We are eager to train youths and entrepreneurs but, I need some clarity on the area of concentration of what people want to learn and I should be focusing on and how I should structure it.
Kindly fill this is 2-minute survey...
Click the link below and fill form you will be contacted shortly.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeTbNO5LuKrD4Wrv9G1AuLYUlDRorQcVk8eOf3UNmVK85LRmg/viewform?usp=sf_link

Good morning
Anyone that is programmer or you have anyone around you ,please private chat me on WhatsApp 08168232720.
Thank you.

GLOBAL REVIVAL AND COVID-19:
BETWEEN THE LORD’S EMPHASIS AND THE DISTRACTION IN THIS SEASON!

click the link to watch the video:
https://www.ministryexploit.com/global-revival-and-covid-19-apostle-arome-osayi/
https://www.facebook.com/ministryexploit/videos/246170386565585/?t=0

Victory over the spirit of death.
Listen to this message and have victory over the CONVID'19
Message: Victory over the Spirit of Death
Preacher: Apostle Joshua Selman

https://www.ministryexploit.com/download/4472/

JUST ONLY ONE PLAGUE!
#mikebamiloye
Only one Plague,
And the World stood still.
Only One Plague,
And the World Government was humbled.
Only One Plague,
and the World Powers got confused.
Just Only One Plague,
And Everyone scamper for Safety.
Only One Plague,
Read More
https://www.ministryexploit.com/convid19-just-only-one-plague/

YOU ARE FAR ABOVE COVID'19

Word of God doesn't against neatness and precaution but never replace scientific with faith on word of God.


Hebrews 2:15
And deliver them who *through fear of death* were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
Hear me!!!
The media is not helping the situation not their fault they're working for their kingdom don't allow the fear of Covid19 to put you in his bondage.

Ephesians 1:21
Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come.

Declare it.
I, my family, my loved ones and the entire Nigeria are far above the disease called coronavirus*
In JESUS NAME.
Amen!
HALLELUJAH!
Pst Oladosu K.P

A powerful message preached by Apostle Arome Osayi at The Internation Prophetic Conference 2019 organized by Remnant Christian Network under the leadership of Apostle Arome. A conference designed to equip ministers of the gospel and rekindle the fire of God in the lives of believers.

Title: The Battle For Civilization
– Apostle Arome Osayi
Size: 25Mb
Download Link[b]: https://www.ministryexploit.com/download-the-battle-for-civilization-apostle-arome-osayi/[/b]

Apostle Joshua Selman was a guess minister at the IMPACT2020 Conference organized by The Holyghost Christian Centre (HCC Solution House), tagged OPEN DOORS. HCC Solution house is a gathering of believers located in Lagos Nigeria, where the undiluted word of God is being taught under the leadership of Pastor Dr. Amos Fenwa.
Here is the first ministration by Apostle Joshua Selman titled “A Great Door”, through this message, your life will be blessed. Use the download button below to download.
Title: KEYS TO OPEN DOORS – HCC Impact2020
– Apostle Joshua Selman
Size: 25Mb
DOWNLOAD LINK: https://www.ministryexploit.com/download-keys-to-open-doors-apostle-joshua-selman/

United States President Donald Trump has declared Sunday, March 15, a National Day of Prayer for this upcoming Sunday, shortly after declaring a state of emergency amid the fast-spreading coronavirus pandemic.

“We are a Country that, throughout our history, has looked to God for protection and strength in times like these….,” Trump tweeted. “No matter where you may be, I encourage you to turn towards prayer in an act of faith. Together, we will easily PREVAIL!”


Donald J. Trump
✔
@realDonaldTrump
It is my great honor to declare Sunday, March 15th as a National Day of Prayer. We are a Country that, throughout our history, has looked to God for protection and strength in times like these....

349K
11:54 PM - Mar 13, 2020
Twitter Ads info and privacy
128K people are talking about this
….No matter where you may be, I encourage you to turn towards prayer in an act of faith. Together, we will easily PREVAIL!110K11:54 PM – Mar 13, 2020Twitter Ads info and privacy36.2K people are talking about this

The annual National Day of Prayer is originally scheduled for May 7.

Trump Admin Announces First Ever Global Alliance to End Religious Persecution in Nigeria.

Trump’s announcement came Friday, after he declared a national emergency over the coronavirus pandemic, in addition to partnerships with several large companies to expand testing for the illness.

“In America we celebrate faith. We cherish religion,” the president said during his State of the Union address last month. “We lift our voices in prayer and we raise our sights to the glory of God.”

Trump has large support from white evangelical Christians and Catholic voters. As president, he’s championed religious liberty and called for greater religious freedoms, such as strengthening prayer in public schools, according to Fox News.

In addition to the updated guidance on prayer in schools, the Trump administration also took action across nine federal agencies, releasing proposed rules to ensure religious organizations are not discriminated against by the federal government.
www.ministryexploit.com

What a lesson to many churches and Christians in Nigeria.

A church in Brazil has launched a project to build houses for its poor and homeless members using part of tithes and offerings paid into the church coffers.
Read more...
https://www.ministryexploit.com/a-church-brazil-uses-tithes-to-build-houses-for-the-poor/

As we all know at this point, social technology is here to stay, which is why digital marketing services can’t be ignore in ministries, churches today. Thanks to the various metrics, social media platforms, website tools, and video services at your disposal, it’s now easier than ever before to grow your church audience simply through a mobile device or laptop

However, as more and more content is pushed out into the Internet, consumers are wary of being overly pitched, preferring a softer, “inbound” digital marketing approach. They want to come to you as a result of your content, not the other way around.

If you’re ready to grow your church with digital tools, here are benefits in which digital marketing can make a huge difference:

Be a blogger and grow your blog’s traffic
What is the meaning of blogger : is a person who regularly writes material for a blog.

A blog (a truncation of the expression “weblog”) is a discussion or informational website published on the World Wide Web consisting of discrete

Every writer on a weblog is called blogger, as a minister you teach and preach the bible either through writing or vocal, you can do the same process via the internet which will take it beyond your location and vicinity.

To grow your followers online you need to become a blogger as a minister.

Bloggers often write from a personal perspective that allows them to connect directly with their readers. In addition, most blogs also have a “comments” section where readers can correspond with the blogger. Interacting with your readers in the comments section helps to further the connection between the blogger and the reader.

This direct connection to the reader is one of the main benefits of starting a blog.

This connection allows you to reach out to people that you could not reach physical to share the word of God and able to teach all nation through the blog website

It also allows you to build relationship with your readers. Having the trust and loyalty of your readers also opens up the door to make connection for invites to share the word of God across the world

To Create a personal brand in any topic to clarify confusion in body of Christ
Blog is the only way to clarify many issues arise in the body of Christ where your voice could not reach through your blog people can have access to it

If you share content on topics that you know much about, you can begin to build credibility. This doesn’t only go for your online presence. If you live your personal brand and your actions reflect your online presence, it validates that you can be trusted and those relationships you are building will be that much more authentic and valuable

Social media gives you an opportunity to talk about what you know and what you want to be known for. Sharing your biblical understanding and conviction will attract potential followers and personal connections.

Publish a book and increase your sales
In general, inventory and marketing control sales. While traditional retailers are limited by the items physically on their shelves – a selection generally governed by new release titles and big-name authors – publishers are not. Building connections directly with readers offers greater control over which titles are emphasized, allowing ample opportunity for publishers to push backlist titles, sequel publications, and even non-printed media, like audio books and e-books. Through email and social media, publishers can leave third party sellers behind in order to control exactly what information reaches consumers. This is highly beneficial for a company’s bottom line, providing a way for publishers to push titles with fewer related royalty expenses and fees in order to see an overall improvement in margins.

As the wide world of marketing changes, so do the tools and techniques used by brands to connect with their customers. While B2B marketing strategies may have worked for publishers in the past, the internet has made the world of book sales a very different place. With benefits like improved control, increased exposure, and the development of brand loyalty, publishers can break through traditional barriers in marketing, offering products directly to consumers and reaping the rewards of doing so.

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK(Digital4Minstry)

Digital Marketing for Churches


The beauty of digital marketing is that you can never do too much of it for your church. It’s an infinite tool that is also relatively easy to manage. Between social media marketing, content marketing, video marketing, influencer marketing, and so forth, the sky is the limit in regard to your church reach.

We understand that as a pastor, minister, manager, etc. you might not exactly have time to manage every last SMS or email outreach. Registering for online directories is easy, but time consuming, and keeping websites up to date can seem like a full-time job.

Here at Tech4Ministry, we provide website design and development, SEO, and social media marketing services for your church, so you can focus on ministering and connecting with your followers in-person. Consider the power of digital marketing for ministries today.

https://digital.ministryexploit.com/2020/01/16/benefits-digital-marketing-you-cant-ignore-as-a-minister/
https://digital.ministryexploit.com/

Contact us now!

The burden carrier of lost souls

Today, I see many men of God, younger and stronger than I am, enjoying the comfort of their cities and the privileges of being the “man of God” when souls are perishing! I weep for this generation, not just because of those doing evil, but because of the indifference of Christians who should be making a change. The encouragement is that Jesus said those of us who mourn will be comforted. I wish we could have more mourners in this generation.

Do not be one of those who are at ease in Zion.
MinistryExploit.com
#TheBurdenCarrierOfLostSouls
#Youths
#Christians
#ThisGeneration

Youths Are Coming with fresh fire(Prophetic Note)

THEY ARE COMING!
Hear me, I have Fathers in Ministry,
And I am a Father in Ministry to Many.
Hear me, People.
There is a Pride of Lions,
A Swarm of Bees,
An Army of Spiritual Foot Soldiers,
A Spiritually Angry and hungry Youths,
Coming behind Us,
Carrying the Fire that is bigger than the Ones we carried.
Highly Intelligent.
Many of them Have kept themselves like Joseph.
Many of them are highly schooled and fearless like Daniel.
Many of them are like Solomon,
Products of Immoral and UnGodly Backgrounds,
But had obtained Mercy and abundant Grace.
Many of them are like Jephthar,
A vagabond and wanderer coming back home,
And had obtained Favor and Power from Heaven
To Lead Battles and win Wars!
They are coming behind Us!
They are Youths and Young, but Strong!
They Tongue and Communicate with Heavens.
They are never afraid of Fasting and
Waiting long in the place of Prayers.
They have been Graced and Favored to do so.

