Job Title Pastor
To The Center, As we begin to head north on Thursday I wanted to take the opportunity to say thank you. The past five years have been wonderful, fun, challenging, exciting and new all wrapped up into one ball. I have been privileged to serve you and alongside you in mission as we became a church. Looking back over the past few years I have many fond memories of you and the times we spent together. If it was in a basement office in Stow, on the streets of Cleveland, passing out candles (and making some too), in the sanctuary in Kent, on a horse farm in Lancaster, in the bayou of Mississippi or simply worshipping together in Cuyahoga Falls, we had some fun. It is often at this time of transition we look back and smile and are often afraid of what is to be. I have been working with the transition team of The Center and am confident in their abilities to steer this church in whichever direction God has for it. All that I ask of you is that you place your trust and confidence in this team to fulfill the mission that God has for this church. Jim, Peggy, Bruce, Debbie, Denny & Ken all have the very best in mind for this congregation, and as they begin the work of laying the foundation of what will be, they will need your support. I believe, along with many others, that they are seeking the very heart of God. As long as we do that, How can we ever go wrong? Though we will now be living up North you can always reach us on facebook or on a new wordpress website we have set up. Here we will post pictures and notes from our life in Duluth. This way you can always watch Izzy growing up. http://northernasburys.wordpress.com/ Again, Thank you. You mean the world to us and though we will be separated by distance, please know that you will not be far from our hearts. Thank you and we will see you again! Tom
Hi,
As I enter my last month of ministry here (well, last 2 weeks technically) I am somewhat nostalgic over the past 5 years of this thing we called The Center. So, I suppose, it is time to look back in order for us to move forward.
Lindsey and I were there for the beginning of this church, but what is most exciting is that we will not be here for the end of it. This ministry, will continue on long after us. What it will look like, I don't have a clue. For that, I am excited.
Why did we start this church? That is a question that has been coming up recently. Sometimes when you are in the middle of the forest you forget why you started down this path in the first place. We started this church for one simple reason: we were called to do it. That at the end of the day, is the reason why. We felt the urge to try something new. What we attempted to do, and I think successfully, was to create an environment where we "majored" on relationships and "minored" on the other church trappings that sometimes get in the way.
In the church planting circles we ended up starting a church that would be considered an organic church. These are the type of churches that meet in coffeeshops, homes, restaurants... etc. To put it simply we always tried to have church where life happened. It is a beautiful thing when it works, and by and large The Center has worked. We have grown closer to God as the years have gone on and in return we have also reached many who would have never stepped into a church building. For that I am grateful.
So, I suppose as I wrap up my time here, I go back to what this all means in the first place. I can't begin a conversation about this church without mentioning my father. Thomas C. Asbury. He was the inspiration behind the name of our ministry and though he never got to see what we accomplished I know that he would be happy and proud of all of us. That we made a Center for the lost, confused and tired. You see, Dad called his A.A. meeting place The Center. It was there he found his healing and recovery. If we only measure ourselves as that question that drives this church - "Are we a place where people can be themselves and find recovery in Jesus" then I know we have been successful. I know many of your stories and I know that many of you have found that recovery here.
Lindsey, Isabella and I are leaving. Why? It is our time. We are doing what we have always done, going where God has called us. I urge you to press on. To continue this fight to create a place of hope and recovery for all of those who search for it. This world, this country and this region needs a band of misfits like us. Like you. I will stay on as the coach for the leadership council but at this point it is in your hands. I know this ministry can continue to be that place of refuge because I see it in many of you. As I step away, lets go back to our roots. Lets return to why we started The Center. To be that place where people can be themselves and find recovery in Jesus. - One Coffee Cup At A Time.
See you up north.
