Long Obedience in the Same Direction

I named my blog A Long Obedience in the Same Direction because I pastor the church I planted 26 years ago.

Praise God for the Free Methodist Church, which considers its pastors tenured, and doesn't arbitrarily move them around. If the church and pastor are happy, they are allowed to continue serving God together.

Research has shown that longer pastorates produce better results. And certainly you gain some history with people, which can turn into opportunities.

One of those happened for me today. It's not too often you can remember how long you've known someone or ministered to them, unless a significant event triggers that beginning.

We have a wonderful prayer warrior who has been part of our church from the beginning. Twenty-four years ago I visited her son in jail, I know this because I was pregnant with my second daughter, and she just turned 24.

I reminded him of that today when I visited the mom to take her communion (she doesn't get out much now) and he joined our conversation.

When it came time to serve communion, I explained to the son that my mentor (Rev. Walter Orr) who had given me the communion set I was using had taught me that anyone could come to the Lord's Table if they came with a repentant heart. He said he wanted to. I told him I would help him pray. I offered a simple line like "Lord forgive my sins."

He hesitated, and I wondered if he'd feel comfortable praying aloud, and then the next thing I knew, he asked for forgiveness, and kept going. He apologized for his choices, times he had let God down, told God how he always knew God was with him, and also asked Jesus to be in his heart. All without any further prompting from me.

Twenty-four years is a long time to pray for someone to come to Christ. But it's nothing in light of eternity. I would say I had the privilege of leading someone to Christ today. But I didn't even lead, the Holy Spirit did that.

Not a blessing I would have had, if not for the privilege of pastoring in the same place for over two and a half decades. Thank you Jesus, and thank you to a denomination that allows such. And thank you to Rev. Orr, for teaching me that the Lord's Table can be a place for conversion. I'm sure Rev. Orr is partying with the angels right now.