Pastor Buddy’s Blog

Morning Journal,

Last evening was Pastor Appreciation Night at Christian Challenge. What an awesome time.  – By the way, the members of Christian Challenge make up our treasure  chest —

Robert Hazmark served as moderator. He used readings from Ephesians 4:1-6, as a launch point, shared personally from his heart, then had David Stellwagon take a mike to those who wanted to make their feelings known.  It was  an humbling experience for all three pastors and their wives.

It was also interesting to see how the sharings began to pick up. A hand would go up here, and another over there. Then more and more wanted to share from their heart. You could feel the emotions as they spoke. And some were downright funny. And poor David had to make the rounds from side to side. About the time he wanted to share from his heart, another hand would go up. Thanks David. Its like the song that says, ‘Oh what a blessing you are.’ (I think there’s a song that says that. Hmmmmm?)

The wonderful thing about giving room for folk to speak from their hearts is that healings can take place, dividing walls can be erased, and the love of God can flow like a river. There were times of laughter, times of sober reflection, and times of tearfulness. The entire evening was deeply moving.

Wish I had room to draw attention to certain high lights of the evening, but alas, the entire evening was a uninterrupted highlight. It is hard to find a particular moment to share. Those able to be with us will understand.

Yet I would be remiss if I didn’t make a mention of a couple of things. One thing we kept hearing over and over is how very unique Christian Challenge has been to our members, including a number of our newer folk. We heard how Christian Challenge is so unique as a Christian Church, with such an openness, a genuineness, a love flow, a spirit of discipleship, and a measure of teachings from God’s Word that is difficult to find in many places.

How do you respond to such things? Part of the answer is that Christian Challenge actually began as a School for Christian Workers. To this day the spirit of the New Testament discipleship remains at the very heart of our ministry. I personally think this is what new covenant life is really all about. And this is what Christian Challenge is about.

There was a point where I did get to say just a bit. It was while Shana was speaking from her heart that I asked for the mike for a brief comment. I just had to call attention to what the Lord said disciples should say concerning service in His kingdom – “So you too, when you do all the things commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done.’” (Luke 17:10 nasb)

And that is exactly how I felt while listening to the appreciations given last evening. I have never felt adequate to be a pastor and yet all these folk wanted to honor us. I thought to myself, ‘If you only knew the struggles over our own humanness that we pastors share in common.’  I am sure that Nathan and Jon had the very same feelings.

But then I thought, ‘Maybe this is something that helps a person to be a good pastor. When people see that a pastor is just as human just as they are, it makes for true and open fellowship. The point is that there are no perfect pastors, just forgiven pastors.’

This is true. The old timer said something like this – “The preacher preaches best when he preaches as a saved-sinner among sinners, saved by grace, but preaching to sinners to whom grace aplenty can be found in Jesus Christ.” (More my take on something the old timer said.)

Anyway, the evening had just begun. After the appreciations were given, and a prayer over the food had been made, and our traditional three times ‘Jesus is Lord’ resounded, we headed for the fellowship hall for an experience of finger-foods galore! Wow - What a layout. 

More fellowship and laughter and hugging and eating and going from one person to another to give our appreciativenesses. (What a word.) Then there was the table set up just for we pastors and our wives to read the ‘heaps’ of cards from the members. (And I mean ‘heaps.’)

I just have to share one from Robert and Cheryl. It says, ‘You’re more than a Pastor … you’re a prayer-lifting, spirit-gifting, always-blessing, never-stressing, joy-giving, gospel-living, church-leading friend! Thank you for your ministry.’

Ok, what a tribute. But giving credit where credit is due, Nathan is actually now the Senior-Pastor of the Central Church in Pineville. He is the dude under the gun. I’m still the General Overseer for CCI, but better known as the ‘annoyance’ checker.  :)   – Yeah. So I don’t know what that means either. —

One other thing I have to share. Over the many years I’ve collected special hand-made cards and drawings from our children. Last evening Elizabeth McBride and Rebekah Gauthier each gave me theirs. Elizabeth’s was on a folded napkin and Rebekah’s was on a folder piece of paper. These two young ladies are sweethearts. In fact it was my joy to dedicate both of them to the Lord. (Some eight years ago. Think I have that right.)

What made this even more special was when I told Rebekah that her mom had given me a hand-made card when she was only five years old. Her eyes got real bright. And I told her that I have that card to this day. In fact I have a desk drawer full of these wonderful memories from our children. My, how time flies. Doesn’t seem possible that Christian Challenge is knocking on thirty-one years of history.  

At our family luncheon today we talked about how precious the Pastor Appreciation Night was.  And I’m sure everyone felt the same wonderfulness about it. It was one of those  divine moments where God’s people felt a little bit of heaven. In fact that is exactly what I heard in one of the testimonies of appreciation. The sister said that experiencing Christian Challenge is like experiencing just a bit of heaven.

Guess I need to leave off for now. I’m starting to gush just a bit too much.

Sending much love your way,

Buddy