Ministry Encouragement Podcast

About Ministry Encouragement Podcast

Spiritual encouragement for Clergy and Christ Followers

Publisher

Rev. Jim W. Hollis

Category

religion & spirituality · religion & spirituality · religion & spirituality

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

1 Apr 2014

Latest episode

29 Dec 2025

Latest episodes

10 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   29 Dec 2025

   Encouragement Through A Leadership Covenant

   Ministry Encouragement Podcast – Sponsored by: Proactive Ministries Your Host: Rev. Jim W. Hollis Welcome to each of you today to the Ministry Encouragement Podcast.  It’s my prayer that you will know how very much I appreciate each of you being a loyal part of our podcast community.  Today’s topic is on encouraging Leaders in the community of faith, particularly in a local church.  I will be talking about: Encouragement Through A Leadership Covenant The responses to the idea of having a Leadership Covenant in the local church can vary widely.  For leaders who are content, satisfied and comfortable – creating a Leadership Covenant would be something to resist and oppose.  After all if the goal is not moving toward excellence in a disciplined process, why would we want a Leadership Covenant? Covenants are God’s idea.  There are many of them in the Bible and God has used them across the centuries to encourage Leaders in the faith to come together in a closer relationship, ministry and walk with God.  In some cases if there had been no Covenant, bad situations would not have moved forward.  Here are just a few examples of Covenants in Scripture: The Edenic Covenant – Genesis 1 & 2 The Adam Covenant – Genesis 3 The Covenant with Noah – Genesis 6-9 The Covenant with Abraham – Genesis 12-22 The Covenant with Moses – Exodus 19-41; Galatians 3:24 The Palestinian Covenant – Deuteronomy 27-33 The Covenant with David – 2 Samuel 7; Psalm 89 & 132 The New Covenant – Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 8; & Matthew 26 The Everlasting Covenant – Hebrews 13:20; Ephesians 3:11 & 1:4-9 God’s Covenants express God’s: Divine Love Grace Mercy Will The Bible makes it very plain that God is: A COVENANT–MAKING GOD:  “Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you …” Isaiah 55:3 A COVENANT-KEEPING GOD: “…He is a faithful God, keeping His covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commands.” Deuteronomy  7:9 A COVENANT-REVEALING GOD:  “The Lord confides in those who fear Him; He makes His covenant known to them.”  Psalm 25:14 A COVENANT-ENABLING GOD: “ I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13 Covenants provide Leaders with tangible, steady encouragement as they lead others in the ways of God: “But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first.”  Hebrews 3:12-14 There are clear benefits to a Leadership Covenant: Deeper growth in personal relationship with Christ Closer relationships with other leaders A growing and maturing prayer life Greater awareness of both strengths and weaknesses Loving accountability – encourages our strengths & helps in areas of weakness Provides for equipping and strengthening for each Leader’s area of ministry Moving from a congregation leadership model with no Covenant to one with a clear, concise Covenant requires great wisdom, discernment and a process that allows others to learn the benefits and be brought along in positive ways.  It can’t be done retroactively, but has to be approved by the Senior Pastor, the Leadership Selection Group and voted on by the central Leadership Group in any congregation – such as an Administrative Council, Church Council, Deacons, or Elders. How is the Leadership quality in your local church?  Are you seeing Leaders who are deeply passionate about their faith and engaged in the joy of ministry?  Are your Leaders involved in worship and the ministry of reaching others consistently?  An excellent, personalized Leadership Covenant could make all the difference in Leadership in your church. Let me encourage you to share this podcast and others in this series with those on your list of friends.  You can send them the LINK for the Podcast, www.ministryencouragementpodcast.com, or send them a short email encouraging them to listen.  Your doing so will help to build our community that God has designed. Feel free to contact me personally with your thoughts, input, suggestions and questions about ministry in your congregation or spiritual growth in your own life.  You can reach me at: Email: healthyandwholejh@gmail.com LinkedIn: Jim Hollis Facebook: Jim W. Hollis Until our next time together, may the Lord bless you and keep you in joy. Blessings, Jim

2. 

   10 Jul 2014

   How Can Dying Churches Become Revitalized?

