Shepastor: "Still in the Trail Blazing Phase..."

"Now Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1, KJV

It is difficult to believe that in 2013, women in ministry are still in the "trail blazing phase" as it were. This fact has been brought more intensely to may attention in poignant ways over the past couple of weeks. Called, gifted, anointed, well educated and experienced women are still struggling to "break through the stained glass ceiling." While great strides are being made towards opening doors for women to serve in the ministry (senior/solo pastorate and other ministerial arenas), it is still painful to hear the stories of women who have served faithfully, given their all, loved, sacrificed, carried many loads, "made bricks without straw," etc., and yet are minimally compensated (if at all) and passed over for executive or lead positions.

At this point in the conversation, someone might be saying, "Well, maybe this isn't God's will for them... Maybe this is because women are not supposed to be pastors and certain kinds of leaders...maybe it's because they are not anointed or "really called," maybe it's because they are not working hard enough, maybe..."

Here is my list of maybes...

- Maybe the overflow of our fallen condition makes inequity and oppression palatable

- Maybe God is challenging the church to be more open to His prerogative to call whomsoever He chooses...

- Maybe God wants the "real advocates" to stand up, to do more than utter words of support, but to influence systems and push for support

- Maybe God wants men and women to work together to revisit what it means to "do justly, love mercy and walk humbly with God" (Micah 6:8)

It occurs to me that we are still in the trailblazing phase. In spite of the pain and the struggle, may we keep "the faith." Let us continue to go to God, "believing that He is and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6, KJV). Let us not content ourselves with minimal advancements in this arena. May we find the courage and the strength to keep forging ahead, by the leading of God's Holy Spirit. May we keep pressing toward the mark. May our service in each venue please God and may the gifts and the anointing that He has placed upon our lives, make room for us at larger tables.

Post a comment or send me an email at Shepastor1@hotmail.com

Until next Wednesday,
In Faith, Hope and Perseverance,
Pastor Chris

Shepastor: "On Assignment...Making the Grade..."

“It seems to me that God has put us who bear his Message on stage in a theater in which no one wants to buy a ticket.” I Corinthians 4: 9a, The Message Bible

Yesterday I attended a local clergy group meeting. This particular clergy group is heavily involved in civic affairs, social justice issues and preaching. I like it. Today was an unusually powerful session. We heard a very thought provoking lecture on the need for the “Church” to evolve – to reach the people who are not the typical, “church people,” we had a visit from the Mayor who is running for re-election, we heard from various other leaders in the community and then we heard a sermon.

The pastor said a lot of things in the message that evoked soul searching, but one segment, in particular spoke to my spirit. Quoting Eugene Peterson’s The Message paraphrase of the Bible, I Corinthians 4: 9a, he stated,

“It seems to me that God has put us who bear his Message on stage in a theater in which no one wants to buy a ticket.”

He then went on to talk about Jesus’ prayer in John 17 where he says to the Father in prayer, “I have finished the assignment, the work you have given me to do…” John 17: 4 in the Message Bible states,

“I glorified you on earth by completing down to the last detail what you assigned me to do.”

The pastor then went on to share an experience he had in seminary with a professor known for being tough on grading papers. The pastor talked about his research, careful wording, long hours and hard work he put into the assignment. He shared how good he felt upon turning it in because he’d worked so hard. However, to his surprise and dismay, when he received the paper, in the professor’s own handwriting the comments read…

“Great research, creative thinking, hard work. However, you did not do the assignment that was given – F (encircled with red ink!)”

The sanctuary erupted because every preacher in the house could see where he was going! No matter how well you do what you do, no matter how many applause you get, no matter how hard you work, no matter how many think (including yourself!) that you are doing a great job, the question remains: are you doing what God assigned you to do?

So often we get caught up in what others think, what the world defines as success, what we perceive to be greatness. In the final analysis, none of those things matter. What matters is did we finish the assignment we were given. It’s so easy to veer off the course of what God has spoken for us to do or not to do in order to grow membership, gain notoriety, or just simply to get folks to “buy tickets.” When we do that, we are most likely comparing ourselves to others.

Avoid trying to do someone else’s assignment. Did the Lord assign you to 500 members? Praise the Lord. Serve them with gladness and faithfulness. Did the Lord assign you to 10,000 members? Praise the Lord. Serve them with gladness and faithfulness. Did the Lord assign you to 25 members? Amen. Serve them with gladness and faithfulness! Don’t allow what the world (and even those well meaning “saints”) says to cause you to neglect your assignment, trying to mimic someone else, duplicate someone else, envy someone else, compare yourself to someone else. Know that God’s grading techniques are very different from that of human forms of scrutiny.

No matter what the Lord has assigned us to do, may we be found faithful, diligently serving, determined to complete our assignments with excellence!

