Thank You, Pastor

Today I sit as the President/CEO of a wonderful ministry. Victorious Christian Living International creates curriculum for the church. We train both clergy and laity. We know that the church is God’s vehicle to get His story out and we want to help. However none of this would have happened if a pastor in a small United Methodist Church in Elmira, New York  hadn’t taken his call seriously. He and his wonderful wife poured themselves into a group of people that included my wife and me.

When I look at Ephesians 4:11, I am thankful that pastor is one of the 5 fold ministry. In this verse, the Latin word for pastor is shepherd. The shepherd would watch and care for the sheep even to the point of putting themselves in danger to protect the sheep. My pastor and his wife, Claude and Zella Corbett,  spent endless hours of selfless service to their flock. Their door was always open to us new believers. We could come over to the parsonage any time day or night and no matter the silliness of the question they  were there to disciple us and give us an answer. To this day I believe that without their love, care and concern for me and my family I would not be in the ministry today.

Over the years I have grown to believe in the absolute importance of the pastor in the life of a believer. He or she can be the most positive influence possible to your growth as a Christian.

To all my pastor friends I want to say keep up the good work of your calling and THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart.