Networking
June 17, 2008
Words are interesting animals. It’s interesting how some words are in vogue during certain seasons. Networking was a word used frequently in the early days of Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. More progressive Baptists felt their voices silenced and so we paid attention to networking with those of similar bent. In the early days of Kentucky Baptist Fellowship, a person was employed on a part-time basis, his title: “Network Coordinator.”
Networking continues to be important to our lives. We are strengthened on an individual basis as we reach out to others. Examples of networking continue to abound in The Fellowship. Peer Learning Groups formed in recent years to help ministers give and receive support and also to provide a place for mutual growth and learning. Current combines several networks, most of them represented in the phrase, “young leaders.” Passport Camps provide youth and their leaders with a place to grow and a place to serve. In a few weeks, over 100 people and several organizations will cooperate to build a house in a week; we call it Extreme Build.
Words were important to Wayne Oates. He was a prolific writer, having written over 50 books. In one of those books, The Christian Pastor, he uses a phrase that describes a major aspect of a pastor’s work: “minister of introduction.” This phrase goes hand-in-hand with networking. It describes a major component of my work as coordinator.
A few weeks ago I received a call from Henrietta Sheffel. Henrietta is a founding member of Emmanuel Fellowship, a church near Jackson, Kentucky, located in the eastern part of the state. Emmanuel Fellowship is unique in that area of the state in that it affirms the role of women in the church. Mark and Mary Driskill serve as co-ministers of this congregation. Henrietta called to say several key supporters of the church had moved away from the community or retired.
Emmanuel Fellowship, Henrietta reported, was facing some financial challenges. A specific need was resources for children. She wondered if I knew of churches that might like to share some left over materials. After hanging up, I sent several strategic emails to leaders in churches with strong children’s ministries.
In a few weeks, the floodgates were opened. Becky Caswell-Speight (wife of our new Associate Coordinator of Missions) had just been hired as Children’s Minister at Broadway Baptist Church in Louisville. Not many days after she began her job, she was told of this need and opportunity. It seems an abundance of material was available. It was my joy this past Saturday to make my way to Jackson, Kentucky. My car was packed with useful material—trunk and back seat were overflowing.
I fulfilled my role as “Minister of Introduction” as I introduced a church with material to a church in need of resources. In a few weeks Henrietta and others at Emmanuel Fellowship will begin Kids Club again. More than a dozen kids—some from their church and others from the community—will gather each Wednesday evening for a meal, Bible study and activities. The quality of Kids Club will be enhanced because a church in Louisville shared resources with a church in Jackson.