Shigematsu explores how love releases from shame Ministry leaders gather at SBC Leadership Conference held March 11–12 By Jesse Penner
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PHOTOS COURTESY SBC
hame is one of the most universal human God’s grace is sufficient experiences. Whether we are young or The first session explored how the abundant old, students or teachers, leaders or folgrace of God is sufficient to cover our shame. In lowers, all of us can identify with the sting of Genesis, we are reminded that before original failure. For many pastors sin, Adam and Eve “felt no and ministry leaders this shame” (2:25). Satan—the season of division and loss angel who felt he wasn’t has brought with it deep quite enough and reached feelings of inadequacy for more—approaches and exhaustion. How do humankind then and now we combat the feeling in with the same message: our souls that we aren’t you aren’t enough, you enough, or that we don’t need to be more. As we measure up? well know, reaching for On March 11–12, 2022, more gave us less. Adam Steinbach Bible College and Eve, who once felt no and its supporting conshame, now felt the need ferences held the annual to cover themselves with Leadership Conference, fig leaves. We, too, feel the welcoming Ken Shigeneed to cover ourselves: in matsu, senior pastor at work, hobbies, status, minTenth Church in Vanistry, religious structure couver, B.C. Shigematsu and social media. But these shared that President Rob are flimsy garments that Reimer gave him an open do not bring fulfillment or invitation: “speak on what- “How do we come home to our true self?” asks freedom. ever you like, as long as it Dr. Ken Shigematsu. The question at the is a topic you have not spoheart of this session is ken on previously at a conference.” “how do we come home to our true self?” In Shigematsu came with new material from Genesis 3:21, God, the “nurturing seamstress” an upcoming book Now I Become Myself: Overin his mercy creates clothes for Adam and Eve. coming Shame and Discovering our True Self. He deals with their shame and foreshadows Shigematsu drew from a wide variety of sources his ultimate solution to shame, a death on the including Scripture, theologians, poets, psychol- cross where Jesus bore our shame and freed us ogists, and stories from his own life, ministry, (Hebrews 12:2). and unique cultural context. He explored with As we find ourselves able to rest in God’s us the theme of how a deep experience of God’s gift of grace—to believe that despite our failures love, delight and grace can free us from shame God wants to clothe us in glory and honour—we and transform our relationships with God and start to reflect the words of the poem from May others. Sarton. “Now I become myself. It’s taken time,
18 The Messenger • May/June 2022
