Talk to most leaders in
education, health care, sports, government, business, or the church about what
they do, and it won't take long for them to talk about developing leaders. The
future of any community, movement, or organization tomorrow depends on developing
leaders today.
Many of us associate Jesus with
healing and teaching. Both were certainly key elements in his life and
ministry, but if you review his life and work you begin to see that much of his
time was spent developing leaders. When Jesus invites ordinary men and women to
follow him, he is inviting them into a community of learners and leaders.
Several weeks ago I asked our
Fruitful Congregations Journey (FCJ) team if we should invite more members and
friends of our faith community to participate in the Shared Learning Experience
(SLE) they have just completed this past Spring. The answer was immediate:
"Yes!"
Our group of 13-15 laity attended
seven Saturday morning learning sessions. They read seven books about
congregational life and health and faith, and joined people from other UM
churches for those Saturday learning sessions lead by a leader, and they prayed
together. Their faith was deepened, they asked questions some had never asked
before, and they began to see things they had never seen before. Once a month
our lay group would meet with the FUMCB pastors for conversation, prayer, and
the sharing of questions/new insights.
Would you be interested in being
a part of our next SLE group? We are looking for people who love God, who care
deeply about the church's ministry, who are passionate about a faithful future,
who have the courage to learn, who are willing to participate as fully as
possible in the life of the SLE group, and who will share with others in our
church what they learn about God, the church, and bearing fruit.
The SLE group will meet with the
pastors for a brief orientation. Members will either buy or borrow seven books,
and read one book a month (they are basic and we don't expect everyone to agree
with everything they read!). Seven Saturday's between September and March the
group will attend a Learning Session to be held at Martinsville UMC from 9 am-1
pm. (this last year's group traveled together in the church van). Then,
approximately seven times during the school year on a Sunday early afternoon,
the SLE group and pastors will meet together here at FUMCB.
Dates for the SLE learning
sessions are: September 6, October 11, November 1, December 6, January 3,
February 7, and March 7.
If you are interested, please contact
one of the pastors immediately. Feel free to speak with current FCJ leaders
like Tom Kinzer, Sarah Green, Jonathan Purvis, Rita George, Nicole Griffin,
Chuck and Nancy Macklin, James McLary, Fran Klinger or other members of the
team. (Some of you have been "targeted" as potential members of this
learning and leading team, and will be receiving letters and/or phone calls.)
People who participate in the SLE
experience will discover their faith being deepened. They will build
relationships with a new group of people, they will begin to understand
principles of health and organizational life, they will see what may be ahead
for our church, and they can become leaders who will help our congregation step
into an exciting, new chapter.
This is your invitation to join
an adventure. I pray those who are being nudged by God to say "Yes"
will take that "Yes" seriously! Let us know...this week!
In Christ and for Christ,
Mark Fenstermacher
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