Ten years ago today I began as the new pastor at Richview Baptist Church. Those were the days Windows 98 was a big deal (just a week old at that point), overhead projectors were still in common use, and I was skinny and had hair. (If you look carefully you can even see a bottle of liquid paper on my desk. When was the last time you used Liquid Paper?)
In September of that year we held an induction service.
I think it's safe to say that all of us look different today.
In those ten years Richview has changed a lot, and so have we. Jack Miller said to stay in one place until you've been humbled.
The best way...development takes place is by staying under one set of leaders to give them enough time to know you so that the obvious impossibilities of [leading] in your own strength can be pointed out and the younger leader broken before the Lord to abandon pride and move into Jesus' love. But this usually doesn't come very soon if a man moves about too much. People just don't get to know him, and he moves on before getting humbled by seeing how impossible ministry is. It's one thing to see things happen with others leading; it is another to see them happen to you and through you, and that takes time and sweat. (The Heart of a Servant Leader)
On Sunday, Sandy, worship leader and head blogger at Taste Buddy, spoke his love language and mine by presenting me with a basket of spicy snacks to mark the occasion:
Charlene and I were talking the other day about how much we love what Richview has become and is becoming. It's been a privilege to have been there ten years now through lots of ups and downs, and to have the sense that God isn't done working with us yet.
At what point in your tenure can you declare it an empire? ;)
Seriously, congratulations ... that is a huge milestone.
Congrats on 10 years, Darryl! That's fantastic. Good on ya.
Never mind the white out on the table - what are all those sheets of paper hanging over your head? They look like orders at a greasy spoon restaurant.
Mike:
My predecessor was here 23 years, so I'm still the new guy in town.
Steve:
Thanks,
Ken:
Those are called decorations to welcome me. I was going to share some of my spicy snacks with you, but I'm reconsidering. ;)
Happy Anniversary!
BTW, I used white out last week at work...what are you supposed to use now??
KD
Kevin:
What did you use to get the white-out off the computer monitor?
Congrats, Triple D. Hopefully the view has gotten richer over the decade. Look forward to grabbing a cup of coffee with you, soonest.
Maybe somebody spilled white-out on the files and it's only been nine years! More to the point, have they heard all your stories yet?
now Win 98 is gone and the Mac rules '-)
Blessings,
Ian