The Seven Fundamentals are the framework upon which everything else in the Equipped to Serve training builds upon.
If information alone changed people’s mind then providing information about abortion and the risks associated with abortion and abortion procedures would be enough. But we all know that it is not enough. In order to move from information-based interactions to connection-based interactions we need a clear set of mindsets and skills and a basis upon which to understand the nature of crisis to enable us to focus on building those connections.
The Seven Fundamentals provide those mindsets and skills, each fundamental supporting the others. First, let us look at the mindsets and attitudes that are provided by the first two fundamentals. Next week we will look at the skills provided by the Seven Fundamentals.
All the skills in the world do not create connection if the mindset and attitudes we hold towards our clients are not in place first. If the goal of your ministry is not first to speak the truth in love then connection is less likely to happen. The rest of the fundamentals are in place and taught in the context and to fulfill or carry out these first two fundamentals.
Fundamental #1: The purpose of the Center is to speak the truth in love
Fundamental #2: The goal of the training is that we would become ministers not manipulators.
I spend the most time in training on these first two fundamentals. It is a challenge to help volunteer trainees understand what speaking the truth in love looks like in real-life situations. It is hard to let go of “being right” and move towards “getting it right.” It is important to let volunteer trainees struggle through and wrestle with these concepts. It is even more important that you continue to hold volunteers accountable to these fundamentals after training and when visiting with clients begin.
We are constantly surrounded by and or committing acts of manipulation covertly or overtly. It comes to us as easy as we breathe. Unpacking what manipulation looks like and its inherent consequences is worth all the time you can give in volunteer training. In our ardent desire to help others, and speak truth we easily slip into manipulation that can break the connection we so desire with our clients. It is important to clearly define the difference between ministry and manipulation. The exercises in the training manual and the leader’s manual are designed to help you with this.
With these first two fundamentals clearly in the forefront of trainees minds, the rest of the fundamentals give us the ability to speak the truth in love and minister not manipulate.
Next time we will take a look at those fundamentals and why they are important in building connection and relationship with the clients that the Lord graciously sends to our Pregnancy Centers.
“Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is Christ.” Ephesians 4:15