Our district Growing Pastor’s’ events have become highlights of the year for Joan and me.  Sunday night was no exception.  The presence of the Holy Spirit pulled our hearts together as we were challenged by the messages of Jeff Shipman (www.columbiacrossroads.org) and Jason Malone (www.summitupstate.org). They were right. I awakened Monday morning with the realization that our district circle of accountability is the state of SC and for the first time since moving here, I actually researched the population numbers. As of July 2006, there were 4.3 million people who live in our state. That realization changes everything.

The prayer of my wife at our table as we closed was especially moving, and as I have reflected on it this week, I accept it as my own as well. She prayed, “Lord, for the first time in my life, I find myself wishing we could start all over again in ministry.” We can’t do that, but we can start from where we are. And if you think we have been pushing the “on mission” agenda, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet!

Jeff shared with us the vision and values of Columbia Crossroads:

Our Vision 

We want to join the Spirit of God in making a significant impact for and with Jesus in Columbia and beyond.  By 2010, our vision is:

1.  Qualitative: 

To see 100% of our body

· embracing a deeper intimacy with Christ

· experiencing Christ-like relationships

· engaging their Spirit-giftedness

· extending their grace story  

2.  Quantitative:

To partner in reaching every man, woman, and child in

· Our two mile Circle of Accountability (40,000 people) by repeatedly extending the opportunity to accept or reject the reconciliation of Jesus Christ and be incorporated into a local body of believers.

· Columbia (700,000 people) by networking with existing churches, helping plant 25 new churches, and establishing two satellite congregations. [ Mission Columbia ]

· The United States (300 million people) by networking with other churches/denominations, launching 4 coaching centers, and directly resourcing the 5 largest metro areas in our region. [ Infinity Alliance ]

· The world (6.6 billion people) by sending out missionaries to various regions and to joint venture with the Ukrainian church to plant 28,000 churches in the country and send out 10,000 Ukrainian missionaries to the Russian-speaking world.

Our Values

In dependence on the Holy Spirit, we commit to building a body that values 

• Intimacy with God as our first priority.
• The “One Church” in Columbia as a practical reality.
• The diversity of gifts in both leadership and the body.
• Multiplying disciples, growth groups, and churches.

This is a missional church and it is easy to see why we are partnering with them to reach our circle of accountability.

Jason Malone moved us with the story of their new congregation in Greenville and how God is directing them to have a Kingdom impact in their area of accountability. I appreciate the generous spirit of these brothers as they share with us and others of like-spirit in helping us have an impact on the lostness of our state.

 

I am reminded of one of the saddest statements I have ever heard in ministry. Since my return to SC, a family member of one of the fine pastors that I knew and respected as I grew up here made the following statement after serving one of our churches for eight years: “I feel that all I have accomplished is to keep one family happy.” The really sad thing is that, in reality, that could be said by too many others. Our lives are too short and the need is too great to allow that kind of mentality to shape our ministry!

A Post Wedding Post

Our weekend trip back to the Triad area of North Carolina was memorable and turned out to quite emotional for me. The visit with our friend and mentor, Rev. Jack Phillips, at the nursing home got me started. It was sad to see him in such a weakened state and realize that I may never see him again this side of heaven. It was a tearful prayer that I prayed as I thanked God for him and his wife, Lucia, and all that they had meant to us.

As we arrived at Colfax, there were reminders everywhere of days from the past. This is the place of Joan’s childhood and teen years, our dating days and the place where we were married. Shady Grove Camp was the “hub” of the NC West District as we began our 22 years of ministry there. The only thing that remains of the camp are the giant oaks and memories of where the buildings were, including the tabernacle in which I was ordained and felt the spirit of God move in my heart so many times. The old sanctuary still stands but is now a youth ministry center, and a beautiful new place worship still invites this community to Christ as it has for over 150 years. The cemetery, where so many of the heroes of the days gone by are buried, including Joan’s parents, reminds us that this life is not permanent. (By the way, the road that circles the cemetery is where Joan learned to drive.)

Are you sensing the nostalgia yet? We were there to perform the wedding of Heather Murray and Andrew Downer and fulfill a promise I made to do their wedding. They have never dated anyone else and have been sweethearts for almost eight years. Andrew graduated from NC State with a degree is some kind of food science and Heather will graduate from UNC-G this year with a degree in Special Education. I became Heather’s pastor when she was around 5 years old and we were “best buds” from the start. Of course, that was easy for me since she was one of the cutest, most precious little girls I have ever known. And the wonderful thing is that she is still precious in every way. Congratulations and best wishes, Heather and Andrew. I love you lots!

