I am elated that last Sunday, 91% of the church’s membership approved the refurbishment of the pews. You say, “Elated? Seriously? Isn’t that a bit of hyperbole?” For me, the answer is no. For the past 19 years and 10 months, I have lived with the reality that stewardship of the campus called Berean on Glensford Drive is one of my responsibilities. No, it is not my number one responsibility. Yes, it is only brick and mortar—Christ did not die for the building and property. Since 1972, this property has been a gathering location for Bereans. Thousands have come to saving faith in Christ, and just as many have been baptized here. Lives have been changed, families have been built, and enduring relationships that will last into eternity have started here.
Pew RFor me personally, Berean has been part of my life since 1988. Pam and I were married in the old sanctuary in 1989. Our wedding reception was held in the current fellowship center. I learned to teach the Bible at Berean. I became a husband, father, teacher, and deacon at Berean. This physical place means so much to me because this is where I became an adult follower of Christ. This is where I met my wife, and the greatest friends I have are here or were here at some point.
On Father’s Day in 2006, I preached my first message here as the senior pastor. This was all by the providence of the Lord. I should not have been selected to be the next pastor for a dozen solid reasons. I was ill-equipped for such a huge responsibility. Everything needed to be done, and all of it yesterday. My first hire was Steve Wilson. He, as I have said many times, has been God’s gift to me. He joined me as my best friend in our shared stewardship responsibility. My goal was to redo everything. Steve kept me in check. The money had to be carefully managed. We are stewards. Berean is God’s. The sheep are God’s, and everything on the property is God’s. This is His church and our church.
We, all of us who call ourselves Bereans, are the generation alive and responsible.
So back to the pews. What’s the big deal concerning a pew? On August 26, 1996, Bereans sat for the very first time in brand-new pews. They spent the money to have them built new for our sanctuary. They gave and gave to pay off the loan. If you are going to have a place to gather for singing and teaching, for worship and the Word, it is nice to have a place to sit down. It is not necessary, and it can be as primitive as any church sees fit, but the Bereans 30 years ago chose padded pews with fabric. And this is where the stewardship idea comes in.
I don’t think I am being a good steward if I don’t recognize when the pews need to be reupholstered. In our first years of marriage, we were given a couch for free. But it was not nice enough to feel good about inviting you over to sit on it. (Have you ever owned a couch like that?) We did. And I thought it was the greatest thing when Pam and I (we) saved up enough money to have the entire couch reupholstered. I (we) chose a beautiful blue fabric. We kept that couch for a very long time.
So back to the pews. I don’t think we should have to wait to redo the pews until we are embarrassed to invite people to sit on them. In 2006, there were many parts of the campus that I was embarrassed for a guest or visitor to see. That’s the church I inherited and loved. And by God’s grace, through faithful givers, we have been able to turn that around. Please join me in faithfully giving to continue the legacy of being good stewards of what God has given us and entrusted to us for the next generation.
