Janine L Waddell

Although not a pastor I decided to interview Janine because she has a very relational discipleship program developed through her life and small groups. She is the perfect person for hands on ministry, you see she believes in building relationships and rubbing off on others through leading by example. She takes time to meet in her group but also to meet with the lady’s throughout the week to just see how they are doing, she has developed a trust and relationship with these women so not only is she teaching them but she is guiding them. When these lady’s have a problem, they go to her and she is there. They trust her and her words are then taken with great consideration and pondered over, her guidance is treasured.

When I asked her about her process in making disciples she said just as I thought she would, she answered “my process is just to be me” she said that she like to be with those she is dicsipleing, teaching them through example and showing her group how she is a disciple for God. I then asked her how she equips people for ministry her answer “I equip through teachings and weekly lessons, we have done some great studies together and we are only learning more of what it means to be more Chirst like. Also I try to live life in a glass house, I want to show my ladies what it means to minister, I am trying to just love on them and show them.” Then I asked her how she has been doing and what she would like to improve on, her answer was that she believes that she has been doing well in discipleing on a small scale, but its still a scale none the less. She mentioned that she would like to get her group serving together; “I would like to get my group ministering all together a little more maybe once a month or so we could be effecting people together, I love to hear their reports on what God is doing but I would really love for us all to minister together, we have built relationship with each other and those relationship can help us become even more effective in ministry and with each other. I would like to be more involved with my group, I feel like I am training them but the hands on could use a little more work and what could be better than ministering together.” My final question was how she measures her effectivness, her answer was through the results she said “I measure my effectiveness by what I see, the product or fruits. I have seen women becoming ministers in their work places, in church, neighborhood, and in reality wherever they are. They are building relationships and showing Christ to those they encounter. They are becoming disciples themselves and effecting others, this to me means that somethings right.”

Pastor Joshua Simpson

Pastor Josh is the children’s pastor at New Life Assembly of God, I was discipled by Pastor Josh he was the one that pushed me out of my comfort zone in ministry and he really stretched me and because of that I am going to school to be a full time minister. You see I was already involved in ministry but I was working in youth group where I has comfortable doing the same things I had always done, when pastor Josh came along and he asked me if I would forget involved in children’s ministry (he said that he just knew that I should be working with children) he used to say jokingly “when you meet my friend Jesus come down to children’s ministry” and I used to give him a hard time and reply “when you meet your own friend, you can lead me by example” this went on for months, he asked me for over six months twice a week and it never changed, but he kept asking. Finally on Easter he asked me if I would come down just this once, he was short helpers, so I decided to help just once and after helping out I was hooked. Then I asked to be put on schedule from there is was only building and learning more, Pastor Josh and his wife were both there for me growing me in all aspects of my life. I was able to work a little everywhere and I learned the ins and outs of children’s ministry hands on. Pastor Josh and Kelly his wife, mentored me spiritually through checking in on me and making sure I was spending time with God and learning, they would ask me about my devotional time and even challenge me with things they have been learning or making me think about what I believe in and why.

 It was interesting interviewing pastor Josh because although he discipled me and many others, he had very simple answers almost as to him discipleing is simple it’s a lifestyle not an over bearing challenge. When I asked him what his process for making disciples he simply said “that’s kinda simple. I Train them in everything I know, with my hope that they become more like Jesus, “ and in the process of equipping people he said that he likes to take people to training events, take people outside of the familiar and form them he said “I like for them to get a taste of something other than Farmville, but buy into the collective agreement” I then brought out the big guns and asked him how he measures his effectiveness, I was really interested considering how simple and comfortable he was but he seems to be right on and it has been working for him greatly he said that regardless of what position a person is in ministry, the measure is as he says measured through the “persons commitment to Christ, in how they serve and whether they are making a difference.” I know that I believe that Pastor Josh is a great pastor and he is training up disciples for the future, but I did ask him his opinion on how he was doing personally in the discipleship area or how successful he thought he was in this department, he said that he believes that he has had a great start, it has slowed a little but still great he mentioned that he has a group of great leaders in his children’s ministry he said that “they give, serve and are committed to Christ” I then asked him where he would like to make improvements and his biggest challenge has been just a busy life, everyone is moving so fast its hard to meet together or even have planning sessions or encouragement dinners. So he wants to improve in this meetings area he said even if it is only for five minuets that’s something to get everyone on the same page. 

