Christfollower

25 years in ministry. . .

The intent of this blog is nothing more than remembering. It dawned on me recently that it was 25 years ago that we started in ministry as a full time vocation. My last year of college Lenore and I attended a Bible Methodist church where I served as an associate pastor. For the most part there are some good memories although it was a tough time for the lead pastor due to some folks who were mean-spirited and upset that unchurched outsiders were being brought into the church!

Our first assignment and "full-time" call was to French Lick, Indiana. Upon graduation from God's Bible School and College we went with the denomination that both of us felt at home in since we were married in a Wesleyan church, she attended one her whole life and we both attended Wesleyan churches during our college days. Besides that O.W. Willis was a personal friend and mentor and when he called it seemed like the thing to do.

This is the Springs Valley Wesleyan Church. The best thing I can say is that the people of the church and the community loved and cared for two very young kids trying to pose as a pastor and his wife. Levi was born here. Here are some pictures from our French Lick days. Below is the first outreach we ever led a church in. We participated in CropWalk and yes I was a firefighter and first responder. Good times!

Fresh out of college!   Yep, that's me top left!

 
 
 We moved on through an open door of opportunity to Mt. Pleasant Mills, PA and I became pastor of the Church of Christ in Christian Union there. This was my home denomination so it didn't seem like that big of a deal to make the switch. Also my father pastored this same church when I was in my last two years of high school so it was like home in some ways for me. What a beautiful country setting. Emily was born here.

Levi and Emily soon before we moved from this house in the country.

Bus kids lunch

 Teens!

Five guys including me singing at a mother daughter event.

Around  1988 I hired Don Gessner (kneeling) to work with our church for six weeks to lead a Christmas kids musical. 21 years later Don is joining our staff at Newark full time. I really am looking forward to working with this long time friend.

In 1990 Lenore and I along with a very young Levi and Emily moved to Circleville Ohio where I became the office editor of the Evangelical Advocate. During the next 11 years I worked as Director of Communications for the Churches of Christ in Christian Union International Headquarters and later the Director of Advancement at what is now Ohio Christian University. During this time I also preached at churches and camp meetings around the U.S.

Brooklyn New York

Annual Wilson Run Labor Day Homecoming.

Binghamton New York

Two buildings were named during my time at Circleville Bible College. In this picture is long time friend Ron Reese, John Maxwell's dad, Melvin, Dr. John Conley, President and Dr. Dan Tipton, General Superintendent.

The Administrative Team back in the day.

 Tuning up at a "tent" camp meeting in Denton Maryland on the eastern shore. Old friends Daryl and Joyce Kuhns.

In 1998, I served on the Centennial Celebration Committee planning the events for the year 2000 at God's Bible School and College in Cincinnati.  

In 2001 Newark Church of the Nazarene became a part of our lives. That chapter continues to be written so I won't post much about it. Besides that this blog has documented much of what has happened the last few years. I am posting two pictures. A baby dedication of a baby that is now in second grade and the Williams Street platform expansion shortly after selling our pews on Ebay!

On this Thanksgiving evening I am thankful for the last 25 years. I am amazed at the doors of opportunities that God has allowed me to walk through. I am also deeply grateful for Lenore who besides being a great wife and mother has supported me in every ministry I have endeavored to do. She has no desire to be up front or to be seen but continues to be a rock in my life.

Thankful and ready to move into the next 25! 
 

P.S. Enjoying more than ever being the Patrol Chaplain at the Licking County Sheriff's Office and occaisionally dressing up to entertain the troops.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

  
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Long live the mandolin.

Done. . .

Sadly my life has taken several turns that lead me to be busier than I have ever been. For the immediate future there is no end in sight so for now I will not be blogging. Check back later. . .I may once again find an interest in this and the time to do it but for now I have to go to work! Thanks for being interested enough to read this.

To be honest I feel as though I am doing a lot of things that in the long run and at the end of my life are not going to be things that matter all  that much but they have to be done. To my friends in smaller churches who live each day thinking you would like to be in a bigger church let me encourage you to embrace your time and the opportunity you have to do quality ministry and not quantity. There is no merit in being so busy that you have no time to take care of yourself. There will be no "stars in our crowns" for running at a fast pace on a never ending treadmill yet many of us do it like we have a gun to our heads.

Would like to write more but I have to get to work . . .

