Category: Bible Study Paths

BSP: What is your educational background? How did that education equip you for ministry and how did it fall short?
CW: I experienced my call at age 15 at the Kansas West annual Conference ordination service. I was a member of the conference through the Conference Commission on Youth Ministries and one of our adult leaders was being ordained that night. The Reverend Paul Matthaei was preaching. I start with that bit of information because my undergraduate degree was specifically chosen with my ministry in mind. My local church was not very supportive (think early-mid 1970’s), but there were many on the district and conference level that felt differently.
After a year in Switzerland as an exchange student through the International Christian Youth Exchange, I began my freshman year at Friends University. I had every intention of doing a liberal arts degree with an emphasis in theater and music. It became apparent after my freshman that the theater and music departments were at odds. So my major became drama and I worked on a minor in music.
No one believed me when I said I planned on being a pastor. The school was relatively conservative and evangelical and there were not a lot of models for women in ministry. I choose theater, because I believed (and accurately as it turns out) that I would receive plenty of theology, Bible, church history and doctrine in seminary. What I wanted was to be able to be comfortable with readings, with preaching, and with interacting with groups of people.
Most of my ministry until recently have been in very rural areas and my music and drama has helped me immensely. Creating worship that flows well makes sense and has a common thread woven throughout the service. Even in small towns, that focus on worship has blessed the congregations, the people, and myself.
The area where my education at both the bachelors and master’s level fell short is in administration. Like most clergy, it is my least favorite task. And yet, being ordained to word, sacrament, and order has never been optional. We, as clergy, are not given choices as to which two our three we will do. Through diligence and perseverance I have learned to read in-depth financials and converse with financial officers and with executive type lay persons. As far as I am concerned, every clergy should be required to take a business class in order to do the administration necessary in the local church. I would have complained in seminary, but now I wish I would have had it.
BSP: What is the mission of the current fellowship you serve? How are they impacting the community they serve?
CW: The mission of West Heights United Methodist Church is “Changing Lives by Connecting Hearts to Jesus Christ.” All our ministries are beginning to be more focused on ministry and mission outside our walls. Each month we have a food challenge to support United Methodist Open Door’s food ministry. Our food total through the end of July has been 13,000 plus pounds as well as over 80 bags of hygiene products and diapers. We host the Red Cross blood drive in conjunction with other west side churches. We support, with other churches, the seasonal homeless shelter with meals and contributions as well as serving meals 6-8 times a year at the U.M. Open Door’s homeless drop-in center. Our children have handed out socks and mittens to the homeless with St. John’s Episcopal Church’s Sandwich Saturday, and created gifts and visited our home bound. Our youth participate in all kinds missions to individuals and organizations. We host the West Side Shepherd Center an ecumenical group that reaches out to senior adults. We have the West Heights preschool, which was one of the first preschools forty years ago. Of course this does not mention any of our ongoing programs within the church, but our commitment to connect lives and hearts means reaching out to those who are not connected.
BSP How could the UMC better support you in ministry?
CW: Tough question. This would be an invitation for me to complain, but I really hate doing that. Even though we are a connectional system, I have always had the sense it was sink or swim. I was not always sure I could depend on support. Having said that, if I have ever had an issue that I believe could be brought to the District Superintendent’s attention, or could cause problems, the D.S. was, and is, the first person I call. I don’t like surprises and I have assumed D.S.’s are the same.
I came into the system at 23 and was the second youngest in my seminary class with an average of 37. I was among the youngest 15 clergy in my annual conference for much longer than I should have been. At almost 52, I am grateful for the support and encouragement of young clergy. My slight frustration is that with an emphasis on “young” we devalue years of service and learning that comes with experience. I am sure there is some kind of balance that can find a way to incorporate the energy, new trends, and possibilities that young adults bring, with an appreciation for what can only be learned through experience and an understanding of history. I am getting a wee bit weary of the statements that I, at my age, cannot relate to anyone under 40 or over 65. As some one who has mastered Facebook and Twitter and have encouraged my church to find ways to use social media as a “connecting” tool, I believe that dichotomy of young/old may not be as helpful as it appears.
BSP: If you could change one thing in the ordination process, what would it be?
CW: I have just rotated off my second 8-year term on the Board of Ministry. My first term was from 1988-1996 and this one was 2002-2010. There have been many changes over the years. I believe in an educated clergy and clergy that can have appropriate boundaries. However, that means the process tends to be long and frustrating. Men and women want to “be” in ministry and often feel shackled and hindered from doing the work they have been called to do. The conference has an obligation to protect local churches and to properly “vet”, if you will, any person wanting to be ordained a deacon or an  elder. While the process may be cumbersome, it is one way to make sure, as much as humanly possible, to provide the best pastors one can. I think if I were to change it, it would have to do with supervision in order to shorten the process, not in integrity, but in time.
BSP: What congregational expectations of the pastor are unrealistic?
CW: Is this a trick question? What congregational expectations of the pastor are unrealistic? Like all of them? I jest. I have served churches in three-point charges where the smallest church averaged 8 on a good Sunday morning, a county seat church where we average around 175, and now a large suburban church where we average around 325. As a woman in ministry, it was occasionally difficult for those churches to balance the need for the traditional “clergy wife” with a clergywoman.
I have found that churches will take everything I have and then some. So it took my first few years, to establish boundaries about what I would do, and what I would not do. Even small churches can accept areas of expertise and areas where I was woefully inadequate.
I found that it was important for me to define those areas and priorities for ministry. This is not an easy task. It took a divorce in 10^th year of ministry for me to really focus on what was important.   I became clear about how I prioritized ministry: preaching and worship, my calling: hospital and emergency;  and then administration.
Above and beyond that, I was single mom for a while, so I stacked meetings in order to be home more and informed the church, that I would do school parties, go to ball games, and attend school activities for my children. In small towns, that was a bonus. I came to my current setting after my last child graduated from high school. Since I tend to work too much, I am grateful that this opportunity did not open before then. I would have been sorely tempted to work too many hours, which would have been a disservice to my son.
I try to balance it all, work, family, and self-care. Often, I do not do it well. I am driven to be a preacher. It is in my bones. The challenge for me is to balance all those parts of who I am, preacher, wife, mother, grandmother, amateur chef and potter in order to live the fullest of who I have been created to be by God.

