Delivered at Global Faith Coalition World Congress Nairobi Kenya 22-26 Aug 2023
by Howard Sands
Vision and Goals
volunteers needed for demonstration
5 occupations - dentist, hairdresser, mechanic, doctor, pharmacist
5 Volunteers – all with the same problem but different response actions
Person with very sore open infected leg, painful, weeping sore.
Same problem – different beliefs and actions
Who to go to, to get leg fixed?
1/ Visits dentist, my leg is sore, dentist says, open your mouth,
I see the problem, your back molar is twisted it needs to come out.
Reaction – I am not sure.
2/ Lady, my friend is a hairdresser, I need a haircut, I will go and ask her.
Sitting in chair getting her hair done and asks about leg
I see the problem, its not clean, I recommend this shampoo to all my customers it works wonders for them, take some and try it.
Shampoo on leg – condition gets worse and more painful.
3/ Smart guy, My mechanic says he can fix anything, he’s fixed my car many times.
I see the problem, If you put this high grade oil in your car it works better, maybe it will work for your leg too.
Puts oil on leg, infection and pain worse.
4/ Even smarter guy, Maybe I should go to the doctor. Visits doctor.
I see the problem, you have an infection, we need to kill the bacteria with cream and antibiotic tablets, go get these and apply cream to leg and take antibiotics, come back and see me in a week.
Man goes to Pharmacy, the cream is cheap but the tablets expensive.
Doesn’t buy tablets because he can’t afford.
Leg stops weeping but infection swelling and pain still there,
back to doctor in a week.
I couldn’t afford tablets but why is my leg not better?
5/ Even smarter still lady, Maybe I should go to the doctor.
Visits doctor
I see the problem, you have an infection, we need to kill the bacteria with cream and antibiotic tablets, go get these and apply cream to leg and take antiobiotics, come back and see me in a week.
Goes to pharmacy, gets cream, can’t afford tablets, goes home to family and friends, I have to get $X, searches, asks, borrows from family friends, goes back to pharmacy, gets tablets and uses.
After a week goes back to doctor, leg healed.
POINT
Don’t take your advice from someone who is not experienced AND qualified in the appropriate field.
Take the action recommended by the expert.
Jesus had goals
One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and set out. Lk 8.22
Then a storm came but he stilled the storm because he had a goal.
He did not say, let's go out in the boat, go to the middle of the lake and drown in a big storm.
He had a goal and did whatever it took to complete the goal.
Set his face to go to Jerusalem Luke 9.51
As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.
Had clear goals and pursued them, in spite of difficulties.
Difference between a failure and a person who has failed.
you are NOT a failure, you are more than conquerors, BUT …
you may have failed:-
And continue to fail
perhaps because
- You take advice from unqualified people
- You don’t follow the advice of experts
- Have been beaten by the circumstances, economy, culture, resistant people
BUT you don’t have to stay there …
You may have a general idea of a vision you want to follow
But most will not get there
Because:-
- you don’t even ask any questions
- some ask, but not the right questions,
- you don’t ask the right people and
- when you do get good advice, you don’t follow it.
You are either:-
- Stubborn
- Rebellious
- Stupid
- Or looking for a quick way or shortcut
What does God say about the person that knows to do good but does not do it?
To him who fails to respond to God, to him it is sin.
To act without faith is sin.
A few succeed,
- They follow the advice of the expert
- and act on it
- and persist in faith despite obstacles until it works.
A success is a person that got up and tries again after every failure
A failure is one who says:-
- It can’t be done
- I don’t know how to do it
- I can’t afford it
- It’s too hard
- Nobody will help me
- In our country you can’t do that because – long list of cultural, economic or social excuses.
Elite Sportspeople spend hours, weeks months and years in obscurity – practicing for their big moment.
But the sports stars all have one thing that most Christian leaders lack -
GOALS
Clearly defined, exact objective, time specific
And a
Strategy to get to the goal.
If it costs you nothing you will not value it.
if the cost is beyond your natural means, must use faith and persistence to obtain.
Stop looking for a free everything.
Some won’t come to an event if it’s not free lunch.
Free will not help you.
Pay for it and appreciate it.
I apologies on behalf of all western missionaries that have come to you and taught by their example that you don’t have to pay for anything.
They have (perhaps unknowingly), taught you a poverty mentality.
You must escape the poverty mentality.
Those wanting a free lunch are free loaders – they will still be looking for a free lunch when Jesus comes and their excuse for not doing the job will be we couldn’t afford it.
Lk 13.27 But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!’
John 6.26Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. 27Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”
If you have a vision, but no goals
You will –
- Never know what is best to do next
- Easily get diverted from the best path
- Not knuckle down and work hard because there is no deadline
- And never know whether you have achieved your goal.
Follow the blueprint
Exodus 25:9 You must make the tabernacle and design all its furnishings according to the pattern ...
As part of our program to help you learn how to hear God and set Godly specific goals for your ministry we have established
Growing African Christian Leaders facebook group
We discovered by asking admission questions.
1/ What is the biggest goal you have in your ministry? Share the specific activity or project, the deadline and measurement.
Less than 10% could provide a clear goal.
We changed question to:-
1/ What is the next big goal/project your ministry is working towards? Include specific project, how many, what size, describe the people by location, ethnicity, age, gender, interest or other factor & date to achieve.
Still only 17% can explain a clear goal that they have.
That's why we provide this training, to help you understand, create goals and fulfil them.
Now after more 3000 applications, & 2500+ waiting to get in that didn’t provide answers at all.
We can clearly say that:-
Africans need help with setting goals
That’s why we have a 10 Day Challenge to show you how to hear from God and do it,
and take your ministry to the next level in 10 days – and its free,
but you won’t learn if you don’t do the assigned tasks.
To Sign Up click here
https://www.facebook.com/groups/growingafricanchristianleaders
Answer all 4 questions.
When you are admitted check for private messenger message from Howard Sands
AND email (if not found check your email spam filter);
click CONFIRM link in email and start receiving email training.
get started on understanding and setting goals then achieving them and changing your life, ministry and community.
I look forward to seeing your reports in the facebook group on your progress with setting and achieving goals to move you closer to your vision.
Let me know in the comments below what you think about this blog.
What has it stirred up in you?
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