Ed's interview in Indonesia

1. What does it feel like to be a minister who has been in over 160 countries in the world?
I love traveling and I love being in different cultures. It's interesting to see how each culture or country, even city, has a different redemptive aspect in it. Did you know that my whole international started in Indonesia? My first trip overseas was to Indonesia. I spoke as a businessman (at that time) in Full Gospel Business Meetings in Jakarta as well as being a participant in pastors meetings in Malang and Denpasar, Bali. I'm now at home in almost every culture. Asia is a real treat for me. I never thought I would be that involved in Asia but it really is opening up for me and Nationstrategy, our international missions organization.

I love learning a few words in the language of each country I visit. I was recently on an Alaskan Cruise with Holland Cruise Lines. Most of the crew were Indonesian. I spoke what Indonesian I knew and it really impressed the crew. It didn't take long before the whole crew knew me as the American who spoke some Indonesian. The crew were mainly Christians and asked me to be at their weekly church service on the ship! That's what it feels like. You have a passport to many cultures, not just one. When I was young I never even dreamed that my life would be like this!

2. What would you like to accomplish on this visit to Indonesia?
My main purpose was to reestablish a relationship with Frans and your church. I had spoken with Emanuele Cannistraci in 1995 but had not been back since then. I feel great just knowing that we have a future together. Let's see what the Lord does. Another purpose, which is really what I'm all about these days, was to further the cause of Community Transformation and Enhancement in Indonesia. It's a great strategy for a country like this. Build your church by building your community, city and nation. Creating a church that has favor with God and favor with man!

3. Talking about our theme, “Anointed for Business”. Is this only valid for those who are called or also for everyone who wants to be a successful business person? Why?
I believe that....as a businessman or business woman you are a king and carry a Kingly anointing. Now, we all know that some are more anointed than others, some are more naturally gifted than others, and some have better opportunities than others to succeed. So...some will be more successful or prosperous than others....due to a number of factors. One thing I know. Business people are anointed for business. That anointing or gifting needs to be developed and enhanced through education, experience and prayer. We need to be faithful with what we have so we can get more.

I believe that God is a capitalist first and a socialist second because you can't give what you don't have. You have to have it in order to give it. So...church core values and business core values are similar in many respects. Hard work, honesty, treating your employees fairly, blessing and serving others, and making a fair profit will not only get you to the top but keep you at the top. Greed, corruption, and excessive profiteering are not Christian virtues and hurt you in the long run. What marketplace ministers want is favor with God and man....that is a win-win for everyone.

4. How would you describe the roles of a Christian businessman/woman in the market place as well as their involvement in the church? How to balance those two?
Great question! As I said in the meetings we had at church, a king serves at church but his/her ministry is in the community. The reason we need kings in the community is to redefine God, Church and Christians in the eyes of the community. The media, government, education sectors of our society have defined us in a way that keeps the community away from us. They have created a public relations problem for the church that we have to overcome. How do you do that? By kings becoming identifiable to and involved in the community. If they can't see us, they won't be us. The community is not coming to the church so we have to take the church to the community. How? That's the king's responsibility....they have the anointing for community transformation and enhancement. The problem is not government, the problem is that we don't have enough Joseph's, Daniel's, Deborah's and Esther's in government. It's the pastor's job to equip the king's to do the work of community ministry, not just church ministry. So.....king's come into the presence on Sunday so they can go out with the presence of Monday! King's take what is said by the pastor on Sunday and turn it into the language of the community on Monday. There's the balance....as a businessperson...you are a King at church but a priest to the extended church or community on Monday. Both are good. Both are necessary.

5. You mentioned that one of the eight lethal misbeliefs that are limiting the community and the church is that the primary role of marketplace is Christians is to make money to support the vision of those in the ministry. Could you elaborate further on this misbelief?
There was a book that came out a few years ago saying that kings were the provision to the pastor's vision. That book limited the king to nothing more than a provider of money. While tithing is important, it is not the primary purpose of the king or businessman. The primary purpose of the businessman is to 'pastor' the community. He is created to be a community transformer, not a Rupiah note. Kings have the power to change communities and nations, while pastors have the power to change the church. The net effect of the book was to create distrust between the pastor and those in the marketplace. The businessman sat in the chair of the church and was no more than the means to the pastors end. That's a lose-lose for both sides. That hurts us, not helps us.

6. In your new book, Church@Community, you said the Holy Spirit is moving in an exciting way: from church-centric, where the community exists for the church to community-centric, where the church exists for the community’s benefit. What are the steps to do for this transition?
Well, we have to think outside of the church. We need to get involved in the community. We must see the need to make insider information, outsider information. The church must see that your church is your community. It requires a shift in vision, a shift in values, a shift in the definition of church, a raising up of the King's that have permission from the pastor to change the world. We have to see and act upon what I have said in Church @ Community. We have to start engaging the community in ways that are relevant to the community. Find a need and fill it, much like what you are doing in education for Indonesia.

7. You mentioned that God wants the church and the ‘governmental spheres’ (government, business, education, media, etc.) to be in a working relationship for the sake of the community. Could you give us an example?
Here's a story for you. A real, life example. In our city, we learned of a family that was living in total poverty. They had 10 children, nine of whom are honor students, who are perfect citizens but their home was no more than a shack. Very similar to parts of Jakarta. A businessman, the Vice President of Hilton hotels in the Western part of the United States, heard about the plight of this family. He contacted a friend of mine who was working at an Assembly of God church.

They decided that we needed to build the family a 6 bedroom house for the family to live in. They contacted me because we are looking for projects that, if done professionally and correctly, can change the public relations image of the church in the community. We then started contacting home building businesses..... concrete, trusses, roofs, electric, cabinet companies, to see if they would donate their services for this project. We contacted the government....the city of Phoenix...to waive the fees of the home. Our local Television Channel 3 got involved and started showing the home and family on television. Even the education realm got involved with some teaching for the children.

In fact, this story went on national television, and was aired throughout the whole United States on the Larry Elder show.

Here's the good news. WE had construction companies from all over Phoenix, Arizona contribute the materials and worker, the City of Phoenix government reduced the fees substantially, Channel Three made the community aware of the project bringing in contributions for the project and the church was coordinating the efforts of the project. The home is in the final phases of being completed as I'm writing this. We expect the Rodriquez family to move into their new home in a month or so.

Do you see how all the sphere's of influence found something they all could do together? The church didn't have the money to do a project like this...but...business did. We all worked together on it. We all did what one of us could never do. The family is so happy. What a blessing. Channel Three will televise the home opening.

That's a good work in such a way that it causes the community to glorify God. My book has 8 more examples of projects like this....just read it!

Ed Delph