Preacher's Pen

By Rusty Howard, Senior Minister

Times being what they were - and his temperament being what it was - the Apostle Paul didn't stay put very long in any one place.  But somewhere along the line he learned an invaluable lesson:  "Ministers come and go, but their ministries keep going."  You don't remember reading that in your Bible?  Maybe you're more familiar with the way Paul himself put it:  "I planted, Apollos watered . . ." (I Cor. 3:6)  A few verses further on, he makes the same point from a different perspective:  ". . . I laid a foundation, and another is building on it."  Some things have changed since then, but that simple truth isn't one of them. 

And as the time approaches for one Sr. Minister to hand the reins to another, Southwest needs a firm grip on that timeless, unchanging truth.  Brandon will be taking up the task of watering what I planted just as I did after Jerry Jenkins' ministry, who did the same in following Dale Lovelady, who - well, you get the idea.  When we called him two years ago, I saw in Brandon the gifts and the desire to do a great work here at Southwest. Still do.  There are incredible things ahead for Southwest. As he assembles a ministry team over the coming months I'm confident that he'll choose wisely.  Our eldership shares that confidence.  What remains is the willingness of this fellowship to continue to prayerfully follow as Brandon leads.

These 13+ years as your preacher, have been interesting ones, haven't they?  Over some seven hundred Sundays, we've moved from 6000 Crowley Road, through three different schools and four and a half years of "wilderness-wandering," to finally arrive at 7101 Trail Lake Drive.  It has been an incredible journey.  Along the way we've remodeled one auditorium and relocated as we built another.  One year, our men built an office building and then, one weekend, our fellowship built a habitat-for-humanity house.  We've seen senior elders like Ed Ambrister and Howard Robertson move into emeritus status as the Lord has raised up younger elders like Scott Wert and Jimmie Hackworth.  We've rejoiced together at baptisms and laughed together at weddings and, yes, wept together at gravesides.  

But in this coming year, Lord willing, we'll be moving to Nashville - it's that grandparent thing.  And while Carol will be retiring, I won't.  As the Lord opens doors and gives opportunity, I anticipate continuing in the preaching ministry.  So keep us in your prayers in this regard.  There are a number of variables still in play as I pen this missive, so the exact date of our intended move is unknown.  What I do know is that the God who has been faithful, will continue to be.  And with that I wrap up this last (and rather lengthy) Preacher's Pen.

That verse I quoted from earlier?  There's more - ". . . I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth."  Which is why, in future years, Carol and I will be eagerly listening for word of the work here in southwest Fort Worth, fully expecting to hear nothing but great things!  And I will remain

Ever His & Always Yours,

Rusty

Phil. 1:6