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August 15
Like you, I have been
taught it is more blessed to give than to receive. It is a bit awkward to
be on the receiving end of a gift--- especially when the gift is more than
generous and more than deserved.
Such is the gift that has
been given by CBF of Missouri to me. Starting August 18, I will be on a
three-month sabbatical. A sabbatical is understood for professors and
those in the academic community. It is becoming more prevalent in churches
and non-profit organizations. Professors usually use the time for
extensive research or to write a book. Pastors use it for a time of
reflection, rest, re-energizing, and re-focus on the tasks of ministry.
Just the idea of a
sabbatical has provided re-energized thinking for me. I have talked with
friends who have experienced a sabbatical and gained insights from them. I
have hunches of what I hope might happen because of this sabbatical.
The theme for my
sabbatical revolves around ideas of “movements” and of “hope”.
- I
am intrigued by the Civil Rights movement. That era was a crucial and
defining experience for me growing up in the South during the 50’s
and 60’s. I have read two biographies of Martin Luther King this
year as preparation for the sabbatical. I plan to spend a week
visiting
Montgomery
(the bus boycott) and
Selma
(voting rights). While there, I want to experience the work of CBF’s
Sowing Seeds of Hope in Perry County, Alabama.
Perry
County
is where Coretta Scott King was born and raised – her sister still
lives in
Marion
. What are the similarities and differences between the Civil Rights
Movement and CBF when we describe ourselves as “a movement”?
- I
am curious to experience how churches serve as the source of Hope in
difficult communities. Several of our churches are in transitioning
communities. Some churches are dealing with discouragement. I want to
experience and learn from churches (mainly in the urban part of
Kansas City
) to see how those pastors, who deal with the tough issues of life,
keep Hope alive. I hope to glimpse how those churches remain faithful
when everything is so difficult.
- I
have asked a pastor friend in
Kansas City
,
Kansas
about my serving as an “intern” with him for one week. He and I
met for two hours last week. He wanted to know about CBF’s work in
Helena
,
Arkansas
– turns out he was pastor of a church there from 1968-1972. It is a
small world. And he was pastor in
Helena
during a challenging era with stories that put my stomach into a knot.
How did he retain Hope in the face of intimidation?
- Gwen
and I will spend a week vacationing in
Florida
. As you may know Gwen retired from teaching in Liberty Schools this
year. So, on the first week of school, I will be helping her make the
transition to “retirement life” on the beach (she believes the
ocean water will mean a very painless transition). While in
Florida
, I plan to visit with John Daugherty, the pastor at FBC Fort Myers,
and learn about a shared building/ ministry initiative between the
downtown Baptists, Methodists, and Presbyterians called
Trinity
Village
.
- I
plan to read several books – my first book is Profiles in Courage by John F. Kennedy.
- I
am committed to the daily discipline of journaling --- something I
have not done since my college days.
During this time Jeff
Langford will provide more than adequate leadership for CBF of Missouri.
One of the joys of leaving on this sabbatical is realizing no one is
indispensable. That is also
one of the fears!
Would you allow me to
share with you what I am learning throughout this sabbatical? I realize it
may not be interesting but I can hope you might find some experiences or
insights to be useful. Jeff has suggested that I provide a summary every
couple of weeks. I look forward to that chance to stay in contact with
those who are the champions of the Fellowship in
Missouri
. Click here, if you
would like to receive an email summary throughout the next twelve weeks.
Again, the idea of a
sabbatical is a magnificent gift. I am grateful to be part of a group that
will allow this to happen. My prayer is that at the end of this
experience, I will return with renewed energy, new insights, and a fresh
hunger for friendships that sustain us on our Journey of Faith in Jesus.
A partner in ministry,
Harold A. Phillips
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