Open Letter to Church Staffers

Dear Church Staffers;
I have had a long year. I would like to thank the random administrative assistants that helped me register for things, or the ones who helped me find places, the ones who forwarded my emails to the right people...

But I have a challenge for you: I understand you have a lot on your plate, you are just one person, you don't have enough help; I really get it, but I've also been ignored, overlooked, encountered unresponsiveness, and told I can't be a part of "fill in the blank" this year.

I am a transplant to a small community during the week, I try to go to my hometown on the weekends. I have written to several churches in the area to find a small group or a group of young adults to plug in with. I've been told I am not a member so I can't be a part, I've played email tag with a couple pastors that ended up forgetting who I am and never following through with their promise to connect me with a group or a person. I've been told that they'd follow up with more information and never done that. I've even written to groups of people and no one from the group has responded at all. When I've called, I've received one call back. When I called their contact about a small group I was quizzed on how serious I was and that I needed to be present at every single meeting or I shouldn't come--a Bible study. I'm not exaggerating.

I've been in contact with 8 pastors, 2 music pastors, & 4 small group leaders this year. 1 person followed through with their word.

I am a Christian, I am familiar with churches, I have been in many leadership positions. From Milwaukee to Green Bay, my experience is consistent--terrible.

Pastors, staffers, church people I plead with you to be serious about keeping your word, following through with emails and inviting people into your community. I can't get into these communities of believers and I am one of you.

Peace,
Sherri

Voice (#Lifest #ArtSpace #Devotion)

Voice

Mt. 5:48 MSG—Live out your God-created identity.

When I went to get my teaching certificate, I was able to do a single gallery show. There was a small open room with nothing in it where I hung one large piece of artwork entitled “Voice”.  It was made from several small squares lining the wall for 10 feet across and 4 feet down.

Ken Coleman, on the Catalyst podcasts, often says that you should operate in your sweet spot…the place where your developed skills (those resume skills) overlap your natural gifts (the intangibles that are reinforced by those around you. I’d like to take that one step further: look for themes in your life, things that seem to be reinforced or people often encourage or praise in you. 

The truth is that you are unique. There is only one you. There is a unique message in you to reveal, I believe God has something about His personality or character that He reveals through each of us. And those lists from above overlap—and there is a uniquely developed, uniquely message only you can deliver.  It could sound like this is about us, but this is really about worshipping God with your life.

There was a story I heard Dan Allendar, a counselor, deliver at a conference where he said he was in a terrible car accident and was asked what his name was by the EMT. He said he could not remember, but what he could remember was that he was a teacher. When we know without a doubt something that we are meant to do, it is as though it is written on our hearts.

There is a scripture, Rev. 2:17 …I will give some of them hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only the the one who receives it.

What might be the “name” God calls you—what do you reveal about God?