One response (to remain anonymous): Thanks for sharing this article. I served with (a denominational agency) for 28 years. The need to balance ministry, travel, and family time is real. I didn't realize how much I needed to do that until one day I was brought into the big office and "retired."
The role of a missional leader requires the balance you modeled so well, George. Thank you for sharing your story, and for articulating to your 'bosses' of the day that investing in ministry requires the investment of time, talent, and treasure. Today, many of the face to face meetings we participated in can occur online, which can ease the travel load. But now, our successors seem to have an increasing amount of troubleshooting or pastoral uplifting sessions to engage in, each of which require an on-site presence. My hope and prayer is that they will be gifted with the same hunger for faith-soaring ministry that you are gifted with.
George, I don’t remember this incident, but one thing I know is that you are the greatest mission strategist I have ever met. You designed what became mega focus cities that involved
working with associations in five cities of 1 million or more each year. concrete results came from your work. I regret that you had to be on the road or in the air so many days a year. that wasn’t fair to Betty. I doubt anyone at the home mission board was having as much positive result as you at that time. Of course you had to travel a lot and that did cost money. But look at the results. Jere.
One response (to remain anonymous): Thanks for sharing this article. I served with (a denominational agency) for 28 years. The need to balance ministry, travel, and family time is real. I didn't realize how much I needed to do that until one day I was brought into the big office and "retired."
The role of a missional leader requires the balance you modeled so well, George. Thank you for sharing your story, and for articulating to your 'bosses' of the day that investing in ministry requires the investment of time, talent, and treasure. Today, many of the face to face meetings we participated in can occur online, which can ease the travel load. But now, our successors seem to have an increasing amount of troubleshooting or pastoral uplifting sessions to engage in, each of which require an on-site presence. My hope and prayer is that they will be gifted with the same hunger for faith-soaring ministry that you are gifted with.
George, I don’t remember this incident, but one thing I know is that you are the greatest mission strategist I have ever met. You designed what became mega focus cities that involved
working with associations in five cities of 1 million or more each year. concrete results came from your work. I regret that you had to be on the road or in the air so many days a year. that wasn’t fair to Betty. I doubt anyone at the home mission board was having as much positive result as you at that time. Of course you had to travel a lot and that did cost money. But look at the results. Jere.
Jimmy Allen.
Been there, done that with A/G!
Great message, meaningful and credible, as always!