The congregation of WRPC, led by the elders, celebrated our first 15 years last Sunday afternoon. Lots of very complimentary things were said about us. Generous gifts were given us. We are so appreciative for this time in the life of the church.
When Elders Doug McConkey and John George came to visit us in Las Vegas in the Spring of 2000, and sat at our dining room table and encouraged us to come to Woodruff Road Presbyterian Church, we had no intention of staying at WRPC for 15 years. We had never lived anywhere for 5 years straight. The only thing Sandy and I had done for 15 years running was stay married! When we moved to Greenville in May of 2000 we told our kids (who were 15, 13 and 11) that we would like to stay at WRPC until Sarah graduated from high school.
Our resolve to stay that long was tested, several times, during the first 8 years by disunity, leadership struggles and toxic members. And to make our lives more complex it seemed as though each time we were going through a difficult time in the congregation another church would contact us about leaving WRPC and coming to be their pastor. And (of course) their situation always looked more attractive and less trying. When Sarah did graduate from high school in May of 2007 our kids sat us down and told us “Ok, you can go now”. But, several human factors kept us here:
- Deeply beloved fellow pastors — I could not imagine going to another church with ministers that we loved or respected more than Scotty and Dan, and their families.
- A core of wise, godly and faithful members — not flashy or spectacular, just a large group of believers who love Christ and have loved us.
- Greenville…Sandy and I have lived in several cities: Memphis, St. Louis, Las Vegas, Oklahoma City and others, but we absolutely delight in our town. From the climate (have I mentioned recently how much I hate the cold?) to the location, to the culture, to the people, we have nothing but appreciation for Greenville. I’ve frequently told Sandy that she needs to get a job for the Chamber of Commerce, promoting the city.
The longer we have stayed at WRPC a couple of truths have become blindingly clear to us.
- WRPC has become more stable and peaceful as we have gained strong, respected ordained leadership—WRPC struggled when the leadership was weak. As go the leaders, so goes the congregation. Both the eldership AND the diaconate have been beefed up in godliness, maturity, faithfulness and wisdom. The bar has been set much higher for church office and we intend to maintain the highest, biblical standards.
- We must pray and labor for the peace and unity of the church, then guard it. I have always been fascinated by how much space the Apostle Paul gives to urging unity upon the congregations he had planted. He even scolds two women in Phillipi (Euodia and Syntyche) who are fussing AND he tells the whole congregation to help them out (Phil. 4:2-3).
Over the last several years I have seen that guarding the peace of the church is a full time job and requires me to have my ear to the ground for ANY fomenting of discontentment and division. Now, when visitors come and I see that they will be divisive and discontent I just go ahead and tell them right up front “WRPC is not the church for you”.
What lies ahead for us ? In short-more of the ordinary means of grace (Acts 2:41-47):
- A Word-centered ministry — and an intense commitment on my part to faithfully, clearly expound and apply the whole counsel of God.
- An increasing emphasis on prayer — seeking for the maturing of the individual members of the church in this vital practice.
- A deepening understanding of the Sacraments — so that we love the Lord’s Table and gain great strength and comfort from it AND an appreciation for why we baptize our infants, and how that should affect our parenting and covenantal nurture.
- A contentment with solid, historic, Reformed worship — I’m frequently asked by visitors “What is the trajectory of corporate worship, where is WRPC headed ?” I always tell them the same thing: “We are there”.
- A passion to see a congregation marked by deep, healthy and lasting relationships.
- The Well-Ordered Home - May 16, 2017
- Grace-Based Parenting - March 8, 2017
- The Civil Government Has Asked Us to Pray - November 16, 2016
