Celebrating Diversity: A Challenge from Larry Mercer.

Okay, so if you've been reading my blog lately you know by now that Larry Mercer is speaking at my church for a Bible conference this week.

One of the great things about being on staff at a church is that when guest speakers (usually highly pedigreed and/or published) come we get to have lunch with them or they'll come teach a special lesson for staff only or maybe even have some one-on-one time to ask a question about something they said. It's sorta like getting an "all access" backstage pass for Christians.

Anyway, yesterday Dr. Mercer comes to staff meeting yesterday and lead a Bible study on 1 Corinthians 12...which discusses the diverse nature of the Church and the importance of each member who is uniquely gifted and talented. Naturally, we all nodded in agreement. I mean, it's pretty much inarguable from what he was reading.

But then he hauls off and says that people usually nod in agreement but rarely tell those involved in the melting pot that is The Church how much we value their gifts and talents and uniqueness.

Then he hauls off and gives us three days to do so to those we work with. He said we could send a voice mail. Or an e-mail. Or a note. Or a phone call. Or a conversation. Just do it by Friday.

So, I took a bit of license and am going to use my blog (hey, it wasn't on the "can't-do-it-that-way" list) and risk embarrassing my co-workers by letting the general public see what I value in their uniqueness:

First, the receptionists:

Cindy is our most recent staff addition, and in the short time we've worked together I've noticed that she has an enthusiasm and excitement about studying God's Word. It's a nice visual reminder to those of us who study it professionally that the Word is "living and active" and able to change our lives. And, you know, it's evident to me that in her ministry to the "singles" in our church and in her encouragement to me personally (and a keen wit, too) that the Word is at work, doing what it is supposed to be doing, in her life.

Jo Ann is a reminder to me that "joy" is the 2nd fruit of the Spirit. She has an infectious laugh and I hear it a lot when she's on the clock. It doesn't really matter if it's a funny "forward" on an e-mail or telling a story about her family or laughing at one of our stories...she even had fun planning a wedding for crying out loud! Her family went to our annual "family camp" last summer and all of them would come into dinner cutting up about whatever had transpired that day in the great outdoors. I definitely see joy in her life.

Jay is a walking epitome of humility. Sure, he's fun but here's a guy that was working for a major corporation and doing well and took an early retirement. Now this former executive makes our coffee, makes our copies, answers our phones...you get the drift. And he does so while using the opportunity to do things like edit a video for a conference, or plan a breakfast for the men's ministry (and then setting up tables for it), or studying for a seminary class.

Secondly, our "support" staff:

Sally is a constant reminder of a woman with a gentle and quiet spirit. Sure, she's really creative with layouts and designs of our ministry literature and such, but she does so with such a gentleness and patience when we, as notorious deadline ignorers, manage to pile on more work at her busiest times. If you don't think a gentle and quiet spirit is worthy of recognition, then you don't work with someone that has it. A world-class grandmother, too.

Nancy is oh so very faithful. She has more "behind-the-scenes" tasks that only seem get noticed if they aren't done, or aren't done correctly. She is in charge of our weekly bulletin and making the copies of all the staff sermons/lectures/classes and all that. She'll spend hours alone in a sound booth, or by a paper cutter, or folding machine (of which she has to wear earplugs, doubling the solitude) and is actually doing a direct ministry for people in our church so they can hear God's word in their cars or at home while they're doing some home chore...because of her faithfulness, people are maturing in their faith. Another world-class grandmother.

Sherry has a compassionate side that few rarely get to see. In between printing name tags and updating data bases and scheduling the rooms there are phone calls that take an hour because someone called and needed someone to listen. She has helped crotchety old ladies find rides to church. She has helped hungry people get food coupons and all sorts of ministry needs get met because she can recognize that some phone calls are opportunities to serve someone who really needs someone to listen. Plus, she's a really good sport and a good mom, too. Three kids with a heart for God...she's doing something right.

Bonnie came on board to serve behind the scenes in our worship ministry. It's another task that doesn't get noticed unless it isn't done, but to make copies of sheet music and compile notebooks for the singers or to schdule the worship practices or tell the licensing company which songs we used the words to...in addition to running the entire kitchen (do you know how hard it must be to make sure there are enough spoons or trash bags or to keep the fridge clean or do the dishes for a church family of 1,500?) area. It isn't a flashy job, but her servant's heart sure makes it easy for others to serve joyfully.

Finally, everyone that has an office on our floor:

Mike is sort of the "pastor's pastor." When he came on staff he made sure that his office was one that you could grab a cup of coffee and just talk about life or ministry or marriage or whatever. Mike's a tireless worker (in fact, we doubt seriously if he sleeps) but he's a great listener and winds up with a lot of the ministry work that no one else can define where it belongs. Mike's office is still the place where you can take a cup of coffee and try to make sense of it all. Very patient and kind.

