Writing a Ministry Bio

P

lease send your bio? This is usually one of the first requests that will be asked of you when a church or organization invites you to speak at their function. A biography is a summarization of your accomplishments and some personal information into a couple short sentences or even a few paragraphs.

Bio writing is challenging. It forces you to prioritize what’s most important about you. It’s an intimidating task to reduce information about “the wonderful you” into a brief clear and concise writing.

Here are a few tips about writing bios:

1.      Read other biographies for inspiration of what to do and what not to do.

2.      Gather a list of facts about yourself in chronological order. These facts should be related to your purpose. Include your hometown & current location, current church & pastor, spouse’s name, number of children, education and certifications.

3.      Write a list of specific qualities about yourself. Ask yourself which qualities make you interesting.

4.      List the person's accomplishments. Tie these accomplishments in with your ministry work.

5.      Review your list of qualities and accomplishments. Choose the ones that describe you best and represents your ties to ministry.

6.      Resist the urge to impress. Humility goes a long way! Just give the facts

Fuel for Your Fire - DISCIPLINE

Here are the Bones from the August 2011 Meeting

Empowerment Time – Fuel for your Fire

DISCIPLINE

If you research the etymology of the word “discipline” you will discovers it is much related to the word “disciple”.

The Latin word for ‘learner’ was discipulus, a derivative of the verb discere ‘learn’ (which was related to docēre ‘teach’, source of English doctor, doctrine, and document). English acquired the word in Anglo-Saxon times, as discipul, and it was subsequently reformulated as disciple on the model of Old French deciple. Derived from discipulus was the noun disciplīna ‘instruction, knowledge’. Its meaning developed gradually into ‘maintenance of order (necessary for giving instruction)’, the sense in which the word first entered English (via Old French discipline).    Source: Word-Orgins.com

DEFINING MOMENT:

1) Training to act in accordance with rules.  2) A regimen that develops or improves a skill; training.  3) Behavior and order maintained by training and control.

A  DISCIPLE embraces DISCIPLINE and looks for ways to improve and make attempts to improve their behavior, orderliness, ministry service, lifestyle, etc., by mind reconditioning, training, and/or guidelines.

SCRIPTURE IN THE SPOTLIGHT - 1 Corinthians 14:40

KJV - Let all things be done decently and in order.

NIV - But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.

MSG -Be courteous and considerate in everything.

This Month’s Precious Jewel

To walk worthy of the calling and achieve excellence in ministry,

 a DISCIPLE (learner) needs to have DISCIPLINE

 in every area of their life and being.

Next meeting we will look at DISCIPLINE in the following areas:

PRAYER – Relationship with God

PURPOSE – Life’s Assignment

PURITY – Living Holy

PRODUCTIVITY - Service

A SPARK of Wisdom - PUBLIC SPEAKING

Here is the 'bones" from our August meeting

I have observed a LEADERSHIP call in each one of you. As a leader you will be required to speak to a group of people. Whether informal or formal, large or small audience, you will have an audience. Why? God has called you to LEAD, therefore, he has an AUDIENCE for you.

FIVE FLAME TIPS

1)      Avoid apologies….be confident. Things to avoid 1) saying I’m nervous 2) Avoid giving the “in case I mess up excuse”, i.e., Pray for me I haven’t been feeling well, my throat is hurting, I wasn’t scheduled to be up here today,

2)      Be yourself – Have personality

3)      Use testimonies when appropriate to enhance lessons, sermon points, and singing. – Make sure your testimony fits the theme of the occasion and message.

4)      Be open to learn from others what works and what does not.

5)      Speak directly into the microphone to be heard. Even if you have a loud voice, don’t assume everyone in the room can hear you without the use of a mic. The people in the back are usually straining to hear.

Quote of the Day

An important ingredient to ministering...allow yourself to be ministered by the Word, songs, testimonies you bring forth. What you share is not only for "their" deliverance, but also for "your" deliverance.

July 2010 Lesson - Preparation for Powerful Preaching

Preparation for Powerful Preaching


Are you guilty of studying…
1) to prepare for what’s next (your next assignment)?
2) in case you get called on in a Bible Study class?
3) to meet the requirements of a class/group (Seminary, Master’s Life, Ministry School)?

In a class a teacher said, "The first casualty in a busy preacher’s life is his devotional time."

A look at the preacher:
For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments. —Ezra 7:10

Ezra…
1) Studied the Word so he could……2) Live the Word which qualified him to….3) Teach the Word

As preachers we must pray to God and study God's Word so that we can live according to His Word. We can't stand before the people to effectively proclaim his Word if we don't spend regular consistent time with God.

Look at Matthew 17:14-21 (also see Mark 9:14-29)
Jesus’ disciples asked him, “Why could not we cast him out?” In this passage the disciples failed. They could not cast out a spirit which Jesus gave them authority over. In Luke 9 Jesus gives the disciples authority and power to heal diseases and cast out demons. Yet, in the passage, the disciples were powerless.

You can have authority but no power.
· Power is not self-manufactured but divinely imparted through the Word of God.
· The Holy Spirit is with you imparting power into you. This comes from studying the Word of God.
· So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. —Romans 10:17

The disciples "hung out" with Jesus, yet they had no power. As ministers of the Word, beware of just hanging out with Jesus. How is this done?--- Hanging out at church services, ministry meetings, musicals, revivals, feeding the homeless. Beware of being absorbed with doing the work of the Lord that you don't spent quality time with the Lord of the work.

Develop a time of personal devotion:

1) Set a time - and be consistent. Clear your calendar & turn off the cell phone.
2) Decide on a place - atmosphere is important. Don't set yourself up in a dark, depressing setting.
3) Have a plan - decide what you will read. Pray to God so that He will hear you. Read His Word so that you will hear from him.