Seminarians Conference July 19 th, 2011 Dr. Melody Palm

Four Pillars of AG Missions Worship Discipleship Evangelism Compassion

Emotional Formation Discipleship Worship Compassion

According to Reggie McNeal… The most important information you will need as a leader is—self-understanding. Self-understanding is different than self- preoccupation. Self-occupation shows up in leaders who use others in order to achieve their own ambitions.

Self-understanding… Begins and ends with God. This takes time and reflection Effective leaders are those who take time to ponder what God is up to in their lives, who he created them to be, and how they were formed—Emotionally, Psychologically, and Spiritually.

Truth is… Ministry flows out of who you are as a person. YOU are the tool He uses to accomplish His plan. The gift of YOU empowered by the Holy Spirit is a powerful combination in the Father’s hand. The better you know yourself, the more effective you will be using the “tool” He entrusted to you—YOU. Your own inner life is a critical factor in your effectiveness as a long-term leader in the Church.

In this time… …we want to offer an opportunity to view the critical nature of spiritual formation as a Pentecostal leader, whose effectiveness in Christ’s kingdom in connected to one’s personal and spiritual wholeness.

Respecting Your Full Humanity Spiritual Physical Social Intellectual Emotional

Emotional Formation Focuses on the development of the personality Development of solid sense of self Intra-psychic and interpersonal functioning Emotional EQ

Emotional Intelligence…. The ability to control impulses, empathize with others, form responsible interpersonal relationships, and develop intimate relationships

Defining Emotional Health Naming recognizing, and managing our own feelings Identifying with and having compassion for others Initiating and maintaining close and meaningful relationships Breaking free from self-destructive patterns

Being aware of how our past impacts our present Developing the capacity to express our thoughts feeling clearly, both verbally and nonverbally Respecting and loving others without having to change them Asking for what we need, want, or prefer clearly, directly and respectfully

Accurately self-assessing our strengths, limits, and weaknesses and freely sharing them with others Learning the capacity to resolve conflict maturely and negotiate solutions that consider the perspectives of others Distinguishing and appropriately expressing our sexuality and sexuality; and Grieving well.

Healthy Personality Realistic View of Self and Others Accepting Self and Others Living in the Present Having Values Developing One’s Abilities

Emotional health is not only about ourselves and our relationships; it impacts our image of God, our hearing of God’s voice, and our discernment of his will. The practices of emotional health never lead us to a self-absorbed narcissism; they lead us to Christ. Unhealthy emotional formation impairs our ability to experience and know God fully.

By Peter Scazzero

1. Using God to run from God 2. Ignoring the emotions of anger, sadness, and fear 3. Dying to the wrong things 4. Denying the past’s impact on the present 5. Dividing our lives into “secular” and “sacred” compartments

6. Doing for God instead of being with God 7. Spiritualizing away conflict 8. Covering over brokenness, weakness, and failure 9. Living without limits 10. Judging other people’s spiritual journey

Basic Assumptions Every leader suffers from some degree of personal dysfunction from extremely mild to extremely acute. All of us have some symptoms of emotionally unhealthy spirituality. Unfortunately church history is replete with examples of individuals with some form of emotional or psychological brokenness as well as the devastation it brings to the person, their family, congregation, the church at large, and the presentation of the gospel.

Paradox in life of men who experienced failures: 1. Personal insecurities, 2. Feelings of inferiority and 3. Need for parental approval

Religious leaders Need to be in control Have it all together Unacceptable emotions and urges—anger and sexuality

Many leaders are not aware of the dark side of their personalities and the personal dysfunctions that drive them. Dr. Klaus “Charisma: The Dark Side of Pentecostal Leadership.”

Learning about our own dysfunctions can enable leaders to address those areas and prevent, or at least mitigate, the potential negative effects to their exercise of leadership.

According to Scazzero, “Very, very few people emerge out of their families of origin emotionally whole or mature. In my early years of ministry, I believed the power of Christ could break any curse, so I barely gave any thought to how the home I’d left long ago might still be shaping me.” (Peter Scazzero 2006, p.12)

Know Yourself That You May Know God Becoming Your Authentic Self

Comprehend Where You Came From Breaking the Power of the Past Going Back in Order to Go Forward

Influence of Family of Origin Understanding Family of Origin Developmental Issues Life Stages Assessing Family System & History Personal Time line

Practice Progressive Self-Knowledge

1. Acknowledge Your Dark Side 2. Examine the Past 3. Gather Knowledge about your Self 4. Be Intentional about Change

Gathering Knowledge Use of certain tools—personality & temperament assessments Counseling Coaching

Use of specific disciplines Scripture Reading Personal Retreats Privacy and solitude How to Conduct a Spiritual Life Retreat by Norman Shawchuck Devotional Reading Journaling Counseling/Discipleship Need for regularly exposure to the scrutinizing probe of the Holy Spirit

The Role of the Holy Spirit Ask for guidance and discernment Gift of the Holy Spirit brings spiritual awareness

Ministries of The Holy Spirit Convicting Regenerating Sealing Indwelling Filling Empowering Assuring Illuminating Teaching Praying

Is intricately connected to Spiritual Formation