I made a new friend recently. His name is Ahmad. Ahmad is from Oman and plans to migrate to Texas soon. Ahmad is what I would label an information sponge. He calls me practically every day and wants to know what I eat and do and everything about Texas. He gets excited when he discovers we are eating similar food, curious about cowboy hats and boots, and we have a thoughtful conversation about Jesus, including the significance of Easter. One day, though, Ahmad did not call. I discovered that his town was affected by a devastating flood. His area has not had such a flood in the past 75 years. The flood, which was caused by extreme rains, left 21 people dead and left many families homeless and in need of necessities.
My heart filled with compassion for Ahmad, his family, and the people in his town who showed remarkable resilience in the face of the flood. Their strength reminded me of my childhood in the Philippines, where our cities were also frequently hit by floods and mudslides. It was a challenging time, but the community’s spirit and the efforts of NGOs, like those educated about tree planting, gave us hope and a way to contribute. One of the big believers in tree planting was my Dad.
Over coffee with our Executive Director, Morgan Malone, he shared a personal story that resonated deeply with me. His father, a dedicated tree farmer, spends most of his days nurturing the farm. This reminded me of the countless times I had joined my own father in planting trees during our ‘vacation days.’ It was a small act, but it was our way of contributing to the community and protecting our environment. Reflecting on these memories, I was struck by the immense power of collective efforts. Each of us, in our own small way, can make a significant difference.
During a recent lunch with Bryan Galloway and Charles Pyles, Charles reminded me about the value of the interconnectedness of the trees in the forest. He reminded me that we may not see it on the surface, but the trees’ roots are connected underneath the forest floor, sharing water and nutrients. This network of roots is called the mycorrhizal network. It’s like a communication system that the trees use to help each other. Just as this network is crucial for the survival and resilience of the forest ecosystem, our interconnectedness as a church and as a community is vital for our collective resilience in the face of challenges. Like the trees, we can pray and support each other, sharing resources and strategies to overcome obstacles.
God designed us to be interconnected, not stand on our own. Romans 12:5 states, “So we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.” We are not just individuals but a collective. We are also stronger when we serve and support each other, just like the trees in the forest.
Starting this fall, we plan to accomplish this with the Better Together Luncheons at Denton Baptist Association. These luncheons will provide pastors and ministerial staff a platform to come together and pray, share their experiences, and discuss strategies for building more vital, resilient churches and communities. This is not just any gathering but and a place where we can build a similar communication network and support for our pastors and ministerial staff to help each other out, share resources, and build stronger, more resilient churches and communities.
If you want to know more about the Better Together Luncheons, sense the calling to serve as one of the area coordinators responsible for organizing and facilitating the luncheons in their respective areas, or know someone who might be interested in participating, don’t hesitate to contact Morgan Malone at 940-498-5200 or email him at morgan@dentonbaptist.org. Your support and participation can significantly impact our collective efforts to build more vital, resilient churches and communities.