The Unhindered Prayer: Allowing God’s Answers to Reach You

The Unhindered Prayer: Allowing God’s Answers to Reach You

by | Nov 17, 2025

In my first blog of this series, we talked about how your prayers have power, even in a time of fear and uncertainty. We looked at five principles for powerful prayer, especially the promise that when you believe like Jesus, you can ask for whatever you want. Today, I want to address the biggest obstacle: What happens when your prayers go unanswered? We often pray, ask, and even persist, yet the answer never seems to arrive.

You’ve prayed deeply. You’ve persisted. You’ve even put feet on your prayers through action. But blessing hasn’t arrived, and the mountain hasn’t moved. This leaves you with a painful question: Does this mean I failed? Does this mean God said “no”?

 

The Myth That We Know What the Answer Should Be

The real problem is not in God’s willingness to answer, but in the ability to allow the answer to reach us. Our own fears, doubts, and self-limiting beliefs can stop or derail God’s answer. A blessing already put on the conveyor belt for you. If you don’t genuinely believe you deserve or can handle the answered prayer, your own mind is working against your prayer life.

 

The Story of The Mug

The scriptures tell us Jesus believed his prayers had power. He constantly withdrew to solitary places to pray—not because he needed to know God’s will, but because he knew this communication was essential to their Divine Partnership. He even taught his disciples to pray, showing that the power wasn’t just his alone.

Years ago, I struggled with this idea of answered prayer. I had been praying for something small—something inconsequential that wouldn’t “trip the wires of self-doubt.” I prayed for a mug. I practiced believing I had received it by visualizing it and rehearsing the feeling of happiness. After about a week, I forgot about it.

Three or four weeks later, a man I didn’t recognize rang my doorbell and handed over a misshapen, handmade blue coffee mug. “This mug is for you,” he said. “I made it for you… I just never got around to stopping by.” I beamed, suddenly remembering my prayer. My prayer had been answered, just weeks later.

That small act, receiving that simple mug, taught me everything about the Conveyor Belt Principle. I asked, God answered, and because I wasn’t obsessing or doubting, I allowed the blessing to make its way to me.

 

Intention, Surrender, and Faith

To allow your answered prayers to reach you, you have to actively weed out the doubt and adopt intentionality.

  1. The Conveyor Belt Principle

I visualize prayer working like a constant conveyor belt of blessing and abundance flowing from God to us. The moment you ask, the answer is plopped onto that belt. You ask; God answers.

But what if you second-guess your request? What if you worry you can’t integrate the new state of affairs the answered prayer brings? If these doubts are strong enough, they can slow down, stop, or even reverse the conveyor belt. You are unintentionally working at cross purposes with your own deepest desires.

  1. Surrender and Adopt

To stop derailing your own blessings, you need to revisit your inner commitments. Intentionality means aligning your beliefs with your request.

  • Surrender: Ask yourself: What attitudes, fears, behaviors, or activities do I need to surrender so Jesus can answer my prayers and I can see God’s answer? This list will contain the self-limiting thought patterns that have hindered you for years.
  • Adopt: Ask yourself: What attitudes, affirmations, behaviors, and practices do I need to adopt so God can answer my prayers?

To believe like Jesus, you must commit to surrendering the first set and adopting the second.

  1. Weed Out the Doubt

You need focus and clarity to keep a clear prayer request before God.

  • Name the Doubt: Begin to notice and name the nagging doubts that accompany your prayers. Don’t suppress them; acknowledge them.
  • Return the Doubt: As you name these doubts, return them to God on a different conveyor belt.
  • Refocus on Joy: Then, refocus on joyfully receiving whatever you have asked for in prayer. Ask God to strengthen your faith and increase your belief.

 

“Break” or “Block”?

A note of caution. In today’s world and society, we engage in a lot of time-wasting activities like endless scrolling or obsessive gaming. You probably think of these as just harmless breaks, thinking, “I’m just relaxing my mind.”

