We have just finished a couple of days with one of my favourite people in the world: Pastor Tom Rowe.

He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers - Malachi 4:6

When a person like Tom Rowe visits..... you sit down...and listen.... and take notes. That's what 56 years in ministry gives you I guess..... the "gravity" to speak.... the "voice" that causes young hatchlings in ministry like myself, to take notes. We tend to place a lot of currency on the polished dynamic young preachers and speakers. That is good, and they certainly have their place, but it is also high time for the Church to recognize spiritual fathers in addition to the vibrant and dynamic speakers. There is an anointing that wows you, and that is awesome..... and then there is also the quality that says "I've been there." I have purposed in my life to pursue the powerful anointing of the Holy Spirit in my life...... I want to pursue it with passion, intensity, focus and persistence - what is the point of it all if I don't? I also recognize the need to surround myself with "been there" people - "fathers", like Tom Rowe. During Tom's visits I LOVE the word He brings. I usually say that his ministry is a deep well that I turn to often. However I also find myself wondering whether I end up gleaning MORE from our conversations during the margins of his visit - conversations over a cup of coffee, whilst driving, whilst taking a walk - than I do during his sermons and teachings, deep and rich though they always are. There comes a point when a pastor becomes a pastor's pastor - Tom is, for many, a pastor's pastor. Some time ago I wrote about the gray-hair test. These thoughts are resonating in me again. I proposed the following ministry timeline:

• Childhood to 30 years: These are the formative years where you get rooted and grounded in the motivations behind your mission, and also get competent enough to fulfill it in an excellent way.
• 30 to 50 years: These are the performing years, where the actual job is done and the mission is advanced during your tenure.
• 50 to 70 years: These are the mentoring years (Reference the gray-hair test), where you take young aspiring leaders under your wing and nurture and mentor them in order to reproduce yourself in them.
• 70 years and over : These are the legacy years. During this season in your life you’d better get real busy and write as many books as you can, recording your legacy for as many generations to come as possible. During these years you are a mentor to mentors, a pastor to pastors, and a much needed source of wisdom, guidance and inspiration.

Thoughts?

It is becoming increasingly evident for me that the measure of a man is shown by the blessing he leaves behind him. This has been the case with the visit of Tom Rowe to Living Waters. I now have the post-visit hangover. This is that stage where you realize how grateful you are to have known and have connected with this person that means so much to you and speaks so much life into you every time you meet. More than just meetings: It is not only the meetings and the ministering, but for me it also is all about the fellowship, the insights into how his walk with the Lord affects life, ministry, family and all. It is also all about those God-moments where Father sets you up for a treat and a blessing that you did not even ask for. Take last Friday for example. We were walking to a restaurant in order to have a meal and this young lady runs up to our group and explains that their dolphin cruise boat leaves in ten minutes and they need to fill it up so where we interested in going at half price? You darn right we're interested girl! So off we went on an unexpected tour of the waters around Gibraltar on the hunt for dolphins armed with digital camera and all. And see dolphins we did! Packs of them. Or is it shoals? Herds? Groups? Well, you get the picture, and if you don't get the picture then get these that we took on our Odyssey adventure: http://www.wildoxgib.com/photos/tags/tomroweoct2007 Grounding: There is a grounding that you feel way deep inside of you when you spend time with one of your mentors. Maybe it is the impartation of some of that Tribal DNA that has nourished and sustained you throughout many years. The life that is spoken into you during this time settles within and forms another layer on your foundation - a firm foundation from which to build. For years I saw the work of men such a person as Tom as being that of building, and in a sense that is still the case. I feel tremendously edified whenever he comes through our church. However for me as time goes by each and every visit does something different than building me, it solidifies the foundation of my faith. I must then build thereupon (1 Cor 3:10). So then, feeling refreshed, edified and grounded I turn again to the task and mission that the Lord has set before me. The task is great. It is humorously and ridiculously greater than what we could of ourselves achieve. And yet there is a setting of our faces as a flint to proceed with it no matter what this world says. This is none other than loving just as we are loved - facilitating transformations through these encounters of love, and living to tell of this day to others. People, the Kingdom is within our reach! Live for the hour. Technorati Tags: Living Waters Tabernacle, Tom Rowe

We are pumped and chewing at the bit here! Tom Rowe is with us here for several days of meetings at Living Waters and we are anticipating great God stuff happening. I will be posting about it so stay tuned. Technorati Tags: Tom Rowe, International Team Ministries, Living Waters Tabernacle

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