Old School Networking...


I love old school networking.  There is nothing like shaking the hand physically rather than virtually.  There is nothing like listening to the voice of another with the acoustics of the room rather than through a computer with its unpredictable cut outs due to bandwidth.  Yesterday morning was another day of networking for me.

It meant getting up at 2:30 a.m. to be out of the house by 3 a.m. and driving 255 miles one way to be in a room of others who care about what I care about.  One thing I care about is local pastors getting together with local pastors for greater fellowship between them and the local church of God in that community.  I have seen this happen in our local community but I didn't know there was an organization that focused on this happening nationally and internationally.  Through some old-fashion networking I found out about Barnabas Ministries, Inc.  

What an experience to be in a little chapel with others who are doing the same thing and hearing their stories that resonated with mine.  Tools were given to me that I will put into practice because they are battle tested and also because they are grounded in Scripture.  I walked away with much more than a slick binded notebook.  I drove away with 255 miles ahead of me, 4 hours plus, and the trip around the south side of Chicago during rush hour, with a head full of hope and direction.

The organization, Barnabas Ministries, INC provides groups called John 17:23 Pastoral Support Groups.  I think these will be listed on my links page of this blog also.  I am doing that because wherever I go across the United States with Interim Pastor Ministries, if there is a John 17:23 group I can be a part of I hope I can join it for the time I am there and if there is not, I want to see if there can be one started for the pastors of that community.  I encourage you to check out the links and find out what they are all about and pray for this ministry to grow.

One of the benefits of pastors getting to know each other is that we are showing our own congregations that we serve the bigger picture of God's great family.  So, yesterday and a 13+ hour day with 510+ miles on the car was so worth it as I seek an afternoon nap today after I have done some old school networking with those I want to put in touch with the mission and vision of this ministry.  

At one point, someone crossed the room to find out who I was and showed me the value of walking across the room to find out who someone else is.  The connection of dots start and your life in enriched as you rub actual shoulders with those who love the God that you love.  I am thankful for my computer and the internet that affords me such information at my fingertips but I will take the actual hand of a brother in Christ anytime over my screen time.

Adam



A simple man serving a great God and the local pastor of Stillwater Community Chapel (stillwater-chapel.org). We are in our 38th year of full time ministry. God directed us to this local body of believers on the Western Range of the Rockies to grow with them in mission and mindedness of Christ.

Comments

  1. Ron ManginNovember 8, 2018 at 9:59 AM

    And I'll take your handshake, and even a brotherly hug, from you anytime, my friend. Thanks for being a "Barnabas" to me!

    ReplyDelete

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