THE JOY OF INTRODUCTIONS

I take great joy in making introductions. 

May I introduce you to Tim and Vicki Gates? 

Tim is the lead pastor of the ONE CHURCH of the Nazarene in Kokomo, Indiana. 

Vicky is his faithful, gracious, skilled, and may I say gorgeous? wife.

I met Tim in the district youth camp where we were part of the camp counselors. 

I was the night watchman. No surprise there. I also hustled cold pop after the afternoon sports. 

Tim was home for the summer from Olivet College. I don't remember all of Tim's duties but I'm sure they were extensive and all day long. 

At the end of the day in the dark cool of the evening after the evening evangelistic service or worship service we were relaxing sitting together when some flirty and silly high school girls came up to say hi to Tim and giggle. 

After they left, Tim sighed, rolled his eyes, and said quietly... I wish I could meet a serious girl. 

I knew just who he was looking for. 

Rebecca, Lynne, and I were called to Clinton Church of the Nazarene in the summer when it was just the three of us. Lynne and I were a tag team and frankly the oldest youth pastors on the Illinois district. I loved having fun. Lynne kept me grounded and she also remembered all the names, which is why I am in music and not a scholar. 

Our first Wednesday Bible study at the parsonage The kids all sat in a circle. I was so bad with names I used the crutch of calling all the girls by a male name like Ralph or Bob and they would always protest and say their name. 

The kids all introduced themselves one at a time and gave their names very clearly. The next week they wanted to test Lynne. Lynne pointed to each one gave them their full name then pointed to where they sat the week before. She was my incredible helper. 

Sometime during that first year we went for dinner to Vicky's house. Her dad was a farmer. Her mother was an awesome cook. At the end of a delicious meal while Lynn and I talked with her parents, Vicky graciously got up by herself without being asked and started to clean the plates and take them out to the kitchen. Lynne had always done the same thing and that struck me very pointedly that like my lovely wife Vicky has a servant's heart. 

I won't bore you with the rest of the details. But now you know the rest of the story. 

I also worked with the bus because I was a devoted follower of the Jack Hyles bus ministry in Hammond Indiana. I loved it and loved also calling door to door because it gave me quite a few opportunities to introduce people to Jesus, which gives me even greater joy. 

I think that's enough for now. Later Gators. 

Incidentally, Wendelyn, my youngest daughter, was born in Clinton although actually it was Decatur.