President's Column

     I can think of no better use to make of my space in this issue than to share with you the talk IATC Vice-President Dorothy Driskell of Columbus gave at the interdenominational Sunday morning service, on the last day of this year's convention in Durham.
--George Conklin
IATC President

     In thinking about what Torch needs at this time, over and over I came up with "unity" and "healing."  Of course, the same can be said for many organizations, including our churches.

     Please listen to the word:

     In Romans 14: 4-8, Paul writes, "Who are you to pass judgement on and censure another's household servant?  It is before his own Master that he stands or falls.  And he shall stand and be upheld, for the Master, our Lord is mighty to support him and make him stand.  One man esteems one day as better than another, while another man esteems all days alike.  Let everyone be fully convinced in his own mind.  He who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord.  He also who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God; while he who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God.  None of us lives to himself (but to the Lord) and none of us dies to himself (but to the Lord), for if we live to the Lord, and if we die to the Lord.  So then, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord."

     Heeding Paul's teaching will oblige us to make six commitments.

    The first commitment is to "build each other up." Life is tough enough, and there are enough discouraging people in the world that what we need is a whole band of encouragers giving each other positive feedback and acknowledgment of steps taken forward.

     The second commitment for growing a more caring organization, be it Torch or church, is to recognize the value of each and every member.  Torch Clubs are made up of a broad range of personalities. Inevitably people will sometimes view others in a negative light, but we need to model that we realize how very important each member is and teach and model the belief that everybody is important to God.

    Our third commitment is to keep our focus on what is really important.  Most church and other organizations do not split over major issues; they split over trivial ones. Therefore, we need to focus on our broad mission and what is really important to our growth and stability.

     The fourth commitment is to limit our own liberty out of love for others.  As leaders in Torch, we must be model and live by higher standards, and that is simply the price of leadership.

     The fifth commitment for unity and growth is not forcing our opinion on others.  On disputable matters, keep them between you and the Lord.  As Paul says in Romans 12:18, "As far as it depends on you, if possible, live at peace with all men."  Sometimes we need to go ahead and do what we feel is in the best interest of our club or church, but do it graciously.
     The sixth and final commitment for growing a more harmonious club or church is living by faith, believing in Biblical convictions and being lovingly honest about them.

    For those of us who are Christian, part of our job description is to build up others, putting the needs of others ahead of our own and becoming a servant. The same message reverberates through most of the world's faiths. If we can put into effect even half of these commitments, I feel we will have a healthy and growing Torch far into the future.