Click to download the audio version of “Introduction Part 1: Following Gods Holistic Vision in Ministry”

Hello ILF team,

We are so excited to start this new holistic education series and even more excited that so many of you showed interest to take part in it. We pray and hope that the Holy Spirit may give us wisdom, open hearts and receptive minds as we delve into exploring God’s vision for us individually, our ministry and our community.

Friends, there is an indescribable quality about a ministry committed to living out the gospel that lifts our soul and encourages us to Engage, Equip, Empower and Serve the ILF communities in the name Jesus and his sacrificial love for all.

But, before we start these studies, it is important that we define what the term “holistic ministry” means and what we feel God’s holistic vision is for our ministry in particular.

God’s Holistic vision for ILF ministry

When we started our ministry in Sierra Leone back in 2016, we noticed a difference on how many ministries approach their Christian mission. Missionaries supported by Christian organizations who mainly believe that preaching the Gospel is powerful enough to transform the condition of poverty and therefore make social ministries irrelevant. We also noticed organizations who believe that what is needed is action “by Christian ministries along with involving kindhearted people” to tackle the problems of the communities, to heal the sick, and to bring hope to the hopeless.

I’m sure you agree that these are both, God honoring approaches that may address community needs in parts, either spiritually through evangelical crusades, planting churches and preaching the Gospel, or humanitarian through Social action such as building schools, providing hygiene, medical aid, education, food supply, etc.

By definition, a holistic ministry does not separate the spiritual transformation and social action. Instead, it attends to every dimension of human need and pursue wholeness at every level of the individuals and their communities. It relies on the power of God’s Spirit and model a ministry that follows Christ’s example.

Jesus says in John 14:12-13 “Whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.  And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” In short, as His body, we are to carry on the works that Jesus did when He was on earth.

What if we chose to minister holistically just as Jesus did. Leaving the burden of selecting one method over the other to God and allow the spirit of Christ to guide us into both physical and emotional healing, lead us in transformation of spiritual, social and economic relationships. What if we could offer a reconciliation and peace that will overcome divisions. What if we could, in a spirit of genuine and authentic love of God, come alongside the communities as a friend rather than a hero. To engage and equip the communities with a spirit that has God’s glory, His honor and His vision at its core. This, my friends, is what we believe God’s holistic vision is for ILF ministry.

In the upcoming sessions, we will be discussing these fundamental values in our ministry every week and how the presence of the Spirit should be felt in our ministry and all we do, so we can bring renewal, growth, and transformation both within ILF team and extending into the community.

ILF Holistic Core Values

We believe that a body of holistic believers is Spiritually Dynamic, understands God’s vision, nurtures Healthy Community Dynamics, and promotes Holistic Ministry Practice.

1. Spiritually Dynamic
   • Centers community life around passionate worship of the trinity, celebrating salvation by grace through faith in Christ, and relying on the power of God’s Spirit for fruitful ministry.
   • Is led by the authority of Word of God and is grounded in the teachings of Christian belief.
   • Nurtures the community in a deepening spiritual life of worship, prayer, study, and mutual discipleship.
   • Shares God’s self-sacrificial love for those who are lost, lonely, vulnerable, and broken, and cultivates a commitment toward outreach as an expression of worship.
   • Serves one another in tangible and purposeful ways with Christ as the ultimate example.

2. Understanding of God’s Vision
   • Integrates discipleship, evangelism, and social action, working toward a kingdom vision that brings together spiritual and social transformation.
   • Recognizes both the individual and systemic sources of problems and solutions.
   • Supports a holistic involvement, going beyond relief to community development and justice.
   • Sees mission as a global ministry (caring for neighbors in our community and around the world).

3. Healthy Community Dynamics
   • Nurtures loving, accountable, reconciling relationships within the community, intentionally working toward oneness in Christ to remove division.
   • Ministry leaders are upheld with vision, courage, integrity, and a passion for holistic mission.
   • Places every area of individual and community life under the Lordship of Jesus Christ, without distinction between “sacred” and “secular.”

