Five years ago, August 30th was a Sunday, just like it is this year. In 2015, it was my parents’ last Sunday at a church where they had grown for 20 years: Journey Church (formerly Butte Assembly). Twenty years brought them leadership and service opportunities through Missionettes (now Mpact Girls Clubs), Royal Rangers, youth group, and adult small group ministry. When my dad retired from the police department, he was able to go anywhere in the country for pastoring, and through a series of cross-country interviews, it was clear to all parties involved that Humboldt, Kansas was the choice.
This August 30th, Mark and I awoke up early so we could drive to Kansas and surprise my parents at their last service in Humboldt. I don’t know why I wore mascara because I cried the whole time.
The service, and this post, aren’t about all the ways two people impacted a community: it’s about the ways a community impacted two people and vice versa. We all have something to give and something to learn. Many things, rather.
People who have lived in southeastern Kansas for generations welcomed a young couple from up North with open arms. (See that, parents? I said “young.”) That takes resilience.
My parents transmitted God’s heart for missions and their conviction regarding its primacy, and the church went from supporting 4 missionaries to 19. That takes faith.
The church heard about the need for clean water in African countries, so they sold what they could to raise $7,000 for a water well and ended up raising enough for two, drilled next to churches in Malawi. That takes determination.
The church didn’t only look across the world but across the street and saw kids in need: and through their relationship with school administration, they were able to give students shoes and socks and stuffed animals. That takes compassion.
During this time, the attendance of the church doubled—from 20 to 40.
Resilience. Faith. Determination. Compassion. I think everyone grew a little in this last half-decade.
As far as internal changes, they saw baptisms. Rededications. Salvations. A renewed passion for missions. Outreaches in town. Lunch discussions centered on discipleship. Inter-denominational fellowship.
As far as external changes, there were late-night electrical fixes. 40-some-odd paint jobs. Chairs replaced pews. Ladies’ Christmas teas. Sound systems and countless batteries and new bulletin formats.
These could be snapshots of nearly any pastor’s life in a small town with good people, but they’re the lot of my parents. I think of Psalm 16:6, beautiful in several translations: “The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; indeed, my heritage is beautiful to me” (Psalm 16:6, NASB).
From their first month in Humboldt, my parents said they felt like the congregation was family. They came as family and they left as family — as evidenced by the fact that four of them drove my parents over to Missouri and moved them into their new home.
Five years ago, September 6th was also a Sunday, and I drove up to Humboldt for my parents’ first service. This Sunday is their first in Missouri as residents while they rest, process, and pray about what God has next for them here.
As I reflect on last Sunday and look ahead to this one, I’m grateful for Humboldt, Kansas and Butte, Montana and Springfield, Missouri and the God who orchestrates a mission in every location.
“The land you have given me is a pleasant land. What a wonderful inheritance!” (Psalm 16:6, NLT)
Photo credit: Hannah Arnzen Photography