A Humbling Day

It was the day I had been both dreading and looking forward to for a very long time. On Sunday, May 30, 2010 at 2:00 PM, I was Ordained by the Church for the purpose of working in the Gospel Ministry by members of Highland Baptist, along with 10 ordained men which made up the Ordaining Council. Although I was called to preach many years ago and was an interim pastor at another church and licensed over 10-years ago, my pastor believed it was the right time for me to be ordained. 

I fully realize that God is the One Who calls men into the Gospel ministry and man's approval or ordination is not needed in any way; however, it is one of the customs of the Baptist Church to ordain men that have been called into the ministry to show that he has proven his calling and has walked worthy in the council of God and is trustworthy. Some people do not agree with this custom and that's okay, they have the right to their own opinion. 

Being ordained is a very humbling experience. I am one of those folks that doesn't like to have a lot of attention focused on me so you can only imagine what it was like to be brought under the microscope. I had imagined all sorts of wild things that could possibly happen (I should never have read the horror stories on the Internet or listened to idle tongues that like to wag) everything went very smoothly. In fact, it was more like a very good worship service.

As I've already mentioned, there were 10 ordained men on the Presbyter including; 

1. Pastor Dave Hutchison (moderator and preached the charge)
2. Bro. A.J. Crawford (Quiz Master)
3. Bro. Mike Earl
4. Bro. Dave Hutchison Jr.(Clerk) 
5. Bro. Kevin Roberts (Presented Bible) 
6. Bro. James Chesney (Ordination Prayer)
7. Bro. Mack Orick 
8. Bro. Edd Buckner 
9. Bro. Oliver Arms Jr.
10. Bro. Frank Roberts. 

I really appreciate each one of these men that took a part in the service. I've only been to a handful of ordination services to be able to compare with but everyone that I have talked to said that it was better than any they had ever experienced. I pray that I will always honor the LORD and never do anything to bring shame to His name. He has brought me through so much and shown me his Love, Grace, and Mercy, more than I deserve.

Listen to Pastor Dave's charge HERE, and my mother and Sis. Carol took some pictures during the service, you can view them all HERE

Listen to my dad as he prays the ordination prayer: