Are we depending on our past performance to get the future results? Does our past performance guarantee the present and future results? Or, did our past performance help to produce consistently favorable results?
Most of us who worked in the corporate world know very well that our past performance didn’t guarantee the future results. Especially, it is true with small business owners like me, who strive daily for favorable results. Why the previous achievement provides no assurance for expected outcome always but helps to improve our effort in accomplishments?
These few questions came to my mind as I woke up this morning. The previous night I received an oversea’s missed call around 1:00 AM, while I was sound asleep. Immediately, I thought there could be an emergency situation; however, I ended up calling back early morning. This person happened to be a Methodist country preacher expressing his family’s hardship without a monthly paycheck for 2-3 months. He also indicated that some of the village preachers may be at risk of losing their jobs or facing layoffs due to the current leadership.
I’m sure these kinds of news will disturb and aggravate people, especially those who admire John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, including people who have benefited from his ministry throughout generations. As we know John Wesley worked so hard by preaching 2-3 times each day traveling over 4,000 miles annually, most part on horseback and preached more than 40,000 sermons in his lifetime. Hard to imagine! I’m told now-a-day, a city preacher takes at least 1-2 days to prepare a sermon for Sunday service. As we know because of his ministry, we’re able to receive the “Good News.” He is our role model, and provided us the “Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)” manual, if you will, later in 1785 came to be known as the “Discipline” to follow and execute the work.
In the 21st century, in spite of digital marketing, corporate leaders now realized that customer’s personal service satisfaction is most cost-effective on their long-term return on investment (ROI) than just social mass media marketing. That is face-to-face services, including a request for the referrals. As a result, the local area or neighborhood “door-to-door canvassing,” or marketing business model once again has become an effective method for various businesses.
If there are no sales people or country preachers, who will provide the door-to-door canvassing services. Or, just like John Wesley, how will the Good News reach to interior places? Can we still dwell on our past performance and expect good results in future? Of course, we learn few hard lessons to improve our skills and efforts for better performance. Village preachers jobs are tough to carry on than the city and/or town ones. I know, because I am one of the country preacher kids (PKs), and have experienced both hardships and blessings. Indeed, like many, I’m also one of the beneficiaries of Wesley’s ministry, and an ardent admirer.
As Methodist members, let us “think outside the box,” if you will. Let us challenge ourselves to support our committed and trained village or country preachers because they are the only salespeople who are providing actual door-to-door services in the interior places or countryside at present.These country preachers don’t have the same privileges and comforts as others in cities or towns. In fact, in the past, this kind of preachers passed John Wesley’s “ministry baton” to our generations to carry on to next one, and I am sure they will continue to do so. Let us pray, help and support our country preachers to carry on the “Good News.”
Please share your thoughts and comments. Appreciated.