Episode Transcript
[00:00:06] Speaker A: Welcome to among the Lampstands St. Louis Metro podcast, where pastors equip pastors at Metro. Our mission is to connect churches so leaders can be developed and deployed for gospel mission. Because the greatest problem in our city is lostness and the greatest hope is Christ.
Join us as we talk ministry, leadership, and the movement of God among The lampstands in St. Louis.
[00:00:30] Speaker B: Foreign.
[00:00:37] Speaker C: Welcome to among the Lampstands, a podcast by Metro Pastors for Metro pastors. My name is Chad Hodges, and I'm the director of church strength and pastoral care here for Metro. And I'm going to be the host of this podcast or tour guide, whatever we want to call it as we work through it. And so, in our very first episode, today's conversation is marking the beginning of a new season in the life of St. Louis Metro. And rather than just simply introducing our new executive director, we want to tell the story a little bit of how God moved us throughout this process. So with us in the studio this morning is our new executive director, Michael T. Bird Sr.
The president of our executive board, Daniel Carr, and another executive committee member, and our treasurer, Sam Tennell. So we're just going to have a good conversation this morning. We want to spend some time talking about the journey to where we are here in this moment and then talking about where we're going here in St. Louis Metro. So let's just kind of jump in and talk a little bit with Daniel and Sam about the search process. And let me just throw this out real quick. When this responsibility was placed in your laps as a committee, what was your first thought? When we heard that Darren was stepping aside and the executive committee was going to be the search team, what was the first thought that came into your mind? Daniel, we'll start with you because you had a smile on your face when
[00:01:54] Speaker D: I asked that question. My first thought was, man, where do I submit my resignation?
Yeah.
[00:01:58] Speaker E: Are we allowed to curse on this podcast?
[00:02:00] Speaker C: We can bleed out. Yeah.
[00:02:04] Speaker D: Yeah. No.
First thought was, what a. Just the weight of the monumental task to seek God out for the next executive director of our association. Because it's not an easy job. Our association is so radically different from at least any association I'm familiar with. Just because we are regional, you know, Splash is so large.
We have great diversity, not only ethnically, but also within the conservative realm. There's some diversity of, you know, Calvinism versus Armenianism. And, you know, you just have just such a wide girth of. Of churches.
And so I just felt a really heavy weight. So we started praying a lot I know I started praying a lot and fasting and just really wanted to know what the Lord was going to do with this. Also, you know, I knew that we had two. At least two great candidates already on our team.
And just, you know, just personally just letting the. The shade down a little bit. I felt a lot of pressure there because already love both of you guys and talking about you, Chad, and you, Michael, and just felt a pressure. Man, that's. That's gonna be hard. It's gonna be a hard deal. No matter how it shakes out, you know, there's gonna be possibly some relational equity that could be damaged or friendships damaged or, you know, what if it was neither one of you? What that. What's. What's that gonna be like? So I just started thinking through all these different scenarios, and again, just came to the point where, God, this is way bigger than me. This is way bigger than us.
So, Lord, just please work this out according to your own will, for your glory. So I was.
That's how I started this whole process. Sure. Personally, that's where my mind was. My head was.
[00:03:53] Speaker E: Sure.
[00:03:53] Speaker C: Same. What about you?
[00:03:54] Speaker E: You know, my first gut reaction, the weightiness was. Was the big thing. But, I mean, I had a. I had a lot of.
[00:04:01] Speaker C: Just.
[00:04:01] Speaker E: I had to work through a little bit of some sorrow and some mourning. I.
I've been in vocational ministry for 20 years at this point, and they have all been in St. Louis Metro Baptist Association. I. I have gotten the privilege of doing all of my vocational ministry in my hometown. And so our previous executive director, I've literally known since I was 18. I remember being in my undergrad, studying theology and getting invited into a meeting and hearing Darren give vision for the next generation of pastors and leaders and church planners. And this is a guy who has been a mentor to me, the guy I call when things aren't working right in ministry. And so just.
Just facing a transition in this organization felt really personal to me because I've been doing my whole adult ministry journey here, and the deep relational connection there. There was just a lot of man like, oh, man. Like St. Louis Metro was such a good, strong association. And what's going to be different? Is it going to work? And then, you know, just feeling the weight of that. There's over 100 churches, all these different pastors represented, and now we got to figure this thing out. We got to find God's man. Like, it was. It was. It was very intimidating, to be totally honest.
