You Are Not Alone!
My wife and I were able to watch a portion of a dramatic TV show last night together. Wow! It has been a long time since we had done that. The theme of the show was that if you spend Christmas alone, it means that no one loves you. You may argue with this fact, but there is no doubt that each of us find ourselves feeling alone many times in life. Granted sometimes it is reality and sometimes it is perception.
Perhaps you are serving in a difficult place and feeling all alone during this season of your life. Earlier this week I had an occasion to be in a building in downtown Syracuse. I held the elevator for a nicely dressed Black gentleman and noticed a Potter’s House logo on his brief case. I asked him about his relationship with the Lord and we shared a brief time of fellowship as brothers in Christ as we rode the elevator together. You probably know that Potter’s House is the name of T. D. Jakes’ ministry out of TX. Then yesterday, I was with Dolly, my bride, for a doctor’s visit and we found out that the nurse who served us is a newly born again follower of Christ. Wow! We are not alone! I am reminded of the story of Elijah who was threatened and felt all alone, only to have the Lord show him 7000 who had not bowed their knees to Baal. (I Kings 19:11, 18; Matthew 28:20)
You are not alone, no matter the circumstances and I wish you a Christ-filled Christmas Season!
Monday, December 14, 2009
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Taxi ride
Fellow Servants,
On Friday, my wife and I joined some friends (Mark, Amanda, and Grandma Irma) and enjoyed the Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall. Most of you know that my wife suffers with chronic back and leg pain due to a series of accidents through the years. Therefore, we hired a car service to take us from Brooklyn to NYC and back again. On the return trip, our driver and I were talking. As I was guiding the conversation toward a gospel witness, he asked if I was a priest (he was from a Catholic background). I assured him that I was. Then he shared that his sixteen year old daughter had just found out she was pregnant. He wanted to talk about how to proceed with this matter. I shared that we had been through this in our family many years ago. The next several minutes were spent in very intense sharing and amazing evidence that God was all over this conversation by all parties involved. I know you have had these kinds of experiences. Please pray for Tony and his family as he goes through this trial to be drawn closer to the Lord and to his family by the stress.
Just goes to show you that God can use us even when we are just trying to get a little rest and relaxation.
On Friday, my wife and I joined some friends (Mark, Amanda, and Grandma Irma) and enjoyed the Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall. Most of you know that my wife suffers with chronic back and leg pain due to a series of accidents through the years. Therefore, we hired a car service to take us from Brooklyn to NYC and back again. On the return trip, our driver and I were talking. As I was guiding the conversation toward a gospel witness, he asked if I was a priest (he was from a Catholic background). I assured him that I was. Then he shared that his sixteen year old daughter had just found out she was pregnant. He wanted to talk about how to proceed with this matter. I shared that we had been through this in our family many years ago. The next several minutes were spent in very intense sharing and amazing evidence that God was all over this conversation by all parties involved. I know you have had these kinds of experiences. Please pray for Tony and his family as he goes through this trial to be drawn closer to the Lord and to his family by the stress.
Just goes to show you that God can use us even when we are just trying to get a little rest and relaxation.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
The Audacity Factor
The Audacity Factor
The Bible teaches that pride goes before a fall. In Jim Collins’ latest book, How the Mighty Fall , he extracts the steps which led to the fall of some very high profile companies which he had given high marks in Good to Great and Built to Last. How could companies like Circuit City and Ames Department Stores fail. The first step is audacity. They believed it could never happen to them. Could it be that we as a denomination, state conventions, associations, churches and even individual Christ Followers have fallen victim to this dreaded disease? Collins says the fall can be stopped if we just acknowledge the sin and address it properly. Sounds like repentance to me. Wow! What a thought!
The Bible teaches that pride goes before a fall. In Jim Collins’ latest book, How the Mighty Fall , he extracts the steps which led to the fall of some very high profile companies which he had given high marks in Good to Great and Built to Last. How could companies like Circuit City and Ames Department Stores fail. The first step is audacity. They believed it could never happen to them. Could it be that we as a denomination, state conventions, associations, churches and even individual Christ Followers have fallen victim to this dreaded disease? Collins says the fall can be stopped if we just acknowledge the sin and address it properly. Sounds like repentance to me. Wow! What a thought!
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Living Organisms Reproduce
Living Organisms Reproduce!
