OKLAHOMA CITY – In the past six months, there has been significant media coverage on the lack of character in a few of this country’s elected officials. From repeated bad decisions to secrets hidden for years, poor character is not immune to anyone. While it’s unfortunate that the issues had to unfold on the 24-hour news cycle, I believe good character can be developed and lead to a change in behavior.

Many think that people are born with a certain amount of character. It is a trait, like eye color or a cleft chin. They will never have more or less character. They can’t add to it. They can’t change it.

Others say the majority of a person’s character is developed as a child. According to this theory, by age 10 or 12, character is cultivated and set for life. It cannot be appreciably added to or subtracted from. It seems to be a twist on the adage, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.”

I am an example of a person, however, whose character changed. Early in life, I regularly made poor character choices and did wrong things, even though I knew better. Few people who know me now would suspect this. Of course, my faith in Christ was the largest factor in changing my life. But to fully change and grow I needed involvement in church and interaction with people who modeled good character and encouraged me. The principle, “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another” (Proverbs 27:17) works in many contexts. Through the influence of others, my attitudes, words and actions improved. One character-changing step after another benefited my life and the lives of those around me. I know people can change, because I did it. And if I can, so can others.

Christian leaders can point to countless examples of people whose lives have been transformed by Christ and Christian influence. As the Bible says, “He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm” (Proverbs 13:20). Every organization, Christian or not, influences the character of its employees. The only question is, “Is the influence going to be good or bad?” Ministry, nonprofit, and business leaders can influence people to build good character if they are intentional about it.

Here are three steps organizations, churches and families can take to begin creating a culture of character in your organization. The goal is to make “Character First.”

1. Learn to recognize and praise good character: Managers have been taught to find problems and fix them. Character First teaches managers to look for the good character in individuals and praise them for it on a daily basis. Daily praise ties the actions of employees to character, teaches them what their manager appreciates, and inspires them to build character. Many surveys show that the No. 1 desire of employees is to know they are making a positive contribution to the organization and to be recognized for it. As leaders, if we learn to recognize and praise for character, we can meet that desire; but more importantly, we can inspire good character development.

2. Start a Character First employee meeting. Great leaders use every opportunity to cast vision. As a leader, you can cast the vision of the importance of character to your organization by establishing a mandatory monthly meeting to recognize employees for character and to teach character. Character First has gleaned the best practices from companies around the world on how these meetings effectively promote a culture of character.

3. Be intentional about teaching character: You can’t force people to change their character, but you can inspire them to build their character. Most people never think about character or what it means in their lives. Few companies ever address character issues with their employees. As leaders we must be intentional about the importance of character – motivating character and inspiring employees. Employees can then transfer what they learn into their attitudes, words and actions.

This is not another productivity program. Character First is a long-term paradigm change which focuses on helping every employee – from the top on down – to be more successful not only at work but also at home, church and community. We must make character first if our society is to endure.  

(EDITOR’S NOTE – Tom Hill is the founder of Character First, an organization that promotes character building in workplaces and communities. For more information, visit www.characterfirst.com. Hill is also chairman of the board of Oklahoma-based Kimray, Inc., and author of “Making Character First.”)

Since I’ve been home, it’s funny how the same questions keep coming up over and over and over again. Most of the time, I don’t mind answering. But, every now and then, I get really frustrated with these questions. And I know a lot of other returning missionaries get frustrated with them, too. So please hear my heart in this … we aren’t the same as we were when we left, and we don’t see things the same way, either. All that to say, here are the answers to those oh, so common questions.

1) How was your trip?

This question drives me crazy! It wasn’t a trip — it was a life. I lived there, bought groceries there, paid bills there, had a phone number there, and made friends there. When I moved there, I left behind a life I had built here. When I came back home, I also left a life behind.

2) Did you learn to speak African?

