%PDF-1.7 1 0 obj << /Type /Catalog /Outlines 2 0 R /Pages 3 0 R >> endobj 2 0 obj << /Type /Outlines /Count 0 >> endobj 3 0 obj << /Type /Pages /Kids [6 0 R 20 0 R ] /Count 2 /Resources << /ProcSet 4 0 R /Font << /F1 8 0 R /F2 9 0 R /F3 10 0 R /F4 11 0 R /F5 12 0 R /F6 14 0 R >> /ExtGState << /GS1 15 0 R /GS2 16 0 R /GS3 17 0 R /GS4 18 0 R >> >> /MediaBox [0.000 0.000 612.000 792.000] >> endobj 4 0 obj [/PDF /Text ] endobj 5 0 obj << /Producer (dompdf 3.1.0 + CPDF) /CreationDate (D:20250831060901+00'00') /ModDate (D:20250831060901+00'00') >> endobj 6 0 obj << /Type /Page /MediaBox [0.000 0.000 612.000 792.000] /Parent 3 0 R /Contents 7 0 R >> endobj 7 0 obj << /Filter /FlateDecode /Length 1697 >> stream xWr6}Wc;ҼKKI\7m:N IIH)g?S{lA/@bq,8f;{p/|ełV5SbZm~]GNKm:i>Vjی(ӿX_$ e2^3J> t3 Ss><^]Βx6u,TQ{gt?GigͲYx7h-e ;NhkyLy0&Y,bƂ!#]4 bV |K_7ы^yuqu,dx,e[y ZuC+0N"¤Ѽ4LR'~ c%mDךz膐 LA㴖$v=& -hƁz}X#206Vqc;ZnǬ7֒ބ̗iT&0kVu[0j5 Va8) YѲ [){6jzq/aoέdMoT85^vȲ(KBA[<67vԊH[굕fϘӅB2V-ܴT+; Bڿ$d?fA ;I ᅁT\YUF6Lg (M +C(\0CJ;~X%[)&ĸ[#1(fzZVu]I jbl6L[ yA#mHgǷJz͛tGri^GTc| } q@b gGg.3PkHοVFy @GQT!=y>A- wD/[?_VyAڋnd" `88  ՝hpt4HSvb,S4ZA14Η3Aq@a7gAn 1\f:٭k╳ 5&"F Q}]5rD  F.Q/\oT+j>P彋-Y'T"D^(cxdp،s;G|t㐕 C\D)5*HaIh<ϺvXPĪndK)`B,ZtZ,^q`a%>K4 'N;Z)DeP$!oidt7;q(~C#v]tL^VL1=7F[`nB^MDs:!^GB3D#GN:j*וޓ] S_WyL"uw77/u;0Q:ϣ2?Y_ai'36ۧMtI_ĸV.>% nْpi.Ҹfu0qlp(&,Mt񆟜̾ endstream endobj 8 0 obj << /Type /Font /Subtype /Type1 /Name /F1 /BaseFont /Helvetica /Encoding /WinAnsiEncoding >> endobj 9 0 obj << /Type /Font /Subtype /Type1 /Name /F2 /BaseFont /Times-Bold /Encoding /WinAnsiEncoding >> endobj 10 0 obj << /Type /Font /Subtype /Type1 /Name /F3 /BaseFont /Times-Roman /Encoding /WinAnsiEncoding >> endobj 11 0 obj << /Type /Font /Subtype /Type1 /Name /F4 /BaseFont /Helvetica-Bold /Encoding /WinAnsiEncoding >> endobj 12 0 obj << /Type /Font /Subtype /Type1 /Name /F5 /BaseFont /Helvetica-Oblique /Encoding /WinAnsiEncoding >> endobj 13 0 obj [6 0 R /Fit] endobj 14 0 obj << /Type /Font /Subtype /Type1 /Name /F6 /BaseFont /Times-Roman /Encoding /WinAnsiEncoding >> endobj 15 0 obj << /Type /ExtGState /BM /Normal /CA 1 >> endobj 16 0 obj << /Type /ExtGState /BM /Normal /ca 1 >> endobj 17 0 obj << /Type /ExtGState /BM /Normal /CA 0.3 >> endobj 18 0 obj << /Type /ExtGState /BM /Normal /ca 0.3 >> endobj 19 0 obj [6 0 R /Fit] endobj 20 0 obj << /Type /Page /MediaBox [0.000 0.000 612.000 792.000] /Parent 3 0 R /Contents 21 0 R >> endobj 21 0 obj << /Filter /FlateDecode /Length 1266 >> stream x}VێD}߯G63;o D !zݬ68D^N= x/UN:w߽^RpPł>GZm?Be= zxet,"Ԧ{4]Ed@6x?7Rgq0.ToɖtbQq7O;E?}{QlF;(93dݳ3nG>v짗R uحs۶CgMD(kZ ? x cvݻBݪU%r6)1*yuP"% =y09wVGsӕֵuъ)vv1oklD’L=t>[X}#lAv(fBѯB$9pm73~f4?ڦTƞSln+[ҔBf3aTˤi$'n/&SJ7=7gȄt)LۃZlSډÊhnki.~w^7k}Ib޶ꎣ{95c f˔芁Kq.[?#3hIȎFGy{;x47c0U)4&%5 G!@Tčg<,˕Z.Rzmވ4!Sl;¼ܚgO .DKSh08EJ0mo9 b8qExv0RҌۓ A͂N>~ X|7C eI)󯡨ZY YgHi0M!vaر2/7}pU)qיBCR-kUIG_jN zC9SQgk(O$>5ҊRy(0gSO-RgWKpS( QBXxe~8UpPlS+v kq%O?JQlvj}f_=<1N;Q=w8`9w\T:sWqw-׻W<^f™mvqs+3{nx^gy endstream endobj xref 0 22 0000000000 65535 f 0000000009 00000 n 0000000074 00000 n 0000000120 00000 n 0000000401 00000 n 0000000430 00000 n 0000000579 00000 n 0000000682 00000 n 0000002452 00000 n 0000002559 00000 n 0000002667 00000 n 0000002777 00000 n 0000002890 00000 n 0000003006 00000 n 0000003035 00000 n 0000003145 00000 n 0000003202 00000 n 0000003259 00000 n 0000003318 00000 n 0000003377 00000 n 0000003406 00000 n 0000003511 00000 n trailer << /Size 22 /Root 1 0 R /Info 5 0 R /ID[] >> startxref 4851 %%EOF On the Corner | Caring Magazine
Read Caring Magazine Volume 29

