Family Baptist Church - MN https://familybaptistchurch.org Sat, 28 Aug 2021 15:48:00 +0000 Sat, 28 Aug 2021 15:48:00 +0000 hourly 1 3600 SnapPages.com A Work in Progress https://familybaptistchurch.org/blog/2021/12/19/a-work-in-progress Sun, 19 Dec 2021 07:37:25 +0000 https://familybaptistchurch.org/blog/2021/12/19/a-work-in-progress
I believe; help my unbelief! (Mark 9:24)
How much progress are you making getting ready for Christmas? Tis the season to reflect on
the Baby in a manger, buy and exchange gifts like the Wise Men, and hang out with friends and
family. But it is also a very busy time of the year!

The presence of family in Minneapolis means a series of Christmas gatherings over the period
of the next week. We will come together to witness the vow renewal of a couple in our church
on Tuesday evening, a Transformed by Grace gathering on Wednesday evening with the men
and women from the Adult Teen Challenge and Healing House, a Swedish traditional pre-
Christmas Eve celebration (unique to my mom’s side of the family) on Thursday evening, and a
candlelight service on Christmas Eve with the members of Family Baptist. Of course, the kids
are laser-focused on the gift exchange that takes place at Grandma’s house on Christmas Eve
following the candlelight service!

This season, all the adults decided to participate in a “White Elephant” gift exchange. The only
twist is that we agreed to purchase useable gifts for the exchange. I had the bright idea of
applying the same logic to the nieces and nephews. Afterall, we are talking about a collection of
24 cousins! Instead of trying to buy a gift for everyone or hand-picking certain ones, I thought
we could keep it simple and purchase one gift per cousin. While my sisters appreciated my sensitivity to family finances, they thought we should avoid the unnecessary stress of having kids cry after having their newly opened gift snatched away from them by a fellow cousin. Instead, they decided it would be better for us to draw names among the cousins. Good call!

Gifts have also been given to the ministry of Family Baptist Church over the past several
months in some astounding ways. The board of directors from the Minnesota Baptist
Association gave Family Baptist Church a gift of $2,000. A church from northern Minnesota sent
us a check for $1,000. Our sending church, Fourth Baptist Church, gave us a gift of $10,000
from their 2021 Thanksgiving offering. God is so good! We are using these gifts to help make
necessary repairs on the parsonage, update the lighting around the exterior of the church, and
renovate the nursery!

This leads me back to the White Elephant Gift Exchange concept. A couple weeks ago, while
waiting in line at a local convenience story, I was contemplating a conversation I just had with
the fellow pastors at Family Baptist about our need to replace the gymnasium roof and update
the heating and cooling systems in the building. The estimated repair costs were around
$100,000. Much greater than what we could afford. I encouraged the guys to join me in taking
this need before the Lord in prayer. I knew that was how I was supposed to respond when I
didn’t know what to do. It sounded good, but I admit to lacking an element of supreme
confidence in God’s ability to provide. God had already blessed us with numerous gifts of
outside support. From my limited perspective, I felt it was now time for us to figure things out on our own. How short-sighted of me! It was as if I were a kid on Christmas Eve who had his newly opened White Elephant Gift snatched out of his hands.

No. No one took the money back from Family Baptist. The funds were used to cover the cost of many repairs. That morning, however, I felt as if someone snatched away my ministry joy. Put simply, my faith was being tested.

After those few agonizing minutes of contemplation on our church needs and lack of resources,
I received an unexpected phone call from Alan Benson, the Vice President of Student
Development and Ministry Advancement at Bob Jones University. He informed me that Bob
Jones University wanted to make Family Baptist Church the focus of the 2022 Bible Conference
Offering! That meant the student body, faculty, staff, and alumni of BJU would seek to raise
$100,000 to give to our urban church revitalization efforts in North Minneapolis. Thanks be to
God who gives indescribably more than we could ever ask or think! I was astounded and
humbled by the conversation and was brought to tears of joy.

