1 Timothy 1:12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath
enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; 13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a
persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. 14 And the grace of our Lord was exceeding
abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. 15 This is
a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into
the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
35 years ago this
week, I was sitting at a round table in the gym of Pacific Coast Baptist Bible
College, filling out my class schedule.
I packed my duds in
my ’73 Nova and moved from Montrose, Colorado, population 7,000 (salute!) to
LA, an area of 12 million souls.
-New Testament
Survey, Professor Shrader – check
-English, Professor
Shrader – check
-Theology 1, Professor
Shrader – check
-Missions, Professor
Baskin – check
-OT Survey, Professor
Harju – check
-Personal
Evangelism, Professor Guess – check
Way heavy on
Professor Shrader, let me tell you!!!
About then, an old
friend, Rhonda Shook, of the Singing Shook Family approached and said, “Gary, I
have someone who wants to meet you.” She introduced me to Pastor Tom McCreary
of Grace Baptist Church, Riverside, CA. He said he needed a music director
right away and hired me…$50 a week! That was about enough to pay for the gas
that I spent getting there every day, my tithe, and a hamburger on Sunday nights
at the San Dimas Greek greasy spoon with the little table TVs that ran on dime
power (which I couldn’t afford).
And that was it,
friends, my start in full time ministry.
It has been a “never
a dull moment” 35 years since. I can only give credit to God for His
faithfulness and a challenge that my dad threw my way in the beginning, “It
will never last” for me still preaching all these years later.
So next month, I
turn double nickels, 55. Where my wife
works, when your years of service and your age total 85, you get to retire, get
a good pension and take it easy. Where I work, when your years of service and
your age equal 90, you are basically just beginning! You are considered a young
pup, naïve’ with a lot to learn. Guilty! I have friends whose age plus service
equal over 140 years! They say things like, “Well, you have to admit, the old
man has still got it!”
The things that
strike me as I look back over these 35 years:
*God is faithful,
me, just a super stubborn German.
*He is the great Enabler,
otherwise, I got nothing!
*He counted me
faithful. Man, does He overlook a ton of ‘stuff’!
*He put me in the
ministry. Did He call? Did I answer? Did I just volunteer? No, He orchestrates
and the musicians play. I am just the 7th chair clarinetist playing
my part with a squeak here and there.
*He is a gracious
Boss, I am an unworthy, but grateful servant.
*Paul, greatest
preacher ever, considered himself the chiefest of sinners, I agree only because
that is part of the inspired Word of God, otherwise, I would have to argue with
him.
Thank you, Lord, for putting me in the ministry. I am not very good at
it, but, barring the rapture, I would love to hit 140 years of age plus service
like some of my mentors.