What is your educational background? How did that education equip you for ministry and how did it fall short?
TW: My educational background consists of a B.A. from the University of Florda in Political Science, and a Master of Divinity degree from Candler School of Theology, Emory University.  I am currently planning on pursuing a D.Min degree from Asbury Seminary in Orlando, Florida, focusing on Creative Transformation.   Prior to coming into ministry, I was already a student of the Bible and had begun to take leadership roles in my local church.  I took a religion class at the University of Florida, which focused on the literary, religious and poetic themes of the Old and New Testaments, but did little to prepare me for ministry.  In seminary, I found an environment that truly focused on expanding a person’s theological thought, mostly in the liberal and progressive direction.  I did find that some of the exegetical classes, preaching courses and evangelism courses were very helpful in perceiving the churches mission and direction, but I feel that my seminary experience did fall short of helping me as a pastor develop leadership skills for parish ministry.

What is the mission of the current fellowship you serve? How are they impacting the community they serve?
TW: The fellowship(Rockledge United Methodist Church) that I currently serve has a simple mission, “To make more and stronger disciples of Jesus Christ”, which we discerned is a simple, biblical focus that in enabling us to strengthen our evangelistic witness and discipleship ministries.  This mission is relatively new, and through prayer, preaching and teaching, it is slowly becoming a part of the DNA of the congregation.  The fellowship is impacting the community currently through events such as our Back to School Bash, which recently attracted approximately 1000 people, and handed out hundreds of backpacks, dozens of free haircuts, food, recycled clothing and other needs for those hurting in our community.  Our fellowship is also ministering in the schools through a mentoring program, an elementary Bible club, and interfaith cooperation between other local congregations to address the needs of our community.  While we are a medium membership church, with approximately 200 attending on any given Sunday, the church is having a personal impact on the community, and is searching for new ways to show the love and grace of Christ to the world.

How could the UMC better support you in ministry?
TW: The United Methodist Church could better support me in ministry by focusing on the fundamentals of evangelism, discipleship and outreach to the poor.  In a world where it seems more and more difficult to help people see the relevance of organized religion, the task is made even harder when the average person only hears negative press about our denomination, especially concerning infighting over social issues that I feel the Bible has spoken of authoritatively long ago.  When the bureaucracy becomes so political and issue-oriented, we lose sight of the larger picture, a reality that is clearly being seen in the loss of membership and vitality in European and American UMC Conferences.  If the focus were clearly on the fundamentals that helped Methodism grow from an Anglican renewal movement into a world-wide Christian denomination, not only would the world see Methodism as being relevant to their lives, but the resources every local church needs to accomplish the Great Commission would also be more readily available as the larger church and the local church might finally become one again in fulfilling our call from God to offer Christ to the world.

