Marilyn and I haven’t always been in the pastorate. As newlyweds, we had prepared for a lifetime of pastoral ministry, but as you know, things don’t always go as planned and never as expected.
After graduating from Bible College in 1971, we answered the call from a thriving church in Flint, Michigan asking me to serve as a pastor and Marilyn, the church secretary. We assumed we, like so many before us, would settle into the challenging but rewarding lifestyle of full-time ministry.
But then, the second year into that position, we received a phone call from my alma mater in Indiana which turned our life in an entirely unexpected direction.
The call went something like this…“Ron, how would you and Marilyn like to come back to Fort Wayne and serve as our Alumni Coordinators? You would office here on campus, and travel the world encouraging young people to attend our college.” The voice on the other end said something about visiting churches in Hawaii and the South Pacific several times a year. The position included a nice salary package and our own office in the newly constructed administrative building. I would preach and write and travel; it sounded too good to be true.
I proffered the proper spiritual answer, “Can you give us time to pray about it?” “Yes, of course, just let us know as soon as possible…” Before he finished his sentence, I lowered the receiver, cupped my hand over the mouthpiece and whispered to my pretty young wife, “Quick…pray with me about this opportunity to work as the Alumni Coordinator for the Bible College at almost twice the salary we’re making now…we’ll be ministering in churches across the nation….INCLUDING Hawaii!” Marilyn, who isn’t as spiritual as I am, furrowed her brow and said, “Wait…What…we need to give this some careful thought and prayer!”
I gathered my wits, returned the receiver to my ear and said, “When can we come to Fort Wayne to discuss this further?” I already knew my answer, but I suspected it might take a while for Jesus and Marilyn to get on board.
Soon we were in Fort Wayne and together we nervously considered their gracious offer. The president of the college explained that Marilyn and I would work as a team, overseeing all aspects of the college’s alumni program. We were shown our prospective offices and introduced to those who would serve as our capable assistants.
With dizzying optimism, we were soon convinced this was a God-given opportunity.
During the drive back home, we made plans and we dreamed of our new life—pushing back in the moment the inevitable sorrow of leaving our wonderful church family in Michigan.
Within days, we presented our resignation. Even the excitement of our new life in Fort Wayne failed to allay the reality of leaving families who had welcomed us into their lives over the past two years. Godly people, older and wiser, gently challenged our decision, sincerely desiring the best for us. But we believed this was God’s design for our future.
The tracks leading to this successful transition seemed not only divinely oiled for Marilyn and I but for the Flint church as well and they successfully engaged our replacement as we prepared to depart for Fort Wayne.
Within hours of our planned departure, we received a phone call from the president of the college. Through halting speech, he labored to explain how the position they had promised us had regrettably been eliminated by the financial board of the college’s supporting denomination. In so many words, after having resigned our current position, the promised new position was eliminated by wide sweeping budget cuts made by the college’s governing board.
Isn’t it incredible how our best plans can suddenly become derailed? How in spite of our most applied efforts, our greatest aspirations can quickly evaporate into the atmosphere like a wisp of smoke from a dying flame.
I’m so grateful for my faith in an Almighty God. This experience and countless others like it have convinced us to trust in the power of God and His eternal plan for us. Here’s a verse we claim as our own. It has continued to shine like the North Star when our best laid plans fail to materialize. I hope you’ll make it yours as well…
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
God always has my best in mind. I must believe that and trust Him especially when life doesn’t seem to make sense.
Read Ron’s column, Simple Faith, each Saturday on the Faith Page (page 3) of the Lancaster Eagle Gazette, or visit www.lancastereaglegazette.com.