I visited my home town, Linesville, PA this past weekend for my 10 year high school reunion. While I go home often, this time was different. I took time to reflect, soak in the surroundings and think about all I learned growing up there.
I remember sleep overs at Grandma's, Mr. Schmidt riding the mower while smoking his pipe, playing all through the woods by the lake, fishing on the pontoon boat with Gramps and Sandy, after dance sleep overs at Tara's where we literally giggled at giggles, sounds of baseball and little league coming from the complex, Waterfowl weekends, Crawford County Fair, the smell of country living, vo-tech bus rides that I'm still convinced were more fun than the lunch room, end of the road sunsets at the lake, our after-school program "The Gap," and being blessed most by having the same pastor my entire life, Pastor Art and Kristy.
That's where I reflected the most. Pastor Art answered God's call to become head pastor at Linesville First Baptist in 1987, when I was two. He is all I can remember, as far as time goes back. A man shared his testimony this Sunday and spoke of how Pastor helped nudge him along in his decision to make Christ the center of his life. When he was finished, Art ran up on stage and embraced him. Memories came flooding back all at once and tears ran down my face, how many stories similar to that must he have to tell after 26 years of faithful service? I am blessed because I had someone who was willing to invest in me and so many others from the congregation. He doesn't just stand up and preach on Sundays, he is a part of our family, he allows us to get to know him on a personal level. I believe he helped shape me into the woman I am today, even if he wasn't conscious of it. I was one of those kids who wanted to be at church every Sunday because I loved it so much. One week my parents were both sick, and I was quite upset when they told me we weren't going to church. I called Tim and Brenda McQuiston and asked them to pick me up for church because there was no way I was missing a week. It's hard for me to think about a time when Art won't be head pastor any more but I know the time is coming when he gets to retire. For now I choose to think about how much of an impact he's had on not only mine and my families lives but the lives of those throughout the church.
So, this week I am blessed by Pastor Art and Kristy Barnes, and their family. Thank you for answering the call and allowing God to speak through you for so many faithful years. I love you guys.
