Most Valuable Player

Most Valuable Player

The classic quote is worth repeating: “If you see a turtle on a fence post its because he had help with someone putting him there.”

The same is true in life and ministry. The last 30 days I have been invited to speak in 9 states and I feel like a muffler – EXHAUSTED. Just yesterday I returned from speaking five 40 minute messages in less than 15 hours (only to drive 618 miles in 24 hours round-trip) to pull it off.

For example, just the last two days countless people and factors had to come together to get me to speak to nearly 2,500 students in Wild and Wonderful West Virginia. First, it was God’s grace that I am even in the game serving Him. Secondly, I have been blessed with the most supportive spouse this side of the Mississippi. Ruth is awesome and her Daddy was a preacher of the Gospel for nearly 50 years in El Salvador and she understands the pressure but privilege of preaching Christ to a hurting world. Third, Evangelist Randy Hogue graciously extended this invite for me to preach in his absence. Fourth, my mother, Sharon was willing to drive three hours each way to stay two nights at our home to watch baby, Andrew while I was gone.

Last but not least, Pastor Darin is the youth minister at First Baptist Church of Fairlea and he and his church members prayed, prepared and promoted this large youth outreach over six months ago. He got the door open to speak in the public schools. He built the relationship with both teachers and local clergy in his hometown for folks like me to come together to see students IMPACTED with life changing truth. The list is endless but worth mentioning because they are the one’s worthy of recognition.

You see 2,500 students and staff met me yesterday in West Virginia but God saw all the “MVP’s” of my life behind the scenes way before then. Truly, there is no “I” in the word TEAM. Without, the support and “behind the scenes” help of my family this would not be possible. Sadly, too often in sports, business, politics and even ministry we tend to give too much credit on the person “out front” but it is the folks behind the scenes that enable us to be on the scene that are equally if not more important.

Jesus said: “Many who are first will be last and many last will be first.” One element in ministry that the Lord has burned in my heart over the years is to exude class and Christ-like compassion on all whom I meet. Elvis Presley when asked why he would by pass the mayor to say “hi” to the janitor replied: “The big guy doesn’t need me but the little guy does.” God helped me coin a phrase over the years called: “The Greats are Gracious.”

Intentionally, I have gone out of my way to shake the hand of the camera people filming the show, the assistants, secretary, janitorial staff while taping television and radio programs. Why? Because in God’s economy (outside of Jesus) they are the true “star” of the show.

When on the road, I do my best even as an invited guest to pay for the meal of the senior pastor or youth minister to invest into them (even when it is customary for them to pay for the guest). Jesus constantly talked about “going the extra mile” and “honoring those whom honor is due.” Plus, to help dispel the myth that many in ministry are selfish and/or arrogant. I always try to meet folks more than half way and its a JOY to minister to the minister while in town.

Daily I thank God privately for the key players He has strategically placed in my life but I am also over due to share publicly in this blog of what they mean to me, what they bring to the table and how God sees them. Often times, I feel like I already got my reward but those “behind the scenes” now will be ahead of me in line to meet Jesus. I praise the Lord for them now and will even more then. Truly, he that desires to be first must be willing to be last. In order to “get up” we need to get down and by promoting the Lord and others, ironically the Lord actually promotes us in the process.