10 Years, One Decade, No matter how you say it...Thank you!

 It is hard to believe that a decade has passed since I stood in front of a church filled with my family and friends and said the vows that brought me into the Order of Christian Ministry. Time flies even if all of it hasn’t been fun. The past 10 years have been a roller coaster. The past 10 years have been terrifying. The past 10 years have been exciting. The past 10 years have been exhausting. The past 10 years have been overwhelming. The past 10 years have been amazing.

I thought on my 5^th anniversary I wrote a blog about the top 5 things from the first 5 years but I must have dreamed it or not posted it or somehow lost it on the inter-webs (according to some people that can happen you know hahaha).

So this year in honor of my 10^th anniversary I would like to share 10 of my favorite memories from the last 10 years. It’s a pretty generic list because there is no way to boil 10 years of ministry into 10 exact memories, so here they are.

10 memories.   
     
        1. Accepting my first call to serve Big Run and Fork Ridge Christian       
             Churches

        2. Directing Camp Campbell for the West Virginia Region

        3. Serving on the Board at Christmount

        4. Being on the planning team for Quadrennial

        5. Accepting the call to serve as the Associate Pastor at First Christian 
             Church in Oskaloosa, Iowa

        6. The more than 30 weddings I have had the pleasure officiating

        7. While this one might sound strange, the more than 50 funerals I have 
             had the honor of presiding over

       8. The 15 or so babies I have gotten to dedicate and the unfolding of their live

       9. Accepting the call to serve as the Senior Pastor at First Christian Church 
            in Perry, Iowa

      10. All the incredible people in my life. Family, friends and colleagues those 
             who have been with me from the start and those I have made along the 
             way.

Number 10 is the most important. Without the support of family, friends, colleagues, and church members (past and present) I know that I would not survive in ministry. Ministry is a team activity and while through my Ordination vows I have been set a part to serve the Church differently than others, I know now just like I knew 10 years ago, without you (if you’re reading this you are part of the you just mentioned) I would not be.

I would not be the kind of minister I am today.

I would not be able to figure out what hymn you are talking about based solely on humming the last lines chord progression or random phrase from the middle of the second verse, yes that happened.

I would not be able to recall all the silly camp songs and skits that come in handy when you don’t know what else to do

I would not be able to share in the intimate parts of people’s lives

I would not be able to offer compassionate words or sarcastic comments.

Of all the memories and all the things, I have learned in the first 10 years of Ordained ministry the one thing that will never change no matter how many years I serve the Church, the most important thing I will always know to be true is that I would not be the minister I am today, without you.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Here’s to another 10 years!