Thinking and Thankful

When the month of November comes each year, I try to stop and reflect on things that I have to be thankful for the previous year. Obviously, I’m thankful for my salvation, for my wife, and for the privilege of serving the Lord. But I want you to know that I’m also thankful for those that I have had the privilege of getting to know and teach for over twenty-five years here at West Coast Baptist College.

As I’ve traveled across the country, including over one hundred different services in different places this past year, I’ve had the privilege of seeing so many former students. I cannot tell you what a blessing that is. Oftentimes, I will tell Dr. Goetsch and Pastor Chappell about what I have seen and the good work that you are doing. And because of that, it has made me aware of and thankful for these four things.

1. I am thankful for the fact that you have stayed faithful and stayed in the race. So many of you are emulating the life model of the Apostle Paul, who stayed faithful until his death in Rome and finished the course that God had placed him on. The Word of God states in I Thessalonians 5:24, “Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.” You are a testimony of the truth of this verse.

2. I am thankful for the fact that you are investing your lives in things that are eternal. I have many good friends who are businessmen and are involved in the secular pursuits. I am grateful for them and am honored to be called their friend. But I am especially thankful for those who listened to the call of God and invested their lives in full-time Christian work. Not everyone is called to do this, but those who answer and stay faithful to this call are obviously a tremendous blessing to those who are involved in their training.

3. I am thankful for the fact that you have heard and obeyed the call of the ministry and have listened to those who invested in your life. Sometimes, people will thank us for saying something that we don’t even remember saying, but I can assure you that each of us have sought to invest our lives in your lives and have tried to help you as you were preparing for God’s calling. Sometimes, people get tired, and Satan seeks to discourage the servants of the Lord. When that happens, it is always encouraging to think of those who have come through this place and gone on to serve our Lord.

4. I am thankful for the fact that you have sought to have fruit that remains. You were taught here at West Coast Baptist College that the Great Commission involves both reaching and teaching. It has been a wonderful joy to see people that have been led to the Lord and were discipled by our graduates. God’s Word says in John 15:16, “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain:…” I just want to say, keep up the good work. I also want to say; your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

I hope you know that you are thought about and that people here at Lancaster are thankful for you. If we can ever be of help, in any way, shape, or form, I hope that you will contact us.