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Community Experiences
Rodney Plunket sent
out a church-wide email asking Broadway members to let him know
of ways that their experience of community had been enhanced
during 2003. Here are some of the responses that he received.
From:
Dear Rodney,
I’m terribly sorry for this e-mail being so late. I cannot begin to
tell you how much... Sorry it took me a couple of weeks to respond to
this. We were away from email for a while during the move. I wanted
to share this experience with you.
I am not a good enough writer to express in words the ways in which
God used men and women to strengthen my understanding of community.
It started our first Sunday to visit Broadway with an excited smile
and hug from Adam Looney. It was still growing when my brothers and
sisters in Christ prayed over Holly and I just days before we left
for our new home here in Farmers Branch. In between that relatively
brief year and a half timetable, I was made aware daily of Gods
spirit moving and molding the hearts of the family there.
Perhaps one of the most special and vivid examples of community I
experienced at Broadway was each Friday morning at the Country Plate
Diner. There, at 6:45 am, a group of us from the homebuilders class
would meet to eat, visit, and pray. There was no agenda and no
pressure to attend. The men that gathered wanted to be there!
Over eggs, bacon and toast I found support, encouragement, and
affirmation. I came face to face with men who had struggles just
like I did. Men who worried about the future, who sought to be
better husbands than they were yesterday and who shared how to be
better fathers today. Most of all, I encountered, and was embraced
by, a Christian brotherhood only made alive by Christ’s sacrifice on
the cross. I was taught once again that we are able to love one
another only because we have first been loved by God.
I read a very good book written by David Ferguson titled The Never
Alone Church. In it he says, “Our world needs a relevant, vibrant
body of believers who will serve as a shelter in the storm, a refuge
from the pressures of life, a sanctuary of hope where hurts can be
healed and spiritual needs can be met.”
To me, this quote defines community pretty well. An ingredient to
make this type of community evolve is being willing to be a little
bit uncomfortable and vulnerable. For me, being a little
uncomfortable and vulnerable ultimately led to one of the most
strengthening and rejuvenating periods in my Christian journey.
Sure, man will let us down, but God never will. Letting go of
ourselves and holding on to Him is where chaos meets peace; It’s
where dissonance meets perfect harmony.
Every Friday morning, I was reminded by John, Derek, Joseph, Mike,
Andy, and Chris to let go and to trust God. I miss that time with my
brothers, but I realize that community doesn’t end at the city limit
sign. I pray daily for those guys and their families. Through
prayer, I feel confident that God will once again surround me with a
close knit community of brothers (and sisters) to grow with. I know
he will! All I have to do is let go!
I love you and the Broadway family,
Jason O’Quinn
Dear Rodney,
As you can see, I do not check my e-mail at home very often! I will
try to be better at this.
First of all, I want to say , “What a beautiful lesson on
obedience.” When I was reading Isaiah 6, I wondered where you would
go with this. In fact, I thought that it might be a typo! You did a
wonderful job. I like the fact that we read verses before the
sermon. That makes us more prepared. Thanks so much! (It invovles my
teenagers, too.)
I have felt more of a community here at Broadway this past year,
too. The Holiday Tea was a grand experience. The ladies Bible class
on Wed. nights, has blessed my life greatly. We are studying Paul’s
life & it is a Beth Moore study. I am used to teaching children, but
I have been asked to facilitate discussions on Paul’s life for the
ladies. It has been a bit scary, but the Lord has blessed me through
this. I also like the fact that the Adult Bible classes on Sundays
are studying the same lessons. Our Growth Group is a wonderful
support to us. It is our prayer group.
You & the elders are in my prayers.
In His Love,
Kathy Tarter
Rodney,
Sorry to get a response to you so late, but I wanted to share this
with you. During this past fall, Carl and Linda Stem have become the
sponsors for the Young Professionals class. We are a class that is
sometimes overlooked, probably because our members are always coming
and going due to our age and station in life. Carl and Linda have
invited us to their home several times and regularly attend our
class. Not only do they provide some stability for us, they have
made me feel more like part of the church community (because Carl is
an elder, our class seems more “official”) We will miss the Stems
when they leave, but their presence will certainly have a lasting
effect on our class.
David Allen Sprott
Rodney,
So sorry we haven’t responded...our e-mail has been on the fritz!
One day it works and the next it doesn’t! I’m not sure exactly what
info you want, but I will be happy to tell you what Broadway means
to the Franks family. We’re finally home! After moving back to
Lubbock from Austin and having such a wonderful church family in
Westover Hills, we struggled to fit in. I feel like Broadway has
wrapped its arms around us and we feel quite wonderful! We plugged
in immediately in Bible class (faith builders) and in care groups
(Tracy Macs). Then I met Robbi Crumpler! I love working with her on
women and children stuff! Lee and I like to work, and we’re so
greatful that Broadway has put us to work in faith factory, VBS,
retreats, parties and whatever else needs doing! Our kids LOVE Bible
class and Faith Factory and are making friends. Sue-Sue has been
awesome in the nursery, Landon adores her!
Hope this helps! We love Broadway!