If you could change one thing in the ordination process, what would it be?
TW: The ordination process currently is long, arduous, and questionable as to its effectiveness.  Candidates are being asked to not only complete their education, but also to follow a long probationary process, serve in their ministry, fill out huge amounts of paperwork and balance life and family at the same time.  Years ago, the process was much shorter and simpler, while today, the process is much more complicated and protracted.  I would simply like to see a mechanism put into place whereby the current ordination process could be evaluated for its effectiveness.  Is the UMC producing better, more effective pastoral leaders with the current process?  Studies and evaluations that follow candidates for a period of 2 – 5 years after their process is complete, along with interviews and consultation from outside sources would surely help to gauge whether the process is accomplishing what it should be accomplishing: producing effective and equipped church leaders for the 21st century.

What congregational expectations of the pastor are unrealistic?
TW: The most unrealistic expectation I have run into in ministry revolves around 2 issues:  pastoral care and leadership.  I have found that Pastoral care is impossible to accomplish when a congregation grows beyond the “little country church” model, and begins to number in the hundreds of persons .  At that point, a pastor will only be able to provide crisis care, but will not be able to devote the time that is needed to disciple persons in faith and provide the kind of spiritual connection and fellowship of which many are hungry.  Other forms of pastoral care like small groups, Stephen Ministry, and lay persons who provide visitation then become invaluable to helping congregation members stay connected spiritually.  Many times, congregations resist this because they feel that the pastor is a “paid” employee, and therefore should be able to provide them whatever resources they need for spiritual growth, fellowship and pastoral care.  This immature view of ministry leads into the second issue, which concerns leadership.  Churches are called to reach their communities with the love of Christ, and provide a light to their community which will alter the lives of those who come into contact with that congregation.  Churches who feel that it is the pastor’s job to change their community and reach persons for Christ miss the boat in the worst way. No one person, no matter how talented, gifted and blessed of God, can provide all the leadership that is needed in a local congregation.  A pastor may discern a vision or direction for his/her congregation, but a team of lay servants is crucial to carrying out that vision in evangelism, discipleship, outreach and administration.  Churches who feel they can sit back and watch their pastor change their community and fill up their churches are missing the call of Christ on their lives and setting up their pastor for burnout and discouragement.

What is your educational background? How did that education equip you for ministry and how did it fall short?
AB: My educational background is as follows:
B.A. in Christian Ministries, Malone College, Canton, Ohio.
M.Div. in Biblical Studies, Ashland Theological Seminary, Ashland, Ohio
M.A. in Religious Studies, Ashland Theological Seminary, Ashland, Ohio
Th.M in Theological Ethics, Duke University Divinity School, Durham, North Carolina
Ph.D in Theology, University of Durham, Durham, UK.
I believe that my educational background helped indeed in equipping me for ministry. I have never accepted the theoretical/practical distinction. Theology is an inherently practical discipline. If theology needs to be made practical, something has already gone wrong in how theology is done. I have been a full-time pastor for twenty-six years and an adjunct professor at a seminary for seventeen years. I have no idea how to understand the unity and fellowship of the church apart from the doctrine of the Trinity. I cannot articulate the sacrificial presence of the church in the world apart from the crucifixion of Jesus. I have no way to understand what it means to offer hope to the world without the resurrection of Christ our Lord. Those who think that theology is somehow beside the point for the ministry of the church misunderstand the function of theology and the ministry of the church.
Of course, education cannot prepare a pastor for everything. But neither can medical school prepare a doctor for everything, nor can law school prepare a lawyer for everything.
What is the mission of the current fellowship you serve? How are they impacting the community they serve?
AB: I am the pastor of First United Methodist Church in Cambridge, Ohio. We are in a downtown setting in a town of approximately 13,000 people. Our primary mission over the years has been as a benefactor church; that is we have provided funds for other churches and agencies to do ministry. That has led to a decline in our congregation. We are attempting to remedy that by actually doing ministry ourselves. We have just begun a relationship with Children’s Services in our county and we are planning a regular mission situation in Haiti.
How could the UMC better support you in ministry?
AB: The best way that the UMC can support me in ministry is to stay out of my way until I need them. There is too much top down perspective in our denomination. We strangle pastors and churches because the hierarchy frankly gets in the way, even though they are well intended. I am glad to have the resources of the denomination, but I can work very effectively without their “help.” I have said to my bishop and superintendent, “Don’t call us; we’ll call you.”
If you could change one thing in the ordination process, what would it be? If you could change one thing in the appointment process, what would it be?
AB: I wouldn’t change anything about the ordination process per se, but I would interject more flexibility that would take into account unique and differing situations. With more and more churches in decline and more and more part-time pastors, local pastors, and bi-vocational pastors, we need to accommodate those realities. Holding on to a legalism at all times that simply responds “but that is what the Discipline says,” will make things even more difficult. We need to allow the Holy Spirit to work outside the process as well.
As far as the appointment process—I would like to see the bishop and the Cabinet employ the “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” rule. I have great sympathy for bishops and superintendents who have to muddle through the appointment process being forced to make decisions that are not good ones. But I fail to see the logic in taking a pastor out of a church where things are going well in order to appoint her or him to a church that needs to be “turned around.” Too often what ends up happening is that the Conference ends up with demoralized clergy and even more churches in need of revitalization. If pastor and church are working out well, leave them alone. It is not a matter of what the larger church needs. The larger church is only as strong as each individual church.
What congregational expectations of the pastor are unrealistic?
AB: Nobody in the church believes that the pastor can do it all. What they do believe is that the pastor should devote time to the areas of ministry that they believe are most important. Since church folk disagree on what areas are most important, the pastor gets pulled to and fro by different people with different expectations of what the pastor should prioritize. There are two problems here: the first is the idea that the pastor provides the only, if not the primary care of the church. The second is that the pastor encourages such a view by their enabling in the way they discharge their own duties. Pastors all too often enable their congregations to hold dysfunctional views of the church and who is responsible for ministry. Pastors need to be willing to give up control and encourage and allow their laity to perform vital ministry on behalf of the church of Jesus Christ.