   Ministry Encouragement Podcast – Episode #096   7-10-14 Your Host: Rev. Jim W. Hollis   Sponsored by: Proactive Ministries (www.proactive-ministries.org) Hello!  Thanks for joining me for this ninety-sixth edition of The Ministry Encouragement Podcast.  Your presence in sharing in our podcast and discussions is a tremendous encouragement and my prayer is that you will be encouraged spiritually through the Community that God continues to build among us. The purpose of this podcast is to spiritually encourage all Christ Followers who are actively engaged in ministry to find new hope, spiritual motivation and practical strategies for being more like Christ each day.  We talk about ministry realities, strategies for initiating and building new relationships and growing together in Christian Community. Today I will be focusing on the the topic: How Can Dying Churches Become Revitalized? There is a growing expression across many mainline, denominational churches today in the United States, “We want to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.” This is appearing in massive percentages of publications, promotions and being discussed in both pulpits and classrooms.  Yet, upon closer inspection of the current reality of these churches, on average, 60 – 65% of them have not received one person on profession of faith in Jesus Christ in the past 12 months or longer.  In some districts, even in the Bible Belt of America, up to 70% of these churches are in serious decline.  The pastors and leaders in these churches want reach others and grow but don’t know how.  They know there is serious trouble and yet they are clinging to hope in Christ.  WHY? There are two major reasons why we are so reluctant to share our faith and the love of Christ unconditionally with those we don’t know: Reason #1: Fear of personal rejection Reason #2: Not knowing what to say or how to initiate a new friendship with someone we don’t already know Out of the hundreds of churches we have worked with across the nation over the past 21 years, we have proven statistically that the above reasons shake out as Reason #1 and Reason #2 in 99% of surveys given in local churches. So what’s the answer to this major crisis in so many churches today. The answer it three fold: 1) We want to create powerful times of worship and praise in which we can share the good news that God has sent the Savior of the world, who took on humanity, and loved every one of us enough to die on the Cross that we may have not only eternal life but abundant life each day. 2) We can learn Biblically based, common sense, relational strategies of HOW to reach out beyond the walls of our churches and initiate new, authentic, lasting friendships with persons and families in our community that we have not yet met.  Some of them we can meet in restaurants as they introduce themselves to us as Servers.  Others we will meet as we drop off our clothes in the Dry Cleaners.  Still others we will get to know because they work as cashiers in check out lines at Home Depot, Publix or other retail shopping stores. 3) As we find the spiritual empowerment through the Holy Spirit to learn this kind of ministry and we begin to live this out consistently, we will see God begin to use us to actually reach others as they choose to become authentic disciples of Jesus Christ today. So new ministries must emerge that will cause us to risk ourselves in new and exciting ways as we go where the Spirit leads and discover how God will use people like us, with our many limitations and struggles to make an incredible difference in hundreds of lives. What now?  Pray and talk about the opportunity to have us in Proactive Ministries come and share outreach ministry experiences with your congregation.  The process can bring spiritual renewal and the initiation of many new friendships across your church and your community. There IS hope for dying churches.  They can become revitalized.  Will you take action to see this become a reality? Give me a call soon and I’d love to hear about your personal walk with Christ, the ministries you love and your desire to see more of the presence of Jesus in your life and congregation. You may reach me at: Ministry Offices: (770) 803-9988 Email:  jim@ministryencouragementpodcast.com Facebook: Jim W. Hollis LinkedIn: Jim Hollis OR leave a Voicemail right on this page, on the right side click on the voicemail button with your mouse and use your computer microphone to speak and it will record your message and send it directly to me. Until the next time, may the Lord of all life bless you and keep you.  May Christ make his face to shine upon you and give you peace and joy. In Christ’s Grace, Jim

3. 

