- Nov 10, 2004
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Since it won't fit in the 1,000 character limit on my profile, I thought I'd post it here.
I grew up in the church my mother grew up in. My family was not religious at all. We prayed at dinner occasionally, but we were only Christians between 10:00 am and 12:00 noon on Sundays, after that we were worldly people. I attended a non-denominational, Restoration Movement, Christian church. It was probably similar to a Disciples of Christ Church, but not. This church was small when I was growing up in it, probably 65-80 in attendance each week. We attended church on Sunday mornings only, no evening or mid-week services for us. And that was not always every week that we were there. There was a time, after my Grandmother died, when I was just entering high school, that my dad became really involved in the church. He was even a deacon and we were at church every Sunday without fail. That soon wore off after I graduated high school.
But, back to me. When I was growing up in the church as a small boy, there was virtually no children's ministry or youth ministry and there wasn't even an official youth or children's pastor.
Until I was about eleven or twelve that is. That's when Tim came to our little church as a youth pastor. He drove 2 hours the night before services and stayed at an Elder's house to be at church early on Sundays. Then, he would drive home Sunday night and do whatever it was he did until Wednesday nights. That is when I first started leaving the regular service to go to children's church where Tim taught and made learning about Christ fun and interesting. Before that, I stayed in the service with my parents. I didn't really know any of the kids at church and didn't care to either. There wasnt very many of them anyway, probably a handful at most. But, despite my non-social interaction with the other kids, I had always gone to church camp each summer.
The summer of 1988 was the summer that our church was in charge of the week I would be going and Tim was there to lead the kids. The Senior Pastor oversaw all the weeks activities, but Tim was the one leading Worship Services, Vespers, and Bible Studies. That was the summer I accepted Christ. Church camp can really fill you with the Holy Spirit! I loved it! Even without church camp, I would have accepted Christ. Tim made it so obvious that life with Christ was the only way. All the weeks leading up to camp that I spent with Tim in classes, I began to thirst for the same joy and passion that Tim had. Now, Im like 12 years old here remember, but I want what he has. And I got it.
I was baptized by immersion a few weeks following camp at my home church for all to see and witness. I started attending youth meetings and was really starting to find my walk with Christ. The church was still small and all the kids in the church went to the same school and knew each other outside of church. I was the only one that was an "outsider". I got along with the other kids, but I was always disappointed to see how double-roled they were. They acted one way at church and another at school functions or outside of church. I now see that we as adults we do the same thing.
Soon after my baptism, Tim left the church and became an insurance agent where he lived a few hours away. That's when I stopped going to youth meetings and activities. There wasn't another youth or children's pastor until about seven or eight years later. The Deacons took turns teaching the youth classes and organizing activities until then. There were only about 10 kids between ages 12-15 after Tim left. They slowly started dropping away from the church after Tim left as well. I understand now that the church has grown to about 350-400 in attendance each week. The youth is growing slowly as well.
It has been almost 10 years since I attended that church regularly. After high school, I went into the Air Force and have been here and there ever since. Finally deciding to live in one place, I am now leading my family in Christ and we are searching for the church to call our home. I know firsthand how important it is to have a solid childrens ministry and youth ministry in a church. I know my family needs a church they can grow in and with and learn to live in Christ.
To my knowledge, Tim is still an insurance agent. Not sure why he left the ministry, but I'm thankful he was there when he was or I might not have ever been saved. If I would not have been saved when I was, who knows if the events in my life would have been the same? I may not have ever been saved and would have never met my wife if I wasnt saved. He probably doesn't even know he was the one that lead me to Christ, but that's not important. I think of him often and always try to remember the joy and fire he had for God. I still crave what he had and hope he still has it. Since he left the ministry at the church of my youth, Ive sort of been on pause with God, until recently.
Since my childhood, I've backslidden off and on. I've not really followed Christ as I should. Ive put my desires first and Gods on the back burner. BUT, alas, I am back on track and following the Lord strong. Leading my family as Christ leads me. Like everyone, I have slips and falls now and then, but Jesus is there always with His hand extended ready to help me up.
That's my testimony. One person can make a difference and not even know it. We all can lead someone to Christ and have a huge impact on a life just by doing the simplest of things like teaching a Sunday School class.