Pastor Alvin Thomas

Pastor Alvin himself as the young adult pastor is faced with as many churches call it, the impossible college-age young adults, the problem can be anywhere from the variety of people in a young adult ministry there are the college students and the non college students, the older and the younger, the married and the unmarried, oh and of course males and females but either way you need to be able to disciple your ministry and that is what Pastor Alvin is doing, his focus and strategies to discipleship is through small groups. Each of his small groups work together they each have a study, an outreach project, fellowship times and prayer. The studies can vary they are never exactly the same, they change in order to keep interest and focus on growth, they can be on certain books of the bible, subject studies, from a devotional, or anything really; expect to be stretched and grown. The groups each have an outreach program, I really liked this idea because these groups are not self-centered, his small groups are not only growing each other but they are teaching and growing others as well. In addition to a ministry that is discipleing disciples there is of course the opportunity to gather and fellowship, Pastor Alvin believes in relational discipleing which I have to admit I am right there with him, I believe that relational discipleship can be very affective and of course lots of prayer is worked into his program.

Pastor Alvin has developed a leadership class that he teaches on a Sunday morning where he likes to challenge his class with practical applications that he feels is not only equipping them but allowing them to hands on get involved in discipleing. No worries this isn’t all sugar and rainbows, I got down to the harder questions and asked Pastor Alvin how it is that he measures his effectiveness in discipleing and he answered “in the long term, are they producing spiritual fruit” are they producing fruit, a worker can only be measured by his effectiveness for the kingdom, by his fruit. I them asked him to be honest in answering how successful he’s been in creating effective disciples? He answered “I have been affective on a small level” but of course he’s looking for the long term and he has a young ministry is where he has seen many step up as leaders in his ministry in the church, a modest answer in my opinion. He did say however “I am producing some solid disciples, but I would like to improve the multiplication of disciples”

 I then asked his to share what his biggest challenges in making disciples has been and I came to find that his biggest challenge was with the high school graduates from the youth ministry, they feel that they know all there is to know, he said “many of think that the level of discipleship they reached in youth group is good enough”

New Life Assembly Pastors and Staff

Pastor at New Life Assembly of God in Farmville, Virginia I know what you are thinking and yes it is a real place not just an application on facebook. I was able to talk to a few of the pastors in this church to get a feel for their ministry as a whole in their church. Although this in one church body, the leaders in this church vary in their approach to discipleship. This church is in the process of beginning their first hands on discipleship program or mentoring program partnering with Valley Forge Christian College; the plan is to develop a program for students to come and stay in Farmville and be in full time ministry while taking their classes online at Valley Forge Christian College, these students will be in ministry working along side different pastors for months at a time learning from living the real pastors experience. 

More to come...

The Real "Strengthfinder" Story

This was a very interesting project, from the beginning I was interested in what my outcome would be for this test in fact I now want everyone I know to take it. I am very interested in my own and others strengths, my strengths however were not what I would have guessed about myself, but in reality they match me almost to the exact, its kind of creepy. Needless to say I encourage everyone to try it out, the book does cost but it is well worth it.

So my top 5 once again were…

Achiever

Individualization

Competition

Futuristic

And Focused

I know your thinking how sad, but its me so what is there to me sad about! I look at these strengths and studied them for a while (all my notes are posted bellow so feel free to read through it and learn a little more about these strengths and the person I am because that’s it)

ACHIEVER: The first strength I received was achiever; I am an achiever that has a nice ring to it, there is nothing to terrible that comes to mind when I think achiever. As an achiever I have a constant need for achievement and everyday must have some sort of achievement I find worth while and if not then I will be dissatisfied with my day; this sounds about right, if I wake up late or sit around all day I feel useless and unhappy with my day this is not a bad thing because this means that I will get things done. As far as my work ethic you can see where this is going to go, I am a workaholic, this is true I know it and I always have known it. But being an achiever I can work harder for twice as long and I am very self motivated, this is true in more areas than one. Its funny because everyone that I chose to read my results to first laugh and agree right when I read the first strength to them in general and then the more I read the more I go “definitely,” “that is totally true, you do do that,” and my personal favorite “Yes! That is totally you no doubt, hands down. ”I am an achiever and I like to work and be busy, I see this as a good thing I will work hard, get things done, I am self motivated, and I will feel accomplished and successful in all that I apply myself to in life, work, ministry, and school. In life I will live it to the fullest and I will have a sense of pride in what I have been able to do, in the family involvement, Holidays, and relationships because I know for a fact that my family is a part of my feel for accomplishment already. As far as work that’s easy everything about an achiever screams, “I’m a great worker!” Ministry to me is still on the same wave as work, although its not exact there is still a lot of work that goes into a ministry and I am going to be in ministry for the rest of my life or as long as God will have me.