[00:05:18] Speaker C: Yeah. So you talked about prayer. What. What specifically? Maybe were you guys Praying that God would do before you ever sat down to consider candidates.
[00:05:27] Speaker B: What.
[00:05:27] Speaker D: Yeah.
[00:05:27] Speaker C: What are some things you were praying through?
[00:05:29] Speaker D: Two. Two things I remember very specifically praying for unity and clarity. That was the big one. That. That our team would be absolutely unified around who the candidate was we wanted to present to the executive board, and that it was just crystal clear that there was no doubt among any of the team.
And I honestly, on the front end, I didn't. I mean, I trusted God could do it, but I didn't see how that was going to happen, you know, because starting off, we were kind of all of us on different.
Different planes, different thought processes, you know, kind of leaning toward maybe different candidates. And, you know, it was a very loving, gracious group. We got along great. There was no heated discussions at all. Everything was just done in such a brotherly love fashion. But we were. We were in different head spaces at the beginning, and it was just really neat to see God answer those prayers. Bring clarity and unity in such a powerful way.
[00:06:27] Speaker E: Yeah, yeah, I'd tack onto that. We have a really strong executive committee right now. And I think the strength of our executive committee comes from the fact that there is a pretty broad diversity of representative churches. I mean, from in the city limits to out in the county, to north to south, to a little more rural, a little more urban.
There's a lot of diversity in the churches represented. But in that, there's a lot of diversity in the spiritual giftings represented. And even in fundamental philosophy of ministry, there's larger churches and smaller churches. And that just.
It just ends up with some. Some strong, experienced leaders who are all bringing a different starting process, different thought process to the table. Unity was my biggest prayer going into it. I remember having the same thought of just going, I don't know how a group this diverse is going to come together on one dude and go, that's the guy. And so that was my biggest prayer going into it was unity. But then also just I remember being really burdened to pray for wisdom and prudence, that we would not be swept along by anything, but that we would be operating in the prudence and wisdom of the spirit. And I felt like the Lord brought both of those prayers to fruition.
[00:07:43] Speaker C: Well, Sam, I want to start with you on this next question without going into the confidentials, because there are a lot of confidentials that kind of come. Confidential discussions you guys had internally, those type of details. What would be good for our pastors to know about the prayer, the unity, and the discernment that shaped this process?
[00:08:02] Speaker E: Yeah.
So this is maybe kind of tacking off what I just said. To me, the most encouraging, worshipful thing about this entire process was seeing God bring a spirit of unity. Like, that was the thing. To me, I just said this, but I really wasn't exaggerating. I had legitimate concerns. I don't know how the heck just we're going to come together on this. I just feel like we were. We started off looking for different things in a candidate and even thinking through some different vision for what the different guys in the room thought would be best for St. Louis Metro moving forward.
And to me, the coolest thing was seeing just this slow, steady work of the spirit. I know the process took longer than probably a lot of people hoped it would, but I just. I got from. From an insider's point of view, got to see this really beautiful movement of the spirit where, again, there were never any heated conversations. But every single person on our EC is a strong leader, an independent leader. Someone who is bringing vision and just their own thought to bear has no problem holding those things back. And so we had spear. Like, we had passionate discussions, and there was disagreement, and there was like, what about this? What about this? And. And to see the spirit just slowly draw us all together to where. When we got to the end of the process, I remember.
[00:09:25] Speaker D: You know, I didn't.
[00:09:26] Speaker E: I didn't. I remember sitting with my wife and just telling her, I am really worried about this meeting. We're going to go into this meeting, and we got to walk out unified on one candidate. And I just. I'm just not sure how this is going to go down. And we sat in my office and prayed over it together. And we went to that meeting, and it was like five minutes long. We walked in and we were all. Lifestyles this. Right?
[00:09:45] Speaker D: Yeah.
[00:09:45] Speaker A: Cool.
[00:09:46] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:09:46] Speaker E: And we were just so brought together in unity by the end. It was really beautiful. Yeah.
[00:09:52] Speaker C: Daniel, what are your. Your thoughts about that? You know, in addition to what Sam said or anything else, you want to give us a glimpse into the process?
[00:09:59] Speaker D: Yeah, I'm sorry. Because you asked a particular question. Once again, I'll make sure I answer it.
[00:10:03] Speaker C: Yeah. I mean, without, you know, going into the confidentials, just talk about you kind of what Sam did, how the prayer, the unity discernment, how that shaped the process, and maybe any other things. You want to kind of just peel the onion back a little bit.
