Elders & Spouses First Gathering
We had determined that we couldn’t go much further into a serious discussion about what God may be doing between our two churches without getting our amazing wives involved.
I am a FIRM believer that God loves to speak through women. They are as much a part of the Church as men are. The Holy Spirit has baptized them, and has gifted them, and desires to use them to see the Kingdom come and the Gospel proclaimed around the world. Sadly, in many circles, our wives are placed on ‘back burners’ when it comes to hearing God’s voice for major issues. As I get older and wiser, and having lived with a passionate, strong, Spirit-led, godly woman for 27 years, I can attest that this sinful pastor very much needs the Spirit-infused heavenly wisdom of my bride. She and I are “one flesh” after all.
So the 3 elders from Crossroads and the 3 elders from Mosaic came together in my backyard around an amazing fire pit, some homemade BBQ from Tyler’s smoker and David Winchester’s homemade caramel candies. The evening I think lasted 5 hours, but it felt like an hour or maybe 2.
This was the first time our families had experienced the true biblical word “fellowship” before. Eating, drinking, praying, sharing the Scriptures, and life. All together. It was awesome.
We shared the things we LOVED about our churches. And we shared the things we would hate to see lost if/when God called us to something “new.” Then we discussed some things we we knew we needed in the future, to become the church God desired us to be.
The Holy Spirit moved around that fire pit that evening. Prophetic words were given through Tyler’s wife, Dee. I remember the words “shifting” and an “awakening is coming” was given to us. But nothing struck me stronger than when the Spirit moved through her and she spoke on how in the new season, with the new church, it would cause many people to finally “get off the fence.”
I shuttered. (And it was 72 degrees outside and we next to a fire!)
The word hit me. Personally.
I was on the fence in many ways.
In my prayer life.
In my leadership.
In my giving.
In my willingness to take RISKS (or i.e. “live by faith” as I have preached for 20 years to Mosaic)
I needed to repent. And thankfully over the course of the next few days, the Holy Spirit would lead into a journey of just that.
The rest of that evening was finished up with a sweet time of prayer. Each of us praying that the LORD Jesus Christ would have his way in his church. And that he would use us.
LaNette and I went to bed that night thankful we were a TEAM. And also thankful for the other 5 couples who God just might be bringing alongside of us, to serve next to in an exciting new future to come.—Stephen Hammond
How was this evening going to go? My (Tyler) conversations with Stephen up to this point had gone well, and my discussions with the elders of Crossroads, David, and Richard, had gone well, too. Now, these smaller conversations were turning into a large one. I know Stephen had been having similar conversations as well, but how well would it go with six elders and their spouses from two churches together in the backyard around a fire pit?
I smoked a brisket for over 12 hours, and it was delicious, except it needed an extra hour in one spot on the point. That's ok, there's always more time to smoke a brisket. The question of more was facing this circle of faithful people. This ring of 12, this fellowship (see what I did there), had given much after agreeing to serve their local church as elders and spouses. Whether you have been an elder for a short while or a long time, the weight of the leadership falls on both the elder and spouse. I am thankful to spend time with servants who give of themselves freely, regardless of their position in the church.
The question of more was before us. Could we see together in a circle in a backyard, that God might be preparing us and our churches for something more Better Together? The conversation was a good one, there was a massive amount of unity and peace that came out of that evening. There was authenticity, openness, a few tense moments, some emotional moments, but overall peace and unity. A credit to the Holy Spirit as he was at work in the circle. We all were wondering what God would do in the near future, but what amazed me was that no one person or church was jockeying for control or trying to get their way. It was a sifting and we have all seen the church sifted in the past few years in Arlington in an alarming, but also exciting way.
I was thinking, "I know this will get harder. I know this is going to be a balancing act of not driving too far ahead and waiting patiently for the Lord to lead." As the 12 sat around the fire, it reminded me how much God desires for each of us to turn over control and say, "God, if you desire, we will go where you want us to go." What an invitation to the Christ life.—Tyler Arp
