A Few Thoughts on the 2021 SBC Annual Meeting

 “The report of my death was an exaggeration.” So wrote Mark Twain on May 31, 1897 about rumors that he was on is deathbed in London. If I may paraphrase Mr. Twain, “The reports of the Southern Baptist Convention becoming liberal are an exaggeration.” Yet, to read some news reports, that is exactly what one may conclude about the 2021 Annual Meeting in Nashville, TN. In this Tie article, my purpose is to demonstrate that contrary to several mainstream media sources and several ultra-conservative publications, the SBC meeting in Nashville demonstrated that we are a people with a firm commitment to the Bible and to reaching the lost with the gospel of Jesus Christ. I aim to do that by recounting the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. 

First, THE GOOD. And, it was very good! On Monday evening, 64 new missionaries were commissioned by the International Missions Board (IMB) to serve overseas. During the pandemic, the IMB has not stopped working. We are continuing to raise up and send missionaries. During 2020, the North American Mission Board (NAMB) has approved over 200 new church planters and received over $49M in Annie Armstrong Easter Offering funds. That is significant, considering that over 18% of baptisms in the SBC come through our new church plants. In addition, Disaster Relief (and arm of NAMB) prepared over 750,000 meals to those in crisis settings, shared the gospel nearly 7,000 times and saw 872 people make professions of faith in Christ.

The messengers to the SBC also passed a number of very well worded and well thought out resolutions, including one “On the Sufficiency of Scripture for Race and Racial Reconciliation.” That resolution received news coverage as if was in favor of Critical Race Theory (CRT), a questionable academic approach to understanding systemic racism. Yet, that resolution did no such thing. Instead, that resolution stated specifically “that we reject any theory or worldview that finds the ultimate identity of human beings in ethnicity or in any other group dynamic,” which is the very essence of CRT. In addition, resolutions were passed that:

• Urged the president and Congress to uphold the Hyde Amendment, which has prevented the use of federal tax dollars to pay for abortions in most circumstances.

• Opposed the Equality Act, which would amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to offer anti-discrimination protection for LGBTQ Americans.

• Asked the federal government to make admission of Uyghurs to the U.S. as refugees a priority, given reports that more than a million members of the ethnic Muslim minority group have been held in concentration camps in China.

• Expressed their belief that “any person who has committed sexual abuse is permanently disqualified from holding the office of pastor.”

• Grieved the more than 3.78 million confirmed deaths worldwide from COVID-19.

The Messengers added a plank to Vision 2025 that was proposed by Ronnie Floyd and the Executive Committee. That plank was to “prayerfully endeavor to eliminate all incidents of sexual abuse and racial discrimination among our churches.” Such a statement is a powerful repudiation of so much hurt and division that has happened in years past and sets a course toward a brighter future. 

 Finally, Pastor Ed Litton was elected to serve as the SBC President. Litton is the longtime pastor of Redemption Church in Saraland, AL. He has worked tirelessly for racial reconciliation with fellow pastors in his area of the country. In addition, he is committed to the inerrancy, infallibility, authority and sufficiency of Scripture and has been a model of pastoral integrity and compassion for the length of his ministry. He has the potential to unite those in the SBC that are willing to “come to the table.” 

THE BAD. Silliness. I am not sure how else to describe what happens when any messenger can go to a microphone and make a motion, propose a resolution, or make a request of a convention entity. I do not think it is wrong that messengers get this privilege. But, mercy, the things people say! One messenger asked NAMB to investigate the enneagram. Another proposed a “fellowship meal” be added to the SBC annual calendar of events. Several messengers asked the SBC to do things that the SBC cannot do. For example, rescind resolutions made by previous SBC messengers, demonstrating that a large number of participants do not seem to grasp the simplest of parliamentary processes. 

Also under the heading of “bad” I would add another word: Confusion. Specifically, I am referring to the confusion of those things that are to be handled within a church and those that are legal matters. One messenger actually proposed that suspected cases of sexual abuse be handled internally and not referred to law enforcement or investigated by denominational leadership. As if abuse was a minor disagreement over the color of the carpet! It is rare that I am at a loss for words, but when that statement was made, I was dumbfounded. 

THE UGLY. Here I have in mind several things, but they all fit under the heading: division. The divisiveness that we see in our culture is present in the church. Too often we choose to believe the absolute worst about one another rather than the best. Too often we attribute the worst motives possible to others when we want others to give us the benefit of the doubt. That kind of divisiveness was on display in some measure at the SBC this year. 

So called "discernment bloggers" (like Capstone Report, Reformation Charlotte, Pulpit & Pen / Protestia, etc) love to attack the "liberal drift" in the SBC by taking statements out of context to say something that was never intended. I could post dozens of examples of them doing so with individuals such as JD Greear, Kevin Ezell, Dhati Lewis, Al Mohler, and others in positions of denominational leadership, but I refuse to give them any more attention than they deserve. 

These "discernment bloggers" are contributing to the problem of divisiveness, not helping to bring unity. Should we be careful to check everything by the Word of God? Absolutely. We should be "Bereans" (Acts 17:11) when it comes to those proclaiming the Word. The problem with the "discernment bloggers" is their disdain for anyone who disagrees with them in secondary or tertiary matters. I would remind them (and us) that the Scripture says "Only that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is proclaimed, and in this I rejoice" (Phil 1:18). 

Ultimately, I was happy with the overall unity and spirit of the SBC Annual Meeting. And, when it comes to matters of controversy about those in leadership, I want you to know that I choose to believe the best. I strive to believe the best about you, about SBC leaders, even about those not happy with the SBC right now. I want to be a person (and a pastor) who believes the best about people, and I hope you do, too. 

Principles That Guide Me While Voting

I have a confession to make: I am a political nerd. I have been interested in politics since the 1984 election, well before I was able to vote. In 1988 I voted in my first election and I have voted in every election – local and nation – since that time. 2020 is no exception. Indeed, my ballot has already been cast. 

Much like 2016, faithful followers of Christ have serious questions about both of the two major candidates. We want some answers. We want direction. We want guidance. And, much like 2016, I’ve been asked, “what do you think of this election, pastor? What are we going to do?”

Two tings I have heard most often are: “vote your conscience” or “we have to choose between the lesser of two evils.” But, these sentiments do not provide the guidance they purport. For example, voting your conscience only makes sense if your conscience is guided by biblical principles. After all, your conscience could be guided be seared by a win-at-all-costs ideology, or a flat our hatred for the “other” candidate. In that case, “voting your conscience” is not as wise as it seems.

Some have argued that when we vote we always, to some degree, choose between the lesser of two evils. While there is an element of truth in that sentiment, it only makes sense as a voting rationale if there is an appreciable difference between the two evils. Apart from that, it is merely a way to excuse voting for someone that you would never vote for otherwise.

Sadly, both of the aforementioned pieces of advice seem to come down to voting for personality. Thus, we are guided by our subjective answer to: Which individual do I "like" the best? Frankly, that is not a good or wise way to proceed when it comes to making a decision about who to support for the leader of the free world. Indeed, for the individual that will have a direct effect on setting the course of the Courts, trade, taxes, and a host of other issues, well beyond that person's time in office. 

While I have no easy answers for this year’s Presidential election, I would like to make a few suggestions. A number of years ago,  I developed a three principle method of evaluating candidates. These principles have guided me since I first cast a vote in November 1988. I provide my framework here in hopes it may help you as you enter the voting booth this year.

The Declaration of Independence declares: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." It seems to me that “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness” provides a good three principle framework for evaluating candidates. So, here is how I think about “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” in the context of the policies supported by the candidates.

1. PRO LIFE
There is no right more fundamental than the right to life. Every person who advocates a pro-choice position is able to do so only because their own mother chose life. Think about that for a minute. I recognize there are difficult situations people find themselves in and circumstances that are often less than ideal for a pregnancy. Yet, none of those situations or circumstances justify the killing of an innocent child. Mother Teresa once said, “I feel the greatest destroyer of peace today is abortion, because it is a war against the child... A direct killing of the innocent child, 'Murder' by the mother herself... And if we can accept that a mother can kill even her own child, how can we tell other people not to kill one another?" 

Indeed, a new report entitled, "How Americans Understand Abortion" by Tricia C. Bruce, a sociologist at the Center for the Study of Religion and Society at the University of Notre Dame, indicates that some people are not opposed to abortion because, "they support the desire of the pregnant woman to pursue a good life for herself." In other words, too often, the issue of abortion has nothing to do with the baby in the womb or the life that child may live, but rather, a desire for the mother of the child to be able to dispose of the baby in order to pursue the "good life." Mother Teresa revealed the real reason our culture advocates abortion when she said, "It is a poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish." 

Therefore, when I vote, the first principle that guides me is whether a candidate is pro-life. This, in my estimation, is the most practical way to ensure that every person's right to LIFE is protected.

