 |  Preaching to today's fragmented congregations.
Winter 2000
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Reflections on the Journal 1980-2000
Paul Robbins
January 1, 2000
The January 1980 launch of LEADERSHIP brings back vivid memories. Even though we felt we had done our research homework to create a useful pastoral resource, there were no guarantees of success.
In fact, one highly respected, nationally known Christian leader told me in plain language, "Robbie, the last thing pastors have time to do these days is read another magazine!" He was right, of course, but, with the help of a lot of great contributors, we worked to create more than "another magazine."
Twenty years later, our readers continue to affirm the value of the original concept—that the journal must be (1) pro pastor, (2) practical, (3) people centered, and (4) fun.
What am I thinking about now? Well, a few days ago, I found myself unusually moved when reading that, somewhere in Sarajevo, Bosnia, a war-wracked place, a baby had been born that raised the global population to 6 billion. That's twice as many people as were alive in 1960. As I pondered this, I realized my pastoral instincts were on alert in two different, opposite ways.
First, I had a sense of being overwhelmed, a sensation common to pastors. Twice as many people, even if most of them live in some distant land, far from my parish, boggles my attempts at comprehension. Does this mean twice as much pain, twice as many hungry children, twice as much pollution, twice as much sin, twice as many unsolvable problems?
On a personal, pastoral level, does this mean twice as much responsibility, twice as much travail, twice as much work?
But then I found myself thinking even more about a second sensation. Doesn't this mean twice as much opportunity? Twice as much outreach! Could it be, at this moment in time, that I'm privileged beyond belief as compared to pastor/mentors ...
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