They carry the Fire that is bigger than the Ones we carry.
They are being raised by God to touch
Their peers, their colleagues, their mates;
Those their fathers are too Old Schooled to touch.
They shall speak their languages.
They shall speak in Chaldean Language.
They shall speak in Median and Persian languages.
They shall sing strange Heavenly songs.
Their spiritual Chanting will command devils’ attention!
They shall speak the Word and Dissect its meanings!

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK

They shall pull down Heaven to earth.
They shall make the Heaven kiss the Earth
In the heart of the Youths.
The Youths shall listen to them.
The Youths shall obey their Voice.
The Lord shall give them the hearts
Of their Peers and Friends.

They are Fulfillment of the Joel 2:28 Prophesy.
They shall see visions.
They shall prophesy.
They shall speak with new languages.
They shall speak the mind of God.
They are Answers to the Age long Prayers.
They are reserved for the time and
They are reset for this Purpose.

They shall Manifest in different formats.
They shall appear on different Platforms.
The Lord shall reveal them from various Gifts and Calling.
They shall appear in Music.
They shall appear in Drama.
They shall appear in Teaching.
They shall appear in Pastoring.
They shall appear in Administrations and Leadership.
The power of God shall overshadow them.

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER

BUT….!
BUT….!
BUT…..!
But let them listen and lend me their hears!
They MUST NOT FALL WHERE MANY OF US FELL.
They MUST NOT MAKE THE MISTAKE MANY OF US MADE!
They must RUN FROM PRIDE!
Because God Resist the Proud,
but gives Grace to the Humble.
God looks at the Pride afar off.
They must RUN AWAY FROM FAME!
They should never fall into the trap of Youth Praise Singers!
They should never allow their Youth followers
To push them into Arrogance, and Disrespect to the Fathers.
Was it not these Fathers that prayed you all into reality?

They must RUN AWAY FROM LOVE OF MONEY.
It will drain the Anointing
And turn the Calling into Empty Shells.
Desire for Wealth will make them
Turn Stones to Bread At the Devil’s Command.
They MUST RUN AWAY FROM IMMORALITY.
For those who bear the Vessels of the Lord
Must depart from Iniquities and be Holy.
Sin drains the OIL.
Immorality stains the Garment
And makes the Power leaks.
It makes One to lose the Divine Favor and Backing.

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK

Are they all Listening to me?
Can Somebody send them this Message?
Does anyone know any of these Young Soldiers
And help them with this Word from God?
These Vibrant Youths that are receiving
The Batons of Continuity From their Fathers,
Are they listening to Me?

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER

Is Joshua Selman listening?
Is Lawrence Oyor and PK Daniel Listening?
Is Gabriel Clement and Femi Lazarus Listening?
Is Iyke Oriaku and Caleb Dada Listening?
Is Suleman Lawal and Kenny Omole Hearing?
Is Michael Orokpo and Theophilus Sunday Listening?
Is Steve Crown Listening?
Is JudiKay and Mercy Chinwo Listening?

I don’t know many of them.
But let the ones I know inform the Ones I don’t know.
There are many of them in Music now.
There are many of them in Drama now.
There are many of them coming up in Film Productions now.
Spoken Word Artistes that arrest the Stage
And Spellbound the Audience in the Name of the Lord.
There are many of them in Teaching ministry now.
Let the Ones I know tell the Ones I don’t know!
That, the Destinies of Millions of Youths is seeking to
Receive from the Elishas who had received from Elijahs.
They are Coming!
(By: Mike Bamiloye)
#MinistryExploit
Youth
FreshFire
Read More
https://www.ministryexploit.com/youths-are-coming-with-fresh-fireprophetic-note/

The future of our nation is in the hand of farmers, there is a project going on dont be left behind.
kindly fill the survey form with correct details by click the link below.
Thanks

https://form.myjotform.com/91223751994564

I find this link helpful for farmers to know the challenges facing them and how to solve the problem.
kindly fill it if you are a farmer or share it with farmers.
Thanks

https://form.myjotform.com/91223751994564

Source
https://www.ministryexploit.com/nigerian-church-history-in-brief/

Christianity came to Nigeria in the 15th century through Augustinian and Capuchin monks from Portugal. The first mission of the Church of England was, though, only established in 1842 in Badagry by Henry Townsend. In 1864 Samuel Ajayi Crowther, an ethnic Yoruba and former slave, was elected Bishop of the Niger and the first black Bishop of the Anglican Communion. Lagos became a diocese of its own in 1919.

1910s-1920s: Around 1910, an Anglican deacon launches an indigenous prophetic movement that later becomes the Christ Army Church. Following an influenza epidemic in 1918, revivals flare within the mission churches and the Christ Army Church. Spirit-filled groups also expand, including those known by the Yoruba word Aladura (“praying people”). Early Aladura churches include the Eternal Sacred Order of the Cherubim and Seraphim Society, founded in 1925, and the Church of the Lord (Aladura), founded in 1930. Around 1918, an Anglican forms a prayer group known as the Precious Stone (Diamond) Society to heal influenza victims. The group leaves the Anglican Church in the early 1920s and affiliates with Faith Tabernacle, a church based in Philadelphia (Anderson 2001: 80-82; Gaiya 2002: 5).


1930s-1940s: During the 1930s, Joseph Babalola of Faith Tabernacle leads a revival that converts thousands. In 1932, his movement initiates ties with the pentecostal Apostolic Church of Great Britain after coming into conflict with colonial authorities, but the association dissolves over the use of modern medicine. In 1941, Babalola founds the independent Christ Apostolic Church, which is estimated to have over a million members by 1990 (Anderson 2001: 86-87). Foreign Pentecostal denominations such as the Welsh Apostolic Church (1931), the Assemblies of God (1939) and the Foursquare Gospel Church (1954) are also introduced during this period.

1950s: In the 1950s the Celestial Church of Christ arrives in western Nigeria from Benin. The church rapidly expands into northern Nigeria and becomes one of Africa’s largest Aladura churches. In 1952, a former member of the Cherubim and Seraphim society, Pa Josiah Akindayomi, founds the Redeemed Christian Church of God. Under Enoch Adejare Adeboye, the church becomes increasingly pentecostal in theology and practice and grows from an estimated 42 congregations in 1980 to around 7,000 in 2004, with followers in more than 90 countries, including the U.S. (Anderson 2001: 85: Murphy, March 25, 2006; Mahtani, April 26, 2005; Ojo 2004: 4).
Read more
https://www.ministryexploit.com/nigerian-church-history-in-brief/

source
https://www.ministryexploit.com/4-unhealthy-commandments-of-church-leaders/

In my work with pastors and leaders, I am reminded again and again of how deeply in our bones many of us carry four faulty beliefs that damage us and our ministries:

1. It’s Not a Success Unless It’s Bigger and Better

Most of us have been taught to measure success by external markers. And let’s be clear—numbers aren’t all bad. In fact, quantifying ministry impact with numbers is actually biblical. But let’s also be clear that there is a wrong way to deal with numbers. When we use numbers to compare ourselves or to boast of our size, we cross a line.

The problem isn’t that we count, it’s that we have so fully embraced the world’s dictum that bigger is better that numbers have become the only thing we count.

Have you ever considered that your ministry, organization, or team may be growing and yet actually failing? Think with me for a moment about some of God’s faithful and, hence, most successful leaders:


The CEO (International Leadership Conference ILC2019 ) VOL 3
If we were to create a bar chart on the size of John the Baptist’s ministry over time, it would demonstrate a peak followed by a steep decline.
Jeremiah and Isaiah were mostly written off by an unresponsive remnant—definitely not what anyone likely considered success.
Jesus didn’t wring his hands when “many of his disciples turned away and deserted him” (Jn. 6:66). He remained content, knowing he was in the Father’s will
It’s hard to see how any of the names on this list would be considered successful in most leadership circles today. And yet the Bible makes it clear that God approved of their ministries. The implications are that we may well be growing our ministries but nevertheless failing.

Remember: Success is first and foremost doing what God has asked us to do, doing it his way, and in his timing.

2. What You Do Is More Important than Who You Are

What we do does matter—to a point. And hopefully, you want to develop your skills and increase your effectiveness.

But who you are is more important than what you do. Why? Because the love of Jesus is the greatest gift 
you have to give to others. Period. Who you are as a person—and specifically how well you love—will always have a larger, longer impact on those around you than what you do. Your being with God (or lack of being with God) will trump, eventually, your doing for God every time.

We cannot give what we do not possess. We cannot help but give what we do possess.

3. Superficial Spirituality Is Okay

For years, I assumed. I assumed that anyone who attended church and listened to biblical teaching—in our church and others—would experience transformation. I assumed pastors, worship leaders, administrative staff, missionaries, and board members devoted themselves to nurturing a deep, personal relationship with Jesus.

I assumed wrong.
 Now I don’t assume anything. Instead, I ask.

I ask leaders to tell me about how they are cultivating their relationship with God. I ask questions like: “Describe to me your rhythms, how you study Scripture apart from preparations, when and how much time do you spend alone with God?” I ask them how they structure their time with God and what they do. The more I’ve asked these questions of pastors and Christian leaders, the more alarmed I have become.

Just because we have the gifts and skills to build a crowd and create lots of activity does not mean we are building a church or ministry that connects people intimately to Jesus for the sake of the world.

4. Don’t Rock the Boat as Long as the Work Gets Done

Too much of contemporary church culture is characterized by a false niceness and superficiality. We view conflict as a sign that something is wrong and so we do whatever we can to avoid it. We prefer to ignore difficult issues and settle for a false peace, hoping our difficulties will somehow disappear on their own.

They don’t.

For years, I turned a blind eye to issues I should have been engaging promptly and directly. But as we all learn sooner or later, I discovered that I couldn’t build God’s kingdom with lies and pretense. I found out the things I ignored eventually erupted into much bigger problems later. We have to ask the painful, difficult questions we prefer to ignore or the church will pay a much larger price later.

