ABBA MINISTRIES OF CANADA IN THE SERVICE OF CHRIST... ABBA PASTORS SHARE THEIR WISDOM AND INSIGHT

Abba is With the People
By Reverend Connie Howes [March 2007]

Abba is WITH the people - at kitchen tables across Canada, over a pot of coffee. We see Abba where Christ started his ministries, humbly serving those who need us and need God's word.

In examining the ministries of Abba pastors, a couple unifying themes recur:

• Each pastor is deeply committed to Christ [one would think this would go without saying, but hey, a lot of other denominations can't say that].
• Each pastor is very unique - there is no "typical" Abba pastor. We come from all walks of life. Cookie cutter we aren't.
• Each pastor has their own ministry, and is enthusiastic about their chosen area of ministry.

Why are we so enthusiastic? Why is Abba growing and how can we keep the momentum of this?

Every person knows their own weaknesses and strengths. One of the things that draws pastors to Abba is that they have the freedom to use their God-given talents and gifts where they see fit. Abba pastors believe the Holy Spirit will guide us and He indeed does. Within Abba's structure and professional standards, Abba pastors have FREEDOM to embrace what they know and use it where they are needed, guided by the Lord. It's funny, because I wrote this before I went back to the main Abba site and there it was - Romans 12:3-21 !

This was the basis of the earliest Christian Church - use what you've got!

Christ didn't need the big building with stained glass windows. Jesus, whether speaking or acting, was still practical. His words - these words, were but the wings of his deeds. He went about, not discoursing upon benevolence, but "doing good"; Where others theorized he wrought, where they planned he achieved.

He chose his apostles, who were regular folks. The apostles were intensely active, rather than intellectually refined; they made no pretense to be philosophers, but thought it sufficient to be servants of Jesus Christ. They were no mystics, but workmen; not elocutionists, but labourers. So are Abba pastors.

The apostles were also men in whom the truth displayed itself in deeds rather than in words.

This is where Abba is going - right back to where we started from: doing, demonstrating, God's love. We do it simply, with out a lot of money and we do it sincerely.

Abba should keep going as it is - we're growing! Don't fix what isn't broken!

Encourage individuality - encourage work that is homespun and practical and encourage folks with different backgrounds to apply for ordination.

So many people are turned away and shunned by the mainstream churches, but Abba's flocks just keep growing!

Abba does what the mainstream churches don't:

• Welcome all people, without rules
• Warmth and real compassion by its pastors
• Personal contact, right in our own homes
• Practical help, guided by God, demonstrating His love
• Outreach work in the community to the disenfranchised, the lost and the forgotten

We are God's workers and we're doing a decent job of it.

That is not to say there is not room for improvement: there always is. National Office is working diligently and vigorously to keep this organization professional and standardized. We pastors should be co-operating and HELPING. It's not good enough to come up with suggestions - just like we can suggest to a parishioner that they do this or that, we need to DEMONSTRATE our willingness to help National Office with things, whenever possible. How to help? Send an extra $10 a month if we can afford it [emphasis on "if"]. If we see programs that might help, for instance grant programs for summer students - send that info to Malachy and Josephine. Submit paperwork and reports promptly. And pray!

Call another pastor out of the blue - and see how THEY are doing. Build the network of clergy by keeping close to one another. Build relationships. We are all neighbours, working for the same company - get to know one another!

The moral of this essay is this: History does indeed repeat itself. We are doing Christ's work as He intended. What better can we do than that? Abba has to continue along this path that we are on. We have all been guided here by Christ and our pastors and National Office have made it happen, no matter the obstacles, the challenges and the difficulties along the way that Abba has encountered.

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