Pastors often are put into a position to explain the vision God has given us. Just because we share the vision does not mean people will follow, at least not without an explanation. So, my question is: How does someone explain God’s vision in such a way others will follow and the Lord will be glorified? 

Richard RayPastor Rick Warren lists seven ways to help others understand the vision. Explain: 

1. Who you are. 

2. Where you are going. 

3. Why you are going there. 

4. What it feels like to be going there. 

5. What people can do. 

6. How you are going to do it. 

7. What the rewards will be. 

“Vision-casting is an important part of your role as a pastor,” Warren states. “God has a vision for your church. Your job is to help your parishioners get behind that vision. You’ll need to communicate these seven things when you do that.” 

Although I appreciate these words of wisdom and instruction, I still find myself wondering why believers will not simply trust the one God has called to lead them. 

I understand some pastors have let their congregations down or have not lived up to the expectations of the church. But could it be this occurred only because the congregation never fully trusted in their pastor to begin with? Have we become believers who will follow their pastor’s vision for their church only when the church has dissected every part of the vision? Have churches lost faith in their pastor? Have pastors stop sharing their vision with the church? 

Scripture clearly tells us, “Where there is no vision, the people perish” (Proverbs 29:18). Visions from God are necessary for the church to minister to this lost and dying world. It is not that the visions have stopped coming from God. It is the children of God who have stopped following the visions. 

Maybe we have forgotten what it is to follow a vision from God. In Acts 16:9-10, we are shown how a vision from God is followed: “During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, ‘Come over to Macedonia and help us.’ After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.” Paul received a vision from God, he shared that vision with others and they all went at once to preach. 

Pastors, I encourage you to receive the vision God has given you and share it with your church. Church, I encourage you to hear the vision God has given your pastor, and together go at once and preach. Do not let your church perish because you fail to follow the vision God has for your church. Receive the vision. Share the vision. Go and preach at once. 

Until next time, remember, the Lord has called you to serve, but he has not called you to serve alone. Visit our website, www.bivocational.com, for more information on how the Bivocational/Small Church Association can minister and serve you.

Richard Ray is executive director of the Bivocational/Small Church Association and director of missions for the Tri-Rivers Baptist Area. You can reach him at brother_ray@juno.com.

We had been meeting with a family of Sudanese refugees for a few weeks. The husband had been in contact with several Christ-followers, but we were unsure whether he had become a Christian.  We know his wife already had committed her life to Jesus.  A Christian worker connected with them and had been mentoring her one-on-one for a few weeks by this point.  

However, they were—and still are—experiencing a lot of persecution.  When the woman’s brother in Sudan found out that she had switched from his religion to following Christ, he threatened both her and her husband.  The brother traveled to our city to find them, take her home against her will and possibly kill her husband for his failure to prevent her conversion.  

A dangerous conversion

The woman refused to go back on her decision. So, the family decided to move to a different apartment where her brother couldn’t find them.  She ran into him by chance getting off a bus, but the people around her defended her and the brother ran away.  We are unsure whether he went back home after this or still is in the city looking for them.  She can’t ask the government for help, because she could be thrown in jail for her decision to convert to Christianity.  So, they simply remain in hiding. 

Despite all this, she has still wanted to tell everyone she knows about Jesus.  But her husband discouraged her and got angry when she wanted to share her faith, because it was dangerous and everyone already was treating them so badly.

The Christian worker who had been discipling her had been praying about how to mentor her husband.  So, she asked my partner and me if we would be willing to do it.  She offered to translate for us so we could sit down and talk with him.  

When she asked us, I could feel my spirit leap with joy. I had been praying for this opportunity since the first day we met this family.  For our first meeting, we wanted to talk about persecution because of all that was going on in their lives.  We were unsure about where the husband was personally in his relationship to Christ, but we still felt led to discuss this subject with him.  

After some time thinking and praying, we decided on four Scriptures to study: Psalm 69, John 15, 2 Corinthians 6:1-10, and Philippians 4:1-9.  Through the first two Scriptures, we wanted to show there would always be persecution when we stand on truth and follow God.  The third would show how we are to act in response to this persecution. The last was to give an example of one way we can achieve this attitude and mindset in the midst of persecution.

