By Benton Heisler, West Michigan Conference Director of Connectional Ministries
Choosing surgery wasn’t a simple decision; other treatment options were tried first.
I was told that in my situation, “it is highly unlikely, but complications and constant pain were possible and rarely, but nonetheless sometimes, people die as a result of the anesthesia.”
I didn’t die.
There has been complete relief of the pain and so far in the healing process there have been no complications. I chose the unknown pain of change and a 4” incision instead of the pain I was familiar with if I stayed the same.
Similar choices and challenges face all of us.
Many who are reading this are leaders in our UMC congregations and the Michigan Area conferences. You know full well the pain associated with decline and struggle.
As the Director of Connectional Ministries of the West Michigan Conference, the Reporter is one of the tools our leadership team is choosing to use to bring change and renewed vitality and health to our conference and area.
It will be one avenue to share stories of hope, ideas of change, provide knowledge that can instruct and inspire, create connections with people and places across the country and around the globe.
We all need to learn how to make space in our homes, hearts, heads, and houses of worship for new faces. Previous tools and talents no longer seem to yield the results required in this day. It is time to change.
My personal motto has always been, “I know change is hard, but build a bridge and get over it!”
Fifteen months ago I changed jobs, moved from a city I had lived in for 13 of the past 18 years, learned new streets, found a new physician, moved to a new parsonage. I began to make new friends, searched for a new church to attend, learned where to get my car repaired by a trusted mechanic and the list of changes goes on and on.
It put me in touch with the feelings people not in our congregations may have.
“Is there somebody like me here? Does anybody here want to be my friend? Will they want to share there life story with me or be interested in mine? Are here ways we can serve together and make a difference in the world?”
My new ministry responsibilities have required me to rethink some ways of connecting and communicating. Now I text frequently, my e-mail skills have improved and there are still more areas to grow.
It has been a great deal of change and it is exciting, challenging and life giving.
I pray for such possibilities of exciting and life-giving changes in your congregation and your personal life.
I pray we are willing to trust God to lead us past our fear of change and forward into the hope healing brings.
I encourage you to read this paper monthly and let us learn together. I trust you will visit the Conference Web sites frequently and stay informed and inspired.
I ask that you help your church leaders maintain an accurate electronic church database so particular messages can be communicated to you.
I need to close now. It is time to do the exercises that are part of the pain of new change. I know the pain of the past and I have no desire to return there again.
See you on the path to new possibilities.
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