All living organisms are created to reproduce when they are healthy. Many years ago, my father tried a new hybrid cotton seed. It was so exciting to see the very large, green plants in the field. However, as the time of harvest drew closer, we discovered the cotton was all leaf and very little fruit (cotton). As a Christ Follower, we are often guilty of the very same experience. We are all leaf and no fruit. If we are to reproduce or multiply, what does that look like? The fruit of the Spirit found in Galatians 5:22-23 are some of the fruit that should be in each Christ Followers’ life. There are four things that should be produced by each and every church:
1. Every church should reproduce disciples. Matthew 28:18-20Surely none of us can deny the commands of our Lord to make disciples.
2. Every church should reproduce leaders. II Timothy 2:2It has been said that everything rises and falls on leadership. Our Lord does not call the qualified, but He qualifies the called.
3. Every church should reproduce small groups. Acts 2:46If your church has not started a new small group during the past year, it has decided to plateau. If your church has not started a new small group in the past three years, it has decided to die.
4. Every church should reproduce congregations. I Corinthians 3:6, Matthew 16:18A good portion of the New Testament is made of letters to the churches started during the early multiplication of the Gospel throughout the first century.
What we count, counts. What matrix are you using to measure the fruitfulness of your church? Unfortunately, if you ask the wrong questions, you will get the wrong answers one hundred percent of the time. Perhaps we should be asking the reproduction question? Just a thought.
All living organisms are created to reproduce when they are healthy. Many years ago, my father tried a new hybrid cotton seed. It was so exciting to see the very large, green plants in the field. However, as the time of harvest drew closer, we discovered the cotton was all leaf and very little fruit (cotton). As a Christ Follower, we are often guilty of the very same experience. We are all leaf and no fruit. If we are to reproduce or multiply, what does that look like? The fruit of the Spirit found in Galatians 5:22-23 are some of the fruit that should be in each Christ Followers’ life. There are four things that should be produced by each and every church:
1. Every church should reproduce disciples. Matthew 28:18-20Surely none of us can deny the commands of our Lord to make disciples.
2. Every church should reproduce leaders. II Timothy 2:2It has been said that everything rises and falls on leadership. Our Lord does not call the qualified, but He qualifies the called.
3. Every church should reproduce small groups. Acts 2:46If your church has not started a new small group during the past year, it has decided to plateau. If your church has not started a new small group in the past three years, it has decided to die.
4. Every church should reproduce congregations. I Corinthians 3:6, Matthew 16:18A good portion of the New Testament is made of letters to the churches started during the early multiplication of the Gospel throughout the first century.
What we count, counts. What matrix are you using to measure the fruitfulness of your church? Unfortunately, if you ask the wrong questions, you will get the wrong answers one hundred percent of the time. Perhaps we should be asking the reproduction question? Just a thought.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Disaster, Opportunity, or Both?
Disaster, Opportunity, or Both?
There is no denying the devastation in Southwestern New York as three counties have been declared disaster areas by the state due to flooding. Two people lost their lives in Gowanda. Many homes have been destroyed, leaving residents homeless.
One single Mother is seen walking through chest high water holding her baby in a carrier over her head with her toddler on her shoulders. Her mobile home was a total loss. But she was praising God that she and her babies got out alive.
It has been said that crises do not build character, but they do reveal it. Many people in Southwestern New York are revealing themselves to have courage and stamina beyond description.
We know that people are more open to the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ in times of crisis and transition. I am so proud of our Disaster Relief teams from New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, etc. with whom I was able to visit on Sunday evening. They are there to share the love of Christ with hurting people and, by the way, to mud out their homes along the way.
There is still much to be done. If you would like to get involved to give a cup of cold water in the Name of Jesus, please contact Mike Flannery at fba2000@verizon.net or 716-432-5333.
Disaster? Yes. Opportunity? Yes.
There is no denying the devastation in Southwestern New York as three counties have been declared disaster areas by the state due to flooding. Two people lost their lives in Gowanda. Many homes have been destroyed, leaving residents homeless.
One single Mother is seen walking through chest high water holding her baby in a carrier over her head with her toddler on her shoulders. Her mobile home was a total loss. But she was praising God that she and her babies got out alive.
It has been said that crises do not build character, but they do reveal it. Many people in Southwestern New York are revealing themselves to have courage and stamina beyond description.
