Dear Adventist Friend:
Successful business constantly listens to their customers. They listen for the positive and the negative. Then they do something about the weak areas. The Church must do the same. We need to communicate with each other regularly. Otherwise, frustrations develop, and along the way members leave, leaders give up and our mission is neglected. Leaders especially need to hear from those they lead.
Notice these thoughts on the importance of listening:
Solomon
Get all the advice and instruction you can, and be wise the rest of your life (Proverbs 19:20 NLT).
Ernest Hemingway
I like to listen. I have learned a great deal from listening carefully. Most people never listen.
Epictetus
Nature gave us one tongue and two ears so we could hear twice as much as we speak.
Ivan Levison
When your writing is filled with detail, it has a lot more impact.
George Bernard Shaw
The problem with communication is the illusion that it has occurred.
Winston Churchill
Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.
Woodrow Wilson
The ear of the leader must ring with the voices of the people.
Sam Walton
The key to success is to get out into the store and listen to what the associates have to say. It's terribly important for everyone to get involved. Our best ideas come from clerks and stock boys.
During this month I am suggesting you take a few minutes to send a note (e-mail or regular mail) to your pastor and conference president. Of course, you don’t have to stop with these two, but since they work closest to you, the member, they would especially profit from a two-paragraph note from you. You will find their addresses (e-mail and regular mail) on the Pacific Union web site (www.puconline.org). All the conferences and many churches have their e-mail address set up so you can send e-mail messages directly.
Since our leaders are busy, short notes to the point are best. They make a stronger impact on the mind than several pages of extensive comments. Let them know what you appreciate the most about their leadership, and then offer one suggestion you believe would make things even better.
Here is a suggestion of what you might say:
Dear _______________:
Elder Mostert suggested in his Recorder comments this month that I send you a note with two suggestions. I hope you find them helpful:
1. I see your strongest area of leadership as:
2. I would suggest your leadership could be even better if:
Please be assured I am praying for you daily that God will supply you the
wisdom and courage needed to lead for Him.
Sincerely,
It will only take a few minutes to share your thoughts with our leaders, but how blessed they will be from knowing your thinking.
Sincerely your friend,
Tom Mostert, Jr., President
P.O. Box 5005
Westlake Village, CA 91361
tmpm3@attglobal.net
