When God called me to come here, the call came through my district superintendent, Kate Conolly. I had told her the previous week, “Don’t call me unless a church comes up that has your heart singing.”
On Sunday night, March 8th at my SPRC team in Banks I told them Kate had said there were no churches open, so they were stuck with me another year. Two nights later, while Karen was doing tutoring, my cell rang and Kate’s name was in the window. I stepped into the small hallway to the downstairs bathroom where we had our washer and dryer, and took the call. As I answered, Kate literally started singing. “BRIAN! THIS IS KATE! I HAVE SOMEONE YOU NEED TO TALK TO!!!” My pulse increased. “An appointment? She had just told me there were no churches,” I was thinking.
The way such calls work is your own DS makes the call and then, if you are to move out of the district, hands the phone to the DS overseeing the church to which you are transferring or tells you to expect a call from them.
Since she was calling from cabinet meeting - with all the District Superintendents, Conference Treasurer, Bishop, and others, -- she handed her cell phone to Bonnie Parr Philipson. Bonnie was DS for the Columbia District, which was then called Metro. Bonnie told me how when my name came up suddenly the whole room was unanimous. They wanted me to move to Westside beginning July 1st.
I was a bit staggered. I thought of Westside as a big, important place, making a splash as a new church start, as a place with incredible music, and ministry to youth and homeless populations. She told me some about the church and what they thought I would bring to this appointment, and then gave me overnight to think, pray about it and talk to Karen.
It was with some excitement when Karen finished with her client that I told her about the appointment possibility. We drove out to the church in the next couple of days to at least see the building. We prayed and felt like God was excited about the possibilities in our lives and the lives of the folk at Westside.
Because of this appointment, much changed. I came and met with a large group of people on Thursday night the 12th and then again on another night. I remember tearing up at the beauty of all of you at that first meeting. Someone said, “He’ll fit right in. A westside weeper!” You just were beautiful with your passion, love of music, love of one another. You asked deep, theological questions. It was this amazing conversation. I was stunned with you all.
I remember another meeting with you not long after that, at which Nancy MacDonald’s first question was how I handled conflict. Perhaps a clue that you had some.
In saying yes, another change was housing. For 22 years of pastoral ministry, we had lived in parsonages. With this appointment, we could buy our first house. So, we began the process of discerning what we wanted, where we wanted to live, and hunting for houses! We finally found and settled on the one where we are living, made an offer, it was accepted and moved in on June 4th. During the last month at Banks, we commuted Sundays and other days back and forth to the Banks community and began to find our way in the new setting.
After July first, so many of you came and helped -- painting the whole interior of the house. Dian Green was a huge gift in color choices. Many called and greeted me on the phone. It was this vast week of sharing. I remember a delightful phone call from Julie Campbell telling me of their first-ever RV vacation slated that week so she was sorry they could not come help. Her description of the RV and dogs and kids and the plan was hilarious and such a great introduction to her and the Baumgartner family. It was a great week. Thank you.
We launched.
I was staggered by the community that gathered for the two Sunday services. So many new faces, stories, lives. It was an exciting, new adventure. That fall Colloquy occurred at Westside and one of the pastors who came told me, “You won’t last 3 years. This place is rife with conflict.”
I was a bit taken aback. I knew there was conflict. Isn’t there always conflict whenever we people are together long enough to rub off the rough edges?
But I felt she spoke from a limited perspective. First, she really didn’t know me. And second, she didn’t take into account the beauty of who you are! She said it was a place rife with conflict. But you know what else this place was “rife” with? Dynamic faith and joy, vision for the possibilities of ministry, and a desire to make a difference in the world. This place was “rife with love” -- love of neighbor and love for one another too. Indeed, this place then was “rife with beauty,” and that has not changed.
I cannot imagine we are this near the end of 11 years. Thank you, all of you, as some have left and others have come, for your willingness to be a part of this experiment in loving God and loving one another. We have tried something immense together and it has made a difference. Can we even count how many lives have been impacted through Jesus using us here at Westside over these years? We cannot, I’m certain. For often it is not the people we might think of, but the ones we do not think of we ought to be counting.
We might not think of the stranger who wandered into worship and began weeping and received prayer and assistance.
We might not think of the woman who came for counseling because of unprocessed grief, on 27 different medications, and left after one prayer time and one appointment experiencing healing. Such healing that over the next few months, she was able to get off of all but 2 of her meds. God healed.
We might not think of the people impacted seeing the cross lit up at night.
We might not think of the migrant camp workers who met love in Bonnie Becker and many others week after week.
We might not think of those who visit the dental van and experienced the love of Jesus through Kari and Merry and others.
We might not think of those driving by for whom the sign had just the right words on the right day.
We might not think of all the people who left, even who left angry, but whose lives Jesus impacted even as they left and in whose lives Jesus yet works.
We might not think of those people, and so many, many others who have sensed upon their hearts the call of God and are following Jesus because of a prayer prayed, a card written, a story told, or a hug shared. We might not think of them, but God remembers them all.
And we might not think of the impact you have had on me. I literally believe you saved my life in so many ways. Thanks for making provisions to be a pastor who was on the road sometimes. Thanks for supporting me through some tough, tough seasons. Thanks for believing in me, even when I didn’t believe in myself. Thanks for dreaming with me for all the possible places God might lead us. Thanks again for encouraging me and making it possible for me to take sabbatical. It was a journey that saved my heart and my life.
What a difference God has worked through you. Well done Good and Faithful servants of the Living God!