We know that people are more open to the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ in times of crisis and transition. I am so proud of our Disaster Relief teams from New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, etc. with whom I was able to visit on Sunday evening. They are there to share the love of Christ with hurting people and, by the way, to mud out their homes along the way.
There is still much to be done. If you would like to get involved to give a cup of cold water in the Name of Jesus, please contact Mike Flannery at fba2000@verizon.net or 716-432-5333.
Disaster? Yes. Opportunity? Yes.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Never Stop Gathering
Never Stop Gathering!
Several years ago, I heard Jim Slack, Global Researcher, International Mission Board, Southern Baptist Convention, make the case that newer churches grow faster and reach more people for Christ.
He quoted a statistic that during the first year a new church plant will baptize approximately eleven people for each one hundred members. He explained that the older the church the smaller number of baptisms per one hundred members. SBC churches were baptizing approximately 2.3 persons per one hundred per year at that time.
Obviously, we have a number of older and more established churches in our denomination. The question that has haunted me since hearing this presentation is, “Why?”
Have these churches reached all the unreached people within their target group?
Is the need to reach out lessened as the church survives the birthing process and moves from plant to established church?
None of these reasons hold up in light of my own observation. However, I do think that I have an idea why this is true.
When a new church is birthed the need for sowing the gospel and gathering a congregation is evident. As the church reaches a critical mass (whatever number of people that is perceived to be), the pastor/church planter and the church begins to shift their focus from outward (toward the unreached/far from God) to the inward (care and shepherding of their flock). Somehow this shift affects the stoppage of the “gathering”.
One of my colleagues recently described this phenomenon as the “institutionalizing of the church”. Many planters are looking, even longing for the day when they can stop doing the grunt work of gathering and settle into a more traditional chaplaincy role as pastor.
Many decisions in life need to be made before we get into the heat of the battle.
Church planters need to learn before they begin the process of planting that gathering is never done! I do not wish to belittle the role of shepherding or pastoring the flock. However, I do wish to make the strong case that churches should never stop gathering! It is clearly a “both and” rather than an “either or” decision.
One case study in continuous gathering that I’ve had the privilege of observing in recent years is The Journey Church in New York City. There are a number of things that I admire about the way The Journey (under the leadership of Nelson Searcy) has set about to push back the darkness of lostness in that city.
Perhaps the most obvious and substantial observation is that they have never stopped gathering. They recently celebrated a beach baptism which put them over 700 baptisms in the past seven years (the church launched in 2002)! They are currently involved in making one million servant evangelism touches in NYC.
The reason they are experiencing a great harvest is because they are constantly sowing the gospel through gathering events and practices. May their zeal for gathering never wane!
And my message to you pastor/church planter: Never Stop Gathering!
Several years ago, I heard Jim Slack, Global Researcher, International Mission Board, Southern Baptist Convention, make the case that newer churches grow faster and reach more people for Christ.
He quoted a statistic that during the first year a new church plant will baptize approximately eleven people for each one hundred members. He explained that the older the church the smaller number of baptisms per one hundred members. SBC churches were baptizing approximately 2.3 persons per one hundred per year at that time.
Obviously, we have a number of older and more established churches in our denomination. The question that has haunted me since hearing this presentation is, “Why?”
Have these churches reached all the unreached people within their target group?
Is the need to reach out lessened as the church survives the birthing process and moves from plant to established church?
None of these reasons hold up in light of my own observation. However, I do think that I have an idea why this is true.
When a new church is birthed the need for sowing the gospel and gathering a congregation is evident. As the church reaches a critical mass (whatever number of people that is perceived to be), the pastor/church planter and the church begins to shift their focus from outward (toward the unreached/far from God) to the inward (care and shepherding of their flock). Somehow this shift affects the stoppage of the “gathering”.
One of my colleagues recently described this phenomenon as the “institutionalizing of the church”. Many planters are looking, even longing for the day when they can stop doing the grunt work of gathering and settle into a more traditional chaplaincy role as pastor.
Many decisions in life need to be made before we get into the heat of the battle.
Church planters need to learn before they begin the process of planting that gathering is never done! I do not wish to belittle the role of shepherding or pastoring the flock. However, I do wish to make the strong case that churches should never stop gathering! It is clearly a “both and” rather than an “either or” decision.
