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FUNERAL DO'S AND DON'TS by Ivan Williams
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DO work with the family and the funeral home director in planning the funeral service. If you know the family is challenged financially, let them know they don't need to prove their love for the deceased by over-spending on the funeral.
DO inquire of the family regarding their desires for the service itself and seek to accommodate accordingly. It is important to be aware of the musical selections made by the family.
DO try to visit with a variety of family members before preparing the service. Each will have a different perspective of the deceased to share with you. It can also be helpful to invite family members to write a personal note about the person. Some of these comments can then be included in your remarks. Read More.
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Ivan Williams is the ministerial director for the North American Division
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FUNERAL EVANGELISM by Dan Serns
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Her husband was an alcoholic. Her seven children were in and out of relationships, addictions and jail. And she had done her best to live for Jesus in the midst of all the chaos.
"Preacher, we would like to have her funeral in the church since she loved it so much, and we would like you to have the service," her husband said.
"Would that be okay?"
"Of course we can do that, and I'm honored to have a part in it," I replied.
I knew that this funeral, just like every other funeral that a Seventh-day Adventist pastor, chaplain or lay leader is asked to perform, is a sacred trust. It is a time to celebrate a person's good qualities, to learn lessons for those living and an incredible opportunity to share Bible truth and the hope of a resurrection and reunion at the second coming of Jesus. Don't waste the opportunity! Read More.
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Dan Serns is senior pastor of the Richardson Church in Texas
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STORIES WE TELL by Jessica Richmond
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Only Christians Here
There is a story told about John Wesley being concerned about emerging denominations. In a dream he found himself ushered to the gates of hell.
There he asked, "Are there any Presbyterians here?" "Yes!" came the answer.
Then he asked, "Are there any Baptists? Any Methodists?" The answer was "Yes!" each time.
Greatly distressed, Wesley soon found himself ushered to the gates of Heaven. He asked the same question, and the answer was always "No!"
"Who then is inside?" Wesley was eager to know. The answered came back, "There are only Christians here!"
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Jessica Richmond is the lead pastor for the Tracy Church in Northern California
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BEST PRACTICES WEBINAR - TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15
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Join us for a Webinar on Tuesday, October 15, 2013
1:30 pm EST
 Space is limited.Reserve your Webinar seat now at:https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/700734376Presenter: Stan Patterson, Associate Professor of Church Leadership,
Chair, Department of Christian Ministry.  Join us on Tuesday, October 15, 2013 at 1:30 pm e.s.t., as we hold a NAD Ministerial Best Practices Webinar presentation by Stan Patterson entitled, "The Upside Down Church".
Description: We are born with the intuitive tendency to look up to find authority. Our accountability is likewise to that authority that is above us. We dream and urge our differentiation in the direction that will place us above--not below. Lucifer leveraged that natural tendency when he interjected the ascendant/dominance drive into the core of humanity at the fall. "I will ascend" emanated from the heart of Lucifer in his quest for dominance and has had a ubiquitous impact upon all humanity.
Jesus left the heights of glory on a downward journey of service that took him all the way to the depths of the grave to serve our need to be redeemed. This descendant/service model is countercultural in our sinful world yet the Master asks us to model it in our dealing with others. "The first shall be last" and "the least shall be your minister" is more than paradox, it is a clear expectation of God for the church. Jesus turned the church upside down! Authority is vested in the people and flows up--not down from leaders. Leaders exercise loaned authority and will never be able claim or own personal authority. Our accountability is also counter intuitive. Leaders in the church look down for accountability--not up.
Finding a way to embrace this upside down model is not easy. Organizational structure all around us exists in the context of the hierarchical model. Even the church is influenced by this model in its practice of leadership and organizational behavior.
The purpose of this webinar is to introduce you to a different model that will reintroduce the servant model that discovers greatness by going down--not up.
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LEAST EXCITING FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN by Lilya Wagner
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A debt can be debilitating, demoralizing, enervating and polarizing. But it's a reality in the life of many congregations today. On the other hand, turning a debt around and finding ways to be rid of it can also be a way to boost the activity and morale of a church family. It's not easy, by any means, but some suggestions can be found in a chapter in the handbook, Successful Fundraising, and PSI welcomes inquiries for additional resources and/or advice.
Before considering a serious campaign to reduce or eliminate a debt, consider some of these points. Read More.
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Lilya Wagner is director of Philanthropic Service for Institutions, an internal consulting group serving North American Division
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LET'S TALK
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Share with us a favorite sermon illustration-
Float an idea for an article you would like to write-
Raise a question you would like answered by a seasoned pastor-
Contact us at danmartella.nadbestpractices@gmail.com
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IDEAS, EVENTS, RESOURCES, ANNOUNCEMENTS
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David Murrow believes that the church has been taken back to the Middle Ages by the explosion of new worship music that gets praise teams singing, and congregations standing there in silence. The question worth pondering is this - How can we do a better job of introducing and integrating new songs into the life of our churches? http://www.patheos.com/
Sharpening the Sword is a free Adventist-operated Bible study website that offers a wealth of Bible translations, Bible commentaries, Bible dictionaries, topical studies, Ellen White writings, Sabbath School lesson resources, and tools to organize your personal Bible study and devotional life. http://www.sharpeningthesword.net
Previous resource links:
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Best Practices for Adventist Ministry is published by NAD Ministerial. Opinions expressed belong to the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of NAD Ministerial. Publisher: Ivan Williams; Managing Editor: Dan Martella. Copyright 2013 North American Division Corporation of Seventh-day Adventists. v(301) 680-6418
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