Many times along my life’s journey, others would say, “You should be a pastor,” or “You have a pastor’s heart,” but it was never the road for me. I have always had this deeply rooted desire for congruence across the so-called sacred/secular divide. This faith journey, and way of life in Christ, shouldn’t just be a Sunday thing. And the best examples of devoted, knowledgeable, and life-giving Christ followers shouldn’t just be those on a church staff. I love my “professional” Christian friends; they work hard and are truly impacting lives for Jesus, but personally, I’ve always wanted to do that “out there.”
They say, “God has a sense of humor,” and I believe it. While I have sought to be faithful in my Christian walk and be a redemptive influence in various work environments in my younger years, God has led me to use my giftings and strengths to serve and help ministries over the last 12 years. I have served in Christian broadcasting, a large ministry to the homeless of Western New York, and most recently in private Christian school administration. I am thankful for the ways the Lord has used me and developed me in ways that have prepared me for leading as Christian Service Brigade’s new President. But don’t be fooled, I’m still excited about “out there,” now I just get to multiply that by shaping organizations with that heart!
One of the foundation documents for the school I served had a sentence that has resonated deeply with me in my approach to helping lead a Christian organization. The sentence read, “We will pursue excellence so that we are worthy of both the names Christian and Education.” We should certainly pursue excellence, and an organization should stick to its purpose and context, such as being worthy of the name Education. But it was the thought of being worthy of the name Christian that wouldn’t let me go. Many people and organizations in our culture use the name Christian in ways that do not embrace its full weight and responsibility. This can NEVER be allowed with Christian Service Brigade!
CSB must be found worthy of the name Christian. Indeed, it must be found worthy of all three of its names, Christian > Service > Brigade (more on our middle and last name over the next two monthly newsletters). Followers of “The Way” were followers of Christ. So much so that they were soon called Christians, little Christs. A life as a Christian is a life of consistent surrender and conformity to the likeness of Jesus. But, this is not about our personal devotion and spirituality; we are not only to become more like Jesus ourselves, we are to replicate ourselves as we become more like Him. This is discipleship, and this is what being a Christian is all about.
In my estimation, to be worthy of the name Christian, an organization must be able to tie its own mission statement to the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20 to make disciples. I am truly thrilled to lead an organization whose mission is a discipleship ministry! The mission statement of Christian Service Brigade is, “Building Godly men of today and tomorrow.” If this doesn’t speak to the impartation and replication of following Christ onto the next generation, then I don’t know what does. I know of no other organization that honors the role of the local church, helping to mobilize the men in its congregations, by providing the context, programming, and structure for them to disciple the boys and young men in their lives to impact the world in a Christ-like manner.
Christian Service Brigade will continue to take greater and greater steps in being worthy of the name Christian. That is what fuels my passion to lead this organization. And, it is what emboldens me to ask unit leaders to intentionally lead in this way, push our regional Field Representatives to coach leaders towards this end, to encourage alumni to re-engage for this purpose, for fathers and sons to participate in this unique opportunity, and for as many supporters like you to financially invest in this ministry. Christian Service Brigade is fertile ground for God’s Kingdom expansion, and there are great things to come!
