The Light at the End of the Tunnel

After over forty years of ministry I have decided to retire from the position of installed pastor at First Presbyterian Church of Monett on June 30, 2011. I have been here for thirteen and a half years of wonderful ministry with the finest of Christian folks. It has been a good end to this part of my call to serve the Lord Jesus Christ. This does not mean that I am discontinuing ministry for I hope to keep on preaching as a substitute for pastors going on vacation and study leave or for emergency situations. I will remain active in John Calvin Presbytery, being a conservative voice for the denomination I joined and loved when I was only sixteen. I will continue to be a member of the Monett Ministerial Association and serving as their treasurer until they vote me out. I also will be on the board of Monett/Purdy MO Habitat for Humanity and serve also as treasurer for them for the next couple of years. The big news is that I will become very active in the Lions Clubs International. I have been serving 26M6 district as the Second Vice District Governor and was elected on March 12 to become their First Vice District Governor starting in July 2011.
I am looking forward to retirement so that I can see my grandchildren more often and that Karen and I can get in more time for SCUBA diving and seeing wonderful parts of our country both above and below the water line. We have plans to visit Seattle in July and Alaska in September. Karen will be seeing the grandchildren at the end of June. So the light is at the end of the tunnel (only hope it is not the train).