NAB UPDATE - January 23, 2012

It is good to set aside some time on a regular basis to review how you are doing, and to see if you need to alter your course. It is not that your destination always has to change as much as it is bringing attention to those subtle course corrections that keep you dialed in. The writer of Hebrews reminds us that the nation of Israel had a history of drifting from God’s chosen path, and that God constantly sent prophets for course correction. Then God sent his Son as the “exact representation of His being” (1:3) so that the message of the Father would be perfectly communicated. The writer challenges us with these words: “We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.” (2:1) So the question is, are we truly paying careful attention to what Jesus said?

Two weeks ago our Executive Staff, together with our Regional Ministers, spent a few days together dialing ourselves in to the words of Jesus. Clearly, we are all committed to the life and teachings of Jesus. Clearly we all want to do what Jesus asks us to do. But, are we carefully examining our practices, our churches, our own leadership? The danger for all of us is that we may assume we are doing what Jesus asks us to do, and if we are not paying careful attention, the writer of Hebrews says we may end up drifting.

One of the things I love about the leadership of NAB is that our staff and Regional Ministers are willing to take a fresh look at the words of Christ. It was great to participate with these leaders as we studied the scriptures together, not just as an opening devotional to begin the day, but in active dialogue, debate, sharing insights and asking candid questions about the way we “do church”. What a great time of prayer and planning on behalf of our NAB Conference of Churches.

I share all this for one simple reason. Your Regional Minister is paying careful attention to Christ. Your Regional Minister is doing what he can to heed the warning of Hebrews 2 – “so that we do not drift away”. That is quite a challenge, not just for his own life and ministry, but on behalf of the 20, 30, 40, 50 or 60 churches in your region. Would you take some time today to pray for him, for strength, for courage and for a careful eye on the words of Christ? May we all follow the example of our Regional Ministers so that we live and lead in a way that honors Jesus Christ.

Norman Poehlke
Vice President of Ministry Outreach
North American Baptist Conference