“So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers” (Ephesians 4:11)
“Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.” (1 Corinthians 4:2)
Since October of 2014, Denise and I have had the privilege of traveling the great Chicago Central District, visiting churches and working with some of the finest pastors in the world. We have been especially impacted by the level of long-term faithfulness of 16 of our pastors who have served for more than 15 years in the same community, the same church, loving and pastoring God’s people.
In the midst of our summer schedule, it seemed appropriate for us to recognize their being “given a trust” and “proving faithful” (1 Corinthians 4:2). The following is the list:
Pastor Church Date Begun Years
Dave & Lori Anderson Danville First Dec. 2007 15
Doug & Michelle Ward Mundelein June 2004 19
Robert Killion Milford March 2003 20
Bill & Rora Luttrell Wilmington First June 2002 21
Bill & Marcia Wright Danville Westside Nov. 2001 21
Hoang Van Huynh Uptown Vietnamese Sept. 2001 22
Enrique & Gloria Polanco West Chicago Oct. 1998 25
Greg & Marcie Chambers Kankakee Eastridge June 1998 25
John & Karen Mohler Kempton March 1998 25
Victor & Linda Walker House of Prayer Dec. 1997 25
Leonard Martz Worth Aug. 1996 26
Pedro & Berta Aguilar Emanuel Spanish Dec. 1994 28
Jamil & Merya Qandah Oak Lawn Arabic Feb. 1989 34
Jeronimo & Mayda Gutierrez Mundelein Spanish April 1988 35
Jose & Irma Alfaro Chicago First Spanish Oct. 1985 38
Debora White Sheldon Aug. 1985 38
We cannot say it often enough – to every one of our 283 ministers and especially to the local pastors and ministers who serve in multiple ways all across our district, thank you for your service to Christ and your love for His church. Thank you for the long hours, the consistent prayers and poured-out lives of love that you offer up to Jesus every week!
Thank you for your sacrifices. There are so many that only you and Jesus know. Thank you for the ministry and the labor of love that you give to the people of God and to the communities where the Head of the Church has placed you. Today, would you please lock arms with your pastor in a fresh new way? Encourage him/her in the calling God has graciously given them. “Christ Himself gave…pastors.”
Thank you for your commitment this summer to keep spiritually learning and personally growing as you serve God’s church. We always close with a reminder to help each of us move forward by focusing on the basics of a healthy church:
mobilizing everyone in unity
blessing your community
bringing people to Jesus
becoming Christlike disciples
We have such wonderful days ahead! You are loved.
Larry McKain, Superintendent
Chicago Central District
Church of the Nazarene