INDIVIDUALIZTION: this one was very unexpected, I know that it’s right because as I read on individualization I thought that is me I do all of those things. Originally I thought “Loner” which can be me at sometimes, but I am much more a people person, that at times likes to be alone but I was way off this really means that I look at people for there individualities, I don’t like to generalize anyone because everyone is different and I am able to pick up on those differences and even strengths, talents, and skills. The description says that I instinctively observe each persons style, motivation, how each person thinks, and how each person builds relationships and even better I often get those one of a kind stories. As an upcoming minister I feel that this is going to be a huge strength in my ministry, especially in addition to the achievement strength; not only will I be organized get things done, and be on task but I will also be strong in the leadership and relational roll as well. Being an individualist I will know the people in my ministry, I will know my leaders and who would make great leaders, I will also be a great speaker because I will be able to relate my message, and I will be a great minister because I will look beyond the normal with people and I will be able to be relationally effective. Being an individualist there isn’t a place that I couldn’t fit into and minister to, that’s huge! When I read this result to people I actually got many different results’ from my mom she instantly said “I can see that” and then she continued on to explain how she has seen parts of this played out in my life, it seemed that everyone chose a different section of this to focus on. My mom focused on how I understand people and I always give her a different set of eyes to look through that I give her a fresh point of view and I also always know how to treat certain situations with certain individuals because I know how they will react, even if I hardly know them. My roommate focused on my attention to detail, how I notice everything about a person and I can narrow things down about a person almost like a game of clue; I would have to agree I am very investigative and observant. My boyfriend cared to comment on the fact that I notice everything to and I bring out the strengths in people and I always know how to get people going. I thought that was cool how each of the individuals I spoke to had a very different focus on this one, almost like each part they see true but they see some parts more dominantly.

COMPETITION: another one that at the mention of the title I was laughed at, and reassured that it was right on. This one to me is almost a combination of the top two with a little twist, to have a competitive strength means that I am always aware of others strengths and performance, and I am always comparing my performance to others. Oh and bonus, I like to win! This of course is another can be awesome, but could be really bad, I choose to embrace the good in this strength I see that this will

help me to stay focused and have a goal in place, that I will have an expectation and an achievement measure in my life. When I choose to compete I need to find a personal achievement that will push me but not discourage me. My boyfriend and my mom laughed the most because I am competitive in my everyday life, in snow ball fights, in sports, and event in games almost everything I do becomes a challenge, I even compete with myself.

FUTURIASTIC: That’s right, the future always looking ahead! I am a dreamer and sometimes I like to dream big. I would have to agree that I have very vivid dreams for the future and I love to share them with people, this is great for ministry I will be always thinking on how to improve, how to spice up the ministry, how to solve ministry problem and not just in my church but across the board; in fact I already do this, currently I have been working on a designing a program to help bridge the gap between children’s ministry and youth, I have been working on this for over three years and this summer I will finally be able to try it out with a pastor I have been connecting with and emailing for over a year now about this. I am so excited for the future, more than just ministry though although that is a huge excitement, I am also curious about the life I am going to have a family or no family, pets or no pets, city or country, maybe even traveling or permanently in another country’ there are so many options and so many different ways to get there. My roommate gave me an “oh yeah! You definitely wont settle, you dream!” I thought that was actually cool that there is more than just ambition and success in my life but that I have passion for what is to come and people can see that. My boyfriend said this is kind a like the individualist, where I see people for who they are and I push their strengths, but I also encourage them and give them hope; he said laughing “babe you dream big for everyone” then he said that people love it and I tend to get people thinking about the possible and what they could do, I encourage them. So all in all we are all goo so far.