   28 Jun 2014

   3 Tech Ministry Priorities for Great Pastors and Christ Followers

   Ministry Encouragement Podcast – Episode #095  –  6-27-14 Our Sponsor: Proactive Ministries (proactive-ministries.org) Your Host: Rev. Jim W. Hollis Hello to you and welcome to this the ninety-fifth episode of The Ministry Encouragement Podcast.  This podcast is designed for all Christ Followers who wish to grow deeper in their own faith journey and receive encouragement as they serve others in ministries. I’m so glad you took time out of your busy schedule to share with me today in a topic that is often discussed by nearly everyone in ministry: 3 Tech Ministry Priorities for Great Pastors and Christ Followers or In Ministry – What should be my Tech Priorities to touch lives? Our discussion has to begin with our own understanding of technology and social media in our culture, community, congregation, and personal life.  There is a wide variety of views today! So after coming to know hundreds of Pastors and Christian Leaders over the last 20 years there has been a clear technology revolution and evolution.  So first we can narrow this discussion to the last two years – since if we go further back than that our information may be obsolete.  What has stood strong in the jungle of hundreds of new inventions, innovations and APPS?  What would be your 3 Top Tech Priorities for ministry today? Here are my 3 top Tech and Social Media recommendations for great Pastors and all Christ Followers in ministry: Use Technology & Social Media to zoom in on Staff and Leadership Take seriously Smartphones and maximizing ministry touches Don’t neglect Low Tech and Huge Impact tools from the old days It’s my prayer that if you follow my 3 suggestions for prioritizing technology and a few of the old ways, your ministry will be strengthened, you will form many new relationships that matter and you will find those you are ministering to open up to share with you spiritually in entirely new ways on a new level. Thanks for sharing in the podcast today and if you like what you heard would you please go over to ITunes and give the Ministry Encouragement Podcast a review and rating?  If you liked it well enough, please consider giving it “5 stars” as this will accelerate it being spread to more people. Also feel free to contact me personally by email, phone, or through Social Media on Facebook and LinkedIn.  My contact information is listed below and it’s always a JOY to hear from you.  Would you please consider sharing this with a friend of yours also?  Thanks! Offices of Proactive Ministries (USA, Georgia):  (770) 803-9988 Jim Hollis’ email: jim@ministryencouragementpodcast.com Jim on Facebook: Jim W. Hollis   (Please “like” our Proactive Ministries Page!) Jim on LinkedIn: Jim Hollis Jim on Twitter: @jhriskforchrist May the Lord bless you and keep you until the next time we share together, finding encouragement through the Presence and Power of Christ in our lives. In Christ’s Grace, Jim

4. 

   10 Jun 2014

   Pastors: MORE of these & LESS of these, please

   Ministry Encouragement Podcast – Episode #094 – 6-9-14 Your Host: Rev. Jim W. Hollis, Executive Director of Proactive Ministries Ministry Website: www.proactive-ministries.org Hello and welcome to another episode of The Ministry Encouragement Podcast!  I’m so glad that you have taken time from your busy schedule to join me in this time.  The purpose of this podcast is to encourage all Pastors, Leaders and Christ Followers as they live out their faith daily.  Proactive Ministries works with churches and businesses across North America to provide motivation, teaching and encouragement in practical areas of Christ-led ministries. Today we will be focusing on the Priorities of Pastors.  I will be suggesting three areas to significantly increase in pastoral ministry and three areas to seriously decrease as Pastors. Being called by Christ to serve as an effective, fruit-bearing Pastor is challenging and can provide one of the greatest joys in life. Yet many Pastors today are not living in joy but frustration and discouragement.  There are strategic adjustments that can be made by Pastors to raise the joy of ministry and lower the discouragement and despair.  Here they are: Pastors – MORE of these: 1) Comprehensive Prayer Ministry 2) Initiation of New Relationships (inside & outside) 3) Direct and consistent investment in Leaders Pastors – LESS of these: 1) Counseling Time with Individuals 2) Being infected by drama & trivia in too many meetings 3) Bogging down in the overall Leadership Structure Some of the keys to doing the suggestions listed above is to avoid certain pitfalls when you step up with spiritual courage to make those changes to the overall ministry of the congregation are these: Don’t give high priority to negative persons in Leadership – replace them Someone will say, “We can do those in-house.”  If you could have, you would have already done it.  Get outside coaching. The changes listed are not minor – they are foundational and will bring significant transformed lives and the making of disciples Thanks for riding, biking, running or driving along with me for this episode today.  Would you be so kind as to share this with your Pastor(s) that they may be encouraged with some fresh ideas and views of how to move forward?  And consider carefully the possible “take-away” or “action steps” following what I shared with you today: 1) Give me a call and let’s talk about HOW to effectively transition from decline to growth.  Our office number is: (770) 803-9988. 2) Email me at: jim@ministryencouragementpodcast.com   This comes directly to me. 3) Use your mouse to click on the Voicemail box on the right side of this blog page.  Use your computer microphone and talk away, up to 45 seconds.  This comes directly to me. 4) Find me and our ministry on Facebook: Jim W. Hollis OR Proactive Ministries page. Take care until the next time we share time in thinking through ministry possibilities together.  I would love to hear from you! Blessings in Christ, Jim

5. 

