This past Saturday, I was invited by the SPRC from St. James UMC in Rural Hall to participate in a service of appreciation for their pastor, Rev. Dr. Paul Perkins Sr. My first question to the chairperson was, "Is he leaving?" She said, "No we just want to show him our appreciation and surprise him." So I accepted the invitation, and was anticipating great music and worship and the Lord, and I did not leave disappointed. The church filled with folks at 3:00pm on a beautiful Saturday afternoon to come together for the purpose of saying thank you to their pastor for a job well done. Pastors from the community, old friends, family, and even a person whom he had lead to Christ that later went into the ministry were all present to bring a witness to the work of Christ that Pastor Paul Perkins has done. I once heard him say that the people of St. James are the finest sheep that ever stepped foot through the gate of the fold. His admiration for them is obvious too. The invitation to this event said that it was going to be a roast. What I anticipate in a usual roast is for people to be a little on the antagonistic side and tell stories you wish they wouldn't tell. I couldn't imagine anyone saying anything about Pastor Perkins that he wouldn't want told. He is an upright man.
I was not disappointed in how that turned out either. People had the finest things to say. In my remarks, I recalled the first time I went there to St. James for a worship service. I was sitting in the congregation and an usher tapped me on the shoulder and motioned for to come to the platform. I was getting inducted into the black church tradition, I just didn't realize that at the moment. From that point on, everytime I visited, I was invited to come and sit with the pastors on the platform at the front of the church, whether they knew ahead I was going to be there or not. On one of those occasions, Pastor Paul Perkins brought tears to my eyes. He had invited all the pastors to come forward to sit on the platform before the service started and we ran out of chairs there were so many preachers that day! The way Rev. Perkins showed me such great honor that day was that he gave me his chair on the platform, and sat down on the floor in a hard folding metal chair to give his guests the best seats in the house. I have learned so much from Rev. Perkins about hospitality, about loving his flock and being steadfast. I was so blessed to be apart of such a service of giving the Lord thanks and praise for Rev. Perkins being such a faithful servant of Christ. Usually you don't hear people say such nice things about a person, unless it's a funeral. I commend St.James UMC for praising the Lord now, for their pastor to know beyond any doubt how much they appreciate the work he has done in the name of Christ for them. I could actually feel the honor pass by. I could feel respect and reverence in the air. I know God was not only proud of Rev. Perkins, but also so proud of a church for seeking a way to honor his servant. When we look for a way to be a blessing to God, I know it must bring a smile to the heart of God. I share this story with you today as a praise. Thank the Lord for the gift of hospitality of St. James UMC. They are really setting a high mark for the rest of us. What a competition that could be? Let's see what church can show the most honor and respect and reverence for the work of Christ in their midst and to all the ones who are doing the work as pastor of their flock? I think that's the kind of competition that would make God smile. Church, we are blessed to be a blessing. St. James, thank you for sharing your spirit of gratitude with your faith community. Whatever is beautiful, holy, righteous, let's think about these things. To set your mind on the things of the Spirit is life.
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