God Bless!
I grew up in the church my mother grew up in. My family was not religious at all. We prayed at dinner occasionally, but we were only Christians between 10:00 am and 12:00 noon on Sundays, after that we were worldly people. I attended a non-denominational, Restoration Movement, Christian church. It was probably similar to a Disciples of Christ Church, but not. This church was small when I was growing up in it, probably 65-80 in attendance each week. We attended church on Sunday mornings only, no evening or mid-week services for us. And that was not always every week that we were there. There was a time, after my Grandmother died, when I was just entering high school, that my dad became really involved in the church. He was even a deacon and we were at church every Sunday without fail. That soon wore off after I graduated high school.
But, back to me. When I was growing up in the church as a small boy, there was virtually no children's ministry or youth ministry and there wasn't even an official youth or children's pastor.
Until I was about eleven or twelve that is. That's when Tim came to our little church as a youth pastor. He drove 2 hours the night before services and stayed at an Elder's house to be at church early on Sundays. Then, he would drive home Sunday night and do whatever it was he did until Wednesday nights. That is when I first started leaving the regular service to go to children's church where Tim taught and made learning about Christ fun and interesting. Before that, I stayed in the service with my parents. I didn't really know any of the kids at church and didn't care to either. There wasnt very many of them anyway, probably a handful at most. But, despite my non-social interaction with the other kids, I had always gone to church camp each summer.
The summer of 1988 was the summer that our church was in charge of the week I would be going and Tim was there to lead the kids. The Senior Pastor oversaw all the weeks activities, but Tim was the one leading Worship Services, Vespers, and Bible Studies. That was the summer I accepted Christ. Church camp can really fill you with the Holy Spirit! I loved it! Even without church camp, I would have accepted Christ. Tim made it so obvious that life with Christ was the only way. All the weeks leading up to camp that I spent with Tim in classes, I began to thirst for the same joy and passion that Tim had. Now, Im like 12 years old here remember, but I want what he has. And I got it.
I was baptized by immersion a few weeks following camp at my home church for all to see and witness. I started attending youth meetings and was really starting to find my walk with Christ. The church was still small and all the kids in the church went to the same school and knew each other outside of church. I was the only one that was an "outsider". I got along with the other kids, but I was always disappointed to see how double-roled they were. They acted one way at church and another at school functions or outside of church. I now see that we as adults we do the same thing.
Soon after my baptism, Tim left the church and became an insurance agent where he lived a few hours away. That's when I stopped going to youth meetings and activities. There wasn't another youth or children's pastor until about seven or eight years later. The Deacons took turns teaching the youth classes and organizing activities until then. There were only about 10 kids between ages 12-15 after Tim left. They slowly started dropping away from the church after Tim left as well. I understand now that the church has grown to about 350-400 in attendance each week. The youth is growing slowly as well.
It has been almost 10 years since I attended that church regularly. After high school, I went into the Air Force and have been here and there ever since. Finally deciding to live in one place, I am now leading my family in Christ and we are searching for the church to call our home. I know firsthand how important it is to have a solid childrens ministry and youth ministry in a church. I know my family needs a church they can grow in and with and learn to live in Christ.
To my knowledge, Tim is still an insurance agent. Not sure why he left the ministry, but I'm thankful he was there when he was or I might not have ever been saved. If I would not have been saved when I was, who knows if the events in my life would have been the same? I may not have ever been saved and would have never met my wife if I wasnt saved. He probably doesn't even know he was the one that lead me to Christ, but that's not important. I think of him often and always try to remember the joy and fire he had for God. I still crave what he had and hope he still has it. Since he left the ministry at the church of my youth, Ive sort of been on pause with God, until recently.
Since my childhood, I've backslidden off and on. I've not really followed Christ as I should. Ive put my desires first and Gods on the back burner. BUT, alas, I am back on track and following the Lord strong. Leading my family as Christ leads me. Like everyone, I have slips and falls now and then, but Jesus is there always with His hand extended ready to help me up.
That's my testimony. One person can make a difference and not even know it. We all can lead someone to Christ and have a huge impact on a life just by doing the simplest of things like teaching a Sunday School class.
God Bless!
