The second Christ Church of Oak Brook family camp was again a very rewarding experience for the 50+ participants. Those who came were a wonderfully diverse group: new church members and long term members, several “church leaders’, others that almost no one knew, from toddlers to seniors. Out of this group came the suggestion that Christ Church should buy its own camp located, not 7, but 2 hours or less from the church. A few were very serious about this and had the financial resources to help purchase the camp. Spirits were high!!!

Every Monday morning the senior pastor and I would meet to evaluate, discuss, plan, prioritize – what ever was required to keep the church organized, moving forward. Soon after my return from family camp, at our Monday morning meeting, the senior minister suggested that spending a week with so few people was an inappropriate use of my time. I was stunned! He was serious!!

Jesus focused the three years of His active ministry on just 12 people. Jesus and the twelve were together almost 24/7. Why did Jesus choose these particular men? We will never know. Four were fishermen, one was a tax collector, and the other nine? We have no clue what their previous vocations were. The only mention of three of the men is in the context of the list of the disciples. Yet Jesus chose these 12 to be the primary communicators of His truths to the world – and it worked.

Jesus demonstrated how people should live while He established that He really was the promised Messiah. Much of what Jesus did was done before many people: He turned water into wine at a wedding party, spoke to the multitudes, fed 5,000 plus women and children, healed the leper, the blind, the cripple, the demon possessed, raised a man from the dead, confounded the Pharisees. But only the 12 saw Jesus do all of these things, plus calm a storm, enable Peter to walk on water, go apart to pray, wash their feet. One the 12 had the opportunity to be taught by Jesus, to ask Jesus questions. After the resurrection it was to His disciples, gathered in a house with the doors locked, that “Jesus came and stood among them and said ‘Peace be with you!’ Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.’” John 20:26-27.

Did Jesus waste His time when He focused His three year ministry on just twelve men?

Which is the more effective way to share the Good News of Jesus Christ and to equip His followers? Is it to minister only to people gathered in large groups, or is it to focus on a select group of people while also ministering to larger groups of people? Jesus chose to focus on a few while also ministering to people gathered in a variety of situations.

In a large church, often there is one person who is best able to communicate God’s truths to people gathered in large groups. If this church, with its gifted communicator, is going to grow solid Christians, to reach out into the surrounding community and even to the world, small groups within the church are necessary. As the believers in a small group grow in their understanding of God’s word and His desire to be personally involved in our lives, people emerge who are equipped to minister in an almost limitless variety of ways – including the leadership of a new small group of people. As this disciple building process continues to continue, a strong church can continue to grow, and not just in numbers. Both the ministry to large groups and to small groups of individuals are necessary.

When the senior minister suggested that spending a week with so few people was an inappropriate use of my time, I was stunned! He was serious!! I am certain we both felt the tension when this weekly meeting was over.

If you are ministering to a small group of people, perhaps to a few individuals, do not be discouraged!!! Others may not understand what you are doing. They may even suggest that you are wasting your time. Your challenge is to live In Partnership With God, and like Jesus, He may have you working with a small number, and like Jesus, not every person you work with will become “leader”. Someone may betray you. Hang in there!! Learn from Jesus, walk in His ways.

While at Honey Rock, Christ Church Family Camp people could swim, canoe, sail, paddle the war canoe, go on whale boat and pontoon boat rides, enjoy riflery, archery and camp craft. Fran Hull, the retired art teacher, helped with crafts, and she was good! Maury would lead nature hikes and show how he took such great pictures. The camp wrangler took those interested on horseback, donkey, and horse drawn wagon rides. The food was excellent including a breakfast and supper cookout.

This was, in many ways, a family paradise.

While driving home, family camp dad Bill Shean asked his son Skip:

“What did you like best about family camp?”

Skip’s answer: “I liked looking for mushrooms the best.”

Bill: “Why?”

Skip: “Because it was just you and me Dad.”

Our three grandsons, Jashton – 8, Tobiah – 6, Corban – 2, stayed with us this past week so their parents could take a vacation. I trust they enjoyed the “just you and me” times as much as I did.

While at Christ Church of Oak Brook, Sally Jo and I started a family camp. Our group consisted of families with children plus a retired couple, Maury and Fran Hull. There was a core of about 10 families who came each summer. We arrived at Honey Rock Camp when their summer program was over, the camp staff and college professors had left. Essential food service and maintenance people stayed on. Honey Rock, an educational facility of Wheaton College, has camper cabins, rental cabins, and cabins used by the faculty members. This facility was made available to us as both Sally Jo and I knew the camp leadership and facility well.

