by Sam Brock

I like the “Dummies” series of books, because they assume I know very little about the topic I am about to study. Over the years as I have read my fair share of “Dummies” books, I have realized that their simple approach sometimes fills in gaps that I have missed in my erratic learning process. Following are a few “For Dummies” lists that you may have already mastered, but there still may be something that you missed.

Ministry for Dummies

▪ God provides.
▪ My testimony speaks louder than my words.
▪ Be consistent.
▪ Be thankful.
▪ Trust God’s timing.
▪ Don’t be in a hurry.
▪ Have good character no matter who is (or isn’t) watching.
▪ Take time for people.
▪ It’s work.
▪ It’s worth it if you keep an eternal perspective.

Mission Trips for Dummies—You may be involved in planning or even leading a mission team. A manager of the team has much to think about. This list is in no way comprehensive but at least it gives you a start as you get ready to go.

▪ Have a plan B.
▪ Be flexible.
▪ Be teachable.
▪ Drink water.
▪ Improvise with what you have.
▪ Get along.
▪ Work as hard at improving your relationship with God as you do on the project at hand.
▪ Fun is the byproduct not the goal.
▪ Be a slave—it is encouraging to everyone around you.
▪ Be patient—it never goes as fast as you plan.

Change for Dummies

▪ Understand why—if you don’t know why, you have no idea if it is a good change or a bad change.
▪ Know your expectations—change is rarely the cure-all, or we would have changed earlier. Correct expectations in the process of change are crucial to your sanity.
▪ Comparison kills contentment—if you are changing because you are trying to keep up, you will never find contentment in your situation.
▪ This world is not my home—I can put up with just about anything if it is short term. Think of life here on earth as a very short-term thing.
▪ God does not change—He is one on whom I can rely no matter what is happening around me.
▪ Expect a ripple effect—change does not affect just one person.
▪ Communicate change.
▪ Everybody will have an opinion about the change they are experiencing. Have a thick enough skin to deal with an opinion.