Testimonies: “Rev. Jim Hollis and the Staff of Proactive Ministries provide local churches with wonderful ministry resources and training. They provide local churches with excellent motivation, inspiration, coaching and modeling in a wide variety of ministries. Their many years of experience working with congregations of various sizes, situations and locations across America gives them a wealth of knowledge and experience to share in strengthening congregations. I wish that every church in my district could have them as a resource in moving toward optimal congregational health and wholeness. I heartily recommend them for your church.” Rev. Coy Hinton, District Superintendent, Atlanta-College Park District, North Georgia
“I am thankful that God has used the wonderful ministries and people of Proactive Ministries to complete turnaround in the life of Shepherd of the Hills United Methodist Church.
Our church has persevered through difficult times and many challenges. Even so, God's grace has never failed to provide, and we are now celebrating victory after victory as lives are changed and new disciples are made throughout our community. Since we began our covenant relationship with Proactive just over a year ago, we have experienced dramatic improvements in terms of unity, peace, purpose and quality of ministry.
Proactive first reminded us that everything must be founded on prayer. They taught us how to establish a prayer ministry, and that spiritual priority has set the tone for all that has followed. Their work with our Lay Leadership Committee has given us a model that should be taught in every church. We learned how to do "spiritual recruitment," praying that God would show us which people in our church are being called into leadership. This faith-based approach to leadership eliminated conflict and political maneuvering from our leadership selection process, and brought more personal investment from those who have accepted the call to leadership this year. Our leaders know that God has called them to this work. They are no longer "names on a page," but disciples who are living out their specific calling in Christ.
We have learned Proactive small group model, known as "connect groups." The plan is beautiful in its simplicity and has been a powerful means for connecting the people of church to each other and to God in a non-threatening and fun environment. Lifestyle Relational Evangelism has pushed us outside our walls and into the community. It has deepened our sense of mission and purpose, and has brought new families into a saving relationship with Christ.
We are now embarking upon a year-long vision discernment process that will listen to everyone in our congregation and invite them to deeper personal, spiritual and financial commitment to the ministries of our church. God is already doing amazing things through this effort.
Has our investment of time, energy and money with Proactive been worth it? Yes! In more ways than we can ever say. We thank God for the people of Proactive Ministries.” Rev. Adam M. Roberts, Shepherd of the Hills UMC, Douglasville, GA
"Proactive is great. First UMC, Joshua has been energized for ministry by the weekend experience of LRE (Lifestyle Relational Evangelism). We now have several teams of visitors going out into the community every week. Jim Hollis and his staff are wonderful to work with. What an inspiration.” Rev. Billy Strayhorn, Senior Pastor, Joshua First UMC, Joshua, Texas
“Proactive Ministries has been a real blessing to our church. Before we started working with them, our church was drifting along without much new direction. Proactive helped us realize that we can change and grow. They helped us reorganize our committees and set new goals for future growth. They showed us ways to get more people involved in our church. We have started three new Sunday School classes. Our worship services have become more meaningful for our youth, because Proactive helped us find ways to involve our young people. Instead of thinking about how our church is going to die, Proactive Ministries has helped us to realize that we have a great potential to grow and win others for Christ.” John and Carolyn Sistrunk, Downsville UMC, Downsville, Louisiana
"Proactive helped our Lay Leadership committee understand what our real mission should be--raising up Godly leaders, not merely electing church members to various positions. Their leadership brought a new vision to our committee and helped clarify our duties. They stressed the importance of being lead by the Spirit and not relying on our earthly opinions. I thank Proactive for sharing their insights of Christian leadership and helping reinvigorate our committee in serving the Lord." Chuck Duncan, Lay Leader, Powers Ferry UMC, Marietta, Georgia
