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If you were to ask most Christians if they feel comfortable reaching out to someone who has lost a child or has just lost their home in a tornado, they would probably say I want to help, but don’t know how. The ReadyChristian Training can be done as an all-church program or as a small group effort. Weekly (in church or in small groups...or both), members listen to a message on readiness, discuss it in groups, and then apply it in the following weeks.

Resources

The Christian Emergency Network website offers many enhancements to this study series online to customize your group training. In one small group, a member experienced the death of a child. The Christian Emergency Directory online provided an article on how to pray, care and share in the death of a child so that the group was able to minister to one of their very own! And your Church Emergency Team will have already completed the ReadyChristian Training and now can make themselves available to answer the questions church members may have.

Additional resources are available to enhance the presentation, telling the story of the “how” and “why” of physical preparedness. Another way to enhance the effort is to offer emergency preparedness kits and other supplies for sale. This is a way to raise money for the effort and to make it easy for people to complete the ReadyChristian Training. These can be offered during all four weeks of the ReadyChurch campaign so that everyone has a chance to see and purchase what they need. In one California church, a youth group made a project of buying the supplies in bulk, assembling the kits and selling them to church members as a fund-raiser.

To build the importance of Biblical Readiness being a church-wide endeavor, it is recommended that the Ready Sermon Series be used in conjunction with the ReadyChristian Training. The complete outline of the ReadyChristian Sermon Series is included in the ReadyChurch Campaign Guide (available in the downloaded materials).

The goal is that a minimum of 80% of the church will complete the ReadyChristian Training and be ready to respond biblically to any crisis whether large or small.

The ReadyChristian Training can be found in the downloadable material.

CEN has also put together a document called “Together We Will Stand” which explains the characteristics and spiritual habits of a ReadyChristian. This is available in the downloaded materials and also includes a Together We Will Stand Covenant that helps people in your congregation network with another ReadyChristian for growth and accountability in the Biblical Readiness process.

In addition to using the ReadyChristian Training, the following process has proven effective in implementing Biblical Readiness in a ReadyChurch.

Implementing Biblical Readiness in Your Church

Biblical Readiness means being spiritually, emotionally, mentally and physically ready to respond to emergencies large and small as faithful Christ-followers by praying for, caring for survivors and sharing the hope we have in Jesus Christ.

Biblical Readiness consists of three main areas:

1. Networking with others to assess and grow personally.

2. Preparing personally and as a corporate body.

3. Responding to emergencies inside and outside your church to emergencies large or small.

Steps to Implementing Biblical Readiness

1. Assess Your Personal and Church Readiness/Profiles

2. Examine Your Church Readiness

3. Communicate the Need for Biblical Readiness

4. Apply Biblical Readiness personally through becoming a ReadyChristian

5. Communicate the Need for Biblical Readiness in Church

6. Apply Biblical Readiness in Church

This process communicates the need for a Biblical Readiness Standard personally and in your church using a Step-by-Step Process to guide your church effectively into fulfilling its mission in your community.

Step 1: Assess Your Personal and Church Readiness Level/Biblical Readiness Assessment

Nehemiah 2:11-16 – “I went to Jerusalem and stayed there three days. Then at night I started out with a few men. I had not told anyone what God had caused me to do for Jerusalem. There were no animals with me except the one I was riding. I went out at night through the Valley Gate. I rode toward the Dragon Well and the Trash Gate, inspecting the walls of Jerusalem that had been broken down and the gates that had been destroyed by fire. Then I rode on toward the Fountain Gate and the King's Pool, but there was not enough room for the animal I was riding to pass through. So I went up the valley at night, inspecting the wall. Finally, I turned and went back in through the Valley Gate. The guards did not know where I had gone or what I was doing. I had not yet said anything to the Jewish people, the priests, the important men, the officers, or any of the others who would do the work.”

In these verses, Nehemiah rides through the city of Jerusalem to assess the current state of the wall of Jerusalem.

“Biblical Readiness means being spiritually, emotionally, mentally and physically ready to respond to emergencies large and small.”

