Local churches and the Institute’s Headquarters need each other. Through my experience over many years, I have become convinced that the Institute cannot exist without local churches, and local churches also need the Institute. It is a mutual relationship.
Why Do Local Churches Need the Headquarters?
First, local churches need someone they can talk to and share with when they face challenges in ministry. This is one of the important functions of a National Headquarters or Institute. When a church encounters a problem, it is helpful to have someone outside the church who can listen, provide perspective, and offer practical help.
When local churches think of the Headquarters, they should feel that they have a big brother—someone with experience, competence, and resources who can help them when they are struggling. Every ministry has problems, just as every church has problems, both inside and outside the church. Therefore, churches need someone who can help them from outside, especially someone who has specialized experience in that particular area.
For example, the Headquarters of LPMI USA is now located in New Jersey. Originally, it was in Ohio, where Dr. Melvin Steinbron lived. It later moved to New Jersey because that was where Else, who managed and operated the ministry, was located. The President of LPMI USA lives in South Carolina. Geographical location is not as important today because communication and travel are much easier. However, symbolically, people often expect the leader to be closely connected with the Headquarters. They want to know that someone is there for them when they need help.
For many years, I personally worked from the Headquarters office because I wanted local churches to know that I was available to them. They needed to feel that I was there to listen, encourage, and help whenever necessary.
Reequipping and Upgrading
Another important reason local churches need the Institute is reequipping.
Lay pastors who have been doing PACE ministry for several years need opportunities to renew their understanding, strengthen their skills, and grow in their ministry. I have conducted many reequipping seminars for local churches and for lay pastors who were already serving in PACE ministry.
No person or ministry can remain at the same level forever. We naturally want to grow, improve, and become better equipped. Some people are highly self-disciplined and will continue learning on their own. But many ordinary Christians depend on outside training and encouragement. Therefore, the Headquarters should be alert to the need for continuing education and regularly provide reequipping opportunities.
Why Does the Headquarters Need Local Churches?
The relationship works both ways. The Headquarters also needs local churches.
First, local churches provide a field for testing our materials and resources.
Whenever we develop new materials, especially materials derived from Dr. Melvin Steinbron’s original work, we need to test whether they are actually workable and useful in today’s local church.
I have seen materials from other ministries that required tremendous amounts of time, energy, and money to produce but were eventually never used. That is sad.
Therefore, whenever we develop new materials, we should use them as much as possible in real ministry situations. We should not develop resources simply because we can make them. We should develop workable resources that are actually needed by the local church.
The local church is our laboratory. It tells us whether an idea works in real life.
Local Churches as Financial Partners
Second, local churches are important financial supporters of the Headquarters.
The Institute provides resources, training, consultation, and reequipping to local churches. In return, local churches help the Headquarters continue and sustain its ministry. This is essential for the long-term life of the Institute.
Most of our network churches understand this relationship well: we are here for them, and their support helps us remain here for them.
For example, when I visited a church to conduct training, the church usually paid for my hotel and training expenses. They also purchased the training resources separately. If there were ten lay pastor candidates, I would bring ten textbooks, and the church understood that the books were a separate expense.
Normally, a church might spend around $500 for a training visit. This was helpful for the management and operation of the National Office.
I did not receive a regular salary from the Office. The income that came through the ministry was used primarily to sustain the Office and its work. In this way, I was able to continue my ministry for many years by the grace of God. The Office also provided for my basic living needs.
Local Churches Give Us Reflection and New Insights
Finally, local churches give the Headquarters something that cannot be obtained from books alone: feedback from the field.
Because I have focused primarily on LPM, I have not always had enough information about what is happening in other ministries. Local pastors, however, see things from different perspectives. Through conversations with them, I have learned about other approaches, new developments, and different ways of doing ministry.
Their feedback has often helped me discover new approaches and gain new insights that I could adapt to LPM.
Therefore, the relationship between the Institute and local churches should never be one-way.
The Institute serves the local church, and the local church strengthens the Institute.
The Institute provides training, resources, consultation, encouragement, and reequipping. The local church provides a ministry field, practical feedback, financial support, and new perspectives.
This is a healthy partnership. We need each other—not for our own sake, but so that we can better equip the church to care for people.