   2 Jun 2014

   Spiraling Spiritual Danger – Inactive Members

   Ministry Encouragement Podcast – Episode #093  – Host: Rev. Jim Hollis Sponsored by: Proactive Ministries (proactive-ministries.org) Hello and welcome to the Ministry Encouragement Podcast.  This podcast is for all Christ followers and those who are serving in ministry to others.  You may be a Pastor, a church Leader or someone who simply loves Christ and wants to serve others with joy.  It’s my prayer that you will receive encouragement for your ministry involvement as there is far too much discouragement across the churches today. The topic of this episode is addressing a deadly place where many Christ followers can easily find themselves.  It can lead to isolation from Christian community and a major disconnect in spiritual growth.  We will be talking about: Spiraling Spiritual Danger – Inactive Members Thousands of mainline churches across America today have 50% to 70% of their members who live in the surrounding community become inactive members.  How do we define an “inactive member” for the sake of our discussion? Popular definitions of inactive members generally resemble one or more variations of the following widely accepted, mainline church definition: A person who has joined a congregation as a member in full, through a public profession of Christ as Savior and taking of vows.  Also a resident of the community who lives within reasonable driving distance of the church, and has not attended a principle weekly worship service or contributed financially to the church in the past twelve months. This could be considered as the popular American mainline church definition.  To take such a view of one of the members of a church allows us to simply treat these folk as “out of sight, out of mind” and basically forget them. In our ministry we have a different definition of an inactive member: A member of the congregation in full standing, who has made a public profession of Christ as Savior & Lord, and taking of vows to be loyal in discipleship in and beyond the church.  They have participated in less than 70% of a principle weekly worship service and are not engaged in another ministry beyond weekly worship. For you math types, someone can be involved in the weekly worship of the church 70% of the Sundays of the year and still miss 13 Sundays.  That’s quite a few Sundays in total.  We also advocate that if a person misses more than 13 Sundays a year, they should not be involved as a key Leader in the church. Here are some important questions to reflect on concerning the thousands of resident, inactive members in churches across America today: 1) As a Pastor of the church, should our having a high percentage of our resident members who have not attended in months interfere with our sleep at night? 2) As local church Leaders (Deacons, Elders, Council Members, etc…) are we to reach out to these persons or just forget about them as though it’s not our concern? 3) If we were to make a decision to initiate reaching out to them, what would our motivation be? 4) Does the phrase, “There but by the Grace of God, go I” apply to our present relationship with our inactive members? I’d like to share an a real life, theological analogy with you concerning our inactive members of a couple with two teenagers – one compliant and the other rough, rowdy and rebellious. ****************************************************************** The bottom line is this: Do you feel enough love or pain in your heart as a Pastor or a church Leader today to take action concerning this incredible spiral of spiritual danger.  What can you do to reverse this?  What can you do to effectively initiate your church taking caring, compassionate and courageous action to begin to stop and reverse the spiral? Will you be the one to take action?  I invite you to call or contact me personally today concerning this incredible opportunity to reach some of the people in our own spiritual family who have drifted away, left because they were hurt or simply never became connected relationally in the church.  We have provided practical, Biblically based and effective outreach training for reaching inactives for more than 20 years in 40 states across America.  My information is: Email: jim@ministryencouragementpodcast.com Ministry Office: (Smyrna, GA, USA) – (770) 803-9988 OR leave me a personal voicemail, just on the right of this blog page, using your computer microphone and mouse.  It will come directly to me. Facebook: Jim W. Hollis I hope to hear from you soon.  Lives hang in the balance.  Together, we can make a lasting difference with Christ in the lives of our Inactive, resident members and families.  It’s not too late – unless we ignore the ministry opportunity. Blessings, Jim

6. 