Two or three high school or college students went with us each summer. The also knew Honey Rock, and they knew some of the families from church. During the day they helped with camp activities, and each evening they would be the children’s sitters so the adults could study a book together.

As plans were made for the third year, we asked for suggestions for the book to study. Many had either read or heard about The Late Great Planet Earth by Hal Lindsey, a popular book in some Christian circles at the time. The content of the book extensively explained how, from the author’s perspective, the Biblical prophecies were in place indicating that Christ’s return was imminent. We could not imagine spending a week studying the book, and suggested a couple other books – but no, most wanted to discuss The Late Great Planet Earth. We ordered copies for the adults, knowing this crew would read the book before they arrived at camp.

Sally Jo and I had read the book and were ready to lead the discussion. First question: “What is the theme of this book?” All agreed – the theme was that Jesus Christ was going to return, probably very soon. The second question: “What does this suggest about how we should be living our lives?” All agreed – we should live our lives in such a way that we are ready when Christ returns. Third question: “Is there anything else the author is seeking to tell us?” After some discussion, there was consensus that this was the only message of the book. Fourth question: “How will further discussion of the book affect the living of our lives?” In about a half hour our consideration of the book’s content was over.

Sally Jo and I had anticipated this short discussion of the book and had brought with us copies of The Mark of the Christian by Francis Schaeffer, a small paperback focused on the implications of John 13:35:

“By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another”.

In the previous verse Jesus gave this command: “As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”

Jesus Christ is not just our Savior, but our role model.

Loving each other is easy in theory, difficult in practice, particularly when the people involved know each other. These families knew each other in the context of family camp, in the context of the church, and in the context of their communities.

Discussing when Jesus Christ is going to return is non-threatening. Talking about how Jesus Christ demonstrated His love historically, and to us…and seeking to integrate these truths into our daily living – This is tough!

Yet this is how we are called to live when we live In Partnership With God.

I do not remember having met Maury before he gave me the print of a brightly colored mushroom: “I thought you might enjoy this”. When asked, he told me he had taken the picture, and other close-ups of God’s creation.

As we talked, I learned that soon after Maury retired he had become very sick. I do not remember what he had, but people thought he would die – and he hoped he would!

When Maury realized he was going to live, he also realized that he had no hobby, or anything he really wanted to do. Maury decided to take up nature photography. As I recall, he even learned to develop his own film and to make his own color prints. Soon I was seeing close-ups of a grasshopper, water droplets on a spider web, a robin pulling a worm out of the ground, and a flower from when the bud pushed up through the ground to when it was in full bloom, translucent in bright sunshine. Each was an 8X10 and just fascinating. Here was a man with an incredible talent known and enjoyed by very few people.

The walls of the new Christ Church of Oak Brook building were totally bare. After I received the appropriate permission, I invited Maury to put up some of his prints. He was delighted and said this would be his gift to the church. Maury’s wife, Fran, had been a public school art teacher, and together they took over the project. Soon beautifully mounted color prints which showed the wonder of God’s creation began to appear throughout the building. Each was hung low enough so children could easily see them.

People began gathering around the pictures which were placed down the halls, and eventually, into the class rooms. God’s unique creation had suddenly become alive to our people – and quiet Maury became something of a celebrity. Children and adults alike wanted to know how he had been able to take such incredible pictures, and he would gladly tell them. Occasionally Maury and Fran would replace one picture with another. The interest and fascination of the church members continued.

When we planned our first one week family camp, we encouraged Maury and Fran to come – though they were twice the age of most of the adults in the group. What a special presence they were. Because of the interest Maury’s pictures had created, we found ourselves looking at God’s creation in new ways, often on our hands and knees. If a person saw something special, like a jack-in-the pulpit almost hidden in the woods, Maury would take a picture while fascinated people watched. Fran, forever the art teacher, had planned simple art projects that children of different ages could enjoy creating. We still have rocks painted by our children – with Fran’s gentle guidance.

Sometime after family camp Maury called Sally Jo. He had a Luna moth just about to come out of its cocoon. Would she like to bring our children over to watch this happen? After a few quick phone calls, several moms with their young children gathered around the Hull’s dining room table, mesmerized by what they were seeing.

When we live In Partnership With God we have both the privilege and the responsibility of creating an environment through which people can share their God given gifts and abilities. Often God’s people would like to share these gifts and abilities, but they need an open door, a little encouragement.

