Connecting

 Brenda and I have been in Fritch for about six weeks now. In that time God has allowed us to start connecing with people. We have shared more meals with folks from the church than I can count. Someone is constantly asking us if we want to go eat with them. These have been great opportunties to get to know people and get connected. 

In our short time we have had multiple opportunties to go the hospital to visit people. This has given us more opportunties to connect with people. To get to know them. To begin shepherding them. To demonstrate that we truly care about them. People do not trust a pastor merely by what he preaches. They learn to trust when a pastor is there for them in critical moments. 

God gave me the opportunity to connect with one of our senior adult widows who came in for Sunday Schoo a couple of days ago. She was a little late and hobbled down the hall way. I greeted her and she told me she was moving slow because the wind caught her car door and closed it on her foot as she was getting out of the car this past week. I asked if I could pray for her right then. We shared a moment of prayer and a deeper connection than we had previously. 

It is not easy to become the pastor of a new flock. Becoming the preacher can take place in a very short period. Connecting with people as pastor takes time. Lots of time. Lots of visits, phone calls, shared meals, and a great deal of demonstrated love and compassion. There are other pastors in this community who have served their congregations for two decades. They are beloved by their fellowship of believers as well as the community. It is time to earn my way too. To serve and not be served. 

Actions speak louder than words. Acts of service sometimes speak louder than any sermon can ever do. Lazy preaches hide behind closed office doors. They are contented in their ivory towers of scholarship. They seek to impress people with how much knowledge they have gained. Jesus connected with people by loving them and serving them. I must do the same thing if I hope to ever really become the pastor of this flock in Fritch, TX. I must put in the hard work to earn the right to be trusted. To earn the right to be loved and endeared. Connecting with church and community will not happen quickly. They have seen pastors come and go. Talk is cheap. They watch to see what Brenda and I do. It is something that willl take time and I hope to put in the work to develop trust. Each day Brenda and I hope to connect with a few more and on a little deeper level.