A 15 Year Reflection, Part 5B: FBC Mize, the Church that Saved my Ministry

After reading part A of this reflection, you should know that I was totally heart-broken after my resignation. I don't remember all I did that night. But I do remember one thing I did. I called the chairman of the search committee at FBC Mize: Raymond Johnson. Although I knew word of what happened would never spread to Mize, I just wanted to tell him what happened. And I'll never forget what he said after I went through the whole spill: "Well, that's just proof to me that God wants you to hurry up and get to Mize." And that is the kind of encouragement that I would experience over the next three-and-a-half years.

I also remember calling a pastor-mentor of mine the day after it all happened. He just happened to be serving as the interim pastor at FBC Mize. Mandy had gone to the doctor because we had just discovered that we'd be having another baby - Baby Cam. I remember telling Dr. Gordon, "Doc, I'm broken. I'm hurt." And I remember him telling me, "Just wait. In a few weeks you'll be at Mize and this will become a distant memory."

FBC Mize literally saved me from throwing in the towel of ministry. The manager of a boxer can throw in the white towel, indicating that the boxer has had enough. It's a flag of submission. And I had my towel out. I had it in my hand. In fact, I had it raised up and was preparing to throw it in. My hand was in the motion of tossing it all in, of making a super-early retirement from ministry, of washing my hands of church life. And then I walked into the wonderful world of Mize.

From day one I was encouraged. I was loved. I healed. I don't know if they understand what they did for me. If it were not for FBC Mize I wouldn't be sitting in a church office right now. I wouldn't be pastoring. They did for me in my pastoral ministry what Christ did for me in my heart - they kept me from giving it all away.

We delved into the life and happenings of Mize. Mize is a small town in Smith County, but that is what makes it so unique. Everyone knows everyone. The pastor of the Baptist church is the bishop of the town. I can recall seeing men at the gas station who weren't church-friendly guys, but when they saw the preacher coming they put their beer cans up and stomped on their cigarettes.

We also jumped right in to Mize Bulldog football. Jake formed an inseparable bond with Joe, who helped coach the team. After each home game Jake went into the "Dog House" and gave every player a high-five. I would haul Jake to towns in the middle of nowhere - sometimes a 2-hour drive - just to watch those boys play ball. We enjoyed following them all the way to Jackson one year as they finished a perfect season by winning the state championship.

What made FBC Mize so special was the people. Our kids had a second set of parents in Joe and Jane. We had an endless supply of taffy and watermelons from Jonny and Angie. Many times a member would shake my hand and have a dead president to give me. I'm wearing a watch they gave me in 2003. They gave Mandy and I love offerings on birthdays and at Christmas. The list goes on and on and on and on and on.

To this day, the hardest thing we have ever, ever had to do was leave FBC Mize. I remember driving back to Byram after our final service there on New Year's Eve, 2006. I cried all the way from Mize to Byram. We had formed such close friendships. And I had healed so much. I went from being broken to being blessed.

Simply put, there is no way to put into words what this church did for us. I will always be indebted to them. There is nothing that I could do that would ever repay them for what they did for me.

But more than that, I'm thrilled to hear of how God is blessing their ministry today. That encourages me greatly.

Some members of Mize read the blog faithfully. So this is just for you: Thank you. I still get emotional when I think of what you did for me. I still feel like the luckiest pastor in the world to get to spend 3 1/2 years being nurtured by you. You allowed me to stretch my ministry wings to see how far I could fly. Thank you.