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.”

From Nairobi to Kisumu to Oyugis

Acts 15:37-41

Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. 38 But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. 39 And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, 40 but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. 41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

There is controversy and division within the Lutheran Church in Kenya. We heard of this from several different leaders and even from those who are in opposition to one another. Without going into details – and that at least in part because I know only the most basic facts of the matter, and that only third hand – the division is so deep that individuals have excluded themselves from one another. Sad to say this is nothing new. Even Paul and Barnabas experienced a rift between the two of themselves that they withdrew from each other and were not partners on this second missionary journey of Paul.

Ultimately, thankfully, the two were reconciled as is noted the the notes from the Reformation Study Bible:

Though the remainder of Acts contains no further record of Paul working with Barnabas, Paul mentions Barnabas in a positive light in 1 Cor. 9:6. Paul’s later high regard for Mark is evident in Col. 4:10; Philem. 24; 2 Tim. 4:11.

I pray that God will bring these divided persons together again under the cross of Jesus Christ in humility, faithfulness, love, and unity in the mission of God. For only under the cross of Jesus Christ are we able to accomplish anything. We are all broken. We are all a mess. We all need God’s grace and forgiveness – sometimes because of willful sins, at other times because of our absolute ineptness at life and love.

We also experienced a bit of that lack of planning, preparation, and good communication even in getting to the site of the PLI International conference. We thought it was to have been in Nairobi, the capital city into which Diane, Dr. Scott Rische, and I flew. We soon discovered that we would fly to Kisumu. We discovered, once there, that the conference was not to be there, but about 3 hours south in the little town of Oyugis. Even that discovery was somewhat circuitous.

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