Vol. #29

Hope in Action

Read Issue

Latest Impact StoriesView All

Popular Topics

PopularView All

On the Corner

June 14, 1998
3 minute read
Total
0
Shares
0
0
0
Listen to this article

by Robert Docter – 

AN OPEN LETTER TO BUILDERS:

New appointments are on the horizon. New towns–new people– new opportunities. So you want to be a “builder.”

Got plans?

Here are some thoughts as you begin the process of assuming responsibility in your new appointments. Keep in mind I’ve never been a corps officer. I have, however, worked with many and observed even more from a slight distance. Take these thoughts as someone who cares about you and is jealous for your success.

First, accept the premise that you are in the “relationship business.” Resist perceiving yourself as “the administrator” or “the boss” or “the commanding officer.” Get some feedback from others in how you present yourself. What kinds of words do they use when they describe the way you relate? “Pretentious”? “Reserved”? “Arrogant”? “Shy”? “Open”? “Closed”? Put your feelings aside and take the risk of getting to know yourself and others. You are now in the relationship business. God is part of the relationship. Pray. Get others involved in prayer. Help those around you understand the dimensions of your faith and your commitment to prayer.

Second, be a helper. This means you need to put others before yourself. Explore with others in your corps what goals they would like to see the corps achieve. Work to help them move toward these goals. This means you need to put some of your own personal interests aside.

For instance, don’t make fixing up your quarters one of the first things you address. Don’t be too quick to ask about the state of budget allocations for expenditures designed primarily to serve you –like car allowance–or buying new furniture for your office.

Third, be a visitor. Learn people’s names. This takes work, but it is extremely important. Get to know the families. Know those who are related in the corps. Spend time and meet people in their homes. Arrange the visits in advance. Don’t arrive as if you are on an inspection tour. Take enough time to get a sense of people where they live. Be friendly. There will be occasions when you are focused and thinking about other issues, but try not to let this get in the way of being genuinely interested in those around you. You are “genuine” when your non-verbal presentation matches your verbal communication. If you are in too much of a “hurry” as you rush by, the people you greet won’t perceive you as genuinely interested in them.

Fourth, practice sound approaches to information gathering. Avoid making generalizations on the basis of meager data. Don’t leap to conclusions. Resist the temptation to label people. Never stereotype.

Fifth, maintain confidentiality. People will share information with you about themselves. You don’t own this material. They do. You cannot take it. It’s theirs. They have invested some trust in you–possibly due to your ministerial status. You cannot share this with anyone–not even your spouse. Violating confidentiality is like stealing someone else’s property.

Sixth, relate from the pulpit. You might not be the world’s greatest preacher at this stage of your career, but you can relate to your fellow worshippers from the pulpit. This requires eye contact, sensitivity to issues and concerns facing members of the congregation, and a positive, non-judgmental orientation. You can’t build on weaknesses. Build on strengths.

Seventh, avoid burnout. This happens when you lose sight of the goal–when you are tired or depressed–when you fail to generate continuing excitement in your work. It can easily be avoided, but it takes awareness of its slow incursion and a desire to effect some kind of change.

You are terrific people in whom the Army has invested considerable time, care and resources. You now take the field. Let me know how it’s going. Stay in touch.

Download this page as a PDF

You May Also Like