-Mary Marr, CEN Founder

• Take the Biblical Readiness Assessment found in the Downloadable Material to measure your own personal readiness level. There is a readiness assessment for both the church and the individual that varies based on each one’s needs. This is the same tool you used when completing the Biblical Readiness portion of the ReadyChurch training.
• Take the Church Biblical Readiness Assessment found in the Downloadable Material to complete this step for your church. This tool assesses the spiritual, emotional, mental and physical readiness of your church and ranks your results with seven possible church outcomes to readiness.

It is important to understand where your level of Church Biblical Readiness is before you get started in order to celebrate your church’s current strengths, strengthen development, and to evaluate and sustain progress.

Step 2: Examine Your Church Readiness Outcomes/Biblical Readiness Assessment Level

Nehemiah 2:17 – “Then I said to them, ‘You can see the trouble we have here. Jerusalem is a pile of ruins, and its gates have been burned. Come, let's rebuild the wall of Jerusalem so we won't be full of shame any longer.’”

In these verses Jeremiah examines the current state of the wall of Jerusalem and compares it to what the state of the wall should be.

Becoming a ReadyChurch starts with a foundation of Biblical Readiness. The possible outcomes of the

Church Biblical Readiness Assessment are:

• Detached - haven’t thought much about readiness, not on the radar
• Reluctant - do what you have to, not a priority
• Challenged - looking to do more, but what?
• Responsive - learning how to endure and meet physical needs
• Engaged - responding to crisis but are lacking structure and skills
• Resilient - aware, ready and there to give a biblical response to crisis and disaster
• Replicating - reproducing biblical readiness with partner churches who are building capacity in the community

Maybe you have given some thought to emergencies by planning evacuation routes from the church, screening volunteers, participating in blood drives or even responding to disasters. But are you ready to respond biblically?

Step 3: Communicate the Need and Basis for a Biblical Readiness Standard Personally

Nehemiah 2:17-20 – Then I said to them, "You can see the trouble we have here. Jerusalem is a pile of ruins, and its gates have been burned. Come, let's rebuild the wall of Jerusalem so we won't be full of

shame any longer." I also told them how God had been kind to me and what the king had said to me. Then they answered, "Let's start rebuilding." So they began to work hard. But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite officer, and Geshem the Arab heard about it, they made fun of us and laughed at us. They said, "What are you doing? Are you turning against the king?" But I answered them, "The God of heaven will give us success. We, his servants, will start rebuilding, but you have no share, claim, or memorial in Jerusalem."

Nehemiah communicates the need and how to resolve/apply the standard of what should be.

Becoming a ReadyChurch means communicating to your church the need for a Biblical Readiness Standard that is unlike that of the world. It is a standard that will stand the test of time and build resilience into your congregation as they are guided into understanding and assessing the times and circumstances they live in and partnering with other Christians to maintain a healthy Biblical standard themselves. It is important to communicate five basic principles of Biblical readiness:

