5 /5 Ron Stroup: Having been a member of Sweetwater Christian Church (f/k/a First Colony Christian Church and Southwest Christian Church) since 1980, I am one of three members of longest standing who still attend regularly. There is reason for that. It is my Church Home, my sacred ground --my Beth El.
Ive seen the church thrive, Ive seen it brought to its knees after a split, I have seen it rise to levels of holiness that Ive never personally witnessed elsewhere. A good example of this occurred years ago when a former pastor, Wayne Ivey, announced that he had "had a problem that was bigger than him, he was alcoholic. from the pulpit. I had known Wayne for many years. In fact, in a former life, I was a student at Brite Divity School (TCU--home of the Killer Frogs). Wayne was my friend and classmate there for four years. Seminary was an interesting place. When one expected a loving community, it was a place of cutthroat academic competition and many of the students attended because they expected a caring community. Some were so weird or deviant that they were cast out by the review board lest they become a menace to the church.
Wayne was not like that. He, of all the students I knew there, was clearly called to ministry. There was simply no question that he was annointed by God to do this incredibly daunting , thankless task.
When I heard him announce that he was struggling with an addiction so powerful that he couldnt believe it! As Board Chairman at the time, I had to make some quick prayerful decisions. Truly, I didnt know what to do. so I unilaterally decided to call an emergency congregational meeting after church.
The sounds of " Crucify him, Crucify him rang in my ears. From the podium, I could feel myself shaking almost noticably to all, Im sure. "Fear not, for I am with you," I recalled. It didnt help much. For what seemed an eternity, I let everyone speak who wanted to speak--including his wife who announced that he was often drunk and abusive at home. "Jesus, save me I thought."
After hearing all the pros and cons, we discussed the possibility that our financially struggling church could absorb the cost of seeking in-patient treatment for Wayne "Crucify him, crucify him!" rang loudly in my ears.
It occurred to me that one scripture spoke directly to this grave dilemma. ""If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels but have not love, I am like a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal..." So, I read it and was met with stunned silence. Even so, I called for a vote. The vote was affirmed with not one dissenting voice.
In my mind, this was our little churches finest hour--choosing love over common sense. "The second commandment is equally important. Love your neighbor as yourself," Jesus had said to those who would ridicule and destroy him, the eternal future hanging in the balance."
So, I went to Wayne alone. I gave him the free will choice as God has given us. Accept the gracious gift of the church and get help, or leave with the churches blessings and find the path that you choose. Wayne was obviously scared, but he reluctantly agreed to go into a treatment facility that very day. While he was institutionalized, his wife left him, he struggling with the lithium that numbed him and robbed him of his creativity. After two gruelling months, he was released into the mayhem of daily life. His wife threw him out of the house and married one of the elders, his world crumbled and broke around him. "Lo, I am with you always."
Ultimately, he left our church with our heartfelt blessings, but it allowed miracles to take place in completely unanticipated ways.
The area church positioned him as interim pastor to a dying--in fact dead--church that had once thrived. In time, resurrection of both Wayne and Taylor Lake Christian Church and Wayne Ivey took place.
After 33 years, Wayne remains sober and effective as a rebuilder, arguably because of a decision made by Sweetwater Christian decades ago. That love is manifest at Sweetwater today. You are welcome here! Its not our table. Its Christs. Yes, all are welcome here!
