The Calling

This past Sunday marked a milestone for me.  I began my first ministry as the pastor of Evans Creek Baptist Church in Pearl River, Louisiana on October 3, 1982.  So as of this past Sunday I have been a pastor for 40 years.  And I wasn’t even at my own church! My wife and I worshiped in upstate New York as we were on vacation. 

            I remember the words of one of my seminary professors around the same time I started at Evans Creek. “Fewer than 50% of you will still be in the ministry when you retire.”  And the sad truth is that he was correct.  I am grateful for the grace of God that has allowed me to continue in the work to which He called me.

            At the age of 17, I received an unmistakable calling to be a pastor. It’s not something I wanted to do. I had planned to teach math and coach basketball.  That was my dream, and even as I wrestled with God through my senior year in high school, my main argument with Him was simple. “We need good Christian teachers and coaches.” And indeed, we do. But God had a different plan for me.

            In college I had a double major: philosophy and history.  I don’t even want an estimate as to the value of that on the open market.  I tell you that simply to say that I’m not qualified to do, or be, anything else.  There have been times when I wanted to quit. Ministry can be hard. 

            But oh the blessings of the calling are many.  At this point in my life my greatest blessing in ministry is the privilege to serve the church at Shellman Bluff.  I am so grateful for my calling, and for the Lord’s care over the last 40 years.  I don’t know how many more years I have to serve Him, but I continue to pray for this one thing.  It is my desire to, “finish well.” Would you pray that I might do that? And I will pray the same for you.