Testimony
“I am not a preacher,” Bill said. He is a parishioner who came into my life gently. It was a time of need for his family. He was without a regular job and trying to develop a new business. Finances were tough.
My first impressions were of a man who cared about his wife and family. “I am willing to do any kind of work to provide for my family,” was his proffer.
In time I came to know that he grew up Roman Catholic. Like so many of our dear and wonderful parishioners, his religion became salvation and joy when he experienced a personal relationship with Jesus. In time he and his wife joined Covenant Church.
Laila and I like to ride home together on Sundays – leaving my car at church. Monday morning my 6:15 phone call to Bill, asking for a ride into town, found him already on the way to his new job. The Lord has given him an excellent place of employment. All day long he is a coordinator, trouble-shooter, and relationship connector with people. “I love my job,” he will say with an enthusiasm that speaks of heart.
He had turned around and driven back several miles so I could ride into the city with him. In addition, the church is a few minutes past his place of employment. The extra time would cost him at least 20 minutes. There was no indication of his having made a sacrifice. He was smiling. It is so nice to be with people who smile. Smiling people just cheer up a day. Smiling people give room for hope. A smile suggests that there is good and that good touches our lives in ways that heals pain and brings sunshine.
As I write about this Dear Brother it occurs to me that when in his company there is never an anxious moment that he will be negative or take the opportunity to try and tell me what he does not like about me or Covenant Church. He has a learning posture, an attitude of “can I help you?” and “Is there something you can share with me that will bless my life?” He reminds me so much of another brother, Hans, who always allows me to get out of the car at church with a lifted heart and feeling of fulfillment in being a pastor to him and his family.
Bill’s reference to not being a preacher was obviously meant in respect and deference to me. He was saying “I do not have a pulpit, calling to be a pastor, or an office in a church,” and other such things without saying all the words. He might have been saying in his humble way, “I am not in as important a position as you in the Kingdom.” In truth, I did not ask him exactly what he meant.
What I did do was say: “Bill, you may not have a pulpit, but you are a preacher. Your life speaks to others. They know that their dirty jokes will not be received by your ears. Your co-workers know that you do not ogle women with lust in your eyes. They are listening when stress in high and things go wrong and you do not curse. You do not party. You do not drink intoxicating substances nor participate in the world’s party. Your co-workers and friends know that you and your family are in church regularly. They know that you have set your heart to go to heaven. They see your servant heart. You are preaching a powerful sermon!”
Such was the message that I shared with this brother. If the only sermon preached is from the pulpit, a church is weak. The power of a sermon from the pulpit is to encourage parishioners to go with a thousand sermons into the marketplace, sharing the love of Jesus by actions and words with every person they meet.
Of course, there are those who will insist that a sermon must have a text, a theme, and be delivered by someone with credentials and a title. Such folks have their place.
Not me. I say, “Bill is preaching today.” He is at a place of employment where there is not likely be a Bible study, or prayer, or talk about how the business will bring honor and glory to Jesus. However, Bill is preaching. In time a distressed co-worker will come to him for counsel. In time he will bring a co-worker to Jesus and to Covenant Church. In time someone having marital problems will ask him how he seems to have such peace. In time he will be promoted with a pay raise, because his employer will see the sermon he is preaching.
What is your sermon today?
With love
Pastor Bare
Revelation 1:6