Ginny Franks
Dear
Rodney,
Broadway did not just become a Community in 2003. It has always been
a very special community of faith to us. We started going to
Broadway before we were married some 37 years ago. The Broadway
Church had a kind of community spirit that we had never really felt
before. We served as teachers and supervisors in the education
program for 30 years. During those years we felt loved, encouraged
and appreciated by other teachers, supervisors, parents, ministers
and elders. Now we are very much enjoying being a part of an adult
class. We love our Anchors Bible Class because we still feel that
love, encouragment and appreciation. We know we can count on our
brothers and sisters at all times. We enjoy the great class leaders
and Bible teachers co-ordinated by Bill Starcher. We have a close
bond with our two growth groups where we have been given an
opportunity to grow and to serve. We enjoy the Wednesday Early Bird
Class as well as the Singing Class where we have reached out to each
other’s needs. Carole has a close bond with the Wednesday morning
Ladies Bible Class and also a Thursday evening ladies class. Outside
of class activities we enjoy special fun and fellowship once a month
with our “42” group made up of brothers and sisters from the
Broadway family. We are just now beginning to take part in some of
the Young at Heart activities.
Broadway is a great community of believers where everyone can find a
place to be and ways to serve. We desire that it will always be a
strong, dynamic, church reaching out, touching lives, and bringing
the lost to Jesus Christ.
Tony & Carole Compton
Rodney
As you well know, this has been an extremely difficult year for me,
and has been a tremendous time of learning to rely on God and
seeking support of those around me...and my brothers and sisters in
Christ at Broadway have certainly provided that support. I have
experienced the true sense of community through the prayers,
encouragement and support that I have recieved, often when they
weren’t warranted! There is no way that I would have been able to
make it through the year without people like you, the elders, and
others who have shown Christ’s love to me; and allowed me to see how
incredibly blessed I am to have such a wonderful church family that
enveloped me in their arms and prayed on my behalf when I was having
a hard time seeking God on my own. I thank God from the bottom of my
heart for Broadway and the encouragement and love I have found
there...God definitely knew what He was doing when He brought me
here!
Katherine Gould
Getting know members and fellowshiping with great men like Rusty
Ladd. Weston Wright
Dear
Rodney: The small part I play in taking pictures for the Directory
and special events helps me feel connected to this community of
believers. My faith is enhanced a great deal by the teachings of
Rusty Ladd who always seems to speak directly to me. The Anchors
class and our Growth Group have become our Family as much as blood
relatives. We feel a great loss when any of them move away. You and
Margaret have become a beautiful part of Broadway and represent a
solid rock to me in my faith.
However, the experiences I have had outside of Broadway, working
with My Fathers House, Lubbock, as a board member and in taking an
active part in help¬ing the volunteers that do the labor on the
building has been a life changing event for me.
When I first heard of the effort being made by that organization to
truly change lives for the better by providing a safe place for
women to live and learn in safety while their children were being
cared for made a great deal of sense to me. Most of those women have
no job skills and are eager to learn how to become a bread winner
for their family. Many drive without insurance because they don’t
have a drivers license and they can’t buy insurance. They don’t have
parenting skills so they pass their destructive habits along to
their kids.
We can make a difference in their lives with the help of God and by
introducing God into their lives through Bible study. More than half
of the women who go through the My Fathers House accept Jesus as
their Savior and are baptized.
Two years ago, Shirley Madden shared her dream with the board
members to build a facility to house and teach the needy women in
the community and I thought that we might be able to do it in 5
years. I had so little faith! I have seen faith that GOD WILL
PROVIDE build a 45,000 sq foot facility using volunteers for the
most part. I have seen faith in God raise almost $3,000,000 to pay
for the building as we go. I have seen faith bring hundreds of
workers to Lubbock to build the facility and furniture for the
apartments. We have not built that building but God has. That
experience has made me long for a connection between Broadway Church
of Christ and My Fathers House as a way for Broadway people to see
God working physically in their lives. MFHL is an ecumenical effort
even though the volunteers were basically Retired Baptist men and
women. It was their faith that I wanted to share with the people of
Broadway I suppose. Or maybe it was their kind of faith that I
wanted to see in the faces of the congregation at Broadway.
Sorry, Rodney, for rambling around so. We talk about faith a lot in
church. I simply have never seen that kind of faith put into action
before, and I was impressed that the community of Lubbock got behind
us so strongly.
Bill Whorton
Rodney,
I don’t know if this is anything you can use or not (it tends to be
more general than just the past year) and I’m not sure that my
thoughts are well organized or expressed but here it is anyway.
Having spent the first 20 something years of my life moving rather
frequently (on average about every 2-1/2 years) I rarely developed
close friendships outside my immediate family. I had no idea when I
came back to Lubbock and came here to Broadway what God had in mind
for me.
I believe the key elements that contribute to a feeling of community
are a sense if being needed, appreciated and accepted (even when you
‘blow it big time’. I have found this in spades at Broadway and
shudder to think what would have happened to me in the last few
years were it not for the anchor that Broadway has become for me.
Regardless of what God has in store for me in the future, whether I
live out the rest of my years here or if He moves me somewhere else,
Broadway will always be where my heart calls home.
Terry Cole
Rodney, Broadway and especially my Sunday School class and Growth
Group are a constant blessing in my life. I can’t imagine a more
loving, supportive group of people anywhere. Bill Starcher has also
been a great support person to me, by coming to the hospital when
Bill had his surgery and by being a good listener when I need
someone to talk to. We’ve also had some great Sunday School
teachers, especially Rusty Ladd. And I couldn’t forget you and
Margaret. Broadway is
very blessed to have you two. Happy holidays!
