“But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed…”
(2nd Timothy 4:17, NRSV)
Paul, at the end of his letter to Timothy proclaims that God stood with him and strengthened him in the face of adversity throughout his ministry. At first glance, one might suppose that he believes that God fortified him in solitude. A closer look at this letter’s conclusion however shows something quite different. Paul begins to rattle off panoply individuals who God sends over time to contribute to his ministry and the cause of spreading the gospel. He names Luke, Mark, Carpus, Prisca, Aquila, Onesiphorus, Erastus, Trophimus, Eubulus, Pudens, Linus and Claudia. When I read that portion of the letter, it reminded me that Paul like all of us had a network of people he depended on, leaned on and needed in order to carry out the call on his life.
When 116 young preachers gathered in Atlanta, GA at the beginning of this year, I heard and encountered many Pauls. I equally met and observed many Priscas, and Claudias and Marks. I saw many folks who were not only called to preach God’s word but also sent into each other’s lives in order to be a blessing and encouragement to one another. The festival has many fulcrums of transformative power. One is exemplified by the relationships that are fostered and maintained because of it. When young people who have been called come together they are allowed to be both vulnerable and joyous and at peace with that coexistence.
There is a myth that often prevails in clergy leadership, that the journey to fulfill one’s call must be traveled alone. The festival is a clear reminder of why that is not the case. Whether it is gender, sexual orientation, denomination, or socio-economic status we experience that though our stories may be different our common bond is the love and redeeming grace of Jesus Christ. This grace is a gift that convicts us as we attempt to live it out and preach it.
This year’s theme “Gospel and the City” aptly fits into this truth. Cities are complex, bustling and heterogeneous. Cities are different in their history and size, while others vary by leading industries and political leanings. When Paul received help from his friends, they came in different forms and times depending on the season of his life and ministry. At the festival, we met and reunited with friends whose help and support we may have needed pre or post-sermon, while others we may not call upon until far into the future. Regardless, what is evident is that the Festival is able to bring dozens of preachers who can come together and be authentically themselves. We can challenge the man made plagues on the marginalized and diversify ourselves in our commitment to Jesus and His people. An adage says, “It takes a village to raise a child.” For the preachers of the Academy of Preachers, we know that sometimes God can use a festival to stretch, inspire and embolden a young preacher.