FOCUS: My final top strength, not to say my last strength just the last to be mentioned. This is very much me, as I was reading it I thought this is me all the time and it is what fits together all my other strengths, this is the goal oriented part. The mapping out where I am going and how I am going to get there, keeping me focused on the destination rather than the detours. This strength allows me to spot these things that get people off track and I am able to prioritize very well.

I know for a fact there are a lot of thing in the focused description that I already do, I plan out everything from paying off bills, paying for vacation, savings, weight loss and reaching my goals and in addition I schedule out my daily life between work, school, and homework (where it can be squeezed) this section did however give my mom the opportunity to cut in and remind me that I need to create a better balance in my schedule. I live by my schedule; I think that if I lost my schedule I wouldn’t know what to do or where I should be. Being focused though I found that I am not only on track but I am also efficient which I think is a great asset to have in life in general. So as far as work I keep everyone on task and priority. In life I am very organized and structured therefore I am on top of the bills and I keep healthy because I have made that a priority in my life.

As you can see all of my strengths seem to work together, well that’s a relief since they are all me; I think I make since for the most part. Either way I hope that you enjoyed this blog and that it sparks your curiosity to take the test as well, If you do let me know!

My Top 5 Strengths Found Through Strengthfinders

·

• Achiever:

o My drive

· “I’ve always called myself ambitious and goal oriented” strange that this test would reflect something that I have always known but never focused on how it can help me in the future.

§ A constant need for achievement

§ Everyday starts at zero

· At the end of the day I must have achieved something tangible and worth while

· EVERYDAY workdays, weekdays, vacation

§ No matter how much I feel I need a break or just rest

· If the day passes without some sort of achievement, I will be dissatisfied

§ I have an internal fire burning inside me

· Push me to do more and achieve more

· After an achievement the flame dwindles but only for a moment and then its right back to work

o To the next achievement

§ Need for achievement may not be logical, but it will always be with me

§ BURING DESIRE IN ME TO DO THE BEST I CAN DO, BUT I HAVE TO DO IT BY MYSELF BECAUSE NO ONE CAN DO IT BETTER THAN ME.

o Benefits

§ It brings the energy I need to work long hours without burning out

§ It is the jolt I can always count on to get me going to start a new task and challenges

§ It is the power supply that causes me to set the pace and define the levels of productivity for my work group

§ It is the theme that keeps me moving

o Negatives

§ Can lead me from a balanced life to obsession

· Work obsession can be a big problem YES ..THAT IS TOTALLY YOU NO DOUBT HANDS DOWN

o I can manage it and avoid work obsession by focusing on achieving in all parts of my life, not just work THAT WOULD BE GOOD, TO FOCUS AT OTHER PLACES

o Action

§ Work style

· Works best where I can have the leeway to work as hard as I want and measure my own productivity

§ Life style

· I relish in the feeling of being busy yet I also need to know when I am done

o Attach timelines and measurements to goals

§ That way effort leads to defined progress and tangible outcomes

§ Celebrate

· Achievers tend to move on to the next challenge without acknowledging their successes

· Create opportunities to enjoy your achievements

§ Meetings

· Can be a challenge but can become a strength

o During the meeting take notes and start piecing together/planning your next steps

o I can help ensure that meetings are productive and efficient

§ Education/ learning

· Continue my education by attaining certifications in my area of specialty

o Attend conferences and other programs

· This will give me more goals and push my existing boundaries of accomplishment

§ Self Motivated

· I don’t need motivation from others

· I need to set challenging goals for myself

o Every time I accomplish a goal set an even harder goal

§ Pair with Hard Workers

· Share my goals with them. So they can help me get more done

§ Personal Achievements

· Add them in my scoring system

o This will help direct my achiever talents toward family and friends as well as towards work

§ More work excites me

· The prospect of what lies ahead is more motivation than what has been done

· My endless reserve of energy will create enthusiasm and momentum

§ Quality

· Don’t skim on quality because of eagerness to do more work

· Create measureable outcome standards

· Ensure that increase in productivity is matched by enhanced quality

o Working with the achiever

§ Establish relationship

· By working along side the achiever

o Working harder together is often a bonding experience

o The achiever is annoyed by slackers

§ Busy body

· Recognize that this person likes to be busy

· Sitting in meetings is likely to be boring

o So invite the achiever to meetings only if really needed or where the achiever can be engaged

§ Sleep?

