Barbara sent out a interesting email the other day that asks, "Why is it so important for us to network and fellowship with others in the disability ministry?". So I pose this question to you all - What do you think?
I can just speak for myself. I believe in a connectional church. I do not think we do well in isolation. I need to be with others that do what I do. It helps me. It challenges me to be better.
I knew a Pastor of a large Baptist church that use to travel over an hour to fellowship with a Presbyterian pastor of a large church but did not attend the local ministers group. All of the local churches were not of the same size as his church. It was not that he felt better than the other local pastors it is just he did not have the same issues as they did. The Presbyterian pastor was walking the road he was walking. Knew the issues he was dealing with.
I go to the Chicago Fellowship to be with others who are struggling to keep a float a cross culture ministry within the intellectually disability community.
Here is my reality. Most people in my area think I am great because of what I do (little do they know). Most of my volunteers know what I have taught them. When I come to the Chicago Fellowship I am challenged by what the other people are doing and saying.
As I look back on 15 years of ministry, so many valuable growth moments for me came from the interaction and fellowship of others ministering in the same culture we do. The vacuum of ministry life can be limiting and the need to hear and see other ways and other ideas is important. It also gives us a way to give out what we have take in. I have learned much from a particular friends ministry while talking at these events, as new ministers come into fellowship I have also given out much of what i have learned and put into practice. Lastly I believe we must have a way to influence a new generation. Our ministry is partnering with the Shepherds college ministry today as they work here at our camp ground on various projects for the weekend. This relationship was grown at the last Chicago meeting. Shepherds hired one of our former volunteers into their program last spring. All of this relationship began back in the days of CCPD in which we where introduced to each other by other ministers we both know. So I guess in the end I would say simply the blessing of growth, encouragement, partnership, and education are all found through this type of fellowshipping, and that has incredible value.
For 10 years I was the convener of a monthly ministerial group here in Vancouver, seeking to gather other pastors for prayer, fellowship, sharing and support, and I always found those time encouraging and helpful. We work in isolation from each other, in our own little worlds, and it is refreshing to be reminded that the Kingdom of God is BIG and Gods is doing wonderful things... Unfortunately most of the other pastors I'd invite had other priorities, so after 10 years, I've stopped trying. I miss the feedback, and challenges, and encouragement, and stories of God at work in other ministries.
This Chicago gathering seems even more important to me, because there are no other people near me that are doing what I am doing. Craig comes up from Idaho, and Richard or Linda come up from Florida to visit Joy Fellowship, and it is such a blessing to have someone to talk with who understands and has insightful comments. We need each other. We need to have our eyes lifted. We need to know how to pray for you, and we wish for you to know how to pray for us. We need to hear new ideas, and to wrestle together with issues that many of us face on a recurring basis. This is how we can learn to serve better. This is how we can grow in skill and in wisdom. We learn from each others failures and from each others successes.
Even though it's marvelous that all of our ministries are unique and there is great variety in some of the details, yet, all of us are engaged in the same effort. Where else can I talk about ministry with people who will have this much in common with me? Praise God we have this brief opportunity each year. I come home with a new desire to love and honor and support the flock the Lord has graciously given me a responsibility for. YOu, brothers and sister, always help me. I thank God for you.
I can just speak for myself. I believe in a connectional church. I do not think we do well in isolation. I need to be with others that do what I do. It helps me. It challenges me to be better.
ReplyDeleteI knew a Pastor of a large Baptist church that use to travel over an hour to fellowship with a Presbyterian pastor of a large church but did not attend the local ministers group. All of the local churches were not of the same size as his church. It was not that he felt better than the other local pastors it is just he did not have the same issues as they did. The Presbyterian pastor was walking the road he was walking. Knew the issues he was dealing with.
I go to the Chicago Fellowship to be with others who are struggling to keep a float a cross culture ministry within the intellectually disability community.
Here is my reality. Most people in my area think I am great because of what I do (little do they know). Most of my volunteers know what I have taught them. When I come to the Chicago Fellowship I am challenged by what the other people are doing and saying.
As I look back on 15 years of ministry, so many valuable growth moments for me came from the interaction and fellowship of others ministering in the same culture we do. The vacuum of ministry life can be limiting and the need to hear and see other ways and other ideas is important. It also gives us a way to give out what we have take in. I have learned much from a particular friends ministry while talking at these events, as new ministers come into fellowship I have also given out much of what i have learned and put into practice. Lastly I believe we must have a way to influence a new generation. Our ministry is partnering with the Shepherds college ministry today as they work here at our camp ground on various projects for the weekend. This relationship was grown at the last Chicago meeting. Shepherds hired one of our former volunteers into their program last spring. All of this relationship began back in the days of CCPD in which we where introduced to each other by other ministers we both know. So I guess in the end I would say simply the blessing of growth, encouragement, partnership, and education are all found through this type of fellowshipping, and that has incredible value.
ReplyDeleteI feel similarly to the comments already made.
ReplyDeleteFor 10 years I was the convener of a monthly ministerial group here in Vancouver, seeking to gather other pastors for prayer, fellowship, sharing and support, and I always found those time encouraging and helpful. We work in isolation from each other, in our own little worlds, and it is refreshing to be reminded that the Kingdom of God is BIG and Gods is doing wonderful things... Unfortunately most of the other pastors I'd invite had other priorities, so after 10 years, I've stopped trying. I miss the feedback, and challenges, and encouragement, and stories of God at work in other ministries.
This Chicago gathering seems even more important to me, because there are no other people near me that are doing what I am doing. Craig comes up from Idaho, and Richard or Linda come up from Florida to visit Joy Fellowship, and it is such a blessing to have someone to talk with who understands and has insightful comments. We need each other. We need to have our eyes lifted. We need to know how to pray for you, and we wish for you to know how to pray for us. We need to hear new ideas, and to wrestle together with issues that many of us face on a recurring basis. This is how we can learn to serve better. This is how we can grow in skill and in wisdom. We learn from each others failures and from each others successes.
Even though it's marvelous that all of our ministries are unique and there is great variety in some of the details, yet, all of us are engaged in the same effort. Where else can I talk about ministry with people who will have this much in common with me? Praise God we have this brief opportunity each year. I come home with a new desire to love and honor and support the flock the Lord has graciously given me a responsibility for. YOu, brothers and sister, always help me. I thank God for you.
David Hayward