Tom
An article from Francis Chan I had to read twice. Enjoy -
I wonder if the inconsistency in my walk with God has anything to do with the fact that I can lead a “successful” church in America without being in love with Jesus. I’m sure I could blame American church culture, my position, or a busy schedule for my lack of reverent intimacy. The truth, however, is that my sin and hypocrisy is a result of me.I FORGET TO LOVE GODIt’s not like I don’t want to. In fact, when I’m deeply in prayer, it’s clear to me that there’s no place I’d rather be. I know that I love God. When I sit and think about Him, I’m filled with intense feelings of adoration. I’m convinced that He means more to me than my wife, kids, or anyone else on the planet. I just forget to love Him.We can argue that we’re busy doing ministry, which is how we express our love. But if that’s all God wanted, His words to the Ephesians in Revelation 2 would make no sense.“I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostle but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.” (NIV)God recognizes the Ephesian church for their wonderful ministry. Yet He makes it clear in the next verse that they are not loving Him. He tells them, “You have forsaken your first love.”What has always surprised me about that passage is God’s threat to remove them if they don’t start loving Him again. “If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.” God tells the hard working, sin hating, doctrine-loving, persecuted church that He doesn’t want them around unless they love Him. He’s never been interested in unloving children. His desire has always been love. It was the great command in the Old Testament and the New (Deut. 6:5, Matt. 22:37). Love was supposed to be the catalyst of all godly action.When is the last time you came alone before your Father just to enjoy Him? If it has been a while, don’t waste your time reading this article. Get alone and adore Him. Pray that you would no longer merely love Him through your religious actions, but with the passion befitting a person in love.When I first fell in love with my wife, I never “forgot” to call her or spend time with her. Rarely, if ever, did she get crowded out because I was so “busy.”I FAKE PASSION WELLLeaders make the greatest hypocrites because of their ability to persuade and deceive. Rarely is there a pastor whose character exceeds his reputation. If I were to ask those closest to you about your relationship with God, what would they say? If I were to ask God the same question, what would He say? If your family, friends, and congregation have better things to say about you than God, it’s because you give them that impression. We do this because we can. God gifted us with an ability to communicate. Too often we use this ability not to convey who we are, but who we want others to think we are.It’s similar to the church in Sardis, to whom Jesus says, “I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.” (Rev. 3:1 NIV) Others believed the façade, but Jesus knew the truth. He reminded them that He knew of their spiritual deadness. The hope was that it would jolt them toward true life. God’s desire for all believers, especially leaders, is “life that is truly life.” (I Timothy 6:19 NIV) You’ve all had times, hopefully, when you experienced this “life.” But when you aren’t experiencing it, you fake it. Why? What’s the point in faking it when you can have it?This article originally appeared in the Catalyst GroupZine Volume 3, Courageous in Calling.I once heard a Christian leader say, “I refuse to let my public passion exceed my private devotion.” As a leader, have you made that commitment? It could make for some pretty boring sermons.It burdens me when I think we may have missed it. I ache when I consider how we are missing out. Remember, being obsessed with Jesus is a good thing. Trading the truth for a lie doesn’t benefit you or any person you are leading. This isn’t coming from a writer saying, “You must repent.” It’s coming from a fellow sinful leader saying, “We’re so stupid if we don’t.” You can have genuine intimacy with Almighty God today. Why not?I FOLLOW THE PEOPLE I LEADIt is hard to be rejected. I hated it in junior high, and I still hate it today. It didn’t take long to learn how to fit in, in order to avoid the pain of rejection. That ability has stayed with me and begs me to use it. I know how to keep people from rejecting me and leaving the church. I know what words to say and which actions to take to keep people around. But when I do that, I’m no longer leading. I’m being led by the right or wrong desires of the people.God calls us to give people what they need. Based on His word, regardless of whether they stick around. Jesus led. Few followed, but He kept leading.Last summer I came to a shocking realization that I had to share with my wife: If Jesus had a church in Simi Valley, mine would be bigger. People would leave His church to attend mine because I call for an easier commitment. I know better how to cater to people’s desires so they stick around. Jesus was never really good at that. He was the one who said, “He who loves father or mother … son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.” (Matt. 10:37 NIV) I’m much more popular than Jesus.Having come to that conclusion, I came back to the church with resolve to call people to the same commitment Christ called them to. I knew that people would leave, and they have. I found comfort in that because, “Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets.” (Luke 6:26 NIV) Over time though, the conviction can fade, and it gets tiresome seeing people leave. There is a constant pull to try to keep people around rather than truly lead the faithful who remain. When my church was started, I used to tell my wife that I didn’t care if we only had ten people, as long as they really loved God and desired to worship Him with all of their hearts. Where is that conviction now?I sometimes wonder what I would have done if I were the pastor of the church in Laodicea. We’re all familiar with that church in Revelation 3:14-22. It’s the “lukewarm” church that Jesus said He would “spit out” of His mouth. Would I have been strong enough to overcome the prevailing attitude of the entire church? Or would I have eventually been sucked into its flow and fate? I like to think I could have stood alone, but I’m not so sure.My youth pastor had a saying that I still remember twenty-five years later, “Leaders lead.” It’s what we do. It’s what God has called us to do. Of course there’s sadness when people refuse to follow you, but it’s better than the sadness that would come if you stopped leading. Paul said boldly, “Imitate me as I imitate Christ.” Don’t be led by your people. Lead them. It’s what you were made to do, equipped to do, called to do. It won’t be long before we’ll see that it was all worth it.Galatians 6:9 “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (NIV)Jeremiah 1:17 “Get yourself ready! Stand up and say to them whatever I command you. Do not be terrified by them, or I will terrify you before them.” (NIV)Revelation 3:21 “To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with Me on My throne, just as I overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.” (NIV)1 Timothy 6:11-12 “But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” (NIV)Francis Chan is pastor of Cornerstorne Church in Simi Valley, California. He has authored two books,Crazy Love & Forgotten God. He is also the founder of Eternity Bible College and sits on the board of directors of Children's Hunger Fund and World Impact. Francis spends much of his time speaking to students around the country, committed to teaching directly from the Bible. His passion is to see the church display a much deeper love for Jesus. Francis lives in California with his wife, Lisa, and their four children.
