THE MINISTRY OF HELPS H A N D B O O K HOW TO BE TOTALLY EFFECTIVE SERVING IN THE MINISTRY OF HELPS by Dr. Buddy Bell Harrison House Tulsa, Oklahoma Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the K i n g James Ve r s i o nof the Bible. The Ministry of Helps Handbook— How To Be Totally Effective S e rving in the Ministry of Helps ISBN-13: 978-0-89274-766-5 ISBN-10: 0-89274-766-8 Copyright © 1990 by Buddy Bell P. O. Box 27366 Tulsa, Oklahoma 74149 09 08 07 06 32 31 30 29 28 27 26 25 24 Published by Harrison House, Inc. P.O. Box 35035 Tulsa, Oklahoma 74153 Printed in the United States of America. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law. Contents and/or cover may not be reproduced in whole or in part in any form without the express written consent of the Publisher. C O N T E N T S Foreword ..................................................................................v Preface ....................................................................................vii Part One: Faithfulness Is the Crowbarof God 1 The Anointing of the Ministry of Helps ............................1 2 Elijah, the Man of God ....................................................11 3 Elisha, the Servant of the Man of God ............................19 4 Molded, Shaped, and Prepared for God’sTiming............29 5 No Big Guns and Little Guns ..........................................41 6 Prerequisite for a Victorious Ministry..............................53 Part Two: The Ministry of Helps Study Course 7 Introduction: How To Use the Study Course ..................65 8 Lesson One: What Is the Ministry of Helps? ..................67 Day One — Defining the Ministry of Helps....................67 Day Two — The Purpose of the Helps Ministry..............69 Day Three — One Who Gives Assistance ......................70 Day Four — Not Everyone Is Called to an Apostle, Prophet, Teacher, Evangelist, or Pastor Office ............71 Day Five — The Disciples Had Helps Ministries............72 9 Lesson Two: The Work of the Ministry of Helps ............75 Day One — The Strong Church ......................................75 Day Two — Order of Authority and God’sAnointing ....76 Day Three — Serving God’s Chosen Man ......................78 Day Four — Elisha, the Faithful Minister ......................79 Day Five — The Fruit of a Faithful Servant....................80 10 Lesson Three: Having a Vision........................................83 Day One — You Must Have a Vision..............................83 Day Two — God Gives the Vision ..................................84 Day Three — Helping God’s Man With the Vision ........86 Day Four — Being Knit Together....................................87 Day Five — The Helps Ministry in the Early Church ....89 11 Study Questions................................................................91 Part Three: Feedback 12 Introduction: General Principles and Guidelines ..........101 13 Questions and Answers on the Ministry of Helps..........107 14 Comments From Ministry of Helps Seminars................125 F O R E W O R D Buddy Bell operates a unique gift of God for the Body of Christ in establishing the ministry of helps. His many years of practical experience in two of A m e r i c a ’s outstanding local churches qualify him as an expert in this vital area of ministry. He brings a sense of dignity to the jobs that for many years have been slighted by wrong thinking, and he stirs workers in churches and ministries to new heights of service for the Lord. The impact of his ministry on our church workers revolu- tionized our ministry. I heartily recommend the teachings of Buddy Bell on audio cassette, video tape, or in person! Willie George Pastor, Church On The Move Tulsa, Oklahoma * * * “People calledto pass buckets, change diapers, take care of children? I’ve got to see about this!” Yes, those were a few of my thoughts as I entered into theworkshop on “Helps in the Local Church,” held by the Rev.. Buddy Bell. To my astonishment, Rev. Bell began to unveil scripture after scripture, teaching on this wonderful, much-mis- understood, but greatly needed ministry. At times I would cry, and at other times laugh, as Brother Bell corrected my improper thinking. Yet he still inspired me to roll up my sleeves and get busy with the work of the ministry. ____________ v As you read this book, I trust that you, too, will be inspired to enter into this vast, virtually untapped work of “the ministry of helps.” J. Phillip Tasker, Pastor Door of Faith Christian Center Dunedin, Florida * * * This complete book on the ministry of helps is a joy to read. This book is an excellent definer and equipper concerning the almost unknown realm of helps. Not only is it stimulating reading, but also challenging and informative. I know