Some Journey

What being an elder really means

David Marr is one of the elders at our church. We've been members at Chattanooga Valley Pres for a little over a year. The decision to move there was a difficult one, as we loved the church we were at, but it was a long distance from home and it was becoming increasingly more difficult to be involved the way we wanted to be. There is not room enough to blog about all the ways God has blessed us through this little body in the valley, but suffice it to say the list is endless. One of the things I worried about the most when we left our much bigger church (with all of its many structured events and well run programs for children) was whether or not our children would be fed and nurtured spiritually enough in a church with so few children. Now that almost seems silly, but at the time I was concerned. As it turns out, I am finding that what has replaced those numerous programs for kids has been one on one discipleship and relationships that are incredibly real and important to my kids. My younger kids won't leave church until they get a hug from Albert, our worship director and elder. Noah was sick last week and had to stay home. By Tuesday he just kept crying and begging me to take him to church. My kids have close relationships with most of the elders and deacons and others who are great spiritual leaders. What a comfort to know that they have so many people to whom they can turn in trust as they grow older and begin to look more aggressively at the paths they are taking in life. In the photo above, David was holding Tomoya, the pastor's son. Before he knew it, the other kids began to gather as well. What a neat thing to have elders who take seriously the covenant commitment to help us, as parents, to nurture and train their children, and to do so in such a hands on way. What an even greater blessing that those children feel so very comfortable with him, as well, and would gladly run to him when they need someone. I am so impressed by the elders in our church. They each take seriously the responsibility to not only make decisions and guide the body as a whole, but to be involved in the lives of the members, and to know them individually. The depth of these relationships provides them with much greater oppportunities for discipleship than would a more hands off approach to leadership. I feel so blessed to have my children grow up in this body.