· The achiever may need less sleep

o And may even get up earlier THAT TOTALLY TRUE

· Common questions to ask the achiever

o How late did you have to work to get this done?

o When did you come in this morning

§ The achiever will like this kind of attention

• Individualization

o Overview

§ Leads me to be intrigued by the unique qualities of each person

§ I am impatient with generalized types, because I don’t want to obscure what is special and distinct about each person

§ I focus on the differences between individuals

§ I instinctively observe each persons style, motivation, how each person thinks, and how each person builds relationships

§ I hear one of a kind stories in each persons life

§ This is why and how I pick my friends

§ I know that one person prefers praise in public and others detest it

§ I tailor my teaching style to accommodate ones personal needs to be shown or told how to

§ I am a keen observer of others strengths

§ I can draw out the best in each person

§ This Individualization theme will help me build productive teams

· I will search for the perfect team structure

· I know the secrets to a great team and casting

o Actions

§ Pick something I can do where my individualization can be useful and appreciated

· Counseling, supervising, teaching, writing human interest articles, or selling

§ Become an expert at describing my strengths and style

· Questions

o Best praise I have ever received?

o How often do I check in with my manager?

o My nest method for relationships

o How do I learn best

§ Take these questions to help you and others look to the future

§ Help others understand that true diversity can be found in the subtle differences between each individual

· Regarding less of race, sex, and nationality DEEPER than that

§ Find what everyone is best at and help them to exceed in that

· Talents, knowledge and skills

· May have to explain that you have their best interest in mind

· I have an awareness and appreciation of others likes an dislikes and an ability to personalize

· This puts me in a unique position

o It puts me where the one size does not fit all

· Make people aware of others needs

o People will look to you to explain other peoples motives and actions

§ Speaking will be better when I can relate to the audience and engage them

§ I move comfortably among a broad range of styles and cultures, and I initiate personalized interaction

§ I interpret data differently

· I see the distinctivness

o Working with me

§ When you are having a hard time understanding someone turn to me and Ill help you

· I can show you the world through new eyes

§ If you want to learn more about your unique talents and how you stand out, I can tell you

§ Have a discussion with this person when you are having problems with someone

· Can I give you sound advice on how to act on the situation

• Competition

o Outlook

§ When I look at the world I am instinctively aware of other peoples performance

· There performance is the ultimate yard stick

· No matter how hard I try, no matter how worthy my intentions, If I reach my goal and I did not outperform my peers, the achievement is hollow

· Like all competitors, I need other people

§ If I can compare, I can compete and if I can compete then I can win

· And when I win there is no other feeling like it

§ I like

· Other competitors because they invigorate me

· Contests because they produce a winner

· Contests that I know I can win in

o I will avoid competitions in something I don’t believe I will win in

§ Attitude

· Although gracious to other competitors and even stoic in defeat, I don’t compete for the fun of competing

o I compete to win

o Benefits

§ Play to win

§ Not a poor loser

· If lose, I am a gracious loser, but on the inside I am infuriated

§ Find something worth fighting for and enjoy the contest

o Action

§ Have an achievement measure in your Job place

· Without competition I will not be able to discover how good I am

§ Score

· List performance scores daily to keep in mind where I stand

§ Main competitor

· Choose a high achieving person against who I can measure my achievements against

o If more than one, list all competitors that I compete with

o Without measure how will I know who won

§ Change it up

· Take ordinary tasks and turn it into a competitive game

o This way more will be accomplished

§ Post win

· After winning, evaluate why I won

o I can learn a lot from winning

§ Explain

· Let people know that being competitive does not equal putting others down…

o Instead I derive satisfaction from putting myself against good, strong competitors and winning

§ Balanced metric

· A measurement system that will monitor all aspects of my performance

o Even if competing against myself and previous accomplishments

o This will give me perspective on all aspects of performance

§ Choose your competition

· When competing with others create development opportunities

o By choosing someone that is slightly above my expertise

§ My competition will push me to be better, to develop my skills and knowledge to exceed theirs and win

