Comments:
The right man for the job. Great process for helping us heal after the church split. Excellent source of wisdom and biblical knowledge concerning the church
Pros:
Very organized, current w/technology, invites criticism, always looking to improve, great series of lessons on the internal problems of the church, esp. concerning traditions. Keeps lessons interesting with anecdotes and personal stories, very encouraging to others. Understands how to begin and end in love.
Cons:
Name: Michael
# 2
Comments:
Jerrie & Gail both jumped in with both feet becoming immediate members. They did everything-setting up for fellowship; cleaning up (& we have a lot) visiting the sick & hurting; teaching classes as well as Gail teaching @ Tues./Thurs. School. It was a great experience & EXACTLY what we needed!
Pros:
We very much needed to work through very deeply hurt feelings and feelings of anger. Jerrie’s lessons helped so much to do this. Hearing some ideas repeated many times kept those of forgiveness & moving on at the forefront of our minds. Made it less “consuming.” The classes were wonderful! Jerrie really does NOTHING w/o scriptural backing. He was amazing! He was also great to include our older kids in the process letting them know their feeling were also important. They were included on various committees & Jerrie & Gail attended many events where our young people were so as to encourage them. The were involved in every way!
Cons:
Even though we were moving forward, I felt we were in a strange “holding” pattern. It was a slow process & we just aren’t geared to slow & repetitive these days. It worked on our developing some patience!
Name: Sheryl
# 3
Comments:
I love Mr. Jerrie! He has done a great job with us. He has peacefully helped us.
Pros:
I’ve never seen someone handle a situation more wonderful. I have never heard things the way he put that way. He is very wise. I also like Mrs. Gail, she is very good with kids. She does a great Tuesday, Thursday School. They love her & will miss her.
Cons:
Name: Katie
# 4
Comments:
To Jerrie: You came when the “saints” needed you. We were encouraged to evaluate our actions, feelings, outlook, and our plans. We felt wounded but were only feeling our selfish self..not God’s I listened, your words followed a plan that began with the Bible. Thank you. Your many lessons on forgiveness were needed…explained biblically…taken personally…and have been heeded to the best of my ability. My tendency to speak too much (when I should keep quiet and let _____ speak) is my greatest fault. I am so glad you have allowed me to talk without your interruption. Sometimes I feel it necessary to give the “female” side.
To Gail, You settled in…took an active part with the children and won the parents. Our Ladies’ Class on Wed. Was personal and comments were welcome.
Pros:
Plans from the beginning! Hand-outs! Talk one at a time! The meetings after worship to inform. Your teaching and preaching…pure Bible. Excellent! Inter-action with the children. You won them over. Outstanding memory…Bible knowledge…Power Point. Benevolence…you listened, brought food, filled in WCB when we could not attend…staying for Dan’s funeral. Thanks.
Cons:
Away once month…maybe you needed a change of venue. You were missed.
Name: Beverly
# 5
Comments:
Jerry was of great value to our congregation in a time of deep concern for all of us-many of our friends had left us-these things ought not to be in the Lord’s church. In Jno. 17th chapter Jesus prayed for all His children. Jerry helped us teaching the unity of peace. It was Christ by his death, the shedding His blood that bought His church-not expressing his opinions or whose fault caused our problems. May God continue to bless him in his work for the Lord’s church.
Pros:
Cons:
Name: Leslie
# 6
Comments:
Oh Jerrie! Thank you so much for your absolute commitment to our congregation! I love the way you “throw yourself” into the work of the church and community. Thanks to you and Gail for teaching us that every member of our congregation is important. I ? you both and you’ll always have a special place in my heart.
Pros:
Great lessons. Not directly on forgiveness but “it” was there if you really listened.
Cons:
Sure am attached to you…hate to see you go. Wish you’d “talk back” during counseling rather than making me figure things out myself.
Name: Betsy
# 7
Comments:
Bro and Sis Barber are shining examples of Christian love & guidance. Both have helped the church as a whole without forgetting the individual members in the process.
Pros:
Bro. Barber had excellent lessons on helping the church to be ready for choosing a preacher, without rushing it. He was available to speak & help guide individual members who struggled with Christian issues providing information & willing to receive it as well. Both are wonderful with children, bringing smiles as much as getting them.
Cons:
Some “touchy” topics need to have sermons that concentrate more on Biblical Scriptures than earthly instruction. It’s hard to argue against God, especially when given much evidence from the Book.
Name: Jennifer
# 8
Comments:
Jerrie has helped us to heal. We all were hurting so badly when he came, we didn’t know where to turn. Jerrie always pointed us back to the scripture. His response is like Jesus in the wilderness “It is written.” He also taught us to look introspectively and see what I can do to improve me. We are much further along by having Jerrie here than if we had tried to move forward on our own.
