Churches as islands
In regard to churches writing their own curriculum (April 16), that may work for some, but I look at it as a church taking a step away from the Southern Baptist Convention and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and a step toward becoming an independent Baptist church.
The independents have been doing this for years. I have even heard them brag: "No one tells us what to teach in Sunday School and Bible study. We write our own literature."
Our churches are becoming islands.
F.A. Taylor Jr.
Kempner
Ministry beyond pulpit
A few years ago, after much prayer, God led me to resign from a church after serving them as pastor for three and a half years and nearly 23 years total at various churches.
I never had resigned a church without having another to serve, so I was certain God would soon provide a church for me, and life would go on. That would not be the case. Then my mother soon became ill with cancer, resulting in many weekend trips to Missouri.
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There is so much to tell, but I will summarize a bit: Mom went through lung cancer and surgery, and a year later, she went through pancreatic cancer and surgery. She went home to heaven on Dec. 23, 2011.
By not serving as a pastor, I had the weekends I needed to make the many trips. Those visits became more and more valuable. Some years ago, Mom accepted Christ, but just a week before her death, my sister accepted Christ. I was able to share Jesus with her on a previous and recent visit.
Not too long ago, I was able to go to Missouri and baptize not only my sister, but also my niece and her husband and their daughter. Wow!
There is ministry beyond the pulpit. I never had opportunities like this before, as I always served a long distance away from my family.
I have learned just how valuable and precious is that "ministry beyond the pulpit."
Bill Adams
Temple
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