The reality? When these breaks become an obsession that takes longer than you can afford, they become a blockage. You’re not just relaxing; you’re numbing your heart and spirit with adrenaline and dopamine hits, which dull your awareness of God’s quiet answers and your capacity to act on them.

 

Next Steps/Takeaways

Your soul is hardwired for union with God, for greatness, and for co-creating miracles. When you allow your soul to lead the way in communicating with God, your prayers will take on new meaning and power. You’re advancing from disciple to apostle.

Answer the Call: Believe in your prayers as Jesus does. Believe that God has already said “Yes” to you. Then, allow God to answer your prayers in God’s own way and time.

Practice: See everything that happens in your life—that new opportunity, that unexpected gift, those sudden circumstances—as an answer to a prayer.

To deepen your understanding and capacity for apostolic prayer, I invite you to join me at an upcoming spiritual retreat: Epiphany: Manifesting the Miraculous.

 

 

Copyright © 2025 rebekahsimonpeter.com.  All Rights Reserved.

The Unhindered Prayer: Allowing God’s Answers to Reach You

Your Prayers Have Power: Rising in a Time of Fear

by | Nov 11, 2025

The wide-scale injustices and breakdown of democracy we are experiencing today can leave you wondering if your prayers have power. I get it. When the news is heavy, and the future is uncertain, it’s easy to wonder. Is God even listening? The pain points are clear: fear, anxiety, a loss of basic safety and stability. I promise you this: Your prayers have power. In this article I want to share with you five principles for powerful prayer.

But first, let’s address a common myth about prayer that I often hear.

 

The Myth that Only Certain Prayers are Heard

A common myth is that only certain prayers are heard. Or that only certain people can enact real change. But here’s the truth. In the face of major systems of injustice, change is not a sudden, one-time event. Rather, change comes about through a tapestry of courageous actions and persistent prayer. In the words of St. Francis of Assisi “The deeds you do may be the only sermon some persons will hear today”.

 

Five Principles of Powerful Prayer

To transform your approach to prayer and rise from discipleship to apostleship, here are the five principles of powerful prayer. They come from believing like Jesus, not simply believing in Him.

1) Seek Divine Partnership: Jesus, being fully human and fully divine, regularly withdrew to lonely, quiet places to pray, seeking guidance, strength, meditation, renewal, and communion with God. Prayer is the most essential form of communication with the divine. Jesus invites us to believe that we too are in divine partnership with God.

2) Believe You Have Received: Jesus’ audacious advice is: “Whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours” (Mark 11:24). It sounds a little easier than it is. Because it means not doubting our own faith, or your own relationship with God. As you begin to believe like Jesus and believe your prayers have power, start by praying for something you can truly believe in, something you won’t actively doubt you can do. For instance, pray that you can be consistently kind toward others.  Rather than praying that you can stop unjust practices on the spot. Start small, build your faith, and work up toward the larger goals.

3) Practice Persistence: Jesus taught his disciples to always pray and not give up. Like the persistent woman who received justice from an unjust judge, your persistence in faith and prayer is a key ingredient. The scriptures counsel us to “not grow weary in well-doing.” Pray each day for God’s good and gracious will to be done. Then look for instances where it is happening. Tell others of the good that you are witnessing. Not as a way of ignoring evil, but to create a positive feedback loop and build the muscle of persistent prayer.

4) Align Your Beliefs (Intentionality): Your prayers can be hindered when you pray against your deepest beliefs. In other words, if you pray for a big blessing but deep down suspect you don’t deserve it, your beliefs are not aligned with your prayer. Align your prayers with your beliefs, as Jesus did, and watch miracles unfold.

5) Prayer is Action: Not all prayer is meditative or in solitude. Can one be truly blessed while turning a blind eye to the suffering of others? Don’t wait for the answers to your prayers to come to you – get out of your comfort zone! Put feet on your prayers by volunteering at a food bank, turning out for protests, or seeking the betterment of others. Powerful prayer is active.

 

How My Prayers Got Answered…Finally

By the time I was ready for children I was forty. I desperately longed for the experience of parenting, but nothing seemed to work. After investigating foster to adopt programs, domestic and international adoption, none of these paths felt right. I even prayed, “God, can’t the stork just ring the doorbell and drop off a child on the front steps?” I grieved and thought I had let the desire go.