   20 May 2014

   The 24 Hour Spiritual Transformation

   Ministry Encouragement Podcast – Episode #92 5-18-14 /  Our Sponsor: Proactive Ministries (proactive-ministries.org) Your Host: Rev. Jim W. Hollis Welcome today to the Ministry Encouragement Podcast.  This podcast is for the purposes of encouraging all Christ followers as they seek to draw closer to Christ and be engaged in ministries to others.  There is far too much discouragement in Christian ministry today.  So, in this time, it is my hope that you will find some encouragement which will touch you and that you would choose to share with others you know. Today’s topic is: The 24 Hour Spiritual Transformation 1) What am I referring to as The 24 Hour Spiritual Transformation? 2) How did this amazing blessing that has taken place across America get started and continue to grow to this very day? 3) What are the keys to this particular transformation recurring so strongly? 4) How can this happen in your local church and what are realistic, expected outcomes of this in your congregation? 5) What ACTION steps could you take to bring this to reality in your own life and church setting? It’s my prayer that you will catch the vision of what God can do in ANY local church who truly wants to begin to reach others relationally in their community.  The church can be new or old, small or large, urban or rural and the Pastor & Leaders will definitely not want to count on “business as usual” or “maintaining the status quo” to deliver the growth to the congregation’s reach. I hope you will share this with your fellow Leaders and Pastor.  The 24 Hour Spiritual Transformation can happen where you live in your life and the lives of those who lead and belong to your congregation.  Are you up for being an Agent of Change for Christ and ministry excellence  in your own setting? Hope to see you share this podcast with your Pastor, other key Leaders and friends you know.  It can truly make a profound difference in so many lives and relationships that it’s incredibly powerful.  Until our next epsisode, may God truly bless and empower you for greater ministry ahead!  You can be the catalyst for change! Get in touch with me today and let’s talk it over: Email: jim@ministryencouragementpodcast.com Ministry Offices (Atlanta, GA, USA): (770) 803-9988  / Fax: (770) 803-9989 Facebook: Jim W. Hollis   /  LinkedIn:  Jim Hollis OR use the Voicemail TAB on the right side of this page, with your computer mic and mouse to leave me a voicemail.  It will come to me personally. Blessings, Jim

7. 

   12 May 2014

   Five Ways Pastors Are Wounded

   Ministry Encouragement Podcast – Episode #091 /  May 6, 2014 Our Host: Proactive Ministries  (www.proactive-ministries.org) Your Host: Rev. Jim W. Hollis Hello and thanks for joining me today on the Ministry Encouragement Podcast.  We’re on our ninety-first episode.  Today we will be discussing an important but uncomfortable topic that directly impacts the lives of many Pastors across America today: Five Ways Pastors Are Wounded In every church there exists a population of persons who bring harm to the Pastor.  Sometimes it is unintentional and in other cases it is intended to bring harm.  It’s a great idea to have each of us ask ourselves, “Is there something in my attitudes or behavior that could be harming our Pastor?” From having worked with hundreds of churches across 40 states in America, here are five of the top ways this can happen: 1) Listen to hurtful criticism without challenging the person being hurtful. 2) Insist on comparing your present Pastor with one or more of your previous Pastors. 3) See them as someone God sent there to serve you personally, rather than as a wonderful friend that you can serve alongside. 4) If your Pastor is married, criticize their spouse or children. 5) Never ask them to truly be you and your family’s Pastor when the storms come. ********************************************* Thanks for sharing your time with me today.  I’d love to hear from you personally in response to this episode.  Let me ask you a few questions that may be relevant to your spiritual walk today: Do you see your present Pastor as a true friend who loves God, understands you and your family and encourages you to serve the Lord with joy? Are you receiving spiritual encouragement from your present Pastor? Do you wish you knew how to have a better relationship with your Pastor? If you found that one of these questions is where you are feel free to contact me personally.  I would be honored to help you work through this and suggest specific ways that this can be resolved. You can contact me in one of the following ways: Email: jim@ministryencouragementpodcast.com Voicemail: Use the “button” on the right side of this blog page, click it and using your computer’s microphone, leave me a personal voicemail. Phone: Our ministry in Atlanta, GA: (770) 803-9988 Until next time may the Lord bless you and keep you, bringing you new joy and hope!  It’s my prayer that you’ll share this podcast with someone you know. In Christ, Jim

8. 