Maury and Fran changed how I look at God’s creation, and for this I am thankful!!!

“In the beginning God created…and God saw that it was good” — Genesis 1

Good Morning –

For the last 3 weeks I have written the IPWG by Saturday night – trying not to “work” on Sunday! Each takes from 4 to 8 hours.

This past week has been wonderful – but I am behind! I will take the week off – even though Greg Welsh just commended me for being so faithful in writing IPWG every week. I have listed 22 that I anticipate writing about our 3 yr at Christ Church of Oak Brook.

Here is an update on us –

Our church choir sang 3 choral arrangements at the Maundy Thursday service, 5 at the Good Friday service, and 7 this morning at both the 8:00 and 10:30 services. Singing the 1st tenor part of the Halleluiah Chorus from Handel’s Messiah – at 8:00 AM to begin the worship service – and then again at 10:30 was a fun challenge!

Saturday was grandson Corban Charles birthday party…and helping Sally Jo prepare a gourmet feast for Easter dinner with son Dirk, wife Jennifer, and their 3 sons – who are now with us in Greenville for a few days – Dirk is a leader for a mission trip of 52 high school students this week – Washington DC.

I am in the process of putting new cherry gunwales on an old canoe – very tough as the bow and stern have a very steep curve up. I could not buy clear cherry 18′ long – so will glue 2 pieces together with 5″ scarf joint. I picked out board – have cut and prepared gunwales – – even after soaking on for 10 hours, steaming for 2 1/4 hours and using a heat gun I have broken one! Fortunately I cut two extra pieces.

This Friday I will be meeting for the second time with the staff of the Albany Chapter of the Salvation Army that head up their red kettle program – bell ringers over the Christmas holidays. There were 7 at our first meeting – all but the Chapter Director were new to the program. This past Christmas the program took in $112,000 even though it was very poorly run – and they knew it. We are working together now to be ready by September for the four week program which begins after Thanksgiving.

I am bike riding with Sally Jo to help her be ready for a guided 8 day bike trip with her sister in the Czech Republic in June. Her sister challenged Sally Jo to be ready for the trip while she was still in the hospital bed recovering from her broken back. She is working very hard to be ready!

We were with daughter Carla/Sea for two weeks in February in Vieques, PR – then I came home and she stayed on for another week with a friend from our Connecticut church 1966-70. At the end of April Dirk and Jennifer will go to Vieques for a week. Sally Jo and I are taking care of their 3 boys.

Daughter Jenna, husband Jess and their 3 girls are flying in from Washington State to be with us for 2 weeks in July – will have time with Dirk, Jenna, and their families all together.

Life is rich with opportunity – truly our hearts often over-flow with thanksgiving.

Thanks for your notes in response to the IPWG – 5 this last week. Just a few words are good to see – a good reminder that these are being read.

As the Apostle Paul wrote – I thank my God every time I remember you! In all my prayers for you I always pray with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now – being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. — Phil 1:3-6

chief chuck

Phil Beitler has had an incredible impact upon my life. He was member of The Career Group and it was obvious he had limited mental abilities and social skills. Phil loved everyone – and we all loved him. Phil was healthy and very strong! When Phil was young his parents were told that Phil would never be able to go to school. His parents patiently worked with Phil – and he finished high s chool. Phil learned to be a hard worker, and he would do whatever he was asked to the very best of his ability. He had good self-confidence and a healthy self image.

After we had known each other a few months, he said to me “Chuck, there must be more that I can do for the Lord than stack cans in a grocery store!” I assured him there was – and that I would find him a place where he could work hard to serve the Lord. I found him a position packing boxes for The Medical Assistance Program – MAP. They received medicines and medical supplies directly from pharmaceutical companies and doctors which they repacked and shipped to needy situations all over the world. Their headquarters were located in Wheaton, IL, about 25 minutes from Phil’s home. Each Sunday evening, when The Career Group would meet, Phil would tell me what he was packing, where it was going, and how much he liked his job! I checked at MAP to see how he was doing. Response: I wish we had a lot of Phil Beitlers here.

I told Phil he was my “Nehemiah” because there was always a smile, really a big grin, on his face. He loved that I called him “Nehemiah!”

When I would be in Wheaton, either to visit family or keep in touch with DL staff, for the next 30 years, I would be sure to block time for Phil. When his parents moved away from the area, Phil got an apartment close to MAP so he could walk to work. His reputation was such that when MAP moved to be at a sea port in Georgia, Tyndale Publishing, located a block from MAP, asked Phil if he would like to work for them. Again, his heart for the Lord and his work ethic were incredible. When he became seriously ill, fellow employees got him the help he needed and took care of him.

