At this point in our growth as a Christian family, we were divided.
I had started to attend the church within walking distance of my home where the youth pastor received my friend and I so well. My parents and brother were attending the church where the pastor had come to call on us.
My dad and brother were going to be baptized on the same Sunday. My mom requested that I come and see them. After a bit of protesting, I agreed to come. At the time, I was a bit stubborn and often insisted on getting my way. For the record, I am nothing like that now.
The morning of their baptism, I joined my family in the service. I was introduced to the pastor and met some of the people. I enjoyed myself, but still had plans to return to my church.
It was at this point that God really began to work to bring us all together. This was going to involve breaking my will, something He has had to do repeatedly in my Christian life. Due to my voracious study of the Bible, a doctrinal inconsistency came into view. It was a significant enough matter that I could not see how I could stay there. Knowing I needed a little more nudging, the Lord allowed me to see some things occurring in the youth department that I could not justify as acceptable behavior.
At this same time, my parent’s pastor invited me to attend a pastor’s conference with him. Not thinking I would take him up on the offer, my mom mentioned it to me one night. Since I had already felt the call of God to preach, I was thrilled at the opportunity. Surprised at my enthusiasm, she called to let him know I would be coming along.
The Monday of the conference I had breakfast with the Pastor and his wife, Dave Berger, the man who had led my dad to Christ and a teen boy from the church. The four of us guys would be spending the week together. I kept my distance by maintaining silence and just listening to the conversation. I liked everybody in the group, but still felt like an outsider. They all accepted me with open arms and I felt more comfortable as the week went on.
I had never experienced anything like that week. The spirit, the music and the preaching opened a new world to me. On Wednesday night after church, I felt comfortable enough to ask the pastor about my concerns with my church. He showed me from the bible where the answers to my questions were and why my intuition had been correct. At the Thursday night invitation, I walked forward and for the first time made public my surrender to preach the gospel with my life. There was no going back.
On the trip home, I asked if I could join the church. The pastor smiled as he reassured me that I would be a welcomed addition. As a pastor now myself, the humor of asking if I could join the church is not lost on me. Having people desire to be a part of your church to serve along side of you is one of the greatest joys.
That Sunday I attended church with my family. After night church, my youth pastor from the other church called me. He asked how the conference had gone and asked if I was at church with my parents that day. I had been wondering how I would break the news to him. I said I was. He replied, “Just visiting I hope.” I said, “Not exactly.” The phone went silent. In five minutes there was a knock at the door. I opened the door to find my youth pastor standing there with tears streaming down his face. He asked if we could talk. I told him what had happened and what I believed God was doing in my life. He said that he would not want to be the one to stand in the way of my growth. We hugged and said good bye. As a pastor now myself, I also know the incredible heartache involved in losing someone you have loved and invested in no matter what the reason.
From that day on, our family began a journey of serving God together that has lasted until this very day and I pray continues for our lifetimes.
I also will be forever indebted to the man who helped me start my journey as a Christian even if we weren’t able to finish together.
Joel Stiff's Adventure 