We started out simply spending time with him, his wife, and their kids before we began our meeting with him alone.  We first asked about what’s going on in his life.  He immediately opened up to us about all that was going on.  He told us of his struggles and the persecution his family was facing, which he called “bad weather.” 

Life’s ‘bad weather’

We wondered if he really had committed his life to Christ yet, so my partner decided to ask him who Jesus was to him.  He answered that he loved Jesus and agreed with all he said, but acknowledged he has been holding back from fully committing.  He was ashamed and embarrassed to admit it was due to the “bad weather” in his life.  He said he wanted to wait for “good weather” before he fully committed.  

Even though he was not yet a Christ-follower, we still felt led to talk about persecution.  The difference was that now we were doing so knowing we were talking to someone who was holding back because of persecution. He was quiet the whole time as he listened to the Scriptures as we read them.  One of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do was to look into his eyes, with tears in mine, and tell him the truth is he may never get out of this “bad weather.”

We finished our Bible reading and talked a lot about how to find peace in times of trouble.  I told him when I am afraid or worried, I close my eyes and picture the cross.  I picture Jesus on the cross, and I see the blood running down his face, his arms spread wide, and yet the love in his eyes.  When I do this, I told him, all my worries and fear just fade away in the surpassing love found in this image.  I told him to do this when he feels overwhelmed by this “bad weather.”  

After we finished, I asked him if he thought there was one final step that he wasn’t taking, one final step that was holding him back.  He said there was.  So I asked him if he wanted to take that final step together.  By the grace of God, he said yes.  We explained that it is not a prayer that saves him but a commitment to follow the Son of God with his whole heart and to make him Lord of his life.  We told him to pray to God however he wanted about whatever it was that he felt was holding him back and then to let go of whatever that thing was.  

‘How do we share this news?’

He prayed a gospel-centered prayer, admitting his brokenness and weakness and asking for God to deliver him as he confessed his faith in Christ— the kind of prayer that shows the presence of the Holy Spirit within him. It was the kind of prayer where a person prays about things he has never been taught.  Afterward, he sat with his wife and told her about his decision. He said he was not in agreement with her convictions before but now he was.  We could see the weight lifted off of his wife’s shoulders. After this, he asked, “How do we share this news now with people?” 

We finished by talking to them about now being baptized as a symbol of their decision and they were both very excited. We wanted to give them a couple of weeks to understand its significance.  Sometime soon, I will get the incredible opportunity to baptize my new brother in Christ and then see him baptize his wife.  I have never felt such an incredible purpose in my life as I did this night.  When we finished talking with them, we all sat back and drank tea.  We all felt the change in the feeling of that little apartment.  There was a newer greater presence residing there.  If you ask me, there was a change in the weather.

C.G. is serving in North Africa with Go Now Missions. His full name and exact location are withheld due to security reasons.

I hear few Sunday school lessons or sermons on Ecclesiastes. When I mention it, people say Ecclesiastes is about the “vanity of vanities” of life, and it’s not useful for people today. But someone mentioned we should interpret Ecclesiastes through paradox, which I’ve heard regarding Jesus’ teaching. How do I use paradox to interpret Scripture?      

Driving home from Vacation Bible School this past summer, my daughter said to me: “Mom, we’ve got to talk about something. We’ve always said Jesus is God’s Son. But today, our teacher was telling us Jesus is God. How is it possible for him to be both God and God’s Son?”

I proceeded to tell her that even though it doesn’t seem to be possible for Jesus to be both, the nature of the infinite God doesn’t always make sense to our human minds. 

Her honest inquiry was not appeased by my response and its lack of an answer. 

God is a paradox

If she were older, I might have responded: “God is a paradox. Faith is a paradox. Sometimes the things we know about God do not seem to correlate with what we know about reality.”

I think the paradoxical nature of trying to understand God may be what the author of Ecclesiastes was trying to communicate. For example, when the author mentions in Ecclesiastes 7:15 the righteous perish and the wicked live a long time, he is noticing a paradox. What the author knew about God was that if a person does good things, then that person will have rewards, like long life, and if a person does bad things, then that person will be punished. However, what the author perceived in his experiences, what he knew about reality, did not coincide with a theology of retribution. Sometimes, the wicked thrive and the righteous die. It is a paradox.

