Texas District

As I write this month’s Mission Moment, I am reflecting on our recent LCMC Annual Gathering. As always, I attended with eager anticipation for the opportunity to meet new friends in Christ, reconnect with others, and to listen and learn. This year’s Gathering was held in Lakeville, Minnesota around the theme “Our Help and Hope.” As always, it was an awesome experience to gather for worship, fellowship, education and inspiration.

 

This year’s Gathering marked the 25th anniversary of our association. Some of the original leaders who forged LCMC’s humble beginnings shared the story of the early days of our association. We learned why key decisions were made and how they shaped us and have led to the continued growth and development of this beautiful and diverse body of Christ. We would not be here today without men and women stepping out and up in faith and with courage. We are grateful for the work and ministry they did 25 years ago. In many ways, we are their legacy.

This year also marked the passing of the baton from one Service Coordinator to another. Mike Bradley announced last year that he would be retiring this year. After a prayerful search for his successor, the LCMC Board of Trustees identified Julie Smith to serve as our new Service Coordinator a few months ago. So, at the Gathering, we paused to celebrate and thank Mike Bradley for his years of dedicated service in ministry leadership.

 

While many people were familiar with Mike’s work as the Service Coordinator, far fewer were aware of his prior ministry and impact on other leaders. As Mike has always been quick to give credit to the faithful mentors who poured into him, on the occasion of his retirement, we began hearing from others stories of how Mike had poured into them, too. No matter what his job title was, Mike has made it his mission to lovingly encourage the growth and development of those the Lord has put in his path. He has dedicated much of his life to helping people grow in their roles as pastors and ministry leaders and ambassadors for the Kingdom of God. Now that is leaving a legacy.

 

As Mike rides off into the sunset (literally he is working with horses on a ranch), Julie takes her place in the line of faithful leaders who have gone before her. I have no doubt that God will use Julie in many mighty ways during her tenure as our Service Coordinator. She, too, is carrying on the tradition of investing in the development of others. This, after all, is one of the key functions for all of us in the church. Our true legacy is not in what we accomplish or achieve; our true legacy is the Kingdom impact we have on others. How is God be calling you to step up and out in faith and with courage to create a better future for those who come after you? Who is God calling you to pray for, encourage, and invest in? I pray that we, like those who have gone before us, can continue to leave a legacy.