Saturday, February 13, 2016

Our First Ten Years in the Ministry!!


It was ten years ago that we received a call from a friend who told us that they had visited a small country church that was in desperate need of a pastor. We had never been in that role in the ministry before but decided to attend their business meeting to see what we could do to help.   My husband offered to be a guest speaker until they could find a pastor. Two weeks they hired my husband and that was all she wrote.
There are honestly still people out there that believe a pastor only works one day a week. However, I have been witness to the long hours my husband has worked. It is amazing the things that fall under the job duty as “Pastor”. Of course there is the marrying and the burying of people which comes with planning the details of those ceremonies on top of the counseling that is required for both. People have brought race cars to our church to be prayed over. Numerous calls from people outside the church come in for financial aid. People need odds and ends jobs done, but can't afford to really hire anybody so they call the pastor and he goes. The church needs cleaned and the grounds need kept. Questions need answered during the day and at times it seems the phone is glued to his ear. Last year, twice he was called on to bury the dogs of people that do not even attend the church. He consoles the owners over the lost pets. One of those nights included my sons (who usually end up being his right hand men) and their friend who was staying the night to go out at 9 p.m. with my husband during a storm to dig a hole for a woman who had to have her dog put down. The ground was hard as a rock and digging well past 10 o'clock, they had to use the lights of the truck in order to see.
That’s not all though. Truth needs spoken and that is not always received well. Relationships need building. The youth need supported in their events so there are always wrestling matches and softball games, etc. to attend outside of attending our own children's sports. Putting on the counselor's hat at 2 a.m. or 5:30 a.m. happens as he is still rubbing the sleep from his eyes. Protection of the flock has been revealed in many different forms and it is never easy finding that balance.
Oh! But wait! That's not all! Now the pastor, through all that, has to make sure to make time to put a Bible study together and a Sunday morning message and figure out the children's program so we can secure the future of the church. He has to keep people excited about the work that needs to be done for the Lord. He needs to be gentle no matter what attitudes he comes up against.   
I have seen my husband overjoyed with the opportunity that has been laid before him and I have seen my husband shed many tears  over numerous situations.   I have seen him wrestle in prayer over those in our church.  I have never met a man with a deeper passion for the Lord.  Yes, my husband works one day…one day at a time that is. He is the first to say, “Here am I,  send me!”  To quote his very first sermon he has been able to master "Keep on Keepin' On!" With all of this on his plate, he has been able to keep a healthy balance of family and church. My husband rocks!


No comments:

Post a Comment