1. Assess the Church and the Times - measuring the current readiness of Christians, the church, and community...and establishing a plan to be ready to respond to the times we live in. Nothing is gained by denial or dependence upon others like government or other agencies for their response. Christians who depend upon God are ready with the armor of God for any crisis. Assessing the times and circumstances and helping your church with a biblical response is healthy and produces strong disciples. Biblical Example: Jeremiah 6:27, Jeremiah tested the metal of God’s people.
2. Response Group Areas – responding within geographic areas where Christians, churches and/or Christian organizations together take responsibility to approach emergencies by networking, preparing and responding. It helps so much to stand strong together in crisis with other believers. The Response Group areas allow for everyone to respond in some way to a tsunami a world away or a family crisis in your church. Christians have a heart to respond – Response Groups are an effective way to channel that care. Biblical Example: In Nehemiah 3, the roles that each group of builders took on to repair the wall of Jerusalem are explained. It took each person and family doing their part as individuals to accomplish the overall goal of rebuilding the wall.
3. Covenant with Christ-followers – agreeing and committing to care for each other in crisis and disaster according to a biblical standard. The ReadyChristian Together We Will Stand covenant and response helps Christians agree to respond and to know how to stand strong themselves and with others in crisis. Biblical Example: In Esther 4:14 exists a covenant with God’s faithful servants, Mordecai and Esther. They, established in a relationship of trust, covenanted to approach the king and address the needs of their people, believing that God had called them to such a time as this.
4. Build comprehensive Resilience – becoming spiritually, emotionally, mentally and physically resilient through the daily, personal practice of worship, prayer, caring for others and sharing Christ in word and deed with obedience to God. The ReadyChristian training, along with partnering together with others in the church, helps Christians to stand strong in word and deed when emergencies occur. By being strong spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and physically, Christians are able to give a powerful witness. Biblical Example: Matthew 26-28, Mark 14-15, Luke 22-24 and John 18-20 all tell the story of Jesus’ life-from the road to the cross. As Jesus went from teaching the multitudes to laying down his life, Jesus exhibited a resilience that is the ultimate example for us to follow.
5. Replicate fully spiritually – cultivating a spiritual lifestyle to live as an example of the saving and sanctifying grace of Jesus Christ by actively praying and caring for others and then sharing the hope we have in Him...before, during and after a crisis or disaster. It is tempting to pray and care for others in crisis and leave off the most important response: faith sharing. Being fully spiritually ready means we are replicating the hope of Christ we have through His grace, and sensitively bearing witness into the lives of the hurting. Biblical Example: Acts 26 tells us the story of when Paul went before King Agrippa. Paul was ready to give an answer, powerfully testifying to the work Christ did in his life.

The Biblical Readiness Standard provides a yardstick for Christian unity in crisis and disaster.

Biblical Readiness is being spiritually, emotionally, mentally and physically ready to respond to emergencies as faithful Christ-followers and praying, caring for survivors and sharing the hope we have in Jesus Christ. If we separate any one of these elements from the equation as Christians we are not ready. God holds us to a higher standard than those who are not walking with Him.

The evidence is clear – God is in the process of waking up the world to the fact that it cannot live without Him. ReadyChristians face these uncertain times with faith and hope. In crisis, unprepared Christians and non-Christians come to rely on the help of the ReadyChurch. Are you ready to respond when you meet people who need His mercy and who simply cannot live without Him because of a financial, family or faith crisis? Are you ready to respond to a disaster?

Biblical Readiness is essential in fulfilling our mandate to share the hope of Christ. The facts are:

• What we become before any emergency will dictate how we survive, recover and help others.
• The basis of Biblical Readiness is one’s spiritual health going into any crisis.
• More and more emergencies demand our attention today. Whether these are economic, increasing natural disasters, or man-made threats; we live in an increasingly dangerous time.
• Community-wide emergencies, crises that affect everyone around you (i.e. a teen suicide, public scandal by a leader, collapse of the economy, and disasters), tap out the personal reserve of the unprepared, leaving the hope-filled and ready believer to lead people into recovery and restoration.
• Biblically ready people have personal resiliency and a better survival chance.
• ReadyChristians are God’s ambassadors to others in crisis, bringing hope and calm to a totally out-of-control situation.

God requires for each of us to give Him glory in all situations. Regardless of the emergency, building spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical readiness protects our lives and the mission of the Church and positions Christians to serve others in their most desperate hour.

The world is changing. To dismiss this is an unhealthy denial of reality. To embrace uncertain times and trust God is healthy and mature. Our mission is to assist those who are ready to face reality, take simple basic steps to prepare for emergencies, and be ready to give an answer for the hope we have in Jesus Christ.

Again, the Biblical Readiness Standard provides a yardstick for unity in crisis and disaster and helps us understand God’s plan for ReadyChristian and a ReadyChurch.

Biblical Readiness requires Christians to meet four standards:

1. Responsiveness – is the ability to assess the times, hear God and act. Measuring your own personal readiness, the current readiness of Christians and the Church, the readiness of the community, as well as we will live in helps establish a plan to be ready to respond.

2. Engagement – is the pre-planning agreement among Christians to help each other. Covenants and commitments are made to care for others during crisis and disaster in defined areas of responsibility called Response Group areas. Response Group areas are geographic areas in which Christians, churches and Christian organizations take responsibility to network, prepare and respond to crisis and disaster together.

