October 1, 2018 (Monday)
I am offering a huge “thank you” to all those who participated in the planning, program, meal items, attendance and good wishes that contributed to yesterday’s celebration of my birthday and the seventieth anniversary of a ministry given to me by the Lord. Thank you very, very much for the plaque, cards and generous gift from the church and the many wonderful cards and gifts from you as individuals. Words fail me in expressing appreciation for such a sincere outpouring of love. God bless you, everyone. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
I feel very fortunate to have come this far in my life still able to preach each week. My friends in ministry who were born about the same time as I deserve recognition, too. They may have become disabled, or simply retired. They may have already gone home to their Heavenly reward. I am sure there are others out there who are my age and older, still preaching. I just don’t know who they are.
When I retired in 1996, I had no idea that I would still be preaching for the next 22 years, but that’s the way it happened, and I will be eternally grateful for the opportunities of service that the Lord and His churches have given me.
From that day in 1948 when my pastor asked me to preach in his absence, to the present hour, God has opened doors for me to share my testimony of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as my Savior, and to preach His gospel wherever and whenever it was possible. This happened because my family always supported me with their encouragement and prayers, and God’s people have been amazingly good to me through the years. I am very, very thankful for all the support given to me by my Christian family of believers, which includes all those dear friendships made through the years with my fellow servants of all kinds in the Lord’s work. As “Tiny Tim,” in “A Christmas Carol,” prayed, “God bless us every one.”