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Why Pastors And Members Don’t Get Along?
Whatever relationship one has with Christ,
influences in a dynamic way the interactions she has with others.
Fundamentally, this vertical intimacy affects interpersonal connections on
the horizontal level. Therefore, deepening the association with Christ
provides the foundation for productive interpersonal dialogue. How does one
deepen her relationship with Christ? The answer is simple, yet profound.
“DAILY SURRENDER TO THE HOLY SPIRIT.”
In his
work, Jesus demonstrated how this is done. His desire was always to ‘do the
will of His Father (John 4:34). However, He never did this on His own, but
through the Holy Spirit. Before the commencement of the work His Father
gave Him to do, He surrendered to the anointing of the Holy spirit (Luke
5:21 – 23). The Holy Spirit led Him into the wilderness to pray, and
thence, in the power of the Spirit to public ministry. (Luke 4:14). The
lesson is clear that solitude with God does not just deepen intimacy with
Him, but prepare folk for interpersonal dialogue. The challenge we face is
to cease the aggression and surrender to the Holy Spirit, in a receptive
mood.
Just as Christ
surrendered to the Holy Spirit and was led into solitude, so in all our
passion to finish the work of Christ we must surrender to the Holy Spirit
and allow Him to lead us into solitude. This will prepare us for the
challenges of dynamic dialogue with others. Our aggressive nature can only
love conquered by surrendering to the Holy Spirit. He’ll lead you into
solitude, a place where you receive God, think before act, be silent before
you speak, kneel before you go and love before you reach out.
Another
disquieting and dangerous mood among us is the activity mood. The danger of
the activity mood resides in its source. Is the source a relationship with
Christ, through the Spirit or the flesh? The flesh provides activity that
is goal oriented, not people oriented. In order to make up for its
deficiency in the Spirit, the flesh often direct activities toward achieving
popularity, power, position and possession, at the expense of people, Christ
and relationship. It is dangerous to be obsessed with the managerial
mystique of planning, directing, valuating or controlling just to achieve
position, power, and possession. These beautify the beastly flesh. But
what shall it profit if we gain all these and lose our relationships –
vertical and horizontal? All our activity must flow out of intimacy with
Christ.
So, all we do is done for the glory of Christ not ourselves.
The canal mind never pleases God. So, let us surrender to the Holy Spirit
and give up the activity mood from the flesh, to an intimacy mood with
Christ, from which, the Holy Spirit guides us into activities that glorify
Christ.
Finally, the
alienation mood, which is a result of sin, still plagues the body of
believers. There is a dire need for the integration mood in the body. The
head must be with the body and the body must stick to the head. Pastors
must always know where the body is spiritually, socially, financially,
physically and evangelistically. In like manner, the body must know where
the pastor is spiritually, socially, financially, physically,
evangelistically. Touch, closeness and eye contact strive to enrich
integration. When the body and pastor do not experience healthy touch,
closeness and eye contact, an alienation mood takes over.
One of the ways
to address this situation is prayer partner of the pastor. In like manner,
the pastor becomes the prayer partner of the church. We find in Exodus 17,
a wonderful example of partnership when the tired hands of Moses, were held
up by Aaron and Hur. This resulted in great victory for the Israelites.
Wouldn’t it be rewarding if we hold up one another’s hand in prayer? This
will unite us for individual and corporate victory. Let’s not try to pull
one another’s hands down. The victory depends on hands up in prayer.
Like members, the pastor’s hands get weary from negative
experiences of loneliness, stress, feelings of inadequacy, depression and
spiritual warfare. So, partner with us by praying for our personal needs,
family needs, spiritual needs and congregational needs. Remember, where the
leader goes, the people follow. If the hands of the leaders go down in
defeat, so also the
congregation in
spiritual matters. Let us not behave as though we do not need one another.
-Next time I’ll share more specifics on prayer partner ministry –an
integrative approach. --Pastor Peter Joseph, Prayer Coordinator
Report from Acklins
Pastor Roy I. Hanna
and Brother Otniel Darling visited Lovely Bay, Acklins from the 5th
– 12th of April 2006. The Brethren are of good courage.
Services were held on Sabbath and three other evenings, with good attendance
and a few visitors. They visited Salina Point on Sunday morning and had the
privilege of speaking at one of the Baptist churches.
Work on the Lovely Bay Church will be moving to another level
shortly. This is a work of faith, led with the help of the Conference and
others who are impressed to give. Your contribution would be greatly
appreciated.
Hurricane Preparation Alert
Hurricanes are all too familiar to persons
living in our region, storms bring strong winds, rain and exaggerated tidal
urges, devastating results including property damage and loss of life. On
Sunday, May 6, 2006 at 9:00 a.m., there will be a special meeting for all
Community Services Leaders and volunteers to serve as Conference Hurricane
Shelter Managers for the year 2006.
As we prepare for the upcoming
season, members are asked to purchase some of the necessary items listed
below in an effort to avoid last minute rush to local stores. Transistor
Radio, Flash Light, Candles, Canned Goods & Non-perishable foods, Containers
of Drinking Water, First Aid Kit.Shutters/Plywood, Tools For Emergency
Repairs, Rain Coats & Blankets.
All Churches are asked to form
special Dispatch Teams to assist the Elderly and the sick and shut-in
members who might need help in the storm. –T. Basil Sturrup,
Community Services
Evangelism School
Evangelism School will resume at 6 p.m.
tomorrow, April 23, at Hillview Church.
New
Air Time for Adventist Spotlight
Adventist Spotlight is now being aired on Friday evenings, at 8:00 on
Cable TV 12.