3. Resilience – is the strength to follow through in spiritual, emotional, mental and physical areas by keeping covenants and commitments. The daily practice of worship, prayer, obedience to God, practicing emergency responses of all kinds, and responding as God leads in prayer are essential habits.

4. Replication – is the ability to disciple others, passing on the encouragement of your faith and Biblical Readiness to other Christians.

Step 4: Apply the Biblical Readiness Standard Personally: ReadyChristian

Nehemiah 3

This chapter explains the role that each of the groups of builders took on to repair the wall of Jerusalem. It took each person and family doing their part as individuals to accomplish the overall goal of rebuilding the wall.

As you learn about Biblical Readiness, please answer these questions:

1. What is required to live up to this standard?

2. Who can I join in living up to this standard?

3. What is my level of readiness?

The steps you follow determine your own level of readiness and help you grow in areas in which you may be weak. God always gives you a choice. CEN prays you will follow the pathway that we have learned is effective; and that you will partner with at least one other person who will walk with you and be AWARE of situations you may face, READY to support you and be THERE, standing with you when crisis comes your way. People of faith know it is not a matter of if a crisis will occur but when. We can face crisis with the certain hope we have in Christ.

For more detailed information regarding the four personal Biblical Readiness requirements, the ReadyChristian Training material includes the Biblical Readiness Assessment with the required outcomes.

Step 5: Communicate the Need for a Biblical Readiness Standard in the Church

Nehemiah 4:12-15 - Then the Jewish people who lived near our enemies came and told us ten times, "Everywhere you turn, the enemy will attack us." So I put people behind the lowest places along the wall—the open places—and I put families together with their swords, spears, and bows. Then I looked around and stood up and said to the important men, the leaders, and the rest of the people: "Don't be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and powerful. Fight for your brothers, your sons and daughters, your wives, and your homes." Then our enemies heard that we knew about their plans and that God had ruined their plans. So we all went back to the wall, each to his own work.

Nehemiah communicated the need for the community to work together to both repair the wall while protecting their community. He communicated not only the need but a strategy on how to accomplish this.

Leadership Example: A Near Miss for a CEN Coach

When Jarvis Ward, a Christian Emergency Network coach and 13-year veteran of the Mission America Coalition City-reaching effort, first heard of an overturned chemical truck several miles from his home in Pearl, Mississippi, he became aware of both the scope of the need and the problem.

First, he had no idea what to do next. “Should I evacuate, stay in place, or get my kids out of school?” he wondered. (He wasn’t totally AWARE of the situation and the appropriate response needed)

Second, he had no idea who he should call to ask these questions. (He wasn’t READY)

Third, because his city church network wasn’t prepared, they couldn’t offer support and aid to the community. (He wasn’t THERE)

AWARE - READY - THERE

These are 3 areas in which to be prepared ahead of time.

Jarvis learned the lesson that any first-responder (policeman, fireman, soldier, etc.) will tell you: the only emergency is the one you don’t plan for. Jarvis’ situation brings to light the simple reality of emergencies:

1. They happen every day

2. They can happen to you on any day whether you are ready or not

3. They are always local

4. You can’t plan for an emergency after it happens

Of all the great things that Jarvis’ city-reaching group, who worked with hundreds of churches locally, had done to meet previous and existing local needs (caring for the poor, fighting addiction and poverty, etc.), nothing had been done to prepare for such an event-an event that could undo the work of many years simply for lack of preparedness.

Ask yourself this: how would Jarvis’ situation have been different if hundreds of ReadyChurches had been working together as a ReadyCity, including his own church, to help meet the personal needs of his family?

1. Jarvis’ church and his family would have had a personal emergency plan in place so they would have been ready to survive themselves first. He and his whole family would have known what to do, where to go and who to call, and his church family would have been his first line of support.