Isla Whorton
Dear Rodney,
Describing this church community’s effect on me this year is close
to trying to describe things that make the heart soar. While these
can be perceived and sometimes understood, putting them into words
loses something in the translation.
Evidence of our Broadway community is seen in the leadership for the
Children’s Home of Lubbock and the Texas Boys Ranch. I am able to be
amazed regularly with the way Broadway’s community offers wise
guidance for these agencies. The care of children in need is
continually lifted up with personal encouragement, advice and
selfless leadership which glorifies God.
Singing for funerals has time after time allowed me to glimpse the
life stories of my Broadway community members. I learn that many
different roads led still to concern for others and love for God.
These are each an encouragement to my spirit when I look at the road
ahead.
My growth group cares and gets involved in the joys and trials of
each family’s life travels. This has helped us go on this road trip
thru life together.
My “Adult 2” class has been ever more concerned for others. We look
forward to learning from the Word more each week. Our teachers have
brought great views for us to see how awesome God is in our lives.
On Wednesday nights, my class has drawn me to a deeper understanding
of men and women of faith and how God weaves his plan thru
generations. I am surprised by his unexpected solutions to our
problems.
My brothers exhausted and uplifted me at our men’s retreat. We
learned how important each of us must be to the life of our Broadway
community. Our personal prayer for each other man was wonderfully
exhausting, but the prayer of each other man for each of us was an
encouragement that affected my spirit in an amazing way. It had a
way of increasing my joy when I wake each morning.
Worship team members have a common love for regularly trying to
praise God in song in an excellent way. Adam Looney was our mentor
in this. Even after Adam’s departure, we have continued to worship
in uplifting and heart changing song. This is another example where
our Broadway community has truly stepped forward to serve each
other.
Our friends that serve in mission works have blessed us by their
examples. God amazes us in his work over time to bless his children
and change lives. This is happening in each of Broadway’s mission
points. My relationship with the Washington, England congregation
has affected how strongly God’s workings there have awed me this
year. I cannot stress how wonderful Washington’s news in 2003 has
been. It is not simply better results of what we thought Washington
was doing before, but rather a blowing away of all the walls of the
room we thought we knew. Now I see that God was preparing these
unexpected developments for a long time. PRAISE HIM IN THE HIGHEST!
Your friend and brother,
Brooks Loveless
P.S. You told us last year how much God loves to accomplish his plan
in
ways we do not expect. 2003 has shown me many proofs.
Rodney,
I personally was blessed because our class was combined with Seekers
in the summer for a while. I got to know some of the members of that
class better and broaden my relationships. We also got aquainted
with a lady outside of Broadway who came to work for us because of
getting to know a couple in that class.
I also felt my life enriched by the ladies who put together the
Christmas brunch. It was a wonderful experience and I know that it
will be repeated for years to come because so many were so touched
by how special it was.
I’m blessed by being at Broadway on Sunday. Sometimes, I don’t feel
like I can get out of bed and go, but I’m always so glad I did.
It’s hard to isolate blessings because I am so richly blessed. He is
at work at all times in all situations for good.
May the good Lord bless and keep you.
Love,
Gail Wilson
God has strenghthened my a lot in the past six months. I came to
college not knowing anyone and not knowing what this year would
hold. Leaving my church back home was the hardest thing to do, but
broadway welcome me, and it soon became my second family. Being in
the college program at broadway has brought me closer to God and has
made me realize the power of his love and mercy. One thing that I
will remember forever and that will always stand out in these past
few months is the fall retreat to New Mexico. It was an amazing
weekend were we had fun, met new people, and most of all worshiped
God all as one.
Love bunches
In Him
Elizabeth Faglie
Dear Rodney,
Being a newly married couple can make it difficult sometimes to find
a group to fit into. We’re not single anymore, yet we don’t have
kids either. This need was met by our CA smallgroup. This group is
made up of 6 married couples that do not have any kids (yet!). It
has been a great group that Allyson and I have really enjoyed. We
have all read the Word together, prayed together, laugh together,
and even shared a tear together. Each couple and each member has
been a blessing from God! Hope this helps, Rodney!
Dustin Wall
God has blessed me by allowing me to worship with some of the most
devoted Christians I have ever been around. Also the wonderful
lessons that come from the pulpit and some of the greatest teachers,
especially class nine teacher. I believe all of the above and much
more has strengthen my experience of community at Broadway. Charlene
Jones
Rodney,
The community at Broadway has touched my life in many different
ways. I realized the power of the church community for the first
time when I was in the hospital. Everyday I waited for the crowd of
people who “old Randy” called friends to come visit me, but they
never came.
Not one day went by that a member of Broadway or CA didn’t come by
to say hello and have a quick prayer. This not only touched me, but
upon seeing the power of the church community first hand, my 25 year
old sister went back to Dallas and decided to give her life to
Christ and attended church for the first time. Praise God!
After leaving the hospital, I don’t think I would have made it
through the year without all my friends from Broadway. I couldn’t
play baseball and I had missed so much school that my grades were
going to be terrible so why not let myself start to party and drink
again....Because my new friends wouln’t let me. They understood the
struggles that I was having and they were always there for
provid¬ing strength and support.
I just thank you and thank Broadway for being there for me in 2003,
I would not be where I am today without you guys!