It reminds me of the request made by a hurting father for his helpless son: “But if you can do
anything, have compassion on us and help us.” And Jesus said to him, “If you can? All things
are possible for one who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I
believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:22-24) I am learning to trust God and stop looking around
to see if someone or something will try and snatch away the gift of joy found in following Him.
]]> https://familybaptistchurch.org/blog/2021/12/19/a-work-in-progress#comments 2 Is Patience Always a Virtue? https://familybaptistchurch.org/blog/2021/12/03/is-patience-always-a-virtue Fri, 03 Dec 2021 21:57:07 +0000 https://familybaptistchurch.org/blog/2021/12/03/is-patience-always-a-virtue
“Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.”
‭‭James‬ ‭5:7-8‬ ‭ESV‬‬

This has been a challenging week for me. I have found myself waiting longer than I wanted on several occasions. Do you ever feel like every thing and every one around you is moving in slow motion?

For example, why do most drivers ahead of me in North Minneapolis fail to move forward when the light turns green? Are they taking one last glance at a recently sent text message? Why is it so hard for them to focus on the task at hand, drive their car, and put their phone down?

And why did I need to spend 25-30 minutes at two different times this week waiting in a long line at the local Walgreens while the clerk ignored everyone of us in the line? We were 10 people deep standing right in front of him with no indication that he saw us or cared that we were there. Whatever happened to the motto: “customers first” or “the customer is always right”?

And why did I find myself waiting for 30 minutes in a drive thru line at a “fast food” restaurant while attempting to grab a quick bite to eat for my son before I took him to basketball practice? And who came up with the drive thru design that barricades your car in the lane without providing an exiting option should you experience a delay?

While I am on the subject of restaurants and convenience stores, why do we keep seeing signs on the doors informing us of our need to be patient with current employees due to staffing shortages? When are things going to return to normal? Or is the call for empathy and patience the new normal?

My son’s conclusion was that I needed to work on being more patient. He is probably right. I know I can grow in this area! But still, it makes me wonder if there may be something bigger going on all around us.

As a follower of Jesus, I realize my responsibility to respond with grace when confronted with challenging circumstances. As citizens of the United States, we have the privilege of living in a land of abundance and plenty! Truth be told, the list of challenges above pales in comparison to those faced by our brothers and sisters in Ethiopia or Afghanistan. At least we have access to working vehicles, paved roadways, fully (or even partially) stocked convenience stores, drive thru restaurants, and employment options.

My concern is that we are allowing this cultural shift toward delay and empathy seep into the church. I believe churches stop growing when her members start allowing the culture to set the agenda. We have been conditioned to embrace occasional church attendance, reduced monthly giving, infrequent involvement in disciple-making, and limited (if any) involvement in evangelism. The pastors are screaming for “all hands on deck” while the members are asking for greater patience and empathy.

When will we realize that Jesus Christ is not going to accept our excuses of being understaffed or overwhelmed when we give account to Him at the Day of Judgment (Romans 14:12)? We have been commissioned by the King of Kings to make disciples of the nations and promised the guarantee of His presence (Matthew 28:19-20).

Of course, the reality of seeing Jesus on the final day does not remove our responsibility to walk in the Spirit and exercise patience. He did design trees to bear fruit in their season (Psalm 1:3). All pastors will give an account for their lack of patience toward new converts, stubborn members, and sincere skeptics (Hebrews 13:17).

Seeing Jesus on that final day should, however, motivate all of us to start asking whether we have become too comfortable making excuses for our ministry inactivity and too casual in our dedication to local church ministry. We need to embrace a fresh set of ideas for how to reach our world. These ideas will require elements of wisdom, risk, and sacrifice. They will also require the blessing of God as seen in the early and late rains (James 5:7-8).

