A Tribute to Dr. Paul G. Cunningham

Dr. Paul Cunningham significantly influenced my life as a minister. I imagine hundreds, if not thousands, of Nazarene preachers would say the same thing.

As a college student at MVNU, I had the privilege of attending a conference for Nazarene College and University student government leaders on the campus of MNU. One morning the schedule called for us to meet in the College Church sanctuary where Pastor. Paul Cunningham would share a devotional with us. While I knew him by reputation, that was my first time to hear him in person. He was bigger than life. Almost forty years later, I still remember the illustration he used in that devotional. 

When Diane and I moved to our first pastorate in rural West Virginia, my sister Kim, who attended College Church, would send me boxes filled with cassette tapes of Dr. Cunningham’s sermons. I devoured them. Those messages fed my soul. Not only did I benefit, but that congregation often benefited as well, as Paul Cunningham became an oft-cited source in my sermons.  

My, was he a preacher. Over the years, at district assemblies, and especially at Preachers’ Retreats, his messages inspired, encouraged, and enabled me to return to my assignment with hope. None of us who were there will ever forget his General Assembly message to pastors.  

Paul Cunningham was the first General Superintendent I had the privilege to work with when I became a young, very green, district secretary. Already in awe of him, my appreciation only grew as I observed that his leadership, administrative, and relational skills were as substantial as his preaching gifts. Diane and I will always be grateful for the interest he and Dr. Connie showed in our young boys, Josh and Jeff. Years later they would still inquire about them by name.   

Dr. Cunningham traveled to Maysville, Kentucky, to dedicate our new church building. His arrival at the airport—an hour-away—occurred when the entire congregation was involved in a ministry activity. So, I asked a community leader who did not attend the church to pick up Dr. Cunningham. That hour-long trip changed that community leader’s life and became one of the most significant grace-events of his spiritual journey.

One Tuesday afternoon while I was pastoring in Columbus, Ohio, Dr. Cunningham called to talk with me about serving as district superintendent in South Carolina. I was stunned and told him I didn’t even know what questions to ask. That hour-long conversation became for me a model of how a leader communicates. He walked me through the challenges, the opportunities, the unique dynamics, and why he thought I should accept the assignment. He then served as my General Superintendent in jurisdiction for two years. I’ve never known a more dignified, classy leader. He was always prepared, always dealt with challenging situations gracefully yet decisively, always provided wise counsel, and always left us better than he found us.

The church has lost a great preacher, a great statesman, a great churchman, a great resource, a great soul. Connie, his partner in life and ministry, has lost her companion. May God’s comfort and peace surround her and the family.

 Eddie Estep

COVID-19 and Pastoral Leadership, Update #5 Reflections at this Point in the Journey

April 6, 2020

55 days until Pentecost

This Holy Week is guaranteed to be unlike any you or I have ever experienced. COVID-19 has made that certain. However, the work of the church and of pastors has not ceased during this season. In many ways it has increased. While we may not be able to meet publicly, the proclamation of the gospel has been significantly enhanced and expanded through livestreamed services and other digital means. Discipleship groups and prayer meetings are taking place via Zoom. There is an increase in pastoral care through innovative means. Precisely because our work is "essential," pastors are finding creative ways for the work of ministry to continue. 

What I am learning…

·      A screenshot of a Zoom meeting can be saved and used as a prayer guide

·      Pastors can figure out how to pivot on a dime and serve their churches in new and powerful ways. Several of them are also parents with kids at home and in addition to ministry responsibilities have now become “homeschoolers.”

·      A fresh sense of gratitude for pastors, for health care personnel, and for the supply chain

·      This is a marathon, and you run a marathon one step at a time

·      Just how fragile humanity really is

·      God does His best work when His people are in the worst circumstances

What I am wondering…

·      Since Easter will be somewhat muted this year, will there be a renewal of interest in the significance of Pentecost? While the first Easter was not celebrated with big crowds (only experienced by one or two at a time), the first Pentecost was celebrated with a big crowd. Maybe Pentecost will be very, very special this year.

What I am hoping…

·      That when we finally are able to gather together again in person, we will no longer need to convince people of the value of worship gatherings. It will have become apparent during this season of isolation.

·      That we will be delivered from this temporary affliction sooner than some estimate.

·      That God will continue to empower all of us to serve well – with grace and peace. 

·      That our first grandchild, Ellie Kay, will arrive safely this week. Josh and Kortney are headed to the hospital tonight, and Kortney will be induced a week before her due date to avoid the COVID-19 peak expected next week in Ohio. 