I know this may be difficult for our English-speaking minds to wrap around, but everyone in Africa doesn’t speak the same language! There are over 50 “local” languages in one country alone. A lot of the time I did speak English, but English there isn’t like English here. “African English” has different phrasing, vocabulary, and even a different cadence. I honestly had to re-learn how to speak English there! (And please don’t be surprised when African English works its way into my American conversations … it happens!)

3) What’s next?

I have no idea. I feel like God is calling me into some kind of missions work, but from the US-side of things. My heart is to help believers get involved in both local and international missions. Right now, I’m just looking for someone who wants to pay me a salary to do it … any takers?

4) Do you miss being there?

Power outages, dirty water, wandering livestock, and body odor? Absolutely not. Precious friends, piki-piki (motorcycle taxi) rides, hot tea in the shade, ripe mangoes, passionfruit, and pineapple? Every day.

5) Are you glad to get back to real life?

If there’s anything I’ve learned, it’s how this life we lead here in America really isn’t all that real. I don’t say that to sound pretentious or judgmental. I know that people here have real, day-in, day-out struggles. People here are hurting with real problems. But many Americans have no idea what life is like for people outside these United States. To not always know where your next meal is coming from, to choose between paying school fees for one child and buying life-saving medicine for another, to walk a mile each way just to bring home 5 gallons of water, or to simply sit under a tree with a friend and drink tea–that is real life.

Pray for returning missionaries to be able to share their experiences with others in a way that will mobilize more people to take up the call to go and reach the nations.

*Names, locations and blog links omitted due to security issues.

(EDITOR’S NOTE — This entry was found at Missionary Blog Digest at: http://missionaryblogdigest.wordpress.com/.)

Until perhaps recently, most believers, in my experience, have only considered adoption and orphan care in a couple circumstances. One, they were praying for the Smiths because “they can’t have children and are thinking about adopting.” Or, two, they were taking up an offering to help the state or local children’s home.  

Of course, these are good things to do. We should pray for those who are struggling to have children and are considering adoption. And, we should help those who are providing homes to the fatherless. But if that’s all orphan care is to us, then we have missed so much. We need an elevated concept of adoption. We need God’s perspective on adoption. We need to meditate on the gospel more deeply. I turned into an adoption advocate, an adoptive dad, and eventually a writer on the subject not because of infertility, but because of theology.  

Believers understand that God is Father. But, what kind of father is He? He is an adoptive Father! Do you realize that there are no natural-born children in the family of God? None of us were born Christians. If you are a believer, it is because God has adopted you into the family. That’s it. All races brought together by God’s adoption of spiritual orphans.  

Paul expounds on the gospel of God’s adopting grace to the Ephesians, Galatians, and Romans. He shows us that God the Father administered our adoption, God the Son accomplished our adoption through His redeeming work on the Cross, and God the Spirit applied our adoption, giving us a new nature, a new position, and the indwelling presence of God that enables us to cry “Abba, Father.” (See Galatians 4:6-7.) Adoption was never plan B for God. It wasn’t an alternative solution. It was plan A. Before the universe existed, God had planned on adopting us into His family through Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:5). God did not adopt us because of our attractive merits, but because of His amazing mercy.  

Paul tells us to “be imitators of God, as beloved children” (Ephesians 5:1). His undeserved mercy on us compels us to reflect His adoptive love to a world in need. God’s love is active. Christian love is not based on the idea of just loving people the way we want to be loved. It’s more. It’s loving people the way God has loved us. He acted. He pursued. He showered grace on the undeserving. This is a gospel-centered perspective on adoption and orphan care.  

Obviously, not everyone is called to adopt, but every believer is called to act. That means not merely feeling sorry for orphans.  

Sentimentalism is no substitute for action. In addition to adoption, other ways we can be actively involved include hosting orphans for a summer, financially supporting adoptive parents, fostering children in our community, and discipling local boys and girls from functionally fatherless families. When my wife Kimberly and I were in Ukraine adopting four children we were interviewed by a local newspaper. The reporter asked me (through an interpreter), “Why are you adopting all of these kids? No one in our country adopts four kids at one time.” I said, “The short answer is ... Jesus.” It’s really that simple.  

