Daniel Ausbun
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3 Pastor's Principles at VBS

6/30/2018

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Monday Night's Closing Ceremony of Shipwrecked VBS
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Eight days ago, Broadway concluded their annual summertime VBS. Pastors and staff members should always attend VBS, even if it's something as simple as greeting people. Your presence speaks to VBS being a priority. VBS is a unique event for churches - it accomplishes three purposes: an outreach to the community, an opportunity for church attenders to serve, and a theme-based way of presenting the Gospel. When its all said and done - VBS is about telling children about Jesus. Ministers need to be committed to advancing the Kingdom - here are 3 pastor's principles I've discovered working at VBS:

1). Pastors must take the lead with promotion. Your church has spent thousands of dollars, and hours of time in preparation - you want a great number of children to show up. A low crowd creates a sense of disappointment - classes need to be full, you want to run out of food, always having to make more copies because of a greater than expected attendance. The crowd creates the atmosphere and excitement.

This year Broadway had a VBS booth at Lexington Christian Academy, purchased yard signs, Facebook & Instagram ads, and distributed fliers at 19 Fayette County elementary schools. Pastors must be promoters.

2). Pastors need to be visible. Opening and closing ceremony, dinner, and registration - where the crowds are, you need to be there. Do not hide in your office or get trapped in side room conversations. Meet parents, get to know children - make the most of welcoming children to your church - roll out the red carpet.

3). Pastors need to celebrate the exciting week. Children should be thanked for inviting their friends, workers should be honored for their service - the offering is a blessing to others, especially since children gave it. A church can conclude with a special baptism service for decisions made, a family night, or have the children sing VBS songs on a Sunday morning. Follow-up with the children - connecting them to other ministries in the church. VBS should be prayed over, promoted and celebrated. Make this week the most-exciting week of the summer for the church.

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Three Guidelines for Counseling Women

6/3/2018

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Tragedy has struck the Southern Baptist Convention the past several weeks. Paige Patterson, president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, was terminated this past week for his handling of sexual abuse with women on two different occasions. Read the statement by Kevin Ueckert, chairman of the board of trustees, here.

This raises the questions for ministers, "How should one counsel the opposite sex? Some ministers claim, "I don't counsel those of the opposite sex." The problem with this statement, is that it's hard to live by. For example, a 3-minute hallway conversation, 20-minute phone call, or a two-hour church trip bus ride can all include counseling.

Many people think of counseling as an one-hour appointment in the pastor's office on a Thursday morning. That might be the case in some instances, but as people seem to be more busy, many ministers will regularly provide "sidewalk counseling" - you run into someone and they're asking you a quick, "What should I do?" counseling question. Even the minister who proclaims, "I don't do counseling" - either through email, text, or Facebook messenger - will find himself giving counsel, even to women.

Here are three guidelines for ministers when counseling women:

1). Answer every question with, "What does the Bible say?" Scripture speaks more truth than man's wisdom. Know your boundaries. Only God can change people, restore relationships, and forgive sins. God's Word doesn't return void (Isaiah 55:11).

2). Accountability is always your friend. Secrecy breeds sin. A minister can have a private conversation but not be in private. Billy Graham once described counseling a woman in the middle of a restaurant, with no one nearby, but everyone looking at them. Your spouse should always have access to email, social media, and texts. Electronic conversations are private, yet in question, should quickly become public.

3). Know your resources. If a crime has been committed - physical abuse, sexual assault, or illegal drug possession - the police must be notified. If ongoing counseling is needed, a minister should refer the lady to an ACBC counselor. One of the names of God is, "Counselor," in John 14:26 - He's the greatest resource a minister can turn to.

When a minister doesn't point people to truth - it's unkind and unloving. When people come to you for counsel, they're saying, "I trust you. Speak truth into my life." The man of God takes every opportunity to point people to Christ.

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