This week’s Zoom meetings with senior pastors will take place Thursday at 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. The 6:00 p.m. meeting will be translated into Spanish. We will begin offering Lifelong Learning Credit for these meetings.  This week’s meeting   will include:

·      Leadership Development Component

·      Updates/Information

·      Peer-to-Peer Learning: Best Practices

·      Prayer Time

·      Devotional: Eddie Estep

The district Ministry Team Retreat has been rescheduled for October 5-8, 2020, at The Chateau on the Lake, Branson.

I am praying for you.

God is with us.

                                                                                            Eddie Estep

                                                                                            District Superintendent

COVID-19 and Pastoral Leadership

I am thinking today about the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and about how leaders help those they serve navigate challenging situations.  Health officials still don’t know everything about the coronavirus that has killed nearly 4,000 people around the world.  As of this morning, the number of cases in the U.S. has topped 500 with 22 deaths.

Will this situation become worse?  It looks likely.  While it is not helpful to fret and worry, or spread rumors, it is helpful to use this occasion to think about how leaders respond in times of crisis.

So, what can you do? Don’t spread fear. Don’t spread germs. Don’t panic. Do help those you serve navigate this well. Do use this opportunity to develop a strategy for dealing with similar challenges. Most importantly, do pray for the healing of those who have contracted this virus and pray that it won’t spread further.

In this particular situation, you can practice good personal hygiene and encourage others to do the same. Wash your hands well and often.  Keep your hands away from your mouth, nose, and eyes. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, or cover your mouth with the crook of your elbow.  Keep your environment clean.  Stay home if you are sick.

If you don’t already, provide hand sanitizer stations at several locations around your facility. Consider using Communion and greeting practices that lessen the potential spread of germs.  

You may want to take additional steps to develop a “Crisis Plan” in the event this situation worsens or in preparation for any other potential emergency. At some point, most every church experiences a crisis due to weather, fire, health, etc.  Now is the time to talk about it with your leadership team before there is a sense of urgency. None of us make good decisions when we are in panic mode. 

Your plan could include the following:

·      ensuring you have up-to-date contact information (e-mail, phone) on all regular attenders

·      developing a communication plan to keep the entire church informed

·      considering how you might provide worship opportunities via Facebook live, livestream, etc., if it became difficult for the congregation to gather in person

·      developing a plan for how pastoral care will continue to be provided

·      ensuring that your church attenders can continue to support the church financially through electronic means

“Do not be afraid and do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you.” (Joshua 1:9)

Rev. Don Bird: A Tribute to a Faithful Pastor

We lost a good pastor on Sunday.

Our brother, Pastor Don Bird (Overland Park Antioch), went home to heaven on Sunday morning, August 25, 2019. He had just preached a sermon some felt was “more animated than usual,” served his congregation the Lord’s Supper, and pronounced the benediction. As the congregation was leaving the sanctuary, Don collapsed from a heart attack. First aid was rendered immediately, but he did not regain consciousness.

While Don was taken far too soon, and had several more fruitful years of life and ministry ahead of him, could there be a better way for a pastor to pass from this world to the next? He had just preached, offered Communion to his flock, and gave them a blessing. He did not suffer or languish. One minute he was vibrantly and enthusiastically shepherding those under his care, the next minute he was in the presence of the Good Shepherd.

I was preaching at Beacon Hill on Sunday morning when my phone began to vibrate with texts and phone calls. When I had opportunity to give them attention, I was shocked by the news, as I know you were. It was not lost on me that twice in the course of that service, lay leaders in the church offered this exhortation: “Be ready, so you don’t have to get ready.”

I believe our brother, Don, was ready. It behooves us all to be ready, in case we don’t have time to get ready.

In the hours since we heard the news, there have been many poignant conversations between pastors and spouses: “What if it had been us…?” Times such as these remind us of our mortality, and of our desire to care for our families. I know I have been reminded of the importance of keeping accounts short, relationships warm, and responsibilities current.

We are also reminded of our firm faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and confident hope in the Resurrection. Paul’s perspective on life and death is instructive: “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21).

Don grewup on a farm in southwest Kansas. His parents were committed Nazarene lay leaders. Called to ministry at age 14, he attended MNU and then graduate school at Johns Hopkins University. Prior to coming to Overland Park Antioch, Don served churches in Ohio, Maryland, and Kansas. He also served the denomination in several ways, notably in coordinating SDMI and NYI events. He served the Kansas City District in almost every area of leadership, most recently as District SDMI Chairman. He was a visionary pastor, gifted in preaching the Gospel, leading worship, and organizational planning. He also mentored several young pastors.