Because of Him,
Randy Gattis
Dear Rodney: I scratched my head for a while about your request;
that is, how to put it down in words.
As you know, I am among the ranks of caregivers, not only for my
husband but my mother and my next-door neighbor. In addition I have
gotten very involved with my chairmanship of the Wednesday morning
Ladies Bible Class; I do most of the computer work for that class as
well as my Sunday morning Classic Nine class, and also make and send
all the birthday cards for my Sunday class. I also try to visit with
several shut-ins every week, either in person or by phone.
I’m telling you all this to explain that at times I have thought I
just had to give something up; my 18-hour days just couldn’t hold
everything. But, amazingly, whatever comes my way, God just seems to
grant me the fortitude and the time I need. Were it not for my close
sense of community, love and support from all my friends at
Broadway, I know my life would probably just fall apart.
I’m not sure this is the type of response you wanted; I’m not sure
it speaks much to outreach or extending the warmth of Broadway to
those outside the church.
I recently attended a funeral where no one involved was connected to
a church. The small luncheon was held in a country club; the service
at the funeral home was short with one recorded song and a sterile
little message from a chaplain. There was no graveside service. I
couldn’t help but compare it with the wonder¬ful warmth and
outpouring of love always evident in a Broadway family funeral.
I am just blessed to be a part of the Broadway community! Laura
Purcell
Rodney:
I am happy to answer your email. I have been very blessed of late
from the very sense of community at Broadway of which you are
talking. Since my recent separation, I have felt the warmth and
suppport from the Body like I have never before felt. When this
heartbreaking journey first started, I was very fragile. I had a
broken spirit and a broken heart and was not sure where my faith
would take me or if I could even hold onto it. As people started
hearing about the separation, I had so many people comfort me and
hold me up when I did not feel I could do it on my own. I continue
to be blessed with the love and support from the Broadway people. I
am still down on occasion. This life that I now must lead is very
hard and not one that I treasure, but I do treasure the community at
Broadway. I don’t like the circumstances that have happened but am
continually amazed at where God has led me. I know that God didn’t
cause this tragedy in my life, but He is making me into a better,
stronger person as a result of it.
Kathie Davis
Hi Rodney,
The Broadway community has had such a profound effect on my life.
Having been raised in the church, I have gained life long
friendships and most important of all, a relationship with Christ.
Through love and support from the people at Broadway, I have chosen
the path to which I believe in good faith is the right one. As the
years have passed, it has become clearer and clearer to me that
Broadway is not just a “church,” but a body of God’s people. I
strongly feel that God has blessed and will continue to bless the
Broadway community and the service it does.
One thing that will always stand out most in my mind is the Sunday
morning service. When the entire congregation stands up together and
sings, I doubt there is one soul in that entire building that
doesn’t feel the presence of the Lord. That alone is one of the most
humbling experiences I think any one could ever feel. I praise God
for the people at Broadway and the leadership that guides us on the
path the Lord intended us to go.
God Bless you and your service,
Dustin Gay
Dear Rodney,
I am new to the “community of Broadway Church of Christ” so my
experience is just beginning. I will tell you that I was drawn to
Broadway by the genuine concern I saw exhibited by the body in going
forward to surround a brother or sister in prayer for his needs. The
Classic 9 class that I am currently attending has welcomed me and my
daughter, Tanis, with open arms. They have made us feel they truly
want us to be a part of their class.
Seymore and Kay Evans came to visit in our home prior to our placing
ourselves under this eldership. This is a beautiful expression of
the concern of the shep¬herds for those of us in their care. Prayer
is very important to me, so I was pleased and touched that Seymore
wanted to pray with and for us before leaving.
Barbara Blount
Rodney-my FIRST thought when I got this request was the incredible
feeling of family that our Growth Group has grown into. When we
restructured our Growth Groups a few years ago, I was VERY skeptical
on any success we might have in “jelling” together. We have had some
of the very best Bible Studies & discus¬sions. We have even taken a
Growth Group Retreat together. As with any group-there have also
been great times of joy and great times of sadness within our group.
We are extremely comfortable in sharing during both of those times.
God has worked wonders within our group and it is a great blessing
each and every time we are together.
Rob Core
Rodney,
It is difficult to put into words the means God has used to build a
“community” at Broadway in 2003. I guess the strongest thing I have
seen over the past year, is a dependence on prayer. I feel our
eldership and our church family have truly devel¬oped a strong
prayer network, that has been the basis of everything we do. I think
we are looking to the future for what God has in store for us, and
stopped looking at the past. There is a feeling of unconditional
love, that I don’t feel has always been there. The Broadway family
seems more like “home” now, more than ever before. Kelsey [Terry’s
14 year old daughter] made a comment to me just a few days ago that
summed it up. She said she loved going to church at Broadway,
because she felt that it was the one place she could go, where she
felt everyone wanted her to be there.
I hope this helps. Terry Dennis
Rodney, this seems repetitive but the second service continues to be
a blessing in my life and I feel that especially in this past year.
There seems to be such a “natural” instant closeness with brothers
and sisters that I may not see during the week. Does that make
sense?
I am also feeling that closeness when I attend the first service-
which I did not feel in years past.
Our Bible class is special and it is not uncomfortable to “share” in
that class. I have been attending anchors class for several years
and everyone cares about each other.
In essence, I would say that class and worship are a great
experience.
