by Eddie Lyons
A pastor acquaintance not among our Fellowship has asked me about the BBFI. He wants to know how to become a member and what is required of someone who is a member?
This conversation forced me to say out loud some of the things we all know. You don’t really join the Fellowship per se. If you agree with our 20 Articles of Faith, have a heart to plant churches, to send missionaries, and to see the Gospel preached around the world, you will fit with us. We have meetings you can attend. If you choose to support a missionary out of our Fellowship, you can do that. If you choose to help educate and train men and women for ministry, you can support our colleges. If you want to help plant churches, you may give support to a church planter or help by supporting our newly reorganized church planting office. If you are willing to help us stay connected through print and our website you can support the Tribune. Joining is a matter of showing up and participating.
As I was talking to this man, it dawned on me how simple it is and challenging at the same time. For our Fellowship to thrive we need participation, and I suggest there are several levels of participation; those who attend, those who contribute, and those who lead.
We need people who will attend. When I became pastor at High Street, I did not always attend the Missouri fellowship meetings. One day a fellow pastor called me and said something that stuck with me. He pointed out that because I had a good group on staff I had fellowship with other leaders every day. He said many pastors serve alone and challenged me to attend not for what I could get out of the meetings, but for what I could give to others. A friendly conversation over the meal could help encourage the ministry of another pastor. This one conversation changed my attitude and attendance. I became an attender.
We also need those who will contribute. There are many ways to contribute; host a meeting, serve on a committee, help plan the meetings. It is important for us to move from being served to serving. Our purpose in life is not really accomplished until we choose to be servants.
Finally, we need leaders with a vision for what we can do together. Leaders have to spend time and money and effort. Leaders have to be ready to be evaluated and even criticized. As a pastor, missionary, or staff member, this is not new territory for any of us. While we always pay a price to lead, the idea of making something better, of changing the world, is always inspiring. We need leaders who will have a vision to make our meetings at the state and national levels all they can be.
What we are doing as a Fellowship matters. Come and join us, and let us make a difference together.