Here are two great quotes and principles I recently read from Pour Your Heart Into It: How Starbucks Built a Company one Cup at a time. The book is by the CEO of Starbucks, and it has some great principles in it.
These two quotes have a lot to do with the difference between people and programs in ministry, for me. The end result is not the program itself. The end result is the people who are impacted by what we do. Nothing you are doing or have planned is more important than spending time with people and truly getting to know them.
Wealth is the means and people are the ends. All our material riches will avail us little if we do not use them to expand the opportunities of our people — John F. Kennedy, State of the Union, January 1962
Treat people like family, and they will be loyal and give their all. Stand by people, and they will stand by you.
We just got some sad news that a friend of ours ended her battle with breast cancer this week. She helped us out at some events and worked at the same company as Janell. Makes me think about the hope we have in Jesus.
We were taught to be students of the culture in order to effectively minister. Here are 101 things about Mexico City that we have observed since getting here. They aren’t good things or bad things. Many are just different.
- There are 31 speed bumps between my house and my work.
- You will get stood up. Bank on it.
- If someone talks about “your house,” they are really talking about “their” house. (My house is your house)
- The banks will be packed on the 15th and the 1st of the month.
- If you don’t know what it is, don’t eat it.
- Brain can be served in a tortilla.
- Stomach can be served in a tortilla.
- There are many different types of mole (a typical salsa). It takes a while to find one that you like.
- There is no taco bell.
- There are more people in the city at night.
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