It was Sunday, March 1, 1959—fifty years ago when I entered full-time ministry.  Dwight Eisenhower was President of the United States, Richard M. Nixon was the Vice President.    Ronald Reagan was the host of TV’s General Electric Theater...and...oh yes, Barack Obama was not yet born!

On January 8th of that year I was studying in the library at Bethel College in Mishawaka, Indiana with my good friend John Moran.  I was startled when the librarian came over to where we were sitting and told me that I had a long distance phone call.  On the other end of the phone was Bob VanSteenburg, Director of St. Petersburg (Florida) Youth for Christ.  He told me they were looking for a full-time Director of the YFC Bible Clubs in the schools of Pinellas County and that I had been recommended to him.  Now mind you, I found my letter responding to Mr. Van Steenburg’s and at the time of his call the whole Michiana Area had been declared a “disaster area” because of a tremendous snow storm—over 17 inches of that white stuff had fallen in just three hours and the prediction was for 6 more inches the following day; therefore, when I returned to my studying partner I whispered that the call was from Florida and they offered me a job.  I remember John’s laughing response, “Do you even have to pray about that?”  (Even receiving a phone call in the library was unheard of so it made it ever more intriguing).

The following week I received a formal offer...

     $200 per month

     $ 20      per month auto allowance

I was engaged at that time to Irma Washmuth and on June 7th we were to be married; therefore, the Board of Directors said that beginning July 1st I would receive $30 per month housing allowance.  All honorariums received while representing Youth for Christ were to be given to the organization.  I was so thrilled—that would amount to $3,000 annually!

When I arrived in sunny, warm, Florida I was so exciting about ministering full-time to youth for on July 7, 1957 I had felt a definite “call” from God to enter the ministry—and more specifically, a ministry to youth.

The Youth for Christ Office at that time was located upstairs in a loft in the Moses Tabernacle of the Wilderness Building.  I could look over the balcony from the office and see the entire layout of the tabernacle and when I’d peer out the window my view was of the outer court.  It was located on the banks of Lake Maggiore.  (Doesn’t that sound like an exciting place for a youth office...?)

I served for eleven months as the Club Director and was then asked to become the Director of St. Petersburg Youth For Christ following the resignation of Mr. VanSteenburg.  I served in this capacity until September 30, 1965.  In some ways it was a proving ground for a young guy who thought he knew it all only to discover how little I really did know!  Probably one of the highlights of my ministry in St. Petersburg was in March 1962 when we sponsored an eight day Youtharama Citywide Crusade in the National Guard Armory; and during the summer of 1963 when I directed the YFC Teen Tones Choir on a tour to Winona Lake, Indiana and back singing every night in another city and finally in the 7,500 seat Billy Sunday Tabernacle.  Our group placed third in the nation and I was so very proud of my kids!

Much has happened since that day fifty years ago.  From St. Petersburg we moved to Portland where I became Director of the nations largest Youth for Christ Rally for four years; then on to Arcadia to serve as Ministry of Youth in the Arcadia Presbyterian Church for four years and another five years as Minister of Outreach (Evangelism and Mission) and teaching Evangelism part time at Fuller Theological Seminary.  Then came that day in April 1978 when I received the call from Portia Mendenhall, Chair of the Pastor Nominating Committee from Trinity Presbyterian Church in San Jose, California.  I’m sure that neither Portia nor any of the members of the PNC dreamed the relationship we forged back then when called to serve as your pastor would last for over 30 ½ years.  Amazing, over 60% of my ministry has been spent with you as your pastor...!

In just a few short weeks Irma and I will be leaving you—our church family—and a new PNC will be formed to begin the search for your next pastor.  There will be moments when you might wish the process might move faster; however, I am confident that in God’s time the right individual will be chosen as you, God’s people, pray and seek to know His will—as did that committee 31 years ago.  

There is now a subcommittee of session searching for the Stated Supply and Interim Pastor to serve from the time of my departure until the installation of a new pastor.  (An individual is called a Stated Supply until the time that an official search for a new pastor has begun and a PNC—Pastor Nominating Committee—has been elected by the congregation.  At that time the individual’s title changed from Stated Supply to Interim Pastor).

I urge you to be patient!  Trust your session!  Trust your PNC!  Trust the Presbytery of San Jose.  Get involved in the process.  Ask how you might assist.  Before a PNC can be elected there must be a thorough Mission Study discovering where Trinity has been, where it is presently, and where the congregation sees God leading in the future.  Once this is completed and approved by the Committee on Ministry the the Nominating Committee will then place names before the congregation to consider to serve on the PNC represently all areas of ministry and organizations at Trinity—youth thru senior adults—usually a committee of not more than nine members and not less than five.

Therefore, as we prepare to close the door on one era—we look forward to a time of new beginnings...who knows whata God will do for you...and for us...in the next 30 ½ years... ?J

(By the way, the photograph on the first page was taken in the second office we had in St. Petersburg in the back of a super market!)

God bless you...you are very special to me!

In Christ’s love,

Jack