Post a comment or send me an email at Shepastor1@hotmail.com

Until next Wednesday
In Faith, Hope and Perseverance,
Pastor Chris

Shepastor: “The Fine Art of Communication…”

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger. James 1:19 ESV

We are living in a hurried, fast pace, quick age. If you do not own or have access to a computer, an iphone, ipod or ipad (or something like it) you are almost lost. And while these new forms of technology have afforded us tremendous conveniences, some unfortunate byproducts of those conveniences have emerged.

Text messages, twitter and Facebook encourage users to put into print quick, short messages. While the writer may desire to share one message, unwittingly, unintentionally and frequently, other messages are perceived and or conveyed. You may have meant to communicate one thing, but the recipients, without the benefit of hearing tone of voice, viewing body language or clearly receiving overall context of what is being shared, may extract something altogether different than what you originally intended. When using these devises, individuals are less likely to take their time and prayerfully consider their words. Gaps of time before responses also may convey unintended messages. Angry words, flippant remarks and poorly constructed comments can create confusion and breaks in relationships.

The aforementioned modes of communication also give the allusion of anonymity. In other words, people feel freer to say things in text messages, on twitter and on Facebook that they would never say to a person face to face. While letters and telephones have been used in this way, these new forms of communication seem to have exaggerated this tendency.

This is not to demonize the advancing technologies… this is to raise some cautions, lest the devil gain an advantage over us…

Before texting, “twittering” or “facebooking,” ask yourself a few simple questions…

- If I were on the other side of this message, how what would I “hear?”
- Is this something I would say to a person face to face?
- Is this a “light” message that can quickly be conveyed or am I avoiding a conversation
- Does it really make sense to send a bunch of text messages when we could (and more probably should) talk to one another?

In this fast paced society, we are losing the beauty of real human-to-human contact. Let us take some time to pick up the phone and call someone. Every now and then, put pen to paper and write someone a letter. Every now and then go and pay someone a visit. There is a warmth, a charm, a beauty nestled into these increasingly perceived antiquated forms of communication that no text, twitter or FB message can deliver!

Post a comment or send me an email at Shepastor1@hotmail.com

Until next Wednesday,
In Faith, Hope and Perseverance,
Pastor Chris

Shepastor: "When Silence is No Longer Golden"

Ecclesiastes 3:7 There is a time to tear cloth and a time to sew it.There is a time to be silent and a time to speak.

It has been said that the only thing necessary for evil to persist is for good people to remain silent.

This past week I have watched in amazement as debates have been held over whether or not Syrian leaders have engaged in chemical war tactics to kill and mutilate their own people. The images of children, teens, women and men agonizing, tortured with severely burned flesh, corpses wrapped in sheets, cries of indescribable pain and looks of bewilderment should all shock and provoke outrage in the hearts of the humane.

Instead, national and international leaders are participating in political posturing. Rather than joining forces to do what is necessary to send a clear message that the world will not stand by and tolerate another holocaust of sorts, world leaders are engaging in a fact finding excursion for the obvious. While an abundance of caution is necessary when considering any kind of military action, the emboldened stance of rouge perpetrators must not be ignored. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.

Let us pray for our leaders, our President, our Congress, and the United Nations to have the wisdom, the strategy and the courage to boldly and decisively intervene, not only in Syria, but in Darfur and other nations where genocide is a reality. May we as preachers, teachers and leaders be more committed to the mandates of Luke 4:18. May we be more concerned about the impoverished, the abused and the marginalized and may that concern be made manifest through our collective work in the church, our civic organizations, at the voting polls and in our communities.

Martin Niemöller spoke to the dangers of misappropriated silence...

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out--
Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out--
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out--
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me--and there was no one left to speak for me.

Sometimes silence is not golden.

Post a comment or send me an email at shepastor1@hotmail.com

Until next Wednesday,
In Faith, Hope and Perseverance,
Pastor Chris

Shepastor: “50 Years and Counting… Truth is Marching”

21I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies. 22Though ye offer me burnt offerings and your meat offerings, I will not accept them: neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts. 23Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols. 24But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream. Amos 5: 21-24, KJV

Today marks the 50th anniversary of the historic “March on Washington.” Records indicate that the full name of the event was, “March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.” 50 years ago, approximately one quarter of a million people peacefully gathered to protest racial and economic injustices in America. Although great strides have been made, we still have a long way to go. Consider the following statistics given by the Cleveland Plain Dealer on Friday, August 23, 2013:

Earnings in Ohio:
1960
African Americans made 81.2 cents for every $1 Euro Americans made
2011
African Americans made 88.9 cents for every $1 Euro Americans made

“In 1966, the poverty rate for African Americans was nearly 42% (almost triple the overall rate).” In 2011, African Americans’ poverty rate remains high (but lower) at 28% (nearly double the overall rate)

Education:

In 1960, 3.1 percent of African Americans 25 and older had completed at least four years of college. The overall rate was 7.7% By 2012, 21.2% of African Americans 25 and older had completed at least 4 years of college. The overall rate was 30.9%

The same August 23, 2013 Cleveland Plain Dealer news paper provided a “report card” of the school districts spanning several counties throughout Northeast Ohio. No surprise, schools in the inner city and other poverty stricken areas where resources are minimal, student teacher ratio is high (in some instances, 52 students to 1 teacher), drugs and violence run rampant, schools were failing miserably. The surprise, however, came when poor grades were given to more prominent or “well off” districts for having minimal to low progress made in closing the achievement gap.