I would be amiss if I did not tell you what a big part that you and
Margaret play in all of our lives. Thank you seems inadequate but
“thank you” anyhow for all you do for us.God has truly blessed you
and we reap the benefit.
Grace and Peace to you,
Ros Eckman
[This
next message is an additional note from Ros in response to my
request to include her comments in this document]
Rodney, please feel free to use whatever you need.
By the way, this is such a blessing that I have reaped from the
“spirit” at Broadway- sharing with brothers and sisters. Burdens and
blessings are equally shared- people really do love and care for
each other.
Thanks to God for all you do for me.
Ros
Rodney,
* We have a strong growth group that meets every other Sun evening.
* Becky teaches a crew group of Jr High girls on the other Sun
evening. I teach a young crew group of the siblings of these girls
on the same night.
* When I teach, I get to form relationship with those in the class
(e.g., this past term in teaching an adult Bible class).
* I enjoy getting to work with singers on worship teams.
* I enjoy the opportunities I am allowed to serve as the song
worship leader.
* We stand in the educational hall and visit with folks.
David Roach
[Noel Ellis called his response in and asked Tracey Horne to relay
the message found below.]
He suffered collapsed vertebrae in his back in the spring of 2003.
The many people who checked on him, asked him how he was doing,
encouraged him, etc., made him feel very loved.
Tracey
Rodney,
My understanding of what the church is and how God intends for it to
function has become clearer to me during the past couple of years.
Based on the teaching from my parents and my experiences while
growing up, I think I had a fairly good understanding of the
functioning of the body. I knew that just “going to church”,
“warming a pew” and “getting my ticket punched” was not what it was
all about. I knew it was a deeper, more spiritual thing. But I did
not understand it to the degree that I do now until this past year
or so.
God has shown me that, even though I thought I had an understanding
of the body, I actually had a very selfish view of worship and
“church life”. I had fallen into the trap of consumer Christianity.
My church life was centered on how I felt about any number of
issues. I was focused inward on issues such as our worship time, our
bible class time and our fellowship. I looked at everything from the
viewpoint of “how it made me feel”. If the singing was sub par in my
opinion, I felt uninspired. If no one spoke to me I felt un
appreciated. If the bible class lesson or the sermon was not what I
wanted to hear, I felt let down. It really had become “all about
me”.
Thankfully God began to show me my selfish nature. He has used
several things to help me grow in my understanding of Community. He
helped me begin to deepen my relationships with several of my
brothers spiritually. Our informal men’s class on Wednesday night
has blessed me tremendously. Our “Experiencing God “ study was very
revealing and challenging. I meet with 5 other men every Tuesday
morning at 6:00 AM to share our struggles and to pray for each
other. There are not words that can express what impact that has had
on my life. I was fortunate to be able to teach during our ” One
Another” bible class series. That was a profound study to be
involved with. I know it changed my thinking a whole lot more that
it did the Body Builders Class. Being involve with The Walk to
Emmaus has helped deepen my relationship with God and has helped me
see the power of being led by the Spirit. Our Men’s Worship Weekend
have impacted me greatly. God has used these weekends to show me
more clearly that we are very interconnected as a body and we need
each other.
This past years emphasis on “Community” and God’s desire for it to
be irresistible in nature has helped to reinforce some things that
God has been impressing on my heart. It seems like every time I turn
around, God is using new situations, relationships and teachings to
reinforce and affirm that The “Ecclesia” is about serving each
other. It’s focus is to be on each other, not on ourselves. I’m
convinced that if and when we understand this, we will truly become
irresistible to the world. The world will want what we have and we
will not be able to keep them away from finding the love of Jesus in
our building and in our body.
Over the past year or so I have made it a goal to make my
involvement at Broadway one of selflessness. I have promised myself
that I will use our short time together on Sundays and Wednesdays as
a time to allow God through his Spirit to direct me to whomever he
wants to touch through me. My constant prayer is that God use me to
be a blessing to someone who is in need. A funny thing happens when
you stop focusing on yourself and you start allowing the Spirit to
focus you on other people...you stop worrying about the songs we
sing and how good we sing them. You stop worrying about not being
“fed” by the teacher or preacher. You stop focusing on a whole
myriad of thing but every song is beautiful, Every word that is said
is great. Every person is special. Every hand that is shaken or neck
that is hugged is precious, because it is God working through me to
serve someone or build someone up or comfort someone in His name.
Their is no time for worrying, gossiping, fretting, griping or
complaining, because God has given me a higher and more pure
purpose...serving one another in a community that is bound together
in love. (Of course this shouldn’t only happen on Sunday and
Wednesday!)
Rodney, I hope this helps...I did no editing. I wrote the words that
came and I figure that however disjointed they are, they are from my
heart. Use them as you see fit. Don’t be afraid to use the delete
key!
Much Love, Brother
Tim Oliver
Hey Brother,
That’s an easy one, but difficult to condense, so bear with me. My
community at Broadway comes in the form of small groups. Our
Wednesday night “rebel” group. A group of guys that got together
over coffee and ended up drenched by the Spirit of God. It’s not a
time of confession or personal anything. It’s a time of getting to
know the Father and His will through studying His word. We all know
that each of us is there for the another, it”s just not neccessarily
expressed. We keep tabs on eachother and encourage one another.