Unlike some other biblical books, Ecclesiastes does not try to offer simple answers for this and other difficult questions. It doesn’t provide clear-cut, unequivocal teachings about the nature of God and the world. 

To the author of Ecclesiastes, one-dimensional ideas are insufficient to describe the complex, multi-layered, messy enterprise of seeking to know and follow God. The only thing he can rely on is that life and God are incomprehensible.

But in spite of that, the author commends his readers to enjoy life anyway (8:15, 9:7-9), work hard anyway (9:10) and, most importantly, fear the Lord anyway (12:13). 

Following God is complicated, then and now

Life with God today is not all that different from the days of Ecclesiastes. Knowing and following God is complicated, sometimes incomprehensible and not always one-dimensional. That this biblical author highlighted that tension may not be popular in preaching and teaching, but it resonates with our experience and can offer us peace in knowing we are not alone in the struggle.

So, even when paradoxes abound in faith, theology, reality and 10-year-old girls who cannot understand the Trinity, may we find solidarity in our striving—and the resolve to enjoy life, work hard and fear God anyway.

Meredith Stone

Instructor of Christian ministry and Scripture

Director of ministry guidance

Logsdon School of Theology, Hardin-Simmons University

Abilene

If you have a comment about this column or wish to ask a question for a future column, contact Bill Tillman, consulting ethicist for “Right or Wrong?” at btillman150@gmail.com.

Have you wondered about biblical situations that aren’t mentioned specifically in Scripture? They’re in the Bible, all right, but you can’t cite chapter and verse.

For example, think about Jacob’s grandchildren. Do you reckon the old patriarch could call them all by name?

The Bible tells us he had 12 sons, and Lord only knows how many daughters came along. They all had large families back then. So, Jacob could have been called “Grandpa” by well more than 100 grandchildren. Do you think he kept them all straight?

‘You sort of look like Naphtali’

If you use your spiritual imagination, you can see old Jacob heading out to the corrals late in the afternoon, his mind on dinner. “You, boy!” he calls out to a small child with curly black hair. “You’re one of Naphtali’s sons, right? You sort of look like Naphtali. Go fetch your granddad a goat.”

Sometimes, I think about Jacob when I attend large Texas Baptist meetings. Our “family” is huge, and one of the challenges at these gatherings is matching names with faces in a nanosecond. At any event, any one of thousands of folks could show up. And we don’t see each other all that often, so pairing the right name with the right face in a given moment creates an intricate memory obstacle course.

Sadly, I must admit failure. This wasn’t the first time, but that doesn’t make it any less distressing.

Recently, I traveled to Waco for the funeral of Diana Garland, the wonderful founding dean of Baylor University’s school of social work, which now bears her name.

After the service, I saw a woman I’ve obviously known before. She stepped around a longtime out-of-state friend I was waiting to greet. The second I saw her, I associated this woman with the daughter of another longtime friend, for two reasons: She closely resembles the daughter of my friend. And that daughter of my friend also is closely connected to the other friend I was waiting to greet.

An embarrassing moment

So, after we both said hi, I asked this young woman, “How’s your mom?” because my friend has had some health issues. A cloud crossed her face. She mumbled, “Just fine.” She excused herself and disappeared in the crowd.

Shortly afterward, but not quickly enough, I realized: “She is not who I thought she was. … So, who is she?” Before I could go after her and apologize, she was nowhere to be found.

Since then, I’ve been psychologically whacking myself for messing up like that. Part of my preacher’s kid predisposition is to not hurt people’s feelings. And nothing stings quite like not being known.

I even found some Facebook pictures of the woman for whom I mistook this young woman and sent them to a friend who probably knew almost everyone in the room. “Do you know a young woman who looks almost like this but is not this person?” I asked.

He wrote back to say he saw the woman I mentioned, and he thought she was the person I originally labeled her as. That made me feel a little better, but I was no closer to making a positive ID so I could look her up and apologize.

What’s the point of all this? Well a couple of things.

First, when you go to big Baptist meetings and you’re not wearing a nametag, say your name when you greet people. Don’t assume other casual acquaintances know you instantaneously. There are just too many of us, and we don’t see each other often enough.

