Self Talk | Pastor Clay

About this time a year ago I was wrapping up my six years of ministry at my previous church. Helping that church prepare for VBS, I decided to install the stored window AC units in spaces to be used that didn’t receive the benefits of the central unit. The person who would normally accomplish the task was recovering from a bicep tendon tear. Not to be outdone by my friend, while putting in one of the AC units and trying to unstick an old church window, I did a complete rupture of my bicep tendon. I felt a twist, grind, pop, and ouch. I finished installing the AC and made a doctor’s appointment. My doctor immediately sent me to an orthopedic center in Cincinnati, but when I got there, I was refused service because they did not take my insurance. I decided to get lunch and research where to go. After many calls, and no help with my insurance’s online help center, I embarked on a long multi-person conversation with my provider, interspersed with prayer and frustration. They found me a specialist that could see me in 30 minutes only blocks away from where I had parked myself for lunch. With a few more hiccups, surgery took place in a few days, just one day after we partially moved into our future apartment in Anderson Township. Before surgery several people from Mount Washington Baptist and the chair of the elder board from the church I was leaving cared for me and prayed with me.

Most of last summer was spent on recovery and physical therapy, not what I had planned. Leaving my former church was not what I had planned, needing to take several weeks off. I did get to preach a final sermon and have a sendoff, with my arm immobilized. I could add so much more detail, like Kacy’s trip to Texas to work on her father’s estate where she had to be hospitalized, but suffice it to say, nothing went according to plan and yet God’s goodness popped up all over the place.

We as a church are not in a dissimilar situation. We know there are some things in our corporate mission life that have twisted, grinded to a halt, or are torn and need attention, and yet we see God’s goodness sowing itself all over the place. May we embark on a journey to pursuing God’s healthy design for us individually and collectively. May we seek good advice and helpful hands to guide our path. May we submit to surgery if needed to correct what is hindering the advancement of the Gospel of Jesus in our midst. And may we see hoops and obstacles as opportunities to invite others along and be amazed by our God who is Emmanuel, with us!

Grace and peace, Pastor Clay

Pastor Clay