The grades revealed an unspoken and ugly truth… Even when oppressed peoples gain access to better environments (schools, jobs, neighborhoods, etc.), they still face systemic racism and classism. What good will it do if you attend school in a beautiful building, but are blocked from accessing classes and or curriculum that teaches higher level analytical thinking skills?

What are you benefited if you work downtown or in an affluent area, yet you make significantly less then someone of a lighter hue or a different gender? How is your circumstance made better if you purchase a beautiful home in a “nice” neighborhood, but your mortgage rate is significantly higher than that of your neighbor’s whose credit score may be the same or worse than yours?

The late singer song writer James Brown famously said, “If you deny a man an education, don’t get angry when he acts ignorantly.” Economic injustice produces poverty and oppression. Poverty and oppression produce ignorance. Ignorance produces rage and outrage. Rage and outrage produce destruction.

400 years of oppression will not be undone in 50 years. Truth must continue to march on. Truth must continue to be spoken to power. Truth must overrule ignorance in action. Truth must break the bow of the oppressor. Truth must never be silent. Let truth march on!

Post a comment or send me an email at Shepastor1@hotmail.com

Until next Wednesday,
In Faith, Hope and Perseverance,
Pastor Chris

Shepastor: "Menopause, Mayhem and the Ministry"

2 Corinthians 12:7-9 ERV

But I must not be too proud of the wonderful things that were shown to me. So a painful problem was given to me—an angel from Satan, sent to make me suffer, so that I would not think that I am better than anyone else. I begged the Lord three times to take this problem away from me. But the Lord said, “My grace is all you need. Only when you are weak can everything be done completely by my power.” So I will gladly boast about my weaknesses. Then Christ’s power can stay in me.

The term "mayhem" means, "The crime of maliciously injuring or maiming someone, originally so as to render the victim defenseless."

Ok, we are going to have "big girl" talk on Shepastor today! Send anyone who cannot handle this talk out of the room! Recently, my physician told me that I am entering "peri menopause." I believe her! Sometimes on and sometimes off. Periodic hot flashes, intensified mood swings, fatigue, periodic insomnia and brain fog. Can I get a witness? At times it feels like mayhem! In other words, at times I feel defenseless. Menopause does not care that I still have to preach, teach, visit the sick, pray for and encourage the discouraged, console the bereaved, counsel the wounded, depressed and confused.

And while someone might say, "See, that's why women should not become pastors," women are uniquely positioned to rely upon The Lord for an extra measure of grace and strength as we carry on the work of the ministry in earthen vessels. For some of us, menopause is the proverbial thorn in our sides. Through night sweats, fatigue, forgetfulness and clumsiness, the Holy Spirit whispers, "my grace is sufficient...my strength is made perfect in your weakness."

Some how God still uses us to bless, to heal, to lift, to shape, to mold, to love. The Lord comforts us in order that we may comfort others. The cavern of our wells are dug a bit deeper and wider as we wrestle with physiological mayhem, but spiritual graces of inner peace and blessed assurance. During this season of sometimes painful and unavoidable affliction, may we always remember that God's grace is sufficient. May we remember that we are not alone in this experience. Not only has The Lord promised to be with us, other sisters are going through the same struggles. May we stop pretending that nothing phases us and openly share our experiences with one another. May we prayerfully nurture and build a sisterhood that allows for transparency and support.

Hold on my sisters. This too shall pass!

Post a comment or send me an email at shepastor1@hotmail.com .

Until next Wednesday,
In faith, hope and perseverance,
Pastor Chris

Shepastor: “Lessons From a Power Jacket and a Luau: A Story of Ministry by Rev. Denise Cunningham-Doggett, Senior Pastor, Lake Shore Christian Church”

31“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ Matthew 25: 31-40, NIV

Isn’t it amazing how some of the greatest lessons we learn come from those to whom God sends us to minister? That is the experience of the Reverend Denise Cunningham-Doggett, Senior Pastor of Lake Shore Christian Church in Cleveland, Ohio. Prior to becoming pastor of a church, for approximately 21 years, Rev. Denise worked in various capacities and ultimately as the Executive Program Director for Family Promise of Greater Cleveland. Also known as “New Life Community,” Family Promise is a transitional housing ministry that assists homeless and jobless individuals with gaining employment and housing.

