What does church mean to you?

Church is huge part of who I am. My grandfather started the first church I attended and at one point, it was one of the largest Sunday Schools in the United States. He has always been such a role model for me. One of the reasons I looked up to him is because he loved people, and another is because he didn’t let what other said he couldn’t do stop him from what he knew the Lord wanted him to do. He always said David was his favorite character in the Bible because he was a shepherd boy God chose to use to conquer a GIANT.

Throughout the years, my best friends have been staff member’s children. We grew up going to church Sunday morning, Sunday night, Wednesday night and Revivals. We’ve fallen asleep many times waiting for the New Year to be rung in with preaching. We were blessed to have a Christian school that we attended every year from k-12 and then headed off to Bible college where we met friends from all over the United States that we still keep in touch with. After college, I began teaching in a Private Christian School and continued my education in another state and was exposed to mega churches and ministries that have a very large and profound reach around the globe.

Finding my place in church has always been something that I needed to feel complete. Each ministry that I’ve been a part of has had similar things and some I’ve been able to try new avenues of service.

When we relocated last year, this was the last piece that was filled in. I prayed and prayed for a ministry that we could be a part of that would help each of us find our place. There are 5 of us in our brood, and as you can imagine, we all have different things we like, and we are all in different stages of our spiritual journeys. We have a father, husband & businessman; a mother, daughter, banker, friend; children watching those around us for what serving the Lord looks like to them. With all those things, we are all first and foremost Children of God and He is the one the leads us in our own paths and knows what we all need. All that to say, we love our church home. The people, pastor and ministry have been a large part of making this our home. Last week, our pastor announced that he was being called to another church in another city. This is not my first rodeo as they say, but it did cause me to think back on pastor’s I’ve had and the one’s that made the largest impact.

Outside of family mentioned above, Jack Gwinn was that man for me. He was my pastor from about 6 months (I’m told) until I was about 12. Those years I don’t remember much about him. I remember his family and his horses😊 Then almost 10 years later, I’m trying to decide whether to continue my education at a larger college and we call him up knowing he’s in the area and stay with him while we visit the campus. I end up deciding to enroll and they offer to let me stay with them until I can find a job and home of my own. This time was so special. I was able to spend such precious time with he and his wife. His wife and I bonded over our love of farm life and cooking. He eventually took a church in the area and remained there for several years teaching in the academy. Several years later, I found there church online and went to surprise them and catch up. We fell into a familiar reminiscing with his family. He had known my grandfather and his children, and my parents were the same age, which left his grandchildren and me being fairly close in age. They became my home away from home and we served the Lord together for a time. He encouraged me to play the piano for the services, which I hadn’t done in years. I was there when my husband and I started dating and were engaged. He was the most loving man and pastor. I moved back to Arkansas when my husband and I were engaged and missed his family and his ministry immensely.

Since then, his wife has passed away and he has retired but I still see him periodically in my news feed travelling to visit other pastor friends. I hope to see him again in the near future and let him see the children the Lord has given us and the life he has blessed us to use for Him.

Do you have someone that made an impact on your life for a time?

I’d love to hear about them!