Now What???

    One of the frustrations that most people have once they have completed an education is "Now What?" After Linda and my self graduated from GRSBM and after we were married my main thought was "Now what do I do?" Do I go after more education, do I try to find a church I can pastor or do I simply find a job in a factory somewhere. God had a plan, but what was it? I decided to get some advice from one of the professors at GRSBM. His advice was to start applying to churches that needed pastors. I really dd not feel ready for this, but I put my resume out there and waited to see what would happen. It wasn't long until I heard from a church in Morley, Michigan called Luther Chapel. Ernie Thomas, one of the men on the pastoral search committee contacted me and wanted to know if I would be willing to come up on a Sunday night and preach a sermon, so they could evaluate me. Just remember I had never preached even one sermon before or really prepared for one. I had absolutely no idea what to say or do. It would be up to God. So Linda and I went to Luther Chapel that Sunday night and I shared a very simple Gospel message, stuttering and stammering all the way through it. The people were very forgiving and caring. I think we even had to borrow a car to get to the church. These people would never consider me for the position, BUT THEY DID. 

   This would be a part time position so I would have to work on the outside during the week. Here was what they offered us: $5.00 a week or 2/3's the evening offering, which ever was greatest. Most of the time the $5.00 was what we got. We only had to share on Sunday night, because they did not have a formal church service on Sunday Morning, only Sunday School. Delbert and Martha Wilcox offered to let us stay in a house they had on their property for $30.00 a month. 

   Linda and I were young, inexperienced and knew very little about being a pastor or pastor's wife. We made many more mistakes that we succeeded, but that was how we learned. Luther Chapel was our real training ground. It was not easy, but we stuck it out from the Fall of 1971 to 1982. 

   To make ends meet financially I found a job with Michigan Chair Company in Grand Rapids, Michigan, which later moved to Howard City, Michigan which was a lot closer to home. I stayed at that job for 10 years earning minimum wage, which was $1.32 an hour. My paycheck was almost never greater that $100.00 a week. Linda worked as a  nurses aid for a few years in Big Rapids, Michigan, until she got pregnant with our first son, Kevin.

In the next blog I will share a few stories about the ministry at Luther Chapel and Michigan Chair Company. 


Stay Tuned!!!!

Comments

  1. FLDistadDecember 29, 2022 at 5:29 PM

    Since this is a blog about our ministry I ( Linda) will share some of my memories too. We often have an idea of what a preacher should be like, Outgoing, great speaker, etc. you can fill in the blanks.When Frank and I were going together he told me he felt like the Lord wanted him to be a pastor. I thought no way , he didn't fit into the "pastor mold". When I heard him preach for the first time at my home church, God spoke to my heart that Frank couldn't do this on his own but God would speak through him and use him for His Glory . I didn't feel like I fit the pastor's wife mold either. As we stepped out in faith, trusting God we learned many hard lessons, but also had the joy of ministering to the people of Luther Chapel. As Frank continues to share his memories ,I will share some of mine as well.

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