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Seven Things That I Have Learned
by Frank Houston

Frank Houston is a living legend with more than 50 years of serving the Lord. He had been General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God in New Zealand for 14 years, and pastored a large church in Wellington, when he felt the call of God to move to Australia. At the age of 55, he left everything behind and founded Sydney Christian Life Centre, in obedience to the call of God.
That was 22 years ago and since then, Sydney CLC has planted more than 70 churches all over the world, including Hills Christian Life Centre pastored by Brian Houston.

We had one question for this living legend, who has given everything to fulfil the purposes of God in this nation and across the globe: the seven major things he deems valuable lessons learned for effectively serving God. Frank Houston: There are of course, many major lessons one learns in over half a century of living as a minister of the gospel. Let me attempt to narrow it down.

1. Relationship with God
We are creatures of habit. We all know there are good habits and bad habits. Long ago I developed the good habits of daily personal prayer and Bible reading. I made a shocking discovery while involved with executive council work, both here and in New Zealand, that numbers of ministers rarely read their Bibles devotionally and not even prayed on a daily basis.
2. The Anointing
To this day I am completely dependent on God for his anointing, not only to preach and teach his Word; also to live the Christian life. It is humbling but satisfying to hear one’s children testifying ‘Dad lived at home what he preached from the pulpit.’ Now let me quickly say I should have done very much better. Jesus said, ‘without me you can do nothing.’
3. Love for People
I learnt years ago that if I were to be a successful minister in God’s eyes I would have to discover how to love people. Even how to love your enemies! Take another look at the lives of Jesus and his apostles. Spend more valuable time with people. What unnecessary things could be cut out so that this could happen? (Read again 1 John 4:7-11).
4. Family
‘God has set the solitary in families’. That one biblical statement is startlingly important to me and should be to every Christian leader. Hazel and I have five adult children, fifteen grandchildren and five great grand children. I can’t express to you just how important they all are to us. I pray for them personally every day. Never underestimate the importance of family.
5. Mentoring
How much greater the church of Jesus Christ would be if all pastors and leaders seriously accepted the challenge to mentor others. As a leader I feel obliged to God and the people I serve to seek out leadership potential and do all in my power to mentor them and in turn train them to be mentors of others!
6. Confidentiality
I learnt early in my ministry the importance of being able to control my tongue. Wise and great leaders have numbers of certain traits and characteristics. Confidentiality is one of them. Knowing when not to speak so you don’t. Proverbs 18:7 ‘A fool’s mouth is his destruction and his lips are the snare of his soul.’
7. Never threatened by success of others
God teaches us that we should rejoice with those who rejoice. To be threatened by other’s success is a great weakness. It is an attitudinal problem of the soul. If you are plagued by it, confess it to God and take positive steps to change your mind. Romans 12:2 ‘…be transformed by the renewing of your mind…’