Some years ago I found a best friend in ministry.  We worked together and our families were close.  We spent a lot of time in one another's homes.  We traveled together, laughed together, prayed together, and wept together.

 

I cannot tell you how special that was to me.  I don't think I had experienced that depth of friendship outside of our marriage to that point. 

 

Then things inexplicably went sideways.  I don't remember all the details and I don't care to recall them now.  The relationship soured.  He took another church.  We stopped talking. 

 

Over a quarter of a century has passed since one man almost single-handedly ran off three-fourths of the church staff members where I served for a short time during seminary.  He didn't like the pastor and made life difficult for him.  He even attempted to enlist me in his cause to get rid of my friend and mentor.  I refused the offer.  None of us lasted long after that.

 

A quiet but respected leader in one of the churches I served declined an opportunity to lead a stewardship campaign we were undertaking.  He reasoned that he had agreed to lead another unnamed effort in the church.  I soon discovered that effort was a campaign to remove me as pastor.  I'm pretty sure I would not have offered him the chance to lead our capital campaign if I had known that.

 

These are difficult memories.  I don't enjoy recalling them.  However, I am happy to tell you the rest of the stories.

 

That last man and I had a long talk a couple of years ago.  As far as it depends on me, and as far as I can tell with him, we are at peace.  I enjoy peace. 

 

When I was with Texas Baptists, I worked with the church where that man engineered the forced departure of most of the staff during my seminary days.  He hobbled down the aisle on a cane at the end of my presentation.  We chatted like old friends for a moment.  Tears formed in his eyes and he blurted out, "I've never gotten over how you left here." 

 

Emotions prevented him from saying more.  I couldn't say or do anything but hug him.  Sometimes a good hug is about the most healing medicine in the world.

 

This week I received a letter from my former best friend in ministry.  Let the contents remain between us.  An exchange of voicemails ensued.  Connection was made at last.  A friendship was restored.  We made plans to hug it out soon. 

 

I wish I could tell you that there is no one who holds me in contempt.  However, I can think of a couple of conversations I still need to have at some point.  I can tell you that forgiveness feels so very good, both giving it and receiving it. 

 

Who needs your forgiveness?  Who do you need to seek out for reconciliation?  What are we waiting for? 

 

David

 

The challenge to our established churches is open our eyes to the opportunities of new church start sponsoring.  We have large and small TBA churches sponsoring the works but it is still a very small percentage of the almost 400 TBA churches. 

 

In the sponsoring role your church can provide prayer and mentoring support, a limited funding commitment, space for meeting, materials or furniture, office space or equipment and /or whatever you have that they may need.

 

Call me and let's get together and talk about the rich blessing you can be to a new church start and how that new start will bless you and your church.

 

Jay Harris, Church Starting Director at Jay@TarrantBaptist.org or 817.927.1911 ext 215.

What would it do for your ministry if you had the tools to help people move forward in all areas of their life? Coaching is not the same as mentoring or therapy. Coaching will give you tools that will change how you do ministry and how you relate to your own family.

Sign up now for the Professional Coach Training (Modules 1 & 2) February 17-21, 2014 to be held at the North Fort Worth Baptist Church, 5801 North Freeway I-35 West in Fort Worth.

The training is certified through Coaching4Clergy and the International Coach Federation.

For members of Tarrant Baptist Association you receive a deep discount. The cost for the training is regularly $2,290 plus $249 for class materials. Members of Tarrant Baptist Association pay $500 plus $249 for class materials for both modules. Members of TBA churches register here 

Tarrant Baptists Registration. 

Others Register Here.

Now you can learn about it for FREE!!  We will show you how!

Incredibly powerful, spam free email!

Shared Calendars & Contacts

30 GB of Cloud space for each user!

Access your office files from anywhere!

Powerful video conferencing for your church.

$1000s of Dollars/Month FREE Google Adwords

A Professional YouTube channel for your church!

and so much more...

BONUS:  Flat Panel TV Presentations at Your Church.

REGISTER:  

http://computerministry.com/index.php?option=com_rsform&formId=4

 

2014 Girls in Action Lock-In/Mission Study

Sponsored by Tarrant Baptist Association GA

 

Date: February 21 & 22

Time: 7:00 pm Friday to 8:00 am Saturday

Where: Kid Central, First Baptist Church Mansfield, 1800 East Broad Street, Mansfield, Texas

Cost: $10 Cash

 

 

Come join the fun! Crafts, games, snacks, inflatable and mission study

 

Girls will need to eat before they come. Late night pizza will be served.

 

Bring a sleeping bag, pillow & PJ's. Leaders may want to bring an air mattress.

 

Register your group by emailing dwilliams@firstmansfield.com by February 15.

Derinda Williams & GA Leadership Team

817.473-1889 Ext. 231

817.454.9046

 

United Way's VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) sites is in dire need of some volunteers. These sites are throughout Tarrant County, and offer low-income individuals the opportunity to get their taxes prepared for free, and ensure that they receive all eligible tax credits.

 

For those who are interested:

• First, you can look at a map of the sites, here.  

• Then sign on to our Get Connected page and view the "VITA Sites" tab. Once you click on your desired location, you'll see listings for each needed volunteer position, in chronological order. We will only list them two weeks at a time.

• If you need to discuss attending a shift for a shorter time than is listed, please sign up for that shift, and then e-mail Elise.Hines@unitedwaytarrant.org

Vancouver Church Planting has partnered with P2 Missions to provide a contextualized experience in Vancouver from July 5-12, 2014.  This would be a wonderful opportunity for youth groups of any size to utilize this resource, be trained by local planters, and serve in Vancouver. P2 staff along with local coordinators work out all the onsite logistics including lodging, food, worship, and ministry planning! For more information, visit http://www.lifeway.com/p2missions/index.php/projects 

Only Four Things Grow a Church: 21^st Century Strategies Mini Tour 2014

Bill Tenny-Brittian and Bill Easum of 21^st Century Strategies are taking to the road for the Only Four Things Grow a Church tour in 2014. These one day seminars have been designed for church leaders who are committed to seeing their churches become increasingly effective, faithful, and sustainable.

 

Based on the Four Core Processes outlined in their Effective Staffing for Vital Churches book, this event will help you get the church-growth ball rolling and provide the momentum to break through the barriers holding your church back.

 

The event content is suitable for clergy, staff, and laity - in other words, it's for everyone in your church. So bring a team and save $10/ticket when registering 3 or more participants on a single order.