Pardon me for taking a short trip down memory lane today. You see, during this month, Vickie and I are celebrating our 45th anniversary of serving the Lord in full-time ministry. It doesn’t seem possible, but that’s what the calendar is telling us. Please indulge me by allowing me to tell about God’s faithfulness to and through us on our journey.
First, I need to add this preface. When Vickie and I launched into the ministry, we were clueless. You see, neither of us came from homes with parents in the ministry. My dad worked for Phillips Petroleum and my mom was a first-grade school teacher. Vickie’s dad was a carpenter and her stepmother was also an educator. We had no idea what being in the ministry would be like. To borrow from one of the classic moments from The Andy Griffith Show, when Andy told Ernest T. Bass “You’re just…ignorant, that’s all”, we would have responded like Ernest T. and replied, “Aw, you’re being kind.”
When I began preparing for the ministry, I thought I would someday pastor a church. It was during my senior year of studying at what was then named Southwestern Assemblies of God Collge (later to become Southwestern Assemblies of God University and now Nelson University) in Waxahachie, Texas that we interned at two small churches in the Dallas, Texas area ministering to the children and youth. In the last few weeks of that school year, we traveled to several churches in the north Texas area and ministered to the families on Friday and Saturday nights and then I would preach on Sunday mornings. God’s direction for our lives and ministry began to take shape.
After my graduation at the end of May 1979, Vickie and I placed what few belongings we owned into a small storage unit and prepared to enter uncharted waters. On Saturday, June 2nd, we loaded up our Ford Fairmont station wagon and drove from Waxahachie over to minister in Forest Hill, Louisiana. Pastors Mark and Trina Hankins were so gracious to us newbies. Now, it was official. We were full-time children’s evangelists!
Thankfully, we were fast learners. After Forest Hill came Springhill, Louisiana and then Ridgecrest, Louisiana and then Boutte, Louisiana … the beginning of many, many, many more Kid’s Crusades and Kid’s Camps across America. For some 45 to 48 weeks a year, Vickie and I traveled from church to church using family-friendly tools and techniques to share the gospel. We would arrive in a city on a Saturday, I’d preach Sunday morning, and then begin the week-long Kid’s Crusade Sunday evening. It was always amazing to minister in a church with few children and then have the auditorium packed to capacity by the last night. The music, puppets, gospel magic (object lessons with surprise endings), scripture contests, and blacklight stories communicated a simple and yet powerful salvation message. Only heaven will give an accurate count of the thousands (no exaggeration) of children, teens, and adults who began their walk with Christ at one of the crusade or camp altars during these years. To God be the glory.
I can’t end this post without sharing this personal note about these years. As most of you know, Vickie and I have three incredible sons. The first two boys, Jason and Michael were born while we traveled as children’s evangelists. At the end of 1981 and the beginning of 1982, we took a few weeks off from traveling so that Jason could be born in Natchitoches, Louisiana. Later, at the end of 1985 and the beginning of 1986, we again took a few weeks off from traveling so that Michael could be born in Lake Jackson, Texas. I shared this because this allows me to tell one of the greatest highlights of our traveling days. Night after night, week after week, our sons were in our crusade services and witnessed lives transformed, churches enlarged, and a vision for children’s ministry being imparted. This provided a great foundation for Jason and Michael’s walk with Christ.
Next post – Children’s Pastors.
Good story and great to hear from you . Hopping you guys are doing well. Joyce and I are doing well
Thank you, Ted. Getting to know you and Joyce while we lived in North Richland Hills was one of the best things about our time in Texas. You two are SO easy to love!!!!
Love your story! Thank you for sharing it! 🤗
Michelle, Vickie and I are blessed in so, so, so many ways. Along this 45 year trek of ministry, God has blessed us with so many incredible people who have become wonderful friends. It’s these friendships with people like you that have enabled us to keep on keeping on!
Congrats! Our 50th is in August. In July of 74, we did 2 kids crusades. I helped Betty, and was hooked on kids ministry after that. Married the next month, and we started assisting in Derwood Dubose’s church in south Dallas, later got to be pastor of his kids, youth, and Sunday night worship leader. Breakfast at Fred’s next week?
Kim, you and Betty have been FOREVER friends and I am SO thankful for our connection.
I still remember you and Vickie driving up to the church. World longest Banana Split. But what a blessing you guys were. Thanks for serving. Wonder what the future will be.
Pastor David, you will never know the impact that you made upon us as we were just starting out in the ministry. You were the fourth church to minister in. The previous week of ministry at Ridgecrest (Ferriday), Louisiana had been very challenging in so many ways. We left that church so downcast and hurt. But, things changed immediately when I met you as we came into Boutte. I will never forget your first words to me – “Billy, I’m so glad to have you here.” My first thought was “Really? You really are?” Just your warm, welcoming greeting put wind back into my sail. I’ve told this story so many times over the years. You demonstrated the power of words, words that are spirit and life. Thank you, Pastor David. I’m eternally indebted to you for being God’s voice when it was so desperately needed.
Happy Anniversary, love and miss you and Mrs. Vickie
Ron, our ability to do all that we’ve done over the years has been accomplished because of God connecting us with with incredible people like you and your family. You will testify that God brought so many wonderful people to join with us during our 25 years as Trinity’s children’s pastors. Together, we accomplished much for the Kingdom. To God be the glory!