First I would like to thank God for him finding me to be faithful to be a minister (slave or servant) of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  And I am doubly honored to now have my church family recognize the call on my life through my recent ordination.  I appreciate all that went into the services from the presentation and ceremony, and the preached word, that taught us to be on the look out for tempations that lie ahead.  I want to thank my Pastor Raymond G. Bishop Jr. of the Mt. Pilgrim Church in Toledo, Ohio for his outstanding spiritual leadership, and teaching.

Since then the question has been asked of me many times, “So Lance, what were you ordained to do?” or “What will you do now, Rev.? Start a church?”  My only response is, “Continue the course.”

See these questions were at first annoying to me, and I was begining to be discouraged because expectations were high and I had not really begin to think about the future ministry that the Lord may lead me to.  But now that I have had some time to meditate and think on things I have come to the conclusion, that my ordination was just an outward sign of an inward work.  It was just man’s way of saying, “Yeah!  I agree with God.  Lance is called to be a preacher of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and I approve.”  So I appreciate the fact that men have decided to agree with God and approve my ministry.

Now the other issue I have is this notion of being more important.  My feelings on the issue may upset some preachers, but I feel that the minister, preacher, Rev., or whaterver you want to call us, are the least important.  Well let me say it better.  We are no more important than those that sit in the pews to be ministered unto.  We are to be servants, and slaves for God, on behalf of people.  I am tired of ministers thinking they are so important that they have to be served, or be called by a certain title, or sit in the chief seats in banquets.  Remember Jesus even dispised that!  All I am saying is that we as ministers should have sober minds, not thinking ourselves better than we aught to.

Well let me stop before I write my first disertation.  All I am saying is that we as preachers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ should only be doing two things.  Praying and saying.  In fact I have now adopted that as my mission in ministry and I encourage others to follow.

Pray something and say something that encourage men and women to call upon the name of the Lord.

In the meantime, you can still call me Lance.