One case study in continuous gathering that I’ve had the privilege of observing in recent years is The Journey Church in New York City. There are a number of things that I admire about the way The Journey (under the leadership of Nelson Searcy) has set about to push back the darkness of lostness in that city.
Perhaps the most obvious and substantial observation is that they have never stopped gathering. They recently celebrated a beach baptism which put them over 700 baptisms in the past seven years (the church launched in 2002)! They are currently involved in making one million servant evangelism touches in NYC.
The reason they are experiencing a great harvest is because they are constantly sowing the gospel through gathering events and practices. May their zeal for gathering never wane!
And my message to you pastor/church planter: Never Stop Gathering!
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Structure and Values
Structure and Values
Pastors are almost always keenly aware of their responsibility to be agents of change for the church they are leading.
It may be changing the music style to become more welcoming to the focus group they are attempting to reach, adding a screen for projected words for music, adding stage lighting to make the worship experience more qualitative, moving the offering to the end of the worship service in order to make it a part of the decision time, or any number of similar changes.
These changes need to be made very carefully and deliberately. These changes are structural. We often think that if we change a structure, we have changed the church. In reality, changing a structure may very well just be window dressing. Structures are peripheral to the values held by the church.
Never change a structure without first changing the value that underlies that structure.
Values are those principles of operation that drive the church or the person. Be careful at this point as many times the stated value is not the actual value. Our values are not necessarily what we think they are (or what’s written on the office wall and the website) as much as what we regularly do.
What we do is what we value, no matter what we say we value.
Many pastors (including this one) have gotten to the point in pre-marital counseling where he asks the awkward question regarding whether the couple has been living together before being married, only to hear the couple explain that they really do not believe in living together before marriage, but they have been doing so for two years.
The stated value is often not the actual value. What we do is what we value, no matter what we say we value.
Back to our examples above: Don’t make changes to accommodate or to become more welcoming to non-members, people who are far from God, etc., until the church buys into the value of reaching out to these people. No amount of structural change will effectively overcome the same old values under which the church may have always operated.
The church does not exist for the members who are now present, but to reach those who are not yet followers of Christ.
If the value, unstated, of course, is that the church exists to meet the needs of its members, then you are headed for a collision course. No amount of window dressing, structural changes, can substitute for the changing of the values that drive the structure.
You can talk people into doing things out of alignment with their actual values for a while, two to three weeks, maybe a bit longer depending on the situation. However, they’ll soon revert right back to the way things were done before, unless there is a value change that demands the permanence of the change.
Lasting changes are driven by value changes that lead to structural changes. Too often pastors & church planters change the structure without doing the hard work of changing the value first.
Deal with the underlying values first, so you can make changes that last.
Pastors are almost always keenly aware of their responsibility to be agents of change for the church they are leading.
It may be changing the music style to become more welcoming to the focus group they are attempting to reach, adding a screen for projected words for music, adding stage lighting to make the worship experience more qualitative, moving the offering to the end of the worship service in order to make it a part of the decision time, or any number of similar changes.
These changes need to be made very carefully and deliberately. These changes are structural. We often think that if we change a structure, we have changed the church. In reality, changing a structure may very well just be window dressing. Structures are peripheral to the values held by the church.
Never change a structure without first changing the value that underlies that structure.
Values are those principles of operation that drive the church or the person. Be careful at this point as many times the stated value is not the actual value. Our values are not necessarily what we think they are (or what’s written on the office wall and the website) as much as what we regularly do.
What we do is what we value, no matter what we say we value.
Many pastors (including this one) have gotten to the point in pre-marital counseling where he asks the awkward question regarding whether the couple has been living together before being married, only to hear the couple explain that they really do not believe in living together before marriage, but they have been doing so for two years.
The stated value is often not the actual value. What we do is what we value, no matter what we say we value.
Back to our examples above: Don’t make changes to accommodate or to become more welcoming to non-members, people who are far from God, etc., until the church buys into the value of reaching out to these people. No amount of structural change will effectively overcome the same old values under which the church may have always operated.
The church does not exist for the members who are now present, but to reach those who are not yet followers of Christ.
If the value, unstated, of course, is that the church exists to meet the needs of its members, then you are headed for a collision course. No amount of window dressing, structural changes, can substitute for the changing of the values that drive the structure.