God loves each of us

And second, I’m so grateful God Almighty knows each of our names. When you contemplate the universe contains billions of galaxies, each with billions of stars, we can feel miniscule. But the Bible says God not only knows us, but God knows all about us and loves us. What a gift.

Oh, and third, if you’re a young woman who attended a funeral in Waco, and I asked, “How’s your mom,” and I don’t know your mom, then please forgive me. And please, please chalk my forgetfulness up to age and not intention.

How can people claim to be pro-life and still refuse to do something—anything—to turn the tide of gun violence in America?

If people were consistently pro-life, they would (a) support efforts to reduce abortions, including the social and financial reasons that lead women to end pregnancy; (b) deal directly with euthanasia and assisted suicide, including the medical, physical and financial reasons that lead ill people to end their own lives; (c) advocate for reasonable gun control, including differentiating between firearms designed for hunting and weapons designed to take human life; and (d) seek criminal justice reform, including abolition of capital punishment.

Editor Marv KnoxChances are, the paragraph you just read made you happy one minute and angry the next, or vice-versa. Logic and consistency are not American hallmarks. Conservatives oppose abortion and physician-assisted suicide, and liberals oppose the proliferation of firearms and capital punishment. A consistent life-ethic would come down on the side of life every time.

We live in the bloody shadow of the campus shooting in Roseburg, Ore., which happened in the bloody shadow of the on-air murder of a TV crew in Roanoke, Va., which happened in the bloody shadow of the church massacre in Charleston, S.C. So, for today, let’s focus on guns.

To begin, let’s set aside single- and double-shot shotguns and hunting rifles. The vast majority of hunters use those guns legally and honorably. The legacy of game hunting predates our nation. Hunters feed their families and others. Hunting trips cement bonds between parents and children. Some people use hunting equipment illicitly, but the occasions are almost miniscule compared to other gun violations.

Stem proliferation of assault rifles

We must find a way to stem the proliferation and mayhem caused by high-capacity assault rifles. We also must do something to prevent unstable people from obtaining handguns that can be secreted into public places and used to take innocent lives.

The Second Amendment states: “A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.” That has been the law of the land 224 years, and it’s not about to change. But perhaps it should be interpreted as conservative justices seek to interpret all aspects of the Constitution—literally. One solution would be to require participation in a “well-regulated militia” in order to possess military-style weapons.

More practically, we must engage in a national dialogue and develop a purchasing structure that ensures only stable, law-abiding citizens have access to these weapons. Thorough background checks—whether the purchases are made in stores or at gun shows—should be required. If a gun is only going to be used for legal purposes, then a reasonable delay in taking possession should be no problem.

Don’t publicize murderers’ names

And here’s another step Americans should back that has nothing to do with obtaining firearms but has much to do with mass slayings: We should agree we do not want to know the names or see the faces of people who commit mass murder.

This may be an unexpected proposal, coming from a news organization. The First Amendment guarantees press freedom. But in other situations, the media agree to withhold identities. For example, news outlets do not reveal the names of victims of sexual violence to protect their privacy. Why not withhold the identity of mass-murderers to deny them the attention they perversely crave? All other details could and should be reported, but mass murderers should be denied personal publicity.

The old definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Every time we learn about another mass murder, we lament and wring our hands, but we have not done anything to change the future. That’s crazy.

Since 20 children and six teachers died in Sandy Hook, Conn., almost three years ago, America has witnessed 142 school shootings, according to Religion News Service. That year in our nation, criminal homicides outnumbered justifiable homicides with guns 8,342 to 259.

We cannot claim to be pro-life and stand for continuation of the slaughter.

Another thing we learned from The Cosby Show was, “Blacks are people, too.” 

This program aired during a period of civil rights struggle for blacks. This program portrayed a black family just like all families. This was a black version of All in the Family.

Fred Rosenbaum

Gainesville, Texas

“Your father has killed the calf we were fattening and has prepared a great feast to celebrate his coming home again (homecoming) unharmed.” (Luke 15:27)

Kathy HillmanFootball, homecomings and chrysanthemums overrun Texas every fall. Unlike Thomas Wolfe, who wrote You Can’t Go Home Again, most apparently believe, with the prodigal son, you can. Otherwise, why would thousands make annual treks to high schools and colleges for parades, pep rallies, tailgates, football games and a myriad of other traditions? Christian universities often add religious services. Howard Payne University includes the opportunity to renew wedding vows in Grace Chapel every few years. Baylor University hosts Singspiration.