If we allow ourselves and our leadership to be formed by these faulty commandments—even in small ways—we increase the likelihood of devastating, long-term consequences. Odds are also good we will damage ourselves as well. And we will damage the people we serve by failing to bring them into spiritual/emotional maturity so they can offer their lives to the world.
source
https://www.ministryexploit.com/4-unhealthy-commandments-of-church-leaders/

source
https://www.ministryexploit.com/4-unhealthy-commandments-of-church-leaders/

In my work with pastors and leaders, I am reminded again and again of how deeply in our bones many of us carry four faulty beliefs that damage us and our ministries:

1. It’s Not a Success Unless It’s Bigger and Better

Most of us have been taught to measure success by external markers. And let’s be clear—numbers aren’t all bad. In fact, quantifying ministry impact with numbers is actually biblical. But let’s also be clear that there is a wrong way to deal with numbers. When we use numbers to compare ourselves or to boast of our size, we cross a line.

The problem isn’t that we count, it’s that we have so fully embraced the world’s dictum that bigger is better that numbers have become the only thing we count.

Have you ever considered that your ministry, organization, or team may be growing and yet actually failing? Think with me for a moment about some of God’s faithful and, hence, most successful leaders:


The CEO (International Leadership Conference ILC2019 ) VOL 3
If we were to create a bar chart on the size of John the Baptist’s ministry over time, it would demonstrate a peak followed by a steep decline.
Jeremiah and Isaiah were mostly written off by an unresponsive remnant—definitely not what anyone likely considered success.
Jesus didn’t wring his hands when “many of his disciples turned away and deserted him” (Jn. 6:66). He remained content, knowing he was in the Father’s will
It’s hard to see how any of the names on this list would be considered successful in most leadership circles today. And yet the Bible makes it clear that God approved of their ministries. The implications are that we may well be growing our ministries but nevertheless failing.

Remember: Success is first and foremost doing what God has asked us to do, doing it his way, and in his timing.

2. What You Do Is More Important than Who You Are

What we do does matter—to a point. And hopefully, you want to develop your skills and increase your effectiveness.

But who you are is more important than what you do. Why? Because the love of Jesus is the greatest gift 
you have to give to others. Period. Who you are as a person—and specifically how well you love—will always have a larger, longer impact on those around you than what you do. Your being with God (or lack of being with God) will trump, eventually, your doing for God every time.

We cannot give what we do not possess. We cannot help but give what we do possess.

3. Superficial Spirituality Is Okay

For years, I assumed. I assumed that anyone who attended church and listened to biblical teaching—in our church and others—would experience transformation. I assumed pastors, worship leaders, administrative staff, missionaries, and board members devoted themselves to nurturing a deep, personal relationship with Jesus.

I assumed wrong.
 Now I don’t assume anything. Instead, I ask.

I ask leaders to tell me about how they are cultivating their relationship with God. I ask questions like: “Describe to me your rhythms, how you study Scripture apart from preparations, when and how much time do you spend alone with God?” I ask them how they structure their time with God and what they do. The more I’ve asked these questions of pastors and Christian leaders, the more alarmed I have become.

Just because we have the gifts and skills to build a crowd and create lots of activity does not mean we are building a church or ministry that connects people intimately to Jesus for the sake of the world.

4. Don’t Rock the Boat as Long as the Work Gets Done

Too much of contemporary church culture is characterized by a false niceness and superficiality. We view conflict as a sign that something is wrong and so we do whatever we can to avoid it. We prefer to ignore difficult issues and settle for a false peace, hoping our difficulties will somehow disappear on their own.

They don’t.

For years, I turned a blind eye to issues I should have been engaging promptly and directly. But as we all learn sooner or later, I discovered that I couldn’t build God’s kingdom with lies and pretense. I found out the things I ignored eventually erupted into much bigger problems later. We have to ask the painful, difficult questions we prefer to ignore or the church will pay a much larger price later.

If we allow ourselves and our leadership to be formed by these faulty commandments—even in small ways—we increase the likelihood of devastating, long-term consequences. Odds are also good we will damage ourselves as well. And we will damage the people we serve by failing to bring them into spiritual/emotional maturity so they can offer their lives to the world.
source
https://www.ministryexploit.com/4-unhealthy-commandments-of-church-leaders/

https://www.ministryexploit.com/new-report-church-paid-people-to-pretend-god-healed-them/

South African news channel SABC1 has done an investigative report on Pastor Alph Lukau and Alleluia Ministries International (AMI), the church where a man named “Elliot” was allegedly raised from the dead on February 24th, 2019. Although the incident has gone viral, with many mocking it, many others still believe in Lukau’s integrity and that the “miracle” was real.

“To use that vulnerability for any kind of religious gain, which is false, I quite frankly think is criminal,” said Bishop Paul Verryn, who is with the Methodist Church of Southern Africa.

What Was the “Miracle”?
The entire AMI service that concerns the alleged miracle is recorded and available to watch on YouTube here. In the middle of the service, a woman approaches Lukau, telling him that people on their way to Zimbabwe have just driven a hearse by the church when they saw the fingers of the corpse in it beginning to move. Lukau leaves the stage and goes outside to meet people claiming to be Elliot’s friends and family members. After a covered coffin containing Elliot is pulled out of the hearse and opened, Lukau asks what happened to him. A woman claiming to be his landlord says she saw Elliot die in front of her that past Friday. A man claiming to be his brother says the “body” came from a mortuary.

Everything about the scenario implies that Elliot has been dead, even though he is obviously breathing while he is lying in the coffin, something Lukau even mentions at one point. It’s also unclear how anyone could have seen Elliot’s fingers moving before the hearse arrived at the church since the coffin had been covered. After questioning those who brought Elliot, Lukau lays his hands on him and tells him, “Rise up!” Elliot then sits up and gets out of the coffin to much jubilation from the church attendees.

Since the alleged miracle occurred, AMI has denied that Lukau ever claimed to have performed a resurrection, despite the fact that later in the service (at 2:11:45 in the video) as Elliot is walking around in an apparent daze, Lukau says, “The dead man is alive. The coffin is empty.”

Arguing this was not intended to be presented as a resurrection ignores a host of glaring facts that AMI and Pastor Lukau have not yet accounted for.


This school will bring you closer to Biblical Understanding help your interpretation
What SABC1’s Investigation Found
SABC1 talked to several people who claim that AMI pays people to act as though they have disabilities and then pretend to be healed from them. One woman named Samantha Revesai says she went to AMI one morning for prayer because she was discouraged from being out of work for a long time. When people at the church found out she needed money, they told her to come back to the church the next week. When Revesai returned, she was given two papers, one claiming she had been HIV positive and another saying that she was now negative, something that was announced before hundreds of people that morning. Revesai denies ever having been HIV positive and says the church gave her money for saying that she was healed from the virus.

A man named Blessing Kwemelao, who was interviewed in the report, says that he recruited people on behalf of AMI to participate in fake miracles. He would tell them that what he wanted them to do was easy and that the pastor would do all the talking for them. Kwemelao says three to four teams at the church recruited and trained people for this purpose. He claims that those helping to orchestrate each “miracle” would send texts with instructions to the actors telling them what to do. For example, a woman might be told to pretend she couldn’t hear anything and then scream and say, “I can hear!”

One woman interviewed in SABC1’s report says the church won’t recruit people from South Africa because South Africans can easily be traced, but the church will recruit Zimbabweans living in South Africa, who are “untraceable.”


Plan to attend
What About Elliot?
According to Elliot’s employer, Vincent Amoretti, Elliot’s coworkers say he has done other “stints” for the church where he has pretended to be healed by miracles.

SABC1’s reporter visited Elliott’s home on the east side of Pretoria where his neighbors (many of whom chose to remain anonymous) say the “resurrection” was a lie to make money. They expressed their anger at an incident they believe trivializes the grief of those who have actually lost loved ones. One member of the community says that the woman in the video is not Elliot’s landlord and that in fact no one in the neighborhood even has a landlord.

Elliot’s friend, “Paul,” claims he last saw him on Thursday, the 21st, the day before he supposedly died. Elliott was not sick and did not die, says Paul. Rather, he was acting in order to “make ends meet.” SABC1 also found that no medical teams in the province got a call about a death case on the Friday Elliott allegedly died. There was no autopsy report or certificate of death, and none of the funeral homes connected with the incident saw his body.

AMI Claims Innocence
AMI has maintained that it was not dishonest in the matter of the supposed resurrection and that it does not orchestrate fake miracles. Busi Gaca, a spokesperson for AMI, told SABC1, “So anybody to then allege that the miracles we see, whether it’s in the church or on the street, are either staged or people are paid for, I think that’s ridiculous.” If they were staged, she says, then people would be praying to a powerless God.

AMI has posted images on its Facebook page of documents from its attorneys stating that SABC1 did not give the church a fair opportunity to appear on the report or to defend itself. The church apparently urged the news channel to pull the program. In the comments on the post, many criticized Lukau, but many also defended him. One woman wrote, “If people believe that My Father Alph Lukau bought some people to fake miracles, then they should also believe that some people can be bought to lie about Pastor Alpha. Plz leave Pastor Alph alone, we didn’t force people to became member of AMI or follow Pastor Alph. WE LOVE U PAPA.”

In the report, one church member says he is so convinced that the miracle occurred he would stake his life on it: “If that wasn’t real, I am not real.”


‘Competition of Gimmicks’
Bishop Malusi Mpumiwana, the General Secretary of the South African Council of Churches, says that fraudulent miracles are happening more and more often in the country and that it’s almost like there is a “competition of gimmicks” going on.

Bishop Musa Sono of Grace Bible Church says that while resurrection is possible, churches like AMI are taking advantage of people: “It affects people’s beliefs in what is authentically God’s word, and people end up not being sure, even when they see authentic things.”
Source: www.ministryexploit.com

The Egyptian government just announced that it has approved 156 new churches and affiliated buildings for use in the country. This is means there are now 783 church buildings where Christians can legally meet.
Despite this news, many believe that the government is paying lip service to the rights of Christians while doing little to actually defend those rights. According to a recent report from NPR,
In the Egyptian province with the biggest percentage of Christians, the government has refused to grant permits for churches. Tens of thousands of people have nowhere to worship but the street.

The law that regulates whether or not church buildings are approved for Christian worship was passed in 2016, and according to the Human Rights Watch, the law, “allows governors to deny church-building permits with no stated way to appeal, requires that churches be built ‘commensurate with’ the number of Christians in the area, and contains security provisions that risk subjecting decisions on whether to allow church construction to the whims of violent mobs.”

This school will bring you closer to Biblical Understanding help your interpretation
Backdrop of Christian Persecution
The need for Christians to have places to worship has been a hot-button issue in Egypt, where the primary religion is Islam and where there have been numerous incidents of Christian persecution. Proponents of the 2016 law maintained that it would help to protect Christians by putting them under the auspices of the government. But opponents said that the fact the law only addressed Christians was in itself discriminatory.

According to one Coptic Christian, “If they wanted to issue a proper law, they would have drafted a unified law for building houses of worship.” This law would govern how both Muslims and Christians worship, instead of singling Christians out.

Other Christians say that the laws regulating the building of mosques in Egypt are more lenient than those regulating the building of churches. It also seems that the law has not been terribly effective at protecting the rights of Christians or at safeguarding them from violence. In December 2016, 25 people died when a Coptic Cathedral in Cairo was bombed, and in April 2017, 45 died in multiple church bombings that occurred in Alexandria and Tanta. Twenty-six people on their way to worship at a monastery died in Minya, Egypt, in May 2017.

More recently, early in January 2019, a police officer died while defusing a bomb ahead of the opening of the Cathedral of the Nativity, the largest church in the Middle East. Egyptian President Abdul Fattah el-Sisi attended the cathedral’s opening, where he said that Egypt’s Muslims and Christians “are one, and we will remain one. This is a historic and important moment, but we still have to protect the tree of love we planted here together today, because seditions never end.”

Plan to attend
Not Exactly ‘One’ in Practice
Nevertheless, Christians, particularly in rural areas, remain disadvantaged and vulnerable because of their faith. NPR reporter Jane Arraf visited a church service in the town of Tayeba. There, she spoke to a woman visiting the church service in Tayeba who is from a town where a church built 13 years ago remains unused because it lacks government approval. The woman said,

Our church is small, but they refuse to let us pray. The children know nothing about our religion. We have sick, elderly people who can’t travel this distance. There isn’t always transportation. And when there is, we don’t always have money to pay for it.

And again, it’s not just that Christians have financial difficulties. In the village of Zafarana, which has a church that has not been approved, a mob surrounded and threatened some Christians who were praying in a house there.

Father Gergis Hakeim, whom Arraf spoke to in the city of Samalut says, “There are laws regarding churches. It’s a long process to submit papers for building a new church. But there are urgent cases. And we already have the churches. So why can’t we pray in them? What is the problem? Do we require official permission to pray?”
source
https://www.ministryexploit.com/egypt-approves-156-new-churches-while-failing-to-protect-christians/

One of the most often asked questions I get related to relationships is, “What are key ingredients that make up a successful relationship?” The answer sounds simple but it’s definitely not always easy. I don’t think anyone really believes there is a magic wand or secret formula. Relationships can be complicated. However, there are two words that do rise above other words and actions. These two words make the difference in the best of marriages and especially in improving a relationship that could be categorized as high maintenance or struggling. Here are the two words: POSITIVE ADAPTABILITY.

As I started investigating happy, healthy relationships, especially in marriage and family, patterns began to emerge. If people lived by the patterns of positive adaptability, those relationships seemed to thrive and if people didn’t live by the pattern of positive adaptability, those relationships struggled and were falling apart. The people who were doing well still seemed to have conflict, tension and differences. There didn’t seem to be a difference in circumstances as much as with attitude.

Adaptability

I asked Dr. Neil Clark Warren, the founder of eHarmony.com and marriage expert, “What is the most important trait of a healthy, vibrant marriage?” Without a moment’s hesitation, he gave me a one-word answer, “Adaptability.” One of the few things you can absolutely count on in any relationship is change. Whether you choose it or not, change will happen. Staying married, having children, buying a home, navigating health issues, job changes, poor choices of a family member and whatever else causes a pit in your stomach, will require a major dose of adaptability. Dr. Warren went on to say, “If I could give one gift to every couple on their wedding day, I’d wrap up a large box filled with adaptability. Because no matter how good your relationship is, you will have to be flexible enough to change yourself and at least tolerate your partner’s differences”

Cathy and I have been married for 44 years and we are very different from each other. We have a tendency to drive each other crazy. I’m an extrovert and she is an introvert. She is detailed and I’m not as detailed. I’m the eternal optimist and she isn’t negative, but she is more of a realist. I try to be on time to things and Cathy typically runs late. There is a principle that has helped us greatly embrace our differences. I promise that if you apply it to most aspects of life it makes a major difference. Here it is: DOES IT REALLY MATTER? Most things really don’t matter. Some do but everything can’t matter. Let’s apply this principle to the important issue of sharing a tube of toothpaste. Let’s pretend that your spouse squeezes the tube from the middle and you neatly roll the tube from the bottom, may I add as I’m sure Jesus would do. Does it really matter? In the words of Winston Churchill, “You will never reach your destination if you throw stones at every dog that barks.”

Positivity is the twin sibling of adaptability. Positivity is the emotional climate of your relationship. Dr. John Gottman, one of the world’s leading experts on relationships claims that one of the major differences between a stable and unstable relationship is the positivity you have toward your spouse or kids or family. As it turns out, positivity is a choice. It’s about “learned optimism” and that becomes a powerful trait in any relationship. Gottman created what he calls “The Magic Ratio.” He found in his research that 5 positive interactions to 1 negative interaction make marriages significantly more likely to succeed. In fact, he says he has never seen a marriage fail with that kind of a ratio. Gottman went on to say that a marriage is often doomed if the ratio drops to 1 positive interaction to 1 negative interaction.

What about negativity in a relationship? It is seldom good. Negativity can quickly kill a relationship. Flee from it. Philippians 2:14 says, “Do all things without grumbling and complaining.” My experience is that grumblers and complainers are basically unhappy people who do much more poorly in relationships. This may be an oversimplification but if you constantly think negatively about your relationship, this becomes the self-fulfilling prophecy for your relationship. The Bible is clear, “As he thinks in his heart, so is he.” (Proverbs 23:7 NKJV) It was Emerson who said, “We become what we think about all day long.”

In other words, we must get a grip on our negative patterns and practice more of a positivity for a relationship to thrive. How about starting today? How about making a list of the positive traits of your spouse and telling them?
http://www.ministryexploit.com/want-a-happier-marriage-practice-the-power-of-positivity/

Robotic Trading is REAL and now helping people to leverage on opportunities.
TRIEARN & Instaforex + Software are good alternative options for you and me.

Create your own continuous residual income through this opportunity.

Furthermore, preparation for a continous & guaranteed source of alternative income is a must for everyone.
Working with a matrix of a 3 digit figure & changing annually by a minimum of 100% & in a decade it exponentially turns to a 7 digit figure and directly linked with your local bank account directly from the beginning.
Ask me how & I will show you the method. Running verifiable accounts are available for checks.
For further enquiries, WhatsApp or call 08125775469.
Synergy & Leveraging Strategy

GREENLEAF Int’l is a Chinese/American multinational company established in 1996 and has been in existence for 22yrs, with its research and development institutions in America, Japan, France & China. GREENLEAF has over 4,500 products from eight different categories such as: Cosmetics, Health care products, Household equipment, furniture, Matetnal& electronics.

GREENLEAF is known for product quality, that’s why they manufacture products under OEM (original Equipment Manufacturer) for other big companies GREENLEAF has the largest and most advanced centre for the research, development, manufacture and sales of cosmetics and health care products in China, with their products in over 20 countries of the world. The company’s visionary Chairman WILLIAM ZU is one of China’s top Entrepreneurs. The Company is rated 10nd in 2017 Direct selling news (DSN) top 100 mlm companies in the world and the number 1 manufacturing company in CHINA. manufactures Top quality fast moving unique and highly effective products like:

1. Anion sanitary napkins and pantyliners that helps to eliminate gynecological infections.
2. Mosquito./rats and cockroach repellent sprays 3. soaps(liquid and solid)
4. Toothpastes
5. Antiperspirants
6. energy cups/slippers
7. classy style energy pots
8. organic condoms
9. Herbal/moisturizing body wash
10. mouthfreshners
11. hand cream
12. immune system boosting wine
13. calcuim
14. fruits instant drinks
15. decaffeinated coffees
16. Classy Energy pot
17. fat burning teas
18.jewelries diamond and pure gold
19.facial mask/intensive boaster
20.masserge items and all beauty products etc

HOW DO YOU BECOME A MEMBER?

ENTRY LEVELS:
One universal entry all over the world
VIP -275 Pvs (purchase value)
$350 (N130,000) you earn daily for life
Its one time investment, you be given a welcome pack worth 65,000 and a shopping voucher worth 560,000 instantly

You are allowed to select products of your choice at any time @ discounted rates.
The catch is in achieving financial freedom through this opportunity offered by GREENLEAF, if you decide to become a partner!
GREENLEAF distributes its innovative products through highly motivated independent distributors using multi level marketing method, but unlike others, it offers greater profitability and flexibility! With the very potent team building support the team gives. In two years we have recorded over 50 brand new Mercedes Benz cars + over 50 SUV(PORCHE Sport cars )! Earns in 6/7 figures daily, Stockists in most states of the Federation about to be launched and Entrepreneurs building their own biz empires!

BENEFITS OF GREENLEAF

1. Maximum of 2 legs
2. No time frame (no pressure)
3. No compulsory monthly purchases(target /authorship).
4. Daily bonus payment .
5. Grow at your own pace
6.Unlimited accumulation of bonus points.
7. Leadership/getting to the Zenith with tangible results easily achieved.

PROMOS
Apart from bonuses paid directly into your account every day based on your team’s volume,you have other incentives like…

TRAVELS: The coy organizes minimum of three ‘all expense paid’ international trips annually for qualifying partners! In 2017, we had trips to Malaysia , USA and EUROPE.