Sure, exposure to my sister’s adopted children stirred my affections for adoption. And sure, my awareness to the state of the fatherless worldwide bothered me greatly. But, when I began to see how often God talks about the fatherless in general, and how the gospel is reflected in adoption in particular, then my mindset changed.  

So, I laugh, but I also grieve, when people say to a family, “Why are you adopting? You already have natural-born children. You can have your own kids.” They’ve missed it. They don’t see that adoption isn’t about infertility; it’s about responding to God’s grace properly: first with gratitude toward Him, and then with active love toward others. How is He calling you to love the orphan today?  

(EDITOR’S NOTE — Merida is associate pastor of preaching at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, and the co-author of “Orphanology: Awakening to Gospel-Centered Adoption and Orphan Care.” He formerly was pastor of Temple Baptist Church in Hattiesburg, Miss.)

MILL VALLEY, Calif. — During a recent pastoral care visit, I was reminded of the doctrine of “showing up.”

As a young pastor, like most preachers and inexperienced pastoral care providers, I was far too concerned about saying just the right thing to hurting people. I babbled on in hospitals, funeral homes and at sick beds. But through training, experience and personal growth, I finally learned the most important part of pastoral care is showing up.

Over the years, on rare occasions, someone has thanked me for what I said when they were hurting. Most of the time, however, gratitude has been expressed not for what was said but for simply being present. As I drove home a few nights ago from extending care to a young couple, I felt inadequate — wondering if I had said the right things and mentally kicking myself for not saying some other things. The next morning, they texted me, “Thanks for being there with us.”

Great reminder! Once again, what was or wasn’t said wasn’t the point. Showing up, being there, connecting on a personal level with people in pain made the impact. In a techno-dominated world, why is pastoral presence so important?

First, on a theological level, it emulates Jesus’ ministry. The Incarnation is the ultimate doctrine of “showing up.” Jesus became human, living among us and sharing the human experience — except for sin — up to and including death. Caring for people means identifying with them as personally as possible, just like Jesus.

Second, on a practical level, personal contact facilitates total communication — including body language, facial expressions and physical contact. Sitting calmly, nodding knowingly, and giving a pat on the back often communicate more than any words — no matter how carefully chosen.

Third, investing time with people communicates high value. Most of us are busy, and giving some time to another person makes a concrete statement of their importance to us.

When you show up, people perk up. They notice who comes when crisis happens. When you know someone is hurting, resist the temptation to pull back. Take the initiative. Go see them. Take some cookies, drop off a card, use whatever means necessary — but show up. Even if you are tongue-tied, absent-minded, or dumbfounded by the pain of the situation, your presence provides ministry.

And, even though it’s called “pastoral presence,” the word “pastoral” is an adjective — not the title or an office in this case. Any Christian can provide loving, caring supportive presence for people in pain. Don’t fret about being glib, just be there.

(EDITOR’S NOTE — Iorg is president of Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary in Mill Valley, Calif., just north of San Francisco. This column first appeared at his blog, JeffIorg.com.)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Most conventions and conferences have two meetings happening simultaneously: the one on the platform and a secondary meeting taking place via social media, specifically Twitter.

People tweet highlights from keynote speakers, pose questions for other attendees, post photos and comments during floor presentations, and network with new friends. Because of social media, even those not in attendance can follow and contribute to the conversation.

Twitter is a useful tool for real-time interaction and engagement around a common interest. This year’s annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention in Phoenix will be no different. Messengers from across the convention will be sharing, engaging and connecting in real-time via Twitter.