Fast forward more than twenty years. I found myself in a deep existential crisis, burdened by a profound sense of absence and loneliness. The longing for a multi-generational family returned with a vengeance, leaving me sad and listless. Ten days into this crisis, a friend’s family was falling apart, and their two young children were in danger. I prayed for them that night. The very next morning, two little brothers lay fast asleep in the guest bedroom, having been dropped off late in the night by a social worker. Without forewarning, they were two children to care for, a sudden and unexpected disruption.

My surprise quickly turned to wonder and acceptance, as I knew in my heart this was God’s work. The existential crisis vanished; my heart soared. God had finally answered my “stork prayer”—just two decades later than I’d expected.

 

Next Steps/Takeaways

Your prayers are a thread in the tapestry of a new unfolding reality. Prayer is essential for both transforming systems of injustice and for bringing God’s answers into your life. So don’t give up hope. But you’ll have to surrender self-limiting thought patterns, and the desire for immediate gratification. Instead, actively adopt attitudes and beliefs that align with your prayers. Here are two next steps.

Answer the Call: Believe in your prayers as Jesus does. Believe that God has already said “Yes” to you. Then, allow God to answer your prayers in God’s own way and time.

Practice: See everything that happens in your life—that new opportunity, that unexpected gift, those sudden circumstances—as an answer to a prayer.

To deepen your understanding and capacity for apostolic prayer, I invite you to join me at an upcoming spiritual retreat, held at Epiphany, the twelfth day of Christmas. Learn more and register here:  Epiphany: Manifesting the Miraculous.

 

 

Copyright © 2025 rebekahsimonpeter.com.  All Rights Reserved.

Was Jesus a Jew or a Christian? The Historical Answer — and Why It Matters

Was Jesus a Jew or a Christian? The Historical Answer — and Why It Matters

by | Oct 21, 2025

Jesus was Jewish.

He was born Jewish, lived as a Jewish rabbi, taught from the Hebrew Scriptures, and died as a Jew. His disciples were Jewish. His earliest followers were Jewish. Christianity began as a Jewish renewal movement within first-century Judaism.

Understanding this historical reality clarifies both the origins of Christianity and the ethical foundation of Christian leadership today.

When I ask leaders, “Was Jesus a Jew or a Christian?” responses are mixed. Many assume “both.” Some hesitate. But historically speaking, Jesus was Jewish. Christianity did not yet exist during his lifetime.

Why does this matter? Because forgetting Jesus’s Jewish identity distorts theology, weakens ethical leadership, and fuels harmful divisions.

 

Was Jesus Jewish? What the Historical Record Shows

Jesus practiced Judaism.

He:

  • Worshiped in synagogues
  • Observed Jewish festivals
  • Interpreted Torah as a first-century Jewish teacher
  • Engaged in rabbinic-style debate

After his death, his followers continued practicing Judaism for decades. The early Jesus movement was understood as a renewal movement within Judaism — not a separate religion.

Only gradually did Gentile inclusion reshape the movement into what became Christianity.

Christian faith did not replace Judaism. It emerged from it.

 

Was Jesus Opposed to the Pharisees?

A common misconception is that Jesus stood against “the Pharisees.”

Historically, the Pharisees were a lay renewal movement focused on ethical practice, holiness in daily life, and faithful interpretation of Torah. Their aim was to bring spiritual depth into ordinary living.

Jesus operated within this same renewal conversation.

The debates recorded in the Gospels reflect internal Jewish disagreements about interpretation — not a rejection of Judaism itself.

Seeing Jesus as anti-Jewish is historically inaccurate and theologically dangerous. He was participating in renewal, not launching a new religion.

 

Christianity Began as a Jewish Renewal Movement

The earliest followers of Jesus did not abandon their Jewish identity.

They:

  • Continued observing Jewish customs
  • Gathered for prayer and teaching
  • Interpreted Scripture through the lens of love of neighbor
  • Practiced radical generosity and ethical accountability

This is how renewal movements begin — by deepening commitment to core values, not discarding them.

