Wisdom Keeps Showing Up

If Woody Allen had it right when he said, “Showing up is eighty percent of life,” then Wyndham has lived a lot of life.

Showing up consistently is particularly important. Jesus showed up consistently. In fact, he promises to always be with those who follow him. (Matthew 28:20). The early disciples, day after day, went into the temple courts and house to house, teaching and proclaiming the good news of Jesus. (Acts 5:42) They showed up consistently, day after day.

It’s one thing to show up, but showing up consistently requires a lot of love, determination, and self-discipline. I could always count on Wyndham to “show up,” and this has made a great difference in his personal life, our marriage, our family, and our ministry.  He has lived and taught the importance of this quality with his oft-practiced and oft-used phrase—“set and kept times.”

It’s easy in today’s busy and distracted lifestyles to live life “flying by the seat of our pants,” rather than living intentionally. Set and kept times have been an important part of Wyndham’s life.

The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways. (Proverbs 14:8)

Most importantly, he set and kept times to walk and talk with God. These weren’t (aren’t) to fulfill a duty, but were (are) to fill his soul. He counted on those times, as did I. There is nothing more security-producing in my marriage than knowing my spouse is spending time with his God.

Thankfully and amazingly, God always shows up, and is always waiting on us to show up—eager to spend time with us.

Next, he set and kept times for the two of us. To pray together. To discuss how “we” were doing. To just enjoy togetherness. Since our ministry consisted of long days and nights, and we were always “on call,” we set aside Mondays to rest, to plan, to pray, and to enjoy nature. This wasn’t a nice idea. This was a necessity. It was carefully observed and very rarely changed. Set and kept.

He set times with each of the kids for heart to heart communication, spiritual conversations, memory making, and having fun. These were the most important “discipling” times. The kids could count on some kind of individual time with Dad each week. It wasn’t easy once their schedules grew when they hit their teens, but it was priority. Set and kept. Dinner times were set and kept. At times these had to be adjusted, but they could still be counted on.

Dear friends whom Wyndham mentored, as well as those with whom we shared “one another” times  (Romans 12:10; 15:7; 15:14) weren’t occasional happenings. These were needed and important times for each of us that were set in our schedules on a weekly, biweekly, or monthly basis—in order to better practice “one another” Christianity. Neither of us wondered if we would get together with a particular person or couple, because the times were guarded—set and kept.

As much as it depended on us, times were set and kept for hospitality. Wyndham set and kept Monday nights for dinner in our home in order to share our lives (and the gospel) with neighbors, friends, acquaintances, and those who had left the faith. This became our custom.

Set and kept times. These resulted in connection, security, friendship, growth, progress, vulnerability, and depth. The times certainly helped us, and prayerfully helped others as well. Because wisdom kept showing up we now continue to explore rare and beautiful treasures of deep spiritual friendships and relationships. These are there for anyone who builds their house with the wisdom of God.

By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures. (Proverbs 24:4-5)

Wisdom Keeps Its Head In All Situation

By Mike VanAuken

I saw Wyndham keep his head while everyone around him was losing theirs. As a result, he was able to lead the Boston Church through dramatic transformation, building on her many strengths while laying the foundation for what she has become.

 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. (2 Timothy 4:5)

Entering our 28^th consecutive year with the privilege of serving on the Boston Church ministry staff, Scarlette and I cherish many memories and count many blessings.  While it seemed unlikely at the time, the tumultuous years of the early 2000’s are now an important part of both. Wyndham’s example, guiding the church through those years, is a lasting memory and still a blessing today.

Leading the Elders to Lead the Church

As of mid to late 2003 we evangelists had lost the confidence of much of the congregation and it was clear that our model of evangelist-centered leadership needed to change. Following several weeks of Bible study, prayer, and emails, a group of about 50 elders, evangelists, and leading brothers gathered to decide how to move forward.  Ultimately, we decided the obvious, that the elders would lead the church, rather than the evangelists. Wyndham and Gordon were the only elders on staff, with 3 or 4 non-staff brothers also serving in that capacity. Wyndham quickly took the point position and became the one stepping up to help people through their emotions and concerns. The church now saw the shepherds at the fore, we evangelists had space to develop a fresh approach to leadership, and both elders and evangelists learned to work well together.