Let me encourage you to reflect on your responsibility to confess Jesus to those around you, love God and your neighbors, and engage in at least one discipleship relationship in the upcoming year. Don’t settle for mediocrity. Stop blaming the pandemic for your lack of connection to your church. Stop hinting to your pastors and church leaders that you need more time and empathy. Now is the time to recommit to praying for your church leaders and ask God to provide the grace needed for you to recommit to the covenant you made with the members at your local church.

Yes. We all need to walk in the Spirit and practice patience with those around us (Gal. 5:22). But, we also need to continue pursuing a God-sized view of what He wants to accomplish in and through each of us, pandemic or not!
]]> https://familybaptistchurch.org/blog/2021/12/03/is-patience-always-a-virtue#comments 1 What’s wrong with Nepotism? https://familybaptistchurch.org/blog/2021/11/20/what-s-wrong-with-nepotism Sat, 20 Nov 2021 16:12:00 +0000 https://familybaptistchurch.org/blog/2021/11/20/what-s-wrong-with-nepotism
“You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.” (2 Timothy 2:1-2)

Heather and I had the privilege of attending a marriage retreat at Camp Ironwood in Newberry Springs California last weekend. Camp Ironwood is an amazing oasis of spiritual encouragement in the middle of the California desert. The camp has been around for 48 years and is going strong. It was founded by Walt Brock in 1972. The current camp director is Sam Brock, the son of the founder. Sam and his wife Cindy picked us up from the Las Vegas airport on Thursday. We had a wonderful time of fellowship as we drove past one of the largest solar energy farms in the world, a couple of mines, a ton of Joshua Trees, and miles and miles of desert sand. All this scenery was set against the beautiful background of cascading mountains. 

The retreat was a tremendous blessing to us! God provided a wonderful group of 40 couples from the southwest. Heather and I won 3rd place in the couples’ challenge (making and flying paper airplanes through various obstacles), went on an evening hayride to gaze at the stars without the glare of city lights, enjoyed a couple’s banquet that included steak tips and skits, and drove around the desert in our own quad machine built for two (a fringe benefit enjoyed by the guest speakers). It was a great experience!

The father-son connection at Camp Ironwood in CA reminded me of my own experience at Family Baptist Church in Minneapolis. It gave Sam and me plenty to talk about. Both of us have the privilege of serving as successors of our fathers’ ministries. Both Walt Brock and Lee Ormiston are visionary entrepreneurs. Both men have a passion to reach the lost for Christ. Both modeled unbelievable creativity and ingenuity in difficult settings. Both have been recipients of God’s abundant blessing. And I am delighted to inform you that both men are still alive and present in the ministries they founded. 

Which leads me to ask the question: “What’s wrong with nepotism?” Why did so many people warn me against working with or succeeding my dad? I think it is because it sounds wise to keep ministry and family separate. The argument is that you don’t want to cloud your familial relationships with ministry pursuits. While we have experienced some role adjustments in the first four months ministering at Family Baptist together, it hasn’t hurt our father-son relationship. It has only strengthened it!  

In a 2015 article from the Atlantic: “Like Father, Like Son: How Much Nepotism Is Too Much?” author Joe Pinsker shines some light on the impact of parents on children:

"More than one-fifth of employed American men who grew up in the same household as their fathers wind up in the same workplace as them by the time they turn 30."

How exactly are these job-inheritance patterns perpetuated? One answer—an incomplete one, but still an important one—is household culture. An auto mechanic will instill different interests in his children than will an architect, and a child exposed to, say, tinkering, might be more prone to spending time in the garage than at the drafting table. “In the aftermath of the World Trade Center collapse,” wrote David Grusky, a professor at Stanford, with three other sociologists in a 2011 article “we can imagine the engineer’s family talked mainly about why the building failed structurally, whereas the sociologist’s family talked mainly about why there is terrorism.” Generational torch-passing takes place gradually and is folded into daily routines. It’s about watching Shark Tank as a family. It’s about talking mergers and acquisitions at the dinner table.

