let’s go

Sunday, this coming Lord’s Day, is the day our family starts something brand new. I’m excited to begin a preaching ministry at Grand Heights Baptist Church in Fairborn, OH. For several years now, my heart has been stirring to step out in faith, stepping away from music ministry and into lead pastoring. No sprinting required here, just daily faithful walking, one-day-at-a-time trusting in a good God with great plans.

How do you know God’s will for your life?

So there I was preaching on a Sunday night in the State Up North (aka, Michigan) at my first church, preaching through a passage in Philippians. On that night so many years ago, the Chancelor of our seminary chanced upon our church for a visit, Dr. Walter Wilbert Welch (the original “www,” unless you had Bible classes from my dad at Cedarville College in the 80’s and the 90’s when he coined the phrase, “Warren’s Words of Wisdom,” . . . .also considered to be the original “www”).

When your seminary Chancelor is in the audience, your sermon notes (and the previous week of study) take on a more profound meaning. And without any warning of his arrival, one just hopes that what is proclaimed will represent well the Gospel according to Philippians (and the preparation of many years of seminary study).

The next morning (Monday), our phone rings, and it’s the good doctor, Dr. Welch, going out of his way to show kindness by offering friendly encouragement. “You did very well preaching last night,” he said. “Have you ever considered a full time preaching ministry?”

At the time, I had been an associate pastor for about two years, maybe three, in my first church after seminary (around the year 2006). I was enjoying the subtle satisfaction of contentment. For those who don’t know, the first couple years of any pastorate in any role can be tumultuous as leadership takes shape, learning how to serve a Faith Community faithfully. When the day finally arrives, it’s a nice feeling to settle in and enjoy the ride. Dr. Welch’s question came as the ministry ride for me was just getting enjoyable. Politely, I thanked him for his encouragement but planned to continue in my role as a music pastor for many more years to come, preaching only occasionally as opportunities would arise. I quietly forgot about Dr. Welch and his comments, and the Lord called him home to glory in July of 2015.

Fast forwarding here . . . .

Some twelve years later, maybe more– I’m serving at my second church, still enjoying the role of an associate pastor in music ministry, and fully appreciative of the contentment that comes with long-term pastoral ministry (8 years at Calvary, by that point). The year is 2018; I’m sitting in our annual deacon leadership retreat, which takes place every October. Our chairman begins handing out a magazine article that he kept over the years, written in the late 90’s by none other than Dr. Wilbert Welch.

Now, I’m not one who believes in ghosts, but I can say that Dr. Welch was in the room that day asking the same question, “Are you ready to preach?” By God’s Providence, He brought His servant back into memory at just the right time in order to direct my steps and bring me to this exact point in my life today (nearly four years later, March of 2022– some 15+ years after my initial conversation with the good doctor). The call to preach had come a second time, and just as corporeal as the first (though I’ll emphasize it again, I don’t believe in ghosts). But I do believe in the Holy Ghost who very clearly was guiding my mind into an understanding of God’s Providence.

Needless to say, as that deacon retreat concluded, I made my way to my office crying and crying out to God as the reality of pastoral shift coalesced in my heart. The Spirit had been wooing and working for a while in my life towards this moment, though I had been averting my desire over the last few years, patiently awaiting the time most proper when deemed best I should leave a rather polished music ministry and head off into the sunset of senior pastoring (…or better put, “the sunrise!”).

In one magnificent moment I knew my music ministry would soon end.

We are not alone in life. God does not abandon us to “figure it out” on our own. Even when our feelings betray us, God is ever-present. His Providence continues working in us and around us through servants and circumstances, and He will remind of us of this in various ways from time to time, whether subtle or overt. It’s up to us to listen and respond in obedience.

(For a well-crafted and succinct study of God’s Providence, I would highly recommend the book, The Horse and His Boy by C. S. Lewis, Book #3 of the Chronicles of Narnia.)

(( It’s a great one to read with your children, too! ))

Coming to Grand Heights is a God-thing –I firmly believe– and I’m looking forward to seeing what He will do through our days serving this church.

To God be the glory!