Relationships Are Everything

This post is coming out uncharacteristically late for 200churches. We usually have a new post every M/W/F at 4:00AM... sharp! But relationships have gotten in the way this weekend. Jonny and Jeff are both out of town today, which is also unusual. One is in New York, and the other in Washington D.C. Sounds impressive huh? Here's the rest of the story...

Jonny and his wife Kayla adopted their son Joseph from Nigeria two years ago. This week they are being awarded a Congressional Pin for being selected as Angels In Adoption by the Congressional Coalition On Adoption Institute. You can read about this on Kayla's blog here.

They traveled to Nigeria and completed countless requirements to adopt their son because of the relationship they began with him from the moment they met. This relationship was quite one-sided as Joseph was just six months old when they met him, but the relationship was unconditional on their part - he was their son long before the adoption was completed. They adopted him first in their hearts, and then the official process was engaged, and they would not be denied, no matter the twists and turns that process took!

Jeff is in New York for his sister's wedding. Many relationships demanded he go, all of them life long relationships. His parents are aging and he was able to help them get to the wedding and be a part of all of the traditional things fathers and mothers of the bride are involved in. He was the pastor who married his sister and now brother-in-law, which made it even more meaningful for him and them. He also was able to see extended family, some of which he had not seen in many decades. It was all about relationships.

This week on the podcast is Part 2 of Jeff's conversation with Rob Tarnoviski, Lead Pastor at Bethel Fellowship, the Church @ Franklin MIlls, Philadelphia, PA. This also is about relationship and friendship.

In our 200churches we are building relationships with people. Dan Reiland asked in a recent podcast, "are we building churches or people?" Good question and good challenge for us 200church pastors. When we forget the people part of ministry (which is the whole thing, right?) and begin to see our calling as a job - we've missed the point of the Cross, the fellowship of the Body of Christ, and the Trinitarian relationality of our God. Everything we do day after day is really all about relationships.

Who are you going to connect with this week? Will you build people, and so build the Kingdom? Your leadership matters, no matter the size of your church - and, every person presents an opportunity for relationship!