The Value of Pastoral Relationships

By Clint Cook

Over the last few weeks, I have reflected on the value of attending conferences.  As I’ve stated before, this idea is not a new one in the church.  We find examples in the Word of God where Jesus himself would withdraw from the pressures of ministry and take those he ministered with away for intense discipleship training.

Last week, General Baptist ministers gathered at the 2014 Minister’s Conference on Kentucky Lake.  Executive Director Clint Cook shares on why pastoral relationships are importantI was allowed the opportunity to speak on the last evening.  As I prepared for this final session, where both new and experienced ministers were in attendance, I was led to speak on a puzzling passage of scripture in the Old Testament, found in 1 Kings 13.  In this passage, God commissioned a young prophet from the southern nation of Israel to go to the northern tribes and pronounce a sobering prophecy to King Jereboam.  God told him he was to speak the message and then go directly home, without eating or drinking anything.  The young prophet obeyed God’s directions and did exactly as he was instructed-until he was on his way home.  Meanwhile, an older prophet heard of the young prophet’s mission and met up with him as he journeyed home.  When these strangers met, for some reason unknown to us through the scriptures, the older prophet decided to lie to the young man.  He told him that an angel had instructed him to bring the young prophet to his home and share a meal.  The young prophet trusted the old prophet and agreed.  While the men were eating, God spoke to the older prophet and told him to declare that the young prophet would lose his life because he had failed to fully obey God.  As the young prophet proceeded home, a lion attacked him and he was killed.  The older prophet mourned the death of the young man and was so affected that he requested that upon his death, his sons bury him with this younger prophet.

I agree.  This IS a very bizarre passage.  Don’t you wonder why the young man would so quickly turn aside from doing exactly what God had told him?  And why the old prophet would lie and deceive the young man?

I believe this story is here for us to learn two very important lessons.  First, we must ignore distractions and follow through with doing exactly what the Lords tells us.  Second, we must not blindly trust the advice of others, even ministers, just because they are older.

Ministers building relationships at the 2014 MinConAfter such a sobering story, how can young prophets/ministers keep from being deceived by older ministers or saints in the faith?  The simple answer is that they must get to know them.  In the above story, neither of these men knew one another.  If they had known one another, known each other’s hearts, known each other’s motivations and goals, there may have been a different ending.

This is yet another reason why conferences, like the General Baptist Minister’s Conference, are so valuable.  Older, more mature Christians must get to know younger ones.  Young preachers need to hear mature ministers share their hearts, struggles, and goals, all of which remove the stranger barrier and help prevent deception from happening.  When you listen, interact, and share with others, you are more equipped to discern whether another believer is truly looking out for your best interest and offering sound advice.

You might say that if the young prophet had remained focused and done only what he was directed to do, this may not have happened.  Or, if they old prophet had not lied this may not have happened.  Both of those are true, but I also believe that if both of these men had known each other, their story would have turned out differently.  I am so thankful for the fellow ministers and believers who want to sharpen their discernment by building relationships with one another.

General Baptist Ministries offers several conferences throughout the year.  The upcoming Mission and Ministry Summit will take place July 21-23 in Springfield, Illinois and you do NOT want to miss it!  To register, head over to generalbaptist.com or call 573-785-7746.

 

On the Mountain

By Clint Cook

Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve shared with you why I think attending conferences are so vital to successful ministry.  Not only do they allow you to make lifelong friendships, but they also provide opportunities to continue your education and sharpen your skills.  Today, I want to share perhaps my number one reason for attending GB conferences: the Mountaintop Experience.  I’m referring to the event recorded in Matthew 17, which tells us Jesus pulled the “inner three” aside from ministry demands and the hustle and bustle of life to share a special time with Him. Conferences facilitate Mountiantop Experiences It is not hard to imagine that Peter, James, and John, like many pastors today, may have found it difficult to leave their assignments and ministries to go on what they may have thought was a simple trip-but there can be no question they were glad they did!  Verse 2 says, “he was transfigured before them and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light.”  This trip turned out to be life changing when the first of three miraculous events occurred: the transfiguration of Jesus.

Then, as if they transfiguration alone was not enough, Moses and Elijah appeared.  They talked with and ministered to Jesus right before the disciples’ eyes.  Through the years I have been ministered to by many Elijah-type and Moses-type men who made me want to stay with them and receive from them as much knowledge and encouragement as possible.

The final miracle is found in verse 5, when, “a voice from the cloud said, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well please; listen to him.'”

Obviously, all three of these mind-blowing experiences up on that mountaintop proved to be well worth the journey, effort, and sacrifice of getting away from the demands of ministry to meet with the Master.

I am reminded of the many times I have gone to a conference expecting to be the one who feeds or teaches the word of God, and instead become the one on the receiving end, being challenged to listen instead of speak.  Sometimes this happened through the preaching of God’s Word.  Sometimes it happened through the dynamic worship of God’s people, being caught up in an indescribable Spirit-filled moment.  Sometimes it happened through special moments of prayer during moving response times.  These moments for me were just as unexpected as the encounters experienced by Peter, James, and John, and just as life-changing and meaningful.

These Mountaintop Experiences allow us to see Jesus in a whole new light, like bread that descends from Heaven, feeding our souls.  It’s like the Old Testament passage in 1 Kings: “‘Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you.’  And he arose and ate and drank and went in the strength of that food ‘forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God.'”  1 Kings 19: 7-8

In other words, God can feed us through Mountaintop Experiences at events like the General Baptist Minister’s Conference or the Mission and Ministry Summit, to sustain us until the next Divine Moment.  Are you hungry for that?  I am!  See you there!

The 2014 Minister’s Conference will take place this coming week-pray for Mountaintop Experiences for those attending.  The 2014 Mission and Ministry Summit will be July 21-23.  For more information about these and other General Baptist conferences, visit www.generalbaptist.com or call 573-785-7746

 

Why Conferences?

By Clint Cook

A couple of weeks ago I shared with you that conferences, especially the Minister’s Conference, have been a big part of my success in conferences help me continue my educationministry.  Conferences have always been of utmost importance to me, not only because they help develop long-terms relationships with fellow pastors (as I mentioned previously) but also for the opportunity to continue my education.

I have discovered that conferences are a great way to sharpen my skills, especially in a worship setting where the Word of God is being preached.  I love being challenged by biblical truths that provide incredible motivation.  Early on, when I was a younger pastor, there was much for me to learn, much for me to digest.  New principles and techniques I learned through conferences really paid off in my pastoral leadership development.  As I have gotten older, I recognize that I now attend conferences to find a special nugget.  I may attend the whole conference before I discover that one nugget that is exactly what I or my church need.

I have been very fortunate to pastor a church that was convinced they must invest in my continuing education.  Because of this continuing education, discouragement has not crippled me and I have not drifted toward dissatisfaction in ministry.

The bottom line: conferences give me an edge that has always been very valuable for me personally, as well as for my church.

To learn more about the Minister’s Conference, or any of our other four conferences we host throughout the year, go to generalbaptist.com or call 573-785-7746.