Christianity’s roots are grounded in Jewish ethical teaching, including the command to love one’s neighbor and pursue justice.

 

Why It Matters Today

Forgetting that Jesus was Jewish has real consequences.

When Jesus is portrayed as standing against “the Jews,” it fuels anti-Semitism and reinforces divisive narratives.

More broadly, when reform movements position themselves as morally superior rather than rooted in shared ethical foundations, polarization deepens.

Jesus modeled renewal from within tradition — not destruction of it.

Leaders today face similar challenges: how to engage necessary reform without demonization, how to pursue justice without abandoning humility. In Creating a Culture of Renewal®, we help leaders move from fear-driven reaction to courageous, spiritually grounded action.

Renewal requires remembering our roots.

 

What Leaders Can Learn

If Jesus was a Jewish reformer participating in a renewal movement, faithful leadership today includes:

  • Engaging tradition thoughtfully rather than rejecting it reflexively
  • Practicing courageous ethical clarity
  • Avoiding tribalism and dehumanization
  • Anchoring reform in love of neighbor

The earliest Jesus movement expected transformed lives. It practiced spiritual formation through relationship, immersion, and shared accountability.

That model remains powerful.

 

The Bottom Line

Jesus was Jewish. Christianity began as a Jewish renewal movement. That historical truth strengthens theological clarity and ethical leadership.

When we remember our roots, we recover our responsibility — to justice, humility, and the repair of what is broken.

Renewal does not begin with separation.

It begins with returning to the heart of our faith.

If you want to explore how renewal takes shape in real communities, learn more about how Christian ministries are achieving success.

 

 

Adapted and excerpted from The Jew Named Jesus:Discover the Man and His Message, Rebekah Simon-Peter, 2013.

Copyright © 2026 rebekahsimonpeter.com.  All Rights Reserved.

Believe in a Miracle Mindset

Believe in a Miracle Mindset

by | Oct 14, 2025

 

 

We use the word “miracle” a lot. But what is a miracle, exactly? The dictionary defines it as a surprising and welcome event that can’t be explained by natural or scientific laws and, therefore, must be considered the work of divine agency.

Do you know who is pretty good at miracles? Jesus—and his apostles. That is their superpower. No, they don’t have a “Spidey” sense, superhuman strength, or the ability to leap tall buildings in a single bound. Rather, their superpower is a miracle mindset. They know that, given their divine partnership with God and the power of their prayers, they can operate in the realm of the miraculous, opening the way for the unexpected to happen. They believe—they know—they can co-create miracles with God.

And you can tap into that superpower, also. If you rise from having faith in Jesus to having the faith of Jesus, you, too, can co-create miracles with God.

Given the distress much of the world is experiencing today, there is no better time to take this step—to believe like Jesus, to develop the kind of faith Jesus had—so you can actively participate in creating the miracles the world so desperately need right now—at the personal, communal, and societal levels. And let’s not forget about the needs of the natural world, and all that impacts it.

To do so, you need to shift the way you see the world. Instead of seeing it as a fixed reality that is simply moving inexorably toward destruction—whether environmental crisis, the breakdown of democracy, the loss of morality, the disappearance of freedoms, the expanding chaos of rapid change, or the breakdown of all that is familiar—it’s time to see the world as one string of miracles away from redemption and salvation. This will require a new set of lenses and a literal change of heart. We live in a world that prioritizes head over the heart, the left brain over the right brain, and self-will over God’s will. But I say embrace your superpower, believe like Jesus, and welcome a miracle mindset into your life. That will empower you to act with creativity and courage, to not give up in quiet resignation. It will change everything.

 

Embrace the Belief: Use the Miracle Mindset to Activate Your Superpower

Jesus and his apostles aren’t the only ones to possess this superpower. God has also given it to you, as shown for example in the New Testament passages Romans 12:2 and 2 Timothy 1:7.

