REGENT UNIVERSITY
BOOK REPORT
SP13 DE PMIN 501 – CHURCH AND MINISTRY (05)
IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT
OF THE MASTERS OF DIVINITY DEGREE
IN THE REGENT UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF DIVINITY
BY
SILAS KANYABIGEGA
DAYTON, OH
April 24, 2013
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION………………………………………………………………………….…...1
A
GENERAL REACTION OF THE CONTENT OF THE BOOK....................................…...
1
THE
MOST ENLIGHTENING DISCUSSION FROM THE BOOK........................................4
THE
MOST DIFFICULT DISCUSSION FROM THE BOOK AND WHY……………..…...6
BRIEF APPLICATION TO PERSONAL
MINISTRY………………..…………….…..…….7
CONCLUSION............................................................................................................................8
NOTES…………………………………………………………………………………….…….8
iii
INTRODUCTION
The reading of the Book
"Empowering Hispanic Leaders" has not only enriched my biblical and
theological knowledge, but also and especially inspired me a clearer picture regarding the training of leaders who will continue the work of the Lord when "Moses", and "Elijah," are no longer there. The research of Dr. Victor Cuartas on Hispanic Leaders' case deserves high appreciation. The word "Training" is present in almost every chapter of this precious book, and that is why this work will also focus remarkably on training and its benefits. Training of Leaders of the Lord is the main pillar of the growth of our churches, our ministries, and especially the growth of the Kingdom of God.
theological knowledge, but also and especially inspired me a clearer picture regarding the training of leaders who will continue the work of the Lord when "Moses", and "Elijah," are no longer there. The research of Dr. Victor Cuartas on Hispanic Leaders' case deserves high appreciation. The word "Training" is present in almost every chapter of this precious book, and that is why this work will also focus remarkably on training and its benefits. Training of Leaders of the Lord is the main pillar of the growth of our churches, our ministries, and especially the growth of the Kingdom of God.
A
GENERAL REACTION OF THE CONTENT OF THE BOOK
Ma first impression is how is high and worthy
of encouragement the importance given by Dr. Victor Cuartas to the training of
Hispanic leaders in order to serve the Lord in various regions of the United
States. The currently making effort of the School of Divinity at Regent
University to initiate an undergraduate program in Spanish is also one of the
best aspects. It’s good to talk also about the leaders of the churches and
ministries who need to encourage education and further training among the
Hispanic community.
One other interesting aspect in
this book is prayer, because many people attend seminaries to find God’s call
without having any clue about their destiny in life. There is a constant war
and it is necessary to counterattack with prayer and intercession. .25
1
Other helpful aspect is to remind that every
culture is rich in its essence and that when people come together in a
multicultural setting it is important to be aware of the differences so that we
can approach the people in a correct manner. The author believes that unity in
the middle of the diversity is the key, and says that there is a strong message
in this book to understand andrespect the differences from every culture. This
requires flexibility and sensitivity for success in a multicultural setting.
All this also my position.26
The Leadership transition in the
Old Testament and in the New Testament is also the one of the interesting
points in this book. By the leadership transition from Moses to Joshua, it’s
very important to learn that this transitional process helped Joshua by
minimizing the comparisons between his leadership and that of Moses. It is
important to recognize the process that took place in the life of Joshua to
become Moses’ successor. ; it was not something that could be done quickly or
taken lightly. God’s servants need to be shaped and equipped, and certainly
Joshua was no exception to the rule. Some of the factors that helped Joshua in
the process of becoming a great leader are instructive for today’s leaders.
