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March 31, 2009

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The Bridge (Part One)
Milan Ford

Over the next two days, StreamingFaith.com has carved out this space for me to share with you something that is very personal to me. Something that many would not dare to share.

It is my sincere prayer that this two-part devotional will provide us all with an extraordinary moment of solace and worship with God. For indeed it is in Him…

…where our lives are made perfect. (Colossians 1:28)

Nearly two years ago, during the Spring of 2007, my entire world was turned upside down. An incredible, yet unfortunate chain of events helped set me on a course from simply living life as a leader of ministry, into one day becoming an authentic ministry leader.

I was working for a very large and influential church; one whose vision and passion for young people transformed my heart in an immeasurable way when I was still in college.

Although a believer in Christ at an early age, like most college students, I decided to place my faith in God on a shelf, and indulge in many of the temptations that the college life has been known to offer. Had it not been for this church and the desire and commitment of its pastor to begin reaching out to the local college campus community, I’m not sure where my life would have ended up.

It was through this church that my faith in God was renewed. And it was at this church, that I found a real love for ministry, especially for young people and college students within the campus community I once was apart of.

After nearly six years of becoming apart of the ministry that had given so much to me as a college student, I was blessed with the opportunity to become the College & Student Ministry Director for that church.

A tremendous honor to say the least.

Things at first were moving along quite well. My passion to see college students impacted and encouraged to follow after Christ consumed me completely. From visiting and creating ministry programs for students while on campus, to opening up my home and spending time with them while off campus, I had never been more on fire for God in my life.

Every day I woke up, to know that I actually was being paid to do something I loved to do, that I perhaps would have even done for free, was a blessing too wonderful to comprehend. After getting married, and being blessed with two lovely children, I thought that nothing could derail me or distract me from the path that I was on in ministry.

But then…it happened.

SUCCESS

It is amazing how a period of success or the roaring sound of praise can cloud the judgment of the most dedicated of leaders. Our hearts of flesh can so easily be turned into hearts of stone when we no longer align our hearts with the heart of a holy God.

It was not long before my drive in ministry had more to do with receiving the accolades of man, than bringing glory and honor to God. My desire to please God was exchanged with a desire to please myself. Ministry no longer was viewed as a privilege. It had become an idol.

An idol that in the Spring of 2007, was completely exposed, creating an unfortunate situation for not only my pastor and fellow ministry leaders, but for several of the students I had been given the responsibility to lead. A decision had to be made. And it was.

TERMINATED

Ashamed.
Devastated.
Depressed.
Shocked.

I can probably write an entire thesaurus full of words that described the kind of pain I felt on that day after being fired by my church. And it still wouldn’t do it any justice. As I drove home from the church that day, a drive that seemed like an eternity, I will never forget pulling up in our driveway, and noticing a small package left at our front door.

The contents of this package radically changed my life. And brought a brand new perspective of God, and the importance of worship, that I hope we all can embrace as believers today.

(Click here for part two of THE BRIDGE right here on StreamingFaith.com!)

Milan Ford has been a leader (and survivor) of ministry within the local church for most of his life. A lover of Red Vines Licorice and all things pointing north, Milan is scheduled to release his first book, 83 Things I Wish The Black Church Would Stop Doing, the fall of 2009. You can find Milan blogging at ThePewView.com.

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Comments:

Thank you for sharing your story The Bridge part I/II. I too was flying high with God not every thinking that I would allow a distraction to come in and be an idol in my life.
I am so disappointed that allowed my desires to get in the way and disappointed my heavenly father. I have been in excruciating pain. Thank you for sharing your testimony.

posted by Love & Wisdom @ Sunday, April 05, 2009

My sister left a message to which I would like to reply. You are not alone. I can not speak to your situation except to say I have found myself and remain in some ways very like you. I had to take every day one day at a time. I spent time sitting outside absorbing the beauty of nature. The Lord is in the breeze and the birds. You might not read the Word. You might not pray. You might sit and stare. You might despair. But God knows. He really knows. He can seep right into your bones and you can go from there. JESUS is the ONLY real HOPE.

posted by ChariotOfFire @ Sunday, April 05, 2009

Your article is truly inspiring but @ this point in my life I have just stopped living. There has been some unfortunate events in my live which have cause me to have so... many doubts. I was molested so young, but basically blocked it out for years but it came to me again when my daughter became a teenager & in the process of trying to protect her from the same fait, I lost her & then I lost my son. Now w/no children & a broken family relationship all around I find my self miserable & alone and wondering why I have to be in the wilderness. I sometimes think I am being punished for letting it go on so long w/o letting anyone know but @ start I was just a babe & then an adolescent, so it has to be my fault. But now I look back & know it's not my fault, so why do I suffer so. I have lost everything, my husband, my children, friends, family and now myself. How does God determine who should be placed in the wilderness, who becomes a "Dead Man Walking". I have no one to love & no one to love me, I go to work daily to come home to be alone to go to work & do it all over again with no purpose. How do you praise him through your pain when you see no end. You are so blessed that God brought you out, but for others he seems to forget. I was an awesome mom, who did the homework after school, & the dance practice, track practice, cheerleader practice, choir rehersal, praise dance, class mom, spontaneous vacations, football practice, basketball practice, karate practice, neighborhood mom, & cheerleader mom extraordinair, but because I expected something greater for them than I had for myself I lost them both & they now despise me. I try to keep faith but it's so hard when I feel I have nothing & can't explain why!