Modeling a Leadership Team

In partnership with John McGuirk, Wyndham established a leadership team for the Boston Church. Gone were the days of “one man leadership.” The group’s roster shifted from time to time, but included elders, both younger and older evangelists, and administrators. Debate was the norm and, while Wyndham clearly chaired the group, he never imposed his will on it.

Keeping Jesus’ Vision Alive

Jesus has great dreams for his church and its impact. During those years, Wyndham never let go of the conviction that the Boston Church is a great beacon to the world and that her best days were ahead. Among other things he insisted that the evangelists once again step up to provide inspiration and faith, ensured that Boston remain a strong ligament within the ICOC fellowship, helped champion student interns at a time when we had none, and was the catalyst for the first Northeast Christians Conference.

Seeing Us Live the Lessons He Taught

I am blessed that the church in which my kids grew up has been so shaped by Wyndham’s example and convictions.  There are now 14 elders instead of 5 or 6, the church has grown 9 of the last 10 years, and every region has at least one elder as well as a leadership team made up primarily of non-staff disciples. I’m grateful that Wyndham’s wisdom helped guide us through some tricky years and continues to influence us today.

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I could fill a daily blog for years with wisdom I have learned from Wyndham. However, I’ll stick with one day a week. Each Wednesday I will share wisdom gleaned, not just from me, but from our family who saw him day and night and from friends near and far whose lives he has touched.

Many of you have already told me you wish to share wisdom you learned from Wyndham. If you wish to contribute to this collection please email me at shaw.jeanie@gmail.com with the subject line—Wednesday Wisdom. If you wish to receive these blogs in your inbox, feel free to sign up to follow the blog.

Wisdom Passes the Torch

Cash McHargue

And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others. (2 Timothy 2:2)

This scripture is very familiar to anyone who has served in the full-time ministry.  It is often quoted as part of our job description for ministry staff.  As the Apostle Paul approached the end of his time in ministry he emphasized the need for new men to be prepared to take the gospel to the next generation. The need for leaders to raise up more and more leaders is an obvious theme throughout the scriptures and is clearly a growing need in our own fellowship. While I have known many who feel passionately about this, I have met no one who exemplifies this more than Wyndham Shaw. His devotion to training future elders and evangelists is unmatched.  I experienced this first hand during my time with him in the Northwest Region of the Boston Church.

Maria and I, along with our two small children, Isabella and Hunter, arrived in Boston on July of 2013 in preparation for our move to Madrid the following year. During that time, we led the Northwest Region, which was made up of 220 disciples (most of whom were very mature Christians who Maria and I look up to).  Since most of our ministry experience was working with younger disciples in the teen, campus, and young professional ministries we felt some doubts and insecurities about leading disciples who were much older than we are.

I remember expressing to Wyndham and to others on the leadership team that since we would only be in the region for a year or so, we’d continue to follow along with the plans which were already in place, without adding our own leadership. Fortunately for me, and the region, Wyndham saw right through my doubts and insecurities. He helped me see that God had a plan much bigger than my own. This allowed me to acknowledge and address my fear, pride, and self-focus—so that God could work through us during our time in the NW Region. Wyndham encouraged and supported our ideas for change, and he did so while instructing us with great wisdom and faith.

I remember one particular conversation early on when Wyndham told me, “You are the evangelist of this region. You need to lead.”  I knew on paper I was the “region leader,” but in reality I thought, “No, no, no, you have been here for a long time and you have all the experience. You just tell me what to do, and I will do it.” But Wyndham insisted that I take the torch. This is remarkable to me—as I think about the ways he followed my lead and supported my ideas.  I wondered, “Why would he trust me? I’m the young guy. You lead and I follow.” But this is simply not the way Wyndham saw it.

Wyndham sees the need for younger leaders to step up and take the torch. As a mature elder and evangelist in the church, his ego never got in the way of helping me take on a larger leadership responsibility. This made me feel both humbled and empowered to take on the mantle of leadership that is so badly needed in the church.  I appreciate Wyndham’s wisdom and influence in my life as well as his humility to allow me to lead. He knew I would make mistakes along the way, which I made more than I care to admit. But he also knew with proper guidance and encouragement I would learn through those mistakes and grow.

