S H A P E

 

Getting and staying in shape is something that we’re all aware we need to do to keep our physical bodies functioning at their peak ability.  In their book, The Way of the Shepherd, Dr. Kevin Leman and William Pentak used the acronym SHAPE to help us remember what to look for in the people that we need on our teams, in roles of leadership or in the church to function at our peak ability.

 

S – Strengths

            “First .  .  . make sure each person has the skill set needed to do the job.”  Sometimes they can learn it on the job.  Sometimes they have to have it on the day they arrive.  It depends on the position.  The point is . . . always try to place people where they can operate out of their strengths and not their weaknesses.  So the first step is to understand the strengths of the people on your team, or the people who are about to join you.”

 

H – Heart

            “While your strengths reflect your abilities, your heart reflects your passion,” . . . “There’s nothing more commonplace than a company full of bright, talented people who are completely unmotivated to do their work.  It doesn’t matter how strong you are in a given area if you’re not motivated to exercise that strength, so . . . know what . . . people are passionate about.  If (you) put them in areas that reflect their passions, they’ll arrive to work like they’ve been shot out of a cannon.  They’ll begin to think of their job more as a cause than as a place to draw a paycheck.  That’s a big difference!”

 

A – Attitude

            “You want positive, can-do people.  Given a choice between talent and attitude, I’ll take attitude every time.”   . . . people with a good attitude are usually team players. . . they usually have a teachable spirit.   People with negative attitudes tend to be lone rangers.  You can’t teach them a thing.

 

P – Personality

            “Each one of us has been hardwired with a distinct personality,” . . . “Some of us are wired to be extroverts; other, introverts.  Some people love repetition.  They love knowing that they’re going to do the same thing in their job tomorrow that they did today.  Others would sooner crawl down into a hole and die if they can’t have some variety.  Some people thrive on change.  The point is to put a person in a position that reflects his or her personality.

 

E – Experiences

            This last point is the most vague, but it’s important to mention.  Each person you meet is a product of their life experiences.  Often the key to understanding an individual and the key to knowing where to place him or her on your team is to learn something about the person’s various experiences.

                                                                                                             Richard Edwards

 

PRAYER CONCERNS

Sympathy

·         Sympathy is extended to Rick Doyle & family on the death of his father, Louis.  Rick is the pastor of Means Memorial UMC in Andrews.

·         Sympathy is extended to the family of Marie Boswell.  Marie was the surviving spouse of James P. Boswell.

Health

·        Please be in prayer for Ronda Greenwood & family following surgery for colon cancer. She is the pastor of Stinnett UMC. 

·        Please be in prayer for Ann Akin as she recovers from surgery.  Ann is an associate pastor of St. John’s UMC in Lubbock. 

·        Please continue to be in prayer for Bob Karlin & family.  He has now returned home to Abilene following a liver transplant.  Bob is the pastor of Eula UMC.

·        Peggy Lindley is recovering from surgery for a detached retina.

Congratulations

• Congratulations to Lane & Tamara Boyd on the birth of their first grandchild, Charles Anderson Boyd.  Lane is the Senior Pastor of Polk Street UMC, Amarillo.

 

S.O.S. in the Congo

The District Office recently received the following letter from Larry Gaumond, Pastor of Fritch UMC.

 

Dear Brothers and sisters in Christ,

I don’t know whether or not you read the UM Reporter from July 9^th. On page 7A there is an article titled “Congo seminary struggles to quickly renew land title.” You can read the article yourself, and I wish you would, but to make a long story short they are in desperate need of another $27,000 to pay back a loan to renew their land title to keep from losing the Mulungwishi mission station. This includes the Katanga Methodist Mission University, with its theological seminary and women’s school, a health center, three secondary schools, a primary school, a community agricultural project and the United Methodist district headquarters.

 

In the fifty years since Congo gained its independence from Belgium, the UMC has grown from 60,000 to 500,000 members, and I venture to say the work done through the Katanga Methodist Mission University is primarily responsible for this. I know this for I was privileged to go there in 2005 with our Bishop. This is one of the greater works of the UMC today and we can’t let the enemy steal it from us for a few dollars.

 

This is what I propose; if each of the churches in our conference alone (all 214) were to donate $125.00 to pay off this debt they would once again be free and clear.  If we will get the word out I believe that by the last Sunday in August all the necessary funds will be raised. We can all forward our gifts to the NWTX Conference Office (1401 Ave M Lubbock, TX 79401) and let them forward the money to the proper advance.

 

I know we’re always being asked to give to something or another, all of which are important in their own right, but this one for the present must head the list. Together we can do this, easily! Being able to help one of our own in a time of need is one of the privileges of being a connectional church. For the sake of the souls still lost in the Congo I’m praying for your generosity.

God Bless – Towel in hand,

Pastor Larry Gaumond

 Roundup 2010 - August 7

FUMC Lubbock

  August 7 is marked on your calendar for Roundup 2020, isn’t it??

 

Roundup 2010 on August 7, at First United Methodist in Lubbock, will offer seven, 2 hour workshops.  Each workshop will be offered in the morning & afternoon sessions.  All workshops will be powerful and beneficial to all.  You can mail your registrations in or you can register and pay online with credit card, whichever is easier for you.    Go to the following site for complete information:

http://www.nwtxconf.org/Equip/Roundup-2010

 

Please note that you cannot register youth online, as their forms require parent/guardian signatures.  If you have questions, please call the NW Texas Conference office at: 806-762-0201. 

 

FINALLY-THE MOVE HAS HAPPENED!!

The Northwest Texas Conference staff has finally made the “big” move to their new service center.  Although the new building is just behind the old facility, the address has changed to: 1401 Ave. M, Lubbock, TX 79401.

 

Mark your calendars now for the dedication of the building, October 9, 2:00 PM.  Bishop Whitfield will be with us and we would like to invite you to join us for the dedication of YOUR new Conference Service Center.

 

Second Milers

It’s that time of year again….time for the Second Milers’ annual ice cream social.  This year’s event will be held Wednesday, August  25^th, 6:00 PM at St. John’s UMC, 1501 University.  You will be receiving a reminder post card.

 

 Texas Tech Lubbock Blitz

The Texas Tech Wesley Foundation is planning a “Lubbock District Blitz on Sunday, November 7, 2010.  They hope to have student representatives in as many Lubbock District churches as possible on that date.  If you would be interested in having a speaker or team of speakers from the Tech Wesley Foundation , please contact Justin Hancock at justin@ttuwesley.org

 

Discover God’s Call

What are your spiritual gifts & how is God calling you to use them?  Come to the Circle Six Ranch Camp in Stanton, TX October 1-3 to discover your gifts and how to use them.  Upon completing the weekend you will realize that churches no longer have one minister and  many members, but every member is a minister for our Lord. Contact the District Office for a brochure or go to: www.discovergodscall.org

How to Do Church

A workshop, “How to Do Church”, will be presented by Rev. Tim Walker, Senior Pastor of FUMC, Midland on Tuesday, August 17, at FUMC, LUBBOCK. The goal of the workshop is for pastors to leave the day confident about doing ministry and to gain new insights about their specific congregations and pastoral ministries.

There is no charge for this event, however you must register with Pamela Behr at:

pamelabehr@firstmethodistmidland.com  no later than August 10.

 

Clif Christopher Newsletter

Dr. Clif Christopher, our teacher at this year’s Annual Conference, would like to e-mail you his monthly newsletter.  If you are interested in receiving this newsletter please send your acceptance of this offer to Dave Andersen, Director of Stewardship and Conference Treasurer, at andersen@nwtxconf.org.  Please also indicate the e-mail address to which you would like it sent.