§ Celebrate

· Take time to celebrate a little

o There is no victory without celebration

§ Loosing

· Design mental strategies that will help me deal with a loss

o This will help me move on to the next challenge quickly

o Working with the competitor

§ Language

· Use competitive language

o It’s a win lose world

§ Achieving my goals is a win and missing goals is a loss

§ Perfect fit

· Help find a place where the competitor can win

o If I lose repeatedly, I may stop playing all together

§ I don’t compete for fun but the win, this is serious

§ Space

· When I loose I need time, to deal with it GIVE IT TO ME

· Then help me move on to the next challenge and opportunity to win

• Futuristic

o Overview

§ “Wouldn’t it be great if…”

§ I love to peer over the horizon

§ The future fasinates me

§ As if it were a projection on the wall in front of me

· I see details of what the future might hold for me

· This detailed picture is what keeps pulling me forward

§ This pull will cause me a better product, a better team, a better life, or a better world-

· it will always be inspiring to me

§ I am a dreamer

· I see dreams of what could be and I cherish those dreams

§ Others come to me to describe my vision for their future

· They want a picture that they can raise up in there sights and raise up their spirits

· I can paint it for them

o Practice- choose my words carefully, make the picture as vivid as possible

· People will want to latch on to the hope you bring

§ Free myself from traditions and create a new future

o Actions

§ Choose roles were I can contribute my ideas about the future

§ Take time to think about the future

· The more time I consider the more vivid my ideas will become

o The more vivid the more persuasive

§ Seek people that will appreciate my ideas for the future

· They will expect me to make these ideas a reality and expectations will motivate me

§ Find another futuristic person

· We can push each other to greater heights of creativity and vividness

§ Partner with someone with strong activator talents

· They will Remind me that I do not discover the future but I create it with the action

§ I inspire others with images for the future

· But my images can be too expansive for others to comprehend

· Make sure I am sure I can describe my image

· Make ideas and images more concrete through plans and sketches, action plans, and models

§ Surround myself with others that are interested in putting your image into a reality

§ Be prepared to provide logic support for my futuristic thinking

· This will help your ideas be received better

§ This could help me be a guide or coach for others

· Unlike me they may not be able to think/imagine a future

o Working with a futurist

§ I live for the future

· Ask me to share my vision

o Career, organization, or about my general field

§ Stimulate me by the what could be

· Ask lots of questions

· Push me to make my future happen

§ Send me any data or articles that might be interesting

• Focus

o Overview

§ Where am I headed? Asking this question everyday

§ Guided by my focus

· Need a clear destination

· If without a focus my life and work can become frustrating

§ Goals serve as my compass

· They help me determine my priorities and make the corrections I need to make

§ Focus is powerful and forces me to filter

· I instinctively evaluate whether or not an action will help me move forward

§ Focus forces me to be efficient

· I will become impatient with delays, obstacles, and tangents

§ An extreme valuable team member

§ When people get off track, I put back on the main road

· Remind others that if something is not helping you move to your destination then it is not important

o If its not important then its not worth your time

§ I keep everyone on track

o Ideals for action

§ When I set goals I need to include timelines and measurements

· Provide proof that I am making progress

§ Seek roles in which you can function independently

· I will be able to stay on task with little supervision

§ Greatest worth as a team member might be others set goals

· At end of meeting take responsibility for summarizing what was decided and defining when acting needs to take place and setting dates

§ Others will think, act, and talk less efficiently than me, but pay attention

· Sometimes their detours will lead to discoveries and delights

§ Stretch my goal settings beyond work

· Don’t become too focused on work, set goals for my personal life

o This will create balance in my life

§ Hours can disappear when I am focused on a task, I loose track of time

· Make sure that all of my objectives are met and all priorities are met

o By creating a schedule and sticking too it

§ I work best with concrete few well defined initiatives and demands

· Its okay to say no to a project or task

o this will help me focus on what is important

§ take time to write down my aspirations and refer to them often

· I will then feel more in control of my life

§ Tell boss mid term and short term goals

· This will give your boss the confidence in giving you the space you need to do your work

§ Make sure my goals are reasonable

o Working with a focused person

§ When there are projects with critical deadlines, involve this person

· I honor timelines and commitments

· As soon as I own this project with dealines, I will concentrate my energies on it until it’s complete

§ Don’t expect this person to be sensitive to the feelings of others because getting my work done takes priority over people’s sensitivities