On my watch... For Every Pastor!

30 days ago, I resigned as Lead and founding pastor of Hebron World Church and subsequently the church is being dissolved. Yes, after 5 years of service, sacrifice and dedication, I felt God's release. Over the past weeks, I have pondered much! During the past 3 months there has been a lot of death and henceforth a lot of grieving. I will be blogging more about my transition later on but I really wish to share my heart. I share this for every pastor and serious disciple of Christ.

(1) Sheep bite and it hurts! As a shepherd our task is to equip and prepare the saints to be disciples and followers of Jesus Christ. Change and transformation is exactly that -Change! It is a shifting, a stretching and a launch into the unknown. When people aren't willing to change, they resist and defend. They bite! Ouch and does it hurt! In my 43 years of living, it includes being an entrepreneur, a hotel manager, an executive pastor and a lead pastor. I have learned this: you can't take people where they do not want to go and they will fight you tooth and nail to stay where they are.

(2) When people show you who they are believe them. Maya Angelou is given credit for this quote but as pastors we have the propensity to believe the best in everyone and totally discount every unction that the spirit gives us that this person or people is not going to change...at all! We desire to see the good side in all things and in all people. What I have learned is go with your gut and do what the spirit leads you to do. If they don't want to change or attach to your God given vision then keep it moving! Which leads into my third lesson learned...

(3) Know when enough is enough. Again as a type A, aggressive, tenacious, never give up leader, we will fight until the end. Now many will argue that you just can't quit or stop until you have exhausted every means and resource available to you even if it means jeopardizing or sacrificing your family and relationships. We take the dogmatic position that I am a winner and nothing can stop me in the name of Jesus! Some of us even entertain the idea that we would be a failure and heaven forbid carry the burden of the infamous "what will people say or think?" Once you have gone through enough hell by yourself it really does not matter what anyone else say or think. Where were they when you were in the press of your life? What I realized in the waning moments of 2011 is that it is okay to say enough is enough. I hear some of you asking, “Okay, Charles when is enough enough?” After you have fasted, prayed, and sought counsel and nothing changes and actually get worst. As in the scene from the Titanic when the ship was going down and the orchestra continued to play as people were sliding by them to their death. That’s when you know, it’s enough! When attendance decline so much that the ministry cannot make it financial obligations, you may start considering is this enough. Matthew 10:14 really blessed me...when you have done all you can and those around you still do not believe! Dust off your feet and move on.

(4) God will never leave you or forsake you - for real! As a pastor and follower of Jesus Christ when you go through challenging times, Hebrews 13:5 will sustain you. Many pastors quote this but yet have the opportunity to really experience it! I was in a conversation with a mentor who has been in ministry for over 30 years and I was sharing the difficulty the church was having meeting its financial obligation. He looked at me and said, “I do not know how you keep your sanity. I have always led in situations where our bills were paid and payroll was met. I mean there may have been a time or two where we had to go into reserves but never a Sunday to Sunday situation.” I responded, “You are kidding me!” He replied, “Nope!” Some situations and circumstances, God set up just for you. So after all the "I got your backers" are gone even your closest friends, mentors and confidants think you have lost your mind. I find great solace in knowing that God has never left me nor has He forsaken me.

Over the past month, the most heart-warming and encouraging things for me have been the subtle emails from people who were members or regular attenders that read, " I met God under your watch! My relationship with Him is closer and more meaningful. I came into this relationship with God while at Hebron and I am forever grateful! Your ministry is not in vain pastor, if you came for anyone, it was for me!" I have realized that all is not in vain and just maybe God has planted you to touch just one. It’s okay! Just do what He sent you to do and be cognizant to the fact that God may end the season sooner than you think.

In 5 years, over 400 people came to know the Lord at Hebron, 100's of baptisms and over 3,000 people feed. We were a safe haven, a sanctuary and a place where you could experience the love of Christ! I am at peace and extremely excited about what God has in store for us next. 2012 is a year of order and restoration. As I transition from being a lead pastor and launch out to share my story of life as a church starter versus a church planter, I am trusting in God now more than ever! I don’t know what He has in store but I do have the peace of knowing that God is guiding every step of my life and I trust HIM! Do you?

