A Job Well Done
“Well done good and faithful servant.”
It’s surreal to know in a few short weeks my parents are retiring from 40 years in ministry. In the movies, preachers are often portrayed as fire and brimstone staunch figures or corny and woefully out of touch. In pop culture, both the tabloid and legitimate news headlines will cover the lavish lifestyle, fashion, and spectacular falls from grace of celebrity mega-church pastors. However; often overlooked is the humble, sincere, out of the spotlight, godly people who truly believe their life’s work is to point people to Jesus. My parents fit this description. Still after 40 years, they are the first to arrive and last to leave each Sunday. Their days are filled with visiting congregants, facilitating programs, preparing sermons, doing all sorts of jack-of-all trades jobs like making sure the church finances are stewarded as carefully as possible as any non-profit should, painting walls that show the scuffs and scrapes of a vibrant children’s ministry, mentoring young men and women, hours in prayer and the Word and all sorts of other unseen jobs. My dad may be a well-educated man, but his income has never reflected that nor has that ever been on his radar. He along with my mom have lived simply starting off in a modest little parsonage and are ending their ministry in a modest little parsonage. He wouldn’t even like me mentioning that, but I say that all to honour how they have never felt entitled or taken their position of leadership for granted. They would say they are honoured to serve God. They are shepherds of souls. Over the years as I’ve unpacked my faith, I may no longer hold unto all the tenants of Pentecostalism that I was raised with, yet I have never lost respect for how my parents authentically and compassionately love on their church and practice what they preach. They are the real deal and after 40 years, I am thankful they can soon enjoy this new season of retirement.