Through that group God has blessed each one of us. I’ve been blessed
with the best friends I’ve ever had. Brothers not friends. Brothers
that have come by the shop and picked me up to go pray for me and my
family. Led totally by the spirit. I know this because I had not
said anything to them about what was going on in my life. They just
felt led to do so. Brothers that respond to the Spirit’s calling.
That men’s retreat was an amazing example of community. The prayer
circle made me feel more a part of our family of men than I have
ever felt. It was a life changing event for me, as well as others. I
know, I’ve seen the changes in some of them. I know the oneness I
feel with those men. Our prayer group has been a tremendous blessing
to me. I can be myself with my Brothers. No holes barred. I know
that for me, my community at Broadway is not on Sunday morning, it’s
in the small groups with which I associate. Thats were the hearts of
my Brothers is revealed and were I can be more transparent than I
have ever been in my whole life. My community has strengthened my
faith in God and what He wants and can do, in all of us. I am a very
week person. I need this community of God, of God’s men. They
encourage me to seek HIM more. Being with them encourages the desire
to be God’s man. I’m a long ways from that personally, but not
community wise. The Spirit of God is strong in our community. The
love that He has for is so rich and so overwhelming. I feel that in
our community. I wish everyone did. God bless you brother. I love
you.
in Him,
Mitch Morgan
The
primary means God has used to grow my experience of community here
is thorough relationships begun at the men’s retreat. The
authenticity modeled in those times together has led me to
experience deeper spiritual relationships with people here in just
over two years than I’ve had with most churches I’ve been a part of
for years. These people take sharing Christ togehter as a community
seriously and it has blessed me infinitely.
Thanks,
Dean Barham
Rodney,
2003 has re-taught me the importance of friends. We need friends,
not just acquaintances. We need people we can share our dreams, our
hurts, our hopes and our fears. Too many people go through life
never touching others, but more negatively, never allowing
themselves to be touched. Friends hug. Friends hold. Friends pick
each other up. With the fast pace at which things progress, all too
often we fail to connect and allow ourselves to be nothing more than
mist. Christians must never fail to remember that the person in the
next seat is more than a shell, but a living soul longing to be
noticed, acknowledged and loved. We are never more alone than when
we are in a crowd of people. Broadway cannot become just another
crowd. During 2003, I saw how Broadway rallied around members who
were hurting. Cheering with people who achieved great things. While
we have not arrived, at least we have not forgotten how important
Christian friends are to helping us truly discover Jesus.
Bob Barnhill
Rodney,
As you know, God has blessed Wanda and I so much this year!! A year
ago today, God delivered Wanda from near death in that awful vehicle
accident. Even before the Dr’s were finished with her surgery, a
network of brothers and sisters in Christ over an area from Lubbock
to Snyder to Hereford to Amarillo to Sheffield, England mobilized in
a very real prayer assault (we’re in war, sometimes I think in
military terms) to hasten her recovery and healing from two
shattered legs, concussion, and two surgeries to rebuild them. These
prayers were answered !!!! Wanda is now at full speed again,
although a little stiff on cold mornings, working half time at her
job, walking a mile a day, blessing others with her wonderful
wonderful attitude.
I have been blessed with good health, a group of new friends and
brothers and sisters in our growth group, a delivery from bitterness
from the accident and some bad workplace situations through
retirement and the Grace of Jesus to forgive and pray for those who
had hurt us.
I don’t know whether it is from the growth group, or from the
activities at church, that we have been able to give our full tithe
this year, plus some, but we have been blessed very much in that
way. This next year promises some exciting times in our ability to
contribute to our heavenly community through some contracts that
just fell into our laps. We will be paid for those after the New
Year, and we have already earmarked significant contributions to the
Church and the Children’s home.
Irresistible Community? You bet!! The late service group has been a
blessing to us, and we are becoming acquainted with many more of our
brothers and sisters this year. As relatively new members of this
congregation, we were invited to participate in the growth group,
being blessed with the presence of the most loving and caring bunch
of people I’ve met! I appreciate that opportunity from the bottom of
my heart, and just know that “our” group will just continue to grow
in love, and spiritually. The Men’s’ Prayer weekend was a very great
blessing in my life. I am so happy that the Lord allowed me to
participate!! My hope for this coming year is that we can continue
to grow as a community and be able to participate and contribute to
the whole growth of the congregation and the greater community of
Lubbock.
Blessings,
Jim and Wanda Crownover
Rodney,
In my life, Broadway has always been my community. It is my friends,
my teachers, my mentors, my buddies, and my extended family.
This year I have been in the process and am in the process of
extending my family to include my fiance’ Cody. It has been so
inspiring to see how welcoming the Broadway family has been to him.
Through his enthusiasm of finding a church home, I have realized the
power of just that, a home. Our community is irresistible. There are
some many different and wonderful gifts that members of our family
gladly share every week. Why else would they do that, except that
they are part of an irresistible community. A family who’s love is
strong, it truly reaches any border and boundary.
I am honored to be part of the Broadway family and inspired to see
the irrestiablity of the community we are part of. May God continue
to inspire us to truly be an irresistible community for HIS kingdom.
Ashley Core
Rodney,
I let Joe Cope talk me into joining the Classic 9 bible class on
Sunday mornings a little over a year ago. I already knew the Copes
and the Kerrs from Carpenter’s Kitchen. A few months ago Joy
Loveless approached me about being a “bag lady” and so now I help to
design the bags that are given when a new baby is born in the
Broadway family. I’ve met several people that I would never have met
without being in Classic 9 and feel more a part of the Broadway
family
Nancy Thomas
Wow!
