The Unexpected Pain of Pastoral Betrayal ~ Barry Davis
No one warns you in seminary that the deepest wounds in ministry might come not from the world, but from within the flock. You expected spiritual warfare, cultural hostility, and even internal doubt—but betrayal? From the very people you baptized, counseled, wept with, and prayed over?
Yes—sometimes the sheep bite.
Jesus experienced this. Paul endured it. David wrote psalms about it. And every seasoned pastor will tell you: betrayal is not an “if,” but a “when.” You can pour out your heart, invest years, sacrifice time with your family—and be repaid with criticism, slander, or outright abandonment.
The pain is real. But so is the grace of God to carry you through it. Continue Reading………
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From May 26 until June 4 of 1940, French and Belgian forces engaged in one of the biggest evacuation operations ever undertaken at that time. About 198,000 British soldiers and 140,000 French and Belgian troops were hastily evacuated from the French seaport of Dunkirk to England. Naval vessels and hundreds of civilian boats were used in the operation.
The evacuation was necessary because Nazi Germany had invaded northern France and the Low Countries in May 1940. The Germans had overrun the region, and the Allied forces were trapped in an ever-decreasing pocket near Dunkirk.
Northern France was lost, the territory ceded to the ever advancing German offensive, and it was a call to evacuate now or be driven into the sea itself. The entire endeavor had devolved into one huge salvage operation.
Oddly enough, such a scene reminds us of the Gospel because the gospel is applied to an even more dire situation. You see, it was the garden that was lost, man was dead in his sins, the devil’s offensive against humanity continued to advance and something had to be done lest all of humanity would have been driven into eternal hell. And it was the gospel that simply has been, is now, and will always be, one big salvage operation of humanity itself. Only, instead of filling boats with soldiers, they are filled with the souls of men.
Such clarity of the gospel as always being one grand salvage operation came to mind with the release of the UMC Bishop’s four letters on Justice and Peace. Therein is a litany of what the Bishops present as priorities for the church. A Call for Peace, A Plea for a Ceasefire, A Rejection of Violence and a Stand for DEI. How grand a vision for the church. How noble these causes. And yet, there seems to be something missing. It’s that same thing that has always been missing all the more so for the last forty plus years. And that is the gospel.
You see, the church and her people were never called to advocate for peace, to reject violence and to make a stand for DEI as priorities for the church. The church was called to carry the gospel into the world. We were called to prioritize above every last single thing the ministry….the ministry of reconciliation. We were supremely called to be used as the means by which a rebellious sinner can be reconciled back to a loving God. And frankly, we have no business prioritizing anything else above that. Not making political stands for peace nor against violence, not pleading for a ceasefire and not making stands for DEI. Our business is supremely prioritized in conveying the gospel. Even Wesley himself is quoted as saying “”You have one business on earth – to save souls,” emphasizing the importance of saving souls as the primary purpose of one’s life on earth.
You see, it is not the calling of the church, nor was it ever, to conduct a church led DIY remodeling job of this planet earth via social and environmental causes. Why waste the time on a celestial ball that will only be consumed by fire and replaced with a new heaven and a new earth anyway? But it IS the calling of the church to engage in that grand generational salvage operation, saving souls to eventually populate that new earth and new heaven. May we get back to the business of loading the boats and saving souls from being driven into hell. May we simply return to the gospel. OM
]]>In 1989, the electronic music band Depeche Mode had their biggest hit: “Personal Jesus.” It sounded like a sardonic twist on authentic faith, musing about living life “second best,” but no worries, you can rest assured that “your own personal Jesus” will be a forgiver. You can “reach out, touch faith,” have someone “hear your prayers… someone who cares” because you have “your own personal Jesus.” Continue Reading….
]]>I have previously shared here about my conviction that the culture or atmosphere of the classes I teach is more important than being sure I say all the words I want to say or get all the content in before the class ends.
I am not sure I always get this right. Actually, I’m sure I don’t always get this right.
However, I am increasingly confident that students are most impacted by the things that happen in my classes because I intentionally create an atmosphere that is open to the Holy Spirit than they are by the lectures that I give. And maybe even more than that, I find that students are more willing to listen to what I have to say when they are convinced that I care about them. So, I think that prioritizing the culture or atmosphere of classes I teach enhances student learning and engagement with the content of the course.
And I don’t think this goes the other direction. Continue Reading…….
]]>It was a joy to speak at the Global Methodist Church’s recent 2:42 Conference. God is raising up men and women with a passion to share the good news of Jesus Christ, who are unashamed of the gospel and unafraid to lead. It’s so encouraging to spend time with them, and an honor to have the opportunity to speak into their ministries.
My topic at this conference was the uniqueness of Methodism. How is the Methodist movement different from other movements? What sets us apart? Those who are interested can access my remarks in the video below. And I know you’ll tell me about it if I got it wrong. 
… I have noticed that God’s steadfast love endures forever. Have you noticed that God’s steadfast love endures forever? Knowing what we are remembering this Holy Week; it is good for us to see that God’s steadfast love endures forever. It is because God’s steadfast love endures forever that we have Holy Week. This week has Christians around the globe talking about Jesus Christ. For this week is about Jesus Christ and God’s steadfast love for us. Continue Reading……
]]>…. I have been waiting to share this with you. I am so pumped!
With the blessing of the leadership at Asbury Church, I am starting a Fellowship Program. We will hire two Fellows, which will be full-time paid positions, with benefits, starting this August.
For years, I have had a growing burden to build something that will help raise up the next generation of leaders for the church. I want to build what I would have wanted when I was just getting started in ministry. I was so hungry for mentors and had the hardest time finding them when I was starting out in ministry.
The Asbury Fellowship Program will be a blessing to the Fellows. The purpose of the Fellowship Program is not to bring people to Asbury Church to serve us. Rather, the purpose is to bring Fellows to Asbury Church so we can serve them. Continue Reading…..
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