I have figured out something about myself while going through this process and I'm not so happy with this discovery. What is this new revelation? To put it short and sweet, it has become very obvious to me that I am arrogant. I hate that.
Allow me to explain. I felt led to do this new kind of ministry and I gave up a traditional church to follow this fresh dream. When I left the traditional church, I also left a pretty comfortable salary and benefit package. What was waiting for me at the new work? About a quarter of my pay and no benefits. My wife, however, is working full-time and it was our prayer that she could help be the staple of our finances while the new work develops.
I also knew that I would have to take another job to help support us. I haven't done much work outside of the church since seminary but in my past I have written for local newspapers and served as a legal assistant at a large law firm in my home area. My job search began there, seeking employment in possibly those two areas, but nothing jumped out to greet me. I was promised a job before moving to Radford, actually did training and was ready to get started, but the company I was going to work for was sold - so that was a no go as well.
Eventually, I started just putting in applications and hoping for the best. One local company offered me a job , but after the interview it seemed pretty obvious that there would be very little time for ministry while working there. Finally I have gotten an offer of a job and I have accepted it, but I had a hard time doing so. It is not in an office setting. I will not be pushing paper or working on a laptop computer. Instead, I will be working for a fast food establishment. While it is a more "upscale" place to eat, it is still a fast food place. I must admit that I have had a difficult time grasping the reality that at 41 I am working fast food in order to support my family. I thought that the older you get, the better off you should be, at least in the work area.
I don't think that I see myself as being better than working such a position, but I have surely had a hard time accepting this transition. Honestly, looking at the situation from a purely Biblical view, it is a blessing to have the opportunity to work and support my family - period. The ability to work and the opportunity to work are both great gifts from God. Who am I, merely one of His creations, to say that I am better than any form of work? I know that I am not and I am eager to model His light and love in this new workplace.
Since this is the week that we normally set aside to say thanks, I want to say a special thank you to the One who made me. Thank you, my God, for the opportunity that I have to live this blessed life with my unbelievable family and to minister to the special people you have called me to serve and love. Heavenly Father, help me to get over myself and focus on the bigger picture while trusting that You know above all others what is best and right for me. Likewise, help me to put aside any pride or arrogance that I falsely carry around and help me to understand that above all else I am Yours and that is what truly matters.
As you meet around the table this week, I challenge you to be evermore thankful than full of pride. If you can do that, the meal will taste better and your life will better reflect the One who loves you the most.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Monday, November 15, 2010
History of The Bridge
My name is Rusty Mullins. Until September of 2010 I was the pastor of a traditional church, Wytheville Baptist Church, located in Wytheville, Virginia. In September, however, I accepted the call of First Baptist Church of Radford, Virginia, to be the site pastor of a church that God had been calling me to start for more than two years. I went from regular church, stable employment to being a part-time employee with no church - just a calling and a dream. It seems foolish, even as I type this, but that is what we, my wife, family and I, did and I couldn't be happier with the ministry that God is doing.
This new journey began over two years ago when I went to a special conference of primarily Virginia Baptist pastors held at a little camp in the middle of the state. I was invited to be a part of this gathering by John Chandler and was looking forward to the experience - until it came time to leave. I was sick that day and felt miserable. I didn't want to go, but I knew that I had made an obligation and that money had been spent, already, to make this possible for me. Begrudgingly I left the comfort of my hone and drove to the camp. It was early spring and the campus was nice, but my illness continued to cloud my mood and desire to be there.
The first night was an introduction to the study of the "Millennial Matrix" and how churches are going to cease to exist if we do not find ways of bringing the gospel to the younger generations. We can't continue to use old methods to bring the gospel to this generation. The younger generations take in information in a whole new way and we must find ways to get themessage to them in a way they can understand and grasp it. I understood his point and I had read the book, but I was asking myself, "Why do I need to hear this? The church I'm serving has mad major changes already and they are not ready to become a more digital friendly congregation."