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BSP: How does the UMC appointment system today compare to what you believe was practiced in the 1st century church?
CW: I do not think the U.M. appointment system can be compared to the early church. One could argue Paul’s ministry was itinerant, but he certainly wasn’t “appointed” to a particular congregation. The appointment system is certainly under the microscope right now. It has it good points and it’s bad points. I can remember be a young clergy and thinking I was under valued (and probably was a young clergy woman), and that they should provide more exciting and better appointments for younger clergy. Then I watched as several of the younger clergy (at that point men) crashed and burned. Training and mentoring was part of it, but serving where I do now, I am grateful for the years of service that toughened me up and helped me be more discerning on what issues to take on and what issues to let go. Until we really are able to accept clergy no matter what their gender, their ethnicity, their relationship status, their age, the appointment system is just and can be fair. The system itself needs to hold clergy accountable if they are inadequate, lazy, under-performing or moving every other year. The Discipline has steps that can be taken and needs to be used.

BSP: How does the UMC appointment system today compare to what you believe was practiced in the 1st century church?
TW: As I understand it, in the first century church based its understanding of leadership on spiritual gifts, the calling of the individual, and even the general authority of all believers to go and preach the gospel, as commanded by Jesus in Matthew 28.  There was also an accepted form of church discipline regarding leadership, as seen in the writings of Paul and his warnings to come and deal with congregations who were either tolerating sin or accepting of false doctrine and practice in their midst.  The appointment system of the UMC has many of these same dynamics, which can be very positive and helpful to congregations who are truly open to reaching their communities for Christ.  However, I see differences in that the current appointment system is very slow to address ineffective congregations, who, despite receiving qualified and gifted pastors, have continued in a conflicting and combative state for many years.  The appointment system would serve these churches well to design some sort of mechanism to help these churches turn around by appointing selective pastors with established skills of mediation, leadership and a “no nonsense” vision of moving forward.  I also see in the early church how the role of mentoring younger leaders helped shape the congregations of the first century.  Whether it was Paul and Timothy or Priscilla/Aquilla and Apollos, persons coming into the body of Christ as leaders were able to receive guidance, mentoring and personal attention from those more seasoned in the role as leaders.  In some ways, District Superintendents are supposed to fill this role, but this rarely happens due to the fact that Superintendents spend much of their available time dealing with bureaucracy and crisis management.   I believe that if there were a better system of mentoring new leaders and encouraging existing leadership through pastoral care, crisis management, consultation and constructive review, the appointment system could be much more effective in producing not only more effective pastors, but more effective congregations at reaching their communities for Christ.

