Educational Ministries Staff Reunion, November 16, 2013
Words by Don Ng
Welcome
Welcome to EM Staff Reunion! As the President-Elect of ABCUSA, I am very pleased to see so many former colleagues here tonight. “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.” Tonight is the time to celebrate and remember because everything that has happened in our lives has been under God’s heaven and earth.
On behalf of General Secretary Roy Medley and ABCUSA who made this reunion possible, we thank you for your faithful service in Educational Ministries that has made a difference in many people’s lives and in God’s grace continues on today.
Introductions—“Who is in the house?”
Judson Press
Graphics Department
Printing
Finance & Accounting
Christian Higher Education
Church Education
Education for Discipleship
Computer Center
Traffic
Administratively Related Organizations
AB Women
AB Men
Historical Society
Ministers Council, Interim Ministries
Others…
Spouses, Partners, Friends who all made it possible for us to serve at EM
For Everything There Is a Season
Like many of you, I served EM for many years and these were some of the best years of my ministry. In 1998, I became Senior Pastor of the First Chinese Baptist Church in San Francisco and it still amazes me today on how much of what I experienced in EM has helped me in my pastorate in the local church. I tell my church that I learned from the very best in EM and now they are receiving the benefits.
When God created you and me, God had great expectations for us. And all of us had the privilege of using those God-given gifts when we served in EM. God’s beautiful creation included beautiful people like you. In my 20 years in EM, I had the joy of knowing many of you here tonight. There are some whom I don’t know as well, but I look forward to beginning a relationship with you. To run the risk of mentioning a few I apologize but to say nothing would be a missed opportunity.
Memories:
*I always remember Charlie Harker carrying a bunch of papers in his arms.
*Ruth Cramer who enjoyed coffee break as the best part of the day.
*Sam Duncan and Geri Blier who cleaned my laptop from time to time.
*Rose Dodd and Lynn Eckman who shared an office together.
*Linda Isham who made room for children in the church.
*Vergie Gillespie, John Pipe, Esther Pullis, Brenda Tribett, Joe Leonard, Linda Isham and Bud Wilmot who were the core team of the Church Education division and my closest colleagues.
*Sally Shelly and Helen Mainieri who were the happy Judson voices on the phone.
*Joe Leonard who taught us to love our sexuality.
*Miriam Chacon-Peralta, Mayra Castenada and Miriam Gutierrez who spoke the heavenly language.
*Valentine Royal who showed us that women can preach.
*Hal Germer’s daughter who babysat our kids in Malvern.
*Gary Lanette who gave our son, Greg a summer job in Traffic.
*Ron McBride and Bill Knoeller who kept Traffic moving.
*Art Munson who amazingly was able to do many tasks.
*Roxanne DeCarlo and Shirley Reifsynder who were my administrator secretaries.
*A host of people who provided the platform for many of us to do ministry: Alicia, Austin, Barbara, Portia, Joan, Michelle, Elaine, Eleanor, Chris, Janet, Martin, Janine, Gale, Doris, Marie, Terry, Treni and many others.
*Ron Schlosser who gave me my first lesson on editing.
*Vicky Ganser and Tina Edginton who turned manuscripts into books.
*Randy Frame, Kristy Pullen, Linda Peavy and now Laura Alden who made the books available to the world.
*Dayle Scott who to this day in California remains a close friend.
*Adam Kittrell and Bill Belli who taught us that we are learners all of our lives.
*Ron Arena who I still talk about the Red Sox especially this year’s World Series.
*Dean Hurst who signed my first payroll check.
*Jean Kim who trusted in my leadership.
*Betty Layton who told us that everything we did had historical significance.
*Pat Magdamo who showed us that God calls us to go into all corners the world.
*Marcia Jessen who believes that all of us can go where no one has gone before.
There are many of you whom I know but have now forgotten what you did in EM. That’s not as important as the truth that God knows and that’s is all that really counts. The truth is that we are not necessarily known for what we did but who we are becoming.
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.” There is the season to be born and a time to die. I was not prepared to learn that many of our colleagues have returned to the Lord. When I learned of those who served with us with joy, creativity, and the heart for Jesus Christ, I cried for I dearly missed these departed friends.
When it was the season for each of us to leave EM, we threw away stones but tonight as we gathered for this reunion, with these glass tokens, we gathered our stones once more together again.
The purpose of this reunion dinner is to say to you, the living and to those whose loved ones have now gone home that we have not forgotten the significant ministries that you have done in the name of Christ through Educational Ministries.
It has been too long a time when we kept silent, but tonight was a time to speak. By being here tonight, we share with each other and to those who can’t be with us in person but absolutely in spirit that we are celebrating the life-changing ministries of EM in the past that continues forward as long as we shall all live.
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.
Benediction
May the spirit in this room warms your hearts and enriches your soul.
May the faces that we see remind you of the face of God.
May the words expressed be as divine as the Word of Christ.
May the power of God, the love of Christ and the peace of the Holy Spirit abide with you until we meet again. Amen.