Humble Oil

Here are a few pictures from the historic American Humble Oil Company based out of Humble Texas. In the early 1970's they became Exxon. Sadly there is no family connection since the company was named after the city of Humble. For years I have collected Humble Oil memorablia including toys and authentic gas station items as well.

 

Silent Sunday. . .

A Picture Floating around the Sheriff's Office. . .

There are law enforcement agencies across the country that maintain race cars to be used for public relations and education. The cars are used to attract attention and taken to events where they can be run against other departments to raise awareness for one cause or another. Below is a picture of the Heath Ohio car:

The Licking County Sheriff's Office also has a car which has been trailered for some time awaiting funding to put a new motor in it. It is been taken out in public lately but has to be pushed on and off the trailer because it has no motor in it. Hating to see such a great car just sitting I had a friend to a little photo shop work on the paint job. Haven't seen the Sheriff since I passed a few of these around this week. Hope he found some humor in it! With no motor it will have to run on faith I guess.

  

What happened?

 

I was looking at this add for a Newark Church of the Nazarene Easter weekend and realized that the youngish guy in the bottom right hand corner was me six years ago! Now take a look at a picture of me this summer while on vacation. I have aged in double time! Is it possible that leading a church could do this to a person?

I am not yet 50 but I can see 50! Some say gray hair makes you look distinguished but I look more extinguished in this photo! I will still get up in the morning and make my way to the YMCA and some time this week I will play a game or two of full court basketball and a couple of games of racquetball. In a few days I will once again begin the training necessary to prepare me to join the COTC Law Enforcement Academy next summer. Maybe after losing a few more pounds and lifting consistently I can regain my youth. (0r maybe I will just brush that stuff in my hair and make it brown again! Not a chance)

I think this whole aging thing is a combination of kids going through high school and into college. I think it is related to preaching three times a Sunday week after week for eight years. I think my aging is due to leading a growing church, facilitating Assessment Centers for NewStart pastors around the country (just learned that I have lost this role due to restructured budgets at the Global Ministry Center of the Church of the Nazarene), teaching college classes, serving on the board of the local YMCA and working to bring Christian emphasis to this historic Christian organization, leading and trying to grow a staff of young leaders with awesome potential and did I mention kids in college?

A Short Drive in the country.

I never want to take lightly the beauty that surrounds me wherever I live. Tonight I went for a drive to have a friend look at something that needed fixed in my truck. While driving I took a few pictures from the east part of our county and a picture of some pigs down on the farm. Lastly I snapped a picture of the Ford in front of the Chevy. Just seemed like the thing to do as a gift for all of my Chevy loving friends.

  I understand that these pictures are somewhat random but at least I am blogging! In these days I try to enjoy something each day outside of what I do in answer to the call God placed in my life. I try to inhale and appreciate as much of life as I possibly can and am thankful for the blessings God gives me each day. While the stress and demands of ministry are as high as they have ever been I am also experiencing a sense of God working in my life for which I am thankful.

Working on my own time. . .

This past week I have served and worked in the evenings for the Licking County Sheriff's office at the Hartford fair. I was there three evenings and enjoyed seeing and talking to a lot of people from our greater Licking County community. On Friday I drove the old Chevy so that 64 Metals could get some publicity at the Rough Truck Contest. They are a major sponsor and the old truck serves as a mascot of sorts I guess. This is always an interesting thirty minute drive through the country and a challenge to time my leaving to get back to Newark before dark. Six volt lighting systems are not all that great.

Today I went to a friends farm to bale hay for four hours in the 90 August heat. Drove the old truck just because it looks so good sitting on this farm. I am posting pictures in the order of my week's activities.

  There really is nothing like baling hay and driving an old John Deere in the process. We baled about 170 bales today and yes I did my share of time on the wagon as well.

  And finally a view of from the drive home.

Operation Gear-Up 2009

One more time Newark Church of the Nazarene has risen to the challenge of providing school supplies to our community. Saturday was a blessed day with the church being the church outside the walls of our buildings. Well over 600 kids received full sets of school supplies, over 200 kids got back packs, 90 kids received free haircuts and over 800 people ate lunch on us. We shared together and enjoyed hosting our neighbors and trying to be Jesus in some way by showing kindness.  Special thanks to those who make events like this happen each year. Our church tries to show God's love in many ways in the course of a year and I am happy to be a part of it. Here are a few pictures from last Saturday at our Williams Street location.

  Great day! Great church! Great God to represent.