In retrospect: 30 years and counting

That was us in 1991

 “The men who went to try to rescue the five brought back to me from
Jim's body his wrist watch, and from the Curaray beach, the blurred pages of his college prayer-notebook. There was no funeral, no tombstone for a memorial...No legacy then? Was it “just as if he had never been”? “The world passeth away and the lust thereof, but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.” Jim left for me, in memory, and for us all, in these letters and diaries, the testimony of a man who sought nothing but the will of God, who prayed that his life would be “an exhibit to the value of knowing God.” Shadow of the Almighty by Elizabeth Elliot

Today – October 1, 2021 – marks our 30^th Anniversary of serving here in Chetek. Since arriving in the City of Lakes back on October 1, 1991, a lot of water has flowed under the Long Bridge on the north end of town. Over the course of 30 years we have lived here and raised a family here. To date, I have preached 1,022 regular Sunday morning messages (not including uncounted youth and other special event messages). I've preached and taught the Scriptures, prayed and conducted hospital and other pastoral visits. I've ministered to young and old, single and married, led Sunday School classes for kids and shared the Word with “old folk”, too. I've presided at weddings and funerals, dedicated babies and prayed over more people heading out on mission than I can easily recall. I've listened to those who are brokenhearted and disappointed and sought to console those who have described themselves as lost.

All these activities and many more like them are standard fare for a “one-horse” parish like the one I serve. But in my particular situation, over three decades I've also moonlighted in many other capacities whether that's driving the hearse for the local funeral home, coaching kids at the middle school and high school, writing for the hometown newspaper, performing in community theater, and presiding at church, school and city meetings. And, of course, the most significant addition to my resume in recent years is that since 2016 I have served as mayor of our city. I think it's fair to say I get around.

Since it was a beautiful day, I drove out to Lakeview Cemetery and went looking for Rev. Runar and Ruth Mattson's marker. Rev. and Mrs. Mattson founded Chetek Full Gospel Tabernacle (CFGT now The Refuge) in 1956 and it was during his time of service that the lots where our sanctuary now stands were purchased, the building built and the mortgage satisfied prior to his untimely death on January 1, 1975. By all accounts he was a good and godly man revered by his wife and children. While the church was small at his passing (frankly, it still is) what greater legacy could he have left other than being loved and respected by his family and the community he had so faithfully served.

Printed at the bottom of the marker is
His last sermon: "There is a time to be born and a time to die."
Ecclesiastes 3:2

Six have followed him as pastor of CFGT since his death: Jonathan Reine (1975), Del Grandstrand (1975-1977), Chester Logelin (1977-80), David Bakken (1979-1980), John Tuttle (1981-91) and myself. Del, Chester and David have long since gone to their reward, Jonathan no longer is in pastoral ministry and John presently has been serving a congregation in the UP for many years. Each in their time here made deposits into the life of the kingdom of God in our town and beyond but only God can say – and, ultimately, will say – which was of eternal value and which was not (see 1 Corinthians 3:12-15). The same goes for me.

For the last few months I have been reading Shadow of the Almighty: the Life and Testament of Jim Elliot. Following his death in 1956, his wife, Elizabeth took the journals he had kept and the letters he had wrote and put together a biography. As it happened, I just came to the end of it this morning. Upon his death, all he left was a wrist watch, some well-worn clothes and a one-year-old daughter. He had no life insurance policy and their home in the wilds of Ecuador would rightly be considered a crude shack by any definition. But considering his influence on the cause of missions and the ongoing life of disciples worldwide, he done real good for his nearly 30 years of living (he was twenty-nine when he died). Ultimately, only God can evaluate the worth of his ministry – and mine – rightly. Best to leave it there.

Honestly, I'm just grateful to be here. I'm thankful for the life we've made here, the friends we've made and the things we've been able to be a part of. When I re-read

The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
    surely I have a delightful inheritance.
I will praise the Lord, who counsels me;
    even at night my heart instructs me. (Psalm 16:6-7, NIV)

I see our home at the corner of Fifth and Banks, the “church behind the Dairy Queen”, Second Street and downtown Chetek and the nature trail behind Chetek-Weyerhaeuser High and Middle School – I see it all and the multitude of lives that have touched ours over three decades of living. However long my service to this fellowship and this community may last I pray to be found faithful to my call, my post and them. 

“As for you, go your way until the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days, you will rise again to receive the inheritance set aside for you.” Daniel 12:13, NLT