Joan played the piano for the wedding and in the minutes leading up to the processional I was shut away, waiting just outside the door from the piano and enjoying immensely, as I always have, hearing her play the piano. She does that as well as anyone I know. I was going over my wedding notes when she began playing, “Great Is Thy Faithfulness.” Suddenly, my eyes welled up with tears (just as they are doing as I write this) and I was very emotional as I began to reflect on the goodness and faithfulness of God in our lives. Following that were some other beautiful selections of worship and praise and for a period of time I was “lost in wonder, love and praise.” What an awesome time it was!

Following a joyful reception and time of fellowship with precious friends, we stopped by the cemetery at the graves of Dixon and Naomi Wood, Joan’s parents. I tearfully said to Joan, “They lived their lives well.” Joan replied, “And now they are enjoying the rewards of their labors.” Indeed they are.

As we drove out of the cemetery driveway and by the old church, I looked at Joan and said, “Do you remember our 25^th Anniversary?” “Of course,” she said, “You had arranged for Jack Phillips to meet us here at the church (the place where we married) to renew our vows.” I am remembering that following that meaningful ceremony we drove to Winston-Salem and had a wonderful meal at Staley’s Steakhouse, one of our favorite special dining spots. We first went there when I asked my future father-in-law about a good place to eat for a special occasion with a special person. When I saw the menu and the accompanying prices, I realized that he thought his daughter was pretty special!

The setting and the wedding served to remind me of God’s blessings – especially the blessing of my wife and the good marriage that God has helped us to build. And the best thing is that it is getting gooder! God has blessed me and us abundantly, and in view of His goodness how can we do anything less than give our lives in service to Him.

Thank you, O My Father, for giving us your Son.

And leaving your Spirit ‘til the work on earth is done.

- Keith Green

(This is posted by Buddy, not Joan.  She just let me use her computer again!)

One of our pastors recently posted a blog titled “How Does a Church Define Success?” I am responding because I was the one who suggested that our district give awards! Why would I do that? Honestly, the idea for the award thing came from some district superintendents I respect that gave “eagle, lighthouse”, etc., awards, using worship attendance and conversions as the criteria. Oh yeah, and we throw in paying denominational and district assessments and reporting on time just to make sure we cover those bases as well. In reality, when I began serving there had been very little accountability in the form of it being widely known how congregations were doing. The big earthquake that hit the first conference following my election was the inclusion of charts in the delegates’ packets–charts that clearly showed how we were doing as a district and as individual congregations. (Another idea of some DS colleagues.) I felt that the decline in the district must be addressed and the acceptance of a maintenance mentality must be rooted out. Following the recent disclosure that only 2% of North American churches have grown in attendance by 5% for three years (Simple Church), and the realization that, our denomination is, pragmatically-speaking, plateaued, I have come to a simple conclusion: what we are doing is not working and the church must get on mission.

The public reporting of statistics is a means of accountability. I can remember a time when every pastor had to stand before the delegates and report to the district conference on the past year (I was very young). My favorite quote from that era was by the pastor who said, “This church is dying slower than any church I have ever pastored!” I have attended the annual assembly of a sister denomination for the past three years and they still do that (while delegates are looking at the actual comparative figures so that they can’t lie).

Watson C. Black (the father of Dr. Bob Black, professor at SWU) was my first district superintendent. I remember very well his first annual visit when I became a pastor. Before he preached his sermon (that would almost certainly include some reference to storehouse tithing), he had the audacity to share with the entire congregation that there were some areas that needed improvement, and he named them as he reflected on our statistics for the past year. Something clicked in my brain at that moment that made me realize that he was going to hold me and our church leaders accountable for what happened or didn’t happen in our church. (During the past 3+ years in this office, I have often asked myself, “What would Watson do?”). I am proud that at the first roundtable of DS’s in our denomination, one of the agenda items was the recommendation to our General Superintendents to accept our proposed dashboard indicators as the means of evaluating how effectively we were doing our jobs.

