Small, world-wide church

Last Wednesday I was driving to a trade show for a national account. As I was passing through Waco, my cell phone rings. It displays an unfamiliar area code and number, but I answer it anyway. A preacher in Conneticut quickly introduces himself and asks if we are still accepting resumes for our new minister position of membership and discipleship at the church of Christ on McDermott Road. (I am chairing that search committee, so the church secretary must have given him my cell phone number.) I tell him we are, so send us his information to the account we set up for that purpose.

He then asks me if I have any relatives in Topeka. "Yes, my son is a youth minister at the Central Church of Christ in Topeka," I explain. It seems he had just finished talking with Robert about the open pulpit minister position they have in Topeka.

We start to close our conversation, when I ask him again to tell me his name so I can watch for his packet. He tells me, "Des Terry; Des is short for Dessain." I ask him, "Is this the Dessain Terry from San Antonio?"

[There is a short pause here]

With a sudden note of recognition, he replies, "Is this the Larry Klutts from San
Antonio?" During my three short years in full-time ministry, Dessain Terry was the pulpit minister at a small congregation just a couple of miles away. We worked together on the World Vision for Christ workshops, shared meals, ideas and dreams. I still remember and use one of his concepts in teaching, which is to use certain key words that automatically grab people's attention and raise their awareness level.

It seems Dessain has been preaching for a small congregation there for ten years. This last year they finally grew numerically and spiritually to the point they appointed elders and deacons. With their growth, and Dessain's mother's and mother-in-law's advancing age, now seems to be a good time to get back closer to them.

The subject line of Dessain's email to me was "The church is too small." Multitudes do need to be saved, but I like the way God keeps us connected.