Becoming a Change Agent forBecoming a Change Agent forCommunity TransformationCommunity Transformation

Unlocking the door to your communityUnlocking the door to your community

Os HillmanOs Hillman

Forsyth County Marketplace Luncheon, GA May 2015

My Story

15 books, 25 nations15 books, 25 nations

www.tgifbookstore.com

Gay marriage before our Supreme Court

Consequence:

“Will lead to churches being required

to marry gay couples. 50% of our churches will close. Nominal believers will fade away.”

-- Christian leader

Persecution of Christians is coming!

Your

matters to GodOs Hillman

300 AD“Catholic Distortion” Sacred vs secular

1200 AD“Protestant Distortion”Work = vocation vs a Calling

Net?

• 2nd class citizens• Work is less spiritual• Money is evil• Workers viewed for $ by clergy vs calling

Unspoken, impliedUnspoken, implied hierarchyhierarchy of spiritual calling.of spiritual calling.

PastorPastorMissionaryMissionary

Church WorkerChurch Worker

Stay-at-home momStay-at-home mom

PlumberPlumber

CEO/ExecutiveCEO/Executive

Scum of the EarthScum of the Earth

Ad Agency ExecutiveAd Agency Executive

Lawyer!

Give $Give $Dt 8:18Dt 8:18

WORKWORK

Meet Meet human human needsneeds

Work is Work is worship worship ““AvodahAvodah”

Platform Platform

Influence - Influence - societal societal

transformationtransformation

“Ministry” Ministry” equates to equates to “Service” “Service” “diakonia”“diakonia”

Work IS Ministry Work TO Minister

Col 3:23-25Col 3:23-25And whatever you do, And whatever you do,

do it heartily, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, as to the Lord and not to men,

knowing that from the Lord knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward you will receive the reward

of the inheritance; of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.for you serve the Lord Christ.

Care Care for for

PoorPoor Lev 19:9-10Lev 19:9-10

Jesus, known as the carpenter’s son

Jesus & Paul modeled Jesus & Paul modeled work life ministry.work life ministry.

• Of 132 public appearances in NT, Of 132 public appearances in NT, 122122 in the marketplace in the marketplace

• Of Of 52 52 parables Jesus told, parables Jesus told, 4545 had a had a workplace context. workplace context.

• Of 40 miracles in the book of Acts, Of 40 miracles in the book of Acts, 3939 were in the marketplace. were in the marketplace.

7 Cultural Mountains7 Cultural Mountains

Bill Bright/Loren CunninghamBill Bright/Loren Cunningham

19751975

Jesus, Lord Over All Domains of Influence(not just Lord over salvation)

1. King of Kings – the Lord of Justice

2. Jehovah Jireh – Lord of Economics

3. Father, Lord of the family

4. Creator God, Lord of science & technology

5. Living Word, Lord of communication

6. Potter, Lord of the arts & beauty

7. Great Teacher, Lord of education

8. The Great Physician, who heals our infirmities

Culture is defined by only Culture is defined by only 3-5%3-5% of people who operate at the top of of people who operate at the top of

a cultural mountain. a cultural mountain. i.e. gay agenda.i.e. gay agenda.

19% Christians in

U.S. have a biblical worldview.

The Barna Update, “Americans Worldview," 2009.

Relativism

Tolerance – “You believe what you want as long as it does not affect me.”

Emerging generation:– “My truth is as good as your truth.”

“Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile.

Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”

Jeremiah 29:7

Samaritan Woman

““Many Samaritans from Many Samaritans from that city believed in him that city believed in him because of the woman's because of the woman's testimony…testimony…”” John 4:39 John 4:39

Transformed people transform communities

Global Day of PrayerGlobal Day of PrayerMay 15, 2005May 15, 2005

Atlanta Atlanta

City Transformation City Transformation ““TrinityTrinity””

LocalLocal

Church LeadersChurch Leaders

IntercessorsIntercessors

MarketplaceMarketplace(workplace leaders)

Acts of Acts of ServiceService

Solve ProblemsSolve Problems

““When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen stumbled. out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen stumbled. The LORD's anger burned against Uzzah because of his The LORD's anger burned against Uzzah because of his irreverent act; therefore God struck him down and he died there irreverent act; therefore God struck him down and he died there beside the ark of God.beside the ark of God.”” - - 2 Sam 6:6-72 Sam 6:6-7

It was because you, the Levites, did not bring it up the first time that the It was because you, the Levites, did not bring it up the first time that the LORD our God broke out in anger against us. We did not inquire of him LORD our God broke out in anger against us. We did not inquire of him about how to do it in the prescribed way." 1 Chron 15:13-14about how to do it in the prescribed way." 1 Chron 15:13-14

““For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge.is not based on knowledge.”” Romans 10:2 Romans 10:2

David – Bringing GodDavid – Bringing God’’s Presence into the Citys Presence into the City

Two Pillars of the TemplePriest

Jakin It establishes.