Just this month, Don completed 23 years of service as pastor at Antioch. He was a legacy pastor. He and I had recently set the date for the regular Church/Pastoral Relationship Review that would have taken place in September. Over the years, Don had led the Antioch congregation through significant milestones, including the sale of property, relocation, and the strategic and intentional planting of a new church. Under his leadership, the church was intentional about investing in new and missional ministries. His vision was to start ten new works in ten years. Though he had served the church for over two decades, he endeavored to stay fresh and current, and was engaged in starting new ministries and new initiatives.

Don was typically the last person to leave a meeting. He simply enjoyed being around people. He especially enjoyed participating in the ministry of Heaventrain at the Edwardsville church plant.

Don leaves a grieving family, a grieving congregation, and a grieving district. We are lifting up Sheila and the children and grandchildren in our prayers. In the days and weeks to come, as you are prompted to reach out with a card or an expression of loving concern, you may send them to: Sheila Bird, 7639 Monrovia, Lenexa, KS 66216.

We also remember Antioch Church in this time of loss. Diane and I will be worshipping with them this Sunday, and I will meet with the church board then as we seek God’s grace and guidance in navigating these days of pastoral transition.

The family is in the process of making arrangements. It appears that a service in tribute to Don will be held this Saturday morning, August 31, at Central Church. The time of the service, and the time and place of visitation, should be available later today.

May God bless the memory and legacy of our brother and friend.

A Most Taxing Day

It strikes me as ironic that April 15—Tax Day—falls during Holy Week.  It was on the Tuesday of the first Holy Week that Jesus was asked to address the issue of paying taxes.

Apparently, paying taxes was as hot an issue in Jesus’ day as it is in ours, and popular speakers like Jesus were expected to have a word on the matter.  The Pharisees and Herodians, political enemies, had teamed up to trap Jesus, using the issue of paying taxes as bait.  

First, they butter Jesus up with a compliment: “Teacher, we know you have integrity, are indifferent to public opinion, don’t pander to your students, and teach the way of God accurately.  We have a question: Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

It was a trap with two steel jaws.  If Jesus says “Yes,” the Pharisees will expose Him as a disloyal Jew.  He’ll be charged with blasphemy—a crime punishable by death.  That’s the first steel jaw.  If Jesus says “No,” the Herodians will report Him to the Roman government as guilty of sedition—also a crime punishable by death.  That’s the second steel jaw.  It’s a strong trap.

Jesus doesn’t say Yes or No.  He says, “Why are you trying to trap me?  Bring me a denarius, and let me look at it.”  Someone produces the coin.  Jesus looks at it, and then asks, “Whose image is this?  And whose inscription?”

They reply, “Caesar’s.” And Jesus says, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s!”

Caesar’s image was stamped on the coin.  The image and inscription were an indication of ownership, and it could not be argued that a coin created by Caesar, stamped with his image, and inscribed with his name could belong to anyone else.

Since they are able to produce the coin, they’ve already legitimized his rule.  If you have no qualms about doing business with Caesar’s money, you had better pay Caesar’s taxes. 

But that’s not all Jesus says.  He says, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and give to God what is God’s.”

Four hundred years later, Augustine would expand on these words by reminding us that we are citizens of two cities: the earthly and the heavenly.  Every Christian has a double citizenship and a double duty.  Our duty to government is not to be denied.  Our duty to God is not to be neglected.

Caesar’s image was on the coin.  Where is God’s image?

The answer is found in Genesis 1:27: “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”  

Just as Caesar’s image and inscription were on that coin, God’s image and inscription are on us. We are made in His image and inscribed with His truth.  

Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and give to God what is God’s.

That won’t just make for a Holy Week.  

That will make for a Holy You.

Mom and Dad

My mom and dad attended church yesterday in Harrisonville, Missouri. They’ve been faithful members there for more than a dozen years but have been unable to attend for the last few months due to my mom’s illness. Thankfully, she is experiencing a turn for the better.  

Yesterday Diane and I had the privilege of sitting with them in church—an experience made even more special because my mom and dad celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary last week. I watched the way they greeted—and were greeted by—their many friends at church, and the ways their souls were nurtured by the music, the testimonies, and the sermon. I was reminded of the importance of being part of a community of faith. God has used the good folks at Harrisonville Nazarene to encourage my parents in so many ways and to bring joy to their faces, food to their table, warmth to their hearts, and hope to their eyes.

Today, I am most thankful for the heritage I have been given. My parents have modeled great faith, the importance of family, and the blessing of church involvement. I’m grateful for how they have led the way—in life, in marriage, and in faith.