April 2023 News - National Association of Church Facilities Managers

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CHURCH FACILITIES MANAGERS | April 2023

"You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good..."
MESSAGE FROM NACFM PRESIDENT HOMER CLARK

A Happy Easter to my brothers and sisters! I trust this message finds you in a good place today. Even in this season of celebrating our Savior's resurrection, I suspect that some in the NACFM community are facing problems or challenges that seem overwhelming. Here's what James had to say about hard times.

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance." - James 1:2-3

While this scripture is true and accurate, I imagine that many believers struggle to embrace "pure joy" or find comfort in the development of "perseverance" when they find themselves in the middle of personal tragedy or unbearable grief. And, of course, many times the "trials of many kinds" may come from our own personal mistake, bad judgment, or some poor decision. Please read on...

The following is brief tale that I've shared in the past during a morning devotional at our national conference. When overwhelming circumstances begin to close in, I often recall this short piece written by Jim Liebelt.

A farmer’s donkey had fallen into an old, abandoned well. The animal brayed and brayed as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. The farmer could not think of a way to get the donkey out of the well, so he decided to bury the donkey and fill the well in the process. The farmer grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and began braying louder. Finally, the donkey began to quiet down. After shoveling for a while, the farmer looked down into the well and was amazed at what he saw. With every shovel of dirt that hit the donkey, the animal would shake the dirt off and take a step up. The farmer continued to shovel dirt into the well and the donkey would shake it off and take another step up. After some time, the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and trotted off.

What’s the moral of the story? Let’s look at it from the perspective of the donkey. Just like dirt being shoveled on the donkey, the negative experiences of life can seemingly bury us. Crying out is a natural and appropriate response when we find ourselves in tough times. But, it doesn’t solve the problem. The solution, with God’s help in our lives, is to shake the experiences off and to use them as stepping-stones. Further, if we don’t give in – if we shake off the “dirt” and take a step up – allowing God to work in our lives, we become equipped not only to better handle more “dirt,” but to reach out and help others who are experiencing similar trials and challenges.

"But Joseph said to them, 'Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.'" - Genesis 50:19-20

Now, for the rest of the story.

Let’s look at the story from the perspective of the farmer. While I’m not certain about the intelligence of donkeys, if I were the farmer I wouldn’t be expecting much help from the donkey in the future. How would one try to convey to the donkey, “Oh, sorry about trying to bury you”? A lesson we can learn from this story is that God is able to bring good from our errors. The farmer erred in not filling up and covering the well in the first place. It was his fault that the donkey fell into the well. What was the farmer’s solution to the problem? He decided to kill the donkey and cover the whole mess up!

Covering up for mistakes and sins sounds pretty familiar. Fortunately, God is all-powerful and He is able to do what we cannot. He is able to transform even the worst intentions into good outcomes. This doesn’t mean that we should expect God to remove the natural consequences for our poor decisions. In fact, I think He only rarely does this; however, because God is good, I believe He provides opportunities for some good to result.

Here’s a challenge for you today. When you realize you’ve sinned or otherwise messed something up, go straight to God. Ask Him to forgive you and always ask God to bring good out of every situation.

GOING DEEPER:

1. When have you recently tried to “bury the donkey” by covering up some sin, mistake, or poor decision?

2. What good might result from admitting the wrong and addressing it head-on with God and others around you?

Folks, please remember that in addition to having our mighty God on our side (which should be enough!), we all have hundreds of men and women in the NACFM who are willing and able to come to our aid; love, prayer, and genuine fellowship from brothers and sisters in our great organization!

Lastly, please keep in mind that our NACFM National Conference is just around the corner. Please don't miss the opportunity for learning, fellowship, and reconnection with old friends while making new ones!

A special thanks to crosswalk.com and the author of the above devotional, Jim Liebelt.

Blessings to you all,
Homer Clark
NACFM President

Here Comes the Bride. Is Your Church Ready?

Hosting a wedding at your church is a joyous occasion—and it’s also a lot of work. Amid the excitement, keep in mind the safety and well-being of the newlyweds, their guests, and the church building. Taking some simple precautions can help make the day of the wedding both happy and safe for all.

Featured Member: John Surles
Thomasville First Baptist Church, Thomasville, GA

John Surles is a successful facilities professional who lives and works in the town where he was born and raised. Before his position as a facilities manager, his life path and career experiences took him to many places in the USA and one stint in the Far East. John's work before he landed at Thomasville FBC included considerable military experience and security involvement.