FCA Pastors Encouraged to Thrive in Adversity
The national recession formed the backdrop for at least two headline messages Wednesday, May 27, 2009 at the FCA U.S. convention in Orlando.
President Mark Brattrud opened the day with a fervent but thorough exegesis of Romans 8:12-30. “This passage tells us we are part of two creations,” he said, “and we’re caught in between. No wonder the word groan comes up three times” (Romans 8: 22, 23, 26). “Living in our time is like going through the end stage of a pregnancy. It’s not fun—and we can only make it as we allow the Holy Spirit to produce three things in our spiritual lives.”
Brattrud, pastor of Valley Christian Assembly, Palm Desert, California, then proceeded to talk about (1) a passion and love for God–v. 28b; (2) a sense of purpose based on calling—vs. 28c-29; (3) prayer in the Spirit (v. 26). He asked his audience to “pray—a lot—in tongues as well as English. It is time for us to stop hiding this beautiful gift as we go through difficulty,” he admonished.
The day’s second main speaker was Garth Heckman, 44, who gave an intensely personal account of his past year battling colon cancer while trying to continue planting a new church outside Minneapolis. “I’d been raised with great self-confidence, believing I could do anything,” he said. “My track record in youth ministry was strong. We launched Harmony Church in 2006 with great enthusiasm. “But this past year, I’ve had to get honest. I’ve had to say, ‘You know what—I can’t do this.’ Without the anointing of the Holy Spirit, there will be no thriving.”
Heckman, son of U.S. national coordinator Warren Heckman, has now finished a grueling chemotherapy regimen and is doing well. He thanked the Fellowship for its prayers and financial gifts to help with uninsured medical bills.
The evening speaker, urban church planter Chilly Chilton, said, “Things aren’t going real well for my city of Detroit these days, as you know. The car industry is reeling, and unemployment may hit 20 percent by year end. But where would Jesus be right now in America?
“I believe he’d be in Detroit. That’s why we’re talking about starting a second church in Midtown, near the campus of Wayne State University. Are we crazy? Yes, but God’s purpose will take you anywhere.”
Five daytime workshops included:
1. A sobering look at what can erode the ministry marriage, led by Tim and Linda Buttrey (Restoration Resources, Beavercreek, Ohio)
2. A session on reaching and connecting women, led by Terry Hammer (director of women’s ministries at Sonrise Chapel, Everett, Wash.)
3. “Reaching Today’s Kids,” led by Ben Murray (children’s pastor at Trinity Assembly of God, Mt. Morris, Mich.)
4. A session on balancing the demands of ministry and family, led by veteran missionary Jodi Collingridge Bunn
5. “Male Servant Leadership Modeling,” led by Ervin Virola, a nationally recognized specialist in men’s ministry who is part of Gracepoint Gospel Fellowship in New City, New York.