Pros:
Cons:
Name: David
# 9
Comments:
Dear Jerry and Gail,
Your presence at LaVergne has helped this congregation to heal and recover from a very difficult time. I had dealt with similar situations in the workplace, but never in a church setting. I always thought that Christians would never act in such a manner of hostility and mean spiritedness.
You came with a spirit of calmness and openness. The scriptures you used such as, “where there is no wood the fire goes out;” and one that was really helpful was “For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him .” It made me realize that there was no way that I could know the mind of those that left and neither did they have any idea how or what we were feeling.
Even though I don’t think we will ever understand completely why this happened, you came and helped us to put salve on our wounds and move on. Just as Joseph told his brothers when they sold him into slavery, “you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.” I try to look at the good that has come from our ordeal. Several smaller congregations in the area were helped by the ones who started attending there and became more active in the work at that congregation. The ones that stayed at LaVergne become more involved in the work here. In each case the congregations were strengthened. I also feel that there is a stronger bond with those who remained here because of what we have been through.
Even though many of our friends left this congregation, we have been blessed with the young families and their enthusiasm and energy. We may be an “old” congregation, but we are also a young congregation who can make a difference in this community especially now that Josh and his family are also young, energetic, and enthusiastic. We are going to grow and bring more souls to Christ.
The thing that I regret and still do not understand is the friends we have lost. Those that we have helped and befriended and those that helped and befriended us through past years will no longer speak and will try to avoid us whenever they can. Please continue to pray for us that old friendships can be renewed before our life on this earth is over.
Jerry and Gail, you are one of our family now even though you were only here a short time. I felt a kinship the first day you came -maybe it was because of Freed-Hardeman, or maybe because of Dalton, Georgia, and Brenda and Betty. We are going to miss you and hope you will keep in touch with us and come visit whenever you have an opportunity.
I know you did not intend for this to be a letter, but these are some of the feelings I have and it was easier for me to put it in a letter. Besides, I don’t like goodbyes and it will be hard to say face to face.
Jerry, there is one thing I wish you would change: QUIT RUNNING BAREFOOTED. 🙂
May God continue to bless you both in your work ahead.
Pros:
Cons:
Name: Name withheld by request
# 10
Comments:
Overall you have been very good for the congregation. You helped bring stability, sound preaching and confidence to us and gave many hope that we would continue to be sound. The several programs you helped put in place such as Family mtgs-PST Elder Search were helpful. Your willingness to confront those outside who question everything we did helped slow down some of the critics.
Pros:
(1) Your involvement as a member of the congregation. (2) Your biblical teaching and preaching. (3) Meeting with individual members to give us a chance to talk about our concerns with the split. (4) Contacting those who left to understand their reasoning. (5) The Sunday night family mtgs. (6) Getting the congregation involved in selecting men for positions. (7) Just getting the members together to talk is helpful.
Cons:
(1) Your neutral stance on everything asked you. (2) Failure to give any personal response when talking with anyone. (3) You never answer a question. (4) Transition team-maybe find a different book or format.
A big pro is Gail-she was involved in congregation-a kind & loving, Christian lady-relates well to all members. I really like the way you and Gail became as members and not treat this as just a job.
Name: Pat
# 11
Comments:
Good comments before & after. We enjoy your thoughts in the contents & preparations of your lessons.
Pros:
Cons:
Name: George
# 12
Comments:
Jerrie has been a great asset and help to the church at Lavergne, and Gail is a great encourager to the families and children of the congregation. I hope Jerrie and Gail come back often and continue to be an encouragement and example to Lavergne.
Pros:
Very hard worker that generously contributes to all works and projects of the church. Jerrie (and Gail) are involved in all church activities and are active helpers. Jerrie preaches the Word in truth in a very sensible manner using great examples. Jerrie is also a great Bible class teacher that holds the attention of the audience. Although attacked and persecuted by some former members (unfairly), Jerrie held his poise and turned the other cheek.
Cons:
The only one I can cite is that I wish Jerrie would answer some questions asked more directly.
Name: Name withheld by request
# 13
Comments:
Thanks for all the pain, time and suffering done for the members. I didn’t learn a lot, you did help me with confidence. You did make me think. You did give me more assurance.
Pros:
Good work, down to earth. You make people feel you have been there.
Cons:
Maybe shorten meetings.
Name: Bill
# 14
Comments:
Bro. Barber, thank you for all that you do. I haven’t known you as long as some people but you, for as I am concern stand up for truth, and preaching and teaching sound doctrine. It is very important to me. I wish you and your wife all the best on your next journey for God.
