My final Nectar article as your pastor. The end of this week, September 30 will be my final day. It is a bittersweet moment. I will miss my involvement with ARC, her people and her ministry. With the completion of the new worship center ARC enters a new and exciting chapter in her ministry. I am grieved that I will not be a part of the great and wonderful work that God is going to do through this majestic and grand facility. I know that you will use it for the glory of God and bring much praise to God through it. At the same time Joyce and I look forward to some stress-free and non-scheduled time together. I believe Janice has an article in this Archive where I say more about my desires for retirement. We have had some wonderful years of ministry together. God has been good, kind and gracious to us. My heart is filled with praise to God for the ministry God has done in our years of ministry together. If you like statistics I have done 168 baptisms, 107 weddings and 95 funerals in my years at ARC. (I am sorry that I have never kept record of professions of faith.) In each of those events I have sought to be God’s messenger of love, joy, grace and peace. And in our worship celebrations I have tried to bring you God’s word and message for your daily Christian living. I have also sought to have our worship celebrations be joyful, uplifting and Holy Spirit guided. Only God knows if I have succeeded but I trust and pray some day to hear those words, “well done good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Master.” I know there have been areas of ministry where I have failed you as a pastor. For that I ask your and God’s forgiveness.
Sarah Young in one of her devotionals in Jesus Calling writes, “Seek to please Me (The Lord) above all else. Let that goal be your focal point as you go through this day. Such a mind-set will protect you from scattering your energy to the winds. Without a focal point to guide you, you can easily lose your way. That’s why it is so important to stay in communication with Me, living in thankful awareness of my presence…only a vibrant relationship with Me can keep you from coming unraveled.” I have sought to seek to please my Lord and to bathe my ministry in prayer that indeed God’s will and way would be done through it.
In John 13 on the night before his crucifixion Jesus picked up a basin and a towel and washed his disciples’ feet and in so doing redefined the meaning and function of ministry and leadership in the family of God. “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example that you also should do as I have done to you.” (John 13:14-15) In the Kingdom of God, low is high, down is up, weak is strong and service is power. I pray that I have been a servant for ARC who has washed feet. ARC members, “love one another, because love is from God, everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.” (I John 4:7) Farewell. I love you!
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