Rodney.....................where do I start?
~ the immediate response from Anchors Class to support Meghan in
Nicaragua at a crucial financial time in our lives
~ the calm I have experienced with her move there, often enriched by
comments from fellow members (I had anxiety that the void would be
overwhelming)
~ the continued love I experience for young people and knowing them
and what is going on in their lives and feeling they truly love me
is a wonderful connective blessing
~ a very subtle, gentle blessing of fellowship I have enjoyed has
been from lunches out following services. Being at church alone was
difficult for me at first. Sunday noon was always a fellowship time
eating out when our children were growing up. Accepting invitations
was awkward at first. I truly thank God for that special time now
and know this is an area I want to offer to others in the future.
God is so very good and faithful. I’m thankful for you and your
family and the love I share with each of you.
Meghan will be home tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yea! later, kay
fleming
Rodney,
It feels like a community when I go over and help with Carpenter’s
Kitchen. That has been a great blessing for me to see all of the
volunteers working together. Harvey Pruitt and the men and women of
Classic 9 have been great.
Tanis Blount
Hi Rodney,
I am basing my answer on the number of years I have been at
Broadway, since I was baptized on June 10, 1968. Because I’ve been a
member for so many years and fortunate to also be in the office as a
volunteer, I know the congregation well.
I think that Broadway is the “lovingest” church I’ve ever known. I
was accepted and loved from day one, and have always felt it was a
community of believers who have opened their hearts completely to
me.
In a lot of ways, I think some people have trouble feeling a sense
of community because they don’t get involved within the body as
volunteers or fill other needs with their time and talent. You have
to give of yourself within a community, whether it be church,
school, your city, to grow, bond, and be a part of that community.
I’ve always thought Broadway has done an excellent job as far as
making the people within it a community that tries very hard to
include each of us.
Carletta Keeling
1.
Times of sharing one on one with shepherds and other members in
prayer and listening.
2. Small group meetings, although we have not been able to be
there, through personal invitations and reminders.
Eric Dickey
Rodney-
Well you know the main one--
1)Prayer group has been the main spiritual uplift for me this year!
Nothing else comes close. My only regret is not doing this 20 years
ago!
2)A revival of our growth group and the addition of some new folks
3)My 5th/6th grade dept always keeps me young (and old)
Those are the main ways God is using to strengthen me in our B’way
community.
John Crumpler
Rodney,
One of the ways that God has blessed me is in our men’s Wednesday
night men’s group. God has put a group of men together that has a
burning desire to come into a deeper relationship with Him. That has
been growing through the study of the word and prayer. My spiritual
life has grown because of this community of men. We have become
dependent on each as brothers in Christ as we urge each other to be
all that God want’s us to be. As we continue to meet, we realize
that we have a awesome, loving God that wants us to have that
personal intimate relationship with Him. God has touched everyone of
us in our time together to be His man. These men are a very
important part of my family at Broadway. I look forward to Wednesday
nights because they are a very rich part of my week!
Bill Stence
Rodney,
The caring nature shows through the smiles and kind actions of the
memebers daily. Class 8 has become a prime example of the
individuals being a part of one another. The ripple effect of the
“older members” being examples in word & deed & faith. The worship,
study and fellowship together is helpful & hopeful. It makes one
want to better and more pleasing to God.
To actually practice what the scriptures tell us to do instead of
merely
talking about what to do is attractive.
I hope this makes sense to you ....... it is hard to put into words
something that touches your heart & soul.
Thanks for your time,
Bonner Bennett
Rodney,
When I read this email, I immediately felt prompted by God to
mention the following... During the past year, the time spent in
this building that I have looked forward to the most has been our
Wednesday night group that meets in the Library. It is not because
we discuss things that determine the fate of the world. We are
simply a community of guys that love each other and love being with
each other when we study and discover God’s Word. We may discuss one
chapter a week or we may discuss one scripture a week (in fact it
took us two years to go through Matthew) but that does not matter.
Many times what is discussed is not what the particular passage may
have been about. God turns the discussion HIS way more often than
not and we end up in a completely different place than where we
started. And that is ok with us, we have become accustomed to God
taking over the time that we spend together on Wednesday nights.
He has even sent people to our group. He has blessed us with the
friendship of an electron microscope technician from Houston. Woody
walked in one Wednesday night about two years ago and has been a
frequent visitor to our group ever since. Woody lives in Houston,
and is even a member of a totally different denomina¬tion, but
schedules his trips here, so that he can come to our group on
Wednesday nights and be fed while he is away from home. He told us
right up front that the Spirit brought him here while he was walking
down Broadway one Wednesday night. Woody said he resisted. He did
not want to walk into a strange classroom filled with a bunch of
strange people in a strange church in an even stranger town. But,
the Spirit directed him to do so, and he followed God’s direction.
By using us as instruments to help Woody when he was in need of
spiritual support, God has blessed Woody’s decision to join our
group. By sending Woody to our group, God has blessed us, helping us
to see that He is at work all around us, drawing us together and to
Himself, we just need to let go and let it happen.
