Some “pastorable moments” are planned. Others show up unannounced. All are use-’em-or-lose-’em situations, precious opportunities of unusual openness in a person’s life to hear from God. Or they’re occasions when someone can benefit from a Christian truly living like a Christian.
I asked long-time pastor Warren Wiersbe what situations he’s seen that provide windows of ministry opportunity. He listed several: “life crises, promotions, anniversaries, mild disagreements, reading the identical book or magazine article, an ‘accidental meeting’ at a coffee place or the doctor’s office, or a current news story people are talking about.”
Recently Eric Reed and I met Phil Busbee, pastor of First Baptist Church of San Francisco, who learned that a gay and lesbian community center was being opened right across the street from his church. He realized it was a pastorable moment.
When he met the director of the center, Phil introduced himself and said, “We’re going to be neighbors, and I hope we can be good neighbors, even though the goals of your center may differ from the goals of our church. Our church exists primarily to introduce people to Jesus Christ and to help them follow him in faithfulness and holiness. We also exist to live out God’s love in this neighborhood and to contribute to the community.”
Recognizing that parking is always a problem for organizations in urban areas, Phil then made an offer.
“I understand you have a ground breaking ceremony coming up. As your neighbor, we want to make available to you our parking spaces for your event. We think God has placed us on this corner to serve this neighborhood. And if there are other ways we can serve you, please contact me.”
The director gratefully accepted the offer.
Phil concluded the visit by saying, “Welcome to the neighborhood. I don’t know what your experience has been with churches and preachers, but I hope we can have a relationship of respect even with our differences. I’ll be working with individuals who need to know the love and purity that comes from a relationship with Jesus. I’m not here to fight a culture war. I intend never to embarrass you publicly, and I trust you will do the same.”
The relationship between the leadership of the center and the pastor has continued in that spirit.
A few months later, when a block party was held by the community center, the pastor again called his friend, the director.
“I understand that there can be some extreme behavior at these events,” Phil said. “I don’t know what influence you might have, but I would greatly appreciate it if nothing would desecrate our block.”
The director readily agreed. That was his desire, too. And it turned out that the block party, while including some people in flamboyant attire, was well behaved.
“Several people have come to our church who are seeking to leave their previous lifestyle and live in purity,” Phil told us. “And while that’s what our ministry is about, we have maintained a healthy relationship with our neighbors across the street.”
A pastorable moment with continuing effects.
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Would you like to be on the receiving end of some pastorable moments? A variety of such moments are more than likely at the 2004 National Pastors Convention, which Leadership is co-sponsoring with partners Youth Specialties and Zondervan ChurchSource.
This year you can join us in either San Diego (in March) or Nashville (in May). You’ll meet Leadership contributors Craig Barnes, Erwin McManus, and Gordon MacDonald. Be stirred by Ken Ulmer, Beecher Hicks, Kathleen Norris, and Tony Campolo. Take the opportunity for a spiritual retreat with Brennan Manning. For details on speakers, workshops, and registration, visit www.nationalpastorsconvention.com.
Marshall Shelley is editor of Leadership.
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