As I went to bed that night, my prayer was that I would not waste me time any more. I remember telling God that I would wake up and tell John I was sick and had to leave so I could get back home. After getting ready the next morning, my spirit refused to let me leave and it was in the first morning session that God stepped in and changed everything. As I sat, miserable and complaining within, I internally questioned again - Why am I here? As clearly as I have ever heard God, He chose to speak to me after I asked that question. I clearly heard that I was to pay attention, the things I was learning was not for that time, but for the future and that God had different plans for my future.
I was shocked and amazed. How often do you feel that you have actually heard God? I "feel" God in my life. I think He often shapes the things around me, but that moment in time it felt as though the God who made Heaven and Earth was communicating directly with me. Then my mind was flooded with ideas and things that needed to be done. My wife and I were going to be changing focus, from being "church" leaders to being leaders of people - younger people. The traditional church is not designed for those of our younger generations. The church is based on models that were assumed to work decades, maybe centuries ago - we are here and you can come to us when you want/need us mentality.
This is not the way the younger generations work. They need to be involved and included. They need to feel a part of something and active in their faith. They need more than a building, they need and seek deeply, community. The cyber world they live in is often very lonely. Just because you have 300 friends on facebook does not mean you have one true friend. Connection with something bigger than themselves is essential and they are seeking that but not finding it in the traditional church. The church needs to find ways to meet those needs and give them the missional, interactive, community experience they so desperately need.
My wife was not thrilled with the news. It would require a total life change and likely force me to work outside the church for the first time since seminary. Were we ready for that? God continued to show us this is what He wanted, so we trusted.
It was a few months later that Jennifer was called to be the interim, part-time Baptist Campus Minister at Radford University. She was not excited about the job. It was presented to her in the most negative way and she was told to just help them get through the coming school year and then the situation at RU would be reevaluated.
I continued to serve the church God had called us to and tried not to be distracted about the future. Jennifer had a rough first semester, hating the 45 minute commute to Radford for a ministry that looked to be dying despite her best efforts. Then, as the first semester was ending, a few freshmen walked into the BCM building.
At the beginning of the second semester, things got better at the RU ministry and Jennifer was quickly falling in love with her students. I started thinking that possibly Radford could be the place to launch the ministry I felt so drawn to. After seeking that opportunity it seemed almost impossible to come to fruition. There was even talk of Jennifer being given another campus that would be full-time and I would start a church in the other area, but deep in our hearts Jennifer and I felt a strong call not only to do this new ministry but to minister to the students at RU and the entire Radford area.
After much frustration and waiting beyond what we thought we were able to wait, God made a huge break through. First, the people at First Baptist Church of Radford, behind the leadership of their pastor and minister of education - Paul Lane and Kent Taylor - decided that they wanted to join in this venture. Then, after much waiting and even times of discouragement, the leaders of the Virginia Baptist Mission Board, behind the leadership of John Upton and section leader Susan McBride, decided to hire Jennifer as full-time campus minister.
We left Wytheville in late August and I began my ministry in partnership with FBC-Radford in early September. We began holding pre-launch worship services on 10/10/10 and God has richly blessed in so many ways. We are surely blessed. The new work has averaged over 40 people each Sunday, except for the one we were away on a retreat together, and things only look brighter every day.
Honestly, I don't know what I'm doing exactly. I have never done this before, but I am following the one who called me to do it and He is doing amazing things - often in spite of me. It is my sincere prayer that we continue to follow his call and allow Him to build The Bridge and the ministry we are called to do here.
God is indeed good - all the time. And all the time- our god is good.
This new journey began over two years ago when I went to a special conference of primarily Virginia Baptist pastors held at a little camp in the middle of the state. I was invited to be a part of this gathering by John Chandler and was looking forward to the experience - until it came time to leave. I was sick that day and felt miserable. I didn't want to go, but I knew that I had made an obligation and that money had been spent, already, to make this possible for me. Begrudgingly I left the comfort of my hone and drove to the camp. It was early spring and the campus was nice, but my illness continued to cloud my mood and desire to be there.