2. Jarvis’ family and his church would have had access to the ReadyCity response group online where other families in other churches would have been working together to meet the real and pressing needs, going well beyond the media focus and the first responders departing. His Church Emergency Team (CET) and church online response group would be giving up-to-date information on where prayer gatherings were occurring, where needed supplies could be procured, what time a conference call on sheltering his family would have taken place, as well as given him details on where the local memorial worship services were being held where he could bring family members who were seeking Jesus to find Hope in the midst of their crisis.

3. Jarvis would have been using Meet the Need located at www.christianemergencynetwork.org to find specific supplies that meet his unique needs in ministry, for his church and community.

4. Jarvis, his family and his church would be able to help any of his neighbors (perhaps people who didn’t know Christ) respond to the emergency because Jarvis would have known where to go, what to do and whom to take with him.

5. Jarvis, once he had taken care of his family and neighbors, would have been able to be called up as a volunteer in support of a local response. He would have been on site as a living witness of God’s love and provision even in the unfolding crisis; and when camera lights were upon him, he would have had no hesitation in giving an answer for the Hope of Jesus within Him so that others may embrace Him too.

This is the goal: when difficult situations arise, Christians are aware, ready and there to help, provide comfort, and share a biblical response. Fortunately for Jarvis, the tanker disaster was contained; but the questions remained, what about next time? What do I need to do to be ready to help my own family, church and community?

CEN has also compiled resources in what we call a ReadyChurch Campaign Collateral that will help effectively communicate the message of Biblical Readiness to your congregation. The ReadyChurch Campaign Collateral includes

• bulletin inserts,
• flyers, and
• banners.

This guide is available in the downloadable material.

Step 6: Apply Biblical Readiness in the Church and Community

Nehemiah 4:16-23 – “From that day on, half my people worked on the wall. The other half was ready with spears, shields, bows, and armor. The officers stood in back of the people of Judah who were building the wall. Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and carried a weapon with the other. Each builder wore his sword at his side as he worked. The man who blew the trumpet to warn the people stayed next to me. Then I said to the important people, the leaders, and everyone else, "This is a very big job.

We are spreading out along the wall so that we are far apart. Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, assemble there. Our God will fight for us." So we continued to work with half the men holding spears from sunrise till the stars came out. At that time I also said to the people, "Let every man and his helper stay inside Jerusalem at night. They can be our guards at night and workmen during the day." Neither I, my brothers, my workers, nor the guards with me ever took off our clothes. Each person carried his weapon even when he went for water.”

These verses show how the Israelites carried out the strategy as described by Nehemiah. It shows how they applied the standards of readiness to carry out the mission of rebuilding the city walls.

The Bible gives us a standard for our lives as ReadyChristians. ReadyChristians come from all walks of life and from all sectors of the Christian community. ReadyChristians collectively make up a ReadyChurch and are the basis for a ReadyCity.

Using the same profile, apply the Biblical Readiness Standard to a five-mile radius around your church answering these questions:

1. What is the current level of Biblical Readiness in your church? Use the ReadyChurch Biblical Readiness Capacity Assessment found in the Downloaded Material to assess your community and evaluate how your church level compares.

2. What is required for you to live up to the biblical standard as a church in your city?

3. Who are the local Christian churches you can join with to live up to this standard?

4. What five churches can you begin praying with weekly as a team, including your own, who have a calling to be ready in your community. Ask God to bring Christians together to achieve Biblical Readiness.

5. When can you have regular prayer for the members of your church, asking that they will personally embrace and model the Biblical Readiness Standard in your community?

What could your church accomplish if a majority of members were Ready to Respond? Imagine this: the local Church Emergency Team (CET) becomes a kind of spiritual M.A.S.H. unit - a triage for binding the emotional and spiritual wounds of members and non-members seeking help in desperate situations.

Together We Will Stand

The Christian life is a journey…of excitement and wonder.

It is exciting just knowing the God of the Universe – Creator of All – desires to be in relationship with us individually!  That statement in itself causes us to stand amazed before Him. The Bible says in Psalm 19:1 that the “heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands” (NIV). As a ReadyChurch, our role is to also be a Christian that declares the glory of God. So, what does a ReadyChurch look like as they stand together as ReadyChristians? A ReadyChristian Knows His Strength Is In the Lord. As a ReadyChristian, we know that our strength depends on how strong our foundation is. We recognize that we stand on the promises and the foundational truths found in the Word of God.

