Dear Brethren, Our Ministerial Training Program here in Charlotte is producing many exciting results. Over the last few years, Mr. John Strain has been able to work with seven younger men who have since been sent to assignments across the country: Mr. Lenny Bower, Mr. Michael Brown, Mr. Ryan Dawson, Mr. Michael Elliott, Mr. Alex Celan, Mr. Julian Braddock, and Mr. James Populo. The importance of bringing younger men into the ministry is great, as, even now, nearly half of our ministry is over the age of 70.
Our training program has also benefited us in ways we never expected. A couple of years ago, we had problems with one of the Mail Processing Department’s oldest machines, affectionately named Millie, which inserted booklets and letters into envelopes. It had reached the advanced age of 18 and was having maintenance issues. Replacing Millie would be very expensive, but our small MPD staff was far too busy to take on much manual envelope stuffing whenever Millie stumbled.
I mentioned this in a brethren-and-coworker letter, and many stepped up to make contributions—including a few larger ones—to purchase a replacement for Millie. Mr. Wakefield encouraged us to sell Millie for parts or see if we could somehow revive her. Professional technicians were of no help, as they considered that she had lived long enough and did not want to work on her anymore.
It was then that Mr. Julian Braddock, here at the time as a ministerial trainee with a background in mechanics, took a look at Millie. In very short order, he discovered the problem and brought her back to life. Mr. Braddock was “just what the doctor ordered”—his presence and expertise brought greater efficiency and financial savings in manpower and equipment. Even as I am writing this letter, Millie is humming away, alongside a newer machine. She now works when we have larger projects, or as a back-up if the newer inserter is down for maintenance.
This year, Mr. James Populo is here as a ministerial trainee, and his background is in project management. He has worked in this field for a multi-billion-dollar corporation, where he consulted with various departments on how to work more efficiently. He is here right when we need him to help us work more effectively across departmental boundaries. While we are still early in the process, one fact is certain: It is good to have someone come in as a friendly but outside consultant to shake things up from time to time. Routines are good, but they can also trap us in habits that prevent greater efficiencies.
What About Your Life?
This can also be true of our personal lives. Sometimes, it is good to have someone outside our context take a look at how we might do better. Couples who are struggling in marriage can benefit from inviting their minister in to look at the problem dispassionately, without bias. One such marriage problem that I remember well—because I learned from the experience—manifested when I visited a new contact interested in the Church. The man was interested in baptism and Sabbath services, but his wife seemed totally against the truth of God. Even though I had been in the ministry for decades, I was slow to pick up on the problem. However, I eventually realized that she was not actually against the Church, but against her husband neglecting her by spending all his time studying. When I pointed this out, she softened and became quite reasonable. Sadly, he needed to change and was not ready to do so. I don’t know what happened to them, but unless he changed, their marriage probably did not go well.
Sometimes people have child-rearing issues. I have noticed that they rarely counsel with someone more successful in that area of life. Instead, they go to people who are struggling as they are, and engage in a blame party—blaming the schools, blaming peer pressure or social media, blaming a lack of attention from the Church. All of these can be real problems, but some families negotiate these challenges better than others. So, why don’t people go to those who seem to be doing better to find out what they are doing that makes them more successful?
In all such cases, it is the fact that we really do not want to change. Dr. Laura, a popular radio talk show host, made this astute observation: People who call in a marriage counselor rarely want to change themselves. They want the counselor to be an ally to help them change the other person. Yes, it is easier and feels better to blame one’s mate, the schools, social media, parents, and a host of others. That way, we do not need to make painful changes. While change in the right direction—most often not fully understood at first—is rarely comfortable, it bears good fruit.
The Tomorrow’s World magazine and telecast have changed over the last 25 years. This is noticeable when reviewing older magazines and telecasts. I think most of us would agree that the changes have been good. Of course, when we think of the changes in writers and presenters, we naturally miss those who went before us, as death brought about most of those changes. Yet, the Work has gone on.
Many changes are incremental in manner—small changes over a long stretch of time. That is especially true of the telecast and magazine. Other changes are more dramatic. Sometimes it is a change in a job assignment at HQ. In the field, it may be a new pastor moving in. No matter how carefully the new man tries not to “upset the apple cart,” significant changes do occur. In almost every case, those changes are simply the results of different administration (1 Corinthians 12:28), not departure from the truth. It is important to recognize the difference—but some members do not, and may react with fear, disagreement, or even defection. Most often, however, such changes enrich a congregation and bring about a broader perspective.
God’s Spirit Is There to Change Us
As you read this, we have finished this year’s Passover and Days of Unleavened Bread, and are coming to Pentecost. Ancient Israel experienced both Festivals in a physical manner. Yet, spiritually, they never put the leaven of their past lives behind them. Nor was the law of God, given on what we now call Pentecost, written on their hearts—only on stone.
As we observe Pentecost this year, let us humble ourselves before our Creator and allow His Spirit to transform our lives. Rather than resisting it, let us embrace positive change. As we are instructed, let us “be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:2). Indeed, “we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:18).
We will never reach perfection in this life, but must always strive to improve. It is easy to see baptism as an end in itself, but there is more. We must change for the better. Baptism is only the beginning of our transformation into sons and daughters of God (2 Corinthians 6:18). “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ…. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:27, 29).
Finally, brethren, let us never forget Dr. Meredith’s favorite scripture describing a true Christian:
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me (Galatians 2:20, King James Version).