Joshua was able to observe Moses’s leadership and to learn from Moses.38
The leadership transition from
Elijah to Elisha is similar to that of Moses and Joshua. It is evident that
Elisha learned from Elijah, and that the prophet ministry of Elijah influenced
Elisha. For some seven or eight years, he became the close assistant of Elijah
until he was taken up into heaven by God (2 Kgs 2: 11-12). 41
2
Elisha
witnessed the dramatic experience of Elijah’s ascension to heaven. “The
chariots and the horsemen symbolized strong protection as well as the forces of
God’s spiritual presence which were the true safety of Israel.” Even though
there is little or nothing about Elisha’s life in the Scriptures, it is implied
that Elisha and Elijah were working together in the ministry.41,42
With the New testament Perspective, it
helpful to learn about the leadership Example of Jesus, especially about Jesus’
Preparation for Ministry, the training of Twelve, Jesus’ strategy to equip His
Disciples, how He equipped His Disciples, the importance of prayer, teaching an
applying the scriptures, focal point on salvation, training continuously in
progress. Actually, Jesus gave most of examples to us to imitate, as training the
Disciples to preach the Gospel, and at the end, to order to them The Great
Commission. No passage shows the training of Jesus more than the teaching of
the Great Commission. In the Gospel of Matthew 28: 19-20, Jesus provides the
most powerful expression of the commission that Jesus gave to his believers.46-60
Another
example of leadership is that of Barnabas. He mentored the apostle Paul.
Barnabas followed the instructions that Jesus delivered in the Upper Room.
During that time, Jesus taught His disciples powerful principles to empower
leaders for ministry. Barnabas wanted to serve God and was obedient. “He
divested himself of all worldly entanglements so that he could be completely
free to move about as the Spirit directed him.” When Paul returned to Jerusalem
after his dramatic conversion, Barnabas introduced him to the apostles (Acts 9:
27).60,62
3
THE
MOST ENLIGHTENING DISCUSSION FROM THE BOOK
One
of my particular understandings is to know that there is a process to help
latino Leadership in a professional leadership certificate to empower Hispanic
pastors and leaders for ministry at Regent University. I appreciate the
response of the author to the need of training and equipping Hispanic pastors
and emerging leaders and the assistance to make them becoming more effective in
reaching the Hispanic community. Also the author is convinced that the
principles uncovered in this study of Hispanic leadership training will prove
effective in training leaders for various other groups in the United States and
other countries.2,5
In contrast with many servants of God,
Joshua finished well. Joshua was one of the few leaders of the Old Testament
who finished well. Clinton describes these four reasons for Joshua’s ability to
finish well:
·
A personal vibrant relationship with God
right up to the end,
·
Truth which was lived out in his life so
that convictions and promises of God were seen to be real, contributions as a
pioneer and writer,
·
And a sense of destiny that was
illustrated by conquering the land.
Joshua
was an obedient and committed leader. Joshua sought to move the nation ahead
after his own leadership with the challenge to faithfully walk with God (Jos
24: 14-15). 40
4
His
final two speeches illustrate the importance of walking by faith and holding on
to God’s promises (Jos 23, 24). This is found especially in Jos 23:14: “Behold,
this day I am going the way of all the earth. And you know in all your hearts
and in all your souls that not one thing has failed of all the good things
which the LORD your God spoke concerning you. All have come to pass for you;
not one word of them has failed”.40
Other particular understanding is how
Elisha asked a difficult thing: a double portion of Elijah’s spirit. Elisha was
a prophet in Israel during the ninth century B.C. He succeeded Elijah, and his
ministry lasted for half a century. First mentioned in 1 Kgs 19: 16, his name
means “God his salvation.” Elisha was the son of Shaphat who lived at Abel-meholah.