These passages confirm the importance of the right mindset—a miracle mindset built on unity and communication with God—in carrying out God’s will. God gives us this mindset as a gift of grace, but at the same time, we have to accept it so that we may “be transformed by the renewing of [our] mind.” God can give us the mindset to pursue miracles, but we must first believe we can and then go out and do it.

Like Jesus, you, too, have the capacity in every moment to choose your mindset so you can pursue miracles. Don’t get me wrong. You’ll probably not walk on water the first time out—or ever. But who knows what you can accomplish? After all, in John 14:12-14 Jesus said:

Very truly I tell you, 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. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

Cultivating the superpower of a miracle mindset requires a great deal of practice. The scriptures remind us that even Jesus himself has to grow into wisdom before he can set out into the world. Luke tells the story of Jesus leaving his parents at twelve to learn and teach in the temple. The people are amazed. But when Mary and Joseph frantically track him down, he agrees to go home with them; he isn’t ready yet. He still has to grow into his full power. Luke goes on to record the ending of the story: “Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man” (Luke 2:51-52). This maturation process took another eighteen years. According to tradition, he didn’t even begin his public ministry until the age of thirty.

Though we call it “mindset,” transforming the way you look at the world begins as much in your heart and soul as it does in your mind. To take this step, begin to notice the pattern of your thoughts. Do you tend to paint yourself and the world in a negative or positive light? Ask yourself: Do my thoughts build my faith? Do they make me feel hopeful? Or do they tear me down, turn me toward hopelessness? Only thoughts that build the faith in your heart can lead you to embrace a miracle mindset.

Beliefs shape your thoughts; thoughts fuel your actions; actions demonstrate your faith, and your faith reinforces your beliefs. So, as you begin to believe like Jesus, you will find that you are now able to think new thoughts, take new actions, and develop new faith. Mountains and mulberry trees start to move. The people around you begin to respond in new ways. And the world becomes a brighter place.

Miracles—and a miracle mindset—are as much about perceiving in a different way as they are about some sort of conversion of physical properties. It’s about recognizing what’s already there in a new way. It’s about being “the eyes with which he [Christ] looks / Compassion on this world.” You may think God doesn’t really need you. That God is all-powerful without you. Not true. God does need you—your energy, your creativity, your willingness. God is waiting to co-create miracles with you.

Even now, you may think you don’t have superpowers. Or that something or someone is missing in your life before you can activate your superpowers. Again, not true. The soul within you is all the proof you need of your inner divinity. That soul, that inner divinity, makes possible everything you are called to do and be and believe. Cultivating an awareness of your inner divinity will actually open up the space for you to see the people God has brought into your life to co-create miracles with you and help you adopt the miracle mindset.

 

Next Steps

I encourage you to visit my new Online Store and purchase your copy of Believe Like Jesus. Or take advantage of our discount on multiple copies for your next Lenten book study. Further your expansion into the miracle mindset with my one-of-a-kind Miracle cards! These high-quality inspirational visual devotionals can be purchased only through Rebekah Simon-Peter Coaching and Consulting Inc, and create a truly unique experience as you co-create miracles with God.

 

Excerpted and adapted from Rebekah Simon-Peter’s latest book, Believe Like Jesus: Rising from Faith in Jesus to the Faith of Jesus, November 2024 & October 2025.

Copyright © 2025 rebekahsimonpeter.com.  All Rights Reserved.

5 Tips for Leading the Church into Autumn

5 Tips for Leading the Church into Autumn

by | Aug 26, 2025

 

The autumn season comes with its own unique challenges and opportunities for church leaders. As the leaves begin to change and the weather cools down, people look forward to enjoying seasonal festivities while cherishing the blessings of life.

I first published this article in 2023, and with a few updates, I think that these tips are needed even more today.

 

1) Embrace the Seasonal Theme

With the arrival of Autumn comes a vibrant tapestry of colors, enchanting scents, and joyous festivities. As a church leader, you can embrace this seasonal theme in many ways, from your sermons to your decorations and activities. Consider weaving themes of gratitude, giving thanks for what you have, and the renewal of life into your preaching. Organizing engaging activities like pumpkin carving, apple picking, or even heartwarming bonfires fosters community and strengthens fellowship during a season of transition.