But household culture has another important effect that runs deeper than just skill sets and hobbies. Sociologists have argued that a parent’s class and occupation can shape what his or her child hopes for in a job, and in life. For example, the daughter of an entrepreneur is more likely to seek autonomy in her professional endeavors, just as the son of a cubicle-dweller will fantasize about stability.

Taken as a whole, is this nepotistic system acceptable, or something to be resisted and dismantled?

I struggle to find any examples where nepotism is viewed in a positive light. If nepotism simply refers to unjust favoritism, I totally agree that the practice should be avoided at all costs. 

The Miram-Webster dictionary defines nepotism negatively as the “the unfair practice by a powerful person of giving jobs and other favors to relatives.”  Apparently, the word has Papal origins: 

During his papacy from 1471-1484, Sixtus IV granted many special favors to members of his family, in particular his nephews. This practice of papal favoritism was carried on by his successors, and in 1667 it was the subject of Gregorio Leti's book Il Nepotismo di Roma-titled in the English translation, The History of the Popes' Nephews. Shortly after the book's appearance, nepotism began to be used in English for the showing of special favor or unfair preference to any relative by someone in any position of power, be it ecclesiastical or not. (The "nep-" spelling is from nepote, a 17th-century variant of Italian nipote, meaning "nephew.")

But all of this background still provokes within me a series of questions: what if your close relative is qualified for the job? Isn’t it logical to think that those closest to you are more likely to align with you philosophically? Are we operating out of fear (by not hiring our relatives) or faith (by hiring people who we know are closely aligned with the vision and mission of an organization)? Why apply the term “nepotism” to any occasion when two relatives work in the same church, camp, business, or non-profit organization?  

Being related to someone should not disqualify them from official partnerships.  We must evaluate each candidate (especially pastors) based on their calling, character, and competency (I Timothy 3:1-7).  I am so grateful that Family Baptist Church chose to risk the stigma by calling me to serve as their next lead pastor!  I am also grateful that my dad chose to remain on the pastoral team in a part time capacity to help us reach the North Minneapolis community.  According to our conversations last weekend, Sam Brock feels the same way about his connection to his dad.

Let’s stop calling some of these appropriately discerned family connections nepotistic and start calling them strategic! It’s working for us!
]]> https://familybaptistchurch.org/blog/2021/11/20/what-s-wrong-with-nepotism#comments 0 Renewing the Vision https://familybaptistchurch.org/blog/2021/10/28/renewing-the-vision Thu, 28 Oct 2021 16:09:00 +0000 https://familybaptistchurch.org/blog/2021/10/28/renewing-the-vision
Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.      
(Proverbs 29:18 KJV)

I rely on google maps to navigate around the city of Minneapolis. So many of the roadways have changed since we lived here 14 years ago.  No doubt some of you prefer Apple Maps to get you where you need to go.  In the end, I am grateful to have help when I need direction!

Proverbs 29:18 has been regularly quoted by pastors and motivational speakers to encourage clear communication of direction for the church or institution they are leading.  It is interesting to note that the English translation of Proverbs 29:18 has nuances based on the bible translations used.

NASB: Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained, But happy is one who keeps the Law.

ESV: Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law.

NKJV: Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; But happy is he who keeps the law.

MESSAGE: If people can’t see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves; But when they attend to what he reveals, they are most blessed.

As you can see from the above list of verses, God’s people don’t need a fresh vision for what the church should do and be.  They need a renewed vision of what He has already revealed in His Word!  A clear presentation of ministry direction sourced in Scripture will help any ministry better align with God’s vision for the church.

Which leads me to joyfully share with you a rough draft of the renewed vision for Family Baptist Church as rolled out in a purpose statement, a mission statement, and a three-step process of how we will, with God’s help, accomplish God’s vision for Family Baptist Church in North Minneapolis.

Purpose: Becoming a healthy church that plants and restores healthy churches in the Twin Cities and throughout the world.

Mission: FBC exists to magnify God, make disciples, and multiply churches.

