GIBF & BASF | July 2011 Article

Some of the men who have influenced me most have largely been through accidental friendships, humanly speaking, of course. God knew I needed their influence. I didn’t. Like most preachers, I choose friends who are like me. The closer to my particular beliefs they are, the more inclined I am to like them. I have to thank the Lord, though, for the many wonderful times He has surprised me. Some of the richest relationships I have I wasn’t smart enough to seek out. The deepest impressions on my life have sometimes come from men who weren’t like me enough for me to befriend.

Therein lies the primary reason I am involved in an organized Fellowship and other fellowship meetings. I need the opportunity to be exposed to men I don’t yet know. You might, too. Elijah’s “I only…” mindset wasn’t his finest hour, and it was answered by God’s insistence that He had thousands more just as committed as Elijah. You can find many godly, disciplined men in the ministry whose strengths hone some of your own or identify areas of weakness. We tend to look for our own kind with a criterion closer to personality than doctrine. That’s where a Fellowship serves a useful purpose. A good Fellowship or fellowship-type meeting generally reflects a more limited, yet shared set of beliefs, thus providing a safety net of exposure. It safely exposes us to men with similar philosophy, but varying strengths and disciplines we often lack. I’ve gone to many fellowship meetings content with who I was until I met someone who demonstrated how much more Christ can actually extract from a man. My best efforts have been revealed as anemic once God interrupted my chosen circle of fellowship with a flash of passion from some previously unknown vessel of honor.

You may remember the popular national advertising campaign by BASF in which the company bragged: “At BASF, we don’t make a lot of the products you buy. We make a lot of the products better.” Likewise, fellowships don’t start churches or call pastors. They might make them better, though. How? By exposing us to others who are passionate about the local church, who might strengthen us in areas that we are weak. I’ve met men in that setting who challenged my soul-winning, provoked my prayer life, and raised my bar for preaching. I pastor a wonderful church that can become content with what I produce. A point of maturity for any pastor is knowing there can be a vast difference between a satisfied congregation and a satisfied Savior. When they’re happy, I tend to be happy…and satisfied. Should I be? Bible Baptist Church deserves a pastor who refuses to be self-contented and who surrounds himself with men whose very presence highlights his inadequacies. A Fellowship can turn the introduction of new friends into divine appointments that can refine a pastor’s character and strengthen his discipline.

Not everyone can or will attend a fellowship meeting. My passion for the Baptist Times is to help produce this sharpening process using print. You’ll find some great minds and passionate hearts in the GIBF with something to say that would profit us all. They have inspiring stories and practical wisdom that result from documenting the work of God in ministries big and small, both known and obscure. I hope the Baptist Times can capture the best of their efforts to the strengthening of local churches around the world.

With that goal of sharpening in mind, here are a few considerations I would request as we enter this next era.

Allow us time to settle into the format. We have some ideas that will only materialize once we get the basic workflow down. Policies will evolve over these first few issues. Any inconsistencies are unintentional.

Please participate in the requests through the GIBF email list. Church news, requests for articles, and church practices will prove great resources if you will submit them as they come up on the list.

Allow the magazine to be journalism, not preaching. All truth is God’s truth and sometimes others might say it better than we do. Rather than fill half the paper with disclaimers, accept the benefit of an article without assuming it promotes everything the author ever believed. Neither fellowships nor friendships demand agreement on every point. This magazine doesn’t either.

Consider supporting the magazine monthly. Regular church support is our primary source of funding. Individual subscriptions cover a small amount. Our team will be working hard to make it worth your investment.

Remember that I am also a pastor. Becoming Editor affords me even less time or desire to spend arguing over fine points or defending others.

After completing the first issue, my respect for Rich Farinella and Dave Lydick has skyrocketed. Bro. Rich started the paper and spent five years building a good foundation. I doubt starting a paper was on his bucket list. Bro. Dave took it five more years and developed the base of financial support. They obviously have that pioneering spirit, both having started wonderful churches. Church planters tend to have a gene the rest of us lack. If I can come close to adding in my time what they contributed in theirs, I will be thrilled.

So dawns a new era for the Baptist Times. If I can somehow collect enough thoughts from good minds and pure hearts to make your walk with the Lord a little richer and your ministry more effective, it will be time well served. Thank you for the privilege.