Nearly 20 years ago, when I was pastoring a small, new work church in a small community near Wilmington, NC, I received my copy of some magazine the SBC sent out. I don’t remember for sure now which it was, maybe Facts and Trends, maybe one of the others–but I remember the lead article was some “successful” pastor in the metro Atlanta area, and how “his” church was growing by leaps and bounds, and he was being held up as an example for the rest of us to follow. There was even a photo of him playing basketball with some kids, and the notation that despite how hectic his schedule was, he found an hour each week to play with his kids! A hour ever week? I TOOK more time than that every day for each of my kids, and I didn’t have to “find” it, because God called me to be a father long before He called me to be a pastor. I said (to myself) right then and there, “The SBC wants our alliegance to the (earthly) church first and foremost, regardless of who suffers for it–our families, ourselves, the Kingdom of God, whoever.” And that trend continues. Those pastors are still being held up as role models. I was old enough and mature enough then to see beyond it–I was, after all, 33 when I percieved my call into the ministry, and 35 when I was called to my first pastorate–but not every pastor has that advantage.

It isn’t new. Shortly after that, I got to know an elderly, retired pastor, now gone on to his heavenly reward. He told me that he pastored a small to medium church here on the eastern seaboard when an SBC agency (I think the Home Mission Board) asked pastors to quit their established churches and move out to pioneer areas and begin churches upon faith–with no financial backing or help from the aforementioned agency–and if they went on faith, God would reward them. Well, God saw him through a difficult period all right, but with no earthly assistance, he and his family suffered for it to the extent that their finances were wrecked and at age 75 or 80, he worked part-time for a funeral home in return for free rent at a little house they owned and preached part-time at a cantankerous little country church, all just to make ends meet.

There are good little churches and good big churches, good missional churches and good traditional churches, and poor ones of all sizes and styles too. Amen, Alan Stooddard for what you said.

John Fariss

Hugging trees can lead to poison ivy and ticks. I’d recommend not getting too close.

David

Just let me know which side of the limb your standing on before you cut…

Your a meanie, but I love it!

:)

Blessings,
Chris (tree hugger)

Satan, err, Saban cant shoot straight. He doesnt know how to squint.

:)

David

While you do all this kissin’ please remember all that logo is, is UT as seen through the tube of a Redfield Wide angle scope, mounted atop a .50 caliber Barrett Sniper Rifle being held by Nick Saban.

:-)

cb

I realize you are over 6′ tall and the present economy is problematic to say the least. But what you just said about Sunday School makes you worth your weight in gold no matter the state of the economy.

That is the kind of “trimming the tree” to which I reference.

Thank you,

cb

Yes, I’m not saying throw it all out. But it’s form should change. For example, what’s the difference in one Sunday School and another one? One gives life and the other does not. Whatever it takes to give life, do that.

Thanks for pushing for clarification.

Climb a tree.

Go out on the biggest limb you can find.

Wait there.

I will be there shortly with a saw.

:-)