Sojourning
Laila and I left after worship and a leadership meeting on Sunday. Arriving in Winchester we shared a time with Stewart Wilkerson and the youth leaders of Winchester Church of God. Stewart has come aboard to lead youth of Covenant Church. His first few days were under the tutelage of the Winchester youth leaders Tony and Tracy Wudski.
Stewart has just graduated from Lee University with a major in youth leadership. Engaged, he and Lindsey will be married March 25, after which she will be here with the Covenant Family.
After spending the night in Winchester Laila and I proceeded to Markleysburg, PA to share a meal and fellowship with Pastor Jerry and Kathy Steele. This dear couple served on staff at Covenant for eight years before going to pastor New Life Covenant Church. The ministry they have accomplished over the past 17+ years is astounding, especially with Kathy having suffered from cancer for the past ten years!
Monday evening Laila and I arrived in Sandusky, OH. The following day we visited a pastor who has suffered cancer, heart trouble, and amputation of his left leg. Again left words of encouragement and a gift.
Tuesday we arrived in a suburb of Detroit, MI. Through the courtesy of Virginia State Administrative Bishop, Mitchell Corder---in cooperation with Bishop James Cossey of Michigan, Pastor Darius Walden invited a group of ministers to a specially prepared dinner. Laila and I enjoyed over three hours of fellowship, discussion, and sharing practical lessons about ministry. This was a choice time. It was also Laila's birthday.
The following day we visited Ken and Bettie Staugaard and their daughters Trish and Kathy. The Staugaard’s had been loaned to us for a season by the goodness of God in the early 1990’s. Their love and ministry of leadership greatly influenced the maturity of Covenant.
In Fenton, MI, I met with five other persons for a special assignment in the interest of the denomination. The challenge was demanding. However, we went our separate ways with unanimous feeling that our work had been done carefully and correctly.
Laila and I began winding our way back home. Sunday came, and we were privileged to be in worship for the first time with the Steele’s. I shared with Pastor Steele that folks left feeling like they had been in the presence of God---which is the ultimate litmus test of Holy Spirit leadership.
In the afternoon we enjoyed a Daniel meal prepared by Rosalie, Kathy’s mom, and fellowship with the family.
Traveling is a time for deep reflection. Naturally, as a pastor there is the deep desire that worship services and ministry at Covenant stay on course. Phone calls, texts, and emails came to affirm that not only were things steady, but Sunday was an excellent day. Danny, our eldest son, was the minister of the day. Words of affirmation flowed for the two sermons Danny delivered.
We are in a season of fasting and praying. Giving is wrapped in gentleness with fasting and prayer. The Holy Three---fasting, prayer, and giving---are inseparable. As we Break Bread in reading the Bible together we believe God that the Holy Spirit will empower us to reach the lost, captive, lonely and hurting.
We are being called to the front lines. Let us be up and answer the Call to battle.
Pastor Bare
Esther 4:14
For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise...from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”