CAR: There is a yearly Car promo, GREENLEAF Int’l has awarded over 100 brand new cars within its first 2 years!

HOUSE: 35 Million naira worth of house is awarded from Star Directorship level! This money is accrued from your 3% monthly global shares from manager rank!

WHAT TO DO AFTER YOU HAVE SIGNED UP:
Train yourself on the business by attending seminars organized in all geographical zones. Company’s profile, products and COMPENSATION PLAN knowledge is key in this business.

You are simply expected to refer ie introduce the business to 2 people when you get started (could be family or friends)

Register those two and with the support offered by the team, they are taught, trained and encouraged to each duplicate their own team by using our social capital to build a community of entrepreneurs!

In a nutshell, the business is fun, extremely exciting and rewarding!
GREENLEAF BIOTECH DAILY CONSUMABLES BUSINESS
GREENLEAF is A reputable Multinational Chinese firm with 22 years of experience in the production of high quality DAILY consumer products.*

GREENLEAF has just opened its extension in AFRICA.
The 1st office has been opened in Ghana•••••••2nd office in Nigeria•••••••3rd in South Africa.

The company aims at doing business for the mutual benefits of itself and its clients.

GREENLEAF operates a BINARY SYSTEM ••••••ONLY ONE ENTRY LEVEL SYSTEM} that makes it easy to sign up potential clients With a daily pay and comprehensive PLACEMENT TREE which enables its clients to WIN BACK THE COST OF THEIR INVESTMENT QUICKLY AND ENJOY HIGH INVESTMENT RETURNS.*

GREENLEAF BIOTECH INTERNATIONAL can also render support to clients interested in operating service centres and franchise stores.

GREENLEAF PAYMENT MODULES
***********************
There are 8 WAYS OF EARNING with GREENLEAF BIOTECH.

1. Return of Investment Bonus
2.Group Bonus
3. Sales Bonus
4. Vouchers Bonus
5. Retail Bonus
6. Leadership Bonus

7. Welfare Bonus*
8. Star Director Incentives

*BENEFITS*
*************

*5% + 1.5% on every new registrations done through your franchise shop*
*10% on online retail orders through your shop*

*CAR ,TRAVEL & HOUSE BONUS*
*********************
You can qualify for free cars,incentive trips and house bonuses by growing your team over time.

ALL POINTS DON’T FLASH AND ARE ACCUMULATED TOWARDS THIS INCENTIVES GREENLEAF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY

Considering an alternative income option?
Choose GREENLEAF!

For more Information call:+2348125775469.

GREENLEAF Int’l is a Chinese/American multinational company established in 1996 and has been in existence for 22yrs, with its research and development institutions in America, Japan, France & China. GREENLEAF has over 4,500 products from eight different categories such as: Cosmetics, Health care products, Household equipment, furniture, Matetnal& electronics.

GREENLEAF is known for product quality, that’s why they manufacture products under OEM (original Equipment Manufacturer) for other big companies GREENLEAF has the largest and most advanced centre for the research, development, manufacture and sales of cosmetics and health care products in China, with their products in over 20 countries of the world. The company’s visionary Chairman WILLIAM ZU is one of China’s top Entrepreneurs. The Company is rated 10nd in 2017 Direct selling news (DSN) top 100 mlm companies in the world and the number 1 manufacturing company in CHINA. manufactures Top quality fast moving unique and highly effective products like:

1. Anion sanitary napkins and pantyliners that helps to eliminate gynecological infections.
2. Mosquito./rats and cockroach repellent sprays 3. soaps(liquid and solid)
4. Toothpastes
5. Antiperspirants
6. energy cups/slippers
7. classy style energy pots
8. organic condoms
9. Herbal/moisturizing body wash
10. mouthfreshners
11. hand cream
12. immune system boosting wine
13. calcuim
14. fruits instant drinks
15. decaffeinated coffees
16. Classy Energy pot
17. fat burning teas
18.jewelries diamond and pure gold
19.facial mask/intensive boaster
20.masserge items and all beauty products etc

HOW DO YOU BECOME A MEMBER?

ENTRY LEVELS:
One universal entry all over the world
VIP -275 Pvs (purchase value)
$350 (N130,000) you earn daily for life
Its one time investment, you be given a welcome pack worth 65,000 and a shopping voucher worth 560,000 instantly

You are allowed to select products of your choice at any time @ discounted rates.
The catch is in achieving financial freedom through this opportunity offered by GREENLEAF, if you decide to become a partner!
GREENLEAF distributes its innovative products through highly motivated independent distributors using multi level marketing method, but unlike others, it offers greater profitability and flexibility! With the very potent team building support the team gives. In two years we have recorded over 50 brand new Mercedes Benz cars + over 50 SUV(PORCHE Sport cars )! Earns in 6/7 figures daily, Stockists in most states of the Federation about to be launched and Entrepreneurs building their own biz empires!

BENEFITS OF GREENLEAF

1. Maximum of 2 legs
2. No time frame (no pressure)
3. No compulsory monthly purchases(target /authorship).
4. Daily bonus payment .
5. Grow at your own pace
6.Unlimited accumulation of bonus points.
7. Leadership/getting to the Zenith with tangible results easily achieved.

PROMOS
Apart from bonuses paid directly into your account every day based on your team’s volume,you have other incentives like…

TRAVELS: The coy organizes minimum of three ‘all expense paid’ international trips annually for qualifying partners! In 2017, we had trips to Malaysia , USA and EUROPE.

CAR: There is a yearly Car promo, GREENLEAF Int’l has awarded over 100 brand new cars within its first 2 years!

HOUSE: 35 Million naira worth of house is awarded from Star Directorship level! This money is accrued from your 3% monthly global shares from manager rank!

WHAT TO DO AFTER YOU HAVE SIGNED UP:
Train yourself on the business by attending seminars organized in all geographical zones. Company’s profile, products and COMPENSATION PLAN knowledge is key in this business.

You are simply expected to refer ie introduce the business to 2 people when you get started (could be family or friends)

Register those two and with the support offered by the team, they are taught, trained and encouraged to each duplicate their own team by using our social capital to build a community of entrepreneurs!

In a nutshell, the business is fun, extremely exciting and rewarding!
GREENLEAF BIOTECH DAILY CONSUMABLES BUSINESS
GREENLEAF is A reputable Multinational Chinese firm with 22 years of experience in the production of high quality DAILY consumer products.*

GREENLEAF has just opened its extension in AFRICA.
The 1st office has been opened in Ghana•••••••2nd office in Nigeria•••••••3rd in South Africa.

The company aims at doing business for the mutual benefits of itself and its clients.

GREENLEAF operates a BINARY SYSTEM ••••••ONLY ONE ENTRY LEVEL SYSTEM} that makes it easy to sign up potential clients With a daily pay and comprehensive PLACEMENT TREE which enables its clients to WIN BACK THE COST OF THEIR INVESTMENT QUICKLY AND ENJOY HIGH INVESTMENT RETURNS.*

GREENLEAF BIOTECH INTERNATIONAL can also render support to clients interested in operating service centres and franchise stores.

GREENLEAF PAYMENT MODULES
***********************
There are 8 WAYS OF EARNING with GREENLEAF BIOTECH.

1. Return of Investment Bonus
2.Group Bonus
3. Sales Bonus
4. Vouchers Bonus
5. Retail Bonus
6. Leadership Bonus

7. Welfare Bonus*
8. Star Director Incentives

*BENEFITS*
*************

*5% + 1.5% on every new registrations done through your franchise shop*
*10% on online retail orders through your shop*

*CAR ,TRAVEL & HOUSE BONUS*
*********************
You can qualify for free cars,incentive trips and house bonuses by growing your team over time.

ALL POINTS DON’T FLASH AND ARE ACCUMULATED TOWARDS THIS INCENTIVES GREENLEAF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY

Considering an alternative income option
Choose GREENLEAF!
https://www.waheedsalami.com/blog/
For more Information call:+2348125775468

Robotic Trading is REAL and now helping people to leverage on opportunities.
TRIEARN & Instaforex + Software are good alternative options for you and me.
Create your own continuous residual income through this opportunity.
Read more here...
https://www.waheedsalami.com/2019/03/01/robotic-trading-is-real/

An article entitled “The Ambidextrous Organization” from Harvard Business Review has really resonated with me as a leader in a large traditional organization. “Ambidextrous,” in this case, means exactly what you would think it means: managing new initiatives and established ones at the same time. While reading, I noted many implications for ministry leaders in strong, historic, or established ministries.

This school will bring you closer to Biblical Understanding help your interpretation
The research behind the article reveals that companies who operate in an ambidextrous fashion are nine times more likely to achieve breakthrough. Instead of implementing a new initiative into the existing structure or launching a new team managed lower in the organization, ambidextrous companies gave new initiatives tremendous levels of freedom while keeping executive levels of leadership highly engaged at the same time. As a result, the new initiatives benefited from company resources and senior leader support without being encumbered by layers of traditional culture and systems. By keeping senior leadership engaged, the entire organization benefited because the right hand knew what the left hand was doing. Ambidextrous.

Leaders of these organizations must be ambidextrous: willing and able to lead differently and skilled to lead the proven and established with one hand and the explorative with the other.

In my context this means caring deeply and leading passionately the ministry and organizational functions that have made LifeWay into what it is while simultaneously launching new initiatives with disproportionate amounts of freedom and resources. I am excited to share details of these in the future and how I believe they will serve churches well.

In the context of a local church, ambidextrous could look like this…

• A pastor senses the nudge from God to launch a new ministry but knows his team would be distracted from the essential ministries. Instead of forcing the new ministry through the existing team, he brings in a new leader (paid or volunteer) and gives complete freedom, manages the leader directly, and resources her/him well. I have seen churches launch counseling centers, art studios, and distinct mission organizations in this manner.

• A mission leadership team senses a nudge from God to directly serve an unreached people group or a segment of their city. Yet there is a solid and strong mission philosophy and practice already in place. Instead of funneling the initiative through the existing structure, the team decides to launch a new mission endeavor with a new team recruited specifically for the new endeavor.