I wonder if the inconsistency in my walk with God has anything to do with the fact that I can lead a “successful” church in America without being in love with Jesus. I’m sure I could blame American church culture, my position, or a busy schedule for my lack of reverent intimacy. The truth, however, is that my sin and hypocrisy is a result of me.I FORGET TO LOVE GODIt’s not like I don’t want to. In fact, when I’m deeply in prayer, it’s clear to me that there’s no place I’d rather be. I know that I love God. When I sit and think about Him, I’m filled with intense feelings of adoration. I’m convinced that He means more to me than my wife, kids, or anyone else on the planet. I just forget to love Him.We can argue that we’re busy doing ministry, which is how we express our love. But if that’s all God wanted, His words to the Ephesians in Revelation 2 would make no sense.“I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostle but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.” (NIV)God recognizes the Ephesian church for their wonderful ministry. Yet He makes it clear in the next verse that they are not loving Him. He tells them, “You have forsaken your first love.”What has always surprised me about that passage is God’s threat to remove them if they don’t start loving Him again. “If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.” God tells the hard working, sin hating, doctrine-loving, persecuted church that He doesn’t want them around unless they love Him. He’s never been interested in unloving children. His desire has always been love. It was the great command in the Old Testament and the New (Deut. 6:5, Matt. 22:37). Love was supposed to be the catalyst of all godly action.When is the last time you came alone before your Father just to enjoy Him? If it has been a while, don’t waste your time reading this article. Get alone and adore Him. Pray that you would no longer merely love Him through your religious actions, but with the passion befitting a person in love.When I first fell in love with my wife, I never “forgot” to call her or spend time with her. Rarely, if ever, did she get crowded out because I was so “busy.”I FAKE PASSION WELLLeaders make the greatest hypocrites because of their ability to persuade and deceive. Rarely is there a pastor whose character exceeds his reputation. If I were to ask those closest to you about your relationship with God, what would they say? If I were to ask God the same question, what would He say? If your family, friends, and congregation have better things to say about you than God, it’s because you give them that impression. We do this because we can. God gifted us with an ability to communicate. Too often we use this ability not to convey who we are, but who we want others to think we are.It’s similar to the church in Sardis, to whom Jesus says, “I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.” (Rev. 3:1 NIV) Others believed the façade, but Jesus knew the truth. He reminded them that He knew of their spiritual deadness. The hope was that it would jolt them toward true life. God’s desire for all believers, especially leaders, is “life that is truly life.” (I Timothy 6:19 NIV) You’ve all had times, hopefully, when you experienced this “life.” But when you aren’t experiencing it, you fake it. Why? What’s the point in faking it when you can have it?This article originally appeared in the Catalyst GroupZine Volume 3, Courageous in Calling.
