Some Church History and the beginnings of The Salvation Army

Church History... Not as boring as you think... Around 1054 A.D the Church split, forming both the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church (Greek Orthodox, Russian Orthodox, etc.). About 500 years after this we get to a time in history we know as the Reformation, when some revolutionaries like Martin Luther and John Calvin created a following with a form of Christianity others followed.
The Church of England seperated from the Roman Catholic Church during 1534, when King Henry VIII of England wanted to divorce his wife. The pope disallowed this, so King Henry created his own following!
Two centuries later the great John Wesley is born, in 1703, and from the growth of the Wesleyan Church, finally sparks the beginnings of The Salvation Army in 1865 through William and Catherine Booth.

What a history!? We stand on the shoulders of the leaders who have gone before, and we freely proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord, while others in the past were martyed for their faith.

Many of these leaders were Revolutionaries. Passionate about change, passionate about justice, and passionate about Jesus.

Are you ready for a Revolution?

Leadership Tips for Revolutionary Leaders

Here's some quotes worth thinking about when it comes to leadership:

'The world of the 1990's and beyond will not belong to "managers" or those who can make the numbers dance. The world will belong to passionate, driven leaders--- people who not only have enormous amounts of energy but who can energize those whom they lead.' -- Noel Tichy & Stratford Sherman

'A leader is, by definition, an innovator. He does things other people haven't done or don't do. He does things in advance of other people. He makes new things. He makes old things new. Having learned from the past, he lives in the present, with one eye on the future.' -- Warren Bennis

'To lead is to go out ahead and show the way when the way may be unclear, difficult or dangerous.' -- Robert K. Greenleaf

'...there is already too much managing and not enough leading. People prefer to be led by vision and direction rather than just policies and procedures. A more proactive leadership style implies leading, not just managing.' -- Henry Klopp

A good leader not only inspires followers to reach for the stars, but helps provide the rocket to get there! It's time for Revolutionary Leaders. Are you ready to step up? To inspire? To challenge? To lead?

2008: A Year of Adventure

Are you looking forward to the year ahead? I am. I'm back from holidays and start college again in a week, and I'm excited about the possibilities and opportunities we have as we share the message of Jesus with people this year!

In Luke 9:1-6, Luke records a time when Jesus sends his twelve disciples out on an adventure. Do you know the story...? Two by two they go out, going to and fro sharing that the Kingdom of God is near and healing diseases, casting out demons in the places they travel. What an adventure?!

Have 'we' today watered down this kind of adventure? So that today, when you become a Christian you don't do much healing, beacuse what if you pray for someone and they don't get healed, and we just end up embarassed, or what if we share with someone about the truth of Jesus and they reject it? So in the end, we give up on fulfilling the adventure and we find ourselves sitting in Church singing songs about changing the world and then not doing much about it...

But this can't be true. We're a Salvation Army, ready to win the world for Jesus with blood and fire. To the ends of the earth we'll go. Lord, we're ready for an adventure this year. We know the power of God is seen when we step out and do something that requires your power to be at work!

It's time for a revolution. 2008. Are you ready?