Last Sunday was the 50th anniversary of a church where I spent 5 years as Youth Pastor. I saw people I hadn’t seen in almost 12 years. Everyone’s hair was a little grayer; the youth of yesteryear now had children of their own. I even had the honor of conducting some of their weddings.
It was fun to play catch-up. Several of the kids went into fulltime ministry and unfortunately, a few seem to have wandered from the path. Some roads have a lot of turns in them. But God is not finished with them yet.
But when Chuck walked up to the mike and gave his testimony, it made my day. Forget that, it made my year. He told of how fifteen years ago, his daughters attending youth group changed the whole family.
It was a dark time in their lives. He’d hurt his back and could no longer work. Piece by piece, they lost everything. They were desperate for hope. The daughters would come to youth group, sick with worry, but would leave filled with hope.
After youth group, I’d go out to the parking lot to minister to their mom. Vera carried the world on her shoulders and I could see the terror in her eyes. We’d pray and the weight would lift off her shoulders. She’d soak up the living water like a sponge.
After several weeks of Vera’s coaxing, Chuck finally agreed to come in for a counseling appointment. The poor man could hardly make it into my office. It took some doing, but we got him seated. Since the accident, he’d not been able to sit without horrible pain. But to his surprise, the chair he sat on was almost comfortable.
The chair was one of a matched pair of custom made, antique leather-bound chairs. When he told me it was the first time he’d been comfortable, I knew Jesus would want him to have the chair. I gave it to him. It blew him away.
For the next hour, he and his wife poured out their heartaches. The man couldn’t support his family and there was no hope in sight. But that all changed after we bowed our heads in prayer. Dad was not only healed, but he also found Jesus!
Today, Chuck serves as an elder. I was so blessed to see the power of God at work in their lives. God is so good.
The trip down memory lane helped to bring my life into perspective. It was a blast working with kids. But that was then and this is now. I have a new first love, and it is writing. My passion for writing novels flows as deep as was the burden for youth used to burn in my heart.
I’m not sure when I’ll step down from my current position. I guess it will depend on when they can find a replacement. It’s been a blast, but the Lord has other things for me to do.
Sigh.
It was fun to play catch-up. Several of the kids went into fulltime ministry and unfortunately, a few seem to have wandered from the path. Some roads have a lot of turns in them. But God is not finished with them yet.
But when Chuck walked up to the mike and gave his testimony, it made my day. Forget that, it made my year. He told of how fifteen years ago, his daughters attending youth group changed the whole family.
It was a dark time in their lives. He’d hurt his back and could no longer work. Piece by piece, they lost everything. They were desperate for hope. The daughters would come to youth group, sick with worry, but would leave filled with hope.
After youth group, I’d go out to the parking lot to minister to their mom. Vera carried the world on her shoulders and I could see the terror in her eyes. We’d pray and the weight would lift off her shoulders. She’d soak up the living water like a sponge.
After several weeks of Vera’s coaxing, Chuck finally agreed to come in for a counseling appointment. The poor man could hardly make it into my office. It took some doing, but we got him seated. Since the accident, he’d not been able to sit without horrible pain. But to his surprise, the chair he sat on was almost comfortable.
The chair was one of a matched pair of custom made, antique leather-bound chairs. When he told me it was the first time he’d been comfortable, I knew Jesus would want him to have the chair. I gave it to him. It blew him away.
For the next hour, he and his wife poured out their heartaches. The man couldn’t support his family and there was no hope in sight. But that all changed after we bowed our heads in prayer. Dad was not only healed, but he also found Jesus!
Today, Chuck serves as an elder. I was so blessed to see the power of God at work in their lives. God is so good.
The trip down memory lane helped to bring my life into perspective. It was a blast working with kids. But that was then and this is now. I have a new first love, and it is writing. My passion for writing novels flows as deep as was the burden for youth used to burn in my heart.
I’m not sure when I’ll step down from my current position. I guess it will depend on when they can find a replacement. It’s been a blast, but the Lord has other things for me to do.
Sigh.