4. Holistic Ministry Practice
   • Ministers in a spirit of authentic love and servant-leadership, that looks to come alongside the community as a friend rather than a hero.
   • Pursues unity in ministry with other believers and serves alongside all through whom God is at work.
   • Seeks Jesus through prayer for vision, through challenges, and in thanksgiving.

At the end, may I close today’s session praying a verse that is part of our ministry’s statement of faith.

James 1:22 “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only”

“Father, would you help every member of your body, especially the members of Impact A life Foundation to be the doers of your word and not hearers only. Lord, you say hearing is like looking in the mirror and forgetting the doing. And not doing is like walking away and forgetting. God, would you hold our hands in this journey of doing. Would you guide us, would you lead us. Would you give us the obedience and the courage to follow you. Would you Empower and Equip this team of ILF so we may have the boldness to Engage and the zeal to Serve the communities in Mankneh, Mamaso and beyond. In Jesus name, Amen”

Click to download the audio version of “Introduction Part 2: Holistic Ministry Practice”

Hello ILF Team,

This is Anthony and I hope that you are all safe during this season of corona virus.  I know this is a challenging time, but we are thinking about you and praying for God’s protection over you and your families daily.

Today we will be discussing the first Holistic Ministry Practice: Holistic Ministry relies on the power of God’s Spirit for fruitful outreach and modeling ministry after Christ’s example.

So what does the Bible say about Jesus and His ministry? What does the Bible say about God’s Holy Spirit?  When we look to scripture, we see that Jesus walked as God, but also as a man.  He walked in perfect relationship with God the Father, showing the love of God to all He met.

In Matthew, chapter 22:36-40, Jesus is asked by an expert of the religious law “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”  Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  All the Law and the Prophets hold on to these two commandments.”

The life and ministry of Jesus was the perfect example of loving God the Father and loving others.  A few weeks ago, we discussed how Holistic Leadership shares God’s self-sacrificial love for those who are lost, lonely, vulnerable and broken.  We looked at how Jesus led by showing love, respect and compassion for everyone he came in contact with, regardless of their social status.  Holistic Ministry is no different.  As followers of Jesus Christ in Sierra Leone or in America, we are all called to show that same respect, love and compassion toward everyone in all areas of life.  This love is to be shown to those in need, in our community, at home and when working and ministering in areas where the people may not know Jesus.  Holistic Ministry is loving the whole person the way Christ did, so that He will be glorified.  To be effective in our outreach and ministry, we can’t do this on our own.  We need to rely on the power of the Holy Spirit.

In the book of John, Jesus takes a moment to remind his disciples that they will not be alone when he is gone. He tells them that He will send someone to help them: The Holy Spirit.

John 14:15-17 “If you love me, keep my commands.  And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever – the Spirt of truth.  The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him.  But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.”

Then in verses 26 and 27, Jesus goes on to say “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.  Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

Then if we look to the Book of Acts, Acts 1:8, Jesus says “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Now why did Jesus promise the Holy Spirit to those who followed Him?  You see Jesus knew that his disciples would need the power of the Holy Spirit in them, that is God’s Spirit, if they were to be faithful, steadfast and effective in their walk with God and in their ministry.  When the Holy Spirit is living in us and we allow His power to work through us:

• He is our ‘advocate’ (some translations say He is a ‘comforter’ or ‘helper’)
• He reveals truth (scripture refers to the Holy Spirit as the Spirt of Truth)
• He is there to teach us
• He is there to remind us of things we’ve been taught
• He grows the following attributes in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Fruits of the Spirit = Galatians 5:22-23)
• He is there to give us the same power that He gave that gave to the disciples, to go out and be effective witnesses for the gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the world.

So again, today’s Holistic Ministry principle is: Holistic Ministry relies on the power of God’s Spirit for fruitful outreach and modeling ministry after Christ’s example.

In a few words, share how the Holy Spirit is working in you.  Explain how He is helping you, as you are sharing Jesus and the love of Jesus, by ministering to the needs of others.