This coming Sunday we have Francis and Babs Martin coming to share with us at Harvest. Br. Francis and Ms. Babs (as Deb and I call them) are truly 'spiritual parents' to us.
Back in 1981 when I first came to Christ as a young cajun boy, Br. Francis had just started Family Life church. I was 18, raw, fresh out of the world, knowing nothing but the Catholicism I had grown up with. My natural parents loved me, but I was strong-willed, got what I wanted when I wanted it, and basically didn't have a whole lot going for me. I walked into Family Life, the first non-Catholic church I had ever walked into, and my spiritual destiny was set because of the two people you see in the picture above. Debbie soon came to the Lord, and they were and are to this day our 'parents in Christ', our characters having been formed in those early years at Family Life. Though I am now a pastor myself, I still call Br. Francis, now retired, for advice and wisdom.
The things that were ingrained in me so long ago form the person I am as well as the church we have built. Here are just a few of those things:
1. Be a 'straight-shooter'. I can remember times when discontentment would rise up in the ranks at Family Life. Br. Francis would never try to hide anything, but instead gave the parties a choice: Either you come before the congregation and tell the truth as to why you are going to start your own 'work' (codeword for 'church'), or I will tell them the truth. Either way, the truth will be told. Then, whoever wants to go with you can, at that time, leave with my blessing. But you will then be responsible for their souls.
I remember that happening a few times. Funny thing is that though some people would trickle out with whoever the party was, there was a deep sense of security in the church. Br. Francis turned over the reigns to Todd a few years ago and the church has thrived, never having suffered a split of any kind. Being a straight-shooter is risky at times and at times may cost you some pain, but I think in the end, it's the only way to fly. I am glad that was passed on the me and to us.
2. Church can be done sane, sound and spiritual. People come to Harvest and after being here awhile always comment that our church seems so well-balanced. That is because of what Deb and I came up under. Br. Francis and Ms. Babs and Family Life were just plain solid. Nothing fancy. Nothing goofy. Fads and new 'waves' come and go through the Body of Christ seasonally, new emphases, words for the year (why do they always seem to rhyme..ie, Thrive in 2005...Soar in 2004...I wonder what 2006 will be...?), but I learned to just stick to the basics of building a solid church and solid life. I will never forget Br. Francis telling me, "You just stick to staying low and staying simple and when the smoke clears, much of the playing field will be cleared, but you will still be standing." I have applied that to church, family and everything else I have done. Great wisdom, period.
3. Relax, enjoy life. Love God and people. Know people will always be people. Br. Francis and Ms. Babs were and are always the same. They stay happy no matter what others do. I can remember people not liking this or that about something the church was or was not doing right (why can't people stop putting so much pressure on the church to be perfect? I guess discontentment is just human nature, eh? ) or being disgruntled about something Br. Francis had said or not said, was teaching or not teaching. He always took it in stride. Never let himself feel pressured to do this or that outside of what the Holy Spirit was telling him. He listened, but to the right people. Smart.
4. Be a long-termer. I don't know how else to put this. It's the combination of living out a few quality commitments that are sound and healthy for a very long time. It's staying put. It's not being moved by every wave and every voice. It's being settled and secure. It's being content. It's bearing fruit in the long-term. Building deep, building strong, building for legacy. Everything they have built, from their family (kids, grand-kids, great-grand-kids) to their their marriage to church, all are solid, secure, and blessed. There are too few people like that nowadays. I hope we raise up a whole generation of them at our church.
Just writing this makes me very glad that God so mercifully led me to Family Life when I first got saved. I am glad Br. Francis and Ms. Babs have been in our lives as well all these years. I am likewise glad that Harvest has benefitted from who they are and their deposit in Deb's and my own life.
Don't miss this Sunday with Francis and Babs Martin. They are a real Father and Mother in the faith. PB