Process: Behold. Belong. Become.


Behold God.
  • Through authentic worship that is intentional and dynamic (John 4:24).
  • Through expository preaching that is clear and applicable (2 Timothy 4:2).
  • Through meaningful interaction with Gospel-growing members (Matthew 22:36-40).
Belong to God’s Family.
  •  By accepting the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ (Acts 16:31).
  •  By submitting to believers’ baptism and joining the church (Acts 2:41).
  •  By partaking in regular gatherings for biblical teaching, fellowship, communion, and prayer (Acts 2:42).
Become God’s Disciple Maker.
  • By bearing the burdens of others (Galatians 6:2).
  • By knowing and participating in the mission given to you by God for the edification of the church (I Corinthians 7:17).
  • By following the leading of the Spirit in the planting and revitalization of churches in the Twin Cities and throughout the world (I Corinthians 3:6-7).

I welcome your thoughts on this rough draft of the renewed vision statement for Family Baptist Church. Simply email me at pastorjasondo@gmail.com.

]]> https://familybaptistchurch.org/blog/2021/10/28/renewing-the-vision#comments 0 Planning is everything. Plans are nothing. https://familybaptistchurch.org/blog/2021/10/17/planning-is-everything-plans-are-nothing Sun, 17 Oct 2021 16:07:00 +0000 https://familybaptistchurch.org/blog/2021/10/17/planning-is-everything-plans-are-nothing
“Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.”
(Proverbs‬ 19:21)

We traveled back to South Carolina this week to join Palmetto Baptist Church in the celebration of 11 years of ministry. It was great to see God’s continued hand of blessing on PBC and the leadership of their new senior pastor, Sam Horn.  I spent the rest of the week teaching a block course on Church Leadership and Administration at
BJU Seminary. 

I was blessed to co-teach with my friend and former colleague, Dr. Ken Bixby.  Ken spent the last two decades studying what the Scripture says about leadership. He uses the
fruit of his labors to help Christian organizations realign their philosophy of leadership to Scripture. It was a tremendous blessing to spend the week reflecting on how God calls leaders to influence others.

During class, Ken quoted General Dwight D. Eisenhower: “Plans are nothing. Planning is
everything.” Eisenhower spoke these words at the National Defense Executive Reserve Conference in Washington D.C. on November 14, 1957. But instead of making a direct quote, Ken switched the phrases to emphasize the importance of planning first and the lack of control we have over the plans second. What a beautiful example of the tension found in Scripture between the free will of man and the sovereignty of God.

God desires us to “spend and be spent for the cause of Christ” (2 Corinthians 12:15), “work out our own salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12), “give all diligence to add to our faith” (2 Peter 1:5), and “fulfill the assignment we have received from the Lord” (1 Corinthians 7:17). While at the same time, He wants us to “wait on the Lord for renewed strength” (Isaiah 40:31). He invites us to remember that He “works in us both to will and to do his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13). He provides “divine power” (2 Peter 1:3). He provides the greatest example of leadership through Jesus, “who for the joy set before him endure the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2).

As I reflect on the transition we made from South Carolina to Minnesota, the suburbs to the city, Palmetto Baptist Church to Family Baptist Church, I was reminded how agonizing and liberating the decision-making process was for us. Peace and clarity came after we learned to embrace the tension between the free will of man and the sovereignty of God.  In an effort to help you wrestle through the decisions you are facing right now and how to plan for the future, I want to pass along seven principles God used to guide us through the sovereignty of God, free will of man tension. In the end, it helped us decide to return to Minneapolis. The seven principles are taken directly from “Experiencing God Workbook” by Henry and Richard Blackaby and Claude King. I hope they help you as much as they helped us!

1. God is always at work around you.

2. God pursues a continuing love relationship with you that is real and personal.

3. God invites you to become involved with Him in His work.

4. God speaks by the Holy Spirit through the Bible, prayer, circumstances, and the church to reveal Himself, His purposes, and His ways.

