It is all about relationships
By Steve Nailor
Ministry is different from missions, but ministry frequently results from missions. That’s what the Rev. Dr. Rick Vance told us during a March NACP meeting.
He explained that men who work together to build a handicap ramp frequently share their faith and find ways to provide spiritual nurture for each other. That’s where ministry begins.
Building relationships is the most important thing we do as leaders. If you do not have a relationship with your conference and district presidents, how can you expect these leaders to build relationships with their church leaders?
We cannot ask men to become EMS members or Legacy Builders, if we do not have relationships with them.
Recently, I was in the Desert Southwest Conference in Arizona, where President David James has started the Servants at Work (SAWs) program. Their purpose is to provide ramps for shut-ins and people who can no longer enter and exit their homes. This is a great example of men working together, sharing together and praying together to build relationships.
Building relationships with our brothers and our clergy will help them to know that our programs have the potential re-energize our churches.
Relationship building is the key.
In closing, I think of Mathew 7:7-8, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seek s finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened” (NIV).
Relationships open doors and Christ calls us to open these doors.
Steve Nailor, president
National Association of Conference Presidents of UM Men