Psalm 1:1-3 says, “How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night.  He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers” (NIV).

Prosper

• Knowing Jesus Christ personally
• Enjoying the benefit of standing with others in the name of Jesus
• Living eternally with God the Father

One Voice. One Hope.

We are here together because God has designed this time for all of us present “for such a time as this.” We desire to Reach our World for Jesus Christ and give them hope. Your world may extend to the individual next door, around the block, or at the grocery store, but in your world are hurting people that you can Pray-Care-Share.

“The Lord says: I will RESCUE those who love Me. I will PROTECT those who trust in my name. When they CALL (Pray) upon me, I WILL (Promise) answer; I will be with them (Present) in trouble. I will rescue (2x) them (those who call upon His name, pray and trust Him only) and honor (Reward) them. I will satisfy (Meet their needs) them with a long life and give them my (Gift of Eternal life with Him) salvation” Psalm 91:14-16 (NIV).

In this verse THE SAVIOR says:

• Call on the name of the Lord to rescue and protect
• God promises
• God is present
• He will rescue
• He will reward
• He will satisfy and meet our needs
• He will give the gift of eternal life with Him
• He is THE SAVIOR

Characteristic of a ReadyChristian is to be a True Worshipper. This is one who realizes God cares about our daily activities and desires to be in constant communication with Him. He desires to engage with us daily. That is why we seek His face through worship on a daily basis. “Worship woven into daily life provides Godly character necessary to survive any crisis.”

• What does a ReadyChristian look like to me?

• Does my daily prayer, praise, and worship to the King of kings and Lord of lords prepare me to face any situation?

• Is my daily worship consistent no matter my circumstances?

The ReadyChristian priority is to be Spiritually ready as well as Emotionally, Mentally, and Physically prepared. It is imperative that we are prepared INSIDE as well as OUTSIDE. We must ask ourselves the hard questions in order to develop consistency and balance inside and out; who and what we worship are vital components to being spiritually prepared to respond. People may very well be prepared PHYSICALLY, but unless we as individuals are prepared SPIRITUALLY BEFORE a crisis, OUR ABILITY TO RESPOND emotionally and mentally during a crisis, either personal or communal, is diminished; our ability to supply genuine hope in Jesus Christ comes through our personal and immediate connection to Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit on a daily basis. For your own survival, or to aid someone else in an emotional, mental, or physical crisis, a personal relationship with Jesus Christ is mandatory.

We know our spiritual connection TO ALMIGHTY GOD and personal relationship with Jesus Christ will sustain us to move forward. For…”This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.”

1 Corinthians 2:13 (NIV)

READY or NOT an emergency by definition…

…is a serious situation or occurrence that happens unexpectedly and demands immediate action; a condition of urgent need or assistance.

With that definition we naturally realize the reason for our constant daily relationship with our Savior and how vital it is.  Emergencies, large and small, do and will cause all who are involved to respond differently. It is doubtful that there is one person here who has escaped being involved in some type of an emergency.

Make a Difference

The difference you as a ReadyChristian will make in your personal life or someone else’s life in a time of crisis is by being READY AND PREPARED TO RESPOND…to a serious situation or occurrence that happens unexpectedly and demands immediate action…..

The definition of an emergency is the same, but a ReadyChristian is prepared to respond knowing hope in any crisis situation is found in Jesus Christ; we know He calms the storms. Standing strong yourself or with others is our focus here as we develop strong Christ-like character as a Follower of Jesus Christ.

Don’t believe the lie of the enemy. Whatever the condition of urgent need that requires action or assistance a ReadyChristian is prepared and ready to share the hope of Jesus Christ.

The Christian response does not change the definition of an emergency; it simply means the Christ- follower is already prepared and ready to share the hope of Jesus Christ to others during a crisis—Ready to Give an Answer. Sometime this is where we sort of get bogged down. We tend to think we must have all the answers to every question presented to us.