Very few leaders have been trained to think and lead in an ambidextrous fashion. We tend to exploit our current strength. But if business leaders long for breakthrough and greater impact, how much more so should leaders in the Kingdom?
The source https://www.ministryexploit.com/ambidextrous-ministry/

If you’re human, and over 40, you’ve probably thought at least once, Are my best days behind me? (If you’re a pastor, you struggle with this just about every Monday morning!)


This school will bring you closer to Biblical Understanding help your interpretation
I’m not suggesting you need to be middle-aged or old to wonder about this question. If you felt like your high school or college years were some of your best, then you might have faced this disheartening question early in your life.

I know a guy who was a football star in high school, and he frequently talks about that time as the best days of his life—and he’s my age. It’s sort of sad. Especially since high school was over for him 40 years ago.

Recently I was at a retirement party for some friends. I’ve known them for about 20 years, and we worked together on a large church staff for five years. At this gathering, the staff said some very nice things about my friends, and there were quite a few honoring and funny stories told.

I was sitting there, listening, smiling and remembering, when a question hit me hard. Were those years with them my best years in ministry?

Then I nose-dived into thinking about the marathons and other races I ran as a younger man, the mountains I climbed and skied, the motorcycles I rode, the oceans I surfed and sailed, and the many other adventures of my life.

At 60, with a bad back and worse knees, most of what I did in my 20s, 30s and 40s isn’t physically possible anymore. I suppose if I spent two hours a day in the gym (using time I don’t have) or spent tens of thousands of dollars on surgeries (using money I don’t have), I might get strong enough to run another marathon or climb another mountain. It’s possible but unlikely.

Then, when it comes to ministry, I’ve experienced some awesome mountaintops as well. I’ve been a part of some powerful movements of God (like the Jesus People revival in the ’70s). I’ve planted churches and traveled the globe in ministry. When God said “Go!” I went wherever he led and did so without hesitation or regret. But all of that only adds to that nagging question: Are my best days long gone?

In case you’re wondering, here’s the conclusion I’ve come to: My best days are still to come!

Different, but better.

If you and I define best or better to involve more of the same, then we’re in trouble. If the measure of our future success is based on having the same balance, agility and strength we once had, then we’re bound for the blues. If we think our memory should be like it was before our mental RAM got full, we’re kidding ourselves.

However, if I believe that God is just as good today in my 60s as he was in my 30s, then I can and should expect more of his goodness in my life.

Living the adventure of following Jesus doesn’t need to be any less of an adventure just because you and I are older or physically limited.

Why not?

Because the secret to a full and fulfilling life is always found in obedience. (You might want to read that again.)

Jesus’ promise of “abundant life” is always connected to abundant conformity to his will. He is Lord. I am not. He is in charge. I am not. He calls the shots. I do not. So regardless of one’s age, the key to a good, better, best and even great present and future comes down to two words: Yes, Lord!

The exploits of my youth were amazing, not because I was young, but because I chose to take risks driven by faith. God spoke, and I tried my best to obey. At times I miserably failed, but those failures became part of my journey—a learning experience—and life was never boring!

The potential achievements and triumphs of my future can be incredible too if, and only if, I choose that same path of trust and obedience.

Therefore, I refuse to be the “old guy” who sits around reminiscing about the good ole’ days as if the voyage were over. It’s not.

Instead, regardless of how uncomfortable or challenging today or tomorrow might be, when the Father says “Jump!” I’m going to leap as far and as high as I can. (Even though jumping at my age is rarely graceful.)

Obedience is the path to greatness. Faith is the way to even better days ahead. Taking godly risks is not just for the young. Those who have experienced God’s favor in their past ought to lead the way when it comes to surrender because they know he is faithful and good.

Young or old, the issue is always the same: Will you and I follow him?

For the record, I’m all in.

This article originally appeared here and at ministryexploit.com

A mobile app from the Deaf Bible Society is bringing the gospel to an under-reached people group. Currently, only 2 percent of deaf people have heard the gospel, but the Deaf Bible Society is hoping to increase this percentage by using sign language to make the gospel more approachable and accessible. On the Deaf Bible Society (DBS) website, one user named Tanya describes how valuable the app has been to her:

Before I felt so disconnected, but now I have a relationship with God. I feel so close to Him… I’m so thankful for the gift of God’s word in sign language.

The update to the Deaf Bible app improves the user experience and contains a greater variety of content than the app previously had. The purpose of the Deaf Bible app is to provide video translations of the Bible in multiple sign languages, and the updated features include the ability to auto-play upcoming videos, watch videos offline, and save the user’s place in the video when switching from the app to the website.

Why the Need?
Contrary to what some might assume, there is not one single sign language that people use throughout the world. As with spoken languages, sign languages differ by region of the world and even have their own accents and dialects.

The main sign language deaf people use in North America is American Sign Language, or ASL. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Common Disorders (NIDCD), ASL “contains all the fundamental features of language” and is “completely separate and distinct from English.”

Some might wonder, why do people with hearing disabilities need the Bible translated into a sign language? Why can’t they simply read it? According to the Deaf Bible Society website, one reason is that in some parts of the world, up to 80 percent of children never receive a formal education and therefore do not know how to read.

The other reason is that a sign language is a distinct language. It’s not simply a version of English or another language in the world. If a sign language is someone’s native tongue, then reading any text requires that person to process a second language. And taking in information in a second language always requires greater effort than comprehending it in one’s mother tongue.

Tanya describes what this was like for her, saying,

I remember how it used to be reading the Bible, having to go through word by word in English. Trying to make sense of it all, I’d try to paint a picture in my mind of what was being said. I remember thinking, God, I want to be able to communicate with you. I want to understand who you are.

It was through understanding the Bible in sign language that she was finally able to connect with God.

According to the Deaf Bible Society, there are 70 million deaf people throughout the world and only 2 percent of them have ever heard the gospel. What’s more, “There are not enough Christians among the Deaf to establish and grow their own churches.”

With this need in mind, the DBS has translated the Bible into over 25 different sign languages and is working on more sign language translations. This way, those who are deaf can one day say along with Tanya, “Now I know that He is my father, my beloved.”
https://www.ministryexploit.com/new-update-helps-deaf-people-understand-the-gospel-better/

( don’t abandon that which brought you victory )

Judges 15:15-19 (KJV)
15 And he found a new #jawbone of an ass, and put forth his hand, and took it, and slew a thousand men therewith. 16 And Samson said, With the jawbone of an ass, heaps upon heaps, with the jaw of an ass have I slain a thousand men.17 And it came to pass when he had made an end of speaking, that he cast away the jawbone out of his hand, and called that place Ramathlehi.
18 And he was sore athirst, and called on the Lord, and said, Thou hast given this great deliverance into the hand of thy servant: and now shall I die for thirst, and fall into the hand of the uncircumcised? 19 But God clave an hollow place that was in the jaw, and there came water thereout; and when he had drunk, his spirit came again, and he revived: wherefore he called the name thereof Enhakkore, which is in Lehi unto this day.

When the Philistines closed in on Samson, he had no weapon in his hand, and in other to curb their excesses; he found the jawbone of an ass.
There was never a place where the jawbone of a dead ass was used in the bible a weapon but in that scenario, that which was not naturally a weapon as compared to a sword now became a weapon by necessity. Anything can become a weapon in your hand by necessity and after slaughtering over a thousand Philistines in one swoop, Samson elatedly testified; “With this jawbone, I slew a thousand “

Verse 16… With the jawbone of an ass, heaps upon heaps, with the jaw of an ass have I slain a thousand men.

This further confirms God’s testimony how he uses weak things to confound the things that are mighty:

1 Corinthians 1:27 (KJV)
27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise, and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

God once used a shepherd rod in Moses’ hand to cripple a whole nation and brought it to her knees; He caused a rod made of an almond tree to blossom and bud in the hands of Aaron, He used a young lad ‘s five loaves of bread and two fishes to feed five thousand hungry adults. He used the shadow of Peter to bring healing to the sick in the street of Jerusalem; He used Jesus moist clay to open the eyes of one born blind from the womb, He did a special miracle through Aprons and handkerchiefs that were taken from Paul’s body. God can use anything at any time!

The rod, the clay, the five loaves of bread and Peter’s shadow were weak things in themselves, yet he is a God who uses weak things to confound the things that are mighty.
When Samson was done with this jawbone of an ass in his hand, we were told that he cast it away :

Verse 17…..And it came to pass when he had made an end of speaking, that he cast away the jawbone out of his hand, and called that place Ramathlehi.

Please note, he didn’t throw it away but he cast it away. Throwing it away would amount to ignorance but casting it away speak of an act of rejection. Samson was literally saying by that action to the jawbone weapon, “my need of you is over ” but Samson never knew he would need the rejected or the abandoned jawbone of an ass to win the next battle over thirst and death :

Verse 18…And he was sore athirst, and called on the Lord, and said, Thou hast given this great deliverance into the hand of thy servant: and now shall I die for thirst, and fall into the hand of the uncircumcised? 19 But God clave an hollow place that was in the jaw, and there came water thereout; and when he had drunk, his spirit came again, and he revived: wherefore he called the name thereof Enhakkore, which is in Lehi unto this day.

Samson who cast away the jawbone of an ass never knew he would need it once again to save his life!

The lesson to take away in this story is, If you reject that which raised you, and if you do away with that which made you, you will find yourself in the same way or the same situation Samson found himself!

There are people who think they have gotten all they need from you so they cast you away. In the imagination of their mind, they never thought they will never need you again.

When Samson became thirsty, he cried to God but God reminded him of the old jawbone which he cast away after using it to slay a thousand Philistine soldiers ;
God said to him; Samson, what you cast away was not only meant to destroy your enemy, it was also meant to win to keep you alive also!
It was for a dual purpose. First, to slay your enemies and secondly, to refresh your soul by supplying fresh tap like water for you to drink in the desert in the days of your thirst!
Samson only used it to achieve one of its purposes but ignorantly cast it away.

The jawbone of an ass in this context could represent many things to us :

The church you left, the relationship you abandoned, the mentor or the spiritual father you despised after riding on their shoulder; the skill, the gifts of the Spirit or the anointing that brought you much impact in the ministry but you set aside for something else. The list is endless.

