Kooks

vannconwell@southernhillschurch.org (Vann Conwell) — Sat, 17 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0500

While Jesus was having dinner at Levi's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the "sinners" and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: "Why does he eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?"
On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." (Mark 2:5-17 NIV)

As Susan and I made our way toward seats in the vast auditorium of the mega-church hosting the conference we recently attended, I took in the scene around me. Contemporary Christian music boomed from a state of the art sound system as classy, creative videos flashed on huge screens. Most of the five thousand seats were already filled with leaders from churches across the country.

Settling into our comfortable balcony seats (think stadium seating), I marveled at the technology, architecture and significant slice of evangelical leadership on display in this vast room. The lights dimmed to signal the beginning of the next keynote session, introduced by a seamless transition to a pounding set of praise songs led by a bevy of talented musicians. This was not my grandmother’s church.

Stepping onto the stage as the praise set concluded, the keynote speaker ... the senior pastor of a mammoth mega-church ... moved into two circles of bright light created by follow spotlights, his image projected on screens flanking the stage. Flashing a smile backed by a set of brilliant white teeth (they almost appeared to be glowing on the huge screens), the speaker opened with a few humorous comments about his family. I joined the crowd in chuckling about the antics of the speaker’s wife and children, while noticing that the man seated in front of us was busily typing every word being uttered into his lap top.

Segueing masterfully to his message, the keynoter indicated that he intended to share wisdom drawn from many years of successful ministry. I sensed the mass of assembled church-going humanity leaning forward in anticipation of the words about to be spoken. The fellow with the lap top typed frenetically.

And this is what was spoken: "If we could just find a way to get rid of the kooks in the church, things would be a lot better." This was the promised wisdom drawn from years of ministry experience. I couldn’t believe my ears! He had to be joking, but this was no joke ... he was serious! Turning to Susan, I mouthed, "Did we just hear what I think we heard?" She nodded ... lap top guy just kept typing.

Improve your church by getting rid of the kooks! I could tell by the way Susan looked at me that she knew I’d be one of the first to go.
Suddenly, I felt very out of place at this conference. The keynote speaker continued to share wisdom drawn from his years of experience ... but reverberating in my ears was, "Get rid of the kooks!"

Who decides who the kooks are? Have some of us who call ourselves Christ-followers become so desirous of sanitized, polished, efficient church that we want to boot out the people that Jesus loves the most?!

My brain was pounding ... we’re all kooks. The church family that I’m part of and love deeply is full of kooks. Jesus called as his first disciples a ragged assemblage of kooks. Jesus hung out with kooks. He sought out kooks. Jesus died for kooks.

The keynoter was still going strong (and lap top guy was still typing) as Susan and I slipped out of the auditorium. We walked without speaking to our car. As I slid behind the wheel, I turned to Susan and said, "I should have stood up in there and said, 'We’ll take all of your kooks at my church!’" Gripping the steering wheel, I felt anger and frustration wash over me ... and then God gave me something to laugh about: that senior pastor who wanted to get rid of the kooks was a kook! He just didn’t see it.

As Susan and I drove out of the parking lot of that mega-church, I thanked our good and gracious God for the mercy He shows to all of us kooks. And I prayed, "Lord, bring us more kooks."

Vann served for years as a youth minister with a special focus on mentoring new ministers. He is now the Connecting Minister for Southern Hills Church in Abilene. He loves to reach out to people that many folks neglect or forget and is a whiz at organizing and equipping others for ministry.

Every Leader Needs an Abishai

vannconwell@southernhillschurch.org (Vann Conwell) — Sun, 24 Jul 2005 00:00:00 -0500

Building a healthy ministry doesn't happen in isolation. It requires teamwork. Over the years, I've learned that within every team there needs to be at least one "go to" person to help you go further and deeper than you could go on your own. I like to say, "Every leader needs an Abishai." It's not a very catchy leadership phrase, but it's crucial to keep moving ahead. Because I've been in ministry for many years, I feel privileged to have had more than one Abishai.

Abishai was a biblical character during David's reign as King.

One time David got very tired when he and his soldiers were fighting the Philistines. One of the Philistine warriors was Ishbibenob, who was a descendant of the Rephaim, and he tried to kill David. Ishbibenob was armed with a new sword, and his bronze spearhead alone weighed seven and a half pounds. But Abishai came to the rescue and killed the Philistine. (2 Samuel 21:15-17 CEV)

Abishai was willing to do some of the dirty work. He was a key defender of David. His actions communicated teamwork and loyalty. He was even loyal to the point of being willing to kill the sleeping Saul -- who was in pursuit of David and determined to end David's life. (1 Samuel 26:6-9)

I believe all leaders need people around them who will play that key role. Leaders need others who can jump in, take the heat, lighten the load, and go to battle when leadership gets tough and dangerous. Every leader needs protection, rest, and renewal when weakened and exhausted by the grind of the leadership battle. I know I could have never been able to lead without an Abishai at my side or covering my back!

When I think of the phrase, "I've got your back," I think of these people who have been my Abishai's -- unbelievable allies, without whom I can't imagine doing effective ministry. I wonder if that's how David felt about Abishai.

When I look at the people who are in "my corner" and those who "go to battle" with me in ministry, the thing they have in common is that they're not strangers. They've worked alongside me for years. (For me personally, I think of a special Abishai to me, named Don Davis, who has been a friend and ministry ally for over 22 years.) Others are part of the new ministry and support team I now work alongside -- we share the day-to-day opportunities and challenges, together.

While you're serving with people ... believe in their gifts, value their contributions, do life with them, and give them access to your life. There will be occasions when you'll get to "test" their loyalty. You'll see how they respond when your back is against the wall and when you're exhausted. If they come through for you, thank them, point out specifics of how you felt honored that they would "stand with you" and thank God that you may have an Abishai on your team. You'll be a better leader when you go to "battle" with an Abishai.

Articles by Vann Conwell at Heartlight

Kooks

Every Leader Needs an Abishai