5. God’s invitation for you to work with Him always leads you to a crisis of belief that
requires faith and action.

6. You must make major adjustments in your life to join God in what He is doing.

7. You come to know God by experiences as you obey Him, and He accomplishes His work through you.

May God give you the grace to rest in the tension between human will and divine sovereignty (Philippians 2:12-14), the wisdom to know your life assignment (I Corinthians 7:17), and the courage to exercise faith and action when He makes His way known to you (Hebrews 11:6).
]]> https://familybaptistchurch.org/blog/2021/10/17/planning-is-everything-plans-are-nothing#comments 0 Don't Panic https://familybaptistchurch.org/blog/2021/10/02/don-t-panic Sat, 02 Oct 2021 15:59:00 +0000 https://familybaptistchurch.org/blog/2021/10/02/don-t-panic
Don’t panic. I’m with you.
There’s no need to fear for I’m your God.
I’ll give you strength. I’ll help you.
I’ll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you. (Isaiah 41:10 – MSG)


I’ve never experienced a panic attack; but the thought of one almost creates one for me.  According to a quick search on the internet, the symptoms of a panic attack include:

  • Heightened vigilance for danger and physical symptoms.
  • Anxious and irrational thinking.
  • A strong feeling of dread, danger or foreboding.
  • Fear of going mad, losing control, or dying.
  • Feeling lightheaded and dizzy.
  • Tingling and chills, particularly in the arms and hands.
 
After reading through those symptoms, it helps me better understand why I started to feel anxious, threatened, and a bit lightheaded when I received an email informing me that one of the teachers at MNIC (the school renting the education wing of Family Baptist Church) was robbed at gunpoint a week ago in the middle of the afternoon on the corner of 23rd and Girard Ave N.  Thankfully, the teacher wasn’t hurt!  He did, however, relinquish his cell phone and laptop to the thugs assaulting him. To give you a bit of context, 23RD and Girard Ave N is the upper parking lot of Family Baptist Church and the location of the parsonage where we currently live.
 
A few days later, Heather mentioned to me that the warm and friendly string of lights that decorated our backyard had been clipped. The string of lights was left smashed on the ground. Immediately, I started to feel upset, anxious, and annoyed once again. What gives someone the right to reach over our 6-foot wooden fence and clip our lights? Does someone really oppose our efforts to seek the peace of the city by stealing our attempt to create a beautiful space of our own (Jeremiah 29:4-7)?
 
Was this the start of a panic attack?  I don’t think so.  It did heighten my vigilance for danger. I began to wonder if an old gang had moved back into our area and was making efforts to reclaim their territory.  Anything is possible around North Minneapolis.
 
To make matters worse, I was scheduled to head out of town for a couple days and would be leaving my wife and boys behind to hold down the fort.  This was the first time we were confronted with the cost of moving back into an urban center.  Heather and I had a brief conversation about whether I should cancel my trip and remain home with her.  She is an amazing woman! She assured me that she would be okay. We talked through a couple extra safety measures she could take while I was gone. We prayed together and she proceeded to take me to the airport. 
 
The next day I called Heather to see how she and the boys had navigated their first night alone in the parsonage without me.  My heart dropped when I discovered she had a story to share. After dropping me off at the airport, she ran to the store and purchased another string of lights to hang in our backyard. To her dismay, Heather woke up the next morning to find the string of lights in our backyard clipped once again.  Did she panic? Did she grow anxious or threatened?  No. She had caught the culprit in the very act of clipping the lights and ran out of the house to confront him!  I could feel my blood pressure beginning to rise while she talked.  To my surprise, the culprit ended up being one of the plump neighborhood squirrels!  She had actually witnessed the squirrel, with string of lights in his paws, taking a bite out of the cord sending the third string of lights to the ground.
 
What a lesson I learned this past week about panic attacks and fear.  Panic attacks describe what a person feels when confronted with something threatening his safety.  It is real.  It is scary.  It can even be paralyzing.  

