Of late I have been taking an assessment of the time which God has graciously granted to serve him since 1993 until the present. From 1993 to 2008 I was blessed to serve in youth ministry in one form or fashion. In looking at that time Jill and I were discouraged at where many of those we served are at in their lives now in relation to serving the Lord. Yet in the midst of this God reminded us of the blessing of pouring our lives into others by seeing of late some those who are serving the Lord and making an impact for HIS Glory. It is amazing that each are serving right here in the Kershaw, SC area!
In our church I get to serve with Lonnie Smith. We met Lonnie while serving in Conway, SC and God has blessed us to have had a presence in his life since that time. He is quite gifted and he loves and serve our youth quite well at Oak Ridge. God has blessed Lonnie with a graciousness by which he carries himself and serves others. This gracious spirit comes from his love for his Savior. He is a challenge and an encouragement to both Jill and I along with being a blessing to our children. My goal is to love and serve him well while challenging him to continually mine the depths of the Gospel and to apply it well as he seeks to glorify HIM in all he does.
I have just recently re-connected with another of our former youth from our time in Conway as well. Hunter Frye is now a teacher at a local middle school here in the Kershaw area. We had watched him from afar on Facebook (some call this creepin' on Facebook, of which Jill is a master - lol) since our time in Conway and we had seen that he had been active in his faith and serving his Savior. I did not know that he was so close to us until I went to an Eighth Grade football game to support one of our youth and looked out at the field and my jaw dropped to see him coaching! We then talked after the game and then I was invited to a FCA meeting that he was leading at the middle school a few weeks later. I look forward to serving him in any way possible to foster more growth so that he can continue to impact students for HIS Glory.
It is so humbling to see these two men of God serving HIM! I must add that during this time God has also aloud us to see others that are serving the LORD and this has been humbling. What an honor we have been given to serve our amazing God and King. Jill and I have done so since we started dating in 1998 and I have been doing so since 1993. My prayer is that we can continue to love and serve well and always seek to find ways in which to pour ourselves out for HIS Glory!
