Celebrating Christmas with a Ministry of Sight and Sound

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Ministries. Welcome to engaging truth, the manifestation of God's word and the lives of people around us. Join us each week. As we explore the impact of his message of spiritual renewal from the lesson of forgiveness Fords in the crucible of divorce, to the message of salvation, learn by an executioner from a condemned killer to the gift of freedom found in the rescue of victims of human trafficking. This is God's truth in action.

Welcome to engaging truth. This is Dave Schultz, your host for this particular program, like all of our programs are heard every Sunday night on KK HT 100.7 FM either at the seven or the seven 30 slot during this time of the year during, uh, November and a portion of December, we are highlighting ministry ministry, not only in our own midst, but ministry across the area where we live and we're looking at pastors and lay and lay people. And we're looking at DCE director of Christian education and Christian Day school teachers, all those who serve the Lord Jesus Christ in the church today, I have sitting with me a dear friend and an associate here at St. John pastor Jeff Doria. Welcome Jeff. Thank you. Good to be here. I know that we can talk about ministry for a whole bunch of time, but I got some specific questions I'd like to ask you about ministry that probably will help the people in the listen, a to better understand a minister, a pastor's heart and joys and anxieties and frustrations as well. But I'd like to begin by saying how long you been in the ministry? Well,

I've been in as far as being an ordained pastor for 19 plus years, almost

20 years. Where'd you start? <affirmative>

First call was in, uh, at Trinity Lutheran church in Corpus Christi, Texas. And, uh, was there for about, about two years and then was, uh, in San Antonio for about 13 years.

And for the past three years, uh, past four

And a half, four and a half years. Yeah. Been here,

Uh, here at St. John. How time flies when you're getting old. That's right. Not you but me. Oh, no, I'm catching up to you. <laugh> so, well, I just know that your head, um, swims with things that not only, um, have happened in the past, but, uh, have happened to other people that you've counseled and taken care of. Hold on to take care of. I'd like to just, um, talk a little bit about the ministry that you have had over the past 19 years and kind of a, a summary of what that looks like to the listening audience. Well, it's been,

Uh, serving in three different congregations, um, and all three have been quite distinct, uh, unique in, in their communities where they serve and, uh, some of the history. Um, but it's been a, it's been a fun ride. I like to look at ministry as a, as a kind of a rollercoaster, well, or just an adventure. And, uh, and sometimes I look at it as, uh, whitewater rapids, uh, going down the Colorado river or something where, uh, you know, sometimes it's pretty adventuresome and crazy and other times it's pretty peaceful and you can enjoy the view, but, um, you know, and Corpus Christi was, it was a short time there. I was an associate pastor. Uh, they, and, um, um, while I was there, I also took care of two other congregations serving their vacancies. So sometimes a pastor will not only serve the church they're called to, but if there's a vacancy somewhere, uh, there's certain people that are asked to kind of fill in.

So, uh, I spent a year serving a vacancy in west Sitton, which was about, Hmm, 40 minutes away, I think a 40 minute drive from where I was at in Corpus Christi. And then, uh, I also helped take care of not just me, but I helped, uh, some other pastors, uh, take care of a church in Erio, uh, Texas. So, uh, so anyway, I was a, I was a circuit PA uh, circuit ride, you might say. And, uh, and it was great because all three of those churches were named Trinity. So I didn't have to worry about messing up anybody's names. And I could just say my brothers and sisters at Trinity Lutheran church. So, uh, so that was good. And that was, uh, for year and a half to two years. Um, I was there when, uh, that was my first call was when, uh, nine 11 and all the destruction happened.

So my first year, that first fall, um, of my ministry as a pastor, um, that hit, so that was just kind of set my beginning stages, um, in a different course than we expected. Um, but then I spent the last 13 years, or the next 13 years in, uh, king of Kings in San Antonio, uh, wonderful congregation that was, uh, surrounded, I'd say like three sides of that congregation were surrounded by apartments, much of which was government subsidized apartments. And so we had a different kind of ministry as far as, uh, the immediate context of, um, of the congregation and the campus. Uh, we had, we developed a, a real strong food pantry that is continuing to go on now. Um, and, and so it was a, uh, a good ministry there. I, the first two years I was an associate pastor and then the, the next 11 years I was their senior pastor.