Pros:
Cons:
Name: Bennie
# 15
Comments:
What we needed at the right time. Thank you for your practicality, straightforwardness, compassion, willingness to accept us where we were, helping us to realize we had something to off to the Lord.
Pros:
You came to us at a very tough time & you were tough.
You and Gail immersed yourself in the congregation. You became part of us & we were able to trust you at a time when trust was really hard. Helped us deal with conflict in Biblical way.
Cons:
Sometimes direct manner seemed to rub some the wrong way. Some were resistant to your methods but this was expected.
Name: Rooster
# 16
Comments:
“Thinking is the most spiritual thing a person can do.” “Look for one mustard seed.” I love your philosophy. It is a lot like mine. It stays in the word. It is a humble, honest philosophy. It is simple and scriptural rather than complicated.
People like me can understand it. “I was young and now I’m old.” I see simple, clear, concise things better. A split is difficult. Hopefully I’ve forgiven both sides and myself, also. At least I’m in the process.
Josh Pappas told me months ago that he would like to come to LaVergne. I tried to talk him out of it. _______ love them at Highland.
I have appreciated many of the things you and Gail have done. I have appreciated your good lessons and have taken lots of notes. I have appreciated your visits to the rehab center when I was there and ____ in the hospital. I have really appreciated your interest and visits to AA and Alanon. I have appreciated your help with _____, ________ _____, _____ and _____ ____ and others.
I have appreciated the encouragement you have given to LaVergne at a time of crisis when no one else seemed to fit the job.
I have appreciated the Bible class Gail taught and her openness, frankness and sharing.
I have appreciated and enjoyed eating with her after class and sharing ideas and knowing her better.
I have appreciated you both going to the Town Center and being with my friends there. I still feel we as a congregation handled so many things poorly. I’m still recovering from the shock of it all. I believe ___ _______ has some real basic problems and we allowed some of these problems to divide us. Of course he was not the only one with problems and things were handled poorly.
I have faith that bad things can have a positive side. I believe this with all my and my own life attests to it. I also believe that Josh Pappas will be able to help us heal and Keisha also. Joshua and I see pretty much “eye to eye” on most things and I believe he is very sound so I’m looking forward to our future.
Thanks for your help,
____
P.S. May God bless the future of you both. Come back to see us.
Pros:
Cons:
Name: Name withheld by request
# 17
Comments:
It has been a pleasure getting to know both of you. You both have been a true blessing.
Pros:
Stability. At a time of a fuss, it is good to have a “third party” come in and offer help and stability. I loved the way you both became active members of the congregation.
Cons:
Name: Tammy
# 18
Comments:
Overall, a great preacher. I have enjoyed listening to his sermons and his balance of using the bible and knowledge of the bible in sermons is great.
Pros:
Outstanding! Made me give the CofC another chance. He really is a great minister and I wish he was staying longer. He never made me feel “inferior” or “stupid”, which is a great quality to have.
Cons:
The only thing I can think of is maybe not comparing the CofC to other denominational churches as much. Just teach the bible. Let God be the judge of others.
Name: Name withheld by request
# 19
Comments:
I must admit that I was very skeptical regarding the need of an “interim minister” at our congregation. However, the wisdom of our elders has been proven over and over again since Jerrie and Gail have been with us. Between them, they have brought a wealth of biblical wisdom along with common sense that has greatly aided us during this time of transition. It has been a pleasure to sit at their feet and greatly benefit from their teaching Highly recommended!
Pros:
Cons:
none
Name: Phil
# 20
Comments:
24 hour servants – that is all I can say. If we had good things happen to us and around us all the time – who needs friends (or God). Church life has been a wholesome positive experience while at church services. Takes a long time to be close to “the way” – God’s recommended way of life – first a believer, than a habitual practitioner (action), then on the way to being a disciple. Process is meant to be simple: (1) willing to let God lead and learn (2) work at minimizing self-interest (3) holding out hand to those who need me (4) and letting God do His work.
Pros:
Cons:
Feel sad (probably selfish) to loose sounding board for personal spiritual frustrations to one who can listen without be judgmental. They listen, but have no idea what they think of us.
Name: Sonny
# 21
Comments:
Completely blessed by the presence of these two christians. So many things were learned. Spiritual growth was seen from age 2 to 102. Had a gift of delivering God’s word in a loving, yet firm way. Truly an inspiration. Looked forward to every lesson/sermon.
Pros:
Always had a positive attitude.
Extremely knowledgeable.
Accepted change and embraced it.
Had a willingness to accept criticism like I’ve never seen before
Paid attention to children & always told them they are powerful!!
Cons:
Didn’t stay long enough 🙂
Name: Kala
We will miss you both and pray for God’s blessings upon you in your next journey. ?