Up Periscope: Building through a Storm

By Dr. Eddie Hare Jr.

The purpose of this project is to share my story and encourage other ministry leaders in their work with the church. The calling to follow Jesus is easier said than done. Conflict isn't pleasant, but it is necessary. Church ministry in today's environment is like running a corporation. Conflict and crisis arise in every ministry. As in the corporate world, people are the greatest assets. Exploring how to deal with difficult, combative, complacent, and evil people is a true reality. From the pulpit, it is often said that God will not call you to do anything He has not equipped you for. Nevertheless, it is also prudent to develop your leadership skills to deal with numerous aspects of church ministry. God never promised us this life would be easy, but He is bigger than any storm we face in this world. And He's always working for our good, even in the places where we can't see, even in the circumstances that we don't fully understand. It's hard to put a storm, periscope, and the idea of building something together unless you are in a submarine on a covert or clandestine mission in which the periscope rises to check out the landscape. This is a strange analogy to try and put together; nevertheless, we need to up our periscope, build a solid foundation and know that the only thing that will last is that which is done for the kingdom of God.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Mar 16, 2021
• ISBN: 9781098035075

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Up Periscope

Building through a Storm

Dr. Eddie Hare Jr.

Copyright © 2020 by Dr. Eddie Hare Jr.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

CHAPTER 1: In the Beginning

CHAPTER 2: Giving Rise to an Idea (Zettie Miller’s Haven Project)

CHAPTER 3: People Can Be Messy

CHAPTER 4: Church Leadership

CHAPTER 5: Grace to Overcome

CHAPTER 6: Resting in a Storm

CHAPTER 7: Research Summary

Dedication

I joyfully dedicate this work to two of the most important women in my life. To my soul mate, Dr. Sandra Y. Hare, and my beloved mother, Evelyn Parham. My wife, Dr. Sandra Y. Hare has been a pillar of strength for me during this tedious process. It is a true saying that is found in Proverbs 18:22, Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favor of the Lord. And favor I received through the special relationship God has given via Sandra whom I call affectionately Sista. Her love, support, patience, contribution, and encouragement are invaluable. Love you with all my heart.

Then there’s my beloved mother, Evelyn Parham who on October 24, 2016, left this earthly realm to be with Christ in heaven. You were (and still are) the foundation of my existence. Everything that I am or will ever be was because of how you trained us in the Lord. You are and will always be my greatest inspiration. A job well done (Mom).

I have been extraordinarily blessed to have had a friend for over four decades, who has shared in my failures and in my successes in the person of Mr. Clifford Humphrey Jr. I thank God for our deep friendship.

Acknowledgment

Heartfelt shout-outs to the following people who assisted, encouraged, provided loving guidance, and prayerful support….

Floyd Lamar Davis

Jacqueline Washington-Davis

Larry Stamper, ThD, JD, Chancellor

Thomas W. Angelo, ThD, EdD, PhD

Joe Albert, ThD

And especially Wanda Albert—my silent partner, my virtual midwife for this baby. I love and appreciate you more than these one hundred-plus pages can say!

Further thanks to all who encouraged and prayed for this project to be successful.

Oh yes! And little Hannah Davis for being somewhat patient as her parents helped with this project.

Foreword

As I reflected on how this union came about, God reminded me that we were destined to be his vessels for service. Our journey started at Shiloh Baptist Church, Sacramento, California under the direction of Dr. O. C. Jones. I had prayed earnestly for ten years that I would be blessed with a man that loved the Lord and had the same desires as I. My favorite meditation Scripture was and still is Psalm 37:4, 5 Delight thyself also in the Lord and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way to the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. With that said, I also acknowledged that if I was to remain single according to His will, my dedication would solely be in his service. It was funny because I had compiled a list of twenty things I wanted in a husband. The Lord told me to throw the list away. He would give me what I needed. When I obeyed the Holy Spirit, that’s when I met Eddie Hare Jr. He was my answer to prayer.

In 1984, when we announced our engagement the storms started then. Our spiritual advisers at that time, came to us and admonished us to get married in a reasonable amount of time. If we carried the engagement out to the next year, the devil would try to wreak havoc on our relationship. We followed their advice.