2. PRO LIBERTY 
The Declaration of Independence says we are endowed by our Creator with the right to LIBERTY. The first amendment specifically mentions the right to religious liberty, among others. But, make no mistake, religious liberty is the "first" liberty guaranteed by our Constitution. But, of course, other liberties are enumerated as well, such as the right to free speech, a free press, the right to assemble, and the right to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

The 2nd Amendment to the Constitution reads: "A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed." The Founding Fathers had experienced the tyranny of King George and had openly rebelled against that tyranny. They were able to do so because they were armed. In their day a militia was a group of ordinary citizens who formed to defend an area or region. It was a precursor to the present day military. Yet, the right to keep and bear arms was not inextricably tied to the idea of the military, as some presume today. Rather, the right of citizens to rebel against tyrannical government necessitates those citizens posses the right to keep and bear arms.

Frankly, the way we ensure that all of our liberties are protected is not by trusting that the government will take care of protecting it for us. Rather, each individual has the right to protect their liberty on their own. The Founding Fathers understood that an armed citizenry was a check on tyrannical government overreach. So, because I believe in protecting all of the liberties recognized in the Constitution, the second principle that guides me is whether a candidate supports the 2nd amendment. 

3. PRO LIMITED GOVERNMENT
The third principle that guides my voting decisions is whether a candidate favors limited government and lower taxes. This principle comes out of the Declaration as well. We are endowed by our Creator with the right to the pursuit of happiness. Simply put, it is difficult to pursue happiness if the government continually takes more and more of your income! 

These are three guiding principles for me. They are not the only issues that I care about or that I think are important. But, these three I find to be in alignment with the rights recognized in the Declaration of Independence. Let me add that, during every election cycle, we should extend grace to one another, whatever conclusions we may reach about public policy and individual candidates. Ultimately, my conscience is not bound by a donkey or an elephant, but by the Lamb of God. In trying to work through my biblical understanding of public policy issues, this is where I have arrived. I respect your right to come to different conclusions than I do. 

When Hate Comes to Town

One of my favorite songs is the collaboration between Irish band U2 and the late blues legend, B.B. King on the song “When Love Comes to Town.” It is a tremendous song about the transformative power of love. The fourth verse of the song points unequivocally to the day that Jesus was crucified as the day when love came to town. And, that love changed everything.

On two Saturdays in the summer of 2017, in the usually sleepy little town of Charlottesville, VA, it is expected that hate will come to town. Specifically, on July 8th, a KKK group from North Carolina conducted a rally at a downtown park and then, on August 12th, Richard Spencer is to headline the so-called “Unite the Right Rally” in the same park. How exactly are Christians supposed to think about and respond to such events?

First and foremost, Bible-believing Christians cannot endorse the attitudes, beliefs and actions of groups like the KKK or Richard Spencer’s so-called “Alt-right.” Both groups embrace a demonic ideology that undermines the clear teaching of the Bible that every human being has inherent worth because every human being is made in the image of God. Any teaching that claims inferiority for those who are of a different race or ethnicity than “we” are is sinful. In short, racism is a sin; a sin for which Jesus died, but a sin nonetheless.

The gospel confronts racism because in the gospel we learn that every person has inherent value because every person is made in the image and likeness of God. In the gospel we learn that Jesus died for people of every race and ethnicity, and calls upon every single person to repent and trust in his finished work. In the gospel we learn that, in Christ, Jews and Gentiles – and all other racial and ethnic categories – can experience genuine reconciliation with God and with each other (Eph 2:11-22). As such, racism, in any form cannot be fostered or tolerated among Bible-believing Christians.

While all of the above is true, the question remains how Christians ought to respond when hate (in the form of racist groups) comes to town. Up to this point I have said little publicly about the rallies in my newly adopted hometown. And, although I have attended one meeting of the Charlottesville Clergy Collective, I have not participated in the counter-protests they have sponsored.

In this circumstance, there are several biblical models that I am following in my lack of participation in either rally. The first is Nehemiah, who refused to be distracted from his calling by those demanding that he engage with them. To the contrary, in Neh 6:3, Nehemiah sent them a message, “I am doing a great work and cannot come down.”

A second example comes to mind as well. That is the example of the angel of the Lord who met with Joshua prior to the battle of Jericho (Josh. 5:13-15). In that passage Joshua wanted to know who the angel was for – on whose “side” was the angel fighting? The angel’s answer is instructive: “Neither. But as commander of the Lord’s army I’ve now come.” I am more convinced than ever that the same answer would be given if the angel of the Lord’s army were to appear in downtown Charlottesville during one of the aforementioned rallies. Both sides claim – to one degree or another – that the Lord is on their side. Yet, I am convinced that the Lord would tell both sides that they are in error. God does not look for which side of our sinful arguments to take his stand, rather, he demands that we repent from our selfishness and shortsightedness and that we align our values with him.

Finally, I take the example of Jesus (Mk 12:13-17) when the Pharisees and Herodians sought to trap him with a political question. In that case, they asked whether they should pay taxes or not. Jesus refused to be drawn in to their trap. Quite honestly, I think there are a lot of folks in Charlottesville who feel much the same way. We despise the views of the KKK and of Richard Spencer, but we are not too fond of the views of “the other side” either. Yet, we seem to be pushed toward taking a side. For lack of a better description, the demand (from some) that we take a side feels a lot like a trap.

In addition to the biblical examples that I have referenced above, the answers to the following three practical questions have guided my thinking over the past several months as I have wrestled with exactly how to respond to the events going on in my city:

1. Will there be a chance to engage in a proclamation of the gospel at these rallies or counter-protests?
The only way for the sin of racism to be biblically confronted is for the gospel to be clearly proclaimed. Mere presence is not sufficient because presence alone does not indicate the reason for opposition to hate groups. I am not yet convinced that groups of people engaging in alternative rallies accomplish the task of clearly proclaiming the gospel. Indeed, given the vast spectrum of those engaged in “counter-protests,” it is not possible to separate those whose opposition is rooted in the gospel from those who are professional protestors, Antifa groups, and left wing fringe groups. In short, I see no opportunity to clearly engage in gospel proclamation that is clear, unequivocal, and distinct.

2. Will a large crowd give those engaged in hate more attention?
Here I am thinking about the way the news media is attracted to events. The larger the crowds – especially opposing crowds shouting at each other – the more coverage the event gets. And, unfortunately, attention is exactly what hate groups crave. (And, here I am not thinking of the “alt right” groups exclusively, but am convinced that those behind the professional protestors, the Antifa groups, and several other groups planning counter protestors are driven by hate as well.) Certainly the hate groups will be covered by the news, but there can be no doubt that the more conflict there is, the more coverage there will be. Indeed, hate groups thrive on conflict and opposition. They are the living embodiment of Dr. King’s reminder that “hate begets hate.” In the absence of an antagonistic opposition crowd, the hate group has no fuel to feed their inferno of hatred.

3. Can I express my disdain for hate groups without partnering with groups that compromise my convictions?
This is the thorniest question of all for me. In my city a group of well meaning “clergy” are planning a counter-protest to these rallies. They are a decent group of people representing everything from mainline denominations to meditation centers, which is why I put the word “clergy” in quotation marks. I have been asked to join them, but have politely declined. Yet, I was recently asked, “what’s the harm in praying together?” Although I appreciate that sentiment, I am not sure, for example, who a “spiritual teacher” at a meditation center is praying to. And, I am fairly certain that a Jewish rabbi is not praying to Jesus. My statements here ought not be interpreted as insults, they are not. Quite the contrary, I am acknowledging genuine differences in fundamental beliefs. So while I agree with the clergy group in their opposition to hate groups coming to town, the reason(s) for my opposition is quite different from many of those in the group. Yet, there is really no way to make that distinction “in the moment” (apart from a blog post like this, I suppose).

Let me add that I do not think my thoughts on this issue are the final word for all Christ followers. I do not even consider it the final word for the members of the church which I serve as pastor. I know there are plenty of Christians and people of “good will” who will think differently and feel compelled to attend the anti-protests. Although we may choose to express our opposition to hate groups in different ways, my prayer is that every follower of Christ will be driven by the Scripture to oppose any and all anti-gospel, dehumanizing, racist ideologies and that the love of God for us expressed by the death of Jesus on the cross would radically transform us and our city.

Three Principles for Christian Leaders Engaging in Social Media

The bulk of this post was written in January 2014. In the two and a half years since, much has changed in our world and culture, and I have never been more thankful for the changes that I made to the way I engage on social media. When I joined Facebook and Twitter in the late 2000's, I began with the best of intentions. My goal was to create a social media presence in order to share my thoughts on the issues of the day as well as give people a glimpse into a pastor’s life away from the church. Unfortunately, my experiment failed. By “failed” I mean that I did not accomplish my goal in a constructive way. Quite the opposite, actually. Rather than equip believers with the tools necessary to engage in the culture war, they were provided sarcastic, condescending and often unhelpful commentary on the issues and events of the day. Rather than provide a winsome look into the life of their pastor, a one dimensional lens was provided to view their pastor. In short, what they saw (and read) was not what I had hoped or intended. As a result, I have made changes in the way I handle social media and I have learned some principles for public leaders - especially pastors - that I think are worth sharing.

