F
airhaven
M
inistries
Fall / Winter 2008
N
ewsletter
Left to Right:
Ralph Whalen, Bradley Wise, Don Burnett
Left to Right: Leslie Lewis, Jack & Julie Timmer,
Ernie & Linda Fordham, Bob & Pat Breuker,
Doug & Wendi Read
Tennessee May Love the “Vols”
but Fairhaven Loves Their Volunteers!
By Linda Swanson
Volunteer — N. a person who undertakes some
task or service of his own free will.
That is how the New Webster’s Dictionary
and Thesaurus defines a volunteer. We here
at Fairhaven would modify that definition a bit.
We would say that a volunteer is a person who
undertakes some task or service of his own free
will with great joy, enthusiasm, dedication and
kindness.
Fall cleaning week was done September 812 when 9 very eager workers came alongside
of Fairhaven staff. They washed windows,
polished furniture, cleaned mini-blinds, cleaned
appliances and a multitude of other tasks — all
with joy and much laughter. One week later 3
Fairhaven Ministries
2198 Roaring Creek Road
Roan Mountain, TN 37687
professional painters came for several days
to stain the outside of 4 cottages — they too
were willing, joyful workers. Their spirits were a
blessing to all of us.
We are tremendously grateful for all of the
people who volunteer to come alongside of all
of the staff. They help us maintain Fairhaven
for the many guests who come to find rest and
renewal and a new sense of the Lord speaking
into their lives. Thank you to the people you
see pictured here and the others who come at
different times of the year.
If you would like to consider volunteering at
Fairhaven please contact Cal Swanson at 423772- 4269 or email him at fhmin772@peoplepc.
com.
Cal Swanson, Director
Linda Swanson, Newsletter Editor
www.fairhavenministries.net
423-772-4269
fax: 423-772-0017
e-mail: [email protected]
The Stress of Ministry & the Clergy Family
Cal Swanson
It is always a great privilege to sit under the
teaching of men whom God has blessed and
are in turn blessing others for the Kingdom’s
sake. Recently I attended the Billy Graham
Training Center at the Cove near Asheville, NC.
The speaker was H.B. London, vice president
of church and clergy outreach for Focus on the
Family. His theme was “The Stress of Ministry
& The Clergy Family”. The fact that this would
need to be the topic for a Pastors’ Institute
session at The Cove tells us all that one of the
main reasons behind Dr. Charles Shepson’s
founding Fairhaven Ministries continues to be
a problem that needs addressing. In an ideal
world there would never be the need for places
like Fairhaven. However, due to the sinfulness
of mankind, churches become hospitals, and
retreat centers become Intensive Care Units
for the caregivers. I’m sure you get the picture.
The following are a few of my gleanings:
One of the key verses used was I Timothy 4:16 “Watch your life and
doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save
both yourself and your hearers.”
A few choice nuggets:
• “There are some who would say that the jeopardy surrounding the clergy family is increasing.
Why are so many clergy marriages failing? Why would a called-out servant of God throw all that
is precious away for a moment of physical and emotional pleasure? Why would a clergy spouse
just walk away angry and frustrated?”
• Regarding pastor challenges- “The difficulty of certain decisions, the heaviness of people’s
burdens, the painfulness of receiving criticism, and the implications of personal decisions – but
the hardest thing about being a pastor is dealing with people’s expectations.” (H.B. quoted Mark
Roberts)
• How do we succeed?
• Be Careful – Clergy have a susceptibility to the enticement and corruption of religious
power.
• Be Aware – The power that those of us in the clergy hold is potentially more dangerous than
other professions because we invoke the name of God.
• Be Humble – We should live our lives in front of our families, colleagues and constituents as
fellow seekers rather than complete.
• Be Real – Live as one who is in the village with those you serve, avoid the artificial coverings
that we often hide behind. Don’t take yourself so seriously.