For a Christian, the answer is Jesus. As a result of your personal relationship with Him, the answer to anyone in crisis will flow through you. He will provide hope, peace, and comfort simply by you being present to pray, care, and share His love. You have the Answer if you have accepted and received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

Ready in Season and Out

We have heard it said that we must be READY in SEASON and OUT! “Always be prepared to give an ANSWER to everyone who asks you to give a reason for the hope that you have” 1 Peter 3:15 (NIV). Have you thought about how what a person becomes before any emergency will dictate how they survive, recover, and help others during an emergency…and long after? Let me quickly remind you of NINE Guiding Biblical Principles for the ReadyChristian.

Nine Guiding Principles for Our Life:

We all grow spiritually when we:

1. HAVE ACCEPTED Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior - John 1:12 and Revelation 3:20.

2. WALK with God DAILY - I Corinthians 10:13

3. LEARN from God DAILY - Psalm 119:11

4. TALK with God DAILY through prayer, praise, and worship - John 16:24

5. SHARE with God DAILY our Anxiety, Sorrow, Doubts, Love, and Joy - I Corinthians 10:31

6. SPEAK for God; SHARE your story and Hope in Jesus Christ - Matthew 4:19

7. FILLED with God’s Spirit - Ephesians 5:13

8. UNITE for God with other Believers regularly - Hebrews 10:25

9. PUT ON the Full Armor of God DAILY - Ephesians 6:10-20

Ready Spiritually

• Ready personally as a result of accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior
• Ready personally through intimate relationship with God
• Ready personally through the power of the Holy Spirit living within

Our intimate relationship with God depends on our relationship with His Son, Jesus Christ, AND through the power of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit directing the way...only then can we be spiritually prepared. The Nine Guiding Principles for the ReadyChristian are mentioned as a guide for us as we continue down the road in the holy process; we set our goals to become Spiritually Ready.

Respond – Engage – Be Resilient

As a result of our personal relationship with Jesus Christ, a Spiritually ReadyChristian understands what Biblical Readiness requires; the Nine Guiding Principles equip us to meet four specific challenges:

• Respond with the message of Hope
• Engage and agree peacefully
• Be resilient by the strength and power manifested in us through the Holy Spirit
• Realize the importance of replicating the knowledge God entrusts us with by equipping others.

Replicating the Knowledge of God & Equipping Others

A Spiritually ReadyChristianSM also -

• Realizes the importance of replicating the knowledge God entrusts us with by equipping others
• Applies the principles of pray-care-share to any emergency, large or small

As previously mentioned, we will be constantly challenged to meet four standards:

1. Respond with the message of Hope

2. Engage and agree peacefully

3. Be Resilient by the strength and power manifested in us through the Holy Spirit

4. Realize the importance of replicating the knowledge God entrusts us with by equipping others.

The only way we will be able to stand with others is to develop a lifestyle that will empower us with the Holy Spirit daily; then and only then can we stand together as the Body of Christ offering “streams of Living Water.” Agreeing together that we are spiritually ready is when, as a Christ Follower, we will be motivated from the inside out because of the power of the Holy Spirit who abides within. The Spiritually ReadyChristian will we also demonstrate the “Fruit of the Spirit” through actions and deeds: acts of kindness genuinely expressed by praying – caring – sharing the love and hope of Jesus Christ. “Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” John 7:38 (NIV)

Equipping Others

How will you stand with others in crisis…How will you actually do this? As a Spiritually ReadyChristian, we realize that we are not individuals; we are the Body of Christ called to build the Body. It is not about me reaching the finish line and receiving the prize, this race is about all of us reaching the finishing line together and finishing well.

Together We Will Stand Covenant

Please read this document together with your partner and agree to keep this covenant by signing and dating one copy.

We believe while crises are unpredictable, and often beyond our own or other’s capacity to remedy, emergencies of all kinds, large or small, are often God’s opportunities to capture the attention of seekers to find their Hope in Him.

We believe our faith was meant to be shared, not hoarded, and we are to fulfill the commandment Christ has given us to go and make disciples thereby to demonstrate our love of Him.