 

2) Plan for Holidays and Events

Autumn is adorned with many holidays and festivities, including Halloween, Thanksgiving, Harvest Festival, and Autumn farmers markets. As a church leader, you can strategically align your sermons, outreach efforts, and activities with these occasions to forge deeper connections with your community. Orchestrate a delightful trunk or treat event to bless the children within your community. Host a heartwarming Thanksgiving potluck, or a captivating fall fair booth at a local event, all aimed at engaging people and sharing the love of Christ.

 

3) Focus on Discipleship and Spiritual Growth

The Autumn season presents a suitable time for revitalization and progress within your church community. You can harness this season’s potential to prioritize discipleship, spiritual growth, and personal development. Consider organizing small groups, hosting a Bible study with Believe Like Jesus or a Miracle Bundle, found in my new Online Store, arranging retreats, or creating affinity groupings. Providing resources such as devotionals, podcasts, or online courses can significantly enhance a spiritual community. As the seasons shift, people become more open to making transformative changes and embracing new possibilities. This creates an opportune moment for individuals to nurture their faith and experience personal growth.

 

4) Serve the Community

Autumn is an excellent opportunity to serve your community and make an impact. As a church leader, you can coordinate outreach events such as blood drives, clothing drives, food pantries, or community service projects to meet the needs of those around you.

We all know people in our communities that are struggling, even living in fear, during these trying times. Keep in mind that finding joy in Autumn may be difficult for them and make a special effort to include them in your outreach. You can channel your energy into impactful service projects that extend Christ’s love to those especially in need.

Partner with local organizations, other churches or houses of worship of other faiths, businesses, or schools to serve as a witness to the love you have for the community. This creates a positive image for the church and provides opportunities to form meaningful relationships.

 

5) Care for Your Leaders and Team

As a church leader, Autumn can be demanding and stressful. It is crucial to prioritize the well-being of your team during this period of change and transition. Implementing support systems like prayer groups, mentoring, coaching, or sabbath-taking can foster encouragement and growth among your team members. Practice self-care by incorporating rest, recreation, and reflection into your own daily routine. This will help you and your team to remain refreshed, energized, and focused on serving others.

 

As we transition from the vibrant tapestry of fall to the anticipation of Advent, let us not lose sight of the unique opportunities each season brings forth. Let us continue to seize these moments to serve, to flourish, and to cultivate a deeper sense of fellowship within our community. May we always remember that every season, every fleeting moment, is an opportunity to reflect the boundless love of Christ to those who surround us.

Autumn is the perfect time to take that extra step in strengthening and transforming your leadership. Registration for my powerful and award-winning clergy leadership program, Creating a Culture of Renewal®, ends September 8th. I’m leading a free introductory seminar on Friday, August 29th, “How Christian Ministries Achieve Success.” Registration is filling up fast, but there are still spaces available and I’d love to see you there.

Together, we’ll embark on a journey of spiritual growth, community engagement, and holistic rejuvenation.

 

Adapted and updated August 2025.

Copyright © 2023 rebekahsimonpeter.com.  All Rights Reserved.

 

 

Vision Impossible: CCR Participants Get Results

Vision Impossible: CCR Participants Get Results

by | Aug 19, 2025

This week, I’m honored to share Rev. Therese Lehman’s experiences surrounding crafting and honing a vision with her congregation.

As Therese reminds us, crafting a vision isn’t easy, but the results are well worth the struggle. And, by using her Creating a Culture of Renewal® learnings, and gaining confidence in her leadership skills, she was able to hone her vision into one that was truly a Jesus-like dream.

And, with the help of God, not at all “impossible”!

 

A Good Leader Challenges

Crafting a vision is hard work, takes time, takes active listening to many people and involves a lot of prayer. Trying to get a group of 12 people to come to a consensus around that vision is impossible without understanding yourself and others, and having leadership skills such as spirituality, conflict productivity, listening, confidence and boldness.

