Jump Start # 1417

2 Timothy 4:5 “But you, be sober in all things, endure hardships, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”

Today is a very special day for me. It’s not my birthday, that was last week. It’s not my anniversary, that’s in a few months. On this day, many years ago, something very special started and I want to take this avenue to reflect upon this personally. I admit that I’m sentimental. Dates, anniversaries mean a lot to me. A few years ago the congregation I preach at celebrated it’s 100th year of existence. That’s huge in my book.

Thirty-five years ago today, it was a Sunday morning. I was single. I had moved to the community of Benton, in southern Illinois. And on Sunday, August 24, 1980, I preached my first sermon as the new preacher of that congregation. I had been preaching pretty much every Sunday for a couple of years before that, but on this day, I was the new minister for that congregation. I had just a few books, a few sermons and was very new and inexperienced at what I was supposed to do. My sermon that morning was, “Compliment but Crucify.” It was about honoring but displeasing the Lord. There were 66 in attendance that morning. Within two years, I moved to Indianapolis and started preaching in Greenwood. I remained there for 15 years. From there, I moved to Kansas City and preached there 10 years. Now, I’m in New Albany, Indiana.

Thirty-five years of preaching. Preaching almost every Sunday. That’s thousands of sermons, classes, articles and talking to folks about their soul. Those thirty fives years have allowed me to crisscross this country preaching. I have met thousands of wonderful people. There has been weddings and too many funerals. There has been young men that I tried to teach what I knew about preaching. There has been thousands and thousands of books gathered and file cabinets stuffed with articles that were saved. I was allowed to preach in India as well as in a Federal Prison. I’ve met some really amazing people. I’ve met some of the best people who were just as common as they could be. I’ve been in so many homes and eaten at so many pitch-ins and potlucks. There has been some funny things happened in those years. There has been some serious and sad things that has happened. I’ve had to bury some people that were very dear to my heart. I preached my mother’s funeral many years ago. I’ve been asked a zillion questions. I’ve had the opportunity of speaking on the radio, on TV and had a newspaper column in a local paper. I have been allowed to speak on some lectures with some of the finest preachers alive today. It’s always made me wonder what I was doing on the same program with them. I started before cell phones and computers, and now we are live streaming our services. Our Jump Starts are being read world wide. Who would have thought that. I’ve had folks get mad at what I preached. I’ve had people tell me that what I said changed their life. I’ve seen young men grow up and are now preaching in other places.

There are just a few personal things I need to say about these years of preaching.

First, I owe everything and all to my Jesus, whom I love. It was the Lord who has gifted me, opened doors for me, and given me the chance to preach. I would never imagine all the things that I have been able to do in those thirty-five years. The ugly things have been few. The blessings, enormous. My prayer is that I have been true to His word and that I have honored Him through the work that I have done. Thank you, Lord.

Second, I owe so much to my wife. We got married just a couple of months after I began preaching. So, she has been with me on this journey. I have left her at home with little kids so many times as I have had Bible studies with folks or been on the road preaching. She has helped polish me and encourage me. I’ve bounced so many ideas off of her and she has helped tone me down when I was ready to storm the castle. She has never, not once, complained about the work I do. She never suggested that I do something else. She understands that this work is so much a part of my DNA, that preaching is my life. It is hard for me to turn my mind off. I’m always thinking, writing, reading, working. Always. She has been patient with me. Thank you, Debbie. I don’t know if I would have stayed with this, if it had not been for you. You have been my number one fan and my greatest help. You have helped me be the preacher that I am today. I’m honored to have four grown kids who know me as “Dad.” It may not always have been cool having a dad that preached and you have sat very embarrassed through sermons as I used you for illustrations. But today, each of you serve the Lord, married Christians and are bring up your children in ways that please the Lord. I’m blessed.

Third, there are brethren who have been friends, supporters and helpers all along this journey. There is a preacher named Bob Dickey, who is preaching in Florida, and another, named, L.A. Stauffer, who is preaching in St. Louis, whose influence got me started on this journey. I do not come from a family of preachers. I knew very little about this. Their help early on was incredible. There were others, all along the way, that helped. There were the brethren in Benton, Greenwood, Hickman Mills, and Charlestown Road that gave me a chance. For them, I am thankful. There were kind hearts such as the Harmon brothers in Kansas City, Bob Roberson and Morris Franklin in Greenwood, who helped so much. Dear friends such as Don Truex in Temple Terrace, FL, Rickie Jenkins in Garland, TX, Kenny Moorer in Florence, AL, who have meant and helped me more than they will ever realize. There are those who are no longer with us, such as Billy Skaggs, Jim Babcock, Dick Dewhirst, Donna Finney who touched my heart and I benefited from knowing those incredible people. The list of dear friends is long. The number of people who have been there, helped me, encouraged me, written me cards, included me and supported me could fill a Texas sized football stadium.

Brethren have always supported me better than I deserve. I have never written a support letter in my life. I’m glad. I have worked where there were no elders and I have worked with elders. Today, I work with some of the finest shepherds that walk this earth today. Great and godly men who allow me to teach them. Amazing.

Our verse today, Paul’s words to the young preacher, Timothy, tells him to fulfill his ministry. Do the work. That’s what that has always meant to me. Some of us are good at preaching. Others are better teachers. Others excel one on one. Some water better than they plant. For others, it’s just the opposite. Some are great encouragers. Some can write. Some can see just what needs to be done. It’s hard for any of us to wear any of these hats well. We try.

I’m certain that there is not another 35 years of preaching left in me. The end of this preaching will be sooner than I probably want. How many more years are left has become something that I think about now for the first time. I don’t know when or how this journey will end, but it will someday. We know that. It is my hope that there has been some good done. As Nehemiah ends, “Remember me, O my God, for good.”

Thank you for letting me reflect and go down memory lane.

Roger