Bethany Seventh-day
Adventist Church. “The Church Where Resurrection Takes Place”
You are cordially invited to share with us as we celebrate our Church’s
9th anniversary. A Grand Sabbath Celebration today, April 22,
2006 beginning at 9:30 a.m. Please come and enjoy this Bethany experience.
It is one you will not soon forget!!!
Entrance Exam
Applications are being accepted for students at the Early Learning Center.
As space is limited, parents are asked to submit their applications by May
31.
1st Annual
Music Workshop & Conference will be held from May 14 to 21, 2006
at the Hillview Church. Register on-line at:
www.bahamasconference.org/musiconference Allison Mason (for) EMMN
Committee
West Indies Union Youth
Director’s Visit
Pastor Charles
Blythe, Youth Director for WIU, will be visiting the Bahamas Conference on
the weekend of May 5th - 7th.
National Youth Month
National youth month is almost here. The
theme for the month is "Empowering Youth for the Eradication of
Poverty, HIV/ AIDS and Crime." It begins with a commitment
service on Sunday, April 30th, at 6:00 p.m. at Rawson Square.
Each club is asked to accompany at least 15 Adventurers and Pathfinders in
full uniform for this National Youth Service. Please assemble no later than
5:30 pm. in Rawson Square.
Clubs are asked to design banners depicting
positive messages to the nation. Comfortable enough for the pathfinders to
carry/displa.
The National Youth Parade will be held on Sunday
May 7 at Fort Charlotte.
Clubs
are asked to design banners depicting positive messages to the nation.
Comfortable enough for the pathfinders to carry/display. Joint Uniform
Inspection for all Churches/Clubs in New Providence will now take place
tomorrow, April 24 at 9 a.m. at the top of hill at Fort Charolette. All
Pathfinders, Eager Beavers, Adventures and Masterguide are asked to assemble
in full uniform
Please not for clarification as regards to
uniform socks for girls.
Socks –
Dark brown for Pathfinder girls.
White for Adventurers/Eager Beavers girls.
Practice for all persons (Adventrers,
Pathfinders, Eager Beavers, Masterguides) will be held on Monday, April 24th
and May 1st at 6:30 p.m. at the top of hill, Fort Charlotte.
–uniforms are not required for these practices.
Urgent – AY
Leaders Please return National Youth
Award Forms –Complete with all relevant information to the Youth Department
(Sis. McPhee) by Monday, April 24, 2006.
There will be an important Youth
Council meeting for AY Leaders and persons working with the AY
Department on Tuesday, April 25 at 7:00 p.m. at the Grant’s town Church.
W.I.U. Weekend
West Indies Union Youth Weekend will be held in
Mandeville, Jamaica, May 26 –27. AY Leaders or Young persons interested in
attending are asked to contact the Youth Department of the Conference.
“Health Speech Contest” –
Information can be obtained from Your Health & AY
Leaders.
Health Workshop –May 17 – 20, 2006
Registration begins on Monday April 24. Classes offered are: Vegetarian
Cooking, Fitness for Life, Men’s Health, Grief Recovery and so much more.
Plan now to attend.
Publishing Month
This month of April has been designated Publishing Month by our union.
Today is Literature Evangelism Emphasis Day in our Conference. Let us tell
the world about Jesus by distributing our literature.
Publishing Rally and Spirit of Prophecy Emphasis
Everyone is invited to attend a
Publishing Rally and Spirit of Prophecy Emphasis tomorrow, April 23 at 7:30
p.m. at the Grant’s Town church. Pastor Joseph Barrett, Publishing Director
of the West Indies Union will be in attendance. Training sessions for
colporteurs will be held April 24th & 25.
The Book of the Year, Counsels on Stewardship,
is now available to members. Consult your Pastor or Lay Activities leader.
Cleanup Day at
Campsite, Marshall Road
The next cleanup day will be on Sunday,
April 30 from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. - contact Sis. Marilyn Bonamy at
393-8507, or 427-3476 for Pastor Andrew Burrows at the Conference Office.
Pre-Mother’s Day Boat Cruise
– Sunday, May 7, 2006. The Yellow Bird sails at 1:30 p.m. from Woods
Rodgers Wharf. Tickets available from your W/M Leaders.
--Director Miriam Knowles
Investiture Service – Parkgate
Parkgate Pathfinder Investiture Service will be held this afternoon at 5:30
p.m. Please grace us with your presence.
Parkgate ‘Gators’ Pathfinder Club –Presents
its first ever Bouncin ‘Babblin’ Family fun Day and Fundraiser. Bouncing
Castle, Great Food, and Challenging games. SUNDAY APRIL 30, 2006 from
10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., at the church grounds. Come prepared to
have fun. – Darell Taylor
Youth Talent
Explosion!!!!! Was cancelled. Watch for future announcement. --Erika
Perpall
Mary
Ingraham Home Hour of Gospel Music
The Hour of Gospel
Music at the Mary Ingraham Home 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. today by Gambier
Next week Francophone church is scheduled.
Benefit Concert –
will be held in support of Sharon Taylor
Medical Expense Fun, at the Hillview Church, April 29, 2006 at 7:30 p.m.
Please plan to give a liberal offering.
All Persons Interested in Softball - -
There will be a meeting at Living Faith tomorrow
at 9:00 am at Living Faith Church. Churches are encouraged to send a Team
to begin softball practice. Newly baptized and young people 10 and above are
especially invited to be a part of a church team. Church colour and
softball uniform are encouraged for all games.
Fun Day: A Softball Jamboree and Family is
planned for June 4th & 5th from 10:00 a.m. until –at
the Blue Hill Sporting Field.
Sun sets today at 7:32 p.m.
Next
week at 7:33