In today’s Shepastor, Rev. Denise shares some insights and experiences regarding the blessing of ministry in the midst of the homeless and indigent population in the Greater Cleveland area…

Rev. Denise Cunningham-Doggett, Senior Pastor
Lake Shore Christian Church

On last week I hosted the 8th Annual Luau for the Graduates, current residents, volunteers and staff for Family Promise of Greater Cleveland, fka New Life Community. Family Promise is a transitional housing facility on the east and west sides of Cleveland where we assist homeless, jobless families to transition to self- sufficiency by obtaining fulltime housing and employment. The homeless families stay at our Eastside location for 16 weeks until they find housing and employment. I have worked there for 21 years as the Assistant to the Development Director, Business Manager, Executive Director and Program Director. In my many years of working there I have always been humbled by working with the indigent population and the support that they have needed for self-esteem. Many times when working there, people would inquire of me, “As a minister do you get to preach there at your job?” I would always say in my office there is a sermon or a life lesson that I learn from the people. On many occasions I would prepare the women for a job search and help them get job ready by having them “dressed for success.” We have a boutique upstairs where I have cultivated a wardrobe of gently worn, quality clothes for the clients to wear for job interviews.

On one particular day, I answered a phone call at the receptionist’s desk and inadvertently took off my jack at that desk. Now, what I need to tell you about that jacket is that I referred to it as my “power jacket”… as a matter of fact, I looked pretty good in that black jacket and got lots of compliments in it when I wore it! On the way out to do a presentation on behalf of a grant I’d written for the shelter, I asked my secretary, “ Have you seen my black jacket? I seemed to have misplaced it.” After we looked a couple of places, I started to believe maybe I had left it in my car. I didn’t worry. As a professional I usually have 2 jackets in my offices to wear just in case I might need one of them. I believe in being a role model for young women, telling them how we have raised the standard and the importance of wearing the best that we have to wear when going on an interview, to school to visit our children, and in our community.

As I was getting ready to leave, one of the clients came running in my office. She was so excited to share the good news that she just had a job interview and believed that she was going to get a second interview. I couldn’t listen to her very closely because I was so intrigued that she was looking so nice! As she was talking to me I then realized that she had on MY favorite “power jacket!” I could not say very much because she was looking far better in that jacket than I ever did. But I remember thinking to myself, "That is my favorite jacket that you have on!" But I didn’t say a word to her.

God used that moment to minister to me about giving the best that we have to people. Many times I was the one to lead discussions with church and/or business organizations appealing to them to give quality donations to help homeless women. On that day, I believe God let the scripture from Matthew 25:36-40 about the Sheep and the Goats come alive in my heart...

“For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat;
I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink;
I was stranger and you took Me in;
I was naked and you clothed Me;
I was sick and you took care of Me;
I was in prison and you visited Me.

…..”Lord, when did we see You hungry and fed You, or thirsty and gave You something to drink? When did we see You a stranger and took You in, or without clothes and clothed You? When did we see You sick, or in prison and visit You?...
…And the King will answer them, “I assure you: Whatever you did for one of the least of these, you have done as unto me.”

As I was going through my own stuff about that jacket, God was reminding me to let it go….and not say anything about that jacket. The jacket didn’t have all the power that I thought it had. I needed to let it go and be alright that someone else was wearing it that really needed it. Jesus has a way of teaching us to release things that are really not that important. What I really learned is that I have several jackets and more that I could let go of to help someone else. The greatest blessing of the “power jacket story,” was in a few days the “praise report” came back that the client wearing my jacket got the job!

One of the exciting events that we hold at the Center is a Luau. Many homeless and indigent families come each year to fellowship, have fun, receive school and self-care items etc., all while enjoying the Luau. This past year, it was also exciting to see the aforementioned client at the Luau. She came late, getting off the bus with her 3 children, excited to be able to say she had to work late that evening. I’m glad to report that 4 years later she has remained in the same housing and is still maintaining her employment. The client expresses gratitude that she is no longer homeless.

I share that story because of the lessons I learned through the homeless people that I got to chance to minister to daily. Through them, God reminded me that I had an opportunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus by touching their lives. I also learned that they touched my life as well.
Stay encouraged!

Rev. Denise Cunningham-Doggett, Senior Pastor
Lake Shore Christian Church
Speak Life Ministries

End Quote

What a powerful story! Power does not reside in the things we possess, but the love of Christ in our hearts, made manifest through our willingness to give to others.

Post a comment or send me an email at Shepastor1@hotmail.com

Until next Wednesday,
In Faith, Hope and Perseverance,
Pastor Chris