Jim Wright is a church sower, public but unassuming, thinker, mentor, teacher, local church elder, motivated by redemption, foe of tyrants, friend of the dispossessed, retired international attorney, entrepreneur, former private pilot, and so-so bass fisherman.
Marianne is a retired public school teacher, private but strong, heart, skilled counselor, knows deep intimacy with God, a comfort to others in the Lord, wise, motivated by mercy but has strong resolve, gardener, and a bridge to healing for many.
Together, we have been part of a community of simple, participatory fellowships for many years in our own home county - some of which we helped start.
Our blogs and devotionals spring from firm roots in those local fellowships.
Crossroad Junction 
I think their could be a place for itinerant workers like Paul or Timothy. If only anyone would perform it willfully and pay the cost. I do not see that those like Paul had a place to lay their head and ever seemed to take more than what they needed for the very basic necessities. In ACTS 20 Paul lays out the example to Elders that they are to work with their hands to provide not only for their own needs but for the needs of others as He did. Did he have the right to forebear working? Yes. But only if the need was great and the support was freely given. I believe Paul most likely owned nothing more than what He could carry. He was also not an eloquent speaker and not great in stature. But He preached the gospel to unbelievers and local bodies of believers were formed. Elders emerged from within the local bodies and were recognized as mature believers who were serving as examples to the rest of Jesus’ flock. Am I on the right track? If anything I have been throwing off the teaching of men but simply believing what the Bible says. I don’t see many who aren’t making merchandise of God’s people. It has been years now that God has been showing me that I am and will always be nothing. How can a man continue thinking this while He accepts praise from men? For lack of real vibrant fellowship with committed disciples of Jesus I have searched the internet for encouragement. I have been afraid to trust God beyond my lack of ability. Maybe I am close to dying to self. I hope so. Many of the “christians” I have met were committed institutional church members and were so busy doing “the works of the ministry” they had no time for committed relationships. I have had poor people I was helping try and dissuade me from helping others. I invited a member of a church who had no friends into my home only to have him try and molest my daughter. These things would not have been so hard if I had some help. But this whole idea of doing Jesus commands is so foreign to those in the church. Maybe I need to make disciples to have fellowship with. The goal not being to be their leader but to have others to minister to and be ministered by. Fellowship in Christ. I long for it.
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Thanks, Shawn. I hear your struggles. Been there…
The main point of my nugget is that we should not give credence to self-proclaimed “apostles” or other detached ministries who have not been proven by, are not part of, or remain accountable to an actual local fellowship.
Even Paul was sent by, reported to, accountable to, and part of his home church – which for him, was Antioch:
“From there they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work they had now completed. When they arrived and gathered the church together, they reported all the things God had done with them, and that he had opened a door of faith for the Gentiles. So they spent considerable time with the disciples.” Acts 14:26-28.
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