Managing people




Acts 15:36~41 Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. (37~39a)





♬ Hymn for scheduled worship: Korean/English Hymnal #336 Faith of Our Fathers (#383 in previous version)




 How is it that the Early Church seemed like it would perish in no time and yet never disappeared? Why is it that Paul’s ministry seemed like it would soon come to an end and yet continued on? The Jewish people managed people with a powerful system, but the Early Church found people that evangelized in the field. That is why they never faltered despite their humble beginnings and carried out world evangelization. How did the Early Church manage people?





1. The strategy of the Early Church
 The Early Church knew that finding men who would continue the evangelism movement was more important than finding gifted individuals. There are many people who are outstanding and renowned, but people who will continue the evangelism movement are the ones who are truly needed. These people must continue in this work despite the losses they may suffer. The Early Church did not use workers but ‘men devoted to the Gospel.’ That is why they never faltered in the face of any attack. It may be difficult to continue steadily without changing if we have ulterior motives. In addition, the Early Church saw the age they were living in differently. They did not view their past as merely the past but as a perfect platform. When they viewed their present, they saw their future. They pulled forward their future and saw it in their present.






2. The strategy of Paul
 The reason why Paul’s ministry did not fail is that he moved according to God''s time schedule with the standard of finding disciples who would continue on with the evangelism movement. Going a step further, he looked for places that would continue on with the Gospel. And he established the system that would continue on. Works arose to the degree that Paul always sent epistles to the places that he had been to.





3. After Paul
 The disciples were active for 250 years after the ministry of Paul was over. Problems have arisen since Christianity was established as the official religion of the Roman Empire in 313 and the discipleship movement came to a halt. Ever since then, every evangelism movement has come to an end within a generation. Ecclesiastical authority has been passed down continually, but people failed to find disciples who would continue on with the evangelism movement. That is why we must receive the guidance of the Holy Spirit before God. What must we do now? We must find and establish people who will continue this very evangelism movement. Therein lies the reason why we receive training, do ministry, undertake the Remnant movement and build the RUTC.






° Forum Topic - What kind of person should you be before God? Deeply meditate upon ‘people who continue the evangelism movement.’





RUTC Morning / 2009.9.10