[00:10:17] Speaker D: Yeah, yeah, sure, sure.
Yeah, just a little bit.
[00:10:20] Speaker E: Add on.
[00:10:20] Speaker D: Not much.
It was. It was. I think it was pretty clear.
You know, we ended up kind of, with a, a final four to two of you guys and then two outside the association, actually outside the area.
And each person seemed to kind of have a preference for, for a different person. You know, so I getting kind of around the home stretch, we all had kind of a different idea on who the top candidate was.
And we went into the kind of the final round of listening to each person cast their vision for associational ministry in general, St. Louis, Metro specifically. And it was coming out of that, I think, is where the clarity really, really began to happen and the unity.
And so that was again, and that was just an answer to prayer. You know, God was sovereign, sovereignly involved in all of that. And, but that's where I saw the, the final, the final moments. It just really hit clarity. So.
[00:11:27] Speaker C: Yeah. So you, was there a specific moment where you guys felt that clarity or was it kind of individual? And then when you came to that last meeting was like, oh yeah, we're really all on the same page here.
[00:11:37] Speaker D: It was really that last meeting. Yeah, because I think we were kind of on the same page prior to that. But it wasn't vocalized until that last meeting. And you know, kind of like Sam, I didn't really know what to expect. That last meeting I kind of thought was going to pretty much land on Michael, you know, um, not to talk about you like you're not in the room, brother, but, you know, but, but yeah, like my, like Sam said, we, we got in there, I just said, well, all right, you guys have been praying. We've listened. What, what do you think? I mean, it's like everybody, like five minutes or less. It was all right, we're there, you know, it was great. It was glorious.
[00:12:13] Speaker E: Yeah, I, I, I can think of one specific moment where I, I actually had like, just personal worship and thanksgiving to God for clarity. He provided the team. There was an outside candidate who on paper checked every box we had set as part of our discernment process.
We met with the staff and we met with leaders and we did a listening session and we kind of worked through like, here's our internal list of the things we're looking for in a candidate.
[00:12:39] Speaker D: Right?
[00:12:40] Speaker E: And we had this one candidate who just on paper pretty much checked every box.
And we had multiple interview processes where first they're filling out a questionnaire and then we're doing a get to know you conversation and then we're doing a formal interview and then they're doing. And so we were working through this process and I personally just had this like, ah, this doesn't feel right. Doesn't feel right. I know he checks the box. This doesn't feel right.
But that didn't seem to be the consensus in the room. And I remember praying, just going, lord, if you're. If you're giving me discernment on this, I don't want to pitch a fit and fight. If I'm the squeaky wheel, I want to be in submission to what God's doing. If you're giving me the sermon on this, you know, I pray that you would make it evident. And I just remember this moment where I don't remember what. What part of the process it was, but we took the next step with this guy, and I just was feeling this unease. And I thought I was the only one feeling the unease. And then when we digested it around the table, every guy goes, you know, he looked really good on paper, but I don't think it's the right guy. And it was just this moment of going, oh, my gosh, like, the Lord just supernaturally brought us together. It brought me to a place of legitimate, like, just personal Thanksgiving and worship. It was really, really cool moment.
[00:13:49] Speaker C: Cool. Well, that. It's good insight for our pastors to kind of hear a little bit behind the scenes what was going on. And I know we've tried to talk about it as much as we could in meetings, but this is a big decision, and so it's important to see that. And so we came to the decision where Michael Byrd, Pastor Michael Byrd, was selected and ultimately voted on by our executive board to become our new executive director. And he's been serving in that role about a month. Just a little over a month. And so we want to take a second and just find out a little bit about you, Michael. I've called you Michael more in the last month. I've got to get away from that. We just got to go back to bird boss, Captain Bishop, whatever we, whatever we got going on here. But let's just talk a little bit about you before we get to where we're going.
You've been around St. Louis Metro for a long time.
Guys know you peripherally from the outside. They know you ministry wise as Sin City, missionary, church planter, pastor, guy hanging around Metro doing various tasks. But tell us a little bit about Michael Byrd, what drives you, what motivates you, those type of things, and we'll dig in on a couple other questions
[00:14:54] Speaker E: here in a minute.
[00:14:55] Speaker B: Yeah, so, man, it's so good to.