   29 Apr 2014

   God’s Affirmation of Fishing and Hunting

   Ministry Encouragement Podcast – Episode #090  – 4-29-14 Our Sponsor: Proactive Ministries    Your Host: Rev. Jim W. Hollis Hello and welcome to the ninetieth episode of the Ministry Encouragement Podcast.  I’m delighted that you have taken part of your busy schedule to share in our community that God is continuing to build around the podcast. We are celebrating experiencing Spring and the ending of a very hard, long winter.  Temperatures are moving far above freezing and sunny days are coming on strong.  This is the time of the year when millions of us will begin to move back outside for two very popular activities – Fishing and Hunting. For this episode I will be having us take a scriptural look at Fishing and Hunting. The topic for this episode is: God’s Affirmation of Fishing and Hunting Across nearly 40 years of ministry I’ve found that far more people have experienced fishing than hunting.  After all, there’s no adventure or joy quite like taking a child or a young person fishing for the first time.  When they put bait on the line and a fish gets o the hook – regardless of the size – seeing the joy on their faces is incredible. Let’s take a look at some things the Bible says about fishing and hunting and see if we can relate it to ministry and the community of faith today. We can start with a text in Jeremiah 16:16-17, where we find these words: Jeremiah 16:16-17 New International Version (NIV) 16 “But now I will send for many fishermen,” declares the Lord, “and they will catch them. After that I will send for many hunters, and they will hunt them down on every mountain and hill and from the crevices of the rocks. 17 My eyes are on all their ways; they are not hidden from me, nor is their sin concealed from my eyes. I can recall growing up as a young boy and my Dad taking me fishing near my home in the eastern part of the state of Georgia in a little place called Hard Labor Creek State Park near Rutledge, GA. And I’ve continued to fish all my life taking our own two sons early on in their lives and now our three grandchildren to experience the joy of fishing.  There are some things that we can learn from our fishing experiences that relate to us as Christ Followers today: 1) For too many years in churches, we have been doing the wrong kind of fishing.  We’ve fished as what refer to as “Bait Casters.”  When you’re fishing as a Bait Caster there are some things that are incredibly limited and restrictive. 2) It’s my counsel that we need to graduate from Bait Casting to Bass Fishing.  Here in the United States there is a group of people who fish that are often called, “Bass Masters.”  They are very different from Bait Casters. When we pause and think about how we have been doing outreach and evangelism in most congregations across North America for the past 50 years, we have been much more like Bait Casters than Bass Masters. Jesus spent much of his ministry time with fishermen.  Some of this own disciples were professional fishermen who made a living fishing.  Simon Peter, James and John came to Christ through experiences of fishing on the Sea of Galilee.  And they left being mere fishermen behind to follow Jesus as disciples.  Jesus made disciples out of fishermen. Jesus told them, “From now on you will be catching people rather than fish.”  And their lives were never the same again. 3) A parallel comparison be seen in the area of hunting.  In the text for today, Jeremiah 16:16-17 (in the notes for this episode) – God sends persons to not only fish but to hunt as well.  I learned much about hunting growing up in a rural area. Early on as a young person I was introduced to deer hunting.  Many of men in our town got excited about deer hunting.  And they decided to teach me how to do it.  I never was good at deer hunting.  I started young and it just didn’t make sense to me. With this less than positive experience of deer hunting, by my second year in high school I decided to graduate to a different kind of hunting – quail hunting.  Quail hunting is very different that deer hunting. 4) In too many faith communities across North America, particularly those that are mainline, established churches – we have been doing the wrong kind of hunting.  We have been deer hunting rather than moving up to hunt quail. The Bible does give many examples of fishing and hunting that we can learn from.  The key to benefiting from it is to know that it’s not the fish and the game or the sport of it all that matters – it’s walking with Christ where Christ is at work in that unconditional love in order to connect with others in caring, authentic relationships, grounded in Divine Grace.  This is relational evangelism. ************************************************************** Thanks so much for joining me again for this podcast.  You are an encouragement to me and our ministry.  As always, for you to contact me by email, phone, or voicemail right off this blog page – means so much.  I love it when you take a moment to share with me what you received from the podcast and to let me know of suggestions on how I can make this more meaningful to you going forward.  What are some topics that you would like to see covered on here? Until next time, I invite you to keep the ministry of this podcast in your prayers, share it with others you know and take heart in knowing that I’m praying for you as well.  May the Lord bless you in what you’re doing for the Kingdom. Blessings, Jim To contact me: Email: jim@ministryencouragementpodcast.com Phone: (Offices, Smyrna, GA, USA) 770-803-9988 Fax: (770) 803-9989 Voicemail: Using your mouse & microphone, click on the button on the right side of this page and leave a message.  It comes directly to me! Facebook: Jim W. Hollis  and please, LIKE our Proactive Ministries FB page LinkedIn: Jim Hollis

9. 