And, uh, and there, I had, you know, my kids call that area hall. None of my kids were born in San Antonio, but all four of 'em would say that, you know, that was their place of memory, their home. And, uh, so ministry not only serve in the church, but also your family life and where that is connected. And, um, so that San Antonio was where we were, uh, where our home was as far as the kids being raised. Um, you know, one of the, my first year there in San Antonio, I had my own personal nine 11. Uh, you might say I was, I got contracted strepto pneumonia shock syndrome. B is what I remember the doctor saying. Um, it put me in the hospital, I was on a ventilator life support system for about four days. And, uh, and, uh, it was one of those situations where I just got something really bad and before I knew it, I was done.

And, uh, when for my wife to get me to the hospital, I wouldn't be here. Um, and so I, they, I was on life support for, for four days until I pulled the tube out. Apparently I pulled that sucker out myself, and, uh, I know how to unhook the, the clips that they, uh, hook you in, in the hospital bed. You know, I've done enough hospital visits, I know how to unhook 'em. So apparently I did that and I pulled the tube out. So, um, uh, just said I was fighting to live, so that's a good thing. Um, so then after that, my appreciation for each day in life and relationships, I think grew, and, um, and so I didn't take nearly, um, nearly as much stuff for granted anymore. And, um, and so as far as ministry then, um, relationships grew as far as stronger and more important to me.

And so, uh, um, I see that a lot in ministry and that hasn't changed. And, and so even coming here to St John, um, you know, wonderful congregation, we're not surrounded by government subsidized housing here, uh, as a different kind of immediate context of ministry. And, um, and, but still one of brokenness in the sense that there's a lot of garage door, we call it garage door syndrome here where, uh, people can pull into their garages and the door closes and you don't see 'em, you don't know your neighbors, all that. Well, uh, at least, you know, a lot of people don't, and you don't know what the, the hidden brokenness is and behind those walls. And, uh, you know, I just, uh, got a message from one of the ladies in my confirmation class, uh, today actually were, uh, she sent me something on Facebook and, uh, she was telling me how her daughter is failing a couple grades, a couple classes in school they're behind in confirmation. They feel real bad about it. And the mom was saying that she's, she, she's having a hard time with the, you know, just the, just living and functioning and, and going on with, um, just the new normal, um, of school for her kids. And, and so it's a real tough thing. So there's a lot of struggle, a lot of brokenness, even in the midst of what seems to be really nice on the outside. So ministry comes in a lot of different ways, but I sure do appreciate the relationships.

What would you say would be the highlight of what all ministries should look like?

<laugh> well, when Jesus comes back and takes us to heaven, that'll be, uh, that'll be the great thing between now and then, uh, between now and then, um, yeah. What would it look like? Huh. You know, I wish I had a nice picture, um, of it that I could just tell you off the top of my head. I, I think that, uh, when I see, when I see families worshiping, when I see, uh, say a worship service, um, I saw, you know, a husband and wife holding hands, uh, during benediction or Lord's prayer, uh, or kids, uh, with their families. And, uh, you see that connection of a family at the foot of the cross, at the idea of, of receiving God's blessings, God's grace, where they value one another and they know they're worshiping the Lord. Um, and so that, that would be something recently that, uh, I've seen. And, and, uh, it's, it's, that's a treasure.

Everyone has someone in their life who has been probably the most influential in terms of, of encouraging you to do what you are now doing. Was there somebody in your life, or, or, or maybe there's more than one person who was that dynamic person who in a very quiet way, was the support, was the encouragement for you to be in ministry as you are today? You

Know, there's been a few, I would have to say along my journey, um, one was a DCE, a couple of 'em are DS, was Bev heed. And, uh, another one was Kim shoot and, uh, Kim and I, uh, stay in contact a little bit and, uh, he continues to serve up north and, uh, uh, great guy loves music, and he was our youth worker. And, and, uh, and so he was real instrumental in my high school days. Um, when I was, I, I got hired on as youth worker in the mid nineties, early nineties. And, uh, so I had a couple pastors, then one was a Lutheran campus minister, uh, pastor Bob Budwig. Uh, he was at U of H at university of Houston. And, uh, so he and I had a good relationship. He helped me through my, uh, 10 year plan of, uh, bachelor's degree.

I was on the 10 year plan. Uh, you, it might think I'm joking, but it really did take me 10 years. Uh, cause I was a senior, uh, single parent, uh, much of that time and, uh, raising my daughter. And, uh, so it took me a while to finish school. Uh, but he was there and, uh, uh, and then, um, Ralph Hoach down at hope Lutheran and, uh, so, uh, Ralph and, and, uh, Bob were pastors there at hope as well. And, uh, uh, they hired me on as their youth worker. And so I worked for them for five years doing youth ministry until, until Lord put on my heart to go to the seminary. And so those, those few people were very instrumental in my faith growing. Um, and so, yeah, been good. Good job.

