For My Husband, After Five Years of Ministry Here

We moved to Pennsylvania five years ago this month. Lee became the pastor of our church and because they had been without a pastor for a while, there was no "honeymoon" period of getting to know each other. Lee jumped right in and got to work—preaching, serving, loving. After five years of preaching, serving, loving, I believe he deserves a little recognition. And even though I've told him how proud I am of him in the last few days, sometimes, it's nice to shout it from the roof tops.

So here are five reason I am so deeply proud of my husband's ministry to this church and this area that sometimes I have to fight back tears.

1. He preaches with boldness. Almost every week for the last five years I've sat under his preaching. I've learned and grown and felt the Holy Spirit move me to action. I get all of that out of his preaching because Lee first goes through all of that as he prepares. He reads, prays, thinks, prays, listens, reads, writes, prays, and finally preaches. The truth of Scripture and the power it has work in his life before Lee brings it to us each Sunday, and empowers him to preach with boldness.
2. He loves with action. Each week he writes letters to members of our church. Each week he listens to those who enter his office, call him on the phone, or stop him for a "quick chat" after the Sunday service. Each week he sits next to hospital beds. Each week he counsels, teaches, and mentors. He doesn't shut himself away from the needs of our people, he enters life with them gives them the love they need.  
3. He serves with selflessness. A couple years ago when we got James's autism diagnosis, our church people didn't seem to know what to do or say. So most of them said and did nothing. That wasn't easy for me. It wasn't easy for Lee either, but he continued to love and serve. He continued to listen and reach out. He gave of himself even when there wasn't much to give.  
4. He ministers outside the walls of the church. Lee serves in the local elementary school, through the crisis pregnancy center, and to families in our autism support group. He gets outside the walls of the church and he encourages all of us to do the same. He sees every person he meets as an opportunity from God to spread grace and the gospel. 
5. He knows he's not finished. After five years here, there's a lot he has to be proud of. And maybe when he reads this post he'll remember how far we've come, but he'll also look ahead to more. That's why he's working to expand our worship space, find new and better ways to disciple one-on-one and in groups, spread our reach in the community, and be a better preacher and pastor himself. He is fully committed to being where we are as long as God calls us here and is excited about the future.    

I'm thankful for our church and all the ways they have allowed us to serve with them over the last five years. I'm especially proud of Lee and the way he has led and loved our family and our church family. I'm looking forward to more opportunities as we continue to grow together!