1. Establish Boundaries. The first principle is to not create a Twitter or Facebook presence without a specific set of guidelines for how to use it. That sounds simple and obvious, but it is remarkable how few of us think intentionally about what we are putting into the world of social media. If you have not established a set of guidelines for social media, ask yourself why you think you use it. If you had asked me I would have told you that I had a Facebook presence in order to keep in touch with my family (who live over 900 miles away) and to comment on issues of interest to me. However, in going back through nearly three years of posts, I discovered that very little of the content I posted had anything to do with family. Indeed, most of it appeared to be nothing more than my reaction to and commentary on the events of the day. Thus, what I contended was a way to stay in touch with family was little more than a way to feed my own ego by sharing my opinions on the news and events of the day. Once you determine what you think your reason(s) for engaging in social media is, try this, go back through a year’s worth of your posts and evaluate them in light of your guidelines.

My boundaries. After some gut level conversations with good and trusted friends, I have established a framework for intentional social media interaction. My purpose in engaging in social media is threefold. First, I want to advance the ministry of the church I serve by posting information beneficial to our members. That information may be links to ministry opportunities, updates or details about church events, links to ministry resources, and the like. Second, I do want to give people a glimpse into a pastor’s life outside of the church. I simply want to be more gracious and holistic in how I do that. So I intend to provide more family oriented posts and pictures and less snarky remarks about the outcome of ball games or political commentary. Third, I want to point people to articles and resources that will help them in their walk with Christ. In the past I would post most anything, now I use this framework to weed out much of what I would have posted in the past.

2. Avoid Debate. The second principle is one I owe to my good friend David Prince. During a conversation with David about my (unfortunate) tendency to engage in Facebook debates, he made a remarkable observation. David said, “Rob, you cannot have a meaningful and substantive debate in a medium that is neither meaningful nor substantive.” There is far more truth in that than I would like to admit. The truth is, going back and forth with someone in a Facebook thread is not productive. Such an exchange does not allow for an exchange of ideas that may persuade. Instead, it tends to entrench previously held ideas and create animosity toward those advocating other views. Facebook is a great place to share pictures from a family vacation and updates on where you are having lunch, but it is not a forum for engaging in debates that require careful thought or a nuanced exchange of ideas.

Those who "follow" my Facebook or Twitter feed will find that most of the updates posted to Facebook come through Twitter. I determined to do that because I am less inclined to post trivial items to Twitter, which provides a built-in filter for me to determine what is worthy of sharing on social media, I also determined that I will not answer every question posed to me on Facebook (or Twitter), nor will I engage in debate on theological or political issues on Facebook.

3. Starve the Caricature Monster. My third principle for social media is that social media never presents the whole picture of a person’s life, values, or personality. It is not even possible to determine tone of voice through social media, unless one is using all caps, of course. As a result, we get a skewed picture of what a person believes, what they value, how they think, etc: that is, we get a caricature. That is true, by the way, regardless of how much a person posts on social media. For example, we all know the “excessive” poster…..the one who tells you every restaurant they are in, at every meal (I may be guilty of this! LOL). Obviously, there is more to the person than where they eat a meal or what they had for lunch. Even when posting on social or political issues, the nature of social media presents a caricature of one’s beliefs and values.

As a Christian leader I have determined that it is not productive to present deeply held – and sometimes controversial – beliefs in at the level of "sound bytes" on social media. The opportunity for misunderstanding is simply too great, particularly in a culture that often views biblical beliefs as bordering on hate speech. When I reviewed my social media interaction from 2009-2013, I realized I presented the picture of a really angry conservative. That was not, of course, what I intended, nor what I am. I am conservative, yes....but I am decidedly not angry.  But, the monstrous caricature I built on social media certainly gave that impression. Rather than feed that monster, I will present my understanding of challenging issues, biblical texts, and the like through blogs, articles and books. While it is true that doing so is a more one-dimensional approach, it will allow a more detailed examination of issues than a 140 character tweet or a status update.

So, these are a few of the principles I've learned and put into practice regarding social media. My goal here is to help other Christian leaders and believers in general to be more intentional and productive in their social media interaction. Social media can be a great servant when it is accomplishing the purposes for which you intend it. But, it can be a brutal master when it takes on a life of its own. In that regard it is wise to consider Paul’s words from Ephesians 5:16-17: "Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil."

Three Benefits of an Annual Sermon Plan

As a young pastor I had the incredible benefit of having a mentor who taught me the benefits of sermon planning. Until that point, I did what many pastors do: wait until Monday to think about what to preach on the next Sunday. Not only did that lead to tremendous stress every Monday, but it also resulted in my sense that the overall teaching plan of the church was disjointed. I began using an annual sermon plan 18 years ago and have found at least three practical benefits for me and to my congregation.

1. Relieves Stress
Alistair Begg once described preaching as akin to giving birth. His point was not to denigrate the real physical and emotional toll that women face in childbirth, but that the emotional (and sometimes physical) toll on a preacher is absolutely draining as he shares from God’s Word the truths that have come out of the study. It is hard to describe the process of returning to the study the day after preaching knowing that it all begins again. Now, frankly, there is nothing – nothing – that eliminates the stress of a pastor knowing he has to prepare a message from God’s Word for God’s people. Nothing. But, the lack of an annual sermon plan does add to that stress by the pastor not only having to prepare the message, but he also has to spend time in prayer and reflection to determine what to preach that week. Going through such a routine every week is emotionally and spiritually exhausting.

The simple truth is that God can lead us in planning several months in advance just as well as he can on a weekly basis. By planning in advance, however, the pastor can help alleviate a bit of the stress associated with preparing that week’s sermon.

2. Whole Team On Board
A second value of annual sermon planning is that it allows the pastor to bring his entire team on board. When I served in a small church, that “whole team” was my secretary and a music leader. Now, that team includes a few associate pastors, ministry directors and administrative assistants. The issue is not how many people the team involves, what does matter is that you are able to share with key ministry leadership the direction that the preaching will be taking. In my case, my annual sermon plan is in the form of a spreadsheet that includes date, series title, sermon title, passage, main idea of sermon, and any special notes (i.e. holiday weekend, etc). Once the whole staff has this info, they have a better idea of weekly themes and of sermon series themes that will be coming over the course of the year.

A quick note at this point: you may have noticed that “main idea of sermon” is included with the plan I use. Usually that means a pastor needs to take a day or two away to develop the annual sermon plan. In the early years, I took two days to work through a full 12 month plan. Because I have gotten in a “rhythm” of planning, I now spend time in the fall planning for January through June and in the spring planning July through December.

3. An Annual Preaching Record
The final benefit I have found to having an annual sermon plan is the ability to go back and review sermon themes from previous years. It also allows me to evaluate total number of Sundays I have been in the pulpit. In my case, I have found that I need to have one week out of the pulpit every quarter to clear my head a bit. Because I have kept an annual sermon plan for 18 years, I can point back to exactly how many Sundays I have been in the pulpit every year. For example, I know that in my earlier years, I was in the pulpit an average of 49 Sundays per year. Frankly, that is way too much. Over the past 10 years, I have averaged 44.5 Sundays per year. That number is much more manageable.

I’ve been fortunate that the two previous churches I have served have set 42 as the minimum and 46 as the maximum number of days that the pastor is expected to be in the pulpit. This is a very wise approach, especially because those churches did not offer a sabbatical. In those ministry settings, the church did not offer a sabbatical, so I made sure to utilize vacation time in the summer as a mini-sabbatical (2 to 3 Sundays in a row, including one holiday Sunday). Regardless of your setting, an annual sermon plan allows a pastor to know exactly how many Sundays he has been in the pulpit and to share that with church leadership.

After 18 years of using an annual sermon plan, I have found these three benefits to outweigh any extra work in the preparation of the annual sermon plan. If you use an annual sermon plan, what additional benefits have you found?

A Few More Things I Wish I Had Known As a Young Pastor

In February 2013 I wrote a short article entitled “To the Young Pastor: Five Things I Wish I Had Known.” Four years later I think it may be time to add a few to the list. For, it seems, we never stop learning how to do this thing we call “pastoral ministry.” We never stop experiencing surprise at the way God uses us to impact the lives of people or the way in which we can be hurt by people. All of that to say, “Hey, young pastor, here are a few more things you need to know.”

1. You are Pastoring an Established Church.

When I was young(er) I used to think that I wanted to lead a hip, modern, contemporary church that was always thriving on innovation and change. Note: That church does not exist. The reality is, unless you are making major, foundational, fundamental changes to the church you lead every 12 to 18 months, you will lead an established church. (BTW, very few people can make those kinds of fundamental changes and not lose most of the congregation along the way.) Don’t let the fact that the church has a cool band or doesn’t ask that you wear a suit lead you to believe they are not “established.” They are. All churches are. All churches have systems, structures, traditions, and expectations. Learn them; and then leverage them to bring positive transformation. Once I embraced this reality, I have experienced far more joy and satisfaction in ministry and much better results in leading change.