I once heard a Christian leader say, “I refuse to let my public passion exceed my private devotion.” As a leader, have you made that commitment? It could make for some pretty boring sermons.It burdens me when I think we may have missed it. I ache when I consider how we are missing out. Remember, being obsessed with Jesus is a good thing. Trading the truth for a lie doesn’t benefit you or any person you are leading. This isn’t coming from a writer saying, “You must repent.” It’s coming from a fellow sinful leader saying, “We’re so stupid if we don’t.” You can have genuine intimacy with Almighty God today. Why not?I FOLLOW THE PEOPLE I LEADIt is hard to be rejected. I hated it in junior high, and I still hate it today. It didn’t take long to learn how to fit in, in order to avoid the pain of rejection. That ability has stayed with me and begs me to use it. I know how to keep people from rejecting me and leaving the church. I know what words to say and which actions to take to keep people around. But when I do that, I’m no longer leading. I’m being led by the right or wrong desires of the people.God calls us to give people what they need. Based on His word, regardless of whether they stick around. Jesus led. Few followed, but He kept leading.Last summer I came to a shocking realization that I had to share with my wife: If Jesus had a church in Simi Valley, mine would be bigger. People would leave His church to attend mine because I call for an easier commitment. I know better how to cater to people’s desires so they stick around. Jesus was never really good at that. He was the one who said, “He who loves father or mother … son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.” (Matt. 10:37 NIV) I’m much more popular than Jesus.Having come to that conclusion, I came back to the church with resolve to call people to the same commitment Christ called them to. I knew that people would leave, and they have. I found comfort in that because, “Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets.” (Luke 6:26 NIV) Over time though, the conviction can fade, and it gets tiresome seeing people leave. There is a constant pull to try to keep people around rather than truly lead the faithful who remain. When my church was started, I used to tell my wife that I didn’t care if we only had ten people, as long as they really loved God and desired to worship Him with all of their hearts. Where is that conviction now?I sometimes wonder what I would have done if I were the pastor of the church in Laodicea. We’re all familiar with that church in Revelation 3:14-22. It’s the “lukewarm” church that Jesus said He would “spit out” of His mouth. Would I have been strong enough to overcome the prevailing attitude of the entire church? Or would I have eventually been sucked into its flow and fate? I like to think I could have stood alone, but I’m not so sure.My youth pastor had a saying that I still remember twenty-five years later, “Leaders lead.” It’s what we do. It’s what God has called us to do. Of course there’s sadness when people refuse to follow you, but it’s better than the sadness that would come if you stopped leading. Paul said boldly, “Imitate me as I imitate Christ.” Don’t be led by your people. Lead them. It’s what you were made to do, equipped to do, called to do. It won’t be long before we’ll see that it was all worth it.Galatians 6:9 “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (NIV)Jeremiah 1:17 “Get yourself ready! Stand up and say to them whatever I command you. Do not be terrified by them, or I will terrify you before them.” (NIV)Revelation 3:21 “To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with Me on My throne, just as I overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.” (NIV)1 Timothy 6:11-12 “But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” (NIV)
Francis Chan is pastor of Cornerstorne Church in Simi Valley, California. He has authored two books,Crazy Love & Forgotten God. He is also the founder of Eternity Bible College and sits on the board of directors of Children's Hunger Fund and World Impact. Francis spends much of his time speaking to students around the country, committed to teaching directly from the Bible. His passion is to see the church display a much deeper love for Jesus. Francis lives in California with his wife, Lisa, and their four children.
A Message from The Brethren Church National Office
Dear Prayer Warriors,The message below is from Pastor Jim, (Oasis Church, Arizona) was brought to my attention this morning and I thought I would share it with you all. Let's be in prayer for the hurting nation of Haiti. If you or your church would like to help, you may make your donations directly to WORLD RELIEF. Information for direct on-line donations are available on our website CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION You may also send your checks to World Relief marked "Haiti Earthquake" Please send them directly to:World ReliefAtte: Donor Services7 E. Baltimore StreetBaltimore, MD 21202There is such an urgent need in Haiti right NOW, Please know that if checks are sent to the National Office it could take weeks to turn the money over to World Relief. Blessings and praying with you!Jenn PintoMessage from Pastor Jim from Oasis Church, AZ:Dear Oasis Family,All of us have been deeply affected by the tragedy in Haiti this week. We're looking for various ways to respond, but we can quickly do so financially. We'll take an offering this Sunday to join with our fellow Christians across the world in responding to this crisis. I'm also copying here a message our friends in Tucson received from a missionary doctor friend who lives there and her experience form the past two days. JimPrayer warriors:I am safe in Port au Prince. I watched my walls crack and crumble during the quake and had 2 of my kids with me. I got them off the