To be here, man. I'm excited just about what's happening man, thank you to Daniel and Sam and really the entire executive committee for your hard work and dedication that you guys put into it.
And like, I just wanna start off even before I talk about me. Like, one of the greatest joys, Chad, of not even just the last month. I would say the last seven or eight months has been the privilege of getting to know you. Yeah, right. I'm not just saying that. Cause you sitting here, I've been telling everybody I've been blowing up your text thread, talking about stuff outside of work. Right, right.
If there is anything that excites me more about this season of life, it's getting to do it with you, man. And I'm excited about it. Me too, man. So, Michael Byrd. I'm born and raised in St. Louis.
I think if you cut my Wrist, I'll bleed St. Louis blue.
I love St. Louis. Been here all my life.
I never want to leave.
Always thinking of ways on how God can be glorified in St. Louis as a whole.
My wife Tracy and I, Traci, has had the privilege to be married to me for.
[00:16:13] Speaker C: No, she's listening.
[00:16:15] Speaker D: Yeah.
[00:16:15] Speaker B: No, Traci and I have been married 21. It'd be 22 years in January.
I love her with every fiber of my being and grateful that God entrusts me enough to be her husband. And it's a privilege to. To just be married to her.
We have four kids, Trinity, Michaela, Michael, Tyler, and we have two grandkids, Luna and Kayla. My daughter M. Kayla named her daughter Kayla. So it's funny. So I said, kayla, we gonna call you Kay, right? So we together, y', all, we planted faith community Bible Church 10 years ago. We celebrate 10 in September. Exists to make Christ known in the community by caring for the community.
And really, Chad, as you said, really, I've been around really, metro life for probably about 11 years. Served on staff for nine years, give or take. Started off as an administrative assistant to one of the doms, Jim Breeden. Man, Shout out to Jim Breeden.
Really, God really used him in so many ways in my life to really unearth this passion for not just church planting, but revitalization and replanting.
And then was able to just stay on when Darren became the executive director. Working administratively, leading faithful men and. And now the privilege to be executive director. And I couldn't be more excited for the future of. Of our family of churches. Cool.
[00:17:55] Speaker C: Well, as we. As we.
I keep using that phrase, peel back the onion. I don't know where I heard it, but it's. It's kind of a big famous one for me.
[00:18:02] Speaker E: Shrek.
[00:18:03] Speaker C: Shrek, okay. It's a Shrek thing. Yeah.
Tell us what has shaped you most as a pastor.
[00:18:12] Speaker B: Oh, man.
[00:18:12] Speaker C: And you can't use the Bible. That's a cop out.
[00:18:14] Speaker D: Shrek.
[00:18:14] Speaker E: Yeah, Shrek.
[00:18:16] Speaker B: I mean, yeah, Shrek. No, I think as a pastor, like, I mean, just realizing really that I'm responsible for all my failures with none of my successes.
And that in what we do as we shepherd the flock, like, it's not about us, it's about the people that we get to serve. Yeah. We want to embody. Right. First Corinthians 10:31. And everything we do give glory to God.
But it's something about just seeing the light bulb come on in people that really fuse you. But even really, the last, really seven or eight years of my life has been a lot.
A lot of denominational work, a lot of association work, church planting, speaking here, speaking there.
And one of the things that I just quickly knew that I needed to do is surround myself around dudes who love Jesus more than they love me, who's not mesmerized by my gifts, but have the courage to tell me when I stink, when I need to slow down, when I need to pause, really. So the people around me really shape me in that. Not just the people that I get to shepherd, but. But close friends around me who I know pray for me, who I know hold me accountable and just push me to be who God has called me to be.
[00:19:47] Speaker C: Let's dig on the calling part for a second and think about when did you really begin to sense that the Lord might be calling you to this role as executive director of Metro. You and I've talked about that a little bit, but kind of share that out in the. In the ether here.
[00:20:00] Speaker B: Now, if I'm honest, when Darren Casper first announced that he was leaving, I was in my feelings because Darren, in many ways, in many ways served as a spiritual father in ministry of sorts. For me.
Just, you know, like, daily I pray for my wife because he challenged me, right?
He was the really one of the few people that ever challenged my prayer life.
You know, prayer. Prayer is the work, right? Gave me a book when revival tarries that really changed my life about prayer, right? So I had to wrestle through the tension of.
As much as Darren and I clashed with thought and philosophy of ministry, he was still, if not a father of sorts, a really, really close brother in my life, and still is to this day.
