Dear Brothers and Sisters, Greetings in His most precious name. By the time you would be reading this communique from me we as a country would have been closing our books and reports for the Operating Year 2016- 17. In the year that has gone by we have operated as a nation encouraged by the theme from Hebrews 12:1′. As we look forward to another year starting from 1 June 2017 we have a new theme from ‘Run with endurance’
‘Standing firm in one Spirit’ – Philippians 1:27.
I would like to thank each of you for the hard work that was put in during the past year. This year has also been a year where we focused on creating the 13 State Associations. The ‘Operation Multiply’ workshops had seen many Gideons and Auxiliary members coming forward to offer themselves to take responsibilities to lead various areas, programs and regions across the country. However, as we march forward it is important for us to remind ourselves of the basic tenets in the Vision 2020 that we have set for ourselves and approved by our International Cabinet.
When we think of Vision 2020 we are first reminded of the 12 Crore Scripture Distribution per year globally and a more than 2 Crore per year in India. Let us go through all the entire elements in the Objective 100 of the Vision 2020 carefully again:
Let us ponder on some key and important words that stand out in the Vision 2020:
The first element in the Vision 2020 is about personally developing a culture of excellence. It is important for all of us question our own working style and on whether we are able to give our personal best for a Culture of Excellence. The culture is built brick by brick and each of those bricks are each of us.
This ministry is not an individual ministry. While individual commitment is necessary, collective working is essential. That is why one of the key elements in our ministry is ‘associating together for service’. We are an association. Let us not be under the impression that each of us can do our own thing as individual Gideons and not associate ourselves with our camps.It is important to corporately work together as part of the body of Christ.
Are you aware of your camp’s goals? It is only if all of us personally ensure that our camps achieve the goals that we can corporately meet the goals of our association. We strive to meet 100% of our goals not just some of them or part of them.
Our commitment to the ministry should be wholehearted and 100%. Which means when we commit to a responsibility, we fulfil the same. We plan and make the necessary sacrifices for the same. There should be no compromises.
Personally –
Corporately –
100% Achievement –
100% Commitment –
100% Effort –
100% of our members involved in the camp –
We could be committed to a cause but still not put the best of our efforts. Our Vision 2020 calls us to give our best effort. Which also means that if we need to learn new skills we put our efforts to do that. Let us not be caught by the Lord not giving our best effort for the commitments we made.
This is a very important aspect. All our members need to be involved in at least one of our camp activities. How do we find those members who are not involved in the camp? Who would find those members? It is us search for them and find them. Searching for members who are not involved and getting them involved based on their gifting is extremely important.
Do you have members in your camp who have not been seen in camp meetings for a long time? Do search for them, locate them and involve them in the activities of your camp. I would urge each of us to take the Vision 2020 seriously and also note that even before we focus on the more than 2 crore distributions per year, we align with what God wants us to do to align with the work of His Holy Spirit and be in one spirit. Working on people and relationships can help achieve our Vision. Let us make the personal commitments we need to make and work on corporately driving our efforts together.
God bless you.
By, Dr. Joseph Shields | National President