Building Supportive Culture

What is ethos or culture? Ethos probably easier to be described as “character”. So when someone asks you about to describe some characters of your ICF, what would they be? To put in a definition form:

Ethos is intangible but yet very real set of values, convictions, priorities that a group of people hold

How do you assess the current ethos of ICF? The easiest way it to ask yourself this question, “Describe some of characters about your ICF?” It is also useful to ask this kind of question to non-ICF member or guests. A more complex way of assessing ethos in your ICF is by observing and watching carefully and constantly about the habits and trends of and in your ICF. A leader must be able to do this to be able to lead effectively. Some people may have an uncanny ability in doing this because they are gifted. But, regardless of gifted or not, a leader must learn this skill in leading their people.

For full paper, click here.

Team Development

More often that not, in our ministry we have to work in teams. So team work has tons of dynamics - which then can cause both good and bad things. So how can we build our team in a way that the dynamics of the team itself will benefit us? Or maybe we are about to form a team - then what are some issues we need to consider in forming a team so then we can build a solid team?

In LM 2001, ICF Madison presents "Team Development" - which a very broad and encapsulating aspects in team dynamic, especially in ICF ministry. Presentation can be found here.

Cultural Relevance Is Not an Option

What is the purpose and design of our life? Just as a computer is designed to do certain stuff according to its design, so as we as God’s creations are designed to do something according to our design. Just as a computer has a manual how it can be used and operates properly within the boundary of its design, so do we have the manual to be used effectively according to the way God has designed us. This manual is what we called God’s moral absolutes. God’s moral absolutes are the template, the form of God’s design for us. Just as we can use a computer as a seat but it will not function as it has been designed, we can violate the instruction or manual, and will not function properly as God has intended.

Within its intended function, a computer can be used for word processing, email, spreadsheet, web developing, etc. It still has an area of flexibility or freedom within its intended function. In the same way, we as human beings, God’s creations, have a freedom within that moral absolutes. God does not forbid us to wear a red t-shirt today or buy Nike shoes instead of Reebok.

Galatians 5:1, “It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery”.
In essence, in these areas, God does not give us absolutes, thus we have the freedom to choose and decide how we will deal with them.

As Christians, we need to know the difference between form and freedom. Form is God’s moral absolutes, the original design, the template. Freedom is freedom, the area within the form. Many Christians are confused about this. Therefore, as a result, they declare almost everything absolutes. We need to be careful regarding this matter, because if God does not declare any absolutes for certain things, who are we to think that we may know better? As Christians, we should not declare absolutes which God Himself does not.

“To require people to embrace anything beyond what is written in Scripture is to put a yoke on their necks that they will not be able to bear. Anything more than Scripture is too much”1

Read full paper here.