floor, onto my bed and laid on top of them. We started praying out loud, more like screaming out to Christ for our safety, our family’s safety and the people of Haiti. Kids’ prayers are so sweet during times of terror.I seriously thought the 2nd floor was going to fall on us and my last breaths would be full of dust and tears… but it didn’t. Somehow the house is still standing. It isn’t safe to be over there so my Haitian family, the Livesays, are housing me and my roommate for now.Since the earthquake happened in the afternoon, night came very quickly and we had no electricity anywhere. It was pitch black. Around 10pm a Haitian friend came and got me because she knew I had medical knowledge… I hopped on a motorcycle and went down the neighborhood to a soccer field. Full of people laying and moaning on the ground. Some praying. “Mesi Jezi, mesi Jezi, mesi Jezi.” Others dying before any aid could get to them. I sutured and cleaned out wounds and took off beyond-repair fingers and toes. Came home around midnight and went to a different clinic up in Petionville, which was the hardest hit portion of Port au Prince.My church is up there, so I knew the streets pretty well. People were everywhere. Dead people on the side of the road, covered by blankets or sheets. People with eyes glazed over because no one understood what had happened. People walking somewhere, anywhere away from the devastation… only there is nowhere to go. Buildings that I have seen every Sunday since August are completely grounded. People trapped inside.Got to the clinic and immediately started stitching up a 15 yr old girl’s head. It was a 10inch gash from her house collapsing on her. She was also missing her left hand, but I had to stop the bleeding from her head first. I worked on her head and hand, stitching in the dark, for about 2 hours. Then I moved on to the pile of people outside the gate. People kept coming and coming.The sun came up around 6, and a rush of people started pushing themselves into the clinic for help. Everyone that we saw was covered in rubble and had been trapped in houses, buildings, churches, schools all night. Gravel is not easy to remove out of Haitian hair.Troy came to pick me up at 12pm-ish and I had 4 more people in line to suture. Didn’t end up leaving until 2 or something. Don’t remember really. Hadn’t slept, at that point, in 3 days, due to staying overnight in the airport and a crying visitor at my house the first night back. Anyway, I came back to the Livesays and played with kids until around 8 and slept until 2am, when the last major aftershock happened. I thought the house was going to fall down. But we are safe and blessed to still be here.We have internet somehow this morning so we are using it as long as possible. I’m doing alright physically, but emotionally and spiritually it’s getting pretty rough down here. I have already seen so much, and it’s only day 2 after the disaster.There have been offers to get me out on a cargo plane back to the states tonight, but I turned them all down. God has me here and I know why. I’m not going to turn and run, even though part of me desperately wants to be home. All the Livesay kids (5 of them at least) are getting out tonight and going to their grandparents, so the house will be much calmer and quieter without screaming 2/3 yr olds around!We are in need of diesel, water and food… and I realize none of you can give us those things. So I am asking for prayer for those provisions and for stamina for the long days ahead. Know that I feel the prayers and have read all the warm wishes and am very thankful for each of you. Until I have internet/electricity again - Vivien
I have often wondered, and more so over the past few months, how can one truly know the voice of God? Perhaps "voice" is too strong of a term, others have used the words: leading, yearning, pushing/pulling... etc. As we began the journey of this church that now calls itself The Center, we really didnt have any major goals or initiatives. We weren't trying to prove someone or something right or wrong, but we were simply following the voice of God. And that is what we are trying to do now.
The next two months will include many of us in leadership at The Center attempting to discern the voice of God. We ask for your prayers as well. We will be tapping the next leaders on the shoulder, training them and eventually handing the keys to the car over to the next generation of Leaders. This will be a process where we continually have to ask God for direction, but please know one thing, we will always be asking for his guidance.
So how can you truly know the voice of God?
We wlll be spending some time in the book of Joshua over the next two months and a close examination of that Transition. Now, I am not saying I am Moses and the next leaders are Joshua ! but, we can learn from their example. In Joshua 1:1 it starts off with a bang where it states that "The Lord spoke to Joshua saying...." We somewhat nonchalantly read past that to get to the story, but here was God speaking to Joshua. HOW? I suppose in order to begin to hear the voice of God two things must happen we must ask God to speak and then we must stop talking. It is hard to hear someone when your voice drowns out the conversation. Joshua then heard from God and did as he was told to do. God still told him to be courageous because he knew what he was asking Joshua to do would need a lot of courage. God still recognized that he was dealing with a normal person who would get afraid from time to time -- just like us.
I know the future and the future of this ministry can bring some fear about the unknown. However, we have a God who says repeatedly "Be strong, dont fear, be courageous... For I AM with you.
Perhaps this is a lesson Joshua will teach us as we examine this book further.
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