posted by hey me @ Sunday, April 05, 2009

Thank you for this devotional, it blessed me and encouraged today. So courageous to be so transparent and yet such a blessing to the thousands like me who always thought ministers were free from trials and were beyond all this. Indeed God loves us so much that He takes us through rough paths in order to draw us nearer to Him.He deserves all our worship. I just want to add that God has spoken to me many times though Streaming Faith the last three years and in turn I have forwarded it to others who have been blessed too. In my country, France we have so few devotionals to read. Praise God for what He is doing through you.

posted by sylvie69 @ Saturday, March 28, 2009

I can clearly see why you are where you are now in your walk and faith in God. In spite of what you were going through at the time you still gave God the glory, honor and praise...that's exactly what we are suppose to do. I think you were transparent enough in giving your testimony because as Christians or non-Christians we can't and should not tell "everything" because some Christians (especially) and non-Christians can't handle but so much and then we as Christians especially begin to judge. I believe God allowed you to tell what needed to be told and I thank God that God allowed you to do just that!!!. It has truly bless me and encouraged me to continue to "vent up" and let God do what, when, where, who and how He do it. Milan continue to what God's has called you to do and be bless. Your testimony is a blessing and so are you!

posted by sistagreene @ Saturday, March 28, 2009

Milan; Thank you for sharing your Bridge. I'm just starting out, and that's a pretty powerful example. God Bless...

posted by w0wfm @ Saturday, March 28, 2009

Please let me know when the book will be out. I look forward to Part Two.

posted by Iyalorde @ Friday, March 27, 2009

Awesome. Transparent. Honest. I always love reading your blogs b/c you don't just state the situation, but you offer solutions to those of us who love God enough to stay on the "ministry" boat. i can't WAIT to read Part II.

posted by songstressiii@hotmail.com @ Friday, March 27, 2009

Milan, God Bless you!

Don't know what the problem was that caused your dismissal but people will hazard a guess. No matter, it's one of those things. Whether in ministry or secular life, people eventually make BIG mistakes. I have found in secular life one's personal mistakes do not necessarily reflect in their abilities to do their jobs. Nor does it bring mass judgements from work colleagues. However, the church is very, very different. For someone who has made ministry a vocation one single mistake often means that person has to either give it all up, for good. Or, the person has to move away to another church to begin a loooong healing process. And it doesn't only apply to those in ministry. I hope your journey, along with many others who have made BIG mistakes whilst in ministry or as a member of a congregation, isn't too long and arduous. MarkG

posted by MarkG @ Friday, March 27, 2009

I praise the Lord for you, Brother Milan!

Thank you for sharing this testimony and for, as the youth say, "keeping it real" with us.

The Father is pleased with your openess and I know that people will be convicted, delivered, and encouraged by your testimony.

I'm looking forward to Part 2 tomorrow. May God richly bless you in all that you do for His Kingdom, in Jesus' name. Amen!

Firmly In His Grip,
Genikwa R. Williams
www.genikwawilliams.wordpress.com

posted by Genikwa Williams @ Friday, March 27, 2009

This is an awesome devotional. God certainly wants the glory and it takes a real man to admit failure. I can see how God has bridged your faith in Him.

Lamario

posted by lamarios@yahoo.com @ Friday, March 27, 2009

i just wanted to say that I'm glad to see that Brother Ford is doing well. He was a very big part of my son's life when he attended Georgia State University from 2004-2008. We never knew what happened and we just prayed that everything was alright. keep up the good word Brother Ford, you are a blessing to the body of Christ and I can't wait to get a copy of your book.

Bishop Kenneth Clay
New Creation Christian Church
Augusta, Georgia

posted by Bishop Clay @ Friday, March 27, 2009

I always love the Streaming Faith Devotional, they are always in line with Holy Spirit and what God is saying that day, I haven't even heard the complete story of Milan Ford but as I read it, I can relate totally and I am in the process of writing my testimony to tell it about what happened in my life.

posted by shawna53d @ Friday, March 27, 2009

I truly understand and appreciate your message here. God will most definitely shake things up to put us back in the place where He wants us to be. As I was a key participant in the music ministry at my previous church, God shook things up which led to me and my family leaving to attend another church. I am still a part of the music ministry at my new church home, but not at the capacity as before. I know that God had to stop me in my tracks at that time before I reached a point of potentially arrogance in some way. I would call it a potential place of immaturity.

Experiences of change can be very humbling and it most definitely matures the mind and spirit. I thank God for the protection and guidance He provides in my life and other's lives.

Thank you for the transparency. Your openness allows the door to be open for others to learn and also share their testimony.

Be blessed,
Cedric
www.cedricwells.com

posted by Cedric Wells @ Friday, March 27, 2009

I have just read Part One of The Bridge and I cried.
I am walking a hard road at the moment - my divorce will come through in
April 09 sometime and a year ago I was unfairly dismissed from my job.
This message is timely! The school of hard knocks happens to us all; rich
and poor, intelligent and not so intelligent, good and bad. When you experience
something like being dismissed from your job, you think only you have been
through it, until you hear someone else's story!
Thank you so much. God is the great encourager. He blows me away everytime.
Thank you Milan for being honest and open. YOu have touched my heart.
God bless you my brother in Christ.

Kathleen Anderson.

posted by kathleen anderson @ Friday, March 27, 2009

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