Would a Belly Have Been Better?

By Tim Harlow

(From our series “The Best or Worst Advice I”ve Ever Received.”)

The best and worst advice I ever received was from Sky Allen, the previous minister at Parkview (then the Tinley Park Church of Christ). I got the same advice from my friend Haydn Shaw, who was a minister in the area. When I asked them whether I should accept the senior minister position here in 1989, both of them very strongly said “NO.” The place was a divided, leaderless, and visionless church that was being held together with duct tape by the area church planting organization. Looking back 24 years, I would have told me the same thing. It was good advice.

However, it was a very definitive call from God when we came to visit. (And Bob Russell had already filled his “preaching understudy” position with that Dave Stone guy.) We are now glad we didn”t listen to their advice, because when God calls, it doesn”t matter what anyone else says. But I have to admit, those early days made me think three days in the belly of a fish might have been a better choice.

Tim Harlow, senior pastor, Parkview Christian Church, Orland Park, Illinois