You can talk people into doing things out of alignment with their actual values for a while, two to three weeks, maybe a bit longer depending on the situation. However, they’ll soon revert right back to the way things were done before, unless there is a value change that demands the permanence of the change.
Lasting changes are driven by value changes that lead to structural changes. Too often pastors & church planters change the structure without doing the hard work of changing the value first.
Deal with the underlying values first, so you can make changes that last.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Partnerships: Giving and Taking
Partnerships: Giving and Taking
We are all about partnerships here in the Baptist Convention of New York. We are currently aware of partnerships with Mississippi Baptists, Appalachian Regional Ministry, Conservatives of Texas, Georgia Baptists, Puerto Rico/Virgin Islands and many others. These partnerships are often misunderstood as being only receiving. Some critics have even suggested that this is spiritual welfare, since we are always receiving but never giving away our own time, talents, and treasures to see others come to Christ. It has been my experience that when you welcome teams into your church’s ministry, you should encourage your people to work alongside them. Later during the days as they work together, they will undoubtedly express to their guests their amazement that these folk took vacation, paid their own way, in many cases bought materials, and came to help someone they did not even know before. But the desired outcome is that your people catch a vision and see that they too can do this. Today I wish to highlight one of our church planters on Long Island who gets this principle completely. Here is the email I recently received:
We just finished off a fantastic week at our Kidz Camp. We really had the chance to get to know some children and their families throughout this week. There were 52 children who participated in the week, and over 100 people came to our Family Night last night.
I had several parents stop and talk to me, letting me know that this past week was really important to them. They were grateful and appreciative for all that took place throughout the week.
We are grateful as well. We had a great group of students from First Baptist Church of The Woodlands, Texas who came to Long Island to help us with all aspects of our Kidz Camp. There were 28 of them altogether and they served with great hearts and attitudes.
We are also appreciative for those at Crossroads who gave of their time and efforts this week to make this happen. We had a great team of adults from Crossroads to make certain everything ran smoothly. From registration to Family Night, the Kidz Camp was terrific and a whole lot of fun.
Yet, we are completely aware that God blessed us with this amazing week. It was God who provided everything that was needed. It was God that was honored by the efforts that were given this week. I truly felt His presence throughout the week at our Kidz Camp.
Now that this week has past, we are taking our Kidz Camp on the road! I have a friend who is a pastor (some of you may remember Pastor Alan Braun) in Vancouver, British Columbia. I spoke to him a few months ago, and he let me know that they had cancelled their Vacation Bible School because they did not have enough leaders at their church to make it happen.
I told him that I thought that we could bring a team to help lead their Vacation Bible School. They "uncancelled" their Vacation Bible School, and, as of yesterday, there were 93 children sign up to participate in the week!
So, today, there are 11 of us flying to Seattle. Tomorrow, we will be driving into Vancouver. Our team includes me, Jenna, Madison, Emma, Avery, Luis and Jessica Rivera, Fred and his daughter Hannah Zwikelmaier, Jana Jenkins, and Lonnie McLaughlin.
I would appreciate your prayers for us as we travel and lead this week. I really believe that God has provided us with an opportunity to make His name known and to serve this church and community in Vancouver.
At Crossroads, we have been the recipients of close to 20 mission teams over the last two years. God has blessed us by sending each and every group to help with some facet of our ministry here at Crossroads. We know that every contribution has led us to be able to try and accomplish our mission to reach out to people in our community.
Now, God has given us this opportunity to serve this community in Vancouver, where it is estimated that less than 3% of population would consider themselves to be an evangelical Christian.
Pray for us. I will be updating my blog each day that we are gone, starting tomorrow. I would like to keep you posted on things so that you can pray specifically for what is taking place.
Your prayers and support mean so much.
Sterling Edwards
Lead Pastor
Crossroads Church of Long Island
610 Carmans Road
Farmingdale, New York 11735
(516) 249-0110
Follow Sterling’s blog for even more exciting stories!
