THE CALL - PART 4

[This will mean more for you if you read the first three parts first.]

I got home late Wednesday.  We had a wonderful Thanksgiving together.  I was glad to see the family - and they were glad to have me home.  I think they could tell that my spirit was somehow lighter.

We got up on Sunday and went to church together at Oakland.  I pretty much went straight in and sat down.  You could sense the people's joy at seeing me again after all those weeks.

Worship began.  It was nice to sit with my family and hold my kids on my lap! 

The guest preacher for the day was Elwood Daugherty, the assistant to our conference superintendent - and a long-time friend! 

In the midst of the singing, he was given opportunity to read his scripture lesson.  He asked us to turn to John, chapter three.  He reminded us that it was the first Sunday of Advent.  I reached for my Bible and began to find John's gospel.

He began at verse 1.  I followed along with my finger;  Troy followed my finger (he was four years old).

Suddenly, a vague memory came to me of a series of thoughts I had while backpacking [see THE CALL - PART 3].   I was intrigued.  How far would he read? 

He read through John 3:16 and stopped.  God now had my attention!

There was still some singing, an offering, and a prayer before he would preach.  I couldn't wait for this message.  Would he focus in on verse 16?  No one was more hungry for the Word that morning than me!!!

Elwood stood up to preach.  He explained that God had spoken to him and told him to bring a message solely on verse 16. 

I was in awe of God!  He had heard my rambling, unspoken thoughts while walking along that logging road and had gone into action! 

Without me even making it an official "fleece", He answered my request.  He graciously reaffirmed my Call. 

I have never doubted it since!

THE CALL - PART 3

[This story will make more sense to you if you read PART 1 and PART 2 first.]

I left a week before Thanksgiving and told Deb that I wouldn't be back for the holiday!

I started the Laurel Highlands Trail in Johnstown, Pennsylvania.  It's a 70 mile hike to Ohiopyle with lots of mountains in between.

It was good to be in the woods.  It was good to be alone with God!  I did a lot of thinking.  I did a lot of talking.  I did some listening.  It was a rugged workout.

One day I was walking along a section of the trail that actually uses a logging road.  It was easy going - thoughtless hiking.  The thoughts I share now took place in a matter of a few seconds:

I  realized that I needed a sign from God!  Did He want me in the ministry or not?

This reminded me of Gideon's story in Judges 6, where he asked God for a sign of reassurance - and God gave it!

I wondered if God would do that for me?

Then I began to daydream about what my "fleece" would be?  I quickly ran several absurd ideas through my mind.

Then I reflected on how I occasionally avoided the most common passages of scripture as a preacher - simply because they're often overworked by speakers.

I thought:  "What if I went home and went to church and whoever happened to be preaching that Sunday would preach solely and exclusively from the text, John 3:16, the best known verse in the Bible.

I laughed at my silliness - and the thoughts evaporated.

Over the next several days, through prayer and listening to God, I gradually came to the conclusion that I should return to being a pastor.  There was no "Aha!" moment.  I just slowly but surely realized that it was what God wanted me to do.  I felt a peace.

Having my decision made, I wanted to go home.  But my car was waiting for me in Ohiopyle, and I was still twenty hard miles from it.

I left early that morning and hiked hard all day.  I finished the trail in the pitch dark, using my flashlight to see the blazes on the trees.  The final ascent to the parking area drained me of every ounce of strength I had. 

My car seat never felt so good.  I had never been so tired.  I had made it!  And the next day was Thanksgiving Day!  I would be with my wife and kids - and we would give thanks to God!

And on Sunday, we would worship God together with our friends from the Oakland Church.  I had not been to Oakland in two months...

[To be continued.]

THE CALL - PART 2

[To best understand this story, you might want to read "THE CALL - PART 1"]

The Reverend Glenn Hughes had intersected my life at two significant points:  when I was a youngster, and when I was 16 and received my Call.

Fast-forward through:

• four years at Roberts Wesleyan College,
• marrying Debbie,
• three years at Asbury Theological Seminary,
• the birth of Travis,
• two years at my first church in Jeannette, Pennsylvania,
• four years at the McClellandtown, Pennsylvania Free Methodist Church,
• the births of Troy and Tracie, and
• the first two years at the Oakland Free Methodist Church in East Liverpool, Ohio.

I'm now 32, pastoring a growing church, attending Pittsburgh Theological Seminary half-time, and (along with Debbie) raising a family of three.  Financial pressures were mounting as well.  Suddenly, the stress reached a peak and I found myself doubting my Call.

Was I in the ministry because God had called me to it;  or was I in the ministry because of pressures exerted by my home congregation?  Or could it have been the strong influence of my mother? 