Hopefully, the WiFi and/or 3G coverage will be strong enough to comply with the volume of activity emanating from the multitude of smartphones throughout the convention hall. For some SBC messengers, Twitter may be new territory. If you’ve yet to get involved with Twitter — but you’ve been meaning to — here’s what you need to know to get started at this year’s convention.

Prior to Convention
Starting a Twitter account takes less than 10 minutes at Twitter.com. Since you will be meeting new people, don’t forget to add a recognizable photo to your profile and brief biographical sketch as an ID.

It’s helpful to get the lay of the digital landscape, so freshen up on Twitter etiquette by reading a few articles, like Twitter 101 (http://bit.ly/exokUg). There’s more than enough here to help you become engaged and connected in this new medium.

As a next step, download a Twitter tool or application on your mobile device, tablet or laptop. Echofon, Hootsuite and Tweetdeck are all free and useful, but there are others that you might find and enjoy using more.

To prepare for the steady flow of what’s happening in real-time when convention starts, create a search column for the hashtag “#SBC2011” in the app or program you will be using. Now, all the tweets from you and others who use this hashtag will be organized into one stream and easy to follow.

“Follow” the LifeWayNews SBC 2011 Twitter List (http://bit.ly/mhg6Xk). In this list you’ll find Twitter accounts for SBC entities, leaders and personalities that will most likely be tweeting at convention.

During Convention
Include the official “#SBC2011” hashtag in your tweets so others can follow your conference updates. Share comments, quotes, photos and other bits of information. Just remember that you only have 140 characters to make it happen. And if you expect people to “retweet” your messages, aim at around 100-120 characters to be safe.

Baptist Press will be tweeting real-time coverage from the floor, sharing breaking news, news stories and photo highlights from an overall convention perspective. Be sure to follow @BaptistPress to track all the parliamentary action, such as motions, resolutions or votes.

There are many SBCers to follow and engage during convention. Here are some of our LifeWay team that will be attending the convention:

@LifeWay, @LifeWayStores, @LifeWayNews, @ThomRainer, @EdStetzer, @TomHellams, @Micah_Carter, @Jon_Wilke, @RussRankin, @TrevinWax, and @JCoppenger.

Here are several notable #SBC2011 Twitter accounts to follow, although this list is not exhaustive:

— ASPIRE 2011 Pastors’ Conference (Sunday-Monday): @VancePitman, @RickWarren, @JohnPiper, @KenWhitten, @AfshinZiafat, @LouieGiglio, @BobRobertsJr, @PaulGotthardt, @DarrinPatrick, @GreggMatte, @JohnnyMHunt.

— Convention platform speakers/musicians (Tuesday-Wednesday): @BryantWright, @ThomRainer, @KevEzell, @DannyAkin, @DrPhilRoberts, @AlbertMohler, @Jeff_Iorg, @NOBTSpres (Chuck Kelley), @TElliff, @PlattDavid, @33Miles.

— SBC entities: @GuideStone, @NAMB_SBC, @IMBconnecting, @ERLCsbc, @MBTS, @SEBTS, @SBTS, @GoldenGateBTS, @NOBTS_Live, @SWBTS.

— Miscellaneous: @MABTS, @baptist21.

There are other leaders, pastors and messengers who could be added above. Be sure to check the @LifeWayNews SBC 2011 Twitter list to see if you’re already there. If you’d like to be added to this list, email your Twitter handle to MediaRelations@LifeWay.com or simply tweet this message:

“Hey @LifeWayNews, I’m attending #SBC2011. Please add me to your SBC 2011 Twitter list.”

I’m looking forward to reconnecting with old friends, ministry partners and colleagues this year in Phoenix. But I’m also excited about meeting new friends and networking — perhaps through Twitter — with brothers and sisters in Christ advancing the Kingdom through SBC channels.

I’ll see you at #SBC2011, if not in person, then hopefully on Twitter.

(EDITOR’S NOTE — Carter is director of communications at LifeWay Christian Resources in Nashville, Tenn.)