Seven years after I left CCOB I became Director of Deerfoot Lodge in NY. Phil asked if he could come and help for a week. On his first visit, Phil came to help us open camp for the season, and for the beginning of staff training. I asked him if he would mow the playing field. He told me he thought he could do that. This was black fly season and Phil, like the rest of us, got his share of bites. After a couple of hours he walked into the kitchen and the head cook, Dean Dover/Wazican saw the fly bites…and through Phil’s socks, his bleeding feet. Phil laughed and said he was fine – it didn’t hurt much! Wazi asked why he did not stop, when he started getting blisters, to get some band aids. Phil’s simple answer was “I wasn’t done yet”. Later we learned he had mowed the lawn in two directions – because this was the way his dad taught him to do it.

Wazi said that Phil Beitler probably had a greater impact upon his life than any man other than his own father. As Wazi put it: “Here is a one talent man who pushes his one talent to the limit! Some of us are 3, 4, 5 talent people – and we waste so much of what the Lord has given us”.

Whether we are a one talent or a five talent person, we are called to live In Partnership With God.

“From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked” Luke 12:48

At Christ Church I put an announcement in the church bulletin: “The Career Group will begin on Sunday evening… To qualify be 20-30 and single.” The first time we met several things were immediately obvious:

• Lots of singles wanted to get together.
• The educational, vocational, financial mix was huge! From the Keebler Cookie Executive to the man who kept the shelves stocked in the grocery store to the elementary school teacher.
• As we talked about what the group would like to do, four things were evident:
  1. The group wanted to meet weekly – speakers and discussions on a variety of subjects.
  2. Some would like serious Bible study.
  3. The group wanted a continual flow of activities they could do together.
  4. Without financial assistance, a few would not be able to afford what others would like to do.

I went to the Senior Minister and asked if funds were available for the group and if there could be additional funds to make it possible for everyone to participate in every activity. The answer: neither was available. He went on to say that, in life, there will always be people who could not participate in all of the activities. End of discussion.

Brent and Marcie Cameron knew that I was heading up the new career group. Soon after the group began, Brent said “Chuck, I have money, but I do not know where the needs are. You don’t have money, but you know where the needs are. Just let me know how much you need.” We talked about the needs of some of the people in Career Group…he smiled and repeated “just let me know how much you need”. Brent was a VP of McDonalds Hamburgers. Every McDonald’s outside of the US was under his jurisdiction.

I explained to The Career Group that a member of the church was making money available so everyone could participate in all of the group’s activities. If they had a need, let me know. When we went for a day to the Michigan Dunes State Park, or to eat in a Greek Restaurant, or to attend a concert, we could all go. I do not remember ever feeling that a person was taking advantage of the available financial help. So far as the group was concerned…we were The Career Group – one group!!! The group soon grew to about 100 singles meeting each Sunday evening – and for “specials” on a semi-regular basis.

I cannot remember how the “mechanics” worked. Sally Jo and I both remember that we frequently had Cameron money in our checking account. The checks were made payable to me, and therefore their gifts through me to the members of the group could not have been income tax deductible. The Cameron’s checks never needed to be large, but what a huge difference their giving made for everyone in the group.

Brent and Marcie understood that they were members of the Body of Christ, His Church, and they found joy in this fact: “if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously” – Romans 12:8

Brent and Marcie Cameron lived In Partnership With God. “Just let me know how much you need.”

Living In Partnership With God means to me that, under the Lordship of Jesus Christ, I will use my God-given gifts and abilities to enable others to develop and use their God given gifts and abilities. Fortunately people have different gifts – and my challenge is to help people to get into situations where they can develop and utilize what God has entrusted to them. Some people can be great teachers of children, others can be great teachers of adults. Some have the gift of organization, others have the gift of service. Some are very artistic, others can come up with new ideas. My challenge: to take the pieces of the puzzle and to put them together so that every person enjoys caring out their responsibility while growing as one of God’s unique individuals. It is sad when I misread a person or situation and try to fit a round peg into a square hole. When this happens, many people are negatively affected.

When I arrived at Christ Church of Oak Brook my job description included developing the Christian Education program (effective facility usage, curriculum selection, staffing) AND the development of small groups throughout a rapidly growing church, the leadership of Career Group (singles 20-35), leading two worship services each Sunday morning, preaching most Sunday evenings plus counseling, weddings, etc. The only way I could survive this situation was to build an organization and then to staff it with the right people in the right positions – about 200 of them!

