The Blessing of Consistency

[John Arnold]

 I’ve always lived in the present. The future was not on my mind. I never thought about the day I’d have to pack up my books and find a new home for them. But that day waits on no man. Packing up those books and sending them to a Bible college in the Philippines was a good, vivid visual that this whole idea of transition was underway. 

First though,I had to build up the courage to meet with the deacons and use the term, “transition of ministry.” I stayed as far away as possible from the word retirement. Someone at the meeting said, “What then are we going to do?” my response was, “Let’s begin to pray that God will provide a replacement.” It had to be an unsettling time. I think there is no greater gift a pastor can give a church than consistency and we certainly had that going for us. Now we would be out in uncharted waters and constancy was at stake.

JoAnn and I have always had one goal in mind ever since we met as kids and married: to do the will of God. We finished our Bible College training at Baptist Bible College, Springfield, MO  and launched out to begin what we hoped would be a lifelong ministry. Our professors told the students to go to a town, start a church and stay a lifetime. I really liked the sound of that goal. 

When we arrived to begin a work, we were 26 years old with two young boys. Our third son arrived a few years later. It was such and exciting time for us. No one promised us any support. I got a job and we did church work in every spare minute. And now it was 47 years later. Where did the time go? 

I don’t remember anyone saying that we received any inquires or resumes for this job vacancy. Maybe it was because we didn’t advertise. Or maybe it was because God knew we didn’t need any. But one thing for sure…we honestly had no clue what God would do as far as a replacement was concerned.

Two of our staff members, Pastor Al Finney and Pastor Ken Barner helped me turn loose of some of the pulpit responsibilities. Ken took over the staff meeting. Some months passed and things were humming along. I facetiously said, “I was expecting someone to come through the front door with a sign around their neck, “I’m the new guy.” Pastor Ken started to take the preaching every third Sunday. Finally it became clear that he certainly was more than capable to do the job.

 Ken came to our church as a seven year old kid, riding on a church bus from the Dormont section of Pittsburgh, and accepted Jesus as his Savior. Someone paid his school tuition in the Christian school and then he felt led to go a Bible institute and then college and seminary.  

One of the things our church loved to do through the years was to give to missions. The first year we were there we instituted our “Birthday Gift to Jesus” at Christmas time. It would be a ten week, over and above our tithe of giving for missionaries’ special projects. Year one we received $386.00 and we sent it to the DeVilbiss family in Mexico. 

JoAnn and I moved to Dallas to be closer to our kids and Ken and Rhonda Barner took up the reigns. This year marks the 50th year of our Christmas missions emphasis and pastor Ken just texted me and said they have received $132,000 in that offering. Consistency pays. The church always has a three performance musical/drama program in December and this year there were 50 response cards turned in. JoAnn and I were back to visit in the summer and it was so obvious that the church really loves Ken and Rhonda as they lead the church into the future. 

A few of our original staff members are now on the outside looking in like me; we have been replaced by some terrific dedicated servants building on our foundation.

The church has kindly allowed me to continue the church radio program now in it’s 50th year. God has provided opportunities in our new church to teach and minister so I’m still not using the word retirement and have no plans to do so. We are blessed.

Only God can do these things.

John