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Our Commitment to The Word
by Rev. Steve Engram, SWCC Regional Executive
Our first Core Value as an Association is that we are Bible-centered. From the inception of our movement some 70 years ago until the present the centrality of the Word of God has been foundational to our identity. We believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God and that to study it is to study the wisdom and truth that belongs to Him. At the heart of our commitment to the Bible is the faithful preaching and teaching of the Word. We believe the Word of God holds the message of salvation that brings eternal life to all people everywhere.
But our commitment to the Word goes beyond merely preaching and teaching it in our churches. We believe that the word of God must be lived out in our lives. We believe that as followers of Jesus Christ we must walk in obedience to its commands, follow its precepts and live within the guidance of its wisdom. Our goal is to live as disciples of Jesus Christ and at the core of that is to "observe all He has commanded" (Matthew 28:20). We believe that the Holy Spirit will use the Word to transform our minds and our hearts and that the Bible will be a chief tool He uses as He conforms us into the image of Jesus. It is this transformational effect of the Word that is so powerful to the world around us: change lives! It is the power of God lived out in our lives before a world that does not yet know Him. It is this integrity of obedience in Christ-likeness that quiets the critic's cries of "hypocrite".
So it is this quest to be Bible-centered that leads us to continually seek to be more effective in our communication and imparting of God's Word to our church families. It causes us to learn from one another new ways to create a hunger and thirst for God's Word in the lives of our people. For we believe the Word of God is the power by which the Holy Spirit transforms lives and shines the light of hope to a world that is in darkness. I hope that you will find in this magazine some new and challenging ways to make the Bible more of an integral part of your life and ministry.
Steve
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Big Picture, Daily Reading, Powerful Growth Elements
By Dr. Bert Downs, SWCC Regional Coach and Chancellor, Western Seminary
Life change often comes in unpredictable and unexpected ways. A seminar in 1975 would unexpectedly change the course of my life and ministry for the rest of my life. The seminar? A "Walk Thru the New Testament." Six hours on a Saturday reshaped everything I thought about how to learn, use, manage and allow God to work through the words of The Word. As a recent Bible college graduate at that time, I knew tons of details about the Bible, but on that Saturday I learned how it all fit together . . . and it changed everything about my approach to learning and teaching from Scripture.
 Little did I know then that Walk Thru the Bible would become part of my ministry journey for nearly 30 years. During that time we trained scores of instructors to teach these powerful WTB seminars all over the world, and I personally taught 100s of the seminars. If you were to gather all those instructors, many now the leaders of major seminaries, churches and ministries across the globe, and you were to ask them to list the top five spiritual influences in their lives, they'd all list Walk Thru the Bible in their top five. Why? Because getting the big picture of Scripture deeply engrained in your persona as a Christ follower is absolutely empowering in utilizing Scripture for your own growth and for the growth of others as well.
So here's a thought for 2013: consider making it a goal for your church community to help each and every member and attendee get a big picture grasp of either the Old or New Testament, and as part of that process, to have as many of your folks as possible also read through the entire Scripture during the year. It will be an investment that will change you, your congregation and your community . . . something you'll come back to again and again as you reach new generations of believers.
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The Indispensables in the Search Process
 I am often asked what my ministry is with Southwest Church Connection. I usually answer that one component of my ministry with SWCC involves putting together leadership teams in smaller churches and coaching them in the pastoral search process. Our mission statement says that "Southwest Church Connection is a network of churches, empowered by the Lord and mobilized by passionate spiritual leaders, reaching the Southwest with the Gospel through healthy, reproducing congregations." Thus, one of my responsibilities is to help churches find that passionate servant leader. Often when a church finds itself without a pastor, it will ask for this kind of assistance.
Team Building
After agreement is made between SWCC and the church, the work begins. The building of a leadership team comes first. This crucial process takes time-a few months. At the beginning of this period I make two commitments: to pray and to seek out the right leaders for this vital group. Forgive me for sounding pious, but when I visit and interact with the congregation, I ask the Lord to show me those leaders who have a heart for God, have a love for others, are team players, are creative thinkers, and are not power hungry. It is essential that the right people be on this team because of this awesome responsibility of finding God's man for their congregation. Among other things, they will be involved with forming a pastor profile, evaluating resumes, listening to messages, interviewing candidates, talking with references, etc. Their ministry doesn't end until the new pastor is approved by the congregation.