BSP: How does the UMC appointment system today compare to what you believe was practiced in the 1st century church?
AB: In some ways that is a difficult question to answer. I am not well enough versed on the episcopacy in the earliest centuries to compare to the modern practice of episcopal appointment. However, I am glad to speculate.
The modern itineracy system is based upon the idea that Christ has endowed the church with divine discernment. As the church must confirm those who are called to ministry, so the church has been given the wisdom to discern where pastors can best serve.
The dilemma as I see it as that often the appointment process is less determined by the leading of the Holy Spirit and more revealed in how dying churches can be revived while appointing gifted pastors into impossible situations that simply demoralize them.

Then little children were brought to him, that he should lay his hands on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, “Allow the little children, and don’t forbid them to come to me; for the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to ones like these.”           Matthew 19:13-14 (WEB)
Are children a priority in your church/fellowship? Are children a priority in your life? Let me first make it clear, that I know that I am not called to work primarily in children’s ministry. I will not do well if I am put in a room with 5 or more children (under the age of 10) and told to teach. When I did work with children’s musicals for a few years, I taught the music and left the organization and crowd control to those who were good at it! That said, I am also convicted that children should be the #1 priority group in our fellowships.
I suspect that Jesus had a stern look on His face when He rebuked His disciples for ‘shushing’ the children. The disciples (and most adults in that society) thought children should be seen and not heard. Sound familiar? Jesus was not of the same opinion. He thought that we should all learn from children and pattern our own faith like theirs.
Little children love without conditions. A child does not hold back their hugs or kisses. Daddy comes home from work and a toddler will rush to him with arms outstretched, laughing as he/she is tossed up in the air. Mom picks up a child from the care center, tired after a long day and figuring out in her mind what she is going to do about dinner. Her child rushes for a ‘knee hug’ as Mom appears in the doorway. The world goes from spinning out of control to pausing for that moment which brings a deep breath to the day.
Little children are unfiltered with their joy and their sadness. Children live in the moment. When something happy is happening (like a birthday) they do not think about that they are also battling cancer. (I am speaking from personal experience.) “If it ain’t happening now, it ain’t happening!” When their pet dies or Mommy and Daddy decide not to live together any more, their world is crushed. We adults sometimes bring our uncomfortable feelings to bear on a child and do not allow them to express their sadness with tears and even anger. It is what we are ourselves may be feeling and yet we tell children that “big boys don’t cry” or “don’t let people see you cry (translation: see you weak)”. It’s always interesting to me that when I write down what I am thinking in my head, I see the truth (how ridiculous!) of what I am hearing.
Little children trust without question. Children believe all things are possible. They don’t question how chubby Santa will get down their chimney (or back up!) or how the Tooth Fairy exchanges their tooth for money! Dad or Mom say it – it must be so! My big brother or sister do it – it must be OK. Until some adult breaks that trust, they trust completely.
We, as a Church, have a responsibility, no, a mandate, to put the children (whether they be 4-years-old or a baby Christian of 55-years-old) as the #1 priority of our fellowship. Everything we do including how we do worship, how we steward our money and resources, and how we, the mature and leaders, conduct ourselves, should be about raising up these precious children we have been given.
I wept and banged my fist on the table when I heard a recent story about children in a church. The children were putting on a play. They faithfully practiced hours to learn their lines and songs. Time for the final rehearsals and the adults who were responsible for sound and lighting in the church couldn’t be bothered to come because they did not want to give up their day off. I wonder how that excuse would have played out if they knew they had to give it to Jesus!
The best part of the worship service that I attend is the “Children’s Sermon”. Sorry, pastor, but many times I walk out of there remembering and thinking about the lesson in that sermon!
“Let the little children come to Me..” Check the road. Are there obstacles in the path of these children? Let us make a highway for our God to meet His children and bless them.

Pastor Eliecer Munoz lives in Euless, Texas where he and his wife, Drisana, pastor Heartland Hispana in Irving, TX.  Eliecer was born and raised in Miami, Florida and is of Cuban descent. Called to ministry at a young age, his ministry is strong in evangelism and discipleship and the family. Together with his wife and two children, they serve the Latino Community in the metroplex of Dallas-Ft. Worth, TX.
BSP: From Jesus clarifying who His mother and brothers truly were (Luke 8:21) to Paul writing about family in 1 Timothy 5, Ephesians 5 & 6, and Colossians 3, how do we bring God’s design for Christian family into focus for our church?
One of the most important concepts that we must understand as the Church is that God made the Church to be a family. He is the Father of this family.
Paul said in Ephesians 2:19 “you…are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family.” Unfortunately we live in a society where family values are distorted and in some instances non-existent.
We must return to the Father who ultimately brings us together. We must return to God’s design. He will tear down the walls that divide us, restore the love He intended for us to have, and bring healing to the wounds that hurt us. Family is supposed to be about love, relationship and respect. Family is supposed to be full of an atmosphere of acceptance and encouragement of where we are going. There might be a lot of things that make us different but there is Someone who unites us all, and that is God our Father. Let’s stop trying to be the family of God and let us begin being what we are, the family of God.

