Have You heard?

Under the "have you heard" column, the news is out that my son, Tim, has come to work with me to develop an intentional ministry to my sons across the world.  What I have been doing instinctively across the years we have begun to prepare to do intentionally.  So meet Tim…

Tim Taylor has pastored four churches since 1985, two of which he helped plant.  In 2004 he left the pastorate to lead an independent missions group called HeartSprings.  HeartSprings uses the gift of safe water to open doors for the Gospel primarily in Latin America.  Through a community transformation model HeartSprings has provided safe drinking water to nearly 300,000 people in the first ten years and has seen as many as 526 souls come to Jesus for the first time in three-day projects.  Although Tim has resigned his leadership responsibilities for this group to work with His dad, He has not lost his heart for the nations and knows that God will only expand his vision and opportunities to touch the nations as he connects with spiritual brothers.  Tim will celebrate 27 years of marriage to Michelle, a high school counselor, in July.  He has two sons, Blake, who is in his third year of law school and Brice, who will graduate from Pepperdine University next May.  They live in Bedford, Texas and attend the First Baptist Church in Euless, Texas.

Tim says, “When we honor our earthly fathers, we honor our heavenly Father. I am being called to honor the Father by honoring my father.  I invite you to help me steward the legacy.”

Paul, in 1 Corinthians 4:15 said, "Even though you have ten thousand instructors you have not many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel."  I don't believe that it is possible to read into this statement the pathos Paul was feeling as he lamented the "not-many-fathers" condition. It is toward this painful reminder that we are preparing a ministry to my spiritual sons across the world.  Since there is no precedent that we know of, we are moving slowly through the development of this ministry.  The value of such a move has been made clearly obvious on many occasions the past months.  We feel deeply that as people discover their identity as spiritual sons, they will learn to father through being sons, and the power of the Father Himself will be released on us all.  Such is already happening as I write this letter.

I feel like the most blessed man on earth with my son, Tim, coming to work with me and, as we speak, he is hard at work in every area of the ministry.  So this is the first announcement that certifies what we are doing.  I have spoken to many of you and you have voiced much encouragement to us and that always makes the work easier.  We are compiling a SonsList and will begin to communicate regularly with my sons.  We plan to launch a website called SonsLink in the very near future to serve as a bridge for connecting my spiritual sons.

In the months ahead my deepest desires for my sons will begin to be fulfilled:
. . . I want to know who my sons are and know my sons better.
. . . I want my sons to know one another.
. . . I want my sons to be more effective and fulfilled in life and ministry.
. . . I want to be a better father.

Incidentally, I happen to know that at this moment sons are meeting and discovering one another for the first time.  I can't imagine the level of connectivity we will be experiencing in future weeks and months!

By the way, ladies, the term "sons" is not a gender limitation in this case, so all my sons' wives, who desire to be, are my daughters as well.

So, let’s begin to intentionally connect!  All input and feedback are welcome.  Feel free to share your thoughts as we launch out in this new adventure together.  We have had fellowship in the past.  I believe God is leading us, individually and collectively, to experience relationship on a level that we all desire, need and until now, have only imagined can be.  Let us hear from you soon…oh, and feel free to spread the news!

Love,

Pappa Jack

Comments

[Karen Jordan]

Great to re-connect, Pappa Jack!

[Brad Pilkington]

Count me in! You have been one of the most influential of my spiritual fathers, beginning with my reading of The Hallelujah Factor in 1982(?)! The principles therein became the core around which I have fashioned the ministry of praise God has called me to.

Our paths crossing several times enhanced your fatherhood in my life. I remember a time in Tennessee: a wonderful week of powerful praise, testimony, preaching, and healing! It was also the time when John R., percussionist, heard God's voice for the first time saying, "I love you." He heard it so audibly that he tapped me on the shoulder and asked "Did you hear that?" John and his family now serve as "English Teachers" (if you know what I mean) in an undisclosed country in Asia.

What a joy to now have another of your spiritual sons, Dan H., as our senior pastor and partner in ministry!

Paula certainly considers herself as one of your spiritual daughters! Our son Jack, though primarily named for his maternal grandfather, was also a namesake of yours and Jack Helton.

I look forward to greater connection.

We are praying for you as you travel and minister in Africa and Europe.

Worship, Grow, Serve,
Brad Pilkington
Newark, Ohio