It’s hard to imaging that yesterday has come and gone. My wife and I have been looking towards yesterday for quite awhile, and not that it is over it’s mind-boggling to think it actually got here.
Yesterday morning, I let our church know of our new ministry in the US Army, and consequently the end of our ministry here. It was a difficult and emotional time. I have been preaching a sermon series on “The Will of God,” and concluded the series yesterday morning with a sermon entitled “The Cost of Obedience.” We examined Abram’s call by the Lord in Genesis to leave his country, his relatives and his father’s house and to go to a land God would reveal later. After the service I told the church I had a personal announcement and read my letter of resignation.
The people of our church were so gracious. They had nothing but wonderful things to say which makes the move all the more difficult. I am thankful for my time here. I have enjoyed the gracious opportunity by God to preach His Word week in and week out. I have enjoyed building relationships that I pray will last until eternity. I have enjoyed being the pastor of a great church.
But, the time has come to put on a different hat of ministry. I will still have the opportunity to preach at times and eventually might get to preach with some regularity. The Chaplain ministry, however, seems so different from pastoral ministry. First, I will not be connected to a church, but instead to a battalion. There will be a specific group of soldiers that I will be responsible for when it comes to their spiritual well-being. My job is not to convert all I come into contact with, but to provide for their spiritual growth as well as their right to worship however or whoever they want. Second, I will not only be tied to “ministerial” work. As a Chaplain I will serve as an “expert” concerning religious matters. To be honest, it is all quite overwhelming.
We will miss this church deeply. They have been our family for the past three years and will always remain in our thoughts and prayers. I rest in the truth that God is in control and while yesterday came as a surprise to many people, it did not come as a surprise to Him! Praise be to God!
CH Ken said,
22 March 2007 at 3:12 am
It is really a mixture isn’t it? You are glad to finally have it out in the open, but now it seems all that more real. Glad things continue to progress for you. God is faithful! PTL!
chaplainkay said,
22 March 2007 at 4:47 pm
CH Ken,
Thanks for the kind words. To say that “it seems all that more real” is an understatement. My head is almost spinning, but we are more than thrilled. Amen and Amen.