The first night was an introduction to the study of the "Millennial Matrix" and how churches are going to cease to exist if we do not find ways of bringing the gospel to the younger generations. We can't continue to use old methods to bring the gospel to this generation. The younger generations take in information in a whole new way and we must find ways to get themessage to them in a way they can understand and grasp it. I understood his point and I had read the book, but I was asking myself, "Why do I need to hear this? The church I'm serving has mad major changes already and they are not ready to become a more digital friendly congregation."
As I went to bed that night, my prayer was that I would not waste me time any more. I remember telling God that I would wake up and tell John I was sick and had to leave so I could get back home. After getting ready the next morning, my spirit refused to let me leave and it was in the first morning session that God stepped in and changed everything. As I sat, miserable and complaining within, I internally questioned again - Why am I here? As clearly as I have ever heard God, He chose to speak to me after I asked that question. I clearly heard that I was to pay attention, the things I was learning was not for that time, but for the future and that God had different plans for my future.
I was shocked and amazed. How often do you feel that you have actually heard God? I "feel" God in my life. I think He often shapes the things around me, but that moment in time it felt as though the God who made Heaven and Earth was communicating directly with me. Then my mind was flooded with ideas and things that needed to be done. My wife and I were going to be changing focus, from being "church" leaders to being leaders of people - younger people. The traditional church is not designed for those of our younger generations. The church is based on models that were assumed to work decades, maybe centuries ago - we are here and you can come to us when you want/need us mentality.
This is not the way the younger generations work. They need to be involved and included. They need to feel a part of something and active in their faith. They need more than a building, they need and seek deeply, community. The cyber world they live in is often very lonely. Just because you have 300 friends on facebook does not mean you have one true friend. Connection with something bigger than themselves is essential and they are seeking that but not finding it in the traditional church. The church needs to find ways to meet those needs and give them the missional, interactive, community experience they so desperately need.
My wife was not thrilled with the news. It would require a total life change and likely force me to work outside the church for the first time since seminary. Were we ready for that? God continued to show us this is what He wanted, so we trusted.
It was a few months later that Jennifer was called to be the interim, part-time Baptist Campus Minister at Radford University. She was not excited about the job. It was presented to her in the most negative way and she was told to just help them get through the coming school year and then the situation at RU would be reevaluated.
I continued to serve the church God had called us to and tried not to be distracted about the future. Jennifer had a rough first semester, hating the 45 minute commute to Radford for a ministry that looked to be dying despite her best efforts. Then, as the first semester was ending, a few freshmen walked into the BCM building.
At the beginning of the second semester, things got better at the RU ministry and Jennifer was quickly falling in love with her students. I started thinking that possibly Radford could be the place to launch the ministry I felt so drawn to. After seeking that opportunity it seemed almost impossible to come to fruition. There was even talk of Jennifer being given another campus that would be full-time and I would start a church in the other area, but deep in our hearts Jennifer and I felt a strong call not only to do this new ministry but to minister to the students at RU and the entire Radford area.
After much frustration and waiting beyond what we thought we were able to wait, God made a huge break through. First, the people at First Baptist Church of Radford, behind the leadership of their pastor and minister of education - Paul Lane and Kent Taylor - decided that they wanted to join in this venture. Then, after much waiting and even times of discouragement, the leaders of the Virginia Baptist Mission Board, behind the leadership of John Upton and section leader Susan McBride, decided to hire Jennifer as full-time campus minister.
We left Wytheville in late August and I began my ministry in partnership with FBC-Radford in early September. We began holding pre-launch worship services on 10/10/10 and God has richly blessed in so many ways. We are surely blessed. The new work has averaged over 40 people each Sunday, except for the one we were away on a retreat together, and things only look brighter every day.
Honestly, I don't know what I'm doing exactly. I have never done this before, but I am following the one who called me to do it and He is doing amazing things - often in spite of me. It is my sincere prayer that we continue to follow his call and allow Him to build The Bridge and the ministry we are called to do here.
God is indeed good - all the time. And all the time- our god is good.
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