A Faithful Servant

It was my privilege a couple of weeks ago to visit First Baptist Church at Salamanca, NY and to share our ministry with them. As you can see by the picture, there is a great deal of history in this church. It was beautiful to look at and see all the intricate woodwork inside. The gorgeous stain glass windows reminded me of First Baptist in Greenport, NY that dad pastored back in the 70's. The congregation is a diverse group in race and age, and one in which I enjoyed great fellowship--they treated me to a great meal and a wonderful experience. What I was really excited about though was to visit with their pastor Tim Griffith. Tim has been there for about 6 years and has been a faithful servant of the Lord in both the proclamation of God's Word and in obedience to God's Word. Sometimes you observe that the preaching of God's Word needs to begin at home, but praise the Lord, I see in Tim someone who practices what he preaches. I guess this is what drew me to him when I first met him in Feb. at a conference. I saw a young pastor who is a student of God's Word and an unabashed proclaimer of the truth. It is my prayer that the men God puts before me to train, would develop the heart, passion and faithfulness of men like Tim.

I ask you to please pray for Tim as he seeks to train more church leaders and to see his church family make an impact for Christ in his area. Pray for his wife and 3 children as they stand by their father in this pursuit.

A Tribute to My Father

After 48+ years, my father, Frederick Meyers, retired from the pastorate. While I was not present for his first service, I was privileged to participate in his final service both as an observer and a participant. As you can imagine it was a time charged with emotion, gratefulness, thanksgiving and praise, but it also resounded with a clarion call to faithfulness. Such a call can only proceed from one who has been faithful in the midst of ups and downs, trial and blessing, drought and abundance, praise and rejection, strength and weakness. This kind of a call springs from reflection on the past successes and failures, with silent whispers of gratitude to God for the faithful lives encountered on this journey and an earnest prayer to God for others to heed that call. On that night, in the midst of a loving congregation, my dad preached his heart out—calling us to faithfulness.

In my life there have been several men who have greatly impacted me, and in this area of faithfulness, none has influenced me more than my father. Growing up as a PK (preacher’s kid) was a great experience for which I am so grateful to the Lord, but it was a very difficult time as well. While most members of a congregation rarely are privy to the impact of their words and deeds upon their pastor, a pastor’s family observes it “up close and personal.” The emotional pendulum can leave you angry and ecstatic, dry and soaking wet, complaining and grateful, confused and full of wisdom, but more often than not it leaves you just plain exhausted. It is faithfulness that keeps the pilgrim marching onward in the midst of this quagmire of life. It is faithlessness that results from surrendering to the challenges of life. Which characteristic arises depends on the focus of the believer: either an upward look to Jesus—“Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame and has sat down at the right hand of the Father”, or a downward focus to circumstances—but when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid and began to sink, and Jesus said to Peter, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” What I saw in my dad was not perfection, but faithfulness! And maybe this is why my life verse is I Cor. 4:2, “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”

In our fast-paced lifestyle in which almost everything is right at our fingertips and no one wants to wait for anyone or anything, it is important to remember that one quality that will not come quickly is faithfulness. One of Paul’s challenges to Timothy in his first letter was indicative of this truth, “Do not lay hands on anyone hastily.” The reason for this admonition is depicted in the following phrase as a believer unwillingly becomes a partner in sin when that new believer proves unfaithful. We as believers are called to be holy in the present—living in agreement with our position in Christ, but faithfulness is a testimony to time. It can only be examined over time.

Ministry for my dad is not over, but leading a church is beyond his energy and strength at this time. My prayer is that many more believers will have the opportunity to experience firsthand from my dad the impact of faithfulness. Let me also add that with a faithful partner, such as my mother, the journey of life is much sweeter and my dad would be the first to praise God for His gracious gift of my mother as his help-meet.

In my dad’s last message to his church, he trumpeted this truth of faithful living, loud and clear. I, for one, heard the message from someone who has practiced what he preached, and I want to echo it for all to hear. My thoughts turn to the beloved disciple of Jesus who wrote in his last letter these words of Jesus to the church at Smyrna, “Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.” Whenever and however that death should come for us, may we be found faithful!!

Thank you Dad for teaching me this truth.

