) and especially if we lead a “smaller ministry” like Mentoring Men for the Master.
As a pastor for 60 years, of all kinds of churches, from the smallest to the largest, but all in need of resurrection, I discovered that the pastor and a small coterie of courageous men had to have courage, or the churches we led would become stagnant, many would have died, when in fact we witnessed resurrection of all of them. My first church out of the seminary was unable to pay its bills. Our treasurer despaired and expressed his great fear in a business meeting, displaying $500 dollars worth of outstanding bills, whereupon I kindly said, “My brother, be not afraid. We are obeying the Lord and He will soon provide all the money we need not only to pay our debts, but to respond to all the new challenges of in-reach and out-reach.” Indeed, that came to pass and a once debt-ridden church was so blessed that the pastor was asked to share the victory twice (perhaps three times) to the entire BSCNC.
Another very large church was giving $3334.00 to Foreign Missions and the strongest man in the church said to me, “We cannot raise mission giving and pay for the mortgage on our new building. To which I replied, “I will resign if I cannot obey the Great Commission.” He said, “Go ahead and find out the hard way.” I felt led to proceed to act in spite of his protest. I raised the annual goal to $10,000, and this church was giving $100,000 each year at the end of my ministry. Two years ago the same church gave $500,000 plus to missions at Christmas.
History itself witnesses to the power of courage in achieving victory. Ex: one of the most decisive battles ever fought was waged in 1066 at Hastings, England. William, Duke of Normandy, France, dared to invade England whose army was considered invincible. But William had something the English did not. He had the courage to invent a device which gave his army a great advantage in battle: The Stirrup. Conventional wisdom of the day said that a horse was too unstable a platform from which to fight. But the Normandy army, standing secure in their Stirrups, were able to ride down the English and conquer the “invincible” English army.
Why is it so important that we leaders of Mentoring Men for the Master, Int’l, exercise courage today: Dr. Dan Busby, President of ECFA, answers this question:
- While giving to big ministries has increased since 2009, giving to smaller ministries, like Mentoring Men for the Master, has decreased.
- The continuing threats to reduce charitable giving is discouraging to many who desire to give.
- Furthermore, Mentoring Men for the Master exercises integrity in raising money as well as in spending money. EX: many who would give are faithful tithers in their churches, who are not able to give beyond that to other ministries. This we honor, even sending back money given to Mentoring Men for the Master if we know it is the giver’s tithe.
- The imposition of more and more government taxes limits peoples’ ability to give to MMM.
- Some who did give liberally have ceased because of the cut backs in their income caused by the recession.
- Furthermore, giving in the USA is declining in general because of Consumerism and the incredible credit-card indebtedness of 87 % of Americans. Listen to Dr. Dan Busby again: “Courage to stand in battle is essential to bring victory. The increasing pressures of our day suggest it is time for us to level up in terms of courage…Courageous leaders make bold moves. Make a few bold moves, or you’ll breathe your last leadership breath far too soon.” Exercise risk and courageous leadership and three things will happen:
- Victory is assured
- Accomplishment is Assured,
- Completion is assured. (ECFA, 2014, p. 2).
Praise the Lord and Glory to God for the historic victory the Lord has just won through the courageous obedience of His servants, in exceeding the $15,000 Matching Gift. Why? Because a coterie of our guys, spurred on by Thad and myself dared to believe for as much as $25,000. Results: As of today, $24,500. But the greatest result lies in the fact that our step of faith and miraculous victory have moved a business man to promise to give a Matching Gift of $25,000 this summer.
WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE,”THE REAL SECRET IS THIS: IT’S NOT THE GIFTS WE HAVE GIVEN, OR THE GOALS WE HAVE ACHIEVED AS LEADERS. IT’S ABOUT THE COURAGE TO RELY ON GOD (ECFA, Spring 2014, p. 2).
Next to Moses, Joshua was the most courageous leader in the Bible. Why? Because he believed and obeyed the Word of God: Joshua 1:8-9, “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Just THINK: These very words a in Joshua 1:8-9, are the foundation of all we teach in Mentoring Men for the Master, Int’l. Surely God will grant us the courage to rely on Him through the Holy Spirit (Zech. 4:6) and we wills see more victories than we can even ask or think (Ephes. 3:20) and ALL to the Glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.