As you look back, might you be willing to tell us what you might have done differently, given the opportunities that you know today?

Oh goodness. Um, you know, there is, uh, sometimes it's real easy to get caught up doing the duties. Um, there's lots of ways you can be pulled to carry out ministry, uh, logistical things, meetings and such. But, um, one thing that I would like if I look back over the previous 20 years to, to be even more with God's word and, uh, even more with God's people and less, maybe less on meetings and, uh, some of the logistical stuff. Um, I think now with technology, internet, uh, email, social media, you name it, we have more and more avenues of communication that can easily pull us away from being with people and even from the actual word of God as well. Uh, there's just so many distractions. And, and so to just be more dis, even more disciplined, um, to be in, in God's word and in prayer life and with his people, uh, in a, in a beneficial way, I think that I would just be a little more or, uh, intentional about that.

Um, I know a lot of pastors have struggled with spending time with their families and making sure their kids were priority and wife and things. That's something that I wouldn't, I wouldn't have, I don't worry about. I know my kids know that I put them as a priority. My wife knows that too. So we've had ups and downs like getting family does, but if my kids were able to, um, you know, make comments of it, it's nice to, I'm, I'm happy when I hear the fact that they know that, uh, that dad made time for them, you know, coaching little league soccer or softball or whatever, and, uh, making sure I had date nights with my wife. So those are, those are ways that, uh, I'm glad, uh, I'd kept, kept it as a focus in my

Life, but the influence of the world is becoming so away from Christ centeredness that we have to work extra hard. Uh, I think, uh, be more influential in the sense of our own productivity as it relates to God's word. Um, and I know that, that, that part of your thinking as well, that you, you, you just can't leave your family alone. That has to be a priority, no matter how much ministry, uh, a lot of people would like to say, well, I'm doing ministry, uh, my kids will turn out. Okay. Well, I'm not sure of that. Yeah. What do you think?

No, I, I definitely don't think that's the case. I think, uh, the kids will we'll resent the ministry, resent the church. I, I, I have some friends that whose, whose parents are pastors, uh, you know, they're PKS and, uh, and they, they have a lot of resentment because the church, they will say pulled, pulled their dad away from the, from the family. And, uh, and really, you know, that's problem is that with the, the pastor too, it's not the, the father, um, you know, you're in charge of your schedule and you have to be able to say no to the church, just like, sometimes you gotta say no to your kids or even your wife, but, um, you know, you, you need to be able to say that and you have some good boundaries and, uh, it's easy to, if you lose sight of your boundaries in regards to, uh, your schedule, uh, your relationships that are important, uh, you become, you know, just being tossed about in the wind and that's not healthy.

What would you say would be a particular high point in ministry? There are low points, there are medium points that are high points. And I think we all have probably, um, a hill experience that probably never goes away something that, um, God has left to happen in our life in ministry. Can you think of a time when that for sure was something that you'll never forget?

Well, I can think of high points and low points. Uh, no doubt. Um, I can't say there's just one high point. Um, but they're numerous. And, uh, and these are a lot of times they're in worship services or in, uh, small group settings with people. Um, uh, you know, when I think of worship services, uh, things like a good Friday service, um, Christmas E services, when I see, uh, the congregation full and candles being held and okay, everybody's singing silent night. And, and the funny thing is my perspective of say a worship service like that is different than the congregations, cuz I'm a front looking at everybody and all the candle, and it's a beautiful site from my perspective front looking out, whereas the congregation is in the midst of it and they don't get to see it really from my view. So, um, that's kind of a cool, cool perspective.

Um, you know, another high, uh, highlights or, and small groups is watching and listening to someone come to realize God's grace and love for them. Uh, there was a guy in a new member class that I was talking with and, and I was telling him about God's grace, God's love forgiveness. And that, you know, Christ died for all sins and for, and for all people. And that there's nothing that a person could do that is too great, uh, that Jesus couldn't, uh, forgive. And so as I would explain that he, this is a guy that's covered in tattoos and has some interesting markings on him. And, uh, and he looks at me and he says, now, pastor you telling me that Jesus, his blood forgives us of all of our sins. And I said, yeah. And I said it casually, you know, cuz I'm just talking about things I talk about normally and he pause and he goes, no.

