Last night, Grace Bible Church honored my parents for serving 25 years in ministry. It is quite a milestone and I am privileged to be their son. Ian and I were asked to record a message of congratulations and appreciation for Dad. I have posted the audio files of those testimonies and a rough transcript of what I said. I am so thankful that the Lord God Almighty has, within His gracious providence, chosen for our family to walk in His ways.
Ian’s Testimony
Micah’s Testimony
Dad,
Congratulations on 25 years at Grace. Even though I haven’t been alive that long, I still appreciate your commitment to this body of believers through the years. And as I think about why this occasion is worthy of celebrating I am brought back to the biblical concept of faithfulness.
You were the first example of faithfulness that came to mind.
I remember when I was first interviewing to be on SLC. I had just entered 7th grade and you had just become the administrator of the school. One of the questions they asked me was: How would you describe faithfulness? I couldn’t think about to put it into an abstract definition, but I could only think of it in action. And you were the first example of faithfulness that came to mind. Faithfulness to me was seeing you show up at church every week and teach your Sunday school class. I also saw that faithfulness wasn’t about doing something consistently with no heart in it, but you did what you did happily and without one word of complaint.
It is now a few years later and I can say that you are still the first example of faithfulness in my mind. You have remained faithful to the local church and it is a non-negotiable. I learned from you that the church was a priority and that serving in it was worth it. I saw you faithfully pursue people, counseling them and loving them. I have seen you faithfully love the Word of God, as you read it and teach it.
I have seen you faithfully love your wife and family. Mom was the love of your life and you never once wavered from that. You loved her through service and you served her in front of us kids. You continue to remain faithful to discipline, encourage, teach, and guide us. And for that I am grateful
Your faithfulness is simply a shadow of God’s faithfulness.
Of course, this celebration would not be possible if it were not for the faithfulness of God. It is He who has sustained you. It is He who was strong when you were weak. And it is He who has crafted you into the faithful man that you are today. Your faithfulness is simply a shadow of God’s faithfulness.
Thank you for loving Jesus Christ with all your heart and for being faithful and steadfast in his work, in the church and in the home. I love you, Dad. Congratulations.
