A "Grace" Day

Back in March 2004, Laurie and I found ourselves looking for a new church home.  It was a really discouraging season in our "church life" for reasons that I won't go into right now.  But at the invitation of our good friends, Bill and Joanne Platt, we visited Grace Bible Fellowship Church in Wallingford, PA.  God has used that visit to shape the better part of the last decade for my family.  The Bible Fellowship Church has been our home ever since.  Even though it was more than eight years ago, I can still remember the warm reception that we felt that day.  The family of Grace BFC has had a special place in our hearts ever since.

I was in my second year at Biblical Theological Seminary studying for my Master of Divinity degree at the time.  It wasn't long into our time at Grace before the pastoral staff invited me to join their team in the inglorious position as (unpaid) pastoral intern (a.k.a. Pastor Taylor's "lackey").  This afforded me the opportunity to meet with the pastors for mentoring sessions, attend various board meetings, and to preach once in a blue moon.  As an aspiring minister and enthusiastic seminary student, I was in "hog heaven".

As my seminary days wrapped up, the elders of Grace graciously created a new full-time position, Pastor of Outreach and Evangelism, and the church approved my appointment to the post in January 2006.  These early years of ministry at Grace were exciting and deeply challenging.  I learned  a great deal about pastoral ministry, and even more about myself and how little I truly knew of taking care of God's people.  Some of my favorite experiences included college and small group ministry, as well as ministering to a host of "neighbors" from our community.  Today, more than four years removed, I am still noticing little aspects of how I serve as a pastor that were shaped by the family of Grace.

This morning I have the privilege of preaching back at the "friendly confines" of Grace BFC.  I'm looking forward to seeing old friends and encouraging this church which has been such a tremendous example of Christian love to me and my family.