Appreciating Pastors

I wonder if my experience might help you understand the heart of your pastor.  In so doing, my hope is that you will take time this month to extend a word of kindness, a show of appreciation, during October, which for 17 years in the USA has been “Clergy Appreciation Month.” 

I have worked a few jobs. I have been a lumberjack, worked a ranch, in a garment factory, as a dishwasher, cook, counselor, social worker, business owner, landlord, administrator, university educator and more. I have worked 9-5, swing shift, rotating and overnight shifts. I know for a fact, first hand, that every job has its challenges, charms, curses and blessings.

I have also pastored. It is hands down the most varied, challenging, difficult and delightful role in my personal experience. It is uniquely challenging. It is the only job where I have worked no less than 60 hours a week routinely but have been accused of being a slacker who really works but few hours a week. It is the only job where drawing a salary (in every case, much less than the average salary of the church’s board members) for solid, competent work was viewed as potentially unspiritual. It is the only job in which every fault or flaw not of my own but of my wife and children have been critiqued, often openly and painfully.  It is the only job in which I have been asked to be humble and bold, lead with vision while being asked to serve all, embrace and love everyone with warm grace while challenging everyone equally with sometimes harsh calls to repentance, create a sense of unified purpose and adherence to standards of conduct while being sensitive to the needs of the harshest detractors and unrepentant sinners.  It’s all quite logically and practically impossible!

There have been seasons when it seemed every word, every direction, every sermon was critiqued and every motive challenged.  As the pastor’s biggest critic is usually him or herself, I have felt the weight of constant self-evaluation and reflection upon integrity as one called to proclaim the very Word of God, knowing that people, even when critical, are depending upon the pastor getting it “right” so that they may be encouraged, challenged, inspired, changed not by the personal opinions of the preacher by the good news of the gospel. Most difficult of all is sharing the gospel as continually and faithfully as I know how, in the church and outside of the church, through word and deed, and seeing how often the love of God is rejected, disputed and mocked – and seeing the resulting pain in lives that could be healed and full of joy through simple trust in God’s grace and obedience to His loving commands.   

But then again, pastoring is uniquely wonderful.  To journey with human beings through every stage of life, from birth, to growth, to youth, to marriage, to family, to sickness, to health, to professional struggles and gains, to the losses incurred through the ravages of time, to death, to comfort, to eternal hope.  No other vocation affords this blessing.  To be the midwife who catches the newly “born again” when the Holy Spirit moves and to see the amazing changes of healing and hope that occur.  To champion the poor and disenfranchised and see the homeless housed, hungry fed, abused healed, enslaved freed, jobless employed, hopeless hopeful and communities transformed. To take hits for leading through biblical truth and see over time the power of persuasion soften hearts and make room for the holy.  To be frequently awed by the power of the Spirit to answer prayers prayed with tears and faith as people experience miracles skeptics say don’t exist. To see enemies become friends. To see goodness happen. There are challenges, but when called to pastor, it is difficult to imagine any other form of service. Pastoring is fantastic.  

GeorgeBarna, demographer, researched pastor’s work habits and experiences.  He writes, "Most pastors work long hours, are constantly on-call, often sacrifice time with family to tend to congregational crises, carry long-term debt from the cost of seminary and receive below-average compensation in return for performing a difficult job. Trained in theology, they are expected to master leadership, politics, finance, management, psychology and conflict resolution. Pastoring must be a calling from God if one is to garner a sense of satisfaction and maintain unflagging commitment to that job. Fortunately, we have thousands of men and women who have responded to that call and serve God and His people with energy and grace. May they be encouraged by an outpouring of love and gratitude this October - and beyond!"

It’s Pastor Appreciation Month. There is much that is worth appreciating. There are unique struggles and unique joys. Let me encourage you to celebrate and appreciate your pastor this month. You will find Pastor Appreciation Resources at clergyappreciation.org. You may wish to send your pastor to the NCC Annual Pastor’s retreat in October. Remember, your pastor is doing what he or she does out of love for you and obedience to God in Christ Jesus.  