this book is going to be used mightily of God in the Church today. The days of only a small percentage of the Body of Christ doing a hundred percent of the work of God are over. I believe this book will greatly help the Church. I am going to use this book for my entry-level workers in particular, as well as a refresher for those already in the process of serving. I thank God that Buddy Bell has allowed himself to be used by God in his particular call. Our church would not have been able to do all the things we have done without God having used Rev. Bell to teach us in the area of helps. Stephen Johnson, Pastor His Church Christian Fellowship Escondido, California ____________ vi P R E FA C E A lot of people ask how I have learned so much about the ministry of helps. How did I get started — did I have a degree in speech or management? I have even been accused of having a degree in acting! The truth is that only the Lord knows what I have gone through to get to this point. Anything I have been able to do or to teach has come through divine revelation and hard experience in walking that revelation out in everyday operations of churches and ministries. I have been rejected, spit on, shoved around, and humiliated. But I had no doubt all of the time that I was where God wanted me to be. Basically, I am a farmer with a high school education. Then I worked in a factory for more than six years before becoming born a g a i n . As a baby Christian, I was so “fired up” that people told me Jesus wanted me in the ministry. I ran off to a Bible school and found out at that time that I was notcalled to pulpit ministry.The pastor of the first church in which my wife and I were involved understood the ministry of helps. He opened a door for me to serve in the church. That pastor did not look at my credentials, but at my attitude. He said, “If there are two people, one with no ability but an attitude of faithfulness, and the other with a lot of ability but no faithfulness, I will take the one who is faithful every time.” ____________ vii In Bible school, I was my pastor’s “handyman” for a while, and I did everything I was asked to do. And the Lord was careful to warn me not to become too familiar with my “boss.” He said to me very strongly, “Buddy, you are not part of this family. ” So whenever the family was gathered together in one room, I would go to another room. If I became intimate and too famil- iar, I would have lost the perspective on what God wanted me to do in the ministry.The pastor paid me, but I would have worked for free because the Lord had laid it on my heart. Anyone who is working primarily for money is working for man and not for Jesus. If you serve Jesus, He will reward you and take care of you, and it will not affect your attitude. I believe Christian workers should be paid as well as possible. However, if they will not do as good a job for Jesus and for free — if nec- essary — then we need to look at their intent for service. I learned from the leadership that God had set me under during the years that I worked actively in the ministry of helps. People never go beyond leadership. Whatever leadership does, that is what the people are willing to do. As a pastor or church leader, if you want faithful and committed workers, be faithful and committed. If you want to reap a crop, you have to plant some seed. You have to stay out in front of your people; then, they will step up to where you are. Apple trees beget apples. Pastors do ____________ viii not beget sheep. Sheep beget sheep. Nursery workers beget nursery workers. Ushers beget ushers. Every Christian has a responsibility to reproduce himself or herself. Reproduce in someone else what God has placed in you. Get someone else excited about the job you are doing. Then, as they replace you, you will be amazed at what God has next for you. Churches need the helps ministry operating now more than e v e r, I believe. When you turn on television today, what office do you see represented most often? Pastors. More pastors are taking the lead in the Church than since the early days of this century. I believe this next (perhaps the last in these endtimes) move of God is coming through the local church. We need to get back to the Word of God and let pastors function the way they are supposed to. Pastors are a gift from God and spokesmen for Jesus. They need to be free to operate as gifts and spokesmen for the Lord. Every Christian can do something to help with the natural running of the church, in order to free the pastor to concentrate on the spiritual things. But workers have to have the zeal to be faithful and obedient to those set over them. I pray that this book will change not only your Christian walk but your local church. Apastor’s friend, Dr. Buddy Bell ____________ ix