Week 26: What Red Oak Are You Planting?
When your son asks you in time to come, what is the meaning of the testimonies and the statutes and rules that the Lord our God has commanded you? Then you shall say…
Deuteronomy 6:20-21
I once heard a pastor ask this question: “What shade tree are you planting so that someone else can enjoy it?” If you think about massive trees, they live forever, and they take a lifetime to grow. The first home I lived in was right off of Tulane road on a street called Normandy Drive in Horn Lake, MS. If you go by that home today, there are two massive Red Oak trees sitting in the front yard. My father planted those in 1976. Someone enjoys the shade of those trees today, but when they were planted they were so small.
The point is, if you plant a Red Oak today, you may never enjoy its branches. Someone else may never know that you planted, but perhaps they will be thankful. That begs the question, what did others plant for us that we enjoy today?
When the Israelites were entering the promised land, God instructed Moses to share the story of Israel’s deliverance (see Deuteronomy 6). The next generation would ask about the story because children always ask! So when they asked, adults were to tell them of God’ faithfulness. That story mattered for Israel’s future faithfulness. Our stories matter too!
One of the most inspiring stories of planting a tree of blessing was the move for SBEC and Broadway to the Getwell campus. The events surrounding that move are often lost to us. Today we see a thriving school and busy community. The truth is, Getwell road used to stop at Goodman, and there was literally nothing in the surrounding fields. In fact, when I was in high school, driving to SBEC to work in the maintenance department (moving chairs for Sunday worship) was a drive to nowhere. Getwell and Goodman was too far from Stateline and 55 (where all the restaurants were). Can you imagine what a step of faith it was to move your school and church to the middle of nowhere? Of course, they were looking ahead and planting a tree. I think they knew one day the branches would be larger.
In addition to the location, there was the issue of finances. It is well documented that the school was bankrupt at the end of the school year. They worried about making payroll, much less staying open another year. According to Paul Young’s testimony, a motion was made to close SBEC. This was nothing new. Memphis Prep (a private school off Mendenhall) had just decided to close. Private education was suffering in the 80’s, and it looked like SBEC was next.
What saved our school was simply this: the pastor of Broadway Baptist did what few men are willing to do. He stood boldly. He took a risk. We can say he took a leap of faith, and he did, but it was a huge risk. Bobby Moore stood up among a group of men and said, “The Lord has called us to Christian Education, and until he tells us otherwise, we will stay in Christian Education.” Think of those men in that meeting who I believe were walking with God, were secretly thinking, “Bobby, we are broke!” “Bobby, I love God, but there are no more options!” If logic prevailed, they should have closed the school. If common sense had prevailed, we would not be here. If business practices had been employed, you’d not even remember the name.
By all accounts, the simple truth is that because Bobby Moore stood up, the motion to close the school failed for a lack of second. When I look in history (both biblical and otherwise) the men who were willing to be bold are important. Most people aren’t bold, they’re just settled.
According to Paul Young, it took great faith to make it to Getwell. “With 600 dollars in hand as earnest money” they walked the grounds praying God would give them this land. How ridiculous that must have seemed to some! Can you imagine if I said, “Let’s all go walk this land down here and pray that God gives it to us. We don’t have any money, but maybe God will do it?” Truthfully, I believe I would be walking alone. That shows my lack of faith!
Back then, the only way the school could survive was that the church offered to sell their property on Shelby Drive, and both locations would merge into one. The church offered to forgo any building plans so that the school could have their needs met first. I remember when I was moving chairs in the fall of ‘89 that Brother Bobby Moore’s office was shared with Paul Young. They were located where our Paul E. Young center of technology is today (in Trojan Hall). So many people gave so that we could enjoy the Red Oak Tree of blessing today.
In light of 50 years this week, I want to publicly say: “Thank you Brother Bobby for standing up in that meeting and being bold. Thank you Paul Young for standing by him. Thank you to the countless teachers who took nothing as pay, and for the church members who brought watches and money to keep us going. Thank you to the men and women who had more faith than common sense (and I mean that with all due respect). Thank you to all of you who made it happen. God used you to plant trees of blessing.
What tree of blessing are we planting so that the next generation will put their trust in God? Northpoint is a tremendous gift and blessing that God has bestowed upon us, and you are part of that ministry. What Red Oak are you planting?
Discussion Questions:
When have you seen God do something because of great faith?
How do we teach the story without staying in the past?
What can we plant today to help the ministry thrive?
