Month of Sundays
Our newest book is titled, "A Month of Sundays." The subtitle is "Stories of God's Providence and Humor". It has just been shipped.
What we hope to accomplish by this latest work is encouragement of pastors and pastors' families. Laila and I both grew up in homes of pastors. After marriage and some wandering years of trying to find myself, we accepted responsibility for a congregation of 17 people in Southwest Virginia.
Three things became quite apparent in time. First, every day is Sunday for the family of a pastor. Second, God is always at work. Third, as we travel the years we look back and see humor, wonder, and grace of God in places that seemed like deserts or wildernesses when we were traveling through them.
A Month of Sundays is a collection of 30 short stories gathered from our lives. A primary objective is to hope that when pastors and laypeople read these stories they will be reminded of similar times and places in their lives when God was at work in marvelous ways. Many times when the pain has been healed and time and distance and a rearview mirror allow humor to be seen where we thought God was absent. I am convinced there are times when God chuckles as if to say to: "Gotcha!"
I share the foregoing to tell you a story that has happened in the past few days. As Pastor of Covenant Church and President of Hope Foundation (Hope Community Center, i.e., Hope CC) I have found these last six months to be some of the most intense and yet rewarding months of my entire life. In truth, I feel that all of my life has been to prepare me for this season.
From December 1 to May 28, the foundation I represent kept bed count of over 8,000 homeless persons. The City of Charlottesville exercised zoning law to force closure, though the City has not been consistent in its application. Hope CC continues to pick up homeless persons, allow them to take showers and change clothes at its center, and transport them to medical and employment opportunities. Lori-Ann Strait, Executive Director of Hope CC and Josh Bare, our youngest son, have been primary in facilitating this work with homeless persons.
Meanwhile Covenant Church has been experiencing a season of change with the staff being re-organized and creating a strong lateral administrative front. I am very proud of the staff, especially since the majority of the strategy has been evolved by the staff. I believe that this is Covenant's finest hour. I believe God is calling us to front line leadership in our community and world.
Laila and I decided we needed a few days away. We have never been to the Northwest. I shared with Bishop Baker of Virginia our desire to see Dakotas, Montana, and Wyoming. He offered to call Bishop Jeff Robinson and share with him about our visit. Bishop Robinson developed an itinerary by rental car from Minneapolis west to West of Billings, Montana, back through Yellowstone Park, to Cody, WY, east to Gillette and Sundance, WY, south to Dakota's Badlands, north to Indian reservation, and work east to Minneapolis.
Bishop Robinson strategically mapped for us to visit with pastors' families. He volunteered to gift each of the pastors a copy of our new book. Bishop Baker of Virginia volunteered to pay for us to treat each pastor family to a meal. Friends of Covenant Church donated for us to give each of the pastors $50. Bishop Baker volunteered to match the $50. Thus, when folks open the first page of the gift book a crisp $100 bill is laying there smiling at them. Have you ever seen grown people weep for joy!
One meeting was supposed to be at a certain restaurant in a town of 500 people...one block long for all the stores in the town. We had agreed to meet at a coffee place. Laila and I drove the block twice. Did not see the place. Ended up at the end of the block in a restaurant with Laila having coffee. When we made phone contact the other couple was sitting about 250 ft away in the coffee shop. Since Laila had ordered they joined us.
Within five minutes they were weeping and sharing their story. Amazingly, the coffee shop where we were supposed to meet was owned by a church family. If we had met there the conversation would not have been possible.
When the four of us walked out and Laila and I saw the other coffee shop, we could do nothing but be amazed that God could blind us in a one-block town. He knew the need of that couple! He knew they needed to talk! His ways are too marvelous for us to understand.
We look forward to being home Sunday. Our lives are richer because of what the Lord is doing in our hearts and through us.
Much Love
Pastor Bare
I John 2:17