Short Stories

At a Church Leader's Meeting

by David Butler
03/13/22
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Pastor Daniel opened the Leader’s Meeting with prayer. He smiled at the eager faces around him.
‘Well, thank you all for coming, folks!’ he said. ‘Y’all know why we’re here. It’s such a blessing to see you all fired up and ready to share the gospel with people in our community! 
So, what I’m going to do is get some of you to share your ideas for strategies for getting the message of salvation out there. I know you’ve been waiting on the Lord in prayer about this, so let’s get the microphone around to some of you and share what’s on your heart. We’ll start with our favourite prayer warrior – Sister Mary.’

Sister Mary, a vibrant black lady, the very picture of health, jumped to her feet and grabbed the microphone.
‘Well Hallelujah, Pastor! Hi, Saints! Y’all know how God healed me of mah obesity, mah diabetes, mah achin’ back and all da rest! That’s what brung me to Jesus in da first place, Gloreh ta God! So what we gotta see is da Power of God manifested out dere. Power Evangelism! Dat’s da key to winnin’ souls, same’s when Jesus Himself and His apostles done it. Praise da Lord! What we need – wit’ all due respect to you Paster – is a Healin’ Evangelist to come t’rough and preach up a storm wit’ saaahns followin' out dere on Main Street! We gonna see revival in our town an’ God’s a-gonna kick dat Devil’s butt! Jesus died so dat we is made WHOLE!’

Most of the leaders were on their feet, applauding. “Hallelujah!” and “Praise God!” rang out from around the room. She would have said more, but the Pastor wanted other opinions from his leaders as well.

‘Hey, we could do with more of this fire that our sister’s got. But now let’s hear from Professor James, whom we all know as “Prof. Jim.”’
He handed the microphone to a very distinguished-looking gentleman in the next row, who stood and addressed them all in his deep, calm, cultured voice. He was dean of their bible school, and an excellent teacher of the Word, so they all listened respectfully.
‘I must admit Sister Mary is a hard act to follow,’ he began with a gracious nod towards her. ‘I can’t even fault her theology. However, I don’t believe that we should leave our brains at the church door, either. I came to faith in Christ through an Alpha Course run here. That, together with much reading and study of the bible and presentations by Christian Scientists made me realise that Biblical Christianity is the only logical faith system there is. People need to know this and make sensible choices accordingly. I propose that we run more Alpha courses, that we have presentations by leading apologists. We need public debates, provided, of course, that we are fully equipped for it. Remember what the scriptures say: “..Always having an answer ready for those who ask a reason for the hope we have within us..”’

Here, the Professor became quite animated.
‘People out there are seeking Real Answers! Yes, there’s a place for anointed preaching, but most thinking people are not interested in religious platitudes when life doesn’t make sense. Christ came to redeem and renew our MINDS. The mind is the main battlefield today, I believe, and the best weapon to defeat the enemy’s lies is the Sword of the Spirit – the Word of God!’

There were many murmured “Amens” and wise head-nodding from the members as he sat down. Even Sister Mary admitted that he made sense, although she took slight exception to his reference to “Religious Platitudes.”

The Pastor then took the microphone to an unassuming little lady in the back row and said, simply, ‘Sister Martha, what’s your angle?’

She stood up nervously, blushing and smiling as those around her cried “Yeah! Go, Sister Martha! Speak to us!”
She was much loved and respected for her work in the community care program.
‘Well, as you know, I came to Jesus ‘cause of all the love and the care that you folks gave me when I lost my.. my children..’
Her voice was suspended with emotion and her friends murmured in sympathy, encouraging her to go on.

‘That’s when I discovered the love of Jesus, and felt His healin’ presence in my soul. I’ve had so much counsellin’ and inner healin’ and prayer ministry from you, Pastor, and many others here. No, I ain't no preacher like Prof Jim, here, and I ain't got no healin’ gift neither. But I learned how to care for people, and share the Gospel often in practical ways. A number of people out there in town, who I thought was closed to the Gospel, and wouldna even walk into no church … when we just loved ‘em without no strings attached … well.. it seemed as though God took their heart of stone and gave ‘em a heart of flesh. Some even come along to that Alpha course you ran at the Hall..’
She nodded to Prof Jim, who was looking astonished.
‘… and they got saved, healed and filled with the Holy Ghost!’

Sister Mary gasped, and many leaders looked at each other in wonder as Martha continued.

‘And it shows me so clear, that it’s all about relatin’. Jesus came and died so that we could come to the Father’s Arms, as well as learnin’ to love one another, getting’ families together ag'in and all o’ that. That’s what keeps me and mah team goin’ in what we do with community care.’

There was hardly a dry eye in the place when she sat down. There was a real sense of His presence.

‘I think Sister Martha has hit the nail on the head here,’ said Paster Daniel quietly. ‘True, we’re not all called to do what she does, but we are all called to care for each other in the way that God has gifted us. Then we start caring for those who don’t know Jesus. Sure, there will be times and seasons for these other great programs. They are an expression of His love and His glory, but we can care for people any time, any place – right now!
The greatest commandment is to love God with all our heart (our spirit) our soul (Mind, will and emotions) and all our strength (Physical being.)
The second commandment is loving our neighbour as we love ourselves. Jesus came and shed His blood to redeem us – Spirit, Soul and Body for His kingdom purposes. 

Yeah, as Martha says, “it’s all about relatin’.”’