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<\/p>\nThe time in London with the D.Min program proved to be a significant milestone in the journey of my life.\u00a0 This past visit has been one of the most delightful of many that I have made to this grand city which exudes an amazing array of the past and present, the ancient and the modern, the old and the new, traditional and untraditional, all existing and interacting side by side.\u00a0 London never ceases to amaze me from that perspective. <\/p>\n
As an Indian, \u00a0it is always with mixed feelings that I enter and exit London.\u00a0 Why is that so?\u00a0 Three hundred years and more of British rule and influence has had a significant impact on the manner in which life is lived in India despite its cultural diversity and difference from the West.\u00a0 The government administrative hierarchy, the democratic political organization, traditional practices the infrastructure such as the enormous railways network, postal organization; the education system have been shaped by these centuries of colonial governance.\u00a0![\"\"](\"https:\/\/31.media.tumblr.com\/25f5a986b135a024afbd3b2de0d2f466\/tumblr_inline_myauc6mPhR1rvazgk.jpg\")
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Every visit is a fresh reminder of some of these and an elucidation of certain practices that we as a people don\u2019t understand but simply perform as a matter of tradition; \u00a0unnecessary relics from the past for the younger generation and those from more modern cultures but an accepted and well worn way of life for some of us.<\/p>\n
The \u00a0re-orientation to London started with the experience that a few of us from the cohort had \u00a0procuring our weekly travel card walking back and forth from machines that didn\u2019t work to men behind counters who couldn\u2019t explain to new comers the age old method that was in place.\u00a0 That was sweat and frustration for a few but for an Indian it was a given.<\/p>\n
The London Advance:<\/strong><\/p>\n Something can be said about every single piece of the Advance and every minute I spent in London. However, this presentation highlights just a few experiences that had the greatest impact and from which I gleaned the most. \u00a0My thoughts have revolved around four concepts during the program in London and the time of ongoing learning and reflective practice since. An attempt is made to summarize these special learning experiences during the Advance, and simultaneously provide a synthesis and reflection of related readings of this term and the impact it is having on my current ministry.<\/p>\n 1. Relevance<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0 The program started with the visit to St. Margaret\u2019s, Lothbury and the very informal but impressive humour filled presentation by the rector Jeremy Crossley.\u00a0 The information shared about his spiritual journey and his current ministry impacted me greatly. Located close to the business district in the heart of London, the church and his ministry were meeting a very relevant need.<\/p>\n The appeal of his ministry to an elite group of people and the method used to respond to their questions and reflections pertaining to the meaning of life, its challenges in an ever-changing, unstable financial world; trying to provide answers to these questions in a contextual manner was captivating.\u00a0 Jeremy quoted Samuel Johnson in the course of his conversation and mentioned the phrase \u201cthe precious present\u201d.\u00a0 It has stayed with me ever since.<\/p>\n Christian ministry constantly faces the danger of either getting wedged in the past or being too futuristic that it misses the precious present; the doors that God opens and the opportunities that God provides to serve Him and to serve people right now in the present time and present context are overlooked. \u00a0These are opportunities of being instruments of transformation and influence. \u00a0It is critical for leadership to keep in step with the move of God with deep spiritual sensitivity to the heart cry of people in each generation and in each context is critical. Quite often the question why the western world does not witness as much of a response to the Gospel as India does\u2019? \u00a0\u00a0The Message presented in relevant methods and forms, meeting the needs of individuals in various contexts in a relevant manner draws people into Christ\u2019s Kingdom (Frank 2013). \u00a0It was very encouraging to learn from Jeremy that the numbers of church attendance in London had increased significantly.<\/p>\n 2. \u00a0<\/strong>Reality of Christ\u2019s presence and power<\/strong><\/p>\n The visit to Christ Church and Upton Chapel and learning of the outreach of \u00a0the Oasis ministry opened my eyes to the reality of the presence of Christ, His ongoing redemptive work and the manifestation of His power through His Body – The Church. \u00a0Christ is at work in every culture and every context.\u00a0 Wherever the local church is ready and available, it is used as a channel.\u00a0 This indeed is the call and the mission of the church \u2013 continuing the redemptive work of God in every context in a relevant manner.\u00a0 Christianity is not a ritualistic religion. It is a way of life.\u00a0 God\u2019s people are called to live out the reality of the presence of Christ and manifesting His power through their lives.<\/p>\n Vineyard Church \u2013 Sutton<\/strong>.\u00a0 Sunday service at the Vineyard in Sutton was another great spiritual experience endorsing and exemplifying the above reality.\u00a0 The setting was a school building; quite untraditional and seemed right in the middle of everyday life. In that sense it was a very contextual setting and one that presented the idea of the church as a body of believers reaching out to the community rather than an institution inviting members to join.