On the last Sunday in September, I was officially hired to be a preacher at a Church. I had preached several times over my first three years of college as a “supply preacher.” That means I preached one sermon on one Sunday and never came back. I suppose I had already preached at least 75 sermons when I was asked to go and speak at Urich, Missouri, at Christ’s Christian Church. I spoke for the first time on Labor Day weekend. The handful of people who attended that day liked the sermon enough to invite me back to preach the following Sunday. After three sermons, they held me after Church for a short meeting and asked me to return every weekend as their preaching pastor. I agreed, and that began my life as a preacher.

Since that first Church invited me to preach, I have been in six Churches in four states. I have preached 48 or more times every year except one when I was between ministries. I estimate that I have preached over 2,000 sermons and given countless Sunday school lessons, youth group lessons, and other public teachings.

By my calculations, 1565 Sundays have passed since I became a preacher. During that time, planes crashed, buildings fell, a new Church was started, four children were born and raised, I lost my dad, and my wife lost hers too. People have been born, married, and buried all under my watching eyes. There have been victories and defeats, good times and bad. We have traveled around the country and lived in Alaska. Personally, I have gained weight and lost it twice while losing my hair after it turned white.

Many events have occurred, and numerous changes have marked my journey, but God has remained faithful. I have always been able to come up with something to say. People have responded, sometimes quite surprisingly. I estimate I have been a part of around 400 baptisms. I don’t know how many others became members of a local Church and started serving, giving, and loving. I have no idea how many lives have been impacted positively. I know that God continues to use me for the Gospel’s sake in ways I never thought or imagined.

Every year about this time, I stop and thank God for allowing me to be a preaching minister. God is good, and my life has been blessed. I am incredibly thankful for every person who listens to me preach or teach, along with those who read my blog. Thanks for a lot of great experiences in the name of Jesus.