February 3, 2003
Ingleside church offers respite for
ministers who've been terminated
___By John Hall
___Texas Baptist Communications
___INGLESIDE--The sign outside may read "First Baptist Church," but the building actually is becoming a refuge for broken vessels.
___Don French, pastor of First Baptist Church of Ingleside, has led the church to help six recently unemployed ministers by providing a free vacation to them and their families. The church finances the families' trips to Ingleside and gives them gift cards to buy groceries along with some spending money.
___The vacation is meant to be a time of healing for the recently dismissed minister and family, French said. Many ministers are reeling in the wake of losing a job as they have difficulty paying bills, have no benefits and often question the nature of a church that terminates them for what they view as no fault of their own, he said.
"It would absolutely floor you how many would say, 'You're the only phone call I got.'"
--Don French, speaking of calling ministers who have been terminated
___The congregation helps in any way the family would like, French said. They have had meals with the ministers and their family and have provided short-term child care.
___Visitors have responded to varying degrees, French said. Some spend a lot of time with the church, while others simply pick up and drop off the keys to their temporary residence.
___The effort grew out of French's past that included being asked to leave a staff position at a church. He believes he experienced the same emotional effects that many fired ministers feel. Through that experience, he felt God wanted him to help other ministers.
___"I have a real heart for pastors," French said. "I've been there. Until someone's been there, they don't understand."
___He frequently calls ministers who have been terminated to encourage and pray for them, he said.
___"It would absolutely floor you how many would say, 'You're the only phone call I got,'" French explained.
___The South Texas congregation feels a need to help the unemployed ministers, French said, noting the outreach has encouraged a servant attitude throughout the church. The effort also has given the church one more thing--a youth pastor.
___Stephen Dicks was hesitant to accept the church's offer of a free vacation after the church contacted him through the Baptist General Convention of Texas minister/church relations office because he did not want to be "put on display." But he came to Ingleside after being reassured the church simply wanted to help.
___The congregation's warmth and Christ-like effort to help reinvigorated Dicks and helped him recall why he was a minister, he said. They collected an offering to help him pay some of his bills.
___"The church did everything to let us know we were ministers of the gospel, and anything they could do to help they did," Dicks said.
___The church began to sense God's movement and called Dicks as their youth pastor, French said. Dicks was hesitant once again to jump at the opportunity, however.
___"It's like going to Disney world and them asking you to stay," Dicks thought. "Is this real or are we staying because we had so much fun?"
___After carefully examining the position and spending time in prayer, Dicks accepted and has flourished at the church. He started a youth program, including activities on Sunday morning and evening and Wednesday night as well as special events. He has seen attendance rise from five to 60 consistent youth. The youth took their first mission trip in early January.
___Dicks also has started a ministry with college students and young professionals.
___"The Lord is working," he said. "I'm just privileged to watch it."
___French believes the outreach is helping his church revive ministers and build a ministry from "broken vessels" and thinks other churches could do the same. Ministers need to be ministered as all people do, he said.
___"I hope (the ministry) expands," he said. "We're not a big church, and I know there are churches out there that have the resources. It doesn't take that much to care for pastors."
___
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