The first step to overcoming a panic attack is distinguishing between fact and legitimate fear.  I feared something bad happening to my family while I was gone.  This was based on the fact that a schoolteacher had been robbed a couple yards from our house.  I conveniently overlooked the fact that we are blessed to live in a house secured by a six-foot privacy fence, a private garage entrance into the backyard, a security system connected to the local police, a security camera on the outside of the house, a couple small but attentive dogs, deadbolts on each of our doors, and the appropriate home defense equipment ready for use if someone would be so foolish as to break in.  
And what about the fact that Isaiah 41:10 reminds us of God’s presence, God’s power, and God’s provision when we are tempted to give in to fear?  Read that verse one more time: Don’t panic. I’m with you. There’s no need to fear for I’m your God. I’ll give you strength. I’ll help you. I’ll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you (Isaiah 41:10 – MSG).

Afterall, most of the time, the threats we experience are usually rodents not robbers.  But, too often, we choose to give in to the panic of the unknown instead of setting our minds on things above and focusing on the facts.  
 
So, don’t stop praying for us. We need to be reminded of God’s presence, His power, and His provision. But our return to the city has revealed that what we need most is to rest in these promises.  Join me in asking God to help all of us focus on facts more than feelings!
]]> https://familybaptistchurch.org/blog/2021/10/02/don-t-panic#comments 0 A Plentiful Harvest https://familybaptistchurch.org/blog/2021/09/12/a-plentiful-harvest Sun, 12 Sep 2021 15:51:00 +0000 https://familybaptistchurch.org/blog/2021/09/12/a-plentiful-harvest
"Then he said to his disciples, The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest." (Matthew 9:37-38)

On Thursday afternoon of this past week, I found myself sitting in my usual spot at the head of an empty table enjoying some form of rice and protein for lunch (chicken or fish). It’s my go to meal when I am on the go. I never seem to grow tired of the combination as long as it is covered in the sweet orange chili sauce that I have come to love.

The table was empty because I missed the regular lunch hour due to selecting songs for the worship services for the next three months with my wife. We are working hard to teach the congregation new songs. I agree with the description used by a sister church in the city: “We want to encourage worship that is both traditional and dynamic. We seek to avoid both uncomfortable novelty and stuffy formality.”

Heather didn’t join me for lunch because she was busy drinking down her usual meal shake while multitasking the next homeschool project for the boys. On her way past the table she asked me if I could smell any smoke. I could but didn’t think much of it. I knew we had several work projects going on outside the parsonage. A group of guys were rebuilding the garage and another man was removing a few trees from the side of the hill.

After a few more minutes, a series of events revealed that the smell was a problem. The parking lot near the parsonage was suddenly full of teachers and students from MNIC. (A charter school for at risk teens renting the educational wing from Family Baptist.) They had evacuated the building and called the Fire Department. The common sound of a siren started getting louder than usual. Within a few minutes, a big red fire truck was outside the house. Apparently, one of the stumps being removed from the side of the hill caught fire from the heat of the chainsaw. Praise God, the fire was under control in a matter of minutes.

I am so thankful for their quick response. No permanent damage done. The students were able to return to their classes. I had a chance to meet some of the local firemen. I am so grateful for the brave men and women who help turn chaos back to order.

On Friday evening we were invited to join David and Susan Mowen, another dear couple at FBC, to enjoy a meal with a Muslim family. What an amazing spread of food! It must have taken David all week to prepare the middle eastern feast. The meal lasted over two hours. It was full of wonderful conversations about culture, backgrounds, and religion. We are blessed to partner with couples like David and Susan who love the Lord and the international community. We are praying for the salvation of our new Muslim friends.

We woke up on Saturday morning to a good deal of activity taking place in the empty lot across the street from the church. Heather and I got an early start to our Saturday in an effort to set up tables and chairs for a funeral for one of the charter members of Family Baptist named Jerry Secord.

