This morning, I was jolted awake after hearing the clearest words:
“Well, everyone is offended by everything today anyway, so it can’t hurt — it’s time.”
So, to what am I referring?
Michael had been working on a small book for almost ten years, Name on the Front of the Building. If you knew him and spent any time with him talking about the local church with a little “c” and the big church with a big “C” then you probably know exactly how passionate he was about these things:
- Giving the Church back to Jesus (this was a phrase that made people – even me – uncomfortable at times. I didn’t understand fully what he meant by this until I was writing updates from his hospital bed, just hours before he left this world.)
- Holding to the hope that leaders would be “more than sorry” and actively work to heal community connection.
- Helping people understand the difference between having walked away from people versus having walked away from Jesus when they walked away from the little “c” church.
He used to tell me, “Ami, this is controversial information that many out there won’t want to hear, and I don’t want to put a target on the back of our family. Not now.”
He also used to say, “I don’t know how to start this, and I don’t know how to finish it. I have the rest, but I always get stuck on the intro and the conclusion.”
I’d always – ALWAYS – reply with, “That’s because I’M supposed to write those parts of the book!”
I never would have believed that it would be in this way.
So… I had an extremely vivid dream before I woke this morning, and it was all about this little book — a book that addresses things like:
- “High School Community Church” and its varying degrees of social drama
- decisions made “in the name of The Father, The Son, and the Senior Pastor” and the hope to set the Holy Spirit in his rightful leadership seat
- The vying for effective resources — often grasping for scraps — due to “Tribal Church” efforts and the lack of joining together
- And so much more…
I used to hear his conversations — I LOVED THEM — so I understood his heart over these topics. Having grown up a pastor’s daughter and lived through a whole lot of needless hurt, having watched my sweet dad experience things that should not have been even remotely a part of biblical kingdom culture, having worked alongside Mike in several churches with ups and downs of spiritual health, and with our final five years of ministry together providing a place for many to heal who had been hurt in church… I do think about this small-but-packed little collection of Mike’s words quite often.
So, what do you do when the last words you hear before you wake are, “Well, everyone is offended by everything today anyway, so it can’t hurt — it’s time.”
?
You get to writing… even if it’s from my bed in the morning.
Please pray as I do something with this, and please pray that the right steps come along to do not just something, but something beautiful, with a book meant to help and to heal many who have been quite hurt. A book meant to challenge leaders and to make actions toward togetherness.
Finally, please pray that the Lord shows me what to do with this after it is complete.
Oh, that we may walk as One!
Oh, that we would become more and more about the names behind the numbers on every home, and less and less about the name on the front of the building.
For Jesus,
Ami
Oh wow! Long time in the coming. I think it’s time the ‘Americanisd church’ get some shaking up and returns to the roots that Jesus and the disciples originally planted and intended!
My prayers are with you for insight, clarity, direction and the protection of your heart! God bless you! 💕
Thank you Kathy.
Years ago, when he started this, I remember saying to him, “MIKE! There are like 20 tweetable quotes just on the first page.” Hahaha. Of course, he didn’t care about that and was always more concerned that his words would be mistaken as disgruntled rather than just helpful truth. It’s high time we look at where we are truly at as the American church, and make the needed change. Thank you for praying!
Ami, I love this, I will pray with you for God’s wisdom as you complete what Mike began. It is time. Maybe even past time. Oh for the Church to rise up and be the church that Jesus Christ desires.
Thank you for the encouragement. It may seem long overdue — it sure does to me. But maybe it can help spark action in those who need fresh belief, forgiveness, and a new start.
Absolutely will be praying you through this. Yours and Mike’s words are so needed. Don’t hold anything back. Put it all out there, sister! You’ve got this!
Oh, Thank you, Laura!!! Yes! The powerful push of the dream I had let me know not to hold back. We’re certainly living in a time when people say all manner of things. I highly doubt anything will be too shocking at this point; but hopefully it can provide inroads to deep healing.
Yeah!! Been waiting for years!! I’m really disillusioned in the church I’m going to. Pastors are really great but I hate the “little groups” children here, small group there, membership classes to teach you what you should believe if you go to this church etc.
I was really spoiled at cre8! I loved that we’d all come together and worship where we were and how we wanted to. It was more a collaboration than a show. It seems now that is where church is headed. Sigh.
So glad you are going to finish his book. I’ll pray for Holy Spirit guidance and continued “Michael moments” to guide you through. ❤️You my sister friend!!
Simplicity is good. If we are authentic in the simple, we are doing important things that matter most ❤️
Ami,
I don’t usually submit comments but when I saw your post on fb I couldn’t help but feel an agreement with you in the spirit. I do not know all that Mike wrote or where he was coming from but the little that you uncovered was enough for me to feel that tug and write to say I think you’re right in what you feel.
There are certain people you meet in your life that leave you with the impression that you have just met the real authentic thing. You and Mike always left me with that impression. I will be praying for you and the book. I know a couple people who may be able to help you publish it when it’s ready at much less expensive options should you desire info.
Bless you as you continue in His leading. You are a very special person in the body of Christ and we are honored to know you.
Mighty Blessings,
Jim & Cheryl Slattery
That means the world to me! Thank you so much. Love to you and your incredibly special family ❤️
Oh wow! Long time in the coming. I think it’s time the ‘Americanisd church’ get some shaking up and returns to the roots that Jesus and the disciples originally planted and intended!
My prayers are with you for insight, clarity, direction and the protection of your heart! God bless you! 💕
Thank you so much!!!