In case you have thrown away the jawbone of an ass( the weapon or the method that brought you victory in the past) please find it again in 2019.
First appeared here..https://www.ministryexploit.com/the-jawbone-of-an-ass/

It is our mandate to preach the gospel and make disciples from all nations (Mat. 28:19). This is the ultimate task our lord Jesus Christ obligated us to discharge.

Though, the task is mandatory to every believer but predominantly, the necessity is laid upon every minister of God to make disciples, regardless of the ministerial specialization, (i.e., whether a/an Pastor, Apostle, Evangelist, Prophet, & Teacher), irrespective of the ministerial calling, the discharge of the task should be in an accordance with scriptural goal.

Consequently, reaching out to the people, and to carry out the task that Christ commanded us to do is an act of evangelism. And thus, there are several ways to do this, either by:

One on one evangelism or;
Crusade and outreach preaching.
Afore- stated methods are practically exercised in the scripture and perhaps, recommended for usage. But on a contrary, the effectiveness of those methods have become impotent and less effective in their functionality in changing lives compared to the tool for evangelism in this 21st century. Bible says “And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do”. One secret of dominion is to know the movement of God in a certain season or dispensation. In relation to evangelism, we have to understand that one on one evangelism and crusade are very still trendy, but less effective in this 21st century.

A TOOL FOR EVANGELISM IN 21ST CENTURY

Technology has become a global means of reaching one another in a very fast and accessible way. At a point, it has make dissemination of information easier and triggers instance feedback. Every minister must understand the instrumental of technology in evangelism. The usage of technology has become widespread and statistically above average of people receives and sends information across the world through technology devices. With this assertion, no one can imagine the constructive part of technology in evangelism.

The numerical expansion of gospel would continue to be decreasing if we continue to limit technology to demonic activities.

Though, it is undeniable that using of technology can be destructive and constructive as the case maybe, but however, be mindful that it isn’t a demonic activities but devil uses it as an avenue to mislead people in order to compromise the spiritual belief. As the result, he (devil) continues to exploit it for the expansion of his kingdom.

However, to put stop to this, church leader and minsters of God must be empower and enlightened on how to use Information Technology (I.T) for effectiveness and expansion of gospel and basically to foster the understand of the essentiality of internet in dissemination of ministerial and scriptural information on any of the social media platform.
The article first appeared here https://www.ministryexploit.com/gospel-in-21st-century%EF%BB%BF/

When I was about 19 years old and a very new Christian, one of my friends who was an older Christian was encouraging me to love Jesus with my whole heart, and to hold nothing back. That is the best kind of encouragement a person can give a young Christian. In order to accomplish this, though, my friend turned in his Bible to the Gospel of John 21:15-17. Through tears, my friend read these verses to me in the following way, using Greek words after English words in several places just as I do below:

15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me—agape love—more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you—phileo love.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me—agape love?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you—phileo love.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me—phileo love?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me—phileo love?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you—phileo love.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.
My friend then took off his glasses to wipe his tears away, and said something like, “See! If you don’t know the Greek words, you don’t see what’s going on in this text. Jesus was asking Peter if he loved him unconditionally, and Peter kept saying that he only loved Jesus like a brother. Finally, Jesus asked if he really loved him with phileo love, but Jesus really wanted Peter to love him with agape love, which is perfect, God-like, unconditional love!”

I remember thinking that it would be cool to have such amazing “insight” back then. Problem is, it’s not really insight at all. It’s actually a case of over-interpreting Greek synonyms, and then making more of the over-interpretation than the text would ever lead anyone who actually knows better to make. I have sat through more sermons than I can count and listened to pastors give protracted overviews of the (so-called) “three kinds of love” in the Bible.

3 Kinds of Love
Eros – Erotic or sexual love (the bad kind, or lowest kind in the matrix)
Phileo – Brotherly or familial love (a better kind than eros, but still not the best kind in the matrix)
Agape – Perfect or unconditional, or even “The God-kind,” of love (the best kind in the matrix)
This is what we may call “Strong’s Concordance” Greek. It’s done by lots and lots of people who have learned to look up the lexical forms of Greek words in their Strong’s Concordance without knowing much of anything about Greek grammar, or the ways in which word usage is a primary aspect of determining word meaning in biblical literature (just as it is in our own language and literature). These gaps in understanding often lead to these kinds of exegetical fallacies that come off sounding deep and insightful to others who are just as uninformed. Additionally, these Greek gymnastics actually lead to missing the actual point of a text that is often right in front of our faces in favor of more “oooh-aaaaah deep and insightful” conclusions that are really not good conclusions at all.

In reality, when Jesus was asking if Peter loved him (agape love), and Peter was answering that he loved Jesus (phileo love), they both would have understood that their words were completely reasonable synonyms. The third instance in which Jesus asks Peter if he loves him (phileo love) is interpreted by the narrator, John, to be a repetition of the first two occurrences, in which Jesus uses agape (cf. Jn. 21:17). The point of Jesus’ thrice-repeated question to Peter is not secretly hidden from our English-speaking eyes in the use of two different Greek words. Rather, the point is that Jesus, sitting by a fire made with charcoal, fully restored Peter by giving him a three-fold opportunity to undo what he had done three times by another charcoal fire three chapters earlier (see Jn. 21:9 and compare Jn. 18:18). What Peter had done three times by the first charcoal fire (denied that he even knew Jesus) he reversed, with the help of Jesus, three times by the second charcoal fire (confessed his love for Jesus three times).

But let me prove (based only on how the apostle John uses both Greek words) that we should just stop categorizing these synonyms for love as fundamentally and essentially different kinds or qualities of love in which one is lower (but good) love compared with higher (best and unconditional) love. Both words can be used as synonyms for love, and it is context (the actual situational usage) that tells us what is meant. For instance:

John uses agape (in various forms) about 37 times


The floodgate
Hover over these references to see them if you like (Jn. 3:16, 3:19, 3:35, 8:42, 10:17, 11:5, 12:43, 13:1, 13:23, 13:34, 14:15, 14:21, 14:23, 14:24, 14:28, 14:31, 15:9, 15:12, 15:17, 17:23, 17:24, 17:26, 19:26, 21:7, 21:15, 21:16, 21:20).

To John, does agape always mean “the God kind of love” or “perfect unconditional love” every time he uses it? Answer: Nope. If John thinks that’s what the word means, then why does he say that…

People loved (agape love) the darkness rather than light in Jn. 3:19.
The Pharisees loved (agape love) the approval of men more than the praise of God in Jn. 12:43.
Does John really mean to say that people had God’s perfect self-giving unconditional and holy love (the supposed and often-asserted meaning of agape love) for darkness and the approval of men? Be honest, doesn’t that sound weird? Yes it does. And when we load up Greek words with meaning that they don’t always have (ignoring situational usage as the key to word meaning), we won’t land in the right place.

Okay, but what about phileo love?
John uses phileo (in various forms) about 13 times

Hover over these references to see them if you like (Jn. 5:20, 11:3, 11:36, 12:25, 15:19, 16:27, 20:2, 21:15, 21:16, 21:17).

Does John always use that word as a form of love that is lower in quality than agape love? Again, nope! If John thinks that phileo love is of a lower quality than agape love, then why does he say that…

The Father loves (phileo love) the Son in Jn. 5:20.
Lazarus, who Jesus loved (phileo love) was sick in Jn. 11:13 and 11:36.
God The Father loves (phileo love) the disciples because the disciples love (phileo love) Jesus in Jn. 16:27.
After Jesus was raised, Mary Magdalene came running up to Peter and the disciple who Jesus loved (phileo love) to tell them the body of Jesus was gone in Jn. 20:2.
Again, if phileo love is categorically not the unconditional “God kind” of perfect love, and is by nature and essence necessarily lower in quality than agape, then why can’t the Father love the Son with agape-love? Why only phileo love? Why doesn’t the father love the disciples with agape love, and only love them with phileo love, and why do the disciples only love Jesus with phileo love? Surely, God could love them with agape love and not this lower form of love! After all (we are told) agape is way better than phileo! And why can’t Jesus love (with agape love) this disciple who is with Peter? Why can’t Jesus muster up the best and highest kind of love (agape love) for his own disciple?

Here’s the answer to all these questions: Both agape and phileo can be used as synonyms, and it is the usage in the context of conversation or narration that tells us the degree of love or the object of love in focus.

So—let’s stop over-interpreting the Greek words for love.

UPDATE (on 4.2.18) – Josh Shoemaker had some really great comments below, and linked to a post that he wrote back in May of 2015 that is incredibly helpful. See his post HERE, and then my exchange with him in the comments below for a possible better and perhaps more natural reading of the text where the implications of both agape and phileo are taken into account.

For the reader, if I embrace Josh’s proposal as I understand it, here is how I would read the text (and I think this is the best and most natural reading, and demonstrates that Peter was trying to respond with the HIGHEST form of love he could think of, not a lower form that is somehow qualitatively diminished and different from agape):

15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you like my own flesh and blood. You are family to me.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” 16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you like my own flesh-and-blood brother—like my own kin!” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” 17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you really love me like your own brother—like your own flesh and blood?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me like your own brother?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that you are family to me. I love you as though we were brothers—like you were my own flesh and blood!” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.
Thanks Josh! I think you have given me my new-and-improved perspective.

Update (on 4/10/2018) — After Brian Fulthorp’s great reminder in the comments below that “even sinners agape love others,” I thought I’d just go ahead and list every occurrence of love in the N.T. in which it’s obvious that sinful people are the ones doing the agape loving (supposedly God’s perfect love), or people are agape loving things they should not (how is that possible if agape is God’s perfect love?). Hover over every text below. In each case, the English word for love is a form agape in Greek.

Mat. 5:46, Lk. 6:32, Lk. 11:43, Jn. 3:19, Jn. 12:43, 2 Tim. 4:10, 2 Pet. 2:15.
And finally, those who translated the O.T. into Greek (the LXX/Septuagint) did not seem to think that agape meant God’s holy, perfect and unconditional love. If they did, they never would have used agape to refer to anything but God’s perfect and holy love. Is that what they did? Hover over a few examples below to see. All of these use agape in the LXX.