During these thirty-five years, we experienced many highs and lows, as in any marriage. But our strong foundation in the Lord was the key that has kept this union. I have been privileged to watch Eddie’s spiritual growth. I witnessed his calling into the ministry in 1986. Another storm awakened when the interim Pastor at that time decided that God had not revealed to him that Eddie was called. I think the optimum thought was that God called him not man. So he didn’t get the opportunity to preach or get licensed at his home church.

In 1987, while on a trip for his job, he stopped in his hometown Bakersfield and shared with his former pastor Dr. Tyree Toliver Sr. his experience. That weekend he preached his first sermon and was licensed. His ministry journey began.

Through our years together we have served as children’s church and youth leaders. In 1999, he was led to start Lifeline Christian Church of the Inland Empire and in 2011 served as pastor of Unity Southern Baptist Church, later changed to Unity Community Christian Baptist Church. This is where the content of this book culminated.

My experience as a pastor’s wife has been rewarding, with much work, much prayer and a lot of grace and mercy. I am so proud of my husband for following the leading of the Lord and not being afraid to follow his dreams. I love him for his commitment to the kingdom of God and his integrity. I am grateful for the opportunity to be serving alongside. To God be the glory!

In His Service,

Dr. Sandra Y. Hare

Introduction

The purpose of this project is to share my story and encourage other ministry leaders in their work with the church. The calling to follow Jesus is easier said than done.

Conflict isn’t pleasant, but it is necessary. Church ministry in today’s environment is like running a corporation. Conflict and crisis arise in every ministry. As in the corporate world, people are the greatest assets. Exploring how to deal with difficult, combative, complacent, and evil people is a true reality. From the pulpit, it is often said that God will not call you to do anything He has not equipped you for. Nevertheless, it is also prudent to develop your leadership skills to deal with numerous aspects of church ministry. God never promised us this life would be easy, but He is bigger than any storm we face in this world. And He’s always working for our good, even in the places where we can’t see, even in the circumstances that we don’t fully understand.

It’s hard to put a storm, periscope, and the idea of building something together unless you are in a submarine on a covert or clandestine mission in which the periscope rises to check out the landscape. This is a strange analogy to try and put together; nevertheless, we need to up our periscope, build a solid foundation and know that the only thing that will last is that which is done for the kingdom of God.

CHAPTER 1: In the Beginning

1.1 The Statement of the Problem

Since taking the position of senior pastor at an established church, Unity Southern Baptist Church (USBC) in Stockton, California, the struggle and hostility has grown and continues to grow like a storm. The storm levels, otherwise known as trials, are fluctuating constantly in the spiritual realm as does the storm in the earthly realm. Even though this church has been in existence for over forty years, it had become stagnant and complacent. Come to find out, the church was surviving on God’s grace.

There were several plans along with the day-to-day efforts of maintaining a church in progress. First, the Zettie Miller’s Haven Project which was about ten years old and had not progressed beyond having multiple extensions. Then, the structure of the church as a recognized entity at the city, state and federal level was non-existent; followed by the financial deficiency of the church and the lack of biblical understanding.

In the physical, a storm is any disturbed state of an environment or astronomical body’s atmosphere affecting its surface implying severe weather. It may be marked by significant disruptions, to normal conditions such as strong wind, tornadoes, hail, thunder and lightning (a thunderstorm), heavy precipitation (snowstorm, rainstorm), heavy freezing rain (ice storm), strong winds (tropical cyclone, windstorm), or wind transporting some substance through the atmosphere such as in a dust storm, blizzard, sandstorm, etc.

Storms have the potential to harm lives and property via storm surge, heavy rain or snow causing flooding or road impassibility, lightning, wildfires, and vertical wind shear; however, systems with significant rainfall and duration help alleviate drought in places they move through. Heavy snowfall can allow special recreational activities to take place which would not be possible otherwise, such as skiing and snowmobiling.

Storms are created when a center of low pressure develops with a system of high pressure surrounding it. This combination of opposing forces can create winds and result in the formation of storm clouds, such as the cumulonimbus. Small localized areas of low pressure can form from hot air rising off hot ground, resulting in smaller disturbances such as dust devils and whirlwinds.¹

The storm (battle) in the spiritual sphere has a strong influence on events on earth. Paul explained this in his letter to the Ephesians. Ephesians 6:11–12 states, Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle (storms) is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Paul reminds us that when we are dealing with people and events on