By Bob Simpson, BCMD Associate Executive Director and Editor of BaptistLIFE
Sometimes it’s good to just stop, sit down, and take a moment to reflect. Life is fascinating the way it evolves over time. Often the perfect will of God is best seen in retrospect. Upon graduating from high school in Maryland and heading for Oklahoma Baptist University, I spent the next 19 years ministering to churches in Oklahoma, Virginia, and Florida. In 1988, Lorraine and I returned to our native Maryland and I was called as the Worship Pastor at Faith Baptist, Glen Burnie, to serve with their recently arrived pastor and wife from Mississippi named David and Sherry Lee. God really blessed us in those days. We began what I’m sure David would agree was a journey of “mutual admiration.” Little did either of us know then that, in a short decade later, God would allow both of us to continue our ministries together at the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware. We were both voted into our positions at BCM/D during the same GMB meeting in May 2000.
While the number 13 is not considered a lucky number by most, for me these past 13 years working with David has not only been lucky, but also joyous. He has been a great mentor and boss to me. He has willingly shared ministry with me (and all the other guys that have served with us on the Executive Team) in ways that other leaders might not have chosen to do. I will always be grateful for that.
We have worked together, laughed together, prayed together, cried together and watched as God has been at work in and through BCM/D churches.
We have often struggled to find agreement on important matters such as “Ravens” vs. “Redskins” and “NASCAR” vs. “Too boring to watch.” We have agreed on the Orioles and golf!
The journey of life will most certainly bring other changes for each of us. This particular one is bitter sweet. As David retires this coming July, I wish only the best for David and Sherry. I know that this particular change is hard for them and all of us. But I also know that God’s timing is always perfect.
The Lee’s (and my wife, Lorraine) will probably laugh when I say, “This reminds me of a song!” The words I keep hearing in my spirit are: “He gives and takes away. He gives and takes away. My heart will choose to say, ‘Lord…blessed be Your name!’”
The really good news is that for God’s forever family, of which we as believers are all a part, changes here in this life are only temporary. We have this time to love our friends and all of eternity, too!