   21 Apr 2014

   Shared Priorities of General Aviation and Ministry

   Ministry Encouragement Podcast – Episode #089 – 4-20-14 Your Host: Rev. Jim W. Hollis  /  Sponsored by Proactive Ministries (proactive-ministries.org) Hello and welcome to the 89th episode of the Ministry Encouragement Podcast.  I trust that your week has been going well?  Thank you so much for joining me for another time of sharing and encouragement concerning ministry.  This week (Holy Week) has definitely been one of the most memorable of my life.  Jan, my beautiful wife of nearly 39 years had some heart issues this week and after two nights in the Critical Care Unit received surgery and a new Pace Maker.  We were both deeply moved by the immense prayer support from many of you from around the world.  Facebook and other Social Media related a widespread caring and compassion that made it much easier to get through the jungle of the immense unknown and staring at the possibility of not returning to good health. Jan is back home, recovering nicely and I’m trying to keep her from doing too much physical activity for a couple of weeks following the surgery.  Thank you so much for your continued prayers, emails, texts, phone calls and other expressions of your caring for her and us.  It has made an immense difference! This week I want to return with a creative and unusual topic of: Shared Priorities of General Aviation and Ministry Part of my educational experience in my undergraduate, college years was to receive aviation training to become a Private Pilot.  Over a period of three years I earned my wings as a Private Pilot with single engine and multi-engine ratings.  I also completed IFR training and received an Instrument Flight rating, allowing me to fly general aviation aircraft in instrument only weather conditions.  I was fortunate and blessed to have had excellent Instructors.  The Flight School I graduated from was run primarily by retired United States Navy Pilots who were hard as nails and serious about nothing less than ultimate safety and competency in the cockpit of an aircraft. First there was Ground School, learning all about the basics of Flight and Aircraft.  Really important lessons like “Straight & Level” and “Principles of Flight” seemed boring at first but quickly became a strong foundation for moving from the classrooms to the cockpits.  As a pilot in training you learn many things intellectually as facts and then you experience them in flight – two very different encounters of the same reality.  After nearly 40 years in full time ministry I have spent several weeks reflecting on some of the shared priorities of General Aviation and how they relate directly to Ministry.  There are several that parallel nicely. Just as Pilots learn many principles of the basics of aviation in Ground School intellectually and as facts prior to experiencing them in actual flight while sitting in a cockpit, there are clear carry-overs to ministry. Many people who first learn about the Christian Faith and Ministry learn it intellectually and as a set of facts.  At this point it can seem very simple and clear – almost child-like information.  And in reality in some ways it is just that – simple enough for a child to understand.  As long as a person does not stop with that limited, intellectual view of Christian Faith and Ministry – that’s very well.  However, we are clearly called by God to move to experience Christian Faith and Ministry in the spiritual dimension – PERSONALLY in our heart and soul – not just in our head. It is at this point that we come to meet the Risen, Living Christ who lived a sinless life as man on this earth through the Incarnation (God taking on humanity to live among us out of infinite, Divine Love for us).  He was born in a manger as a baby to simple parents and grew up a carpenter’s son.  At twelve he confounded the Temple Priests with his questions and understanding and continued his own calling from the Father to be in ministry for three or more years, probably living to around his mid to late thirties before dying on a cross out of love for all of us, even those who had not been born – taking upon himself the price of all the sins of the world – past, present and future – and after the most horrible death ever experienced, three days later he rose victorious from the tomb and the dead, and walked out in Glory as the Living, Resurrected Christ. Wow!  That’s just a short summation of Gospel of our Lord.  He lives forever and has sent to us the one he called, the Comforter, The Holy Spirit who has come to lead us into all Truth and empower us beyond salvation in Christ to serve as Disciples in ministry for the transformation of the world through the leading of the Holy Spirit in our lives. So how does all this immense joy and amazing grace relate back to General Aviation?  Maybe you think I got lost along the way about relating it with flying?  While aviation pales by comparison in terms of fulfillment and blessings, there are three important Priorities that those who are in ministry with Christ share with excellent pilots who fly and responsible for all souls on board an aircraft under their command. Aviation Priority #1: AVIATE first, all else follows Aviation Priority #2: NAVIGATE second, all else – other than AVIATE, follows Aviation Priority #3: COMMUNICATE third, only after insuring that one is flying the plane (aviation) and staying on the course (navigation) before worrying about talking to anyone else. And now, let me explain… *********************************************************************************************** Again, thanks for joining me for another Episode.  Please feel encouraged in ministry and may I further motivate you to share this podcast with those you know and love.  You can send them the LINK for the podcast which they can simply go to in their browser: www.ministryencouragementpodcast.com Or contact me personally with any questions you may have about ministry.  I’m always delighted to hear from you in one of the following ways: My Email: jim@ministryencouragementpodcast.com Ministry Offices in Smyrna, GA, USA: (770) 803-9988  or  FAX: (770) 803-9989 Facebook: Jim W. Hollis  and please, LIKE our Proactive Ministries Page LinkedIn: Jim Hollis Until our next adventure of encouragement together, please keep our podcast community and me in your prayers!  And if you have prayer requests, please communicate them to me. In Christ, Jim

