Thankful for 35 Years of Ministry

After 35 years and a most gracious celebration this past Sunday of the privilege we have had to be a part of the ministry of Grace Bible Church, our family is grateful.  So grateful. 

I have often said about our time at GBC, quoting the psalmist, “The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Indeed, my heritage is beautiful to me” (Ps. 16:6; NASB).  Thirty-five years ago, we had no conception of how much grace we would receive and how much joy we would experience through this church body.  And Sunday was another expression of both grace and joy to us.

As I reflect on the 35 years we have been there, I am thankful for a great many things, which I can put into five main categories.

First, I am aware of the reality of who truly gets the honor for 35 years of ministry here.  It is the Lord. 

Everything is always about Him and about the glory He receives through us.  I am regularly reminded of 2 Corinthians 4:7 — “we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves…”  Every servant of God is a conduit of His grace; but every servant of God is also an earthen vessel — created beings, fragile (weak), replaceable, and finite.  What we do is not because of us but because of the power that is placed in us through the gospel (and the empowering Spirit).  Our treasure is not us; our treasure is the gospel given to us to give to others as a means of seeing them reconciled to God (2 Cor. 5:18-21). 

We work so that He gets the glory.  I am grateful to have received that gospel for the salvation of my own soul and I am humbled that He has used me to honor Himself by using the gospel to minister to others.  Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift of the gospel and ministry to us.

I am also thankful for the body of Christ at Grace Bible Church.  The first book I ever preached here was 1 Thessalonians; I did not know when I preached that book how significant one of the verses would be throughout these years:  “For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe” (1 Thess. 2:13).

For the entire history of the church (now 46 years) and in all my preaching, and in the teaching and preaching from Pastor Keith (and now Tanner), and the home groups, AWANA, counseling and discipling relationships, and personal conversations the consistent desire of the body at GBC has been, “teach us the Word of God — tell us what God says so we can obey Him.”  Whether passages were joyous or hard, you have received it in the same way:  “It is the Word of God, so let’s follow it.”  That mindset of love of the Word and joyful willingness to obey it has made ministry here joyful and fruitful.

Third, I am thankful for the elders the Lord has gifted to this church.  For most of the past 35 years we have gathered early in the morning once a week to pray together for the church — thanking God, and beseeching Him for the specific needs in our church.  That repeated act of prayer has kept us humble, dependent, and empowered to serve Him (because we know our effectiveness is dependent on the Lord and not ourselves).  Further, those regular meetings have kept us in fellowship with one another and given us opportunities to encourage, thank, and even forgive one another.  The product of that has been unity at that table and unity that permeates our church — “preserving the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:3).  I am thankful to be able to serve alongside these humble, gracious, servant-hearted, and prayerful men.

I also thank the Lord for our children, Elizabeth and Emily.  Paul says that all children are to “honor your father and mother…” (Eph. 6:2).  That looks different when they are six or 26, but the principle remains.  And through the regular difficulties of life — sorrows, sin, and struggles — they have consistently honored us.  Moreover, when care of the church meant a deviation from some personal family plans, they did not grumble or complain, but were consistently gracious and understanding.  They did not know it when they were young, but their response to the leadership in our home could either credit or discredit my ministry.  And they proved to be faithful (Titus 1:6), and they became a sweet addition not only to our home, but to the ministry at GBC.  (And they were helped to be faithful because of the very many expressions of love and grace that they received through the church, which has genuinely become an extended family to us.)

Finally, I am thankful for Raye Jeanne, who has served alongside me as a helpmate in life and now also in ministry.  She has been a blessing that was wholly unimagined and unanticipated when we married almost four decades ago.  I was convinced that the Lord had graced us with each other; I had no concept of how much grace I would receive through her!

Raye Jeanne has followed my leadership in the home and the leadership of the elders and others in the church.  She has prayed wisely and long for me and for the church.  She has served graciously and joyfully.  Our children learned not to be resentful of ministry demands because they learned that from her; her first impulse when there are new or unexpected opportunities and needs is always, “let’s do that!…we/you need to go/serve/act…”  And now in recent years, with the children out of the home, it has been our joy to do ministry activities (counseling and discipleship primarily) together.  It has been fun (the biblical word is joyful!) to sit beside her and share the care of souls (and receive care from others) with her. 

And even more, she has proven her spiritual character and maturity.  What Peter commends all women has been true of her in abundance:  “Your adornment must not be merely external — braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God” (1 Pt. 3:3-4).  She has proven her spiritual character and been a tremendous blessing to both me and the church body.

So after 35 years?  I am thankful for so much grace that we have received.