A Legacy of Character

After attending two memorial services in the past seven days I am reminded that as important as pastoral leadership is in small and large churches, it is ultimately the lay people that define the nature and character of the church. The woman whose service was held today had been a church clerk- strictly a volunteer position in our denominational heritage- for 40 years. She hosted revival teams, summer missionaries, visiting evangelists and the list goes on and on, in her home with grace and love. Her four daughters and multiple grandchildren all shared just how much they are products of the mother/grandmother's character. It makes a pastor like me stop and think. Do we truly give the lay people in our churches the credit they deserve for maintaining and nurturing the churches that we serve? Do we really think that only training the pastor will insure the health and success of a church?

The other service was for a 48 year old friend who died suddenly of a massive heart attack. For all the years I've known he and his family he has been a consistent supporter of the churches that he attended. He was faithful to serve the Lord through the church - mostly in roles that will never show up in written histories. He was a friend to his pastors. He was a hunting buddy, fishing friend, Saturday afternoon mechanic who on more than one occasion helped me keep a car running.

These two faithful servants of God are truly what the church is all about. May God raise up yet another generation of people who leave a legacy of character that our churches may be healthy, that our pastor's may be supported, and that the Kingdom of God may continue to advance!