In approximately one day I will complete my last sermon at
Holiday Shores Baptist after eleven years.
The turning of the calendar over and again in this mission field has had
a profound effect upon my heart and mind.
My thoughts not only look to the time spent here, nor the times I have
spent with many people in their sorrows and triumphs, but the weathering of my edifice,
the changing of who I am.
Eleven years is a long time to be somewhere. I have been
impressed by sources and hearsay that the average pastor in SBC life stays at a
church less than three years. Many
coming out of seminary today will not last five years before quitting ministry
all together. I thank God for calming
the storms of ministry in order to keep me active. Honestly, there have been times I wanted to
quit. But the fear of shame before God was
greater than the troubles of the day.
The grace of God was greater still. Thus, when I was sinking as Peter did
when walking on the water, I too needed His hand to hold me. Thus, Persevering Pastor was born. It has been a means for reflection upon the
sufficiency of Christ and the need to encourage other ministers to finish the
course to run the race.
So I am quite thankful for the shaping of eleven years
here. It has done me well. There are many many things I would do
differently had my son completed his time machine for me to get a “do over.” Yet, there are many things I would not
change, such as my encounters with people.
The times I have spent with people have been weighty. For years I have taught apologetics to the
youth. We have covered the six days of
biblical creation, worldviews, various religions, and practical application of
the scriptures to life as opposed to worldly philosophy. I still believe this has great benefit and thankfully
have the testimonies to prove it. But I
look on the faces that I am leaving and am nostalgic. Some of these I once held as babies or
toddlers in the nursery. Several have
spent the night at our house as guests of our children. Many numbers are basically adopted family. There is the potential for greatness in each
of these. In just days, two or three
will move off to college as others have.
Fortunately, most who have come through our youth group continue to walk
with Christ after they leave the nest, I consider this a success. In my reflections I see that I will miss out
on many milestones. I wish to see them wed and begin families of their own, to
continue to live lives to the glory of God.
Another group I have been greatly endeared to is our senior
adults. We call them the JOY group, Just
Older Youth. These folks have been great
bastions of prayer. I have buried their mates,
held hands in sorrow, and fixed computer problems they did not understand. I thank the Lord that in these last two years we
began a mid-week morning Bible study. In
this time the Lord has given me an opportunity to bring the comfort of the
Gospel to them in their winter years.
Walking with these saints in their rapidly changing lives has opened my
eyes to the uncertainties that face them.
Often, they have been gripped by the sorrow of loneliness, even in a
crowd. Their fears have been real, they
have trembled at the changing world and have knelt upon aged knees to pray for
the family they expect to one day leave behind.
Senior saints are a treasure to the church. We must not forget them.
As I reflect further on the youth, I consider what my life
could have been had I only known at 15 what I know now. I wish I had understood the gospel more
clearly. I weep over my sin. I long to
help the youth of today to flee from the mistakes that I have made that are the
course of which they are heading.
When I look at my life ebbing towards senior adulthood, I am
impassioned to finish well for my Lord.
Paul was right, run the race for the prize and do not be ensnared with
worldly pursuits. Only Christ matters.
Thus I think of how these eleven years have refined, eroded,
and softened the granite of who I am. In
ministry you are often solitary. In a
small church this is a significant aspect of your life. Though HSBC has been a relatively trouble
free church I has led me down paths of experience for my betterment. It has afforded me an opportunity to gain an education
and certification in biblical counseling.
The mission field has led me to gain much from the likes of Bob
Gailbraith who taught me you could disagree and yet love one another greatly;
Helen Hunt, who at 99 continued to bring the best out of situations; and Dolly
Swilly who evangelized everyone in her nursing home. These people have been great teachers by the
lives they lived.
Other refiners have been fellow pastors in the area, Dave
Tyler, Craig Wurst, Chip Faulkner, Richard Newcomb, Ron Wenzel, and Gene
Spurgeon. These men have shared their
heart and passion and have often brought me great encouragement.
And then there are the members of HSBC that I leave behind. I
do not have space not the mental capacity to name them all, but several
exemplified aspects of Jesus that I have been forever shaped by. Ocie, and his passion for worship. Indira for wisdom. Evie for compassion. Ralph and Lisa for the foundation of the
Bible in application. Fred for being quick
to listen, slow to speak. Marcia for
relying upon God. Greg for his enjoyment
of God on the business end of a fishing pole. Sid for prayer and holiness. Doris for faith. Norma for trusting God for answers. Ruth B for her thinking always of others
despite her own troubles. Ruth S as she left
behind tradition to run to the truth of Christ.
Quinn for her resistance to the world’s influences. Dave and Robin for the optimism they radiate,
and faithful service. Andrew and Sarah
for the way in which they look ahead and choose what is right. Eddie and Wanda, as they bear others
burdens. Over and again I could find
several things to say about everyone.
But this period of my life has left me better. I have been changed for the good.
HSBC will be a fond and fair memory. The church in the cornfield has done me good. I have lived here longer than any place else
in my life and though I have a new hometown, my heart will always love these
saints.
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