Reflections on Building Bridges to the Poor - Dr. Michael Traylor

Free Methodist Medical Fellowship

Consultation 2008, September 26-28

Sauder Heritage Inn, Archbold, OH

The Free Methodist Medical Fellowship convened for its forty-seventh annual consultation at the Sauder Heritage Inn in Archbold, Ohio. Our presenter was Dr. Michael Traylor. Dr. Traylor is the founder and co-pastor of the Christ Community Fellowship in Twinsburg, Ohio, on the eastern edge of the metropolitan Cleveland area. Michael answered his call to pastor while finding success as a pediatrician in Cleveland. He describes his calling as "Proclaiming Jesus, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom in order to present all perfect in Christ" (Col 1:29). Christ Community Fellowship has as its mission "Following Jesus and changing the world." His wife, Amelia, is co-pastor and also a physician, specializing in obstetrics-gynecology. The Traylors have just been appointed to the New Hope Free Methodist Church in Rochester, New York. Michael and Amelia are excited about the next stage of their ministry which begins January 2009. Michael will serve as senior pastor and Amelia will serve as youth pastor. The Traylors have two children, Matthew age 15 and Michaela age 11.

Pastor Traylor led us in an engaging discussion of what it means to build bridges to the poor, to reach out to others we might not otherwise reach. Posted on this web site are the Power Point slides from his presentations. What follows is a short review of Pastor Michael's key points. You will find these four presentations both challenging and soul stirring. Our first session was Friday evening with three presentations on Saturday. Sunday afforded those in attendance an opportunity to respond to the theme of the Consultation.

Friday, September 26th

7:00 pm Keynote: The Jesus Dream – Trans-cultural Healing and Hope

Healing as a medium for demonstrating the power of the Kingdom

The Kingdom Footprint – The Hope of Healing (2008 presentation 1 power point)

What is the role of healing in the Kingdom? Healing is to become well, whole, or complete (to restore to original or intended form). That Jesus healed gave witness to the fact that He was the Son of God. This was the footprint of God in history, the kingdom of God come to earth. Pastor Michael went on to describe healing as physical, emotional, or spiritual in its scope. He also discusses the principles of healing.

Saturday, September 28th

9:00 am Building Bridges – Obstacles of Color and Culture (2008 presentation 2 power point)

Pastor Traylor opened this session with a case study describing a real person, Latisha, with real needs. She gives the appearance of being distant. Why is she antagonistic? Why has she had bad experiences with those who wanted to help her? When there is distance in the doctor-patient relationship, who is responsible?

The simple truth is found in John 3:16. We know of this truth, but there is a barrier to living it. We look for those with whom we feel comfortable. Pastor Michael reminded us that true worship comes in approaching the needs of the poor. To approach the poor we need to be aware that in the world of poverty there are rules which we need to understand if we are to bridge the gap which separates us. We also need to understand that the problems of poverty have been characterized as a minority problem. Accept it or not, we live in racialized communities.

10:30 am Bridges to Poverty: Wrong Medicines for Cultural Health

We may think that we have the cure for our cultural ills. What might they be? Color blindness, power conformity (minorities must learn the rules), multiculturalism, power responsibility. Pastor Traylor introduced us to a new model of racial reconciliation based on shared responsibility. This model brings us to repentance, to build new relationships, and to give up the benefits of wealth and power.

7:30 pm Building Bridges – A Biblical Approach

(Myths, metaphors, and medicine) (2008 presentation 4 power point)

The world has changed in our life time. We have moved from "Modernity" to "Post Modernity" with a resulting change of our understanding of truth, faith, institutions, personal identity, and community. The Church has also changed. We have moved from being missional to modern, from being centered in Christ to being bound by tradition. We need a holy dissatisfaction to see the Church as God would see it. What are the American myths which hinders our vision? We need to move into grace and away from judgment, and thereby offer a credible witness. So be it!

Sunday, September 28th

9:00 am Worship and Communion – Rev. Jim Kirkpatrick and Bishop Gerald Bates

10:00 am Return home to "build bridges"

Over the past two months the Lord has blessed me with fresh insights into what it means to be a follower of Christ. One insight came at the Labor Day Weekend family camp hosted by the Arizona FM conference near Prescott, Arizona. Insight no. 1: The Christian life is to be not primarily characterized as holy living, but by a life wholly committed to knowing Jesus. The next insight has come out of our small Bible study group here south of Tucson. Insight no. 2: We live out our Christian life as we commit ourselves to each other in community, serving both those inside and outside the Church. Another important, and may I say life changing, insight came to me as a result of this year's Consultation. Insight no. 3: We are to build bridges to others we might not otherwise consider reaching.

Pastor Traylor's teachings have made an impact on me personally. Though I have been committed to cross-cultural ministry throughout my professional life, I have a sense that I still have more lessons to learn in building bridges to those living outside of my own culture. Check out the power point presentations (linked from this web page). If you have any thoughts on this timely and important topic, feel free to email me at Timothy Kratzer, M.D..

Tim Kratzer, President FMMF