Ps. 4:2, 52:3-4, Prov. 1:22, 8:36, Hos. 3:1, 4:18, Jer. 5:31, 14:10 — and on and on we could go. This is just a sample.

Here’s the point. In the end, context and situational usage is the “content” (meaning) that goes inside of and gets hauled around by the “suitcase” (word). Words function as carriers of meaning, and meaning derives from the way in which the word is being used in a particular context. In nerdy language, this is known as the semantic range of a word. One word may have a label on the outside of it that reads “love,” but you can, depending on context, load that word up with the kinds of things that fit in that package. Context and situational usage will always tell you what’s inside the suitcase. There is a range (a semantic range) of possibilities with most words.

So, for example, God can agape love a sinner, and that love will take on the meaning of whatever actions God is demonstrating toward the sinner. In that case, agape will mean whatever it means in that context. Likewise, a sinner can agape love sin and darkness and self-aggrandizement. In that case, agape will mean whatever it means in that context. Were this not the case, those who had an opportunity to protect the word agape from being used to refer to anything other than God’s perfect and holy love would have done so!

Read more article
https://www.ministryexploit.com/lets-stop-over-interpreting-the-greek-words-for-love.

When I was about 19 years old and a very new Christian, one of my friends who was an older Christian was encouraging me to love Jesus with my whole heart, and to hold nothing back. That is the best kind of encouragement a person can give a young Christian. In order to accomplish this, though, my friend turned in his Bible to the Gospel of John 21:15-17. Through tears, my friend read these verses to me in the following way, using Greek words after English words in several places just as I do below:

15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me—agape love—more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you—phileo love.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me—agape love?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you—phileo love.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me—phileo love?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me—phileo love?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you—phileo love.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.
My friend then took off his glasses to wipe his tears away, and said something like, “See! If you don’t know the Greek words, you don’t see what’s going on in this text. Jesus was asking Peter if he loved him unconditionally, and Peter kept saying that he only loved Jesus like a brother. Finally, Jesus asked if he really loved him with phileo love, but Jesus really wanted Peter to love him with agape love, which is perfect, God-like, unconditional love!”

I remember thinking that it would be cool to have such amazing “insight” back then. Problem is, it’s not really insight at all. It’s actually a case of over-interpreting Greek synonyms, and then making more of the over-interpretation than the text would ever lead anyone who actually knows better to make. I have sat through more sermons than I can count and listened to pastors give protracted overviews of the (so-called) “three kinds of love” in the Bible.

3 Kinds of Love
Eros – Erotic or sexual love (the bad kind, or lowest kind in the matrix)
Phileo – Brotherly or familial love (a better kind than eros, but still not the best kind in the matrix)
Agape – Perfect or unconditional, or even “The God-kind,” of love (the best kind in the matrix)
This is what we may call “Strong’s Concordance” Greek. It’s done by lots and lots of people who have learned to look up the lexical forms of Greek words in their Strong’s Concordance without knowing much of anything about Greek grammar, or the ways in which word usage is a primary aspect of determining word meaning in biblical literature (just as it is in our own language and literature). These gaps in understanding often lead to these kinds of exegetical fallacies that come off sounding deep and insightful to others who are just as uninformed. Additionally, these Greek gymnastics actually lead to missing the actual point of a text that is often right in front of our faces in favor of more “oooh-aaaaah deep and insightful” conclusions that are really not good conclusions at all.

In reality, when Jesus was asking if Peter loved him (agape love), and Peter was answering that he loved Jesus (phileo love), they both would have understood that their words were completely reasonable synonyms. The third instance in which Jesus asks Peter if he loves him (phileo love) is interpreted by the narrator, John, to be a repetition of the first two occurrences, in which Jesus uses agape (cf. Jn. 21:17). The point of Jesus’ thrice-repeated question to Peter is not secretly hidden from our English-speaking eyes in the use of two different Greek words. Rather, the point is that Jesus, sitting by a fire made with charcoal, fully restored Peter by giving him a three-fold opportunity to undo what he had done three times by another charcoal fire three chapters earlier (see Jn. 21:9 and compare Jn. 18:18). What Peter had done three times by the first charcoal fire (denied that he even knew Jesus) he reversed, with the help of Jesus, three times by the second charcoal fire (confessed his love for Jesus three times).

But let me prove (based only on how the apostle John uses both Greek words) that we should just stop categorizing these synonyms for love as fundamentally and essentially different kinds or qualities of love in which one is lower (but good) love compared with higher (best and unconditional) love. Both words can be used as synonyms for love, and it is context (the actual situational usage) that tells us what is meant. For instance:

John uses agape (in various forms) about 37 times


The floodgate
Hover over these references to see them if you like (Jn. 3:16, 3:19, 3:35, 8:42, 10:17, 11:5, 12:43, 13:1, 13:23, 13:34, 14:15, 14:21, 14:23, 14:24, 14:28, 14:31, 15:9, 15:12, 15:17, 17:23, 17:24, 17:26, 19:26, 21:7, 21:15, 21:16, 21:20).

To John, does agape always mean “the God kind of love” or “perfect unconditional love” every time he uses it? Answer: Nope. If John thinks that’s what the word means, then why does he say that…

People loved (agape love) the darkness rather than light in Jn. 3:19.
The Pharisees loved (agape love) the approval of men more than the praise of God in Jn. 12:43.
Does John really mean to say that people had God’s perfect self-giving unconditional and holy love (the supposed and often-asserted meaning of agape love) for darkness and the approval of men? Be honest, doesn’t that sound weird? Yes it does. And when we load up Greek words with meaning that they don’t always have (ignoring situational usage as the key to word meaning), we won’t land in the right place.

Okay, but what about phileo love?
John uses phileo (in various forms) about 13 times

Hover over these references to see them if you like (Jn. 5:20, 11:3, 11:36, 12:25, 15:19, 16:27, 20:2, 21:15, 21:16, 21:17).

Does John always use that word as a form of love that is lower in quality than agape love? Again, nope! If John thinks that phileo love is of a lower quality than agape love, then why does he say that…

The Father loves (phileo love) the Son in Jn. 5:20.
Lazarus, who Jesus loved (phileo love) was sick in Jn. 11:13 and 11:36.
God The Father loves (phileo love) the disciples because the disciples love (phileo love) Jesus in Jn. 16:27.
After Jesus was raised, Mary Magdalene came running up to Peter and the disciple who Jesus loved (phileo love) to tell them the body of Jesus was gone in Jn. 20:2.
Again, if phileo love is categorically not the unconditional “God kind” of perfect love, and is by nature and essence necessarily lower in quality than agape, then why can’t the Father love the Son with agape-love? Why only phileo love? Why doesn’t the father love the disciples with agape love, and only love them with phileo love, and why do the disciples only love Jesus with phileo love? Surely, God could love them with agape love and not this lower form of love! After all (we are told) agape is way better than phileo! And why can’t Jesus love (with agape love) this disciple who is with Peter? Why can’t Jesus muster up the best and highest kind of love (agape love) for his own disciple?

Here’s the answer to all these questions: Both agape and phileo can be used as synonyms, and it is the usage in the context of conversation or narration that tells us the degree of love or the object of love in focus.

So—let’s stop over-interpreting the Greek words for love.

UPDATE (on 4.2.18) – Josh Shoemaker had some really great comments below, and linked to a post that he wrote back in May of 2015 that is incredibly helpful. See his post HERE, and then my exchange with him in the comments below for a possible better and perhaps more natural reading of the text where the implications of both agape and phileo are taken into account.

For the reader, if I embrace Josh’s proposal as I understand it, here is how I would read the text (and I think this is the best and most natural reading, and demonstrates that Peter was trying to respond with the HIGHEST form of love he could think of, not a lower form that is somehow qualitatively diminished and different from agape):

15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you like my own flesh and blood. You are family to me.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” 16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you like my own flesh-and-blood brother—like my own kin!” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” 17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you really love me like your own brother—like your own flesh and blood?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me like your own brother?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that you are family to me. I love you as though we were brothers—like you were my own flesh and blood!” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.
Thanks Josh! I think you have given me my new-and-improved perspective.

Update (on 4/10/2018) — After Brian Fulthorp’s great reminder in the comments below that “even sinners agape love others,” I thought I’d just go ahead and list every occurrence of love in the N.T. in which it’s obvious that sinful people are the ones doing the agape loving (supposedly God’s perfect love), or people are agape loving things they should not (how is that possible if agape is God’s perfect love?). Hover over every text below. In each case, the English word for love is a form agape in Greek.

Mat. 5:46, Lk. 6:32, Lk. 11:43, Jn. 3:19, Jn. 12:43, 2 Tim. 4:10, 2 Pet. 2:15.
And finally, those who translated the O.T. into Greek (the LXX/Septuagint) did not seem to think that agape meant God’s holy, perfect and unconditional love. If they did, they never would have used agape to refer to anything but God’s perfect and holy love. Is that what they did? Hover over a few examples below to see. All of these use agape in the LXX.

Ps. 4:2, 52:3-4, Prov. 1:22, 8:36, Hos. 3:1, 4:18, Jer. 5:31, 14:10 — and on and on we could go. This is just a sample.

Here’s the point. In the end, context and situational usage is the “content” (meaning) that goes inside of and gets hauled around by the “suitcase” (word). Words function as carriers of meaning, and meaning derives from the way in which the word is being used in a particular context. In nerdy language, this is known as the semantic range of a word. One word may have a label on the outside of it that reads “love,” but you can, depending on context, load that word up with the kinds of things that fit in that package. Context and situational usage will always tell you what’s inside the suitcase. There is a range (a semantic range) of possibilities with most words.

So, for example, God can agape love a sinner, and that love will take on the meaning of whatever actions God is demonstrating toward the sinner. In that case, agape will mean whatever it means in that context. Likewise, a sinner can agape love sin and darkness and self-aggrandizement. In that case, agape will mean whatever it means in that context. Were this not the case, those who had an opportunity to protect the word agape from being used to refer to anything other than God’s perfect and holy love would have done so!

This article originally appeared https://www.ministryexploit.com/lets-stop-over-interpreting-the-greek-words-for-love/.