On March 1, I completed ten years as pastor of Northside Presbyterian Church in Blacksburg, Virginia. It is hard to believe that a whole decade has passed. When I arrived in 1999, the world was a different place. In 1999: the Roth IRA, the IBook, and the G4 were introduced, the Dow closed above 10,000 for the first time, we were at war in Kosovo, the Columbine High School shootings took place, George Bush declared for the presidential race, earthquakes killed almost 20,000 people globally, and the list (and the world) goes on.
During this decade, which has been almost half of my ministry, this congregation and I have been through a lot together. We weathered 9-11 and 4-16. We have grieved thousands killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as some dearly loved folks from this church. We have watched the economy go from boom to bust. We have bid farewell to those moving on to new places, and welcomed new members. We have faithfully worshiped together each Sunday, celebrated Christmas and Easter, and Pentecost, baptized and confirmed, married and buried. We began Logos and our church garden. We fought the “mold” and struggled to remain in loving community through disagreements. We have studied, played, and worked together. And through it all, God in Jesus Christ has gone with us.
I am so grateful that God brought metogether with this church in these times, in this place. I echo the sentiments of Paul, who wrote: “I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now.” Here’s to the next decade!