Several colleges—including Baylor, Southwestern, Illinois and Missouri—claim to have hosted the first homecoming celebration. Of course, Texas Baptists favor the Baylor declaration. 

Homecoming gathering at Columbus Avenue Baptist Church in Waco, circa 1950. The woman on the far right is Kathy Hillman’s great aunt Lois Mitchell Newton. (Photo courtesy of the Texas Collection at Baylor University)However, one Texas-proud assertion seems indisputable—the invasion of the “bigger is better” homecoming mum and garter. Our daughter, Holly, experienced mom mum trauma as seventh-grader Gilbert informed her Wednesday night after church he invited a girl to sit with him at homecoming on Friday and needed a “cool mum.”

No one knows when “official” homecomings began, but they didn’t involve pep rallies or football. They included Sunday preaching, singing—often “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms”—dinner on the grounds and Saturday spent cleaning the church cemetery. 

Kirby Rogers of Cinco Ranch High School in Katy and Abigail Anderson of Seven Lake High School in Katy, both members of Tallowood Church in Houston, display their mum and garter. By tradition, only seniors are allowed to wear gold ones. (Photo courtesy of Laura Bailey Rogers)Homecoming can be traced to communion gatherings in late 18th and early 19th century Scotland. Frontier Protestants returned to their birth congregations to observe milestones. Some involved camp meetings. Rural African-American churches celebrated homecomings, sometimes called Family and Friends Day, before the turn of the 20th century.

Commemorations continue. Independence Baptist Church recognized its 175th anniversary in 2011, and Union Baptist Association followed in 2015. 

Homecomings connect and reconnect. They affirm God’s faithfulness, reaffirm loyalty and belief, reinforce community and unity, and renew faith in the face of everyday life. Just as high school and college homecomings draw students and alumni closer, church homecomings draw believers closer to God, the church and each other.

Every year, Texas Baptists celebrate homecoming. Nov. 8-10, we’ll gather in Frisco for the 2015 Baptist General Convention of Texas annual meeting, just as we have since 1886. Joel Gregory, Taylor Sandlin and Ralph West will come home to bring inspiring sermons. The 2015 homecoming game at Midway High School in Waco. (Photo courtesy of Rebekah North)Current officers will offer a missions message. Combined church choirs and Hardin-Simmons University’s Concert Choir will add worship music. Dallas Baptist University’s Grand Chorus will present selections from “Experiencing God: The Musical,” which it will sing at DBU’s homecoming worship service Nov. 20. Tuesday evening, the Singing Men of Texas will give a 40th anniversary concert.

The theme, “Deep Roots … Living Legacy,” echoes homecoming traditions of reconnecting with founding principles and connecting with the future. We’ll rejoice through worship, exhibits, workshops and fellowship. We’ll draw closer to God as we consider Colossians 2:6-7, “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives for him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught and overflowing with thankfulness.”

We’ll examine Baptist beliefs as listed by the 1994 BGCT Baptist Distinctives Committee:

• Authority of the BibleTanner Henry and Emily North at the 2015 homecoming game at Midway High School in Waco. (Photo courtesy of Rebekah North)

• Autonomy of the local congregation of believers

• Believer’s baptism and church membership

• Congregational church government

• Deity and lordship of Jesus Christ

• Evangelism and missions: The Great Commission

• Religious freedom and separation of church and state

• Salvation only by grace through faith

• Security of the believer

• Soul competency and priesthood of the believer

• Symbolic understanding of baptism and the Lord’s Supper

• Voluntary cooperation among churches.

As outstanding alumni participate in school homecomings, outstanding Baptists will lead workshops covering the distinctives. Current and past BGCT executive directors Bill Pinson (1983-2000), Charles Wade (2000-08), Randal Everett (2008-12) and David Hardage (2012-present) will provide keys to Baptist identity. Winners of the high school essay and college/seminary sermon contests will share their entries.

