I have been doing evaluations of my call from God for many years now, often asking the question, “God, what was the purpose in that particular ministry?” I will be the first to tell you that I probably spent 20 of my 40-plus years of service to God trying to figure out if I needed to do something else. But He continually brought me back to church as I felt Him saying, “You may be done with organized religion and the Church but I AM not.” I sure am glad I stuck it out. His purposes have been cleared up through that perfect 20/20 hindsight that is so often talked about pertaining to decisions and life.
My first 20 years were in youth ministry. The philosophy at the time was to keep our kids busy, and drug-free, to talk about Jesus, and to not forget you will be relieved of your duties if you don’t take the kids to Carowinds, snow skiing, and whitewater rafting. My goal at that time was a 100 percent return rate on kids and to keep the old fifteen-passenger van between the ditches. This usually kept my contact with Jesus intact.
As I look back though, I see an even larger purpose for the church as a whole. In all of my youth ministry positions, I was the first full-time staff member for those congregations and the position constantly evolved into Nicole’s role at PSBC: MINISTER OF MISCELLANEOUS. The difference though, I did it all sufficiently whereas Nicole is a little more thorough. God’s job for me was to give them a good experience with the first full-time staff so they would call another one when I left. With God’s help, the mission was accomplished in spite of my shortcomings.
I believe God has given me a glimpse of my purpose here for the last 11 years. Plain and simple here ‘tis: Poplar Springs needed a jester. I was gonna say “idiot” but kids may read this so I figured I would temper my language. Poplar Springs was in need of a laugh or two or 12 million. In the nineties, the church endured a highly publicized split that had no need to be a highly publicized split. As I watched from my position at another church I grew to admire the Poplar Springs legends: Jim Richardson, Clyde Buckner, and numerous friends in this congregation. A few years later Jim would move to another location after 16 years at PSBC. Jim was loved and appreciated and his absence was made less traumatic by the faithful service of Clyde and Suzy Buckner and the leadership of this fine congregation. Later a new pastor was called to the flock at Poplar Springs. Rick Prassel was his name and unfortunately, Rick became ill after a couple of years. Poplar Springs kept him on the payroll and paid an interim until Dr. Prassel died. That speaks volumes about the spirit of PSBC but in the process, a number of burdened and fatigued members left and went elsewhere. Those who remained had a beautiful new family life building, but now they had to pay for it which they eventually did after quite a bit of sacrificial generosity. This developed an already resilient congregation into a durable, loving bunch in need of some love and laughter…they needed an idiot, excuse me, a jester.
I came on the scene in April of 2011 with this mandate: just love us. I responded with, “Heck, I can do that. I cant preach a lick. But I can love ya. In fact, I know y’all, I already do, and I think I can make you laugh too.”
You have taken it a step further, in fact, many steps further. You have loved my family and me and you have made me smile, laugh and cry tears of joy. You brought on a delightful staff of fellow comedians and people lovers and you have unselfishly ministered to me more than I will ever minister to you.
Thank you Poplar Springs for helping me to see in hindsight that GOD KNOWS WHAT HE IS DOING.
Andy o