Businessman/King Kinsman Redeemer

Boaz In it is strength.

1 Kings 7:21-22The pillar to the south he named Jakin and the one to the north Boaz.

Why was Jesus Influential?

He solvedProblems!!

• He solved Peter’s fishing problem

• He solved Peter’s tax problem

• He fed 5,000 people when there was no food

• He solved the blind man’s seeing problem

• He solved the prostitute’s problem & kept her from being stoned

Can we be trusted with a problem?

What problem are you called to solve on earth?

The strategy to transform a community is simple,

the implementation is not.

#1 Hindrance to Community Transformation?

Disunity

And the Lord said, “Indeed the and they all have

one language, and this is what they begin to do;

now nothing that they propose to do will

be withheld from them. -Genesis 11:6

""I do not pray for these alone, but also for those I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that the world may believe that You sent Me.that You sent Me.””

John 17:20-22John 17:20-22

Doctrine is what you are willing to die for; everythingelse is negotiable for the sake of unity in the body..

Unity of ChristianLeaders =

LOGO

Humility leads to unity; unity leads to (spiritual) authority,

authority leads to influence

Jesus never reached for the power, But He did use his spiritual authority.

Our Father in heaven,Our Father in heaven,

Hallowed be Your name.Hallowed be Your name.

Your kingdom come.Your kingdom come.

Your will be doneYour will be done

on earth as it is in heaven.on earth as it is in heaven.

Matthew 6:10Matthew 6:10

How Do WeHow Do We Influence and Gain Influence and Gain Authority in a Community?Authority in a Community?

How?How?• Force? Authoritarian?Force? Authoritarian?• Political power?Political power?• Money? Control?Money? Control?

Serving the Community!Serving the Community!

Matt 20:26-28

“Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave- just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

American Christian leadership has a silo disease

NarcissismNarcissism

It’s all about my kingdom vs God’s

Kingdom

300 Movements – Intercessors, Workplace Leaders, Pastors

Mission America Coalition500 orgs

April 2007April 2007

Local ChurchLocal Church

MarketplaceMarketplace

$$$$$$ Influence Influence in the Cityin the City

Community ProjectCommunity ProjectStewardship committeeStewardship committee

IntercessionIntercession

Allocate Monthly Gift

Allo

cate

Mon

thly

Gift

How the Church in the City Will Fulfill How the Church in the City Will Fulfill DT. 28:13 “Head vs Tail”

150 churches & 150 businesses @ $50 mo = $180,000 year

GA CountiesGA Counties

What will it take to returnAmerica to its greatness?

?

And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the

gospel to every creature. Mark 16:15

Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the

Lord your God with all your heart,

with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the

first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your

neighbor as yourself.’

Matthew 22:37-39

Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.

Your kingdom come. Your will be doneOn

earth as it is in heaven. Mathew 6:8

…that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.John 17:21

If my people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14.

Is our community worth investing in?

• Time?

• Resources?

• Expertise?

England’s William Wilberforce

The Clapham Group

Lessons Learned about why Community Transformation Efforts Fail

• Failure to invest enough in relationships.

• Leaders choose to find what they disagree on instead of what they can agree on. Pride.

• Smaller communities are the “low hanging fruit” and can get traction faster than a larger city.

What would success look like?

• Less crime• Better schools and education• Increased spiritual climate in community• Unity among leaders• Increase prosperity among businesses• Attract people to the community

Beginning steps …1. Intercessors, Church leaders, and marketplace leaders

begin to meet at least monthly to pray and build relationships.

2. Willing to commit time and resource to the betterment of our community – what problem can we collectively solve?

1. Forsyth County Marketplace Leaders meet in small groups – TGIF Groups 2x a month. Sign up at the table.

2. Annual prayer breakfast on National Day of Prayer in May. (I serve on the National Day of Prayer committee).

“Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile.

Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”

Jeremiah 29:7

Pastor’s progress report

jon adamsThe Vine

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