A Visit with My Childhood Pastor
Thursday, September 17, 2009 at 7:30AM 
I grew up attending a very conservative, fundamentalist church. It was a strong King James Version church, and there were quite a few warnings against false teaching. To give some perspective, I think John MacArthur was a little on the dodgy side for us. We wished he could get his act together and stand up for the truth.
Because it was so conservative. it's all that some people remember. But I don't have that luxury. I can't forget three things:
- the way adults invested in me and cared for me
- the strong teaching
- the support my family received when the marriage of my parents ended
I spoke at a meeting last week and said:
[Our] church, which was supposed to not know what to do, was there for [us] in ways that nobody could have expected. And they did this without making [us] feel like a charity case. They offered emotional support, legal support. They offered food. Mysterious envelopes of money would show up. Rides were offered. The kids were almost adopted by people in that church. Men were put on call to deal with things if the abusive dad ever showed up looking for trouble.
We never properly thanked the pastor for all he did, so this past Monday two of my childhood friends, twins by the name of Ted and Fred - also now pastors - went to visit our former pastor and his wife. We had a great time.
He gave us some advice. Two pieces of advice that surprised me: don't neglect family for ministry, and listen to your wife. These are things we learn today, but I'll bet he never learned them in seminary. He's learned them through experience, though - a hard but effective teacher.
Our visit also allowed me to look ahead to what it will be like to be retired one day. I hope that, despite being an imperfect pastor as we all are, three middle-aged guys will show up someday who will sit down and tell me it wasn't all a waste. If we were able to do that this week, I'm grateful.
Reader Comments (6)
Hey, I won't wait (cuz I'm ahead of you in age). I will tell you now it wasn't a waste. 1 Cor 15:58.
Very fine tribute to the rich legacy of a former ministry.It got me to thinking about a couple of pastors from my childhood and adolescent years - men who profoundly impacted my life. And I came from a KJV-only, independent Baptist Church. An amazing number of teens from my generation (and from that little church in rural Vermont) are in vocational ministry today.I am sure that visit meant much to your former pastor.
For a moment, I thought this was a picture of who went to U2 with you.Great post, Triple D.
Darryl, you are familiar with the fact that when you were taking your seminary training I was in my prime at Wishing Well Acres Baptist Church (Now Gracepoint) and you and I spent time together. At least 20 years have passed since those days and I have now retired. There have been numerous stretch marks resulting from the rigors of the work but retirement reflections now inform me that responding to God's call and being faithful to His Word was easily worth while as I was used to encourage people in their spiritual journeys. I knew back then that God's hand was on you and I am proud of you now, so keep serving obediently as you did with this brief visit to a godly couple and you too will one day look back with fondness on what God permitted you to do for Him.
When we started attending the church of which you write, all we knew was that your Mom was a gracious and strong woman raising 4 great kids. I recall a comment of hers that she went through quite a few wooden spoons while raising her boys - and I don't think it had anything to do with culinary failures. I remember having the Young People's group at our home and also tagging along on a few outings. What a great group of kids that was! I'm so thankful for the man you've grown to be ... please say 'hello' to your Mom for us. That visit you made this week - what a wonderful thing you did for two faithful servants of the Lord.
I thank God for each precious person who loved, supported and prayed for our hurting, needy family during those difficult years. By their actions, they portrayed Christ's love for us.