What we learn, when, and from whom is a mystery to me. It is a mystery because the predictable is often not the actual. Marsha and I had the most wonderful experience while we were part of the Church of the Holy Spirit in Mattapan MA. The congregation was large with tremendous diversity of race and culture. The church had resources to make a significant contribution to the neighborhood, and the will to use them according to God's plan. We grew in our understanding of Christ and our ministry while part of that church. We both had learned perhaps even more while leading the community at Camp Dennen. We had the opportunity to experience every kind of ministry in this perfect place with God's perfect timing. I think we went to All Saints' Whitman feeling we were ready, but we learned so much more there about ourselves and the value of community. Marsha and I had made a decision that we needed to live in Whitman and really wanted a home close to the church. God provided in the most amazing way when we asked the church to pray that we find a home close to the church. Little did we know that some members of the church saw our moving to Whitman as an ultimate sign of faith and trusting God. You see the congregation had made a financial commitment to a full time priest for only three years. Three years was all they could afford in using up the endowment at the rate of their predicted deficit. A few years later a comment was made by a church leader that this decision to sell our home and move to Whitman was a sign to many of the depth of our trust in God. Marsha and I looked at each other with great surprise because we had never given it a second thought and did not see it as any act of trust. We learned that we did trust God because we never doubted that God would provide everything needed to grow this congregation. So many times I have seen a simple word or a small act change everything when put into the context of God's plan. When we pray for God to lead and we trust him to prepare the path, God will provide, perhaps not as we originally perceive but God is faithful. I still see God's hand working in my life in the same way today. I still don't know where it will all lead but day by day God reveals His perfect will for me.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
That Little Brown Church
What we learn, when, and from whom is a mystery to me. It is a mystery because the predictable is often not the actual. Marsha and I had the most wonderful experience while we were part of the Church of the Holy Spirit in Mattapan MA. The congregation was large with tremendous diversity of race and culture. The church had resources to make a significant contribution to the neighborhood, and the will to use them according to God's plan. We grew in our understanding of Christ and our ministry while part of that church. We both had learned perhaps even more while leading the community at Camp Dennen. We had the opportunity to experience every kind of ministry in this perfect place with God's perfect timing. I think we went to All Saints' Whitman feeling we were ready, but we learned so much more there about ourselves and the value of community. Marsha and I had made a decision that we needed to live in Whitman and really wanted a home close to the church. God provided in the most amazing way when we asked the church to pray that we find a home close to the church. Little did we know that some members of the church saw our moving to Whitman as an ultimate sign of faith and trusting God. You see the congregation had made a financial commitment to a full time priest for only three years. Three years was all they could afford in using up the endowment at the rate of their predicted deficit. A few years later a comment was made by a church leader that this decision to sell our home and move to Whitman was a sign to many of the depth of our trust in God. Marsha and I looked at each other with great surprise because we had never given it a second thought and did not see it as any act of trust. We learned that we did trust God because we never doubted that God would provide everything needed to grow this congregation. So many times I have seen a simple word or a small act change everything when put into the context of God's plan. When we pray for God to lead and we trust him to prepare the path, God will provide, perhaps not as we originally perceive but God is faithful. I still see God's hand working in my life in the same way today. I still don't know where it will all lead but day by day God reveals His perfect will for me.
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