Independence Baptist Church dinner on the grounds. (Kathy Hillman Photo)Other presenters include Dennis Wiles, Paul Powell, Todd Still, Nora Lozano, Julio Guarneri, Carol Holcomb, Bruce Gourley, Jennifer Hawks, Stacy Conner, Ellen DiGiosia, Stephen Stookey, Jennifer Bashaw, Trent Blackley, Emily Prevost, John Litzler, Shelley Melia, Judy Morris, Wayne Graham, Meredith Stone and a panel of minister spouses.

Come home and join us for homecoming Texas Baptist style. There won’t be parades, pep rallies, queens, football or massive mums except in floral arrangements. But there will be opportunities to affirm God’s faithfulness, reinforce community and unity, reaffirm loyalty and belief and renew faith. Allow this homecoming to draw us closer to God, the church and one another as we seek “to touch the people of this state with the Great Commandment and to impact Texas, and beyond, with the Great Commission.”

For more information, click here. 

Kathy Hillman is president of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. She also is director of Baptist collections, library advancement and the Keston Center for Religion, Politics and Society at Baylor University.

As a father of five children, I know a lot about expectations. From the moment they were born, I had high expectations for them.

Richard RayI expected them to succeed and find happiness in this world. I expected them to grow up in a Christian home where they would find Christ as Savior. I expected them to find a wonderful spouse with whom they would raise a family of their own. I even had day-to-day expectations for them, whether it was completing their chores, getting good grades or performing well at various activities. 

As parents, we all have expectation for our children as they grow up. Now with that said, my children did not always succeed to my high expectations, just as I am sure I did not reach the expectations of my own parents. Therefore, what are we to do when our children let us down, when they do not succeed as we had hoped or when they take a different road than we had laid out for them? 

We must look at our children as God looks at us. 1 John 3:1 says, “See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are!” When my children do not meet my expectations, I often come to this verse to remind myself that as a child of God, I, too, have not met the expectations of my heavenly Father. Then I have to ask myself, “What is God’s expectation of me?” 

As a child of God saved by his grace, God expects me to bear good fruit. God expects me to be a “doer of the word,” as James 1:22 says: “But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.” It is here I find my answer. I am not called to set expectations for myself, for my children or for others. My expectations are not God’s expectations. I am called to raise my children as unto the Lord, to teach them with both words and deeds, to fulfill God’s expectation for them. I am called to love my children as Christ loves me and gave himself for me. When I set expectations for my children, I am fooling myself. 

Therefore, I leave the job of setting expectations of my children, others and myself to God. For God says in Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” As a parent, I desire that my children have a future and a hope. 

I cannot think of a greater expectation than this. If I will be a doer of the word and bear fruit by striving to live up to the expectation of my heavenly Father, then this earthly father will see his children succeed in following after the heart of God. My only expectations for my children should be the expectations I have for myself, and that is to fulfill God’s expectation of me. 

God himself has set expectations. As parents, let us demonstrate lives that strive to meet those expectations so as to encourage our children to meet them as well. 

Until next time, remember the Lord has called you to serve, but he has not called you to serve alone. Visit our website, www.bivocational.com, for more information on how the Bivocational/Small Church Association can minister and serve you.

Richard Ray is executive director of the Bivocational/Small Church Association and director of missions for the Tri-Rivers Baptist Area. You can reach him at brother_ray@juno.com.

Every Wednesday presents an emotional challenge for me. On Wednesdays, I lead a Bible study followed by a couple of discipleship sessions, and then I help out at my local church with the youth. 

Alexandra GrandaI love Wednesdays, but at the same time as soon as I wake up, I’m ready for the day to end. Sometimes negative thoughts of how incapable I am and doubts about my self-worth resound in my head, especially when I am tired. But then I am reminded, “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the powers of this dark world and spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12).

During one of my discipleship sessions, I was talking to a student who is having struggles with her family. She has been exposed to problems with her uncle that are affecting the way her family runs, and as a result, her family is falling apart. The only thing that has sustained her is her faith, trusting that God will do his ultimate will. 

