David Bahn – Reflections

Light from the Word and through the lens

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In 1968 Jerry Snell opened a door in the hallway outside our first hour chemistry class. He invited me into what I discovered was a darkroom. Soon I was on the school newspaper and annual staff as a photographer. Later I learned that Jerry was a Lutheran who was planning to become a pastor. A few years later I was not only a Lutheran, but I was heading off to seminary to become a Lutheran pastor, too. Jerry followed a year later and served as a pastor in Missouri until his untimely heart attack and death. I thank God for Jerry and enjoy photography still today – not to mention rejoicing in having served as a Lutheran pastor in congregations in Utah, Colorado, Arkansas and Texas. I’ve retired now and serve part time as a Congregational Support Specialist for the Texas District of the LCMS. I also provide coaching and leadership training through various PLI cohorts and with individual congregations and organizations. David Bahn is a follower of Jesus Christ, husband to Diane, father and grandfather. He is an avid amateur photographer. His photo website is “Flowers by God Photos by David” He also publishes a devotional blog DavidBahn-Reflections.com. He and Diane live in Cypress Texas and enjoy visiting their grandchildren who live in the United States and Germany. He graduated from Concordia Theological Seminary in 1979, and earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from Fuller Theological Seminary in 1991. Diane, his wife, is now retired from PLI (PLIleadership.org). They have offered presentations on Marriage and Ministry Partnership, Leadership, Changing Your Congregation’s Culture, and Missional Living. They look are working with PLI International training pastors and wives of the ELVD Diocese of the Lutheran Church of Tanzania. David’s personal mission statement is “Leading people to realize Jesus’ calling and plans for their lives.”

Built to Last

Anyone who knows me knows that I’m pretty jazzed about our new building program at St. John. I do realize that Jesus told the disciples that the temple in Jerusalem would be completely destroyed, “not one stone will be left on another.” (Mark 13:2) He is speaking about the most important religious building for the Jewish people of his day!

Images showing well-preserved and decaying buildings in Eisenach, Germany
These four images show well-preserved and decaying buildings in Eisenach, Germany.

Matthew 16:17-18 (ESV)

And Jesus answered him,  “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

I realize that the only building that will last forever is the Church: not a building, but the sum total of all those who believe in Jesus Christ in heaven and on earth. We join that whole company of saints on earth and in heaven when we gather for worship. Many of the beautiful church buildings in Europe are little more than museums today; we saw several such museums on our tour in Germany this year. Buildings can become all-consuming; they can eat up resources, limit ministry, and become more important than the people who they serve.

But just as your checkbook can more clearly display your value system than anything else, so a church building can be an expression of a church’s mission-mindedness. Just as what you spend your money on reveals where your values are, so the design, size, and physical condition of a church building reveals what a church values – toward God and toward the community.

So I am jazzed about our building program. I hope it expresses two very important values and helps with a third. I hope it expresses our value that God is greatly to be praised. In public gatherings, with songs, hymns, spiritual songs, Scripture and sacraments. I hope it says to the community, “We have a place for you – just as Jesus has a place for you in his heart.” And I hope that many people will use the building as a launch pad into the community to Live and Share the Abundant Life of Jesus. (That’s our Mission Statement.)

We are building a worship center designed to last many generations into the future – until Jesus returns. When he returns we will rejoice in the new heaven and earth that will be God’s dwelling; this and all buildings on earth will be destroyed. But in the mean time, let this one stand as a reminder of God’s grace and goodness, and a call for us to confess Jesus as Messiah and Lord.

SJLC Construction Photos
These are a few of the photos of the current construction project at St. John. Click here for a look at these and other photos.

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