And he looks at me really, really, uh, sternly, are you telling me that Christ's blood forgives all my sins? And I could tell there he was not just casual. And uh, and, and so I, I, I took a moment and I looked at him just as intently in the eyes and, you know, confirmed. Yes. You know, about Christ's blood is good. And uh, and just to see his face and it began a friendship that we had for years to come. And, uh, just to see his face, uh, in that, in that aspect was, uh, was tremendous cuz knowing that the reality of God's love and grace was, was really hitting home. So, you know, that's just a singular one-on-one type of kind conversation. But to me that's a, that's a

Highlight. I think that you have experienced this. Like I have what I'm about to describe, uh, teaching in a class of people and you come to that gospel message that alone stands on its own. It has doesn't need, they kinda support. And you see the scales all of a sudden fall from the eyes of people who up to this point had been ambivalent, indifferent toward it. And all of a sudden isn't that a joyful experience when you see that. Yep. And

When you see people come to realize God's love and grace for them, it's a, it's beautiful, you know, not, it doesn't just happen in the church we teach, you know, certainly we teach classes here. Um, I also teach for Concordia university in Austin, uh, Texas. And, uh, and so I teach on blind classes, old Testament, new Testament and uh, Christian ethics. And the fun part about that for me is that not all of them are Christians. They're certainly not all Lutherans, but they're not even all Christians that are in class. So here I'm getting to teach stuff out of scripture. And yes, I bring in some theology and some our understanding, our Lutheran flavor of Christianity, but, uh, um, but you know, just helping them see and hear about God's love through the, through that academic process at the university, um, that is fun and engaging. So I've had some Muslims and some people are just atheists and, you know, just, you know, a wide variety of folks. So that's fun to see people really wrestle with the

Gospel. The joy will be when one day you see them face to face on the throne of Jesus and say, I remember you <laugh>

Well, I've got a pretty bad memory, so we'll see what God could do. Well,

They will, they will probably remind you that God used you in a special way to bring the message of truth, hope and forgiveness, uh, into their life. Um, there's probably some thoughts that we've not covered that help people to under stand, um, why we go into ministry, what happens during ministry? Some of the things that probably, um, have been more difficult for us to, to, to face than others, but what lasting thought can you give to a mom and dad whose son has come 'em and said, mom, I think I'd like to become a pastor like the one in our church. What would, what would be the council in this context of education that you would give them? I

Would, um, strongly encourage 'em to pray for their child, talk with their child and, uh, and support 'em in that role. Um, there's not that many passers out there. Um, and in this world it's just gonna get more hostile, I believe, to, uh, to the Christian message and, and we in our, uh, flavor of Lutheranism, uh, certainly are, uh, more and more different than the world is. Um, and so I think it's, it's a big, it's gonna be a big challenge. I think some people see pastoring as kind of an easy, maybe an easy route. Uh, that means they don't understand what the pastors are doing, but, um, but certainly I think someone who wants to consider it, uh, pray for them and, uh, encourage them along the way. It's a great, it's a

Great ride. Well, I can remember just the, the few people that God let me influence to together with the parents to become pastors. And I've seen them grow over the course of years and, and in their ministries, what they have become. But I just wanna say how gracious and thankful that I am, that you're at St. John, uh, you'll become a, an associate to a new senior pastor in the very near future. Uh, life will be different thinking will be different. Um, but the gospel will always be the same. The message will always be unchangeable and the God who sends that message will always be unchangeable as well. But I just wanna say, thank you for our relationship. Um, relationship is good because it's based upon the unchanging word of God. The unchanging love that Jesus has displayed for us. I'd like to have you just take this next 45 seconds as we begin to close, uh, this particular broadcast in prayer, especially thinking about those. Who've looked at ministry in a, in a different way than you and I have, but especially to those parents who are trying to be an influence to someone in their family to follow that path and follow Jesus, if you would please have

A prayer. Sure. That's pray, uh, gracious father in heaven. I do lift up and I joined my brother David here to lift up, uh, families who are, uh, wrestling with, and hopefully joyfully wrestling with the idea that, uh, there's a son there that is considering the ministry. Uh, I pray that your spirit work on their heart to control, earn that, and also to provide the avenues, uh, for that to occur. Uh, it's a kind of, can be an expensive, um, process getting a master's degree. Uh, so I pray that you line up, uh, not only the willing hearts, but, uh, also ways that, uh, logistically, uh, it will, it will happen. Our congregation needs men who are gonna stand on the word of God. And so we pray that father, you will lead them and, uh, and strengthen them in these trying times. We ask us all in Jesus precious and powerful name,

Come back to us again on engaging truths next

Sunday night at seven and seven 30 good night. Thank you for listening to this broadcast of engaging truth. Be sure to join us each week at this time to help support our ministry, contact evangelical life ministries, post office Fox 5 6 8, Cypress Texas 7 7 4 1 0. Or visit our website@elmhouston.org, or find us on Facebook at evangelical life ministries. Thank you.