Chris Lister has been mentoring someone ever since he was in ministry school in 1997. Born in Pensacola, FL, Chris struggled through an adolescence of alcohol and drugs until he was truly ‘saved’ from a life that could have ended in crime and early death.  God opened the opportunity for service after ministry school when Rev. Steve Hill invited Chris and his new wife, Janet to move to the Dallas/Ft Wroth area. There Chris was able to travel with Steve to evangelistic crusades in Scotland, Finland, Spain, Wales, Brazil, and many others, as well as all over the United States. They personally saw hundreds of thousands come to Jesus and continue to do so during these crusades. In 2003, Chris and Janet were able to help Pastor Steve and his wife, Jeri in the planting of an evangelistic church in the Dallas-Ft. Worth metroplex.  Chris took teams out into the streets, building relationships with the homeless and rejected; showing them the love of God, not condemnation.  The Heartland World Ministries Church grew to 1,500 in the first two years. Chris continues to live in the Ft. Worth area with his wife and two daughters.
BSP sat down with Chris recently to listen to him talk about a passion of his heart. Mentoring
BSP: You have ‘mentored’ many Christians over the years. What is ‘mentoring’?
Chris: It is an every day relationship with someone. It is being a friend. It is listening to their needs; not preaching at them. It is not making them feel like you are ‘holier’ than them or have all the answers.
I made some mistakes early on. I had a roommate in ministry school that I mentored. I would give him Scriptures to memorize for the week and tell him, “We’ll discuss these on Friday”. He was in ministry school! He had teachers! He did not need another one! He needed a Christian friend who was willing to be real. I learned to just be myself. Not perfect but going after Jesus to teach me how to be a better man. And that is what I learned to do that has produced a lot of fruit in the lives of my friends. I am just open and honest – I am who I am – in Jesus.
BSP: Who do you mentor?
Chris: God brings people into my life for a time. I don’t ‘pick’ them.
BSP: What Scriptures speak to you about mentoring?
Chris: Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.
But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.
He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. Psalm 1:1-3 (NIV)
and
How can a young man keep his way pure?
By living according to your word. Psalm 119:9 (NIV)
BSP: If you are showing by example in mentoring, what would be some of the key points?
Chris: Be real.
My relationship with Jesus must be fresh and growing. It’s an every day commitment, not as a ritual but because I want to spend time with Jesus. I love Him!
Avoid temptation. If alcohol has been a problem, then I do not meet my friends at a bar.
Be alert to what I allow in my ‘eye-gate’. I am a man of God. I am careful about what I watch on TV or the movies I watch. I am careful about how I look and think about women.
Share my faith. Again, it’s not about preaching. It’s sharing the most exciting and best part of my life.
Get together with Believers for fun! My wife and I have learned that it’s not about how clean an shiny the house is but it’s about the love and fun that happens when people come over. Everyone brings something to eat and we watch a game or play Wii. Lately a group of men having been going bowling. We have a lot of fun!
BSP also had the opportunity to speak with Bryan Bratton.

BSP: What do you think about ‘mentoring’? How has it affected your life in the recent years?
Bryan: I don’t think of it as ‘mentoring’. Chris is the first true friend that I have ever had. I know that now. He cares about me spiritually and emotionally. He is showing me what it means to be a man of God. He is showing me how to be a man of God by how he lives his life. Just to give you an example: He gave me a Bible, not on my birthday but on his birthday. I have never forgotten that though he says he can’t remember it!
BSP: How are you ‘playing it forward’? How are you witnessing what Jesus is doing in your life?
Bryan: I have been watching Chris and how he speaks to people on his job and just in everyday life. He has a very soft and compassionate way with others. While I am not and can not be another “Chris”, I am learning to apply some of these things in my life. If you think about it, there are always opportunities for us to be more compassionate and Christlike with others. I try to look for those opportunities. For example, I have been spending time communicating with people I have known through Facebook. It’s interesting to talk to people who “knew me when” and let them see the change in me. They know I am not the same and I can share Who is responsible for that!