We are all about partnerships here in the Baptist Convention of New York. We are currently aware of partnerships with Mississippi Baptists, Appalachian Regional Ministry, Conservatives of Texas, Georgia Baptists, Puerto Rico/Virgin Islands and many others. These partnerships are often misunderstood as being only receiving. Some critics have even suggested that this is spiritual welfare, since we are always receiving but never giving away our own time, talents, and treasures to see others come to Christ. It has been my experience that when you welcome teams into your church’s ministry, you should encourage your people to work alongside them. Later during the days as they work together, they will undoubtedly express to their guests their amazement that these folk took vacation, paid their own way, in many cases bought materials, and came to help someone they did not even know before. But the desired outcome is that your people catch a vision and see that they too can do this. Today I wish to highlight one of our church planters on Long Island who gets this principle completely. Here is the email I recently received:
We just finished off a fantastic week at our Kidz Camp. We really had the chance to get to know some children and their families throughout this week. There were 52 children who participated in the week, and over 100 people came to our Family Night last night.
I had several parents stop and talk to me, letting me know that this past week was really important to them. They were grateful and appreciative for all that took place throughout the week.
We are grateful as well. We had a great group of students from First Baptist Church of The Woodlands, Texas who came to Long Island to help us with all aspects of our Kidz Camp. There were 28 of them altogether and they served with great hearts and attitudes.
We are also appreciative for those at Crossroads who gave of their time and efforts this week to make this happen. We had a great team of adults from Crossroads to make certain everything ran smoothly. From registration to Family Night, the Kidz Camp was terrific and a whole lot of fun.
Yet, we are completely aware that God blessed us with this amazing week. It was God who provided everything that was needed. It was God that was honored by the efforts that were given this week. I truly felt His presence throughout the week at our Kidz Camp.
Now that this week has past, we are taking our Kidz Camp on the road! I have a friend who is a pastor (some of you may remember Pastor Alan Braun) in Vancouver, British Columbia. I spoke to him a few months ago, and he let me know that they had cancelled their Vacation Bible School because they did not have enough leaders at their church to make it happen.
I told him that I thought that we could bring a team to help lead their Vacation Bible School. They "uncancelled" their Vacation Bible School, and, as of yesterday, there were 93 children sign up to participate in the week!
So, today, there are 11 of us flying to Seattle. Tomorrow, we will be driving into Vancouver. Our team includes me, Jenna, Madison, Emma, Avery, Luis and Jessica Rivera, Fred and his daughter Hannah Zwikelmaier, Jana Jenkins, and Lonnie McLaughlin.
I would appreciate your prayers for us as we travel and lead this week. I really believe that God has provided us with an opportunity to make His name known and to serve this church and community in Vancouver.
At Crossroads, we have been the recipients of close to 20 mission teams over the last two years. God has blessed us by sending each and every group to help with some facet of our ministry here at Crossroads. We know that every contribution has led us to be able to try and accomplish our mission to reach out to people in our community.
Now, God has given us this opportunity to serve this community in Vancouver, where it is estimated that less than 3% of population would consider themselves to be an evangelical Christian.
Pray for us. I will be updating my blog each day that we are gone, starting tomorrow. I would like to keep you posted on things so that you can pray specifically for what is taking place.
Your prayers and support mean so much.
Sterling Edwards
Lead Pastor
Crossroads Church of Long Island
610 Carmans Road
Farmingdale, New York 11735
(516) 249-0110
Follow Sterling’s blog for even more exciting stories!
Friday, July 10, 2009
Connections
I suppose that everyone who attends the Southern Baptist Convention has a different priority for going. It was my privilege to attend such a meeting last month. In fact, it was as I reflected upon this trip that I was inspired to begin to blog. I wanted a venue to share my “connections” story and other similar ones. As a pastor, I had face time weekly, if not many times during the week, to share with my congregation. As an Associational Missionary, I had face time, or at least a newsletter, to share thoughts along the way. Now I have a blog for this purpose.
I go to the convention for the networking or “connections”. I don’t wish to demean the importance of what goes on during the sessions, conferences, etc. However, it seems that I always get more done in the halls, at restaurants, and in the exhibit areas while renewing old acquaintances and listening and sharing thoughts through conversations. This year was no exception. I had opportunities to spend quality time with elected leaders of our convention, agency heads, fellow NAMB and IMB missionaries. I even had a great conversation with many pastors with whom I have served throughout the past thirty-eight years in various parts of the United States. I even had some wonderful conversations with pastors from my own home county (Cullman, Alabama). In fact, I will be privileged to speak at one of those churches in a few weeks while on vacation there.