So I never thought in a million years that I would Be where I am. And I didn't even think about it, really, when he said it. I'm like, well, I gotta wrestle through what my future looks like. I don't know that I wanna still be at Metro without Darren, right?
I was going on sabbatical from the church right when it was announced, and I was just like, well, okay. And then some people said, hey, you should pray about this. Are you interested? I'm like, no, I got enough to do, right?
So I went home and talked to my wife, and I said, well, I don't want to make a decision right now. I'll wait until I come back from sabbatical, and then, you know, if I don't want this on my mind during sabbatical. So if it's meant to be, it'll be. And my wife said, that's just stupid.
If, you know Tracy, you know that's facts, right?
So she said, hey, even if you're remotely interested or even if you don't know, you, submitting your resume is not you accepting a job. It's you saying, I might be interested.
So I said, okay, what do I have to lose? The boss has spoken, right?
So I submitted my resume. Trusting the people around me really didn't have really, a peace because I hadn't really wrestled through the tension of what is ministry in this role gonna be like or in our association without Darren?
While also knowing that I have high trust and deep relationship with many guys on this executive committee.
And I'm like, you know, specifically, like, me and Sam Tenell, we down, like, four flats on the Cadillac, right? You can Google that later.
But I'm like, I don't want to put my brother in a position where he can't do what he's supposed to do. And I had to cut communication with him through the process.
Um, but in that, through prayer. I remember in the middle of sabbatical, thinking about everything that I've been through the last nine years, and I'm like, I think I may want to do this.
I think God is stirring this passion for the region in me. Because initially I was just a city guy. I'm so hood. Like, keep me in the city. It's about the city. What about the city?
But God had used that to say, hey, my will is so much bigger than the city.
Then, Chad, you and I sat down the Monday before Thanksgiving. It was the first time we had ever sat down one on one. And I remember thinking, I don't know why he wants to meet with me. We don't really know Each other. I mean, we know of each other, but what does he want? Like, I remember thinking this.
[00:24:08] Speaker E: A lot of people think that when
[00:24:09] Speaker C: Chad reaches, you know, that's true.
[00:24:12] Speaker B: And in that, you know, I'm like, well, I guess we'll see. I know that Chad wants the job because Chad all but said, hey, team, I'm interested. And I was just like, well, okay. Like, you know.
But I also hadn't made it public to anybody that I submitted a resume.
And Chad and I sit down, and he said, hey, I mean, we getting to know each other. I asked him about his wife, and we got to know about family a little bit. And he said, hey, are you the other guy that's on the inside that submitted a resume? And I wasn't gonna lie to him. I said, well, yeah, you know, and we had a conversation, and he led off and was like, hey, man, I just want you to know, however this shakes out, I feel like I need you in my life.
And it was at that moment that I knew that he was a man that no matter how this worked out, that I wanted to rock with. Right?
So then I really got stirred.
Right. And just really started praying. And right after Thanksgiving is when I kind of felt, oh, Lord, I think you might be in this.
And I needed to start it.
I needed to start it. That's bad English.
[00:25:33] Speaker C: We can edit that out.
[00:25:34] Speaker B: No, you don't have to. That's all right.
So it was at that point to where I just began to write and just begin to take notes about the things that were dropping. I still didn't know how it would land, but I knew that if it landed where I felt like my heart was leaning, I wanted to be ready.
[00:25:54] Speaker C: Cool.
[00:25:54] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:25:55] Speaker C: Well, let's move into the future stuff a little bit, and. And the first thing I want to jump into, and I'm going to pull you two guys back in the conversation here in a second.
What excites you the most right now about serving pastors in the St. Louis metro?
And in 20 seconds, 30 seconds, man,
[00:26:10] Speaker B: I'll honestly tell you what excites me most about serving pastors in our region, believe it or not, is serving pastors in our region.
I mean, those that I've talked to, those that I've spent time with, even just coming off of a regional lunch, the need to really give a tune up to what we do. It's exciting.
[00:26:32] Speaker E: Yeah.
[00:26:32] Speaker C: What kind of culture do you hope to build in Metro to cultivate among our churches and partnership and those type of things?
[00:26:41] Speaker B: I would say a culture of trust, where we'll know that as pastors, like, we can trust who's in the room. We don't have to compete. We on the same team.
So a culture of trust, a culture of Holy Spirit dependability, allowing the Lord to lead what we do as a family of churches and not just wild ideas that we think may be good.
