As if it were built into his DNA, there wasn’t even a moment’s hesitation. Allen dialed the Living Waters church, identified himself as a seminary classmate, and asked to speak to Henry Harp. The secretary’s voice broke a little as she told Allen that she would connect him.
Allen could hear the strain in Henry’s voice a he answered. Although Henry tried to maintain a sense of control, there was no liveliness in his voice. “This is The Reverend Henry Harp. I pray God’s blessings on you. With whom am I speaking?”
“Henry, this is Allen Felkner from Garden Presbyterian. We were classmates at Columbia. I know our lives have gone in separate directions since we graduated, but I just heard the horrible news about your cancer and wanted to call and offer my prayers of support. I thought that perhaps it might be of help to talk to another pastor.”
“Allen, it’s so good to hear your voice. I just got the news this week and I have to admit I’m still reeling from it all. Let me close my door so that we can talk in private.”
Sensing that Henry did want to talk, Allen continued to respond. “How bad is it Henry? What are the doctors telling you?”
“To be honest, Allen, I’m afraid it’s going to take one of those miracles that we preachers are always talking about.”
Allen could hear Henry take in a deep breath trying to control his emotions.
“Do you have an extra miracle hanging around your church, Allen?” There was a moment of silence; then a clearing of the throat. “I’m having trouble finding one around here right now.”
Allen was touched, if a little bit surprised, by Henry’s willingness to be so vulnerable to him. They had never been close, even in seminary. Even though they were in the same city, they had rarely talked since graduation. Yet, at that moment, the barriers had been removed. They were two pastors reaching out to each other.
“Henry, I don’t have much control over miracles, but I am available for some honest preacher to preacher talk and to have prayers together if that would help.”
There was a slight catch in Henry’s voice as he spoke. “It would help, Allen. I know that we have gone down different paths theologically but right now that doesn’t seem to mean very much to me. I remember in seminary that you always seemed to be in touch with something much deeper than I could ever get hold of.”
Allen felt slightly embarrassed at hearing Henry’s affirmation but recognized that this was Henry’s moment to which he needed to respond. “Henry, would you like to meet some place so that we could talk and pray together?”
“Oh, God, would you do that for me, Allen? Could we, uh, could we meet in your sanctuary, just the two of us, and could I, uh, tell you how scared I am? And, and, uh, Allen, would you pray for me right there in that sanctuary? Could you do that for me, Allen?” And then Henry started weeping over the phone.
Allen was almost speechless. He knew the whole theory of mega church growth was to remove all the symbols from what he would call the sanctuary and they called the gathering area. Sermons made brief reference to Scripture but were mainly focused on uplifting lessons about life. Music was geared to be upbeat and shaped by the latest trends in the culture. The programs of the church combined entertainment and building supportive life skills together with some opportunities to engage in missions that made the participants feel good about what they were doing. The idea of a prophetic challenge to the materialistic way people were living was considered too negative. But, at this moment, Henry was setting all that aside and crying out for comfort from another pastor in the setting of a sanctuary filled with the rich symbols of the faith.
“Of course I will do that for you Henry. When would you like to come?”
There was a slight hesitation. “Allen, I know this sounds ridiculous and exposes me for the hypocrite that I really am, but could we do it late at night when no one else is around?”
Allen wanted to laugh out loud, but Henry’s total vulnerability would not allow any but the most compassionate of responses. “Of course, Henry. Look, I don’t have a meeting at the church tonight. How about if we meet there about 10 p.m.?”
“Blessings on you, my friend. You are truly a gift from God. I will never forget this.” There was a pause, a couple of false starts and then Henry said, “Uh, Allen, I’m embarrassed to say this but I don’t even know where your church is located.”
Allen smiled to himself as he provided Henry with clear directions to the church