The Indispensables
Before the team actually begins the first step of putting together a pastor profile, I encourage them to compose a list of some essential traits they would want all candidates to possess. These represent non-negotiable items for the pastoral candidate. Admittedly these items can be difficult to measure, and this can make the search process somewhat tricky. The following listing represents what teams have come up with. A pretty good list!
- Does the candidate possess a heart for God (Psalm 42:1)?
- Does he love people (both non believer and believer) (Matt 22:39)? Theodore Roosevelt said, "People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care."
- Does he exhibit a servant-leadership spirit (Phil 2:5-8)?
- Is he a hard worker (Rom 12:11; 1Thess 2:9)?
- Does he encourage others (Heb 3:13)?
- Does he possess a teachable spirit (2Tim 2:2)?
- Is he a man of prayer (Jer 33:3)?
- Does he love his wife and family (Eph 5:25-29)?
- Is he a man that understands grace and lives by it (Eph 2:8-10)?
- Is he willing to admit his mistakes and weaknesses (2Cor 12:10)
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Investing Into Our Connection Group Leaders
 Bible-centered churches can always expect opposition from the Evil One, am I right? That's why I admire our Connection Group leaders and the role they play in helping other pastors fight against discouragement and other issues that threaten to derail them.
One of my commitments is to invest into these leaders who are investing into the pastors in their region. Our Connection Group leaders are building God's kingdom in their respective area and I want to help do whatever I can to encourage them in their regional calling. One of the ways I'll do this is providing a quarterly opportunity for us to hang out together and to learn from one of our association's larger churches.
 These weekends are called "All Access" events and we had our first one Oct 26, 27th at Palm Valley Church in Goodyear. Participants received a bunch of resources developed by Palm Valley Church to manipulate and use for their ministry. We also had a great time discussing ministry together and we were very well fed. The climax was observing the Saturday night service and evaluating the service with their staff.
Our next All Access is tentatively scheduled for January 2013 in Tucson. It is for Senior Pastors and their wives. There is a discount for pastors who are a part of the SWCC and it's free to Connection Group leaders.
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The Gospel and Ethnic Communities
Ethnic identity is a social phenomenon that some will say; "is as old as the Bible". That statement is not far from the truth. Genesis 10, describes how the Nations (ethnic groups) descended from Noah. This observable fact, of Ethnic identity, continues today and will be evident in the human experience until the end of the ages, we read of ethnic identity in the book of Revelation. "for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation," Revelation 5:9b As we look around the United States, every major metropolitan area gives evidence of this phenomenon as people instinctively settle into communities according to ethnic identity.
A familiar theme expressed in most ethnic communities, African American, Asian American, Latinos, Native American and many others; is a theme that communicates a strong and steady desire to maintain and pass on the ethnic identity of the group to the next generation. I recall a fellow seminarian conveying the story of a Korean man bringing his grandson to church and instructing my friend, the Youth Pastor; "You will teach my grandson the Bible and how to be Korean."
A basic Google search of "American Ethnic magazine" will reveal a listing of publications devoted to developing and instilling the beauty of ethnic identity in the current generation and then passing it on to the next. ArtNexus is the magazine for all those interested in Latin American and Hispanic art. Amici Journal is Chicago-land's Italian American Lifestyle Magazine. Audrey Magazine claims to be the nation's premier lifestyle magazine created by Asian American women for Asian American women. The list is endless; such as African American Ebony, Essence, Black Enterprise, (African American), Latino Magazine, Latino Perspective, (Latino), Inside Asian America (Asian American) and American Indian Review, Whispering Wind, Indian Life (Native American). What do all these publications have in common? What they have in common is the desire to create and communicate the beauty of ethnic identity in the current generation and then passing it on to the next.
If the churches of the SWCC, and for that matter all Christian churches, want to advance the gospel in the Southwest among people of these communities, we will need to understand them and engage in ministry both to and within these communities. Jesus' command was; "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations..." Matthew 28:19a
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Does Your Church Have a Social Media Policy?