After the miraculous parting of the waters of the Jordan’s river, Elijah asked
his servant, "What may I do for you?” (2 Kgs 2:9); the response from
Elisha was amazing. He requested a double portion of Elijah’s spirit. “The
request for a double portion (v.9, ‘double share,’ RSV, NEB, JB) was not that
he might excel his master but that he should receive the eldest son’s share
according to the law (Deut 21:17).” This Old Testament law requires that the
firstborn son must receive a “double portion” of his father’s estate while the
other sons received only a single portion. Elisha asked a difficult thing and
the right of the succession is now dependent upon his witnessing the departure
of his mentor. “Elisha asks for a double portion in the gift of prophecy which
his master is bequeathing to the other prophets.” Since God endows the gift of
prophecy, no mortal being has the power to bestow it. The expression “
nevertheless” indicates that God has the last word; He is the one who grants
the request. 43
5
God
granted the request and it took immediate effect when Elisha parted the
Jordan’s waters and crossed over (2 Kgs 2: 14).43
THE MOST DIFFICULT DISCUSSION FROM
THE BOOK AND WHY
When the author says: “Part of the
reason for this increase in U.S. citizens is the fact that the citizens of the
U.S. have more access to student grants and scholarship funds. One of the major
challenges for the theological institutions relates to the new government
regulations that make it more difficult for international students to receive
visas for continuing their educations. Based on the above findings, the
enrollment of Hispanics in the School of Divinity at Regent University was
low.”9 For me, this is one of difficult discussion from the book. If
there was a way to facilitate Hispanic students to have facility to obtain US
Visa so they can attend more US universities.
About multicultural ministry,
unity in the middle of the diversity is the key. That is true, but more we have
differences more the unity is more complicated. Where the book says that every
culture is rich in its essence and when people come together in a multicultural
setting it is important to be aware of the differences so that we can approach
the people in a correct manner, and that we have to understand and respect the
differences from every culture, that is true, and that will be more effective
if Jesus Christ is the center of this process. Author continues saying
that the community can be transformed through the wise use of media in order to
have a positive impact on the people.26 I don’t believe that this is
enough. We will need also prayers and intercession to be more effective.
6
My understanding about Elisha’s request is
not positive because he exaggerated. Asking double portion of his boss, that is
too much. While Elijah question with wisdom, the Elisha answer was egoistic. “Elijah
said to Elisha, ‘Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?’
Elisha said, ‘please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.’ So he
said, ‘You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken
from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so” (2 Kgs 2: 9,
NKJV).42
I disagree for the attitude of Paul and
Barnabas in Acts 15: 36-39. “Barnabas saw the potential in this young emerging
leader. However, Paul and Barnabas disagreed over taking John Mark back on the
next missionary trip (Acts 15: 36-39). Paul and Barnabas took separate routes
and thus resolved the dispute. Paul took Silas as his companion and traveled
through Syria and Cilicia while Barnabas took his cousin John Mark and visited
Cyprus (Acts 15: 39-41). However, in the end, Paul would appreciate John Mark’s
ministry.”64 Paul and Barnabas did not give a good example in this
separation. My understanding is different with that they did.
BRIEF APPLICATION TO PERSONAL
MINISTRY
If I compare and contrast
some aspects of the book in my own context of ministry, in multiculturalism: my
ministry works with people of different countries, different cultures,
different colors, different denominations, here my ministry does in the same
way of the Author of the book. About training, we organize seminars for pastors
and evangelist to prepare them for the Great Commission. For Strategy to equip
leaders we are not strong because of the lack of resources.
7
About the importance of prayer we
are in good position because we make it into practice. For Teaching and
applying the Scriptures, we are strong on that because that is one of elements
of our vision. For Focal Point on Salvation this is what we preach. For
Training Continuous in progress, this aspect is not strong because of the lack
cited above. We train also the leaders to preach the Gospel. The only aspect in
contrast is that we did not prepare the “ Joshua” and the “Elisha”. But after
reading this book, we don’t need more advices to make this aspect into
practice. It is biblical for every church, every ministry to have “Joshua” or
“Elisha”.
CONCLUSION.
This interesting book of Dr.
Victor Cuartas is a book that I recommend to all Pastors and Evangelists,
without forget any Christian leader, because of the richness of its content.
This paper mentions the importance of working in multiculturalism. The paper
shows that the Prayer and the Training are very necessary for the success of
our Ministries. The leadership transition taken also an important space because
of its importance. The most enlightening discussion from the book, the most difficult
discussion from the book,
a Brief application to my personal ministry were developed.
NOTES.
·
The
Numbers at the end of the sentences are the numbers of the page of this book
from which I taken the citations.
8
No comments:
Post a Comment