Tim, our senior pastor, is the very definition of a grace-filled walk with Christ. He's terribly aware of God's grace in his own life and is terribly conscious of giving us that same grace, both as staff and as friends. The way he thinks is such that he can carry on a conversation about the Three Stooges or St. Thomas Aquinas with an equal level of appreciation. Tim's walk with God is surprisingly personal for a visible pastor, but he is faithful day in and day out, which is highly comforting for those of us that aren't quite there yet. And get this: He's the most spiritual man I know. It's an honor to work with him and for him...and I'd say that if they fired me tomorrow.

Bob, our worship pastor, is a "leap of faith" kind of guy. He walked away from a career to take on ministry at a time of life when his kids were about to go to college and all that jazz. He's peculiar in the way that musicians and creative types should be peculiar and that's really what I like about him. He wears white sneakers, watches Star Trek, like Rush Limbaugh, and has a penchant for puns. When it comes down to it, he really is original and I can honestly say I don't know anyone like him. That's cool to be able to say, too.

Neil is someone who truly cares for his (and His) sheep. He can spend hours in counseling sessions with some of the ugliest and darkest parts of human nature staring him in the face and he simply shows up for work the next day and does it all again with different people. He visits hospitals and calls the elderly and puts up with people calling him at all hours of the night. Runaway teens have wound up at his home. You name it, he deals with it. He understands that to be a shepherd, most days, at then end of it, you'll smell like the sheep. And he loves it. And it shows. And, in his own way, he's a rabble-rouser...which I always like.

Edna I admire for her passion for ministry. I can't think of anything that, once she's convinced is for the betterment of our ministry, she doesn't do with abandon. She doesn't settle for mediocrity in anything at all...only excellence will suffice. This shows up in her being involved in our greeter ministry, our child-care ministry (of which she developed the current program that truly ministers to about 275 pre-schoolers every Sunday) and even serving as a high school Bible study leader IN ADDITION to her normal day-in, day-out job on staff. And none of those areas are done half-heartedly, but with real live passion. And that's really fun to watch.

Kim, the genuine Southern belle, is our financial officer. She pays strictest attention to the one area of ministry that more ministries get in trouble for: Money. She looks out for us as staff and reminds us how important it is to be financially responsible...even in little things like when she reminds me to write down exactly how much cash is in the envelope I give her or the way she'll take whatever time is needed in order to find the 23 cents that doesn't reconcile on a huge monthly budget. She's sensitive to those areas ministers generally aren't and she cares about each one of our ministries because she knows it's important to us. I mean, realistically, there are teenagers all over the world who have heard about Jesus Christ that wouldn't have if she hadn't ensured the financial ledgers were square. Her ministry to us is more signficant than we all really admit...right down to making sure the cakes are there for whoever has a birthday hat that needs to be worn.

Bill is our administrator...which really means he has a lot of grunt work to do to make sure our ministries run smoothly. If light bulbs are out, or air conditioning needs to be lowered, or the alarm system goes off in the middle of the night, or the grass needs to be mowed, or the fountain in the lake needs to work, or there was a spill in the cafe, or if the building has to be locked up...you still don't even get a fraction of the picture. Bill is a truly gifted servant, which again, I find hard to believe that a former VP of a major corporation would try to track down a strange sewage smell and do so relatively joyfully. It's really fun to see him enjoy the college ministry, too. Plus, if you ever need a good canoe trip story, he's got a new one. You can also check out his fine work by clicking his link under my "bloggers I dig" section.

Melissa is one of the most innovative and creative ministers I know. She works with the elementary school students who eventually come into our ministry. She's always doing things that aren't supposed to be done (according to "everybody") and whenever something interesting is delivered to the church, like a popcorn popping machine, or a puppet theatre, or you hear movie about Noah's ark being made, or there's an actual menorah in our children's worship "temple," you can bet Melissa is behind it somehow. Children view our church as fun, but they're learning enough to ensure that I have to raise my level of teaching when they hit 6th grade. I couldn't be happier that she has a heartbeat for children, because I don't think I could do her job. We joke a lot that she has the utmost job security here at CBC.

D and I have been friends for a long time. The thing I appreciate most about him is what a clear thinker he is...so much to the degree that he can turn over a ministry he pretty much founded to me and then truly give me the freedom to put my own fingerprints on it. He can think through in seconds what others take about a week to do...and he thinks so well in consistently Biblical terms. And that translates into his work (which he does with excellence), his ability to develop and train others, his family life, how he spends his free time...you name it. The beauty of it is that, unlike most deep thinkers, he has an incredible sense of humor that has little time for giggles but rather makes you have to take your glasses off and wipe your eyes and then you go home with a headache from laughing so hard. I really can't think of anybody I'd rather work directly with and for.

So, since I know these people, they're going to be sufficiently embarrassed to have this done publicly, but Dr. Larry didn't say it couldn't be done this way...so you'll all have to get comfy with the reality that I enjoy working with each of you for the reasons listed here (and many too lengthy to get into here) and am not afraid to say so in a public forum that anyone can read.

I really do appreciate the diversity, Dr. Larry...and thanks for the reminder to focus on the beauty of it.