His death reminds me of the amazing faithfulness exhibited by those in his generation and the desperate need to recruit younger men and women to pick up where he left off at Family Baptist Church. He will be missed!

But back to the recounting of Saturday… a group of people from the community were setting up a stage for a Christian Hip Hop concert called “God Flow.” It was a small part of a one day festival in North Minneapolis.

We could literally feel our windows shaking for a good portion of the day. It made for some challenging sermon preparation. After about three hours of trying to concentrate, I decided (with the prompting of my wonderful wife and boys) to give in and walk around the neighborhood to see what all the commotion was about.

We were surprised to find around 10 blocks of West Broadway completely blocked off from regular traffic. Most of the street space was occupied by politicians and social justice advocates seeking to gain momentum. We were approached by a handful of people who wanted to talk about solving the problems in the city.

After listening to the solutions proposed by one politician, I graciously told him that I couldn’t disagree with him more. He was shocked by my response and wanted to know why. It developed into great opportunity to naturally talk about the solution to lasting peace through the Prince of Peace. I love being back in the city!

We ended the evening with around 50 recovering or struggling addicts who meet every second Saturday evening for a meal at Family Baptist Church, a time of worship, a viewing of one chapter of Scripture from the visual Bible, and an open discussion about the content. The meeting is called “Second Saturday.” It is run by Dan Bradley, another faithful member of Family Baptist. What a delight to listen to these men and women talk openly about the content of Scripture and transparently about their own life struggles.

What can I say? Urban ministry and church revitalization is full of NATURAL opportunities to share the gospel, live the gospel, and enjoy the gospel. It also challenges your perspective on how to best connect with people in the city.

While we workout the pros and cons of Christian Hip Hop and arguing with liberal politicians about the best way to bring peace to the city, we will continue to enjoy long ethnic meals and meaningful conversations with fire fighters. We remain committed to building redemptive relationships in the church and across cultural barriers. We also remain grateful for God’s provision of faithful members at Family Baptist Church who serve Him in such a diverse and fruitful neighborhood like North Minneapolis.
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Thanks for taking the time to read this introductory blog about God’s goodness in leading our family back to the city.  On Sunday, August 29, 2021, I will be installed as the second senior pastor Family Baptist Church has ever known!  What an honor to shepherd this wonderful congregation in the heart of North Minneapolis. 

I am stepping into the shoes of my dad, Lee Ormiston, a faithful servant of the Lord who started this church 25 years ago.  God blessed him with creativity, compassion, and zeal.  He has guided Family Baptist through times of prosperity and famine through careful exegesis of God’s Word.  I am thrilled to announce that he has agreed to stay on the pastoral team in a part-time capacity to help me adjust into my new position and help the church continue it’s rich heritage of providing hope to the hopeless! 

I decided to blog about my experiences as an urban church pastor to solicit prayer support and encourage others to join us in this rewarding endeavor of seeking the peace of the city by building healthy communities of faith (Jer. 29:7).  My blog will provide a weekly reflection on life in the hood… the highs and the lows.  It will be a brief journal of the journey God has led our family to take. 

My prayer is that God will use this blog to connect with pastors and churches in the Twin Cities area, former students from Bob Jones University and Seminary, and the dear members of our sending church – Palmetto Baptist in Powdersville, SC.  I would love to see God use these weekly entries to inspire you to take a step of faith and join Him in the good work He has called you to fulfill (Eph. 2:10). 

Please join me in praying that God would grant us wisdom to know how to prioritize the needs at Family Baptist Church.  Ask God to help me grow in my ability to communicate the truths of Scripture in a clear and understandable fashion.  I also invite you to join us in praying that God will continue to open doors for Heather and me to reconnect with the teens (now in their late 30’s and early 40’s) from the youth group we led at Family Baptist Church 20+ years ago.  Many of these precious friends still live in the area and have begun reaching out  to us.  We can’t wait to see what God has in store for us this next week!
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