4 incarnational strategy

Incarnational Strategy Incarnational Strategy

Incarnational StrategyIncarnational Strategy

We need to build significant We need to build significant relationships with the poor.relationships with the poor.– The poor are not simply “souls” to be The poor are not simply “souls” to be

evangelized and needing evangelized and needing membership in a church.membership in a church.

– They are not also problems to be They are not also problems to be solved or complex development solved or complex development agenda that needs a strategic agenda that needs a strategic program. program.


The poor are created in God’s The poor are created in God’s image who need the basic things image who need the basic things in life and also desire for the in life and also desire for the lasting and unseen values of lasting and unseen values of God’s kingdom.God’s kingdom.

More Importantly, the poor have More Importantly, the poor have a special place in God’s heart.a special place in God’s heart.


To build significant To build significant relationships with the poor is torelationships with the poor is to– listen to themlisten to them

– be genuinely concern with the affairs be genuinely concern with the affairs of their life.of their life.

– To give value to their feelings, ideas To give value to their feelings, ideas and perspective about life no matter and perspective about life no matter how trivial and unimportant they may how trivial and unimportant they may appear to us. appear to us.


To recognize and give To recognize and give attention to their silent voice attention to their silent voice which is often unheard, which is often unheard, ignored and marginalized by ignored and marginalized by society.society.


And because the poor are of And because the poor are of value, we take time to visit value, we take time to visit them – regularly, to the point them – regularly, to the point where they anticipate and where they anticipate and long for our presence.long for our presence.


We take time to listen to We take time to listen to their stories before we share their stories before we share our own. We listen to their our own. We listen to their feelings and thoughts on feelings and thoughts on anything and everything. anything and everything.


In between, we may share In between, we may share laughter or a tear; a smile or a laughter or a tear; a smile or a stare; a hug or a pat on the stare; a hug or a pat on the back. We share the little that we back. We share the little that we have – food, crafts, etc. And have – food, crafts, etc. And receive with gratitude that receive with gratitude that which was shared to us as well.which was shared to us as well.


Yes the poor are also rich in many Yes the poor are also rich in many ways. Our time with them should ways. Our time with them should allow these riches to surface and allow these riches to surface and be affirmed – allowing ourselves to be affirmed – allowing ourselves to be blessed by them in their own be blessed by them in their own way is a gift to the giver. Certainly way is a gift to the giver. Certainly a prerequisite for this is to allow a prerequisite for this is to allow ourselves to be vulnerable and ourselves to be vulnerable and wanting.wanting.


To visit them is not simply to To visit them is not simply to follow up on the lessons of the follow up on the lessons of the week, to check on their tasks week, to check on their tasks and oversee the progress they and oversee the progress they have made.have made.


To walk with the poor is to To walk with the poor is to allow ourselves to become allow ourselves to become Jesus’ flesh – giving the Jesus’ flesh – giving the Gospel message a concrete Gospel message a concrete expression where the expression where the seemingly abstract becomes seemingly abstract becomes clear and plain – love in action.clear and plain – love in action.


The concept of counselors The concept of counselors walking with the poor affirms walking with the poor affirms the need for a sojourner in life. the need for a sojourner in life. Transformation is never done Transformation is never done alone. Companions are critical alone. Companions are critical part and process of part and process of transformation.transformation.


The counselors are really co-The counselors are really co-pastors and partners of pastors pastors and partners of pastors in discipling the participants to in discipling the participants to learn the way of the Kingdom – learn the way of the Kingdom – that is to align all areas of their that is to align all areas of their lives in the centrality of God’s lives in the centrality of God’s reign or Jesus Lordship.reign or Jesus Lordship.


The key is living out Jesus in The key is living out Jesus in flesh and blood (incarnation) flesh and blood (incarnation) and thus, exemplify what living and thus, exemplify what living in the Kingdom means. in the Kingdom means.

3 C’s FOCUS of iHELP3 C’s FOCUS of iHELP


CONNECTCONNECT–build trusting relationshipbuild trusting relationship

–listenlisten to their current to their current experience and how the FDS experience and how the FDS lessons are bearing fruit in lessons are bearing fruit in their lives.their lives.


CONNECT (cont’d..)CONNECT (cont’d..)–Pay attention to their questions Pay attention to their questions

and issues, their joy and sorrow.and issues, their joy and sorrow.

–beingbeing present present w/ the participants, w/ the participants, in flesh and blood and in soul and in flesh and blood and in soul and spirit. They simply come spirit. They simply come alongside with the participants’ alongside with the participants’ 5yr journey and hopefully beyond.5yr journey and hopefully beyond.


In connecting they naturally show the In connecting they naturally show the life of Jesus. They model the life of Jesus. They model the incarnated life of Jesus. It is incarnated life of Jesus. It is inevitable that the participants will inevitable that the participants will notice and be influenced by the way notice and be influenced by the way they live as the participants watch they live as the participants watch them and consider how to live in the them and consider how to live in the Kingdom (see Phil 3:17). Kingdom (see Phil 3:17).

COACHCOACH– to guide the participants in to guide the participants in

implementing and integrating the implementing and integrating the FDS lessons.FDS lessons.

– involves interacting with their involves interacting with their issues and questions.issues and questions.


COACH (cont’d..)COACH (cont’d..)–Giving suggestions & directions.Giving suggestions & directions.

–Reviewing the lessons of the Reviewing the lessons of the past month as well as creating a past month as well as creating a sense of anticipation for the up-sense of anticipation for the up-coming month’s lesson.coming month’s lesson.

–They They ask questionsask questions more than more than giving advice.giving advice.


CARECARE–To extend To extend encouragementencouragement and and

support.support.–Their visit already says a lot.Their visit already says a lot.–They will offer They will offer prayerprayer..–They will share a verse relevant They will share a verse relevant

to the situation…without to the situation…without becoming churchy in their becoming churchy in their language.language.


In caring, the participants In caring, the participants need to feel that they are need to feel that they are now part of a now part of a communitycommunity of of people who love them.people who love them.


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4 incarnational strategy

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