2. You Cannot Lead People Well Until You Love Them Well.

A good friend of mine once told me, “I need to see your heart.” The comment came in the midst of a contentious conversation about leadership. He was pointing out come shortcomings and I was getting defensive. He rightly identified the problem: I was not loving people deeply. Somewhere I had picked up the notion that if you lead people well, that will result in a loving relationship. I’ve come to believe that you have to love people before you can lead them. And, not only love them, but love them visibly. They have to see your heart. Naturally, that comes with great risk that they can break your heart. But, the risk is worth the reward.

3. It’s the Body Shots that Will Do You In.

We have all heard the statistics about pastors leaving the ministry. Though many of these are inflated, the truth is that many pastors do leave the ministry. We tend to be most aware of the ones who do so via the “knockout punch” of a disqualifying moral failure. I’m convinced, however, that the vast majority of pastors leave the ministry due to a relentless number of “body blows.” There is an old adage in boxing, “kill the body and the head dies.” The idea is that you “soften” someone up for a knockout punch by pummeling their body. In ministry, that pummeling comes via unrealistic expectations, unfair criticism, and snide remarks. Even when serving in a church where everything seems to be going well, these body blows can take their toll on you, whether they occur during your ministry or after you leave. Be prepared for it and learn to not only “keep your left up” (protect against the knockout punch), but steel yourself for the body shots.

What other lessons might you add to help a young pastor in ministry? 

Some Thoughts on the 2016 Election

I have a confession to make: I am a political nerd. I have been interested in politics since the 1984 election, well before I was able to vote. In 1988 I voted in my first election and I have voted in every election – local and nation – since that time. Yet, this is the first election that I have been tempted to sit out. Tempted to sit out, but not persuaded to do so.

This election cycle has been unlike anything we have seen in recent history. Faithful followers of Christ are not overly excited about either of the two major candidates. We want some answers. We want direction. We want guidance. More than any other election in the past, I’ve been asked, “what do you think of this election, pastor? What are we going to do?”

Two tings I have heard most often are: “vote your conscience” or “we have to choose between the lesser of two evils.” But, these sentiments do not provide the guidance they purport. For example, voting your conscience only makes sense if your conscience is guided by biblical principles. After all, your conscience could be guided be seared by a win-at-all-costs ideology, or a flat our hatred for the “other” candidate. In that case, “voting your conscience” is not as wise as it seems.

While some have argued that when we vote we always, to some degree, choose between the lesser of two evils. While there is an element of truth in that sentiment, it only makes sense as a voting rationale if there is an appreciable difference between the two evils. Apart from that, it is merely a way to excuse voting for someone that you would never vote for otherwise.

While I have no easy answers for this year’s Presidential election, I would like to make a few suggestions. A number of years ago - and in no small part due to the influence of Francis Schaeffer, Russell Moore, and others - I developed a three principle method of evaluating candidates. I provide it here in hopes it may help you as you enter the voting booth this year.

The Declaration of Independence declares: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." It seems to me that “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness” provides a good three principle framework for evaluating candidates. So, here is how I think about “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” in the context of the policies supported by the candidates.

1. PRO LIFE
There is no right more fundamental than the right to life. Every person who advocates a pro-choice position does so only because their own mother chose life. Think about that for a minute. I recognize there are difficult situations people find themselves in and circumstances that are often less than ideal for a pregnancy. Yet, none of those situations or circumstances justify the killing of an innocent child.

Mother Teresa once said, “I feel the greatest destroyer of peace today is abortion, because it is a war against the child... A direct killing of the innocent child, 'Murder' by the mother herself... And if we can accept that a mother can kill even her own child, how can we tell other people not to kill one another?" And, she got to the heart of the matter - the real reason our culture advocates abortion - when she said, "It is a poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish."

Therefore, when I vote, the first principle that guides me is whether a candidate is pro-life. This, in my estimation, is the most practical way to ensure that every person's right to LIFE is protected.

2. PRO LIBERTY (Pro 2nd Amendment)
To some people this seems to contradict the first principle. But, it does not. The 2nd Amendment to the Constitution reads: "A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed." The Founding Fathers had experienced the tyranny of King George and had openly rebelled against that tyranny. They were able to do so because they were armed. In their day a militia was a group of ordinary citizens who formed to defend an area or region. It was a precursor to the present day military. Yet, the right to keep and bear arms was not inextricably tied to the idea of the military, as some presume today. Rather, the right of citizens to rebel against tyrannical government necessitates those citizens posses the right to keep and bear arms.

The Declaration of Independence says we are endowed by our Creator with the right to LIBERTY. The way we ensure our liberty is protected is not by trusting that the government will take care of protecting it for us. Rather, each individual has the right to protect their liberty on their own. So, the second principle that guides me is whether a candidate supports the 2nd amendment. Once again, there is significant difference in the candidates.

3. PRO LIMITED GOVERNMENT
The third principle that guides my voting decisions is whether a candidate favors limited government and lower taxes. This principle comes out of the Declaration as well. We are endowed by our Creator with the right to the pursuit of happiness. It is difficult to pursue happiness if the government continually takes more and more of your income.

Let me add that we should extend grace to one another, whatever conclusions we may reach about this election cycle. Even with the three principles that I utilize, the only certain thing for me, personally, is that I cannot vote for Sec. Clinton, Mr. Johnson, or Dr. Stein. Mr. Trump meets my policy criteria (though his pro-life views have been a fairly recent development and I am not convinced of his advocacy for limited government), but his megalomania, lack of a moral compass, and weakness on religious liberty give me serious pause. Indeed, of the five major candidates for President, Evan McMullin is the only candidate that meets all of the policy criteria shared above and seems to be a person of high integrity and character. (This comment should not be construed as an endorsement. I do not make it a practice to endorse candidates.) While you may come to a different conclusion on the candidates than I do, again, I encourage us to treat one another with grace during this very unusual and difficult election cycle.

LOVED: Birthday Reflections for My Mother

April 1st is my mother’s birthday. Every year, it seems, I wonder what I should get for her. Sometime in March, I usually resolve to get her a card, but that seems a bit cheap. Then I think that maybe I’ll put a check in the card, but that seems really tacky. But, like most sons, I end up simply making a phone call. Mom always seems glad to hear from me on her birthday, but I tend to feel like, well, a bum, for only making a phone call. Today I decided to put in writing, for the world to observe, some reflections about my mother. My goal is simple: to honor a woman who has done more for me than I could ever begin to describe, let alone adequately repay.

L – Life – I know it is clichéd, but my mother gave me life. Certainly I mean in the physical sense. She carried me, gave birth to me, cared for me and raised me. But, I mean more than that when I say she gave me life. She gave me a thirst for life by her own openness to trying and doing new things. She took motorcycle trips with my dad when they were a bit younger. She went camping, water skiing, and on fishing trips. She once took my sisters and I to “the hill” on the back of our farm for a picnic….of course, the hibachi grill she brought to cook lunch ended up starting a grass fire! But, even then, we fought the fire together. Needless to say, my mother gave me a thirst to experience life in all its fullness, and for that I am forever grateful.

O – Optimism – In our day of DINK (Double Income, No Kids) households, it may be hard for some to imagine clothing and feed a family of five on a (lower) middle class income. But, that is precisely what my mother did. And she did so with tremendous optimism. By observing her interactions with my dad (and some of his wild eyed plans), she taught me to approach life with optimism. Though we often chided her for saying, “The timing is just not right” when we wanted to make a purchase, the truth is that my mother also believes in “giving it a shot, because things will work out.”

V – Values – We learn a lot from our parents directly, to be sure. But, I learned many values from observing my mother. I learned the value of hard work, the joy of doing a job the right way, and the simple pleasure of sipping a cup of coffee on the back porch.  She was (is) a meticulous trim painter, who spent countless hours on a ladder helping my dad doing odd jobs. She got up early and often stayed up late. She often described herself as “scrubby Dutch.” I am not exactly sure what that means but I know she would say it when she had us helping her do some cleaning and my sisters and I were not exactly meeting her standards.

E – Encouragement – My mother has been a great encourager to me. She always has been. Often that has taken the form of optimistically encouraging me to pursue my dreams and goals. Other times her encouragement was a bit more….blunt. I recall her standing at the door to my bedroom on more mornings than I can count quoting from Proverbs 6. She seemed to take particular delight in verse 9: “How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep?” Truth be told, I cannot recall a single time my mother telling me that I would fail or that I was a failure. She was – and is – a constant source of encouragement, for which I am forever grateful.

D – Desire – Finally, my mother gave me a desire to know God. Specifically, to know who God is for us in Christ and to know His Word. Again, she did not teach that by telling me I should be reading the bible more or by chiding me toward greater Christlikeness. Rather, I saw her sitting at the kitchen table – nearly every day – with her bible open and a cup of steaming coffee next to it had a cumulative effect of my wanting to know the God that she knew. For that, I am eternally grateful.

So, on the occasion of my mother’s birthday I want her to know that she is LOVED….and that I am so grateful that she first LOVED me.