We believe it is only by walking with Christ personally through His Spirit that will we know how to pray for, care for, and share Him with those in crisis.

We believe in the biblical principles outlined in the book of Nehemiah to rebuild the spiritual walls of those who are believers as well as non-believers because in crisis we are stronger together.

We believe sharing our faith with those in crisis may be inconvenient or uncomfortable but, with God’s help, we are transformed into willing ambassadors.

We believe unless our own spiritual, emotional, mental, or physical house is in order, we will be ineffective and an impediment to the revival of Christians and thereby His kingdom expanding.

Therefore, to form a strong and fruitful response network to assist those in crisis, we agree to meet at a pre-determined time each month to:

1. Pray for those in crisis and determine what steps we will take together.
2. Ask each other accountability questions to ensure our own growth to help others:
   1. Are we modeling Nehemiah in our response network?
   2. What is God telling us we must do for someone we know in crisis?
   3. Who are wise advisors who will help us grow?
   4. What are our strengths, and what will we provide each other in crisis first?
   5. What are our abilities to help many others beside ourselves?
   6. What are the things we must do for spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical readiness?
   7. When and how will we determine progress? What if we do not progress?
   8. How will we resolve conflict in any crisis situation to stand well together?
   9. How will we celebrate response network growth steps and praise God?
3. Share with each other how to survive as strong witnesses to those in crisis and how to build stronger resiliency and capacity.
4. Determine who would benefit from going through the TWWS response network music, scripture, pray, care, and share process that God has placed in our path right now.
5. Hold each other accountable for this growth.

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Witness

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ICS is First Step for Churches to Take the Lead in Serving Their Community

November 11, 2012 an explosion rocked a quiet neighborhood in the Richmond Hill area of Indianapolis, IN. ReadyIndy was already prepared and able to respond. In a testament to their preparations and willingness to serve their community, they were able to step in, help bring peace and order to an otherwise stressful situation.

Within thirteen hours of the explosion, ReadyIndy had set up infrastructure and had a team in place to handle the immediate needs of the community. Michael Boler, the ReadyIndy Administrative Officer explained, “We would not have known what to do to come alongside that church if it wasn’t for three years of ReadyChurch and Incident Command System (ICS) training.” He explained that their foundation of understanding the ICS process and how to implement it in the local church body enabled them to take the lead in serving their community.

Having that foundation also enabled them to set up a long term response and recovery perspective from the onset of the incident. Within 48 hours of the incident they had a full operation up and running, and within 72 hours they had their Long Term Recovery ICS leaders identified with their three backups in place for the long term needs.

Because the infrastructure was set up following the national standardized, incident command system, they set out to identify the ICS roles in the community affected to take point in the response. In this particular incident, they started with the Care Officer. Once the Care Officer took ownership of his role, they were able to identify others with the skills of the other roles that needed to be filled. As they filled in the roles with names of people from their local congregation, it allowed the pastor to see their capabilities and understand the ability and need for decentralization of the process.

Michael Boler explained one of the key lessons learned was: “Every church has ICS roles already functioning in their church, they just don’t know them by those names. Once the roles are identified, management becomes delegation and pushing the information and needs towards the right person.”

Jon McHatton, a CEN Church Advisor, explained in a conference call briefing regarding the ReadyIndy response, “The infrastructure for ministries to seamlessly connect with other response organizations is vital and happens once the church knows how to function within their response parameters and protocols. People generally don’t have a problem with Jesus. They have a problem with a Jesus that doesn’t relate. The ICS process helps bridge the gap between the faith community, the response community and those in need.”

While the community in Indianapolis is still recovering from the incident, they will face difficulties and challenges in the recovery process. Having the local church active in their community, able to communicate and bridge the divide between their needs and resources is a source of strength to the community and an opportunity to share the love of Christ with the hurting. We encourage you and your church to begin the process of becoming a ReadyChristian and a ReadyChurch so that you would be able to respond with the same level of preparedness as was seen in ReadyIndy. For more information, contact a Church Advisor that will help you walk through the process and be a resource.