Building People
Can people who are vastly different really learn to love one another? How can a caring fellowship be built upon such differences?
Donald L. Bubna with Sarah M. Ricketts
April 1, 1980
Koinonia, like so many other Greek words, has become a part of the Christian vocabulary. Almost eueryone has heard of it, a few can define it, but many, perhaps most, would admit to some doubt about ever experiencing it. Building People (Tyndale, 1978) is koinonia come to life. It's flesh-and-blood prose about the trial-and-error, success-and-set-back experiences one pastor faced in establishing a koinonia fellowship.
Donald L. Bubna is the veteran copastor of the Salem Alliance Church in Salem, Oregon, a congregation of 700 families. Whether he is describing a close associate or an occasional Sunday attender, he examines the common and uncommon ground a pastor must walk to create relationships that minister mutually.
We have excerpted three of the twelve chapters. All of them are worth reading, for seldom does the reader get the opportunity to peel back the skin and look at the inner workings of a fellowship under construction.
I don't think this church needs two Don Budnas!" My associate pastor's usually mild voice had a sharp edge.
"Why do you say that, Ted?"
"I get the feeling you are trying to make me into another you, and it just won't work."
The strained look on Ted Zabel's open, youthful face told me he was serious, but his words had taken me by surprise. We had been coworkers for a year in the-Pacific Beach, California, church. Ted had come to us directly from Bible college, along with his bride. Edna was a talented musician, and Ted was especially interested in Christian education and youth. The young couple added an exciting new dimension to our growing church. I was impressed with Ted's potential-even if he was a little slow in getting things done according to my standards. That would soon change, I was sure, as Ted ...
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