Comments on: Nostalgia… http://www.dougmurren.com/2007/11/02/nostalgia-2/ Thoughts from the pen of Doug Murren Wed, 07 Jan 2009 12:03:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.5 by: Pat Beresford http://www.dougmurren.com/2007/11/02/nostalgia-2/#comment-4315 Mon, 17 Dec 2007 18:18:36 +0000 http://www.dougmurren.com/2007/11/02/nostalgia-2/#comment-4315 It is amazing how the present presents the past to all of us. I just read your writing on nostalgia. I remember the past with you at EFC. It was a learning experience for me. I will forever be grateful to you for giving me the opportunity to fulfill my passion for ministry. There are always highs and lows in all venues of life. I believe that it is through the times which seem difficult that we learn the most. I remember the high points, the fun, the fast growth of the church along with the tears, the prayers for strength. To be honest, your innovative mind nearly killed the staff at times. It seemed that there were monthly changes in proceedure. We used to laugh as we re-wrote our job discriptions to match what we were instructed to do. I will never forget the Sunday you announced that we would begin Small Groups. I had no idea this was coming. (I chuckle as I remeber this). You passed out to the congregation cards whick they filled in telling us whether they would host, lead or assist, or attend a small group. There were 1200 cards handed inthat day. I awoke the next morning and wondered where those cards would be on Tuesday morning. I thought, Oh! No! I think they may be on MY DESK. And they were. I called in about 10 volunteers to assist me in sorting the cards. We went into the large room in Modular A and started sorting by zip code, then address, then host, leader and assistant leader and attendees. We had piles of cards all over the floor. We then called the specified leaders, gave them the names of their hosts and assistants in their area and asked them to call and let them know about their group. We started groups with little preparation and training. At that time it seemed like a nightmare. Now I look back and see that we were learning and remember the lessons. It was exciting to jump in and build the infrustructure under the rapid growth of the congregation. And then one day you came to our office and said, " Small groups are over, now this department is a distributing center. You are to connect people to people who will help them." Then there was the Regionalization of the Congregation. North, Central, East and West. But God... I love those two words because God loves all of us equally and formed us to do His calling through whatever it took to become useful to His Kingdom. As I look back I am amazed at the ministry God fulilled in my life because of those lessons. I feel blessed to have been part of your early ministry at EFC. It was wonderful to see you last summer and attend you church and know that God is still using you in a great way. Blessings and love, Pat Beresford It is amazing how the present presents the past to all of us. I just read your writing on nostalgia. I remember the past with you at EFC. It was a learning experience for me.
I will forever be grateful to you for giving me the opportunity to fulfill my passion for ministry.

There are always highs and lows in all venues of life. I believe that it is through the times which seem difficult that we learn the most. I remember the high points, the fun, the fast growth of the church along with the tears, the prayers for strength. To be honest, your innovative mind nearly killed the staff at times. It seemed that there were monthly changes in proceedure. We used to laugh as we re-wrote our job discriptions to match what we were instructed to do.

I will never forget the Sunday you announced that we would begin Small Groups. I had no idea this was coming. (I chuckle as I remeber this). You passed out to the congregation cards whick they filled in telling us whether they would host, lead or assist, or attend a small group. There were 1200 cards handed inthat day. I awoke the next morning and wondered where those cards would be on Tuesday morning. I thought, Oh! No! I think they may be on MY DESK. And they were. I called in about 10 volunteers to assist me in sorting the cards. We went into the large room in Modular A and started sorting by zip code, then address, then host, leader and assistant leader and attendees. We had piles of cards all over the floor. We then called the specified leaders, gave them the names of their hosts and assistants in their area and asked them to call and let them know about their group. We started groups with little preparation and training. At that time it seemed like a nightmare. Now I look back and see that we were learning and remember the lessons.

It was exciting to jump in and build the infrustructure under the rapid growth of the congregation.

And then one day you came to our office and said, ” Small groups are over, now this department is a
distributing center. You are to connect people to people who will help them.”

Then there was the Regionalization of the Congregation. North, Central, East and West.

But God… I love those two words because God loves all of us equally and formed us to do His calling through whatever it took to become useful to His Kingdom.

As I look back I am amazed at the ministry God fulilled in my life because of those lessons. I feel blessed to have been part of your early ministry at EFC.

It was wonderful to see you last summer and attend you church and know that God is still using you in a great way.

Blessings and love,
Pat Beresford

]]> by: Suellen Musgrove http://www.dougmurren.com/2007/11/02/nostalgia-2/#comment-3809 Thu, 08 Nov 2007 01:03:41 +0000 http://www.dougmurren.com/2007/11/02/nostalgia-2/#comment-3809 Are you active in Seattle at this time? Are you active in Seattle at this time?

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