How I Ended Up Here!

It needed to take a miracle to move me out of Youth/College and Singles Ministry. I thought I would be specializing working with young people all the rest of my life. I had enjoyed incredible relationships and the genuine, undeniable hand and blessing from God during my tenures in Randolph, Roxbury and Mendham, New Jersey.
The Spirit went before me and bestowed upon me some unbelievable connections during my stays in Dayton and Stow, Ohio. And the anointing even continued for this East Coast boy as the Lord allowed me to invest my time and life into those gracious people who put up with me in Omaha, Neb.
It was tough to be a Notre Dame football fan in the land of Big Red.
So how did I end up becoming the shepherd of the flock here at The Lighthouse Church? It was back in June of 1997 that I sensed that my times, they just might be a changing. My Dad Rudy, who ventured to Heaven back in the year 2000, just happened to be visiting me in the middle of the Middle West when I got the call.
This young and vibrant church that was still in its infancy stages in Cape May County, New Jersey was now in need of a new pastor. Would I be open to checking this out to discern if God had my name on it? Would I be willing to leave a healthy and strong and well-equipped church body for a new work that didn’t even have a building of its own?
It had gathered in a newspaper office and a movie theater and now was congregating in the local elementary school. Could a “step-down” in human terms actually be a “step-up” in God’s plan?
Very often we see men and women get called from smaller ministries to larger and greener pastures that just happen to include bigger titles and more zeroes in the pay-check to boot. Very rarely to do we hear of somebody saying. “I am leaving the comfort and prosperity of where I am to go and do something — somewhere- where I might just have to begin from scratch.
But maybe this is what was so attractive to a dreamer like me. I got to see what God intended to do here before anybody else did. I entered in on the ground floor of the amazing power of God at work.
As I heard the leaders talk about The Lighthouse Church, I knew that this was where I belonged. I sensed that this was a marriage concocted in heaven. I remember so vividly the Saturday night that I was standing on the Boardwalk down in Wildwood with my heart beating and pounding with pure excitement over the possibilities that I would have in showing people Jesus and leading others to do the same back in my old home state.
I saw the Closer Walk event on Morey’s Piers clearly in my soul even before the first one was ever held. I was fueled by the fiery vision of potentially taking the treasure beyond the walls of an elementary public school where this little flock was meeting and inviting others to follow the light safely home to shore and participating fully in the transformation that happens when someone comes to know Jesus personally as their haven of rest.
In June of 1997, I agreed to become the pastor of TLC even before the Church Board told me what my salary would be. At that point, I didn’t care because I knew beyond a shadow of doubt that God was in this and when He is the driver of a holy vehicle of His choosing, He provides everything you need to reach your destination. I didn’t know how and I didn’t when, I just knew He would. And He has. Praise God from whom all blessings flow, he has.
The reason I share all of this nostalgia with you today is because last Saturday night, my church family nearly gave me a heart attack by totally surprising me with a 50th birthday party. It was the first official fellowship function ever held in the sanctuary of our new home base. And as I looked all around and drank fully of all of magic that I was surrounded by, I knew that I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.
All the money and all of the fame that might tempt another one to move on up to the deluxe apartments in the sky has me saying, “Thanks but no thanks!” I love what I do where I adore where I get to do it. I love the people of Cape May County, and yes, even the ones who don’t call Lighthouse their home.
And because I hung in there and didn’t quit when it would have been easy to do so, but believed and trusted and obeyed God, His faithfulness has filled my cup to overflowing. And Lord willing, I look to celebrate my 60th birthday here, if God gives me that honor and privilege. The Church Family though might just have to watch the surprising part, because I jump easily.
The best is yet to come and lasting treasures come to those who wait on God rather than carry the weight of this world. And if I am speaking to somebody who may be stuck in Chapter Three of their story today, my encouragement is to walk on and pursue the dream because you wouldn’t believe how this story is going to end and with God, there are always joyful and satisfying encores.
Can’t is the won’t of those who don’t. And those who walk out of the ball game before the last out never get to see the walk-off homerun comeback. Thank you, Lord, for not giving up on a giving up humanity. Hang on to the one who won’t let you go.
Write Pastor Rudy pastorrudytlc@comcast.net.