Years of Ministry

As the years went by I attempted to serve the Lord in a number of capacities. I worked cleaning church bathrooms. I worked in street ministry, door to door ministry, prison ministry, and rest-home ministry. Later, I served as; altar worker, usher, and bus pastor. At one point in my youth and naivete I even preached a few sermons. I wasn’t very good at it! I felt the call of God on my life and, not understanding that call, I thought I was called to be a pastor. When I tried preaching and failed I was confused and disillusioned.

As the years went by I served as a Sunday-school teacher for youth, teens, young married couples, adults and seniors. I was a Sunday School Superintendent for a few years and for seven years I was a Church Board Member. Still I felt there was more to be obtained from the Lord. I was sincere, I loved the Lord and knew I was redeemed; still there was something I was missing. At times I had a haunting feeling of unfulfilled destiny that I could not explain or even understand.

I don’t want to leave anyone with the impression that feel I am, or was, some kind of saint or super-Christian. Nothing could be further from the truth. I was, and still am, all too human. My family, especially my wife, is well aware of many of my human flaws. They can also attest that there are some lessons I have been very slow about learning. But, I think they also know that I have sincerely tried to live according to my beliefs, even though I have often failed. It has been said before, but it is worth repeating, that Christian’s are not perfect but we are forgiven. May God help us to always remember this truth; it is not by our puny efforts that we are saved. It is by God’s loving grace through the faith He provides. It is, therefore, all of His mercy and none of our works.

So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. 6 And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace. Rom 11:5-6 NIV (italics mine).

In this short book I want to relate, as honestly and forthrightly as possible, some of the trials, victories, and even failures that I have experienced during my fifty-five years as a Christian. Sometimes our failures, if through Christ we come back from them, can benefit others. For this reason, I want to share some of the things the Lord has taught me through the years in the hope that someone may benefit from the telling.