Connect the Dots
Connect the Dots
The Apostle Paul was an amazing man. His story of coming to faith in Christ followed by his life of serving Christ is truly incredible. The author of many books of the New Testament, the early leader in church planting, and a courageous soul who withstood persecution while proclaiming the Good News! Yet throughout the writings of Paul we find that often he pointed to other people other than himself. There were names like Prisca and Aquila, Onesiphorus, Pudens, Linus and Claudia just to name a few of the people who had been instrumental in advancing the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.
Let’s be real for a minute. We go through the Christian life and do our best to make an impact for the Lord’s Church. But we wonder, did my life really make a difference? Even Pastors have that thought cross our mind from time to time. The prophet Jeremiah peached for 23 years and never had one response. The best of leaders often wondered, am I really make a difference?
This past Monday, I joined with 100 other pastors from across our state to meet at the new facilities of Phil Waldrep Ministries in Decatur. We worshipped together and heard a message from Dr. Jerry Vines the longtime pastor of FBC Jacksonville, FL. Dr. Vines, at the age of 87, challenged and encouraged us as Pastors on our journey. After the morning sessions we were able to fellowship amongst the other Pastors and meet the staff of Phil Waldrep Ministries. It was then that I began to connect the dots.
As a young teenager I heard Phil Waldrep preach as he was staring out in the ministry. Somehow, we connected, and Phil intentionally spent time with me. Then on numerous occasions he would pick me and Jimmy up to go with him as he preached in the Shoals area. Jimmy and I both surrendered to the call to preach at the same time. Phil helped pour into us by taking us on his preaching circuit as young preacher boys. I’ve never forgotten how special I felt that this young evangelist would invest in me. Now he is still pouring into me and a hundred other pastors.
Then as we were touring the new facility, I ran into one of our recent UNA graduates who was active in our college ministry at FBC. Sara Beth has been working for Phil Waldrep for several months now. She was so excited to be serving the Lord in a Christian workplace. As we were talking another lady walked up and I realized it was Danita. She was one of our first college students in the early 1990’s when I first came to FBC. Danita has been working for Phil Waldrep Ministries for 8 years now in a key leadership position. Here are two ladies that FBC Florence had an impact upon in their days of college life at UNA. Now, they are having an impact upon thousands of people and God is using them both tremendously.
It was a full circle moment for me in many ways. As I connected the dots of how God crossed our paths, I realized why the Apostle Paul referenced so many different people. He was connecting the dots in his own ministry. Paul was putting the pieces of the puzzle together and showing us how God fits every piece into place. Every person that served with Paul mattered and he was grateful for each of those encounters.
This past Monday, it was a joy to hear the great preacher Dr. Jerry Vines. But with much respect to Dr. Vines, it was even a greater joy to see how God had connected the dots through FBC Florence and even my own personal years of ministry. I saw firsthand the puzzle pieces coming together. My mind has reflected all week over the dots that were connected and as Paul would say, “I thank God upon every remembrance of you.”
The Apostle Paul was an amazing man. His story of coming to faith in Christ followed by his life of serving Christ is truly incredible. The author of many books of the New Testament, the early leader in church planting, and a courageous soul who withstood persecution while proclaiming the Good News! Yet throughout the writings of Paul we find that often he pointed to other people other than himself. There were names like Prisca and Aquila, Onesiphorus, Pudens, Linus and Claudia just to name a few of the people who had been instrumental in advancing the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.
Let’s be real for a minute. We go through the Christian life and do our best to make an impact for the Lord’s Church. But we wonder, did my life really make a difference? Even Pastors have that thought cross our mind from time to time. The prophet Jeremiah peached for 23 years and never had one response. The best of leaders often wondered, am I really make a difference?
This past Monday, I joined with 100 other pastors from across our state to meet at the new facilities of Phil Waldrep Ministries in Decatur. We worshipped together and heard a message from Dr. Jerry Vines the longtime pastor of FBC Jacksonville, FL. Dr. Vines, at the age of 87, challenged and encouraged us as Pastors on our journey. After the morning sessions we were able to fellowship amongst the other Pastors and meet the staff of Phil Waldrep Ministries. It was then that I began to connect the dots.
As a young teenager I heard Phil Waldrep preach as he was staring out in the ministry. Somehow, we connected, and Phil intentionally spent time with me. Then on numerous occasions he would pick me and Jimmy up to go with him as he preached in the Shoals area. Jimmy and I both surrendered to the call to preach at the same time. Phil helped pour into us by taking us on his preaching circuit as young preacher boys. I’ve never forgotten how special I felt that this young evangelist would invest in me. Now he is still pouring into me and a hundred other pastors.
Then as we were touring the new facility, I ran into one of our recent UNA graduates who was active in our college ministry at FBC. Sara Beth has been working for Phil Waldrep for several months now. She was so excited to be serving the Lord in a Christian workplace. As we were talking another lady walked up and I realized it was Danita. She was one of our first college students in the early 1990’s when I first came to FBC. Danita has been working for Phil Waldrep Ministries for 8 years now in a key leadership position. Here are two ladies that FBC Florence had an impact upon in their days of college life at UNA. Now, they are having an impact upon thousands of people and God is using them both tremendously.
It was a full circle moment for me in many ways. As I connected the dots of how God crossed our paths, I realized why the Apostle Paul referenced so many different people. He was connecting the dots in his own ministry. Paul was putting the pieces of the puzzle together and showing us how God fits every piece into place. Every person that served with Paul mattered and he was grateful for each of those encounters.
This past Monday, it was a joy to hear the great preacher Dr. Jerry Vines. But with much respect to Dr. Vines, it was even a greater joy to see how God had connected the dots through FBC Florence and even my own personal years of ministry. I saw firsthand the puzzle pieces coming together. My mind has reflected all week over the dots that were connected and as Paul would say, “I thank God upon every remembrance of you.”
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