On February 1st I began my sixteenth year serving the Forsythe Church of Christ in Monroe, Louisiana. I was 44 when I arrived in Monroe in 2008. Maggy and I have been so blessed by the love of this gathering of Christians. We do not make a big deal about ministry anniversaries at our church, it’s just not the Forsythe way. But for me personally, it is a marker of significance.
It is my conviction that long-term ministry benefits both the church and the minister. I’ve read that it takes about four years for the minister to be accepted as a genuine part of the church family. That is my experience. There are layers of relationships and services that can only be accessed after many years of shared history and belonging together in the same family. Over a period of time, you go through a lot of adjustments and challenges together, seasons of plenty and seasons of wondering.
I’m not just trying to butter up our church, but Forsythe has truly been and continues to be, a wonderful experience for us. This was demonstrated early on. Within three months of beginning at Forsythe we lost our son, John Robert. I cannot express deeply enough the support and love we felt from these people who barely knew us. There is a love in this Family of Believers that is characterized by generosity, grace, and service. I attribute this primarily to God, who has drawn us together, filled us with His Spirit, and saved us by His Son.
I have a good relationship with our six elders. I respect them and their families and see the work of Christ in their lives. I am grateful that we gather each week to pray for our church. I’ve always noted that even when there is some disagreement about an item, there’s never a demanding ego at the table. I’m also grateful for our associate minister. We are different enough that he brings a new perspective to our discussions and similar enough to enjoy a camaraderie that strengthens our work together. I appreciate our deacons and many friends as well. I know this is sounding like I’ve stumbled into heaven’s backyard! There are no perfect churches, and Forsythe doesn’t have a perfect preacher, but it is a delightful assembly of people. Speaking of an imperfect preacher…
I admit that over the years I’ve made some blunders. Fifteen years is plenty of time to have been short-sighted when I should have been visionary. I neglected some ministries that should have been prioritized. I said some things in haste that I can’t take back. And though I never intentionally hurt anyone, I’m sure I have. My pastoral visiting skills are pretty low. So for those who have been here the entire time, I pray for your grace and forgiveness. I am familiar with repentance and I seek God’s help in self-improvement. I appreciate the expression of Reinhold Niebuhr:
“I regret the immaturity with which I approached the problems and tasks of the ministry but I do not regret the years devoted to the parish.” ― Reinhold Niebuhr
I’ve talked a lot about myself in this post, but ultimately ministry is not about me and what I can do or get others to do. I think it is about Jesus and what He can do. It is trusting the Holy Spirit to speak when I am in the pulpit with a half-baked sermon that’s starting to sound like Charlie Brown’s teacher, even to me. And it’s about being graceful toward the congregants, each one carrying a heavy load. Everything is about day-by-day living for God.
Those who know me well know that I have an affection for Brennan Manning’s understanding of grace and the gospel.
[The gospel] is not for the super-spiritual. It is not for the muscular Christians who have made John Wayne and not Jesus their hero. It is not for academicians who would imprison Jesus in the ivory tower of exegesis. It is not for noisy, feel-good folks who manipulate Christianity into a naked appeal to emotion. It is not for the hooded mystics who want magic in their religion. It is not for Alleluia Christians who live only on the mountaintop and have never visited the valley of desolation. It is not for the fearless and tearless. It is not for red-hot zealots who boast with the rich young ruler of the gospels: “All these commandments I have kept from my youth.” It is not for the complacent, hoisting over their shoulder a tote-bag of honors, diplomas, and good works actually believing they have it made. It is not for legalists who would rather surrender control of their souls to rules than run the risk of living in union with Jesus . . . [The gospel is for] the bedraggled, beat-up, and burnt-out. It is for the sorely burdened who are still shifting the heaven suitcase from one hand to the other. It is for the wobbly and weak-kneed who know they don’t have it altogether and are not too proud to accept the handout of amazing grace. It is for inconsistent, unsteady disciples whose cheese is falling off their cracker. It is for poor, weak, sinful men and women . . . It is for the bent and the bruised who feel that their lives are a grave disappointment to God. It is for smart people who know they are stupid and honest disciples who admit they are scalawags. - Brennan Manning, The Ragamuffin Gospel
I completely identify. This is long, but as I close I’d like to acknowledge old preachers. I may not be far from that category, but I have been moved and encouraged by older preachers who love nothing more than to tell anyone who will listen about our Savior King, Jesus. Thank you for carrying the banner …for a long time … often without fortune or fame … and you didn’t care … the name of Jesus escaping from your lips was enough for you. That’s what I want for myself.
Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. - 2 Timothy 4:2
Thank you, John!
It’s wonderful! I also thank you for taking the time to visit and meet when I was down your way. It means a lot.