Over the last 3-4 years we have grown to love and care for each
other through our experiences together. We have found God using our
group in many ways that reach beyond our Wednesday night study time.
I can remember many Wednesday nights that we spent solely in prayer.
I can remember many activities that God has gotten us involved in
TOGETHER that have enriched our lives as well as others.
The dynamic that keeps all of us coming back together each week (and
there is not a set “membership” to this group the participants ebb
and flow and all are wel¬come)is our love for God, our love for each
other, and our passion to see God’s larger church, that meets here
at Broadway, grow to love and care for each other the same way our
little “church” has.
Grace and Peace.
Jeff Day
Dear Rodney,
First I have to say that a change in my attitude caused me to look
for opportunities this year that I might not have taken advantage of
before. I have prayed that I look for and follow through in more
areas of involvement. I think the opportun¬ities have always been
there, but I was not “in the right place” spiritually or men¬tally
to benefit from them.
I especially enjoy the spirit within my Sunday School class, Adult
#2. I hate missing the lesson and the time we have to spend together
each Sunday, on the rare occasion that I have to be out. My week
goes better after having attended Bible Class.
Our Bible Class has “adopted” a family who lost their husband/father
last year and we periodically take up money to assist them. I have a
real ownership of that family and look forward to helping them.
The ladies Holiday Brunch was particularly delightful. Feeling
responsible for my Mom’s transportation plus a special invitation
from Terry Dennis assured my attendance. Linda Gaither gave an
uplifting talk. I can’t wait for it to happen again next year.
Vacation Bible School was great! Such hard work benefited so many
children. I found the opportunity to help clean up the building
during that time especially convenient and fulfilling.
I appreciate all the opportunities we have to help out the youth and
college groups. The variety of foods requested makes it easy to
participate even if I am
not an industrious cook.
I appreciate the correspondence I receive via e-mail. I have
received e-mail from staff members and elders.
I turned in a green prayer request and got back a personal response
from David Ruebush. I received e-mail from folks expressing their
prayers and concerns about Dad and his declining health. I am
looking forward to starting the small prayer group after the
holidays.
I have been attending a Bible study one night a week for several
months and have plans to start another one. These studies are not
with Broadway members, but have been very inspirational and
educational times.
There are many of us,I suppose, who have literally grown up at
Broadway. It is my home. Many of the members I have known all my
life. They have stuck by me during hard times and continue to love
me. I truly consider Broadway an irresistible community.
Love,
Hedy Robinson
Rodney,
I cannot begin to put into words what the people at Broadway mean to
me personally. The groups that have meant so much to me include our
Sunday bible class, our growth group, and our dinner group, only
because we are with them more than others. The prayers and concern
that have been given to members of our family have meant more than I
can express. We have seen God’s work as a result of those prayers.
The friendships we have made have blessed us so much. I think when
you have Christian friends and fellowship, your experience of
community can only strengthen. You and Margaret and been such a
blessing to us. I feel very blessed to be a part of the “Broadway
Community.”
Donna Weaver
Rodney,
Greetings! I have missed so very much being at prayer group. I still
stop and pray during my short lunch and it blesses me and I know
that I am with you. This is probably my biggest part of community -
knowing I am in your hearts and you are in mine, we are irrevocably
woven together and I feel it. What a blessing! Several women also
meet on Wednesday night to pray and I feel the same way about them.
A beautiful visual of this community is the many, many true
heartfelt hugs I give and receive whenever I am around my Broadway
family. It truly enriches my life and I know the lives of others,
too.
Have a grace-filled and joyful day!
Because He died for me,
Missy Oliver
Rodney,
I think what God has done to strengthen, bless, and enrich my sense
of community has been my working with the shut-in’s. I tried to not
let Bill talk me into this helping him with the shut-in’s, but it
seems that God led me in that direction and I am glad that He did. I
hope that we can do more for those who gave so much to the Broadway
church through the years. Looks like I was destined to work with
“older” people!
Ted Dockery
Matt and I recently placed our membership at Broadway. Everyone
at Broadway has demonstrated a warm, welcoming attitude and invited
us to different activities. We have made wonderful friends through
Wednesday night Bible studies and our Growth group. I have also
experienced a sense of community in the Tuesday night bible studies.
Sincerely,
Brittany Weaver
Rodney, my immediate response to your email was my experience at the
time of Louise Long’s death. That week I had left on Tuesday to
attend a reading confer¬ence in Dallas and stayed thru the week-end.
After getting to Dallas I realized that I had not called anyone in
my Sunday School class to tell them I would be gone. When I got home
there were many messages, first telling me about Louise’s death then
increasingly more concerned as I didn’t return the calls and wasn’t
in Sunday School. Upon checking in with several class members, I
found that I had been given until Monday morning and if no one had
heard from me, they were calling my school to check with my
principal. This is truly a sense of the com¬munity that we as
sisters in Christ experience on a daily basis. It’s also the
bless¬ing of wonderful Christian friends.
Sandy Wright
Dear Mr. Plunket,
I'm terribly sorry for this e-mail being so late. I cannot begin to
tell you how much God has enriched my life by coming here to
Broadway. He's given me new and true friends from here which has
been the biggest blessing thus far and stimulated my interest in
learning more about God and his will for me. Everyone here has
welcomed me with open arms and never before ( besides with my family
) have I felt so close and loved by others. Thank you so very much.
Sincerely,
Josh Boultinghouse
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