the power of connection
Have you ever wondered over the name dropping that the Apostle Paul does toward the end of some of his letters? Apollos, Stephanas, Fortunatas, Achaicus, Acquila, Prisca . . . these are not your familiar Matthew, Mark, Luke, and Johns. These are names less familiar to us but every much as important in the working of God’s church and kingdom. These are connections the Lord has established for Paul during his years of ministry. They are encouragements to him and vital members of the body of Christ.
Tim and Debbie own a sporting goods store. They were our only connection in Blue Ridge. The introduction came through an email from an acquaintance. When we entered the store to meet them, we had no idea what would transpire in the following weeks.
While chatting among the rows of Fannin County Rebels cotton jerseys, Aly entered. After exchanging stories, Aly had her husband, Bryon, contact me. On his initiative, Bryon set up two consecutive Friday lunches for me to meet 10-12 others pastors in the area. The first of these Friday gatherings I met Bob. Bob introduced Holly and I to his entire First Baptist congregation that Sunday when we visited. A week later we were in a gift shop and struck up a conversation with the lady behind the counter (I was buying a whiskey glass 🥴). She ended up being Bob’s wife. The second Friday lunch produced a potential candidate for a young pastor to do an internship with me for Rural Church Development. (More on him in my next newsletter. It’s an absolutely amazing story in itself.) Bryon also connected me to the owner/operator of the Chick-Fil-a in Ellijay, Georgia. She and her husband were a part of a Bible study about five years ago that attempted a PCA church plant. They have connected us with four other couples. This is a very small smattering of connections that the Lord has orchestrated. Oh, to tell the stories!
When we moved to North Georgia I felt like a spelunker with no headlamp, feeling the walls and straining at an ounce of light to see my way along the damp cave walls. From our temporary rental we had a thirty minute drive into town and I would use that time to pray, “Lord, I have no clue where to go, with whom to speak, or what to do. Please bring about providential conversations and relationships.” I am learning again and again that His Word is a “lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” His Word tells me that He is faithful and trustworthy . . . yet I am so dull and doubting to hear and learn. Even in this dullness He has so evidently gone before us as we attempt to follow, believing that He is exactly who He declares Himself to be.
Never, never underestimate God’s power in and through you to connect people in and to God’s work for His kingdom’s sake. Never, never be afraid to ask questions of strangers or strike up unsolicited conversations. You never know how God will work to take that encounter and bless it immeasurably for the person to whom you speak, or maybe more significantly, to your very own soul.
Those names that Paul mentions? They are very precious people in God’s eyes. I can’t wait to meet them and every connection ever made for the sake of His kingdom. I cannot wait to hear the multitudinous stories of His grace as we recount who knows whom and how, and the delight we receive, and knowing Jesus is standing back watching us and smiling at our delight because He has orchestrated it all for our benefit and His glory so we can all bask in the beauty of it.