Yesterday was quite a day.  Obviously, yesterday’s ordination is one of major events of my life, one that I will long remember with great fondness and joy.  Mark’s message was very powerful, taking the vows was very sobering, and everyone’s comments were very encouraging.

I was surprised at how moving it was to get to address the church and thank and honor those who have had an influence on me.  I took about three sentences to thank the students and parents of five15 for making pastoring such a joy.  I want to elaborate on that a little bit here.  Here’s what I said:

I’m particularly grateful to the students and parents of five15.  For 4½ years, you have made it a joy to serve you.  I love how eager you are to hear God’s word and how you love to be reminded of the gospel.  THANK YOU.

Here are some specific reasons I love serving five15:

• You love God’s Word.  I love your attentiveness to preaching, and I love hearing about how many of you are reading the Mull or some other Bible reading plan.  Well done!
• You love the gospel.  I hear it when we sing together and when I preach.  You respond to the right things: the Savior’s sacrifice for our many sins.  Well done!
• You love your parents.  I love how so many of you see so much benefit it your parents wisdom and leadership.  So many of our students are humbly pursuing their parents’ influence and help in their lives.  Well done!
• You love to serve the church.  So many of our major outreach events are staffed by so many students!  You set an excellent example in serving the church!  Well done!

So, to all of five15, thank you!  You do indeed make pastoring a joy, and I am convinced that I have the best job in the world.  I’m turning off comments on this post, because I don’t want this to turn into, “no, thank YOU.”

five15,  I thank God for you and I love building the church with you.

Categories: Monday Matters