i had an awesome opportunity last friday to eat lunch with pastor charles smith, from shiloh missionary baptist church here in baton rouge. he’s been pastoring that church for 43 years, and before that, his dad was pastor there for 30 years, in fact, get this – the church is 133 years old, and they’ve only had four pastors.

i sat in awe hearing the stories he told from his four deades of reaching people across the landscape of change in this community over the last four decades. he remembered dr. martin luther king jr.’s visit to baton rouge during the civil rights conflicts in the 1950’s. those decades include the vietnam war, the craziness of the 70’s (disco, mood rings, etc.), the oil crash in the 80’s (which messed with our community’s economy a lot), the scandals of the 90’s, and 9/11, and even more recently now, hurricanes katrina and rita.

pastor charles smith is a man who has stayed true to his wife and kids and the call of God to the ever-changing inner city of baton rouge. i asked him his advice to emerging young pastors. he simply said, “stay true to God’s word and don’t give your leadership away.”

i’ve been pastoring for 13 years – i thought that was a long time. but sitting with pastor charles i realized i’m just a mere pup still wetting the carpet at night. i pray that through all of our successes and all that goes on in our ever-emerging churches we do not forget those who pave the way for us to accelerate.

last friday was a landmark day for me. thanks, pastor charles.

here’s an outreach idea – on january 16, 2006, communities all over our country will hold parades commemorating dr. martin luther king jr. day. i think every church in america oughtta do all they can to serve the people invovled in those parades and the other positive celebrations that day. serve them food in to go plates at the end of the parade. do all you can to love on them. where 40 and 50 years ago dogs were turned on them as were water hoses, let’s turn love on them – and food is a great way to do that. show God’s love to those who are commemorating and remembering this great man’s great dream and his commitment to non-violent steps toward change.