Coming Your Way

In 2002, my wife and I announced that two years hence we would retire from our roles as Pastor and Pastor’s Wife at Grace Church in Lititz, Pennsylvania.

As you might imagine, all of us – including the hundreds who attended our church – were in great confusion as we considered what God may have in store for us. After all, we had served the Lititz congregation more than 30 years. Loreen and I spent lots of time before the Throne of Grace asking God to lead us into a future unknown.

Part of the answer was already in our hearts. I had long dreamed of writing books and articles that would be helpful to ordinary followers of Jesus – the same kind of people I had been feeding and leading for years. However, I also knew that Loreen and I were well suited for a ministry of encouragement to pastors and their wives. We gave ourselves to the Lord for that purpose.

In 2004, we emptied our savings account and bought an RV rig consisting of a truck and fifth wheel trailer. Every summer, we travel through the country visiting pastors and their wives. We especially focus on small places, going out of our way to find people who may feel out of touch or forgotten. We have visited churches and their pastors in Iowa, Nebraska, Colorado, Arizona, California, Oregon, Washington, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.

This is our fourth summer to travel in this manner. We expect to leave Saddlebrooke, Arizona the last week of May and not return until the first week of September. Our plan is to travel through Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama before turning north along the Great Smoky Mountains. We must arrive in Pennsylvania by Father’s Day because our son is to be married that day.

I usually send e-mail messages ahead wherever we go. If you should find a message in your box entitled “coming your way,” you will know what it means. If your schedule allows, we may have an opportunity for fellowship. Loreen and I enjoy taking pastors and their wives out for lunch or dinner. If it’s a weekend, I may even visit your worship service and hear you preach. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!

Diesel fuel is rather expensive these days. If we have any prayer request beyond safety on the road, it would be for God to furnish the money we need to buy fuel. Of course, we expect him to supply our needs since he is the one who pressed us into service. However, we invite you to be our partners in ministry. Please pray for us. Thank you!