You Did What?!? Why I Did the Unthinkable and Lived to Tell About It

Last week a friend called me and started the conversation by saying, “What are you doing?” When I asked him what he meant he said that he saw on social media that I had announced that I had accepted a call to serve at church in a neighboring state. He was trying to understand how I could let my current church find out something so important via social media. At that point I said, “They already knew I was preaching in view of a call. I told them last week.” At which point he said, “You did what?!?” I told him I told them the week before because I loved them and trusted them and coveted their prayers. And, though surprised, they were glad that I trusted and loved them enough to want them to be a part of such an important process. It has not always been that way.

In January of 1990, I was called to serve my very first church as a pastor. It was a part-time role while I was finishing out my college education. But, from that day until now, over twenty-five years later, one thing has remained a constant: pastors do not alert their congregations that they are considering a call to another church before they have actually accepted that call. One on hand, it makes perfect sense. After all, most employees would never walk into their boss’s office and announce they are considering making a change to another company. Doing so would almost certainly earn them an escort out of the building.

I have only made a handful of ministry moves, but in every case, I did not tell the church I was serving until after I had accepted a call to a new place. I did not really care for doing it that way, but I had been warned by many older, more experienced pastors that one could not let the people in your current place of service know you were considering another call. I would like to suggest three reasons why that is no longer true and why it is preferable to bring your church into the process. Plus, I’ll provide one prerequisite that must be true before you attempt to do this.

1. Prayer
Considering moving from one congregation to another is a gut-wrenching decision for any pastor. It is always difficult for the congregation the pastor is leaving. The one thing that a pastor and his congregation need is clarity from the Lord. How better to receive that clarity that through prayer. One of the great joys I received during the week leading up to preaching in view of a call at another church were the texts, emails and Facebook messages from our members letting me know that they were praying for me and for the process. What a tremendous encouragement to me and an opportunity for God to prepare their hearts for the future.

2. Social Media
The way in which we discover the “news” of the day has forever been changed by the reality of social media. According to the most recent numbers, over 3 billion people have internet access, of which, just over 2 billion have active social media accounts. Facebook alone boasts of 1.4 billion unique accounts, meaning that 47% of all people with access to the internet have a Facebook account. Practically, that means that when a pastor preaches at a church in view of a call and accepts a call from that congregation, many of the people in the new church will desire to share that news and connect with the new pastor via social media. Unless one’s current church is aware of what is happening, a communications disaster could occur.

3. Sermon Audio and Video
In days gone by, often the first time a church heard a prospective pastor preach was on the Sunday he was preaching in view of a call. I am not sure anyone wants their body of work to be evaluated with their “performance” on one day. Today many churches post audio and /or video of sermons on their website or via social media outlets. By pre-announcing that I was going to preach in view of a call, the prospective congregation to share my name and details with their church so they could hear (and see) a large number of sermons. The result? The prospective church had a better idea of what my ministry looked (and sounded) like on a weekly basis. Thus, they were better prepared to search their hearts as to whether God would use them to call me to their church.

Having given three good reasons why you should consider pre-announcing that you are considering a call elsewhere, let me be clear that it is always risky. I was fortunate to be able to consult with our key church leaders and get their input before making the decision to pre-announce. It was at their urging that I did so, though they all admitted they had never heard of anyone doing so before. We all recognized that pre-announcing could backfire and undermine your ministry at your current place, particularly if you are not called away.

For that reason, let me offer one vital prerequisite. From your first day of ministry where you are, you must build love and trust between you and the people in your church. When my friend asked why I would tell our church ahead of time, I responded, “Because I love and trust them and they love and trust me.” That does not change the pain of making a transition or the sorrow of saying good-bye to dear friends, but it does speak deeply about the relationship that has been built and the health of the church situation you may be considering leaving.

Again, I am aware that this approach may not be possible for every pastor or every church situation. But, at the urging of some of our key leaders, I wanted to share why we took the approach that we did. I hope it is helpful. I would love your feedback.

Pochek Family Update

Church Family and Friends,
Last week we shared that we would be at First Baptist Church of Charlottesville on Park Street (www.fbcparkstreet.com) preaching in view of a call on Sunday, February 28. (Well, technically, I was preaching in view of a call, but we had the whole Pochek crew with us!)

As you likely know by now, the church voted overwhelmingly to call us - 396 yes to 11 no - 97.3% according to the math gurus. Our prayer during this process has been that God would make this ministry call unmistakable. We wanted that for our peace of mind, for the peace of mind of our dear church family at Raleigh Road, for the peace of mind of the leadership and staff at FBC Park Street, and for anyone else connected to this process. God spoke clearly and unmistakably through his people yesterday. For that, we are thankful.

We also know that times like these leave a lot of questions. So, I want to take just a quick minute to address a few of them:

1. Is something wrong at RRBC that is causing you to leave?
NO. Emphatically, NO! God is doing a great work in our midst. Sometimes he calls a servant to a place and a people for a season and then moves them to another place to make room for what he has "next" for everyone. RRBC is a great church with a great future and, in many ways, I envy the next pastor. :-)

2. How long will you be at RRBC (in Wilson)?
Well....we don't know exactly. There are many details to work through with our Overseers and with the leadership at FBC Park Street before I can give you definite dates. Having said that, our plan is to be in Wilson and leading RRBC through at least the end of March. We have much to consider - selling our house (know anyone looking for a great house?), getting a place in Charlottesville lined up, etc. We'll keep you updated as we know more.

3. What will happen at RRBC?
The church will continue! This church has never been about one person - whether that was Pastor Eddy or myself (the only two lead Pastors we've had!), or any other staff member or member. In the near term, the Overseers will be working to line up an Interim Pastor who will handle preaching duties on a regular basis. The Overseers are committed to making sure the pulpit ministry at RRBC remains strong, biblical, and winsome. In addition, our By-Laws lay out the plan for developing a Pastor Search Committee to locate and extend a call to the next Senior Pastor.

Thanks for taking the time to pray for us and for all of your kindness. As we transition to Charlottesville, we will be leaving behind a piece of our hearts in Wilson (as well as our son Dave!). We've had deeper friendships here than anywhere we've ever been. In addition, the people at RRBC have made me a far better pastor than what I was when I arrived. You have sharpened me, strengthened me, and shaped me in unbelievable ways. I am humbled, thankful and honored to have served with you these nearly seven years.

Until I have more to share....

Pastor Rob

A Prayer Request from Pastor Rob and Susy

Friends and Church Family,

Although I shared this at Raleigh Road Baptist Church following morning worship, I wanted to share it here for those who were not in attendance.

Beginning in the late summer / early fall of 2014, we have had contact with a number of churches, denominational agencies, and even schools about roles that would move us from here at Raleigh Road. One of those churches was a fairly large church located about 30 minutes from my parents. Other opportunities were here in NC, SC and a variety of other places. In every case, we prayed, sought the counsel of trusted friends, and decided to continue to serve right here.

On December 3rd, 2015 I was contacted by the search committee at First Baptist Church in Charlottesville, VA (www.fbcparkstreet.com) in connection with their search for a Senior Pastor. I had done some research on the church to determine my level of interest. I found the church had a rich history of strong biblical preaching, church planting, and significant missions involvement. So, I proceeded in having conversations with their search committee during December and January.

During that time I kept Franklin Witter – our Personnel Chair and an Overseer – in the loop as to what was taking place. In late January, Susy and I visited Charlottesville to formally interview with the Pastor Search Committee at First Baptist Charlottesville. At that point, I notified the entire Overseer body as well as Pastor Joe and Bill about what was taking place.

After our weekend in Charlottesville, their committee asked us to come back on Sunday, February 28th to preach in view of a call, which we agreed to do. After several thoughtful discussions with the Overseers, we concluded that it would be best for as few as people to be aware of what was happening until today. Here at Raleigh Road, we have built a culture of transparency in all things. That is why I am taking the unusual step of sharing this with you. Very few pastors would dare to inform their churches of something like this ahead of time, but we are not most churches. We have sought to create a culture here in which it is “normal” for me, as your pastor, to want you to pray for this situation.

We also want you to know that this has not been an easy process. Susy and I have agonized over it, prayed over it, sought the counsel of others over it, and have had many long talks with each other about it. We love this church. We love you. Engaging in this process has not changed that and could never change it. We need you in this process. We need your prayers.

At the outset of this announcement, I shared other opportunities that have presented themselves to us so you understand that we are not desperately looking to leave RRBC. If we were, we have had several opportunities to do so over the past 18 months. We do want to desperately pursue God’s call on our lives, whether that is here or there, or wherever the Lord may lead.

I know some of you will be surprised by this announcement. Some may be disappointed. Some may be worried. And others may even be angry. I understand those emotions. But, I would encourage you to turn all of those emotions toward one thing: depending on God for the future. And, let us be mindful of Paul’s words to the church at Corinth: “What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe – as the Lord has assigned to each his task” (1 Cor 3:5).

We would ask you to pray that God would make his will unmistakably clear in this process. If that is for us to go to FBC Charlottesville to serve as their next Senior Pastor, we will rejoice in that. If God chooses to use us in a different way for FBC Charlottesville and to remain at RRBC as your Senior Pastor, we will rejoice as well!

