S10E02 | Parachurch Ministries and the Local Church: Sam Brock
Having defined his mission in an earlier podcast, Mr. Sam Brock, Executive director of Ironwood Christian Camp, returns with host Dr. Matt Davis to analyze parachurch ministries and their partnership with independent local churches. They clearly acknowledge the primacy of the church in God’s plan and the role of parachurch organizations to serve the church, but note the challenges that can threaten affiliations. Dr. Davis outlines levels of relationships, and Mr. Brock asserts the importance of maintaining “a constituency of One.” They examine the nuances of context, the reality of “communication lag,” the merits of traditions or lack thereof, and the inherent need for and inevitability of change and its effects. Dr. Davis encapsulates the podcast’s purpose saying that others need to see how ministry leaders “grapple” with these complexities and the intense accountability they feel to make right decisions.
About our guest
Sam Brock was an original “desert pygmy” (staff child) at Ironwood Christian Camp in Newberry Springs, California, the camp his parents co-founded. After university training, he returned to camp to serve as the camper services director until becoming the executive director in 2013. He and his wife Cindy (whom he met at camp) have four grown “pygmies” and seven grandchildren.
Watch, like and subscribe to Sam’s in-person YouTube episode here.
