Shepherds’ Support The Call

Two weeks later, I was on a tractor with cultivators in the middle of a 40-acre corn field. Tears began to well up in my eyes, as I watched the corn go through the spades and realized that several months later, the crop would be harvested and we would need to go through the process all over again. It seemed to me, at that time, to be such a waste of my life (I also know that God needs those who are willing to farm and bear witness to the gospel in that context and that it is not an inferior calling). I began to see people in those corn stalks—people who were perishing, and I felt the urge to make a difference in their lives.

At that very time, my dad was driving down the road, just checking on me to see how I was doing, as was his custom with three sons (14-year-olds do need to be checked on from time to time!). As I approached the fence, I shut the engine down so we could talk. Dad could see I was struggling emotionally and asked me how I was doing. When I shared what I had just experienced his comment was, “If God calls you to preach, don’t you stoop to be President!” I’m not sure where he’d heard it, but it was so supportive and affirming to me. That sense of being called remained in my heart throughout my high school years.

In April of 1963, my mother died after a lengthy struggle with cancer, then President Kennedy was assassinated in November. Again I was reminded of the brevity of life.

I later transferred from a college in North Carolina to Detroit Bible College, which later became William Tyndale College. One day, while in college (in the men’s room of all places!) one of the maintenance men said to me, “Remember the saying, ‘Some are sent and some just went.’” I had never heard the expression, but again I felt that quiet sense inside that I was being sent. This is what has kept me at Wayside Chapel for the past 34 years and in the senior pastorate for 41 years.

More recently, I have felt the call to go beyond the boundaries of Wayside Chapel. Several events come to mind that have led to this decision. I have done many conferences in foreign countries over the past 20 years, but I want to share one of those experiences with you when I was part of a team from the States that went to Northern Burma three years ago. The event was a celebration of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Barefoot Doctors ministry. Each service was 6 hours long (lest your mind run away with you here, only about 1 hour of that was my preaching!). Amazingly, I was the first preacher allowed to go there in 42 years.

Following the conference, a dozen or so pastors followed us to the place where we would be eating; they were sad to see the conference end. Through an interpreter, I went around the campfire and asked them who they were, what brought them there, and to just share some things about themselves. I will never forget one 80-year-old pastor, who shared how he had walked 21 days to get there and how he wanted more. I began to sense the call to be a pastor-at-large and to minister wherever God calls me, knowing pastors all over the world need to be encouraged. I also began to feel a sense of urgency about finishing well and responding to passions that God places in our lives.

I recognize that this will not be an easy ministry, that it needs lots of prayer and financial support. You are welcome to come on board with us, and we will keep you posted.

Pastor Steve