Remembering My Father-in-law

On Oct. 24th, 2005 Susan's father, Roy Thomas went to be with Jesus after a long battle with cancer. The following is my tribute to him.

My memories of Dad often fall along the line of our differences under girded though by our similarities. You see Dad and I came from vastly different circumstances and backgrounds. He was reared in England during the devastation of WWII; I was reared in the USA during the unawareness of Vietnam. He was reared in an overlooked businessman’s home; I was reared in the fishbowl of a pastor’s home. He was reared during the sacrificial demands of difficult times; I was reared during the abundant opportunities of affluent times. He was reared as the youngest of three boys; I was reared as the oldest of three children. He grew up with a desire to dig in the dirt and make the world a more beautiful place; I grew up with a desire to dig my foot into the dirt and compete in a beautiful world of sports. He was trained in how to turn a barren piece of dirt into a fruitful harvest; I was trained in how to turn a barren heart into a fruitful harvest. He had 29 more years of history over me; I had 29 less years of history restraining me.

So is it a surprise that we thought differently? I remember my first real conversation with him; I had come to ask his permission to marry his youngest daughter. Before I reached that weighty topic, I thought I would ease into the discussion by beginning with gaining his feelings on my dating his daughter. I was completely blindsided when he removed his glasses, turned in my direction and uttered, “Are you asking me for permission to marry my daughter?” Now I wasn’t, but I knew that I hoped to do so further along in the conversation, and if I said “no” to his question, I would not get another opportunity to ask at this time. So I swallowed my pride—knowing he would think I was a wimp for not stating my intent properly, but really wanting to marry his daughter—and said, “Yes sir, I am!” His response was affirming in his appreciation for me and expression to me of the asset that I would be to the family.

His next question was to the timing of our marriage. I explained to him of our plans to marry in the summer; he explained to me of how his youngest daughter was not ready for that timetable. The following question was more probing as he inquired into how I thought that this timing was wise. I replied with my usually confidence and naiveté that I had prayed about this; God had given me a love for his daughter and peace in our heart that the summer was the time to get married. Again, he caught me completely off-guard as he replied, “God doesn’t work like that!” What could I say in response? “Yes, He does,” I countered. “No, He doesn’t,” was the reply. “Yes, He Does!” I responded. How would we get out of this quickly downward spiraling conversation? Without boring you with the remainder of the details, let me share Dad’s concluding remarks. “You pray for me that I would have that same peace from God.” Thankfully that peace came, and in August of that coming summer Susan and I were married!

I relate that long story because it typifies my relationship with Dad. While we were often on other sides of the spectrum, he frequently would bridge the gulf to me with humility, patience and unwavering support (something that I’m learning about). I think that we developed a respect for one another due to our bond in Christ, and I believe that we grew to appreciate our differences.

My last visit with him before he became so deathly ill was on a deputation trip to New England. During my visit we went to a Bible study together where I sat at the table with men who were 84, 80 and 71—I was the youngest by 30 years. It was a fantastic time listening to them pray, discuss God’s Word and relate God’s blessing on their lives. If you’ve ever experienced anything like that then you know a little of how I came to appreciate my father-in-law and the man God made him.

Our last times together, when he was so sick that he could do nothing for himself, were spent with my reading him entire books of the Bible. As he sat in his chair or lay in his bed listening, fading in and out of sleep, he was at peace with God and His gracious plan. The last real words I heard from his mouth were “I love you Jesus.” As I saw the pain that racked his frail body, my last prayer for him was, “Lord, please take him home to be with You!”

And later, as I returned to the house and saw the cold, still, shell that remained of him, I remembered that because Dad trusted in Jesus’ sacrifice and finished work on the cross, he is in heaven, free from pain, enjoying the presence of the Lord and the fruit of his labor here on earth. I could not have asked for a better father-in-law, and I’m so grateful to God for allowing me to know, love and appreciate my seeming opposite in life. And one day, if the Lord tarries and gives me the opportunity to be a father-in-law, I hope and pray that I will rise to the occasion and model a godly, loving and caring father-in-law as demonstrated to me by dad—Roy Thomas.

Here is a link to Dad's obituary:
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