So trust among pastors and leaders, Holy Spirit dependability, and really just a culture of prayer and mission, which I think that in many ways is already there. But I'm just asking the question, how do we pour gas on what we're already doing?
[00:27:21] Speaker C: Yeah, that's a pretty common phrase we've been using around here a lot. How do we pour gas on what God's already doing just from now sitting in that seat for a month? What opportunities can you maybe synthesize in just a short statement do you see for cooperation amongst our churches in the years ahead?
[00:27:39] Speaker B: So one of the things that I love, really about Metro is that our statement that we've been hearing is that we exist to connect churches, develop leaders and deploy them for mission. Because we believe that lostness is the greatest problem in our region.
[00:27:57] Speaker D: Right.
[00:27:57] Speaker B: Initially we said city, but that's different. Now it's a regional association.
And so moving forward, I think that there's three opportunities that we see.
The first one is to strengthen the local church. We have several different platforms that we use to connect our churches to strengthen them. So strengthen the local church.
Number two is serve the local church. Looking for ways to just help our churches to see that our churches don't exist for us, but we exist for our churches, knowing that the pastor is the number one customer. He speaks for his church. So we want to ensure that we are serving churches. One of the ways we do that is by giving a voice and to the pastors, not just the lead pastor, but if there's a pastor of discipleship or student director or something like that, we want to help to cultivate that. So strengthen the local church. Serve the local church. But the third thing that I see that's going to be really important is sending the local church not just through church planting, but replanting, revitalization, encouraging, pouring into developing the legacy church, but also helping our churches to see. We want to send overseas through different missional partners that we have. We just want to be an association that's developing and deploying people to do ministry where life exists.
[00:29:19] Speaker C: Yeah, man, that's great.
[00:29:20] Speaker E: I'm.
[00:29:21] Speaker C: We've talked about this a ton. I'm super excited about where we're going as our two executive committee members who were involved in putting Bird in the seat. What excites you guys the most about what you see happening right now? But as we go into this next chapter,
[00:29:38] Speaker D: well, I'm excited about just Michael, your whole approach to this, how you. You come in very humbly, you come in. I want to hear from the pastors. Pastors are number one customer. But I want to come in and just dictate what we're going to do. I want to listen to what's the. What's the culture of the churches and how can we just partner with the church and what you're already doing and then grow from. Grow it from there. So I'm just excited about this. This your initial approach, and you're kind of. You've got a vision, but you want the pastors to speak into that before you articulate that vision to the whole association, so.
Yeah, I appreciate that. Thank you.
[00:30:14] Speaker E: I think the thing I'm most excited about is, you know, we have a. A large association that is incredibly diverse.
All different philosophies, all different sizes, all different contexts. And I think that's the. The thing that makes Metro amazing.
I think the diversity of experience and the diversity of mission that's happening is the thing that makes this such a cool association. And what I'm really excited about is that I think the leadership and the vision that Mike is bringing to the table means that there's going to be a place and a role for every kind of church in our association.
There's no idea of this is the city association, or this is the rural association, or this is the big church association, or this is the church plan association, or this is whatever. It's like. No, no, no. We're in this together. We've all got a seat. We've all got a role that. That incredibly excites me. You talk about putting fuel on the fire. I think that's going to work itself out in some awesome kingdom work in our community.
[00:31:11] Speaker D: Cool. Yeah. And if I can add something and just the already existing value of partnership that we have in our association and that being a part of Michael's vision, just to take that and further run with it.
I mean, there's such great value if every. I mean, if. If people don't get anything out of today's podcast, I think for the future to realize that there is partnership opportunity for every single pastor and church in this association.
And it's. The resources are amazing. The opportunities are incredible. Yeah, you just got to ask.
[00:31:48] Speaker C: Yeah, that's exactly right. I. I want to kind of close out here in a second. I want to come to a heavier question sort of at the end, but more about encouragement.
I was going to skip this part kind of in my notes, but I want to do it. I like those little. I want to hit you hard and fast with a couple silly questions, kind of first thing that comes to your mind just to let people into the inner core. The scariest parts of Michael Bird.
[00:32:09] Speaker B: Oh, so I don't know, Chan, this is.
[00:32:11] Speaker C: Yeah, well, maybe not the scariest parts. Right.
[00:32:14] Speaker D: The door's locked, Right?