But, by far and away, the best “connection” of my 2009 convention experience was, strangely enough in the men’s room at the Expo Center. While washing my hands at the lavatory, I noticed a young man cleaning nearby. I was led of the Holy Spirit to speak to him. I asked him how he thought a person could get to go to heaven. He honestly said he did not know. I asked him if he’d ever thought much about the question. He replied that he had thought about it. I proceeded to share with him what the Bible says on the subject and within about three minutes, he prayed to receive Christ as his personal Savior. After directing him to go to a local church with whom he was already familiar, I did what any good networker would do, I gave him my business card. I told him that he should go and tell the pastor what had happened to him today and he would guide him in the next steps to take. In closing, I told him if God called him to preach and he felt led to plant churches, contact me we need you in New York.
I would not be at all surprised to get a call from a young African American man in a few years who says he is ready to come to do church planting in New York. Dion just may be one of the ways the Lord of the harvest answers my Luke 10:2 prayer, “The harvest is plenteous, but the laborers are few. Pray the Lord of the harvest to send laborers.”
I go to the convention for the networking or “connections”. I don’t wish to demean the importance of what goes on during the sessions, conferences, etc. However, it seems that I always get more done in the halls, at restaurants, and in the exhibit areas while renewing old acquaintances and listening and sharing thoughts through conversations. This year was no exception. I had opportunities to spend quality time with elected leaders of our convention, agency heads, fellow NAMB and IMB missionaries. I even had a great conversation with many pastors with whom I have served throughout the past thirty-eight years in various parts of the United States. I even had some wonderful conversations with pastors from my own home county (Cullman, Alabama). In fact, I will be privileged to speak at one of those churches in a few weeks while on vacation there.
But, by far and away, the best “connection” of my 2009 convention experience was, strangely enough in the men’s room at the Expo Center. While washing my hands at the lavatory, I noticed a young man cleaning nearby. I was led of the Holy Spirit to speak to him. I asked him how he thought a person could get to go to heaven. He honestly said he did not know. I asked him if he’d ever thought much about the question. He replied that he had thought about it. I proceeded to share with him what the Bible says on the subject and within about three minutes, he prayed to receive Christ as his personal Savior. After directing him to go to a local church with whom he was already familiar, I did what any good networker would do, I gave him my business card. I told him that he should go and tell the pastor what had happened to him today and he would guide him in the next steps to take. In closing, I told him if God called him to preach and he felt led to plant churches, contact me we need you in New York.
I would not be at all surprised to get a call from a young African American man in a few years who says he is ready to come to do church planting in New York. Dion just may be one of the ways the Lord of the harvest answers my Luke 10:2 prayer, “The harvest is plenteous, but the laborers are few. Pray the Lord of the harvest to send laborers.”
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Thoughts of a Fellow Boat Rocker
Thoughts of a Fellow Boat Rocker…
During the late eighties and early nineties, my family and I served in ministry near Atlantic City, NJ. Immediately behind our house was beautiful Absecon Bay.
While spending countless hours enjoying the view over the bay and watching vessels of all shapes and sizes navigate their way by, I learned a valuable lesson:
It's easy to get off the ship and try to steer it by
throwing rocks at it, but it’s more effective to
stay onboard and try to turn the rudder
I have spent the past thirty-eight years of ministry as a “rudder-grabber”. This story has epitomized my ministry and still does to this day.
I have chosen to get into the boat of the Church and the Southern Baptist Convention, grab the rudder, and pull with all my strength to see the direction change toward a more true Christ-centered direction.
Many of my friends have jumped ship and decided they could make a greater impact outside and I certainly don’t hold that against them. My calling, however, continues to place me in a system that sometimes appears to be broken. In spite of everything, I believe the Lord still works through His Church and yes, even through the Southern Baptist Convention.
Do we have problems? Yes, but we will never get it right while swimming around in the bay throwing rocks at it. The hope of our denomination being a real player in the kingdom of God during this century is for more of us to grab the rudder and move this ship to the center of God’s channel and sell out to reaching this world with the Good News of Jesus Christ!
Many years ago, I uttered a prayer that has cost me dearly. That prayer was and is that my life would be lived in such a way as to make the Devil uncomfortable.
A “boat rocker” is someone who is unafraid to do whatever it takes to move the ship of the Church and denomination toward making Satan uncomfortable.
If you’d like to hear the thoughts of a fellow “boat rocker”, stay tuned.
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