Our churches are facing a crisis. It's a leadership crisis. First, there seem to be more churches

than qualified pastors to lead them. And second, finding a pastor with personal integrity

is harder still. Today, on Insight for Living, we have the privilege of hearing an address

that Chuck Swindall gave to the students at Dallas Theological Seminary. These seminarians

are preparing for full-time Christian service. If you missed the first half of Chuck's presentation,

we'll begin with helpful highlights. Chuck identified what he believes to be the essential

ingredient for ministry. And that ingredient is, of course, integrity.

What does it mean to minister or to shepherd a flock with integrity? Some of the character traits

that came to my mind as a result of going through the Scriptures, it means you're verbally

trustworthy. You're verbally trustworthy, that means you speak the truth publicly and privately.

You don't change that message if it's in private or because you were before the public,

you speak of the truth consistently. You're financially accountable. You pay your bills,

you spend wisely, you give generously, you save prudently. It means you're privately clean.

You had no secrets. You do not live a double life. It means you practice intellectual

veracity. You're not guilty of plagiarism. If you're using someone else's words, you give them credit.

You state that these are not your words. These are someone else's words that you are quoting.

It also means you are ethically clean and clear. It means you're personally responsible

that would include admitting your own failures. Never blaming another for what you are responsible for.

Never. You give others the credit they deserve always. You don't take a moment credit for what you

do not have coming to you. You don't worry about making a name for yourself. You're never doing

what you're doing to impress, ever. You don't use people. You don't take unfair advantage of them

because of your title or your position. Self-awareness is essential. When you consider a life like I've

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