[00:32:15] Speaker C: Yeah. Throw it. He can't get out.
Here's the first one. Favorite book outside of the Bible?
[00:32:22] Speaker B: Oh, man. My favorite book outside of the Bible is Voices of the Heart by Chip Dyett.
[00:32:28] Speaker C: Okay, good.
[00:32:29] Speaker E: That's a great book.
[00:32:30] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:32:31] Speaker C: Favorite place to relax?
[00:32:33] Speaker B: My favorite place to relax is at AMC St. Charles next to Tracy.
[00:32:38] Speaker D: Oh, that's great.
[00:32:39] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:32:39] Speaker C: Okay. Who's the most influential pastor or mentor you've had in your life?
[00:32:44] Speaker B: Most influential pastor mentor in my life is none other than the pastor Lawrence Baker.
[00:32:50] Speaker C: All right, that's good. What's your favorite hobby?
[00:32:52] Speaker B: My favorite hobby is watching movies on Fridays with Tracy at the AMC theater. And at the AMC theater. Yeah.
[00:32:59] Speaker C: All right, here's the scary one. What's one thing that pastors would be surprised to learn about you that you want to reveal in public?
[00:33:08] Speaker B: Oh, I'm going to tell it. I love Young and the Restless, man. I do.
No, I don't have the time to watch it, so I read it. And I'm gonna tell you something. Can y' all believe Victor Newman is still alive? I mean, that'll preach somewhere. You know, eternal life or something.
[00:33:27] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:33:28] Speaker B: Wait, how can you.
[00:33:29] Speaker D: How can you read it? Is it in book form?
[00:33:31] Speaker B: Yeah, man. Soaps.com. it's a website you go to.
[00:33:34] Speaker D: Gosh, that's hilarious.
[00:33:35] Speaker B: The website is she knows.soaps.com and I go. You just click on Young and the Restless and they give an update every day and I just go read it.
[00:33:45] Speaker C: That's good. That's going to come back somewhere to haunt you.
[00:33:48] Speaker D: I have.
[00:33:48] Speaker C: Sure.
[00:33:49] Speaker D: But.
[00:33:50] Speaker C: Oh. So the last thing we want to do, because I do want to keep these at a good time so our busy pastors aren't inundated with a two hour long podcast. I want. I want each of you guys to take 20 seconds maybe. What's one encouragement? We'll start with you, Bird. What's one encouragement you'd like to leave from this podcast or about the future with the pastors of Metro today.
[00:34:12] Speaker B: Yeah. I would just say to our pastors one thing, like, if we do what we can, God will do what we can't.
And whatever we do, it's better if we just do it together.
[00:34:24] Speaker E: Yeah.
[00:34:24] Speaker B: Right on, Daniel.
[00:34:26] Speaker D: Every pastor, your voice matters. And there is so much available to encourage, strengthen, support your church. Just ask.
[00:34:36] Speaker E: Right on.
[00:34:37] Speaker C: Same.
[00:34:38] Speaker E: I would say if you are hearing this and you are pastoring in any context, you are not alone in your ministry. Regardless of what you've experienced up to this point, there's a crew at Metro that loves you and is for you. Show up, be a part, receive the love and care and encouragement you need.
[00:34:55] Speaker C: Yeah, that's, that's the heart of this, of this podcast. Among the lampstands, we believe that Jesus Christ is still walking amongst his churches. There's still hope, there's still a bright future ahead. I tell churches all the time that our best days are still in front of us because heaven is still in front of us. Jesus knows every single pastor. He sees what we're doing. He knows every single congregation and every single challenge that we face. And so our prayer here at Metro, our prayer on this podcast team, is that these conversations we have around this table will encourage you as a pastor. If you're listening, to remain faithful to where God has placed you. So, Michael, thank you for, for joining us. Sam and Daniel, thanks for your faithful service to our association, your service and bringing a great man to the table to lead our association into the future. Very grateful for your work and to, to you as a pastor. If you're listening this morning, thank you. Thank you for shepherding God's people. Thank you for serving. Thank you for what you're doing for the kingdom. And as has already been said in the room, and I have to give Bob, Bob Baumgartner credit down in first coast churches in Florida. Until next time, remember, no one pastors alone.
[00:36:05] Speaker A: This has been among the lampstands. Let's stay connected, keep developing leaders and keep pursuing the mission because lostness is the greatest problem in our city and the greatest hope is Christmas.