The Walnut Street UMC Leadership/Visioning Team had read and discussed “Dream Like Jesus” over the previous14 months.  We had some good discussions and completed all the exercises. One person came up with something and everyone was eager to agree to implement it so we could move on.  But it didn’t feel right to me.

The first thing I learned and put into action was that a good leader asks questions and challenges.  I didn’t do that right away because of my fears, but gradually I began some push back as to whether the vision, “To be Christ in our families, church, community and the world and to bring others into God’s family” was really a vision or a mission.  I boldly shared and asked questions, stepping out of my comfort zone by speaking up.  After further prayer, thought and discussion over the next few months, the vision changed to “No more homelessness or hunger in Chillicothe.”  This was more of a Jesus-sized vision but how would we get buy-in from the congregation and what goals would we set up?  I found myself “kicking the vision down the road” for another couple of months, fearing making a decision.

I learned through my DiSC® profile that I prefer to “seek closure” instead of being more open.  By postponing a decision on a vision, I wasn’t doing either.  I needed to be “more intentional about exploring new ideas to create a vision” and “be more adventurous and voice my ideas.”

 

Prioritizing the Big Picture

I attended a couple of city council meetings where the issue of homelessness was being discussed.  As I listened to the speakers, I began to hear a word other than homelessness – poverty.  Many of Chillicothe’s residents live well below the poverty line and a factory that employees over 800 people will be closing at the end of this year.  What if we began to address this bigger issue?  It scared me!  I wanted to hold back and be very cautious, but Creating a Culture of Renewal® had taught me that I should be adventurous, more open, prioritize the big picture, and speak out.

At the next Leadership/Vision meeting, I confidently and boldly proposed a new vision, “Poverty-free Chillicothe.”  It fulfilled all the elements of a Jesus-like dream and was bold!  I was totally surprised by the response. There was so much discussion, and everyone present spoke out, which did not always happen.  I was amazed that there was lots of push back and everyone was alive!!! It was wonderful!!  I realized it was what had been missing in our work together.  People began to explore some of the implications of the word “poverty” and how this vision was a challenge to our whole community!  This is what we needed.

 

Vision Impossible? NOT!

I am now realizing that creating a vision isn’t so much about achieving a successful result, as it is about coming together around a challenge in the community and discovering together the steps toward a solution.  This vision will have many action steps for the future, but we can begin with education about poverty both in our church and in our community.  Then we can discover what areas of poverty we would like to act upon.

At the end of our discussion, I knew I needed to give certain people time to process the new information and challenge others to come up with ideas on possible action steps.  I challenged everyone to take this vision and share it with family, friends and co-workers, both inside and outside the church.  They are to bring their feedback to our next meeting. I am excited to hear what people have to share.  I will be practicing active listening during this meeting more than talking!

The excitement and chatter after the meeting indicated that my new approach in leadership had sparked something.  I am now excited to take this vision further and begin testing assumptions and crafting action steps and goals with the team.  I want to involve the congregation and the community into looking into the deeper problem of poverty and discover how we can become poverty-free – because it is possible with God.

 

 

Therese’s vision of a poverty-free community initially did seem like a “vision impossible” but she knew in her heart that everything is possible with God.  And Creating a Culture of Renewal®’s proven leadership training is all about co-creating miracles with God and envisioning Jesus-sized dreams.

Crafting a vision isn’t always a simple task, but Therese tackled it with support from her Creating a Culture of Renewal® colleagues and her strengthened leadership skills. I feel confident that her vision will one day become reality.

Having trouble crafting your own Jesus-sized vision? Or have that vision, but need the skills to truly implement it? Creating a Culture of Renewal® is a proven and effective clergy leadership program that can bring about real change to your leadership, your congregation, and your community, too. I encourage you to take advantage of our free interactive seminar, How Christian Ministries are Achieving Success to learn more. Last Minute registration ends for Creating a Culture of Renewal® on September 8th, so you’ll want to take advantage of a free seminar today!

 

 

Copyright © 2025 rebekahsimonpeter.com.  All Rights Reserved.