Five months after I arrived the church would change from having 5 class rooms to 25 class rooms, from having 19 involved in the Sunday school program to having well over 100 people in a variety of roles.

At some point I met Roberta, a mother of two middle school children. Roberta, a no nonsense person, was sharp, quietly out-going, and she knew her Bible. Her husband had business travel almost every week. Before I could ask Roberta to consider teaching a class of fifth grade girls, I knew I should do everything possible to make all aspects of her teaching as “user-friendly” as possible.

Roberta would want to have excellent teacher education classes to help her sharpen her teaching skills. She would need to know who her regular substitute would be so the two could keep in contact – and who to call if her regular substitute was unavailable. I knew it would greatly help Roberta if most of the teaching supplies she would need were in one location at the church, organized and inventoried: paper of various kinds, easels, pencils, marking pens, dry erase markers, clay, tapes and glues, balloons, maps, posters, Bibles, audio-visual equipment – what in today’s would be a digital projection system, DVD’s of mission work, contemporary issues, the Holy Lands, etc. and CD’s of contemporary Christian music. Roberta would have an inventory list, confident that another person would keep the inventory stocked. And Roberta would need to know I would keep in touch with her and be available to her at any time.

With this organizational structure developing, it was much easier to say “Roberta, would you consider teaching a 5th grade girl’s Sunday school class? I believe you have the gifts and experience to do an incredible job, or I would not ask you to consider this. Yes, teaching will require a significant time commitment on your part I have worked to put the pieces together to make your teaching as easy as possible……. I will call you in a few days so we can talk further.”

Roberta accepted the position. Sally Jo has the recipes her class members brought with the cookies they had baked to Roberta’s home for a cookie party – parents invited!

The only hope I had of surviving the Christ Church challenge was to develop a system – to set programs in motion that could function on a day to day basis without me. I could not spend hours each week putting out brush fires.

As I work to enable others to use their gifts, I am using mine. As I live In Partnership With God I help to enable others to live In Partnership With God. “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10

For each of God’s children, life should be a rewarding challenge! Remember, not all rewards come on earth.

The church of Jesus Christ consists of people. Though the Apostle Paul speaks often about the church, he never mentions a church building. In The Shack by William P. Young, Jesus says “It’s (the church) all about relationships and simply sharing life…being open and available to others around us. My church is all about people and life is all about relationships. You can’t build the church. It’s my job”.

Nancy Fritz was a member of CCOB, though few of the members had ever seen her. Nancy’s family was well known: Bill was an elder; their son was a tall, excellent basketball player and their daughter, a cheerleader at the high school. We did not see much of Edna, the mom, but she was a delight. A few months after meeting the family, I learned about Bill and Edna’s daughter, “little Nancy”. Nancy was 10 years old and 3’ tall. She could only be in a prone position. She had osteo-genisis imperfectus. Simply put, her bones would not harden and were very easily broken.

I soon went to visit Nancy, who was delighted to meet me. I still remember the wonderful smile on her normal size head. For her age, Nancy knew her Bible well and was more theologically astute than many adults. Edna had poured herself into Nancy, a very bright little girl. I can still see her smile but I could not see the ribs inside her small dress – ribs often broken by a sneeze or cough. Nancy’s arms and legs were misshapen from the many times they had broken and healed not quite straight.

Nancy’s joy was serving others. She could be gently rolled onto her side and held there with pillows. From this position she very carefully printed out notes of encouragement to people, and it was in this position she painted my Christmas tree ornament. The ornament shape was purchased from a craft store, a flat plywood cut-out of a woman dressed in old fashioned clothes. Nancy carefully painted the woman, front and back – red dress, white apron and bonnet – not great art work, but a very special gift to me.

Nancy asked me what she could do for the church. After a few minutes of give and take we came up with two ideas. She could keep the pencils in the pew racks sharpened – Edna would get an electric pencil sharpener and a couple young people would check the pencil points each Sunday after church and replace them with pencils sharpened the week before. And the second idea? The church had an extensive, cassette ministry. As soon as the preaching was finished the cassette duplicators would copy the master. When the people left the church, they could pick up a copy to share with friends or listen to themselves. The next Sunday many people returned their cassette and each week these would go to Nancy who would erase the contents with a small machine. The cassettes were then ready to re-use. Week after week she faithfully did her work well!

