On the front side of it, fifty years looks like an extremely long time. On the back side, not so much. It seems like just yesterday that a 25 year old preacher and his teenage wife arrived in Chatham.
Marilyn and I had been serving in Kansas for two years when two couples from Chatham came for a visit. They told us about a new church that had been established after we left Springfield, and how they were in need of a preacher. The church was meeting in the old DICKEY-john building but was buying four acres, and had big plans. The opportunity to minister with a new congregation, and to be close to family, made the decision easy.
After preaching nearly 2,500 sermons, writing over 2,000 columns for the church paper, baptizing 317, burying 175, and marrying 129 couples, they tell me it’s time to celebrate. Mark said we will be celebrating the goodness of our Lord, and I couldn’t agree more.
For fifty years He has blessed me with a church family that has given me the opportunity to share with them my love for the Lord and His word. You have entrusted me with the privilege of offering personal and congregational guidance, and have generously provided for the needs of my family. I can’t thank you, or Him, enough.
What does the future hold for us? Only the Lord knows. There is nothing I’d rather be doing than what I am now doing, so the idea of retiring has no appeal for me. As long as the Lord blesses me with the physical and mental strength to continue, and you are willing to let me keep on teaching and leading, I plan on doing so. I’ll do what I can to remain physically and mentally fit as long as possible, but am confident the elders will discern when it’s time for me to declare with the Apostle Paul, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith.”
Until then, I guess you’re still stuck with me.
God Bless, Rick
Chatham Christian Church 