Lay Pastor

Methodist Circuit Rider

This weekend, Beth and I attended the fall retreat for our Greenhouse Ministry. It was held at the beautiful University of St Mary Of the Lake in Mundelein. Friday night, all of us who serve as lay catechists (pastors), lay evangelists and college ministers were blessed by Bishop Frank Lyons of the Diocese of Pittsburgh. It made me remember when I wasn't going to church, for about 13 years.
Once I got out of high school, I very rarely went to church. Maybe for Christmas and Easter, but never more than that. When I did come back to church, I thought of all the "ordinary" people who helped me come back to faith, and to put my life in Jesus' hands. In reality, they weren't ordinary people at all, but they were people I met in small groups at church, who took my hand and encouraged me to walk with Jesus, and not to worry about what I didn't know, or what I had done in my life up to then. 
As I was blessed as a lay pastor, I thought of Don and Sue, at our church in Ohio. They led a weeknight Praise and Study class, which was really where I felt welcome and seemed like it had been designed for someone like me. By that, I mean someone who was raised in the church, but who didn't have faith in Jesus. I wish they could have been there Friday night. I owe them everything. I was in my early 30's when I realized that I had reached the end of myself, and that the world, work, other people and money not only didn't satisfy -- but most of the time led me to make decisions, form relationships and set priorities that harmed my physical and emotional health. It didn't happen overnight, but I'm now making better decisions, forming better relationships, living by better priorities and taking better care of my physical and emotional health. I hope as a lay leader in our church, that I can help others start down that road with Jesus. I'm scared to think about where I would be without Him. Thanks Don and Sue!