One Wednesday, I called an emergency Pastor's Cabinet meeting following Prayer Meeting and resigned - effective when I walked out the door!

That's right!  No plan, no income, no resources - I just quit!

As I was leaving the room, Alma Kelly called out to me:  "Pastor, we're not accepting your resignation!  We're putting you on an indeterminate leave of absence with full pay."  It didn't matter to me;  I closed the door and went home.  It was October.

For the next couple of months, I continued to go to seminary.  I also reached out to seasoned pastors and professional counselors.  None of it helped.  I was lost and confused.  I still loved God, but He seemed distant from me.  We visited other churches during this time.

Every Sunday afternoon, Pete Muschweck dropped my check off at our front door.  I received flowers, cards, and fruit baskets from the people at the Oakland Church.  Their love didn't make a dent - I was numb and didn't care.

After about six weeks, I somehow heard that Glenn Hughes was passing through my area.  I hadn't seen him since I was in college.  I made arrangements to meet with him.

He was completely non-judgmental!  He was caring as he listened to my confusion.  He responded with warmth and clarity and suggested that I get away and listen for the voice of God. 

It made sense to me!  I scheduled a backpacking trip.

[To be continued...]

THE CALL - PART 1

I was 16.  My home church was having its annual, fall revival.  They had arranged to have Reverend Glenn Hughes return to be the evangelist.  Glenn had been pastor at New Brighton when I was a little boy.

I had loved him.  He called me "Hoppy" - partly because my last name was Haire, and partly because I wore a knit cap with Hop-a-Long-Cassidy on it!  He invited me to call him "Uncle Hoppy".  We had a special relationship!  At the young age of four, if anyone asked me what I wanted to be, my answer was "a preacher, like Uncle Hoppy."

I was struggling in my relationship with God.  My commitment through the  teen years had been inconsistent.  At 16, I was in my senior year of high school.  I had been accepted at Roberts Wesleyan College, Greenville College, Clarion State College, and Slippery Rock College.  I didn't know which to attend.

I had no clear direction about my future vocation.  Since I had some obvious ability to sing, I was considering studying music.  Also, because of good reading skills and a strong voice, I was considering broadcasting.

The revival came.  Night after night I sat in the back with the youth.  Late in the revival, during the invitation, I felt God dealing with me strongly.  I trembled as I resisted. 

Finally, I stepped out and walked to the altar.  I confessed to God: 

Lord,

I have not been faithful to You.  I'm sorry!  I'm tired of this up-and-down spirituality!  I'm here tonight to let You know that I'm Yours forever! 

Now, I'm sure I'll sin again and screw-up;  but I promise You that when I realize it, I will always return to You.  I'm Your man for the rest of my life!

Amen.

That was it!  I meant it! 

And in an instant, I knew that God was calling me to be a pastor!  I had no doubt.  It was crystal clear! 

My anxiety was gone!  I decided to go to Roberts Wesleyan College and study to be a pastor!

PEACEMAKERS DON’T MAKE GOOD LEADERS – III

[This is the third of a series.  You might want to read the first two articles first!]

I received my call to ministry when I was seventeen.  It was re-confirmed when I was thirty in a way that was so convincing, I will never doubt the reality of my call again!

I have one relative who was also a pastor.  His name was J. O. Archer.  He was my Grandma Haire’s brother – which made him my great-uncle.  However, he was more like a grandfather to me!  I loved him dearly! 

He was honored by the Pittsburgh Conference for fifty years of active ministry in the Free Methodist Church.  He was stepping out of ministry just as I was stepping into it.

Interestingly, Uncle James was also a peacemaker!  In his day, pastors were moved frequently – as often as every three or four years.  The conference leadership had recognized his peace-loving ways.  They repeatedly sent him to churches known for unrest and division.  Uncle James had a way of restoring peace and love among the members of the church.  He was a calmer-of-storms, a healer of relationships.

There is a place in the church for the peacemaker!  Like Uncle James, I have served churches that needed healing.  Two of them had experienced pastors who fell due to sexual misconduct.  One had been torn apart through the pain and tension of a building program.  Another struggled to survive because it was located mid-way between two highly visible mega-churches.  Another was torn over the decision of whether or not to build a new building. 

In each case, I worked hard to restore peace and establish unity.  In each case, the church grew significantly.  In each case, finances were strengthened.  In each church, new people were introduced to the family of God. 

Certain pastors are known to have a healing ministry.  They are solid in their faith and above reproach.  They earn people’s trust and bring people together.  These pastors almost always see convert growth, however, rarely at a level that ignites ‘break-out’ growth.

THE BOTTOM LINE:

Peacemakers don’t make good leaders, but they do make excellent pastors!