38 years ago this month, I entered “professional ministry”, meaning that a church actually hired me as a 20-year-old Bible College junior to become their weekend youth minister. The only experience I brought was a summer internship & volunteering for my home church. I still remember the night driving to that tiny rural town of Kennard, halfway between Indianapolis & Ohio (right up the road from where some gym scenes for the movie “Hoosiers” would be filmed just months later).
With my 18-year-old fiancee by my side, we were interviewed by the Elders. I ended up making that 2-hour drive back & forth every weekend for over the next 2 years to lead children’s church in the morning & a handful of teens in the evening. My pay was $75 which also covered my gas (fortunately it was only about a buck per gallon then). I waited until graduation in 1986 to be ordained by my home church which had contributed small scholarships each year to my education. The Elders interviewed me & then held a special service where they laid hands on me with prayer. The youth minister who inspired me to ministry spoke a message, charging me to remain faithful & true to the Lord, His Word, & His calling.
Then in 1987 I was hired by another rural church east of Cincinnati to become their Preaching Minister at age 23 for another couple of years, before going full-time after graduating from grad school. Before they hired me, I warned them that I wouldn’t stay long because I wanted to start a new church.
I reminisce like this for a couple of reasons:
(1) Southpoint will be ordaining 2 of our own members into ministry when both locations gather at Trenton for “Southpoint United” on Friday, Oct. 21 at 7:00pm. Both are Directors in our NextGen student ministry-JoEllen Hurst serves at Trenton, while Jon Langley serves at Allen Park. Both have been here since 2004. Jon was only 8 & went through our youth ministry programs. JoEllen now has 3 teens of her own. They’ve both been on staff for a while now. But after seeing them excel in their roles, the Elders will be setting them apart with prayer, fasting & the laying on of hands. I hope you’ll join in this special night to witness this & support them.
(2) This month is National Pastors [Clergy] Appreciation Month. None of us seek recognition or do it to get rich; we do ministry for the Lord. There’s certainly no cultural honor in it. So it’s appropriate to reflect on how blessed we are to have a leadership team of committed servants who guide, encourage, equip, counsel & teach the church in a godly & biblical way. As Paul writes,”…Acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work” (1 These. 5:12-13, also 1 Tim. 5:17).
Ministry is wonderful work & we’re grateful we get to do it. Yet it can bring its share of weariness, burdens, discouragements & sacrifice. We have only 5 full-time staff for the entire church in 2 locations-all others are part-time. So please speak a word of thanks & affirmation to those in ministry. Send them a note, shoot a text or message. Please pray for them regularly – southpointccc.com/staff. Click on their pictures to learn more about them. Please also pray for & encourage our Elders: Keith Whitehouse, Dean Faletti, Ken Tomalak & Greg Bobruk.
But we also recognize that in the New Testament Church, there really is no such thing as “clergy” and “laity.” We’re all a “royal priesthood” according to 1 Peter. Each of us is gifted & called to minister. People often don’t understand all the many volunteers needed just to provide Sunday services at Southpoint. I take it for granted that everyone knows, for example, that none of the singers or musicians are being paid a dime. Neither are our Elders or Deacons. Nearly everyone you see serving is unpaid & we can’t do it without them!