It is kind of amazing. After a unanimous vote this evening at First Baptist Church, Taft, I will begin Sunday as interim pastor. This will be the THIRD time I have been called to the church. The FIRST time was in the spring of 1962. I was being given an early discharge after being recalled for the Cuban missile crisis with the 49th Armored Division. I came to the church as minister of music/education/youth. In most churches today these are separate positions. We had three and one-half enjoyable and productive years before moving to Calvary, Lufkin. The SECOND time was in 1983, I think. This time I came as pastor. The church had just undergone a pastor leaving and taking more than a hundred members a few blocks to start a new church. It no longer exists. Now, I am going back as an INTERIM pastor. It will not be a full-time position. I will preach Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights. The church is older and much smaller than when I first served it. I am older and much larger. Such is life.
I will be grateful for your prayers and encouragement in this new assignment the Lord has given me. It is not an easy task at this point in time, but one I am excited to take on. I will have to sharpen my study and skills, and re-tune my ears to listen. Many of my earlier friends there are gone. Some do remain. I also look forward to making new friends in and out of the church. There it is. Back to work at seventy-seven. Is the THIRD time the charm?
