Ministry Gifts & Abilities
Demonstrated Abilities in Ministry Contexts
Following is a simple summary of ministry abilities utilized in various ministry responsibilities, beginning with my original ministry experience.
Grace Covenant Church, Springfield, Missouri (1972-88)
- Defining vision, mission and values as a leader in the church planting effort
- Administration, setting up the administrative and legal structure of the new non-profit corporation (Article of Incorporation, By-laws, etc.)
- Discipleship, conducting foundational Bible studies for new believers, designing a discipleship curriculum, including one that could be used by distance.
- Teaching, conducting a variety of adult Christian education programs and classes.
- Preaching, sharing the speaking responsibilities with my father, Rev. Ken Asplund.
- Leadership development, establishing a leadership development process, training and mentoring new leaders, forming and overseeing leadership teams.
- Senior Pastor, assuming the overall responsibility for all of aspects of the life of the church.
- Small Group development, leading the congregation in forming and overseeing a large network of small groups.
- Community Outreach, leading the church in community development projects.
City Bible Church, Portland, Oregon (1988-2006)
- Participated as a member of the Board of Elders, serving as a "Teaching Elder"
- Oversaw all aspects of Adult Christian Education in the congregation
- Served with other Teaching Elders to research, report, and make recommendations on difficult (if not controversial) issues facing the eldership
- Led intercessory prayer support for major events
- Provided workshops in large pastors conferences
- Provided teaching and preaching in local churches in fellowship with CBC
- Participated in the ongoing work of Ministers Fellowship International
(While serving at Beacon University, Columbus, Georia (2006-2009) I was not on a church staff.)
New Community Church, LaGrange, Georgia (2009-present)
- Served as the Associate Pastor to the Senior Pastor
- Provided day-to-day administrative oversight
- Coordinated the work of the pastoral staff
- Oversaw all Adult Member ministries
- Oversaw all Connection ministries (assimilation, discipleship, etc.)
- Designed a midweek teaching program and taught a large number of Bible studies
- Provided Sunday morning messages in coordination with the Senior Pastor
Personal Profile
I have taken and designed a variety of "spiritual gifts" assessments. As a young pastor I read C. Peter Wagner's "Your Spiritual Gifts Can Help Your Church." His proposition seemed to make so much sense I immediately designed a simple spiritual gifts discovery curriculum and assessment tool and took every member through it. The results were remarkable - it liberated and empowered our church so completely that we doubled the next year and every member found their best place of fruitful and fulfilling ministry. Since then I have participated in the development of a curriculum and assessment took in City Bible Church (Portland, Oregon) and have used both the Network curriculum, and more recently the P.L.A.C.E. curriculum.
The simpler assessments have always identified a "gift-mix" of Teaching/Administration.
The P.L.A.C.E. workshop assessments identified the following:
- Personality - D(8)I(2)S(4)C(10)
- Spiritual Gifts - Knowledge (35), Teaching (33), Wisdom (32), Discernment (32), Administration (30)
- Ability/Environment - Investigative (30), Conventional (30), Enterprising (22)
- Demonstrated Passions - Teaching, Improving, Challenging
The Myers-Briggs personality typology has consistently yielded certain personal preferences:
- I (56%)
- N (62%)
- T (75%)
- J (56%)
The book, "Now, Discover Your Strengths," by Marcus Buckingham and Donald O. Clifton began a revolution in "strengths-based" leadership, education, etc. The "Strengths Finder" assessment identified the following key strengths or "signature themes" for me:
- Learner
- Input
- Intellection
- Context
- Connectedness
Ordination
I have been ordained since 1974, in every case with the local church I have served. I was also an active member of Minister's Fellowship, 1987-2007.