My thinking is that the purpose for presenting awards is to give recognition for those who are breaking through growth barriers. That usually represents commitment and hard work that deserves to be rewarded. It also helps to “pull” others along and they begin to realize that even a church sitting in the middle of SC peach orchards can grow. (Figuratively, this description can fit many of our congregations). It is another means of accountability which I believe is one of the fundamental purposes of a denomination and district. I agree that perhaps we take the “easy way” by just using am worship and conversions as the primary dashboard indicators, but what would be better?

Oh yeah, I’m aware that, when expectations and accountability are raised and awards are given, there is always the risk that there will be those who cheat in order to “succeed.” (See for reference “Corrupted Counters” http://www.scwesleyan.org/SCD/Pastors_Gathering_06_Videos.html)

So, what do you think about presenting awards for pastors and churches? What criteria would you use for such awards? How would the Scripture enlighten and inform our answers?

Dan Seaborn, founder of  Winning at Home, spoke at the Southern Area Minister’s Conference at Southern Wesleyan University on Feb. 12, and presented a powerful and needed message to those of us in ministry.  Here are his Signs That You Are In A High Risk Marriage:

* You’ve got some secrets you’re keeping and you won’t tell your spouse.

* You’re finding sexual fulfillment through private acts or viewing porn.

* You try to hide things from your friends when they talk to you about marriage.

* There’s someone you’re building a relationship with and down deep you know there are red flags all over it!

* Your mind often strays and you have pictured yourself with another person!

* You haven’t felt that “feeling” in a long time.

* You have justified an action that you typically would say is wrong.

* You go to social gatherings/bars and expose yourself to potentially dangerous situations.

* You don’t care if you do things that are hurtful to your spouse.

* You are watching movies or reading books that describe fantasy stories.

* You are secretly stashing cash.

http://www.winningathome.com

For you information, the third in the Both/And series (see February 14 entry) from Pastor Karl Eastlack at Eastern Hills Wesleyan Church was:

“In the world. Not of the world.”

Withdraw. Conform. When it comes to finding our place in the world, Christians often revert to one extreme or another. Jesus, however, had a better idea…

(This was actually posted by Buddy who had to use Joan’s computer.  That’s another story . . .)

Valentine’s Day marks the beginning of my entry into the world of blogging. So “Happy Valentine’s Day, honey!” The celebration actually began last night when Joan arrived home and was greeted with some unarranged roses. She then made her own beautiful arrangement in an elegant vase, but there’s just something not quite right with that picture.

Why blog? Writing is a discipline which I need to use more. Since I am no longer under the gun to do new sermons every week (poor Joan), it will be a positive activity for me to put some things down that I am thinking, studying and growing through. It is my desire that this will be a blessing and a tool to build the Kingdom.

Oh, by the way, Joan may be writing some stuff as well. And there is the capacity to add some pictures, but you have to choose to go to them. They will probably mostly be of grandchildren anyhow.

Several of our pastors are blogging and when I figure out how to do it, I will put some links here for you. I may also provide some links to other blogs that I read pretty regularly.

On Saturday evening, at the Eastern Hills Wesleyan Church (www.easternhillschurch.org), Pastor Karl Eastlack preached the second in a three-part series on “Both/And.” The first message was Truth and Love. (Truth without love is harsh. Love without truth is cruel.) The message I heard was Faith and Deeds from James 2:14-26. (“It is a kind of good deed to say well, but words are not deeds.” – William Shakespeare)

The nuggets from the message were:

1. Real faith isn’t just something you say. (v. 14)

2. Real faith isn’t just something you feel. (v. 15)

3. Real faith isn’t just something you think. (v. 18)

4. Real faith isn’t just something you believe. (v. 19)

5. Real faith is just something you do.

The examples of Abraham and Rahab that James uses are examples that real faith is “not determined by what I do, but is demonstrated by what I do.”

This controversy or the tension, or some would say Scriptural paradox, between faith and deeds has been around for awhile. In fact, many scholars have felt that Paul and James absolutely contradict each other in this area. I am reminded that my Asbury Seminary professor. Dr. Joseph Wang, wrote his doctoral dissertation (Emory University/Candler) on the consistency of Paul and James on faith and love. He shared with us that when he submitted his topic to the committee, he was told that what he was attempting to do was impossible and was warned as he proceeded that if he failed to make the case, he would not get the degree. Well, the Ph. D. behind his name is the rest of the story.

I plan to go back to the site to pick up the third message in the “Both/And” series. Any guesses on what it may be? Maybe there are some ideas you have to share about additional areas that would fit this theme.

Since it is Valentine’s Day we could add, “Real love is something you do.”