It was a cold Michigan Tuesday night on the outside, but it was warm on the inside in the “gymnatorium” (that’s what we called our multipurpose gym during church services). The annual Missions Conference at Calvary Baptist Church in Midland was going strong as Dr. Don Sisk preached as the keynote speaker.
The year was 1993, and to the best of my recollection it was March 5. I was sitting in the third row on the piano side, which was the right side of the gymnatorium. That was pretty normal for our family because dad was the main pianist for the church.
I don’t remember the message, but I remember being convinced that God was pressing on my soul. At the invitation time, I went forward. Pastor Dan Dickerson met me at the front and asked if he could be of help. I told him, “God is calling me to preach.”
I didn’t know what manner the Lord would move. I didn’t know if I would be a pastor or an evangelist or a missionary or some other full-time position. I certainly didn’t have a musical/evangelist hybrid idea in my head yet. But I had a deep, unshakeable assurance from that Tuesday night that God had singled me out for that purpose. Either that night or the following day, Paul’s words in I Corinthians 9 cemented themselves into my heart like a poured foundation:
For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel! For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.
Almost 1 million miles of itinerant travel and 30 years later, I look back and find myself incredibly grateful that God has allowed me to represent Him as a preacher of His Word. The road gets long sometimes, and I have my struggles. But I have not nor will I forget my high calling and tremendous responsibility. I am humbled that He would lay this responsibility upon me. I hope to be faithful to my calling until I am called home or when Jesus returns at the Rapture of the church.
My senior year, 2 years after being called to preach.
Being ordained by my home church. I am so grateful to my church for them standing behind me all these years. It is also sobering to think of the solemn trust. Many of the men pictured here have gone on to glory.
Preaching for my alma mater, Northland Baptist Bible College.
My pastor and his wife, Pastor Dan and Cheryl Dickerson.
For the last 20 years, I’ve had my family traveling with me. What a joy it has been. We are now just a couple years away from being empty nesters.
