Population 37,000.
Home town of famous pop singer Kelly Clarkson.
Birthplace of the world wide day of prayer "See You At The Pole".
Burleson is not my hometown. I was not born there, nor have I ever actually even lived there. For five amazing years of my life, however, I did work there. I was the secretary of Freedom Church, you know... the one that met in the old Movie Theater/Bowling Alley? Ya... that one.
For five years of my life I had the extreme pleasure of working for a church in a community that not only values their faith in Jesus Christ, but that also values churches working together.
Unfortunately, these days, it is rare to see a Pastor's alliance that works well. I have even heard of some alliance meetings (not in Burleson) ending in fist fights. Yes. Fist fights between Pastors. Isn't that just lovely?
Burleson, however, seems to me to be a very different kind of place. I was never directly involved in their pastor's alliance, but I was blessed enough to be able to work very closely with the Youth Pastor's alliance of the city. How cool is that? How many cities actually even have something like that?
I will tell you one thing, it was one of the biggest pleasures of my career to have worked with the LINC in Burleson. I mean, this was the very group that decades ago began the world changing prayer event that is called "See You At The Pole", an event that marked me for life on September 15 1999... but that is a story for another time.
From the very first meeting, I felt completely honored to be working with other youth pastors. We had a similar vision. We wanted to equip today's young Christians and evangelize their friends. It was simple, and we always worked peacefully together, even helping to steer and direct some major events, featuring names such as Mercy Me, Jeremy Camp, Skillet, Chris Tomlin, Francis Chan and so many more.
When I was a part of the LINC, I felt like I was seeing Christianity in action in the world I lived in. It was an awesome experience, and even better than that were the relationships formed with other youth pastors and workers in town.
You see the LINC is where I met great people. People like Sam Dallas who is an amazing theology and apologetics guy. People like Darin Brannon, who was an awesome youth leader and later went on to be an amazing worship pastor at Victory Family Church. People like Sandra Ruiz who helped connect us to the big names. People like Jonathan Moore, who is the youth pastor at the church I now attend. Had I not connected with him through a Battle of the Bands sponsored by the LINC, then I would probably not be in the church I am at today, Metroplex Family Church. That would be one of the biggest blessings in life that I could have ever missed out on. I thank God for the timely appointments during my time at the LINC, for the connections made and for all the youth (and more than likely adults too) reached through all the work during my time there and now.
Another person I met through my time at the LINC was BJ Jennings. I remember working with him on many events. He was always a great and encouraging guy, and all of us at the LINC had many a conversation over a box or ten of pizza with this amazing man.
Today in Burleson Texas, the Christians pulled together once again. We didn't want to do it in this way, but we did not have a choice in this divine appointment. Today we attended the memorial service of BJ Jennings. Early this Father's Day, BJ was killed in an accident while trying to help a stranded motorist.
The venue where the memorial was seats a thousand people, but still the overflow rooms were filled to capacity and people had to watch the service from monitors because there were already 1000 seats filled in honor of this man. Today I was reminded of a unity that I want to hold on to and remember forever. The unity of those believers in Burleson Texas who have fought for freedom in their own lives and the lives of others. Just the thought of it still brings me to tears.
BJ left this earth WAY too early, no doubt about that, but the impact he left will reach generations to come.
In honor and loving memory of a brother in Christ who fought the good fight and is now breaking it down "Hammer Time" style with his Father God in Heaven. He lived his life a good man, and he died helping someone out.
Brian "BJ" Jennings
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This is how every Christian should go out. Leave a legacy so big that even the liberal media wants to be there to cover your memorial service.
Check out news coverage of the memorial service HERE
Also if you missed today's memorial service, you can see it all by clicking HERE