10. 

    1 Apr 2014

    Encouraging Leadership Development – 5 Keys

    Ministry Encouragement Podcast – Episode #088  – 3-31-14 Your Host: Rev. Jim W. Hollis   Our Sponsor: Proactive Ministries Hello and welcome again to the Ministry Encouragement Podcast.  This is the 88th Episode and it’s my hope that you will know how much I appreciate your presence here. God continues to grow our podcast community. Today I’ll be covering a major teaching on Leadership: Five Leadership Development Keys There are volumes that have been written on Leadership.  Today I’d like to share five major keys on how to move your Leadership Team to an entirely new level.  While some of these are basic, as we get involved in projects, growing pains, and increased success – it can be easy to let these basic core elements of Leadership begin to slip.  The five are: Key #1: The letter “I” is not in the word, “Team” –  focus on using “We” / “Our” Championship leaders give credit to their Team members Key #2: Choose words thoughtfully, but be careful with the tone spoken Poor words can wound, but the tone can sometimes kill Key #3: Let’s each check our “Default Expectations”  as leaders – Lazy leaders, poor leaders, and negative leaders default to expect the worst of their fellow Team Members. Excellent leaders, Courageous leaders, and Caring leaders default to expect the best from their Team Members. Key #4: The shortest route to building deep trust with a Team Member is to travel across “The Bridge of Story”  – speeding up the crossing by Listening Work consistently to listen & understand – trust will follow Key #5: Excellent Leaders live passionately as Servant-Leaders – Excellent leaders ask these questions, “How can I help you be your very best today?” and “What can I do for you?” Any of these five keys can be done occasionally.  Those who are taking their becoming a great leader to an entirely new level commit themselves to do all five keys consistently.  Consistency of effort over time produces phenomenal leaders who others desire to follow. ******************************************** The Leadership Keys I shared with you can be effectively applied to groups or teams of leaders in a multiplicity of organizations – from churches to corporations.  These Keys also can be incorporated into our lives as individuals, producing growth that will grow individuals closer to reaching their individual leadership potential. It’s my prayer that you will take a couple of minutes and share today’s podcast with others you know.  You may wish to use it in a small group or other organization that you participate in. Have you considered Personal Leadership Coaching? Part of the joy I have is to provide Personal Leadership Coaching with individuals or sometimes a small group of leaders who wish to grow together in their leadership effectiveness. If you’re interested, feel free to contact me soon. You may reach me by: Email: jim@ministryencouragementpodcast.com Office Phone: (Georgia, USA) (770) 803-9988 Facebook: Jim W. Hollis  OR  Like our “Proactive Ministries” Page LinkedIn: Jim Hollis Voicemail:  The “tab” on the right side of this page – you can click it with your mouse and use your built in microphone to leave me a personal voicemail message.  It will be delivered directly to me. Until our next time together, continue to live in the joy of Christ.  May you become a wonderful leader in touching lives through sharing Christ’s love, grace and hope with others each day! Jim

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