If you know of anyone hiring, please let me know! I have a feeling God is up to something really BIG!

Bury me with a gallon of water...Ode to Bob continued

Thanks to many of you for you comments and encouragement regarding the loss of Bob.

Today Denise and the crew will lay Bob to rest in beautiful Charleston, SC. Be curious to see who all will be there. I hate that I will not be there to celebrate the life of such a great man. Bob lived a very vivid yet quite life. As I thought about what to say today about Bob, I am lead to tell you about a conversation that we had regarding dying. One day we were in one of our many conversations about something crazy and I said, "But when you die, don't you want to go to heaven?" and I will never forget what came out of his mouth. He said, "No! I know I am going to hell so when you all bury me, bury me with a gallon of water so I can sell it in hell!" I looked at him in total amazement and said, "what did you say?" I was floored. I mean, I am a young 18 year old traditional grounded baptist Christian ( that's a lot, thank you for deliverance Lord) and I had never heard anyone say that with such confidence. He said, " I know I have done so much stuff that Jesus will not let me in heaven." I said, "BOB"! He said, "Yeah man!" With that one of a kind smirk on his face. I never forgot that and I have told that story many times. Who would have thought that I would become a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ 10 years later and have an opportunity to pray for and with Bob. He always made fun that Denise was Catholic and in his own fashion crafted funny jokes. But, he always acknowledge that his mother was a devout baptist! We laughed about religion alot.

As they lay him to rest today, I thought about the Samaratian lady at the well who came to fetch natural water but ended up meeting Jesus and recieving eternal life. Though at that season in Bob's life he thought that God would not accept him because of his past, which by the way wasn't that bad. But as Bob got older and Denise mellowed him a lot, I think he reflected alot on life and just how good God had been to him. He had a generous heart and he gave, he loved unconditionally and if he liked you, he really liked you! Two years ago, I was in Charleston to eulogize a former employee and dear friend, I went by the house to see Bob. I still had my clergy collar on and to see the gleam in his eye. The strokes had limited his speech. He did not say much but I knew he was proud of me. I prayed for him and he said thank you. In my heart, I honestly feel Bob is in heaven like I said previously arguing with St. Peter about where the best fish are. Though we will never understand why God chose this path for Bob in the later years of his life, I do know this! Bob gave to the poor, comforted the widow, and helped the orphaned. Those were tenants that Jesus commanded us to do before he left. So Big Bob you want need that gallon after all. Jesus have given you an eternal portion! Rest in peace...

Biscuits and Peaches...An Ode to Bob continued

I appreciate your comments and encouragement yesterday. Denise and the crew are fine and the plans for Bob's homegoing are set. One of the most memorable things about Bob and there are many is that he was a phenomenal cook. Being college athletes and always starving it seemed like Denise and Bob always made sure we had plenty of food. They became instant parents to a bunch of 6 ft, 200 plus pound boys. Our duties that summer on Kiawah became quite taxing but no one complained because we were on the inside most of the day making beds for the "real housekeepers". Flossie was the lead and she was a pro and could work circles around anyone. I will talk more about her later. As we cleaned these private villas and homes which were people's second home or investment properties many people would leave tons of food as they departed on their way home from summer vacation. As a college student on his on this free grocery store was a God send. The rules were that any alcohol was to be poured out and bottles destroyed. Humm.... So as we tugged dirty linens up and down stairs and throwing them into vans, we worked up quite an appetite. Though the majority of our work was inside when you walked outside in the humidity and heat of Charleston would knock you off your feet and drench you in sweat! Our first day, Bob made the call for everyone to come to the office for lunch and we were ready because those powdered eggs from the Citadel had worn off. They had prepared an amazing sandwich buffet with all the trimmings. He made fun of how much we ate but he also kept asking if we had enough. As the summer progressed Bob and I had many conversations about growing up in the country though he did not. Being from the Upstate, we talked about peaches and how much he loved preparing a special perserve. I teased him and said no such thing. The one thing about Bob was he loved a challenge. So one night they invited us over for dinner and Bob prepared his now famous biscuits and peaches. All I can say is they were out of this world and certainly a special request whenever I came into town. I learned a lot from Bob! He introduced me to some of the finer things in life and I will always be grateful. Man such great memories. Really going to miss him!