Hard to believe it has been 41 years!

 It is hard to believe that on April 17^th, I will celebrate 41 years as an Ordained Minister of the Gospel.

On April 17^th, 1984 (the age of 24) I was Ordained by an amazing group of men at the Flint Baptist Temple. Co-pastors Dr. Don Lougheed and James Lougheed along with my former youth pastor Mike Rose and a group of men who had watched my ministry since I was a teen laid hands on me and sent me into ministry. I remember the intensity of the interview process as myself and Robert Warren stood before these men and they drilled us on doctrine, and our personal lives.

I remember one question that to this day I still laugh about. What will you do if we do not ordain you? My response without thinking was “go do ministry anyway.” At the time I was ordained, I was pastoring Victory Baptist Church, in Columbiaville, Michigan.

 I was saved at the age of 8 years old and baptized at the Flint Baptist Temple. I was called to preach at the age of 13 years old and began working as an Assistant Pastor to Dr. James Lougheed at 20 years old. God has given me an interesting road over the past 41-plus years, having served as Pastor, Associate Pastor, Children's Pastor, Youth Pastor, Bible college instructor, Men’s Ministry Director, and more. 

Over the past 45 years I have served across denominational lines, ministering in Independent and Southern Baptist Churches, as well as Assemblies of God, and Non-denominational churches. I have been honored to preach in over 10 different denominational churches, providing pulpit supply sharing the Gospel of Christ. Remembering the word’s Dr. Don Lougheed drilled in us as young preacher boys. “I do not care where you start in scripture, what your topic is remember you always run for the Cross. If you do not do this, get out of the ministry.”

Can I share something that stands out for me personally, and was maybe the greatest blessing that day? My Grandmother Flossie Argue (My mom’s mother) was 84 years and was only able to go places in a wheelchair, had not attended church in over two years. However, she was my best friend, and the greatest encouragement. She made my mom and dad bring her to my Ordination. That was the last service she was in, she died a few months later.

I do want to thank my amazing wife Emma Lee who has walked through all these challenges over the past 39 years. On our wedding day, February 14, 1986, she stepped into ministry, and together we did not look back.

 I often wonder what I would tell the younger me after 45 years of ministry, and I think it would be simple.

 

1)      Stay focused on your calling not your location.

2)     Serve where God put’s you, not where you want to be.

3)     Do not think you are the smartest person in the room; you will only be embarrassed.

4)     Do not stay where you are not wanted.

5)     Protect your wife and children with all your being, from both members and pastors.

 

I cannot wait to see what the next 40 plus years bring.