“The results have been amazing. The spirit that something new is happening is contagious and those who have been involved in the training have been inspired to trust God more fully. Members who have been trained in Lay Leadership, prayer, and visitation have all commented on the clear and simple manner in which they have been trained. The bottom line is that people are trusting God to empower them as they demonstrate genuine trust in God. We are praising God for his faithfulness. I believe Jim, his Staff and volunteers are providing a vital service as they work with churches like mine who need to be reminded of their first love for Christ, who need to rediscover that genuine heart for proclaiming the Good News of Jesus through genuine caring and friendship building. His prophetic voice through training and worship is a clear call to which people respond. Jesus is being lifted up and God is being glorified.” Rev. Doug Zipperer, Senior Pastor, Port Charlotte UMC, Florida
“We were at a low---spiritually, financially, emotionally. Rev. Hollis came for a Time of Envisioning. From that alone, we have noticed a significant change. We have asked him to return for a Discovery and Reflection Weekend---people were willing to make significant contributions to cover expenses knowing God will use him and his team. Our Church Council was unanimous. God is wanting to do a great work now in our church. We are looking forward now with hope when just a little while ago there was none.” Rev. Jim Britt, Senior Pastor, Michigan Conference
“The responses we received from the pastors and laity involved were positive and deeply appreciative of the experience. The Proactive Ministries team demonstrated a balance of personal and professional care for the churches involved. Doors for future growth (which had been long closed) were opened because of Proactive’s approach and ability to put the congregations at ease in discussing and visioning the future. Dr. Bill Bostick, District Superintendent, Florence District, Alabama
“The Staff Clergy of Proactive are excellent motivators and teachers for effective ministries in the local church. They are gifted in equipping and empowering laity. Our district had Rev. Jim Hollis of Proactive Ministries come and share a motivational ministry presentation with our pastors. The presentation was excellent and the pastors were very positive in responding. What they presented was practical, applicable to the local churches and has been proven effective in empowering laity for ongoing ministries in the local church. They have been a great ministry resource for many churches in our conference. I heartily recommend them to other districts and churches.”
Dr. Al Turnell, Retired District Superintendent, Atlanta-Marietta District
“Our church had an enormous communication problem that was adversely impacting many personal relationships. I’m sure people were earnestly praying for a resolution that was probably readily apparent, but we weren’t listening to God. Proactive was aware of the problem and brought special ministry to our church. One staff meeting was scheduled for two hours; it went four. Why? Proactive personnel employed their expertise and God made his presence known. What should have taken hours and hours of discussion was accomplished in only four. In our group of about 10 people, one could see the anxiety, fear, frustration, anger and resentment disappear from the faces of all participants. All that was replaced with courage, patience, trust, honesty, and love. Those attributes were clearly God-given to each individual. I have never felt more the presence of God. It was an extraordinary experience….one I shall never forget.” Chairperson, (Church name omitted) Administrative Council of a large membership church
“I will admit, in the beginning I wasn’t too sure I completely understood the entire who, what, when, where, and why of Proactive and didn’t really put much thought into how it would impact either me or the church. I was a regular attendee and participated in other areas of ministry at church but never had the desire to get that involved in what goes on outside what I consider to be my comfort zone.
Then along came Proactive….and all that changed. I now look at church relationships a whole lot differently. It’s not that I just go to church with people, these people are my family, my Christ-family. I have seen with my own eyes the good that comes from forming a working relationship with Proactive and employing the many proven processes that they have developed within their organization, throughout our church. That ultimately bleeds over into my life. Never could I have imagined that I’d be at work sharing how much what I do on Thursday nights means to me with my co-workers and anyone else that will listen to me.
My co-workers are in awe of how excited I am to go out and knock on the doors of strangers just to say “Hi, I’m your neighbor from Shepherd of the Hills UMC and I just want to get to you know you, no strings attached.” I think for me the greatest blessing is that working in a very public office, I get to see so many of the people that we visit. When that recognition of where they know me from takes place on their end and they express to me how thrilled they are that we are even doing what we are doing and that we aren’t the pushy bible thumpers but that we are real everyday people just like them. That makes it all worthwhile.”
Andrea Vantrees, Shepherd of the Hills UMC, Douglasville, GA | ||||
|
Sign Up Here!
| |||
