Conference Minister Corner 5/27/2025

While visiting our partners in the United Church of Christ in Zimbabwe during my sabbatical last November, I had the privilege to worship on my first Sunday in country at the Harare City Central Church. During that worship service, there was a phrase that was said that I not only thought about for the rest of my trip, but I’ve thought about ever since. It was something that one of the lay leaders said during the announcements, but goodness did it have a profound impact on me. Here is what was said, “milk the cow more, fidget less.”

“Milk the cow more, fidget less.” What this says to me is do the work and don’t let yourself get distracted from it.

Our work as Christ’s church is to share the love of God in any way and every way we can. Anything that distracts or delays us from doing so is fidgeting. ANYTHING.

I dare say we, as church, can get ourselves caught up in some fidgeting from time to time. We can become caught up in what others will think if we love too deeply or broadly. Fidgeting. We can worry that loving will “cost” us too much and impact our institutional sustainability. Fidgeting. We can bog action down in committee. Fidgeting. We can become too concerned about doing something perfectly to risk doing it all. Fidgeting.

My friends, from that day at the Harare City Central Church, I have become convicted that what the Spirit is asking of us as church in this day is to “milk the cow more, fidget less.”