Everyone… Let’s Go Back to School

Too many American Christians don’t know much at all about what they claim to believe. There is nothing weak or ineffectual about the Christian Faith. Yet many of us who have placed our faith in Jesus while embracing a rather lazy approach to maturity fail to learn (and hence to live out) the implications of the Faith. By the “Faith” Christians for millennia have meant the body of doctrine and knowledge that lies at the heart of what Christians say they believe.  

It is true that Christianity at its best is a “relationship” and not a “religion.” Love trumps intellect every time. It dangerous, however, when we replace knowing the truth about Jesus and approaching an increasingly biblical world-view with mere feelings or a merely emotional sense of connection. Too many of us, and I mean Free Methodists in the North Central Conference, have settled for being quasi-Christian feelers rather than radical followers of Jesus fully committed to knowing and living out the best of Christianity. Chanting (if silently) “doctrine divides, practice unites” many of us have set aside learning, teaching and preaching core Christian doctrine and the concepts that are legitimately known as “the Faith.” I have actually heard some people say things like, “It doesn’t matter what you believe or what you do so long as you have faith in Jesus.” What then does it mean to have “faith in Jesus?” We follow Jesus’ proverbial “blind guides” when we place faith in our imagined “Jesus” made in our own image or follow a “Faith” developed by uninformed (though well-intentioned) spiritual leaders.

Free Methodists are a holistic connection of believers. We embrace the need for purity of heart and the rigors of the intellect.  We embrace the call to a personal faith in Jesus which saves our very souls and a commitment to public justice and social holiness which saves our very communities. We embrace spiritual experiences and scientific research, tradition and innovation, orthodox creeds and their fresh expressions, charismatic gifts and biblical obedience, freedom of conscience and voluntary cohesion through discipline that provides order.

Let’s TEACH our children. PREACH with clarity without “dumbing down’ the gospel. COUNSEL Biblically even as it challenges notions of amassing personal material wealth or engaging in any sexual choice. Let’s go back to school! 

Know your stuff!  Know your doctrines. Send your kids to Sunday School. If you’re an adult, TEACH Sunday School (you will more doing this than by merely attending). Study Scripture and theology in your small groups. Let’s commit to read something besides Facebook and the ESPN scrollbar. 

“Dear friends, you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (2Pet.3.18).

Accomplishing More Together… A Good Report

The Fabulous Five USA Olympic Women’s Gymnastics Team have demonstrated the power of synergy – accomplishing more together. Dominating through strength, grace and an obvious spirit of mutual encouragement and dedication to the task, this team of golden Olympiads (pictured) makes America proud.  Team USA basketball is doubtless on its way to gold but LeBron James alone could not do it.  TEAM! Together We Accomplish More. Synergy.

You alone can make impact in this world.  As Frederick Douglass, the great American abolitionist said, “One and God make a majority.”  Yet, we know that as Christians it takes a WE not a ME to effectively accomplish the mission Jesus gave the church. Every NCC congregation is tasked with ‘Bringing Jesus to the North Central United States” and beyond.  No NCC congregation can do that alone. 

Here are just a few of the ways your NCC team is “Bringing Jesus”.

The first half of 2012, NCC churches have invited many to follow Jesus, and over 650 people have made new confessions of faith in Jesus.  This is the work of the Holy Spirit, and is occurring among churches of every size and demographic. Leading the NCC in effective evangelism are congregations ministering primarily among African Americans and Hispanics. With powerful vacation Bible School ministries, several congregations have seen an upsurge of children making decisions to receive Jesus.

Pastor Scott Whiting (pictured) in Eau Claire, WI is seeing amazing fruitfulness through the work of Catalyst Church. A strong value of the NCC is loving and connecting with your community.  Scott and his team know the power of connection and prayer. Scott says, “Catalyst has been praying 'selfishly' for our landlord.  We don't want to get kicked out of our space because its perfect for our needs and a very visible location.  So we've been praying that all the other empty units in our shopping plaza get tenants, so that our landlord's income is boosted; and since she knows we've been praying for this, she might be less likely to kick us out for a higher paying tenant.  I spoke to her this morning. All three other units have now been leased.  All new tenants expect to be open for business next month.  And one of them is a coffee shop!  How perfect could that be?  Not to mention the snow cone vender (who's a seminary student) in the parking lot!  She's absolutely thrilled and thanked us for praying.”  