<\/p>\n The message came forth from the heart of the preacher – a down to earth but powerful one based on the familiar passage from John chapter 11 proclaiming Jesus the all powerful God and yet one who empathizes and seeks to enter into every dimension of a person\u2019s life.\u00a0 It spoke straight to my heart.<\/p>\n As the singing and worship progressed,\u00a0I could not take my eyes off the murals and art decorating the walls of the hall where the church had gathered.\u00a0 It wasn\u2019t articulated but the art there spoke to me of the reality of Christ\u2019s presence and power in every context as well. \u00a0The Christian faith is based on the incarnation of Christ \u2018the word became flesh\u2019.\u00a0 Therefore creative use of imagery can definitely enhance the experience of Christian worship and give it deeper meaning. It can become an effective channel to inculcate the values of the Kingdom. \u00a0\u201cSurely what is called for is a new alliance and interaction between the word and the image\u201d (Dyrness 2001, 132).\u00a0 I kept thinking to myself, given the fact that Indian culture predominantly follows oral tradition with a major proportion of its population being low or non literates, visual art could play a significant role in worship and spirituality in the church\u00a0(Morgan 2005). \u00a0There is no doubt that we live in a fallen world and it holds every possibility in its fallen state to take what could be beneficial and turn it towards its own destruction.\u00a0 This could happen with visual art as well. \u00a0However, that cannot be a reason to totally discard it as it has been done. Christian art certainly holds the potential to become a powerful tool for evangelism and discipleship.<\/p>\n The paintings continued to speak to me – right in the middle of the world\u2019s realities, needs, pain, hurts, conflicts, aspirations<\/p>\n and struggles, the Body of Christ has been placed to manifest His presence, to speak his message and to live out His resurrection power.\u00a0 The church is not an isolated entity.<\/p>\n Further, the church building is not meant to be an exclusive sanctuary and the gathering place of exclusive members of a club but<\/p>\n a center that brings life to the community in which it is placed and the body of believers equipped and empowered to be the salt and light.<\/p>\n I don\u2019t mean to imply that it has to be so for everyone, nevertheless Christian Worship turns out to be as meaningful for me whether it takes place in contexts like these, or in a cattle shed cleaned out for the purpose for lack of any other space in the village such as the one I visited a few days ago, or whether it is conducted in one of the world\u2019s most renowned Cathedrals as St. Paul\u2019s.\u00a0 It is the presence of the same Christ that is experienced, the manifestation of the transforming power of the same Holy Spirit at work, the same powerful Word penetrating the hearts of people and drawing them to himself. \u00a0The \u2018delightful simplicity of the Gospel\u2019[1]<\/a> of which I was reminded through one of the prayers of St.Vincent De Paul at the Evensong at St. Paul\u2019s, is universal.<\/p>\n A few weeks after this stirring, I found myself walking\u00a0 through the narrow pathways of primitive tribal villages in eastern India. How do I transfer my London learning experience to the present reality?\u00a0\u00a0 I had just returned from one of the world\u2019s leading metropolis and the leading financial centers.<\/p>\n With the sounds of the city of London \u2013 the center of arts, fashion, education, entertainment, finance, healthcare, media, professional services, commerce; well planned and laid-out, with all its sophistication and modernity ringing in my ears and its sights still fresh in front of my eyes, \u00a0I found myself transported from the world\u2019s cultural capital\u00a0 to a cluster of huts populated by primitive people\u00a0 which is my main area of ministry that God has called me to.\u00a0 \u00a0At the onset there seems to be nothing in common.\u00a0 And then it dawns on me as a Christian leader, that two of the most fundamental pillars of life that are the common denominators.<\/p>\n First, it is the spiritual need of people, their hunger and heart cry for God and then authenticity of the Gospel to cut through everything that is superficial and relate to that spiritual need no matter what the context to meet those needs. \u00a0In both of these places people were looking for the answers to quench the thirst of their souls.<\/p>\n I discover the amazing reality the Gospel translates into every context with the same integrity and the same impact. \u00a0It has the power to transform the most sophisticated people and communities in a city like London or a nameless hamlet with a cluster of mud huts inhabited by tribal people living in the most primitive of conditions.\u00a0 The state of fallenness and the spiritual needs are the same.<\/p>\n 3. \u00a0Readiness \u2013 the requirement for \u00a0leadership<\/strong><\/p>\n Shawn Holzclaw\u2019s reminder that:<\/p>\n a. I am God\u2019s leader and need to be surrendered to His purposes.<\/p>\n \u201cGood leadership is a channel of water controlled by God; he directs it to whatever ends he chooses.\u201d<\/p>\n b. I am a steward of His resources.\u00a0 As a steward a leader\u2019s responsibility is fiduciary in the use of gifts entrusted<\/p>\n c.\u00a0I should recognize my unique DNA.\u00a0 \u201cNo one can consistently behave in a manner that is inconsistent with how they perceive themselves\u201d[2]<\/a><\/p>\n I had the privilege of having Shawn\u2019s attention for more than half an hour all to myself reflecting on questions from his presentation and asking guidance for applications in my life and ministry.