1 QUOTE

“Margaret Mears felt a responsibility to devote her full life to her sister’s unique ministry.”

- Earl O. Roe

1 NOTE

Jerry Maguire is a romantic comedy telling the story of an idealistic sports agent played by Tom Cruise. After his firm’s greed and hardness to human suffering is pointed out by a player’s son, Cruise writes a mission statement (this is hat tip to Jeffrey Katzenberg’s historic 28 page memo to Disney). Dorothy Boyd, played by Renee Zellweger, is a 28 year-old single mother who leaves her stable job to start a new agency with Jerry. The first year is super rocky but ends with agent and player embracing on Monday Night Football and Maguire bursting into a divorce support group meeting that Dorothy is attending. This epic ending launched two catch-phrases into 90’s popular culture: “You had me at hello” and “You complete me.” This scene remains today one the best Hollywood story endings. But in light of God’s Kingdom, Hollywood gets this one dead wrong.

 In Paul’s letter to the disciples at Corinth, he argues that singleness is the preferred option in life. The unmarried woman or man will not be anxious for things of marriage or family, but can give their undivided attention to the Lord (1 Corinthians 7:33). Paul asserts he wishes everyone would be single like him (1 Corinthians 7:7). Henrietta never needed a man to complete her. Miss Mears lived one of the most fulfilling and fruitful lives in the history of Christianity. Her social base was full of love, intimate friendships, ministry partnerships, and global travel. (The Great Charles Simeon also models the single life filled with mission friends.)

 Every leader ministers from a social base. Dr. J. Robert Clinton defines four wheels on the social base car: (1) Emotional support; (2) Physical support; (3) Financial support; (4) Strategic support. The key to Miss Mears’ social base was her sister Margaret. As Henrietta’s ministry began to take off, Margaret moved from Minneapolis to Los Angeles to partner with her younger sister. Earl Roe described Margaret as the perfect compliment to Henrietta. Margaret was a successful business woman, a superb chef and homemaker, full of dry wit and fun sarcasm, and she never met a person she didn’t enjoy. Roe commented, “Margaret took every physical responsibility from Henrietta: she paid the bills, did the shopping, ran the house, took care of every piece of clothing, and booked travel. As long as Margaret was alive, Henrietta never worried about what she would eat, drink, or what she would wear.” Margaret herself never married, equalling Henrietta’s commitment to Jesus and the Kingdom. The Mears sister partnership lasted for 35 years and formed the foundation of Henrietta Mears’ growing ministry team.

1 QUESTION

Every Christian leader operates from a mission social base. What are the strengths of your social base? What are the challenges you face in your social base?

Until Next Tuesday,

John