Greater Hope Community Church in Clarinda IA is experiencing revival, despite deep personal pain and struggles. Pastor Ed Simmon reports, “God is blessing the Church Family, we had 2 rededicate their lives back to Christ. I have been teaching a new Christians class on Wed Nights wonderful class. On August 10 people will be baptized in our swimming pool in my back yard.  As for me God has been blessing me beyond my wildest dreams. I have arthritis in my lower back my hips knees and ankles some days I have a lot of pain. On those days I can really feel Christ holding me.  Since this has happened to me over the last 8 months I've learned more about living in the grace of God than I did in all my 29 years since giving my life to Christ. God's Grace really is sufficient. Christ always holds me through the pain and He always leads me in my walk Christ is always with me”

An impoverished, unchurched, neglected and sometimes dangerous neighborhood in Rockford IL is embraced and loved by the Free Methodists in this community. Pastor Paul Bundschuh (pictured) and Tim Wauchope report, “God has led us to minister in various ways to the adults and children at an apartment complex across town over the last year. We distribute school supplies for the children and make great connections with the parents. Our VBS in this community this summer saw 5 children accept Christ as Savior.”

The churches in 2012 that have seen new believers result from their prayerful investment in outreach and evangelism in the Heartland are Clarinda, Fairfield, Oskaloosa and Toddville; in Chicagoland are Aurora, the Chapel in Chicago, Evanston, Melrose Park, Oswego and Woodstock; in Team North are Alexandria, Glencoe, Motely; in Three D are Albert Lea, Austin, Bloomington, Fillmore, Mason City, Sioux Falls, Rapid City; in Upstate IL are East Peoria, Freeport, McConnell, Rockford, Wataga; and in Wisconsin are Beloit, Eau Claire, Fitchburg, Emmanuel, LaFarge, Livingston, New Berlin, Platteville and Richland Center.

The number of churches reporting people who are making life change decisions is phenomenal.  In every nook and cranny, Christians are being called to deeper devotion, loving outreach and service to their community and world.  Free Methodist chaplains like Derin Fowler working hospitals, Randy Waller in long-term care, Ray Leach working in the military, Marie Rose working with the police force and many others are touching lives in crisis everywhere.

God is at work in centenarian churches and infant projects. Souls are being saved in affluent and impoverished, Hispanic, black, Asian and white communities, among young old, in small towns and cities. How is your church fervently praying and seeking God’s power and vision?  How are you actively engaging the community? How are you regularly encouraging and challenging growth in Christ? As a team, let’s keep advancing toward being increasingly in line with Jesus and Kingdom values and visions.  

NCC OFFICE CHANGES

Ivan Timm announced his retirement at AC2012. Rev. Timm, who has served many distinguished years as a pastor in both the NCC and Pacific Northwest Conferences, will retire with his wife Donna to Washington State.  His last day of active service as Administrator for the NCC was June 30, 2012.  The Timm’s new address will be Warm Beach Senior Community, 20505 Marine Drive, Lot #48, Stanwood, WA 98292. Ivan’s email is ike.timm@gmail.com.

Alma Jasinksi and Ivan Timm at AC2012

We are pleased to announce that Alma Linda Jasinski has been appointed to serve as the new NCC Administrator.  She assumes her role effective Monday, July 9, 2012. Alma has most recently served as the Senior Pastor of the Wesley FMC in Waukegan, IL and also as church planter and pastor of the Aurora Free Methodist Church.  She has provided significant administrative oversight of the International Bible Institute, is an NCC coach and has served as a Lake County (IL) Court Translator.  Alma recently married Michael Jasinski of Zion, Illinois and the Jaskinski family will move into the Administrator’s residence and offices the second week of July, 2012. 

All NCC office contact information remains the same.  The NCC offices will be closed from July 1 – July 9 during this time of transition.   Supt. Adams is on a brief family vacation July 5-10. Please be patient with NCC calls, correspondence, emails, etc., during the first half of July. 

We are also introducing new web and mobile app products.  