\u00a0 His readiness and willingness to share and to pour out his knowledge gained through experience without hesitation during this time and after dinner with the whole group was remarkable.\u00a0 That is when he impressed on me that a leader needs to be ready for use in the Master\u2019s hands at all times \u2013 in and out of season.<\/p>\n Mary Kate through her talk on \u2018The embodiment of leadership\u2019, drilled deep down the point that leadership is not just about what one does and what one accomplishes.\u00a0 Leadership is about the person. It is about who one is how it is embodied.\u00a0 Body language related to leadership is a concept that is seldom given thought. \u00a0\u00a0My days of success as a leader are mostly measured on the basis of planning, strategising, executing, implementing and\u00a0 achieving and end results.\u00a0 But little thought is given on how I am perceived, received and accepted as a leader.\u00a0 Jesus asked His disciples, \u201cWho do people say that I am?\u201d \u00a0I came out of that session with the word \u2013 \u2018Christlike\u2019; that is what I want to be in every respect.<\/p>\n Steve Chalks covered an extensive ground on vision, leadership and his personal experiences. What was wedged into my heart was his gracious \u2018stepping aside\u2019 and passing on the baton of leadership with confidence of leaving behind a lasting legacy to the next generation of leaders capably equipped to carry it to the next level.\u00a0 Quoting Carl Jung he described himself as being in \u2018the afternoon of life\u2019 and that his commitment now was to mentor, coach and equip the next generation and to make a wider contribution to the world. \u00a0\u00a0Being in the afternoon of life myself, I realize the need to step aside, graciously, courageously, confidently and comfortably ensuring that I too as a leader should leave behind a lasting legacy. I have now made plans to step aside and coach the next leader of my organization.\u00a0\u00a0 Even though the thought has passed through my mind for a while, I had not set a time frame or made deliberate effort to implement it.\u00a0 Plans are underway, along with a time frame to accomplish that.\u00a0 Intentional efforts are undertaken to embrace a more \u2018open leadership\u2019\u00a0(Li 2010) as well.<\/p>\n Shawn and Steve undoubtedly are level 5 leaders\u00a0(Collins, Good To Great 2001, 20). The Bible speaks about being prepared and ready always to minister and to serve and to be used of God for His purposes.\u00a0 We read in Ephesians 6 the description of \u201cPutting on the whole armor of God\u201d and being ready for battle.\u00a0 Paul admonishes Timothy, his son in the Gospel, to be ready to \u2018preach the gospel in and out of season\u2019.\u00a0 We see illustrations of preparation and readiness in many locations in the Old and New Testament.\u00a0\u00a0 These passage weren\u2019t actually discussed or quoted but they continue to ring in my heart.<\/p>\n It cannot be denied that there is a dearth of leadership at all levels in our societies.\u00a0 The need is not for just one or two but in really large numbers. The gap widens further as one takes a closer look at Christian organizations in my context.\u00a0\u00a0 There certainly is a need for Christian organizations to rise to the level of \u2018greatness\u2019 as defined and described by Collins and that will be effected only through level 5 leadership.<\/p>\n Over the last two years, I have been investing in a small group of second line leaders and committed to raising 500 next generation next generation leaders throughout India. Part of my commitment to them is to provide the training they require and the tools and material to equip them for leadership. \u00a0In the process the question \u00a0how I will emerge as a successful model leader with a \u2018well differentiated\u201d self\u00a0(FRIEDMAN 2007, 231).<\/p>\n 4. Relationships<\/strong><\/p>\n Apart from the talks, presentations and field exposure what I enjoyed most was the informal and casual time we got to spend together with others in the cohort.<\/p>\n It was enriching to get to know people more personally, to forge deeper friendships, learn from each other and grow in personal relationships. The dinners each evening were great times of relationship building especially the closing dinner at the \u2018Swan\u2019, the fellowship and the final chance to connect with one another remains memorable.<\/p>\n Undergirding this great learning experience is the exemplary servant leadership provided by our lead Mentor Jason Clark through the sharing of his wide and deep knowledge, the desire to impart it and mentor others, his practical ministry experience and just his availability to relate as friend and counsellor.<\/p>\n Video available at:\u00a0https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=i548VJ_z1C8&feature=youtu.be<\/a> Collins, James C. Good To Great.<\/em> New York: Harper Collins, 2001.<\/p>\n \u2014. Good To Great And The Social Sectors.<\/em> New York: Harper and Collins, 2005.<\/p>\n Franke, John R. Evangelicalism and the Exclusivity of Christianity.<\/em> June 1, 2013. http:\/\/www.respectfulconversation.net<\/a> (accessed December 3, 2013).<\/p>\n FRIEDMAN, Edwin H. A Failure Of Nerve: Leadership in the Age of the Quick Fix.<\/em> New York, New York: Church Publishing Inc.\u201e 2007.<\/p>\n Friedman, Edwin H. A Failure of Nerve: Leadership in the Age of the Quick Fix.<\/em> New York: Seabury Books, 2007.<\/p>\n Li, Charlene. Open Leadership.<\/em> San Fransisco, California: Bossey Bass, 2010.<\/p>\n Morgan, David. Sacred Gaze.<\/em> Berkeley, California: University of California Press, 2005.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/31.media.tumblr.com\/b6c7e77a774cce65d6a585533879ade7\/tumblr_inline_myauk7NjSH1rvazgk.jpg\")
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