We covet your prayers and we will share the outcome of the vote at FBC Charlottesville via my Facebook page on Sunday, February 28th.

Finding Your Sweet Spot in Ministry

The “sweet spot” is a term often used in spots to describe the location at which an object being struck absorbs the maximum amount of the available forward momentum and rebounds away from the racket, bat, club, etc. with a greater velocity than if struck at any other point on the racket, bat or club. What that means in simple terms is that an athlete gets the maximum amount of response for the effort applied. My experience with hitting the sweet spot is limited to golf, tennis and a little bit of softball. Although I have not hit the sweet spot often, when I have, the feeling is as if you have not hit the ball at all. Indeed, that is the fundamental experience of hitting the sweet spot: the bat, or club or racket does the work.

When I talk with young pastors I encourage them to find a “sweet spot” of sorts to experience the maximum amount of joy and effectiveness in ministry. In my estimation, a person’s sweet spot in ministry (or most any profession) is the place where three primary components overlap. Those components are the individual’s gifts/skills/passion, the culture of the church (or organization) and the needs of the community (or market). This particular article will focus on ministry-related work, but is applicable to many other marketplace professions.

First, I encourage young pastors to discover their God-giving gifts, skills, and passions. Indeed, I have written a book on that very issue! Yet, it is surprising the number of young pastors / ministry professionals who think they know what they are supposed to be, but do not know who they really are. Too many pastors have adopted a ministry identity that is rooted in their experiences of previous pastors or mentors rather than one that has been birthed in the unique gifts, skills, and passion that God has placed within them. So, ask yourself: What energizes me in ministry? What brings me joy? What do I get up looking forward to? The answers to questions like these will give you an idea as to your gifts, skills, and passion.

Second, I encourage young pastors to discover the culture of the church they are serving. Every church has a culture and it is vital to understand that culture. As Peter Drucker is reported to have quipped to Mark Fields at Ford Motor Company, “Culture eats strategy for breakfast.” It is no different in the church. A pastor can have the best seminary training, a big vision, and a well planned strategy, but it will be difficult (if not impossible) if it is counter the church’s culture. That is not to crush the hopes and dreams of idealistic pastors; it is to remind them to consider the church’s culture when implementing vision and strategy. Ask yourself: What are the historical markers in this church? How are decisions made in this church, and why? What do the people in this church unequivocally and enthusiastically support? The answers to questions like these will give you an idea as to the church’s culture.

Finally, the third component is the needs of the community. By this, I am not simply asking about the general needs of the community, but what needs are not being met by another organization or faith community? This is a crucial area for a pastor to consider. His vision must take into account the genuine needs in his own community that are not being met by a gospel-centered ministry. Not only ask what needs are not being met, but who are the people who are overlooked by other ministries? What is not being done that should be, for the sake of God’s kingdom? Answering these kinds of questions will help determine the needs of the community.

At this point it will be helpful to imagine a Venn diagram – three circles with an overlap where each of the circles intersects – to discover the “sweet spot” in ministry. Each of the three components described above is represented by one of the circles. The sweet spot, naturally, is the place where the answers to the aforementioned questions overlap – the place where a pastor’s gifts, the church’s culture, and the community’s needs intersect. When a pastor discovers and can function within this sweet spot, ministry becomes a joy and tremendously more effective.

Are you serving in your sweet spot?

My 2016 Social Media and Email Guidelines

As we enter a New Year, I thought it might be a good idea to re-post a few of my own personal Email, Facebook, and Text guidelines, I put these out once or twice a year to avoid misunderstanding and hurt feelings. Speaking of hurt feelings....These guidelines are not intended for or directed to anyone in particular, just a quick public posting for clarity about my social media engagement:

1. When it comes to email and social media posts, I SELDOM forward anything...EVER...even if it is a really touching story, changed your life, could change my life...etc, etc, etc...This even applies to emails and to Facebook stories that tell me that I really should forward the story "if you really love God" or some other such thing. I generally do not participate in the ongoing Facebook ritual of "use one word to describe me" or "I want to see who is paying attention to my status update" posts. And I NEVER respond to mafia requests, farmville help. glitz, bling, or quizzes...And, I NEVER,NEVER, NEVER "send gifts", "hugs", etc on Facebook. ;-)

2. I ALWAYS verify stories emailed to me or posted on Facebook at http://www.snopes.com/ ...if you send me one that proves to be false (i.e. threat to religious broadcasting, stories about the troops, etc), I MAY send you (and everyone else who received the original email) a note that says something like: "God is a God of Truth...and he calls us to be people of truth. Spreading falsehoods does not advance God's kingdom. Please verify stories like this before forwarding."

On Facebook, if you post a story because you saw it on someone elses wall and thought you just "had" to share it...be SURE it is TRUE...current stories circulating on Facebook that are false include: Mark Zuckerberg is giving away his money if you'll just repost this (FALSE), Facebook is going to charge to use their site (FALSE), A restaurant is giving away $500 in gift cards for just signing up as a "fan" of their FB page (FALSE)...and the hits just keep coming!

3. On Facebook, I update my status regularly (often via Twitter)...but, I will not be able to respond to every comment or message. The truth is, I am not "on Facebook" as much as it appears. I have learned a few tricks to allow me to post quickly and get offline. Also, be aware that I DO NOT USE FACEBOOK MESSENGER, so a message send to me via Facebook may or may not be seen quickly or responded to quickly.

4. Finally, when it comes to CHURCH MATTERS it is ALWAYS best to contact the CHURCH OFFICE for information. Raleigh Road is a fairly large church with a number of ministries happening. And, to be honest, I do not have the details on all of the events / ministries going on. For questions about volunteering to serve, what we are having for Wed Night Supper, is someone at the building to let you in, when a class begins, etc, it is best to contact the church office by phone or email. Our phone is 252-243-0383. Someone is in the office from 8 AM - 5 PM Monday - Thursday every week (barring another Snowpacolypse!).

To help direct your call, remember that Michelle handles bulletin, announcement and general information, Tommy handles building and building rental requests, Jean handles financial matters and the prayer list and Lynette handles everything else, in addition to scheduling Pastor Joe and my appointments. I have time each week set aside for personal appointments, so don't hesitate to contact Lynette to set up a time to meet. I do not schedule my own appointments because I have "double-booked" myself on more than one occasion!

So, when I respond to your Facebook message, email or text by pointing you to the appropriate person to contact, please do not be offended. As we operate with a smaller ministry staff in 2016, it is more vital than ever that Pastor Joe, Bill and myself focus on the ministry God has called us to and avoid getting mired in details that are ably handled by others in our office.

I trust that all makes sense and will help give you an explanation for why I handle social media, email and text messages the way I do.

Looking forward to a bright future together!

Dr. Rob Pochek
Senior Pastor
Raleigh Road Baptist Church

So, Who Is This Lottie Moon, and Why Do We Owe Her Money?

It is probably one of the more amusing questions I ever received as a pastor. I was leading a church plant that was reaching primarily unchurched people. You know, folks with no church background. And, in the part of the country I was in, especially no Southern Baptist church background. So, when we began to talk about the Lottie Moon Offering, it was not a surprise that few had ever heard of her. One day one of our newer members approached me and pulled me to the side. If someone were observing us, they might have concluded that we were conspiring to pull a really good Christmas prank.  "Pastor," he said as he looked over his shoulder to make sure no one was around, "Who is this Lottie Moon and why do we owe her money?"

For once I was speechless. It had never occurred to me that Lottie Moon was not known to everybody who loved Jesus. (Obviously, my upbringing in a Southern Baptist church was shining through.) I managed to crack a sly smile and then told him about Lottie.  I told him that she was born Charlotte Digges Moon on Dec. 12, 1840, in Albemarle County, Va. That she rebelled against Christianity until she was in college. But, then, in December 1858, she dedicated her life to Christ and was baptized at First Baptist Church, Charlottesville, Va. I told him how Lottie attended Albemarle Female Institute, which was the female counterpart to the University of Virginia. And, how, in 1861, she was one of the first women in the South to receive a master's degree. I shared how she stayed close to home during the Civil War but eventually taught school in Kentucky, Georgia and Virginia.

He seemed interested, but didn't understand why I was telling him about this Civil War era woman from the south. And, he really couldn't figure out how we could owe her money!

"Hold on," I said, "I'm getting to that." And, so, I told him how Edmonia Moon, Lottie's sister, was appointed a missionary to Tengchow, China, in 1872. The following year, Lottie was appointed and joined her sister there. That was a moment that would come to forever change the way Southern Baptists viewed missions, mission work and missions support.

I told him how Lottie served 39 years as a missionary, mostly in China's Shantung province. She taught in a girls' school and often made trips into China's interior to share the good news with women and girls. I shared how Lottie frequently sent letters back home detailing Chinese culture, missionary life and the physical and spiritual needs of the Chinese people. And, how she challenged Southern Baptists to go to China or give so that others could go. And, it worked. By 1888, Southern Baptist women had organized and helped collect $3,315 to send workers needed in China.

