From the 3rd Annual McShin Banquet

On May 8, 2007 Pastor Michael Poole accepted on behalf of the Hatcher Memorial Baptist Church congregation The McShin Foundation’s Gold Key Leadership Award. Many Hatcher leaders and members attended the banquet which was held at the “Marquee” building on Cutshaw Avenue. Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling was the keynote speaker. The following text was the basis of Pastor Mike’s acceptance talk.

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I want to say thank you to John Shinholser, Daniel Payne, and the McShin Board of Directors for this great Gold Key Award… which absolutely astounds me… because we as a church have received so much more already than anyone can imagine.

 The first time I met John in the old office on McTavish Avenue, he was drinking a 22 oz. coffee from 7-11. Without hesitation, he popped the top off that 22 oz cup and said, “You don’t mind a little sugar and crème in it do you?” With that, he tipped the cup and filled a Styrofoam cup and handed it to me. I knew we were going to be good friends.

  Also, thanks to the many friends of recovery and those now in recovery whom we have come to know and love during these past two years. Few things in my entire ministry have filled me with more joy than getting to know all of you on almost a daily basis. I will treasure this evening for the rest of my life.

 But I want to say thanks most of all to Hatcher Church because a Pastor’s greatest joy is to see a church finding and fulfilling its mission. I accept this award on your behalf. This Gold Key Award belongs to you. Our Deacon co-chairs are here, Jimmy and Elizabeth Dean, the Kerseys, the Dunstons, Donna Washington who brought John and me together, the Johnsons, the Schenks, and so many others who are avid supporters. Would you all stand once again? And would my wife stand who is the greatest treasure in my life?

 I have the highest regard for the principles of recovery, 12 Step work and what you refer to as Higher Power. I believe that the One that you refer to as the Higher Power is longing to help anyone who is in trouble… and the Higher Power will use any means available to save lives. You as recovering addicts along with the many friends of recovery here tonight are carrying a message of hope. And it is our great joy to help … not for what we get out of it… which is immeasurable… but for what God gets out of it… great joy and satisfaction. And we are challenging every church and Pastor in this city to become avid supporters.

 On many occasions we have asked someone to share a recovery story in our morning worship service. Every single time our church has given a standing ovation. Never in our 85 years has the church had more opportunity to be relevant… never have we been more needed than here and now in Lakeside and all of Metro Richmond. Our church is outside the norm, it’s extraordinary… and the reason is because we are trying to follow in the steps of our Master… our Higher Power. God is reaching out to hurting people in Lakeside and Metro Richmond.

 If you really want to know the pain in our community, talk with the teachers in our schools… not just high schools and middle schools… but our elementary teachers. One teacher told me recently of a child who comes to school early asking “Can I help you with something?” And then who stays late asking, “Can I stay and help with something?” The reason is because the home situation is not safe. Our families are hurting and our children are hurting. God wants to reach out.

 I’ll share this quick story and then sit down. The Gospel of Luke tells about a time when Jesus was being confronted by angry religious leaders who were put out with him for spending so much time with people who seemed to be outside the bounds of religion… people whose lives had become unmanageable… people who had been written off by the community of faith. They were saying to him…

 “Jesus, what about us? Why are you spending

so much time with irreligious people?”

 In answer to the question He tells them about a lost coin, a lost sheep, and a lost child. In each case… the coin, the sheep, and the child needed to be found. Jesus says that if we want to understand why God does what he does then we have to understand LOSTNESS.

 If we want to know why God does what he does, we need to understand lostness, not only from the perspective of the one who IS lost, but also from the perspective of the one who has lost something or someone. Have you ever lost something valuable? The pain of lostness is felt by the woman who lost the coin, the shepherd who lost the sheep and the father who lost the child.

 “Jesus,” they asked. “Why do you spend so much time with irreligious people?”

 Here’s why. Because God is like the woman who loses the coin, God is like the shepherd who loses his sheep, and God is like a father who loses the child. The reason God spends so much time with people outside the bounds of religion is because He cannot help himself. Our church is learning to feel LOSTNESS from God’s perspective.  

 Have you ever lost something valuable… a wallet, the family dog, or, heaven forbid, have you ever lost a child? How frantic! How desperate! How lost one feels who has lost something he loves! We must put everything on hold in order to seek and to save (reclaim) that which is lost!

 Jesus says to all religious leaders, if you do not feel this kind of lostness, if you are not longing to help and serve others… then you don’t understand the heart of God.

 I believe that God is not only found in a church service on Sunday but in a 12 step meeting on Tuesday night.  Wherever people open the door… God comes in. And when a church, such as Hatcher, gets it, then we have found the Pearl of Great Price; we have found the true treasure of the Kingdom of God.

 There is an old African saying… I am because you are. I exist because of you. Hatcher Church could not exist if it were not for the mission of sharing the loving heart of God with others… and that includes all suffering addicts and their families.

 (Luke 15:7 pastor paraphrase)  I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who turns to God for help than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not accept God’s help.

 May God's grace be with you.