Although we stay in touch, it’s been four years since Wyndham and I worked together in the Northwest region. Along with helping to develop me in my leadership and faith, Wyndham also became a dear friend. I treasure the memories of our many fishing trips and weekly discipling times together. But the influence he made on me, especially as a husband, a father, and a leader have had the greatest impact.

I am not alone in feeling this way. Wyndham has made the same impact on so many disciples.  His firm belief in the need to develop healthy leadership in the church is the reason why there are so many great elders and evangelists throughout the New England and European churches.  His influence is widespread! I pray that those of us who are younger will humbly step up and take on new leadership roles throughout the Kingdom. I also pray that more and more will gain the same conviction to pass on the torch to those who are younger and instill faith in them to lead the church into the next generation. I’m extremely grateful for Wyndham Shaw, his faith in God, and his wisdom to pass the torch while keeping his burning. 

Wisdom Keeps on Giving

By Carolyn Harrell

Sometimes when you want to share so much, most of the sharing goes on while lying awake in the middle of the night and is only remembered in pieces when morning comes, and is only heard by God, Jesus, and Spirit.  That’s what has been going on about Wyndham’s Wisdom for many months with me.  This is to share  some bits and pieces that I’m thinking about this morning…written randomly.

If Wyndham knows about it, it can be worked on, prayed about, fixed.  That has been for over a quarter of a century what Bob and I always felt concerning church matters. I have seen Wyndham and Jeanie’s influence for healing and calming and leading bear this out and am so grateful.

Wyndham is a Biblical illustration of the good men do will live after them.  This is encouraging not only for the churches, but also for now retired formerly very active people like me. I want my words and actions to matter positively. Wyndham’s do. I hope my work with students also lives on. Memories are motivators.

Jeanie and Wyndham always go together as a name…an entity. As Jeanie’s sister I would think I’d have her in a special compartment, and I have known her longer and better, of course, but Wyndham is such a part of her there’s no other way to think or imagine.  I know the creativity and determination, the humor and emotion…and wisdom of Jeanie’s life and writing, but I can only imagine how much Wyndham’s wisdom has infused her life and writing through the years. Actually, I don’t have to only imagine since Jeanie speaks to it often.

Perhaps it’s just me, but sometimes inspirational and Christian writing can become or seem repetitious or stale and perhaps not deep or real (even though it may be to the writers and readers).  That’s never the case for me with Jeanie and Wyndham’s work, and I have a feeling that’s not only because I’m her sister.  Even though I may not be reading about some events, stories, or memories for the first time, I always feel (and act) more determined, prayerful, hopeful in a fresh way when I read what Jeanie shares or edits into a book.  That’s amazing to me.  I read widely all kinds of genres and have many spiritual favorites from outside “our fellowship” who shake and challenge my thinking in fresh ways. Jeanie’s books and blogs and Wyndham’s Wisdom do the same thing even though at the core they are more familiar to me. That must say something about writers’ voice, but also about the truth, need, spirit… imbedded in their work.  I don’t know quite how to explain it; it’s just what it is.  Some books work; some lives work.

Jeanie and Wyndham’s family inspires and delights me making me want to be so much better as a wife, mother, gammy. I love the strength of their family…not showiness (although they are all amazing)…just decades of what it is…how it’s stored and spread as images and reminders of goodness in the back of my mind.

One of my earlier memories is our family…mom and dad, some sisters and husbands, a few (of the now many) children on vacation walking on the beach and Wyndham breaking out in song…”I’m a hard fighting soldier on the battlefield…Lord, I’m a hard fighting soldier…oh yeah…”  He just couldn’t help it…and we sang along.  I love you all so much.

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I could fill a daily blog for years with wisdom I have learned from Wyndham. However, I’ll stick with one day a week. Each Wednesday I will share wisdom gleaned, not just from me, but from our family who saw him day and night and from friends near and far whose lives he has touched.

Many of you have already told me you wish to share wisdom you learned from Wyndham. If you wish to contribute to this collection please email me at shaw.jeanie@gmail.com with the subject line—Wednesday Wisdom. If you wish to receive these blogs in your inbox, feel free to sign up to follow the blog.