When students come to me with their situations and tell me all their problems I am reminded I can’t just counsel them. First of all, I am unequipped. I have many flaws, I can be quick to judge, I am not a patient person, and I naturally tend to avoid those situations. But seeing this young woman break down made me want to hug her. I really didn’t have anything to say, but, thankfully, God did. God brought to my mind the words of James 1:2-3: “Consider it pure joy… whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”

I believe there is an urgency to learn and memorize Scripture. There is nothing greater than to stand firm in what God has to say, and knowing Scripture is a reminder of who God is and who we are. Hebrews 4:12 says: “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edge sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow.” 

This week, I was reminded all my personal thoughts and any advice I could give to students will never as good as what God has to say to them. “All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training others in all righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16).

Alexandra Granda is serving with Go Now Missions as a campus missionary intern at the Baptist Student Ministry at the University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley.

It saddens me when I read articles like “National Commission on Hunger heard directly from hungry people.” Texas has such a large hunting industry and so many natural resources that aren’t being utilized. 

Our non-profit, Hunters for Good, encourages wild-game donations by not requiring hunters and game ranches pay processing fees for donated animals. We are doing what we can with what we have but could do so much more with the proper funding. 

Please keep this option in mind as discussions continue about food insecurity in Texas. 

John Wilton, president and executive director

Hunters for Good

Frisco

Seeing Jesus is a powerful image in the New Testament.

For example, Matthew 25:37-40 says: “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, and feed you, or thirsty, and give you something to drink? And when did we see you a stranger, and invite you in, or naked, and clothe you? When did we see you sick, or in prison, and come to you?’ George BullardThe King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of mine, even the least of them, you did it to me.’”

Following Jesus requires not only vision with our eyes, but also vision with our full senses. It is not just literally seeing an object. It is seeing an opportunity. It is not just about your eyesight. It is also about your experience. 

Your church needs vision, or it may not be able to see and fully experience Jesus.

Every congregation needs vision. It is not optional. Why? Because vision will empower the forward progress of your congregation and allow you to see the Jesus potential in people. Without vision, many congregations tread water, seeking to avoid drowning. Many congregations are blind to the hungry, thirsty, stranger, naked, sick and imprisoned.

God’s vision

Your church may need vision, but for up to 80 percent of all congregations, it is an unmet need. It eludes them. They make programmatic or financial success their vision, not realizing these are not the substance of a vision from God.

Some congregations believe vision is being healthy, which partially is true. Some congregations believe vision is having a successful program that attracts young adult families, which partially is true.

Some congregations believe vision is about growing numerically, which at times is a side benefit of a clear, empowering vision. Some congregations believe vision is about becoming missional, which is a great characteristic of many congregations with vision.

At the risk of being accused of spiritualizing this issue—as if that were a bad thing—every congregation needs God’s vision. Every pastor needs God’s vision. Anything less than God’s vision is inadequate.

Not the same as the pastors’ vision

Notice I did not say your pastor needs vision, although this also is true. Pastors need vision for their life and ministry. Pastors need the empowerment of vision in their lives. A pastor’s vision—even for the congregation—and the vision congregations need are not always the same thing. God’s vision for your congregation is always the best vision.

Some years ago, I spoke to ministry leaders in a regional denominational organization. The executive director came to me at the end and said, “How do congregations develop vision?”

Many congregations cannot figure out vision. They know they need one, but they do not know how to get there. They believe there is a simple formula that will produce vision. That generally is not the case.

Perhaps vision is part of God’s grace gift to us and not a series of steps or deeds that produce vision. This would mean vision is not something we can earn or an exercise we complete. It is a grace gift of God we discern.

Too many times, congregations see vision as organizational. That is unfortunate, because congregations are an organism and not an organization. They see the pithy mottos some businesses have. Or they see the well-developed professional visions cast by large congregations or large Christian ministry organizations.

Then they say, “We need one of those!” My response is, “Yes and maybe.”

Questions for your congregation:

• Is it possible your congregation actually understands the need for vision but is trying too hard to acquire vision? Perhaps a better approach is seeing Jesus in the interactions of the congregation and in the faces of the people to whom God is sending you.

• Has your congregation brought secular organizational success perspectives into the church by seeing vision as the success of programs and the fulfillment of your budget goal? Certainly these can be positive vital signs, but are they truly a vision from God for a spiritual organism?