• “Satan will lie in the weeds for forty years to entrap one of God’s servants.” ( a quote from
Howard Hendricks)
Fairhaven Ministries is grateful to have as a partner in
caring for the caregivers an organization like Focus on the
Family. Several times a year we receive pastors as guests who
have been referred by H.B. London and associates like John
Barner. – Cal Swanson
The Shepherd’s Covenant
From Pastoral Ministries
Focus On The Family
Dear Pastor,
I have a dream for you and the rest of our colleagues who lead the church and serve as
an example to believers. In that dream, not another one of us would fall to the temptation of
immorality or destroy our credibility and integrity through reckless and ill-advised behavior—in
other words, we would count the cost of our actions and respond to God’s prompting to flee the
traps and stumbling blocks that Satan places in our path.
To help bring about that dream, the Pastoral Ministries team from Focus on the Family®
has developed The Shepherd’s Covenant—a strategy for moral, spiritual and ethical protection
based upon the guidelines practiced by the Good Shepherd. This five-point covenant, based on
the acronym GRACE, will be an ever- present reminder of our responsibility not only to God, but
also to our families, our congregations and one another.
G Genuine Accountability: There is a great difference between being cordial and being collegiate.
We need colleagues in our lives who will ask us hard questions and allow us to do the same with
them. “Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself” (1 Samuel 18:1,
NIV).
R Right Relationships: Our ministries can only be effective when our actions and reactions toward
members of our families, our colleagues in ministry and the members of our congregations are
pure. We must be clergy of peace. “Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace
will be with you” (2 Corinthians 13:11, NLT).
A A Servant’s/Shepherd’s Heart: The example that the Good Shepherd gave to His followers
was, first that of a servant—the towel, the basin and a sincere willingness to be humble (John
13:4-5)—and, second that of an overseer who carefully watches his flock. “I lay down my life for
the sheep” (John 10:15, NIV).
C Constant Safeguards: We must be vigilant. To put on the whole armor of God (Ephesians
6:11) is not merely an option, it is a necessity if we are going to successfully obey the command
of our Lord to flee the various onslaughts of Satan.
E Embrace God Intimately: The deeper one’s relationship with God through His Son Jesus, the
more successful he will be in living a life above reproach and setting an example for the believers
in speech, life, love, faith and purity (1 Timothy 4:12). An intimate relationship with Him makes it
all possible. “Come near to God and he will come near to you” (James 4:8, NIV).
Bits and Pieces
Congratulations to Ken and Gloria
Stumbo on the birth of Caleb Jacin –
born September 8 to Nate and Tamara
Stumbo – also congratulations to big
sister, Taven!
Annual Board Meeting
Our annual board meeting will be November 14-15 this
year. We are excited to be able to dedicate Evergreen
Lodge at that time, as well. Please pray for decisions
that will be made by the board during those dates, as
well as a time of sweet fellowship for all.
Smile Time – “Deep” Unanswered Questions:
1. Do the Alphabet Song and Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star have the same tune?
2. Why did you just try singing the two songs above?
3. Why do banks charge a fee on “insufficient funds” when they know there is not enough money already?
From the Director’s Perspective
CAREGIVERS Forum began in 1989 as a venue for leaders
of “ministries to ministers” to gather and share their concerns and
visions. Over the years it has evolved into a network of like-minded
people concerned about supporting each other in clergy caregiving.
Forum attendees annually come from a variety of ministries, from
those providing vacation retreats to those providing comprehensive
mental health services.
This year’s Forum will celebrate its 20th anniversary thanking
God for what He has done. Since its beginning, the benefits of networking and encouragement
have confirmed its existence. New ministries have been launched, lessons shared and the
safety net for ministers strengthened. Dr. Charles Shepson, one of the founding members,
will give special input into the October 23-26 meeting in Colorado Springs, CO.
October is Pastor Appreciation Month across America. Let’s join together in showing our
pastors, as well as our missionaries our appreciation for the ministry they faithfully do as
part of the body of Christ. Some churches over the years have given their pastor and wife
a gift certificate to spend time at Fairhaven Ministries. We love being here to care for the
caregivers.
Fairhaven Ministries
2198 Roaring Creek Road
Roan Mountain, TN 37687
Address Service Requested
Cal
Non-Profit Org.
U. S. Postage
Paid
Roan Mtn., TN
37687
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