Point of View

For days an idea has been running around in my head searching for the finish line. It has come in spasms. Maybe it has always been a question begging for an answer and Katrina resurfaced it.

It recently came across my mind while listening to a devotional by Dr. Albert Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. The idea “took off running” again. Dr. Mohler asked, “Is bringing the Word near the passion of our soul? What are we doing to bring the Word of God near?” His texts for the devotion came from Deuteronomy 30 and Romans 10.

In the same meeting, Dr. Bobby Welch, president of the Southern Baptist Convention and pastor of First Baptist Church, Daytona Beach, asked, “Can we impact the victims of Katrina if we don’t get mud on our boots?” He would know a little bit about walking in mud. Brother Bobby has been to the affected area multiple times.

Added to these “pressure points” was a call I received from Dr. John Stubblefield, pastor of Main Street Baptist Church, Hattiesburg, Miss. John and I were fellow pastors in Shreveport, La., years ago. For nearly four weeks, the Florida Baptist Convention disaster relief feeding van had been feeding folks in Hattiesburg at his church. Our Florida Baptist clean-up, chainsaw and distribution volunteers were working there as well. Dr. Stubblefield called to thank me for Florida Baptists (God’s most wonderful people) and said in effect, “I don’t know how we would have made it without their presence. They saved our lives and offered us hope.” After thanking him for calling, I assured him of our prayers and offered any additional help we might give.

Now that I have had a few minutes to reflect on each of these instances and bring my running question to a momentary halt, I want to discuss it for awhile in print. Here is how my question finally took shape, “How important is the theology of presence during a storm?” Admittedly, “theology of presence” may not even be the best terminology; maybe “ministry of presence,” “being there in the moment” or just a “lean-on-me” thing. It may be Dr. Mohler’s “bringing the Word near,” or Dr. Welch’s “mud on your boots.” Whatever phrase or terminology used to formulate the question, it deserves an answer.

Next week I will begin ruminating on my answer.

A personal note to Florida Baptists: You have been so generous in your gifts to help Katrina victims, but then why should that surprise me? You are always the most generous. Don’t you love being a Florida Baptist?