 Statistics show that religious Americans have adopted social media at roughly the same rates as non-church going citizens. According to the 2011 Pew Internet and American Life Project, 79 percent of those active in religious groups use the internet, and 46 percent use social media, compared to 75 and 49 percent of nonreligious Americans, respectively.
However, experts say convincing churches to adopt policies governing online activity is an uphill slog. Either they are unaware of the need for guidelines or oppose them outright.
Some churches are avoiding the issue altogether by making the decision that they will not have a presence in the Social Networking world, which also is a mistake. According to the Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project: The social side of the internet report, 2011,
"Church organizations and spiritual groups are by far the most popular groups among Americans: 40% of adults say they are active in such groups".
With that many people involved in social networking groups, the question is; how can we not have a presence? We need to be a voice of reason for Christ, and that is why we need to be online. However, if we are going to be online and connecting, we need to have some policy guiding that action. . .
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Soul Possession - Don't Forget to Pack
 Make a list of things you would pack for camp. Got it? What's on the top of your list? Clothes, toothbrush, sleeping bag, pillow... What if you didn't have those things? What if all you had was the clothes on your back and maybe another t-shirt? What would you do then?
At the beginning of summer, Prescott Pines Camp had the unique privilege of working with Sports Kids AZ to serve a special group of homeless children living in the Phoenix area. Through the faithful giving of Christ Church of the Valley and a partnership with Prescott Pines, God provided each and every step of the way. Not only did Sports Kids AZ need to raise funds for the cost of food and lodging but also for needs that we wouldn't think twice about - from toothbrushes to pillows, sleeping bags to Bibles--yes, even Bibles! Sports Kidz community programs use sports to create a positive environment for children who are considered less fortunate. It is their goal to use athletics as a vehicle to bring hope to children's lives while building self confidence and teaching life skills.
 As a Christian based organization they know that true hope only comes from Jesus, the living Word of God. Nicole Potter, the organizer of the event, had shared her desire to give the campers Bibles but they had run short on funds. Prescott Pines's Heather Trail decided to see what she could do to help out. The Height's, a local church in Prescott, received a phone call from her that day. It just so happened that they had recently ordered Bibles but the print was too small. "Would you like them?" the church secretary asked. Of course an overwhelming "YES!" resounded on the other end of the line. During those days in May, the children ran about camp soaring on the zip line, shooting arrows, and stuffing themselves full of camp food and fun. And also with the Word!
Coming to camp with so very little, they left with hearts full of memories and a Book of their very own. With very few possessions, this Bible was precious to them. On the evening the youth pastor spoke with them, twenty three children stepped forward, making a critical decision in their lives. Prescott Pines Camp desires to be Bible centered and when we think about what that means we remember this week in May when we served the homeless children. We hope to hold the Scriptures in the forefront of all that we do here. We hope to keep it guarded as if it was our only possession. And when all else fades away - the roof of the gym, the walls of a Hilltop, the grass of the field - we can trust in His Word forever. It is the one thing we'll never forget to pack.
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Heritage Series #6 - Rev. Miki West
The goal of our Heritage Series is to capture important things from the great ministries that have characterized the past of this network of churches. Moses often called the people to remember and there is good reason to remember, in that we stand on the shoulders of people who did excellent things and we need to remember that even as we move into our future.
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In this 6th edition of our Heritage Series, we interview the Rev. Miki West. One thing that Miki reminds us of, is that "We talk about building churches but really what we're doing is building people".
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Miki and his wife Carol came to the Southwest in 1959 and have had a long ministry with our network of churches. Miki is currently a Chaplain with the Phoenix VA Hospital.
Enjoy the video!
 | | Rev. Miki West - SWCC Heritage Series |
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SWCC Presents Regional
Conferences Coming to an Area Near You
Southwest Church Connection is developing regional conferences that will bring teaching and training to meet the needs of churches in your region. Each conference is unique to those who attend, as we customize the training modules that will be available in your area. Our theme for 2013 is "Remedy: Prescriptions for a Healthy Church."
Our prayer is that these one-day conferences will be efffective tools for the local church and that they will assist you in discovering the remedies for maintaining a healthy church.
Be watching for locations, dates and all the information to come soon. |
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