• Does your congregation want to avoid its responsibility to be captivated by God’s vision by saying it is the pastor’s responsibility to provide vision? Do you want your pastor to go up on a mountain or into the Holy of Holies and come down or out with vision?

George Bullard is president of The Columbia Partnership, general secretary of the Baptist World Alliance’s North American Baptist Fellowship and senior editor of TCP Books. Contact him at GBullard@TheColumbiaPartnership.org or (803) 622-0923. His column was distributed by Baptist News Global.

During a conversation about the changes and challenges of church work, Bill Wilson, director of the Center for Healthy Churches, made a comment that summarized thoughts simmering in my mind. He said, “Ministry in the 21^st century is like growing potatoes on Mars.”

Barry HowardI immediately knew Bill and I had read the same book—Andy Weir’s The Martian, now a hit movie.

Intrigued by the fact a schoolteacher from our town made the cut on an early list of “contestants” vying to travel on the first passenger expedition to the red planet, my wife and I read The Martian shortly after publication. I found myself immersed in Weir’s tale, but for a different reason than most readers. While I suppose some were thrilled with the science fiction and others were enamored with space adventure, I was captivated by an inductive pastoral correlation.

Maybe it’s because I still thumb through my copy of Stanley Hauerwas’ and William Willimon’s Resident Aliens. Or maybe it is because the novel seems to be the antithesis of the Left Behind series. Or perhaps it’s merely because I tend to perceive and interpret life through pastoral eyes. Whatever my subconscious reasoning, I found the plight of American astronaut Mark Watney to be a lot like ministry in a post-modern, post-denominational world. Despite the frequent four-letter words, I found Watney’s predicament spiritually suggestive.

A driving metaphor

Without giving away the entire plot, suffice it to say Watney finds himself stranded on Mars, a dilemma no one has faced before. To survive, he must learn to grow potatoes on Mars, a feat that becomes a driving metaphor. And he tackles his cosmic dilemma with a methodical and almost sacramental strategy: “I cut each potato into four pieces, making sure each piece had at least two eyes. The eyes are where they sprout from. I let them sit for a few hours to harden a bit, then planted them, well spaced apart, in the corner. Godspeed, little taters. My life depends on you.”

How does potato-growing on Mars relate to ministry? As I read the novel, I gleaned these prophetic points for our current “alien” context: 

• Adjusting to a new landscape isn’t easy, but it is necessary. Address your current atmospheric conditions, not the atmosphere you are most accustomed to.
• Find creative ways to deal with your loneliness. Ministry can be isolating. Be aware you are not the first one or the only one to feel like you are “the only one.”
• • Maximize your resources. Learn to ration and cultivate, utilizing all available assets. 
• Consult your intellect, intuition and imagination to formulate your game plan.
• Develop a sustainable strategy with built-in contingencies to help navigate the unexpected.
• Anticipate obstacles and setbacks. Learn to stay calm under pressure and to do good trouble-shooting.
• Merge the best of expert advice and personal innovation to make contextual decisions.
• Do not be afraid to take risks. As Watney argues: “Space is dangerous. It’s what we do here. If you want to play it safe all the time, go join an insurance company.”
• Timing is crucial in making connections. Seize the moment when the window of opportunity opens.
• Do your best work when you think no one else is looking. Be disciplined to do your job, believing others are doing their job, even when you are not in constant communication with them.
• Remember, there are forces at work bigger than you.
• When you are tempted to give up, don’t! After one near catastrophe, Watney exclaims, “I guess you could call it a ‘failure,’ but I prefer the term ‘learning experience.’”

In case you haven’t noticed, church and ministry are entering a different season. For some, this is a slow realization. Like Watney’s awakening, “Blissful unconsciousness became foggy awareness, which transitioned into painful reality.” 

The challenges for church and ministry are daunting but not insurmountable. Effective ministry always has been challenging. Innovation and discipline can produce a bumper crop, even in less-than-ideal circumstances. Take up your spade and bucket, and your imagination, and start cultivating. 

The words of Thornton Wilder in Our Town ring clear: “Look at that moon. Potato weather for sure.”

Barry Howard is pastor of First Baptist Church in Pensacola, Fla., and coach with the Center for Healthy Churches.