I asked Nancy what I, or the church, could do for her. She smiled and said, “Please serve me communion.” She said no one every had. After checking with Bill and Edna, the next Sunday several elders and other healthy (no colds, etc.) church members went to be with Nancy. When we walked into the living room, there was Nancy, lying on the floor under the edge of the grand piano. We all sat down around her, and together we sang, read the Scriptures, and celebrated communion together. After this, when communion was celebrated at church, many went to have communion with Nancy

One day Edna came to me obviously excited! She was pregnant! Total surprise!!! I, without a thought, responded with “Edna, this year little Nancy will die”. We looked at each other…both of us shocked at what I had just said! A few months later “little Nancy” caught pneumonia, and died. Again, both of us were stunned!

During the funeral: incredible thunder, lightening, and rain! This continued through the end of the service – when the sky cleared. After the service Edna came to me with a grin: “The thunder was for Nancy – she loved thunder! We went for the grave-side service in a bright, warm sun. And a few months later a baby boy was born.

“Little Nancy” lived In Partnership With God. She worshiped and served with a joyful heart. The church building meant nothing to Nancy! The church people…a whole different story.

Without the assurance of the provision of God’s guidance and resources, I would have been crazy to accept my assignment at Christ Church of Oak Brook. Here was a 7 year old church with an average attendance and membership of about 1000 people with only 19 teaching in the Sunday School – and a large, just completed education building. Here was a church where, apart from groups such as the trustees, elders, deacons, and the choir, there were only 2 other functioning groups, one being the youth group. The assignment: Build the Body of Believers through study and fellowship. This seemed to require identifying and training over 100 teachers for the Sunday School in five months, and identifying natural affinity groups through which needs could be met.

When carrying out a God assigned task, the leader must be confident he understands his assignment and be confident God will provide all of the resources needed including the leader’s knowledge, the experience gained through his previous God given assignments, the promised guidance of the Holy Spirit, and the “raw materials” needed: people, facility, money, and equipment. Hudson Taylor, founder of China Inland Mission put it this way: “God’s work, done in God’s way, never lacks for God’s supply.” This was Hudson Taylor’s experience – and this continues to be mine.

We must never deceive ourselves into thinking that the fulfilling of our assignment will be easy. The costs may be huge – sometimes including the lives of God’s people. Abraham’s challenges included dealing with Lot and waiting for the birth of Isaac. Moses struggled leading the Israelites in the desert. Joseph had his brothers and Pharaoh’s wife to contend with. Jesus lived through persecution and died carrying out God’s will. Stephen was stoned to death. Paul was ship wrecked and often imprisoned. Today Christians living in many countries of the world are persecuted and die while obeying God’s directives. Comparing my situation at CCOB to the situations other Christians face, a piece of cake.

The Bible teaches that His Body, the Church, contains all the necessary people – to whom He has given a variety of gifts and abilities. The apostle Paul wrote similar words to the churches in Corinth and Ephesus that he wrote to the church in Rome. “in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.” Romans 5-8.

Let’s be real. Human beings, even with the best intentions, can distort God’s assignment – sometimes to make the assignment “easier, more realistic” or to accomplish personal desires. Getting God’s assignment correct may take considerable time in prayer by the committee or person challenged with the responsibility of the work to be done. “Lord, we must get this right! We ask for your wisdom –confident we will receive it.” This is not prayer to change the mind of God; this is prayer which recognizes that this is an assignment from Almighty God. Once the assignment is agreed upon, the person being giving the responsibility must be sure he understands and is willing to carry out the assignment. “Almighty God, I will do whatever you ask of me, knowing that my ability plus your resources cannot fail to accomplish what you are asking me to do. Lord, I need your peace.” This was precisely Gideon’s feelings. Lord, I will fight for you. I will risk my life and the lives of those who follow me if I am sure I have the assignment straight! OK Lord, fleece dry, ground wet, fleece wet, ground dry. Judges 6:36-40.

When I arrived at CCOB, my understanding of what the church was asking me to do and what I could see needed to be done matched, and I was at peace. I began not knowing many of the challenges ahead or the resources to be needed. In football, if a team cannot make progress running the ball, it may be able to pass – to mix running and passing, always remembering the objective. Each member of the team must understand and carry out each assignment. The football illustration breaks down in several ways, one being, in ministry the leader never punts! He may not see progress, then a little, perhaps a huge gain, sometimes going two steps backward – but knowing that with God’s assignment and resources, there will be no ultimate failure when we live In Partnership With God.