I shared with him how Lottie did not quit in the face of adversity.Though the people she was trying to reach often feared and rejected her, she refused to leave. In fact, the aroma of fresh-baked cookies drew people to her house. I shared with him how she adopted traditional Chinese dress, and she learned China's language and customs. I told him how Lottie didn't just serve the people of China; she identified with them. Many eventually accepted her. And some accepted her Savior.

I told him how this young southern girl from Virginia died aboard a ship in the Japanese harbor of Kobe on Dec. 24, 1912. She was 72 years old.

Six years later, in 1918, the Woman's Missionary Union (WMU) named the annual Christmas offering for international missions after the woman who had urged them to start it.

"And, that, my friend, is why we collect money every year at Christmas time for international missions," I said with a smile. "And why it is called the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering."

"I get it," he said. "We don't owe her money, we owe her a debt of gratitude for helping us raise our eyes to the nations and keeping the cause of missions in front of us."

And, that is exactly right. Lottie Moon followed the example of her dear Lord and Savior. She went to live among a people, to incarnate the gospel before them, as hundreds and thousands of others have done since then. We take an offering in her name to honor her legacy and to continue the work of spreading the gospel to the ends of the earth.

So, this year, when you see that Lottie Moon Christmas Offering envelope, do not discard it so quickly. Instead, write a check and help support the thousands of Southern Baptist missionaries around the world.

BTW - At Raleigh Road Baptist Church, you will receive an LMCO envelope in your regular packet of offering envelopes. We will be receiving the LMCO until the end of December. 

Top Ten Craziest Things Ever Said to Me at a Church Service

The internet is full of amusing lists of things heard by pastors and church leaders. For example, Thom Rainer’s lists are HERE and HERE.  Chuck Lawless has shared a list of things heard during church consultations HERE. Joe McKeever contributes 59…yes, 59…things not to say to a preacher HERE. Mark Altrogge encourages folks to avoid saying these things to your pastor after he preaches on Sunday HERE. And, Megan Bailey contributes 11 weird things said to pastors HERE. I decided that, after twenty years of ministry, it was time for me to share a "Top Ten" list of my own.    

I suspect that most of these comments are not intended to be hurtful or insensitive by the person speaking. But, you know how it goes. A person starts talking and ends up saying something they never intended. The pastor, of course, has to be “courteous” in how such ill-timed (or ill-conceived) comments are received. With that caveat made, allow me to share the ten craziest things I’ve ever had said to me at a church service. Some are amusing. Some are disturbing. Some are a blessing. Names of those involved have been “redacted” for the sake of all involved. And, if, by some chance, you happen to be the person who uttered one of these comments, know that I believe you had the very best of intentions with your comment. 

So, here they are...counting down to #1....

10.  “Well, how long do you figure you’ll be here?”

I got this comment 3 weeks after arriving at a new church. I’m still not sure if the person was asking because they wanted me to stay or they were already tired of me.

9. “This will probably be our last Sunday here. Nothing personal, but your preaching is just not our style.”

Comments like this are always hard to hear and are heartbreaking to a pastor. It was, in fact, their last Sunday.

8. “I know what the Bible says; I just don’t think it is right.”

I heard this one after preaching a message on the exclusivity of salvation in Christ alone. The person did not think it was fair that a person needed to trust in Jesus to go to heaven, although they understood that is exactly what the Bible teaches.

7. “Pastors come and go, but the church stays the same.”

I heard this comment from a key leader after I suggested that there were a few things we could do to bring in some new families. It was rather….disheartening.

6. “Is there a reason you don’t preach from a real Bible?”

You can probably guess, but I heard this from someone who really liked the King James Version of the Bible. After the sermon they approached me with this question.

5. “Is the sermon today going to be good?”

The person making this comment was concerned that their family members hear a “really good” sermon because “they needed it.” So, they asked this question of me just before the service. I did not hear back as to whether the sermon was good.

4. “I really wish we would never sing that song again. It’s not biblical.”

The strange thing about this comment…it was made about a song that is taken directly…directly….from a passage of Scripture. Yeah, we were singing Scripture that, apparently, was not biblical.

3. “At my last church some folks tried to kill the pastor, but I don’t think this church is like that.”

This comment came to me early on in my tenure at a new church. I was really glad to know the one sharing this tidbit of information thought better of the church I was serving.

And, now….tied for the craziest thing I’ve ever heard….BOTH of these were shared with me during the song service just prior to my ascending to the pulpit to preach. Oddly enough, they were shared with me within three weeks of each other.

1. “I just wanted you to know that the guy on the back row is contemplating suicide. So, be sure to make it a good one.”

No pressure there.

1. “The toilet in the women’s bathroom is running. I thought you should know.”

I have no idea why I needed to know or what I was supposed to do about it.

I hope you “enjoyed” reading these as much I have “enjoyed” sharing them. It actually feels kinda good to have gotten it off my chest. 

The Fellowship of the Unknown

According to the Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches (www.yearbookofchurches.org) there are over 600,000 clergy serving in the United States. The median size of all congregations in the United States is 75 (http://hirr.hartsem.edu/research/fastfacts/fast_facts.html#sizecong). That means, of the approximately 300,000 congregations in the United States, half of them are smaller than 75 and half are larger. The Barna group says that the average Protestant church size in America is 89 adults. The same study shows sixty percent of protestant churches have less than 100 adults in attendance. Only 2 percent have over 1,000 adults attending. Outreach magazine recently reported that 90% of U.S. pastors will never lead a congregation over 200 people and 99.99% will pastor a small church at some point in their ministry (http://www.outreachmagazine.com/features/12077-i-wish-id-known-3-facts-that-top-my-list.html)

What do all those numbers mean? It means that the vast majority of those ministering in the United States do so in obscurity. I suspect most of us would be hard pressed to identify fifty pastors by name. The number who we have received personal ministry is far lower. Even with the advent of our social media networks, ministry, to a large degree is done in obscurity. And, pastors are, for the most part, the fellowship of the unknown.

 I mention all of this because October has historically been Pastor Appreciation Month. The fact is that most church members reading this have been significantly impacted by a pastor who will spend most of his ministry in obscurity. Yet, God uses these people to make an eternal difference in the lives of men and women, boys and girls. While our culture prizes fame and notoriety, neither is essential to effectively serving others. What is essential is a willingness to be used by God on His terms. The Bible is filled with just such people. They have names that appear for a brief time, in a short narrative, never to be heard from again. People like Kenaniah (1 Chron 15:21-22), Zechariah (Lk 1:8-25), Simeon (Lk 2:25), Anna (Lk 36), Phillip (Acts 8:5-8), Ananias (Acts 9:10-17), and Shamgar (Jdgs 3:31). People who lived in obscurity, emerged for a brief moment to serve the Lord, and then returned to the shadows.
         
 The vast majority of those faithfully serving the church as pastors will never write a best selling book. They will never be the featured speaker at a conference. They will never have anyone stand in line to take a photo with them. No one will ever want them to sign their Bible (a practice I still find quite awkward). They will never preach a sermon on television. They will never be invited to preach on a seminary campus. They will never be known by anyone outside of the circle of people they have been given spiritual responsibility to care for and nurture. And, that is perfectly fine. They are part of the fellowship of the unknown.

The two men who made the most dramatic impact on my life in their pastoral ministry fit this description perfectly. Steve Tanner and Dale C. Prince were my pastors during my most formative years. “Brother Steve” was instrumental in leading my parents to Christ, which transformed the trajectory of our entire family. Similarly, “Brother Dale” was our pastor when I came to faith in Christ and when I surrendered to full-time Christian service. I still find myself using sayings from his ministry in my own preaching and teaching.

Both of these men were serving a “small church” when our lives intersected. They were serving, largely, in obscurity; their membership in the fellowship of the unknown well established. To my knowledge, neither wrote a best selling book nor spoke at a state or national pastor’s conference. Yet, there are countless lives who have been impacted by their respective ministries. Indeed, the fact you are reading this is another life that has been impacted by those two men. And, I hope one more will be: your pastor.

Whether you are in a smaller church or a large church, would you make it a point to let your pastor know how much you appreciate them? You may not understand all of their struggles or challenges. You may not even agree with all of their decisions. But, for the sake of the gospel, would you simply let them know you love them, appreciate them, and will pray for them? I cannot tell you how much those simple things mean to those of us who are part of the fellowship of the unknown.

