By Thomas C. Hanson
H.B. London Jr., vice president of Ministry Outreach and Pastoral Ministries for Focus on the Family, spoke to headquarters personnel and area ministers Oct. 27.
Mr. London's presentation, "Living Above Reproach," was videotaped to be shown at other ministerial conferences.
Focus on the Family is a ministry based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, that spreads the gospel of Jesus Christ by promoting traditional values and the institution of the family.
Pastor General Joseph Tkach introduced Mr. London. Mr. Tkach met Mr. London last summer when Mr. London addressed a Church of God (Seventh Day) conference in Colorado Springs. For several years Mr. London lived across the street from church headquarters in Pasadena.
In his address Mr. London encouraged pastors and their families to:
1. Maintain an active spiritual life.
2. Cultivate a family situation that creates a sanctuary when the end of the day comes.
3. Develop a collegiality with one another and not just be cordial to one another.
4. To seek professional help if they need it.
5. Find ways to worship, and to worship uniquely and genuinely.
When Mr. London started at Focus on the Family he sent a survey to 10,000 pastors. One question he asked was: What is the greatest challenge you face in your ministry today? The overwhelming response was the apathy of those who attend church.
Another question was "What is the greatest danger to your family?" The overwhelming response was not having enough time to meet the demands of spouses, children and church members.
Mr. London referred to a Leadership magazine survey two years ago in which 95 percent of pastors said they felt pressured to have an ideal family; 80 percent of pastors said their families felt pressured to be an ideal role model for a Christian family; 55 percent of pastors said they were very satisfied with their marriage; 31 said they were very satisfied with their family life; and 25 percent of the spouses said they were very happy with their family life.
Mr. London commented on a chapter in Charles Colson's book, The Body, in which he referred to staff meetings conducted by Chuck Swindoll, then pastor of the Evangelical Free Church in Fullerton, California. His staff members periodically asked one another these seven questions:
1. Have you been with a woman anywhere this past week that might be seen as compromising?
2. Have any of your financial dealings lacked integrity?
3. Have you exposed yourself to any sexually explicit material?
4. Have you spent adequate time in Bible study and prayer?
5. Have you given priority time to your family?
6. Have you fulfilled the mandates of your calling?
7. Have you just lied to me?
Mr. London said that in the United States each week 50,000 people leave the church. The reason often mentioned is that church is irrelevant, and the next is that church people are so contentious.
Pastoral Ministries under Mr. London is a catalyst for the spiritual renewal and restoration of ministers and their families and assists them in better management of time, finances and family. The ministry serves nearly 130,000 pastors in 75 denominations.
Mr. London serves as a pastor to pastors. He communicates with hundreds of pastors and church leaders each week through "The Pastor's Weekly Briefing," a fax network, and produces a bimonthly "Pastor to Pastor" cassette and newsletter.
He has co-authored with Neil B. Wiseman the books Pastors at Risk, The Heart of a Great Pastor and Married to a Pastor's Wife. Mr. London is a first cousin of James C. Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family, and the two grew up together.
[ Worldwide Church of God | Worldwide News | November 14, 1995 ]
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