John Palmer is the newly elected General Secretary for the Assemblies of God. He has previous experience as a church planter and pastor. Today he joins the conversation with some thoughts on partnership.
It was the third day of Vacation Bible School. The primary class was well underway when a new boy, Davey, showed up. Because he had just one arm, the teacher, the pastor’s wife, was a bit nervous, concerned that one of the other children would comment on his handicap and embarrass him. Since there was no opportunity to caution them, she proceeded.
As the class continued, the teacher began to relax as Davey fit in very well. Then, when it was about time for the class to end, she asked the students to stand and join her in making the church. Showing them how to put the fingers of their two hands together, she said, “Let’s make a church. Here’s the church and here’s the steeple. Open the door and see all the people.”
As this caring teacher saw Davey holding his one hand in the air, the awful truth of her actions struck her. The very thing she had feared the children would do, embarrass Davey, she had just done. She stood speechless, embarrassed by her own unintended insensitivity.
Before the teacher could do anything to right this situation, the little girl next to Davey put her right hand into Davey’s left hand and said, “Davey, let’s you and I make the church together.”
In its simplicity this story speaks loudly our Fellowship, the Assemblies of God, because as many of you have aptly written, we are at a critical and important juncture. We are facing serious challenges. We have unprecedented opportunities. We must join hands.
We join hands with God because “We are laborers together with God” (I Corinthians 3:9). We join hands with God because He is the builder of His church, and He gives us the privilege of partnering with Him to make it what He intends it to be. We join hands with God because we need the Spirit of God to do the work of God.
We join hands with each other because we need each other. I need the understanding and insight about Scripture, human relationships, and current culture that you can give me. Perhaps you could benefit from the love, encouragement and wisdom that I could share with you. For that to happen we need to be in relationship with each other – listening to each other – praying with and for each other – supporting and encouraging each other – battling for (not with) each other.
There are plenty of things I don’t know. But I do know this: We have a mission – to “go and make disciples of all nations. . .” (Matthew 28:19). We dare not let our differences divide us, our styles separate us, or our different ages alienate us from each other.
As one of the recently elected executive officers of the Assemblies of God, I commit the following to the Lord and you: I join hands with God and continue to be a man of the Word, the Spirit, prayer, integrity, and purity of thoughts and actions. I join hands with you by loving you unconditionally, listening to your point of view, coming alongside you as you follow God’s call to fulfill the dream he has put in your heart, and by embracing the beautiful ethnic, gender, and generational diversity of our Church.
While only Christ can build the Church, we can help make and fashion the Church to be the kind of Church God intends it to be. So, in the words of the little girl to Davey, I encourage us, “Let’s make the church together.”
John M. Palmer
jpalmer@ag.org
Monday, September 10, 2007
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5 comments:
John Palmer and I met at National Teen Talent and Bible Quiz competition in 1970. We then entered CBC together and toured together in RT. I know that he will make a great General Secretary. His love for God and his heart to win the lost has only grown stronger through the years. He will bring new ideas and new methods to the A/G. He has always been and is a man of prayer. God has chosen a servant that will reach new generations. John - This assignment is no surprise to those of us who have watched you through the years. We know that God had great things ahead.
Our prayers are with you!
Tom & Jan Bougher
John - make that ... We know that God HAS great things ahead. Sister Reddin is overseeing this blog from heaven and I felt convicted.
Please note this correction.
Tom
I've posted before with my name but this time I won't because if I did the point would be missed. Suffice it to say that I identify with the guy in the story.
I think this was an awesome post. It brought to my mind one of the problems I see with the AG. I've been to many District Councils, Minister's Retreats, or Sectional Councils, and rarely do I find anyone who wants to be like that girl in the story, who joins their hands with mine. I'm not trying to be negative. My point is, is that it is not just the members of our churches that need discipleship. Many of our Pastors apparently need it to. I've found that if you're not a certain type then no one is interested in you. I would expect that of younger believers, not Pastors, but that is how it is now. That girl is our example.
"We join hands with each other because we need each other." - John Palmer. Short and simple, that's why I am a part of the fellowship. We need eachother. Thank God for other pastors who understand because they've been there. Thank you Rev. Palmer for serving.
I met John Palmer in 1970 also and was his tour partner on Revivaltime tour to the Northwest. (Yes, Tom Bougher was on that tour also.)
John was, and is, first a man of prayer. What he says, he will do. I have the utmost of respect for John and am pleased to have him serve this constituency. I believe he will serve us with the same devotion with which he has served his Lord.
Gaylan & Beverly Grant
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