The world is going mobile.  So must we!  The current NCC web site – nccfmc.org – has provided a central source of information for NCC churches and beyond.  One of the first acts of Superintendent Adams upon election in 2008 was to create a single place to download critical forms, resource for growth and development, enter statistical information, stay connected with news, register for events and even vote on important items.  Increasingly, users are seeking to access the web site using mobile phones, and the current site is not designed for this. Indeed, being flash based, much of it cannot be seen on an iphone or ipad . . . yet.

The new web site launches on July 15 when you logon to nccfmc.org you will note some significant changes.  The site will be cleaner, directly connected to social networking and mobile friendly across all platforms.  By August, we will announce our NCC mobile app for Android and Apple products.  Keep your eyes peeled and thumbs ready.

@AC2012

@AC2012

Annual Conference 2012 marked the 153^rd time that the members of the North Central Conference gathered to ‘confer’ together. Free Methodists are a “connectional” people, believing that we accomplish more together. Indeed, a lot was accomplished at AC2012. 

Bishop David Kendall lit hearts on fire through the Holy Spirit as he preached. The core theme presented over several messages throughout the two days of AC2012 is the call to refocus on Jesus Christ, and his mission. That mission (Luke 4:14ff): Preach the gospel to the poor.  “Holiness without a gospel to the poor does not reflect Jesus.”  Further, Bishop Kendall suggested that God the Father, who adopted us into his household by grace through faith, desired more adoptees.  However, God will entrust adoptees only to qualified families.  Each church must examine its heart and practices, and seek diligently and obediently, to be Christlike and the kind of people that God would entrust to influence new spiritual children.

Elections were held at AC2012. Dr. Mark Adams was re-elected with 92% of the votes to serve as Superintendent a second four year term. Jim Berlin (Richland Center, WI), Craig Nelson (Waukegan, IL) and Suzanne Goff (Wilmette, IL) were elected to serve with Bishop Kendall and Superintendent Adams on the Ministerial Appointments Committee.  Elected as “at-large” members to the NCC Board of Administration are Patrick Coakley (Evanston, IL), James Johnson (Motley, MN), Brian Johnson

Easter Encouragement

To my North Central Conference partners in ministry...

You are a child of God, a servant of the Most High King, an ambassador of Christ, the Messiah's messenger. Today you proclaim the good news, the best news... Christ has died, Christ is RISEN, Christ will come again.  

I have been praying for great fruit in your ministry today and have confidence in you and the work of the Holy Spirit through your hard labor and the congregation you lead.  

Remember Paul's words after proclaiming the resurrection truth... Your labor in the Lord is not in vain!

Peace and power in Christ! 

Easter Challenge... Tell Your Story

 

Many Christians who attend church regularly, when asked, would be unable to tell the simple gospel story in a way that explains to an inquirer what they believe.  Most Americans do claim to be Christian while many, if not most, do not have an articulate understanding of what that means.  

What would you say?  If you were on an elevator with a skeptical friend who asked you something like, “Why do you believe in Jesus Christ?” would you be able to share something valuable?  More valuable than, “That’s how I was raised,” or “I feel it in my heart,” or “It’s as good a life philosophy as any other?”

The Bible tells Christians to, “In your hearts, revere Christ as Lord: always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have… with gentleness and respect” (1Peter.3.15).  Maybe you know why you are a Christian, and have good reasons, Biblical answers, evidence-based conclusions, and solid life-style change but just can’t quite put this into words.  Then be challenged this Easter season, to roll the stone away from your lips and take an hour or so this April to write down a paragraph or two, and rehearse it. To be ready. 

If you “revere Christ as Lord” but aren’t quite sure why – you are not alone.  Rest assured that there are ample reasons to believe, and abundant help to be able to put your own doubts to rest, and to be an instrument in helping friends take a well-reasoned leap of faith. Your pastor can help you find good material. This is so important to understand that you cannot wait.  Spend several hours this April, basking in resurrection power, and studying to bring alive in your heart and mind the reasons you are a Christian.  Write them down. Share with a Christian friend and ask if it makes sense.  Walk in the confidence of “being prepared to give an answer.” 

This is an Easter challenge!  Re-discover and tell the good news!  Christ died for our sins, was buried, and on the third day, rose again. It’s the greatest story ever told – and it’s no mere fable. It is the historic and living bedrock of all that we hold dear and all that can restore our broken world.