Facebook, Email and What We are Having for Wednesday Night Supper

As I prepare for my good friend Pastor Greg Carr's departure to serve in Missouri, I thought it might be a good idea to re-post a few of my own personal Email, Facebook, and TEXT guidelines, I say it is connected to Pastor Greg's departure because, with one of our pastors moving, it is clear there will be a greater demand on myself, Pastor Joe and Bill. While I do not speak for them, the following "guidelines" are ones that I will follow and find it important to make sure I share them to avoid any hard feelings. Speaking of hard feelings....These guidelines are not intended for or directed to anyone in particular, just a quick public posting for clarity about my social media engagement:

1. I SELDOM forward anything...EVER...even if it is a really touching story, changed your life, could change my life...etc, etc, etc...This applies to emails and to Facebook stories, even the ones that tell me that I really should forward the story "if you really love God" or some other such thing. I generally do not participate in the ongoing Facebook ritual of "use one word to describe me" or "I want to see who is paying attention to my status update" posts. And I NEVER respond to mafia requests, farmville help. glitz, bling, or quizzes...And, I NEVER,NEVER, NEVER "send gifts", "hugs", etc on Facebook. ;-)

2. I ALWAYS verify stories emailed to me or posted on Facebook at http://www.snopes.com/ ...if you send me one that proves to be false (i.e. threat to religious broadcasting, Pres Obama's muslim allegiances, stories about the troops, etc), I MAY send you (and everyone else who received the original email) a note that says something like: "God is a God of Truth...and he calls us to be people of truth. Spreading falsehoods does not advance God's kingdom. Please verify stories like this before forwarding."

On Facebook, if you post a story because you saw it on someone elses wall and thought you just "had" to share it...be SURE it is TRUE...current stories circulating on Facebook that are false include: Diamond Rio's song not being permitted on radio stations (FALSE), Facebook is going to charge to use their site (FALSE), _____ Restaraunt is giving away $500 in gift cards for just signing up as a "fan" of their FB page (FALSE)...and the hits just keep coming!

3. On Facebook, I update my status regularly (often via Twitter)...but, I will not be able to respond to every comment or message. The truth is, I am not "on Facebook" as much as it appears. I have learned a few tricks to allow me to post quickly and get offline. Also, be aware that I do NOT use Facebook Messenger, so a message send to me via Facebook may or may not be seen quickly.

4. Finally, when it comes to CHURCH MATTERS it is almost ALWAYS best to contact the CHURCH OFFICE for information. Raleigh Road is a fairly large church with a number of ministries happening. And, to be honest, I do not have the details on all of the events / ministries going on. For questions about volunteering to serve, what we are having for Wed Night Supper, is someone at the building to let you in, when a class begins, etc, it is best to contact the church office by phone or email. Our phone is 252-243-0383. Someone is in the office from 8 AM - 5 PM Monday - Thursday every week (barring another Snowpacolypse!).

To help direct your call, remember that Jason handles bulletin, announcement and general information, Tommy handles building and building rental requests, Jean handles financial matters, and Lynette schedules Pastor Joe and my appointments. I have time each week set aside for personal appointments, so don't hesitate to contact Lynette to set up a time to meet. I do not schedule my own appointments because I have "double-booked" myself on more than one occasion!

So, if I respond to your Facebook message, email or text by pointing you to the appropriate person to contact, please do not be offended. It is more vital than ever that Pastor Joe, Bill and myself focus on the ministry God has called us to and avoid getting mired in details that are ably handled by others in our office.

I trust that all makes sense and will help give you an explanation for why I handle social media, email and text messages the way I do.

Looking forward to a bright future together!

Dr. Rob Pochek
Senior Pastor
Raleigh Road Baptist Church

Why I Do Not Celebrate Lent

It has become somewhat fashionable for evangelical Christians to observe Lent. Lent is the season between Ash Wednesday and Easter in which some Christians have voluntarily given up some things in their life in preparation for Easter. The act of “giving up” some things is intended to make us mindful of the sacrifice of Christ on our behalf, which will ultimately culminate in his victory (and our return to enjoying that which we have given up).

As described, it does not seem that observing Lent is a bad idea. After all, there are plenty of American(ized) believers who could do with a little sacrifice in the name of Christ. What is the harm in making some commitments, rejecting some pleasures, or fasting from those things that we enjoy in order to help us focus on the season? Maybe none. Maybe plenty.

In the interest of full disclosure, I come from a staunchly Catholic background. My mother’s side of the family is Catholic, indeed, many are practicing Catholics. I have three great aunts who are nuns and a great uncle who is a priest. My mother went to Catholic school. You get the picture. So, while I cast no aspersions on my brothers and sisters who choose to celebrate the Lenten season, there are a few reasons I do not.

1. Our hearts crave glory. 
Human beings have an innate desire to want credit. Indeed, we crave glory. The gospel is explicitly anti-human glory. The gospel is a perpetual reminder that we can’t, but Jesus can. Because my own heart wants to take some credit, wants to share some of God’s glory in my salvation, I want to avoid those things that seem to scream out “look at what I am sacrificing!” If you think they don’t, ask a traditional practicing Catholic to join you for a burger next Friday. You will hear, “I gave that up for Lent.” Whatever I give up for Lent will undoubtedly require some kind of explanation. Our human hearts love that explanation because it places us in prime position for a little glory. Overstated? Perhaps. But, Jeremiah reminded us that “the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked (Jer 17:9).”

2. Jesus’ death was a great sacrifice. 
In one sense, the death of Christ was the most horrific thing in all of human history. The perfect, sinless Son of God was brutally executed by Roman soldiers who collaborated with Jewish religious leaders. At the same time, it was the most glorious of all deaths. In the death of Jesus, God reconciled the world to himself (2 Cor 5:18-19). As the old saying goes, his love made the payment for sin that his holiness demanded.
It might do us well to remember that Jesus’ death cost him something; that it really was a great sacrifice.  How exactly can I try to memorialize that? By giving up hamburgers? By turning off the TV? By choosing to not eat dessert? It seems to me that any attempt I may make does not memorialize the death of Christ as much as it trivializes it. When I visited the Grand Canyon, I stood on the south rim in awe of God’s creation. Now how could I try to approximate that for someone who has not seen it? In a sense I see our attempts at Lent the way Clark Griswold treated the Grand Canyon; a hurried, quick glance that reflected more on his shallowness than the grandeur of the Canyon.

3. Jesus’ sacrifice brought us freedom!  
The final reason I do not observe Lent is because the death of Christ won me freedom. Freedom from the Law. Freedom from attempting to please God with my good behavior, or sacrifices, or any other meritorious act. The kind of freedom that is found in the Sabbath rest of God provided by Christ alone. I am certainly not suggesting that all those who engage in Lenten observances are trying to earn favor with God or engage in meritorious acts. Yet, because of the deceitfulness of the heart, we must tread very carefully in seeking to engage in sacrifices that God has not specifically called us to make.

It seems to me that the best way we can prepare for the Easter season is to live in the full light of God’s grace. In a sense, Fat Tuesday (minus the sinful behavior!) is a better picture of the Christian who is saved by (and lives by) grace alone than Ash Wednesday is. The reasons I do not observe Lent are just that: my reasons. Fortunately, we have some freedom in this matter. Paul reminded the church at Rome that the freedom Christ won extends to whether we observe certain days or whether we choose to abstain from certain foods (Rom 14:1-8). So, whether you choose to observe Lent or not, do so with a clear conscience because of Christ’s great sacrifice.

Preaching Lessons from the Brian Williams Story

On February 4, 2015 Managing Editor and NBC Nightly News Anchor Brian Williams admitted to embellishing an incident that occurred while covering the Iraq War in 2003. Within days of his apology, he announced he was taking a temporary leave of absence. NBC News announced on February 10, 2015 that Williams was being suspended for six months without pay. The fallout from Williams’ exaggerations provides several lessons for pastors that are worth considering, particularly as it relates to sermon content and delivery.

The Story is bigger than you. In reflecting on Williams exaggerations, it seems that he forgot the most fundamental principle of journalism: seek truth and report it. This principle is a reminder that the story is bigger than the one reporting it. For pastors this is critical to remember, as we are entrusted with sharing THE Story: the gospel. The story of the gospel is bigger than anyone who is sharing it. We must be mindful of that fact. And we must remember that as heralds of the truth our responsibility is to report it, to preach it, to all who will listen. It is the story – the gospel story – that has the power to change lives, not our attempts to “improve” it.

You are not central to the story. As the story of Williams’ exaggerations continued to unfold, it quickly became clear that he had engaged in a fairly regular practice of making himself part of the story. Whether it was pretending to have been in a Chinook when it was shot down or seeing dead bodies floating outside his hotel during Hurricane Katrina, Williams made himself part of the story he was supposed to be reporting. Pastors are often tempted to do the same thing. When we make ourselves the heroes of illustrations, we take the focus away from the true Hero of the gospel story.

Trust is always held in a delicate balance. According to the New York Times, after his announcement, Williams fell from the 23rd most trusted person in America to 835th. That is a significant tumble that is directly tied to breaking trust by not being completely truthful. In a church setting, most pastors could not afford that kind of free fall. Indeed, the lead pastor must be one of (if not the most) trusted person in the church. Failing to recognize that such trust is held in a delicate balance can lead to one taking it for granted. Doing so can be disastrous. This is why it is vital for pastors to make sure that the stories they are telling, the illustrations they are using, the statistics they are quoting are accurate and true. There is simply no excuse for marrying the glorious story of the gospel to embellished illustrations or make up statistics.

My hope is that these lessons will be helpful to pastors, teachers, and church leaders. We are entrusted with the greatest story ever told. Let’s make sure we do not try to embellish it, insert ourselves into it as the hero, or try to pump it up with falsehoods. The gospel really is enough.