WE ARE SOLDIERS TOGETHER

First Church of the Nazarene Sanctuary in Adrian, Michigan

Eighteen years ago I left the pastorate at the First Church of the Nazarene in Adrian, Michigan.  This past week I returned to the pulpit for the first time since then.  What an absolute blessing to see how the Lord  has blessed this church throughout the years.  Pastors may come and go but the Spirit of the Lord is the one consistent that enables a congregation to continue to pursue Kingdom goals and win souls for Christ.

I had the honor of building upon the energies and faith of men like John Mellish and Jerry Short.  I was blessed in 1988 to inherit a church that was on fire for the Lord and filled with men and women who had a vision for a continued growing mission in their community.  I remember long meetings and hard decisions concerning relocation and building a new facility.  I remember the dedication of everyone working together to pay off a substancial existing indebtedness and raise about $400,000 toward the ongoing future of the church.  I remember, when the Lord called me to relocate to Brazil, Indiana late in 1994, that I left with a great confidence that what they and the Lord had started would be finished in His timing and according to His plan.

Since that time two more pastors, Larry Betz and David Fulks, have taken up the ministry and built upon those who went before them.  Now the new building has been built and attendances, which were running around 260 when I left, have climbed to around 400.  Adrian First continues to be a dynamic, faithful fellowship that is a force for Christ in her community.

So many folks who were such a blessing on my family.

I saw so many familier faces that I hadn't seen in nearly two decades.  People who had been saved during my stay there, people who had accepted the chalenge of leadership during those critical days, people whom I married, young people who I had dedicated as babies.  These are the times that pastors need.  Times when they can be reminded that their "labors" have not been in vain.  Too many times we, clergy, focus on the struggles; the conflicts.  Are we always going to be liked?  Are we always going to be agreed with?  Are we always going to see success?  No!  There will always be those times.  There will always be those people who will challenge our leadership but, for the most part, if we are faithful, the impact of our ministries will far outlive the issues that seemed so large at the time.  I wish that every pastor would revisit their ministries and thank God for the successes that have made the difference in peoples lives for now and for eternity.        

I would ask every layperson to stop and think about the pastors you have ministered with throughout the years.  Pause to think about the positive impact they had on the life of your church.  Don't magnify their shortcomings (and we all have them) but rather focus on the lives changed and victories won.  Afterall, we ALL are in this work of building His Kingdom here on earth.  We work side by side and hand in hand.  We are not advisaries, we are soldiers together "fighting the good fight".

Finally, live in the present.  Support your shephard, speak encouragement, do small things that let him/her know that you care for them and their family.  God has placed them in the life stream of your congregation for this time.  Honor the past (we, many times, enjoy what others sacrificed for), plan and dream for the future, and enjoy the "now" that the Lord has given you.

To Pastor Dr. David Fulks and the people of the Adrian First Church of the Nazarene I say "that I believe the best is still yet to come."  PRAISE THE LORD!

Pastor Dr. David Fulks