Still Green But Growing

July 3rd, 2009 |

Her name was Roberta Grisham.  She died in a nursing home in Ripley, Mississippi at the age of 96.  I got the call of her passing on Tuesday, June 23.  It would not be the only announcement of death that week.  Others made the headlines: Ed McMahon, Johnny Carson’s side kick on The Tonight Show; Farrah Fawcett, one of the original Charlie’s Angels; and of course, the undisputed king of pop, Michael Jackson.  However, it was really Mrs. Roberta’s death that captured my attention.  She was a long time member of Dumas Baptist Church where I served as pastor some 30 years ago.  I was very young, very green, and very naïve.  My motives were good, but sometimes my methods fell short.  This is the church where I roped off the back pews so people would have to sit toward the front.  As you can imagine, that went over like a lead balloon, but that’s another story. Needless to say, there were some bumps in the road where my inexpe rience was apparent.  I remember one incident in particular that had the “powers that be” on my case pretty hot and heavy.  I was discouraged and beginning to question my call and particularly, my decision to pastor Dumas.  As I visited the Grisham’s, Mrs. Roberta sensed the defeat in her young pastor.  She told me that although she had voted for me, she was concerned at the time about my young age and had real doubts about my ability to pastor Dumas.  Well, that certainly cheered me up.  But then she continued by confessing that she was wrong.  I was the right man and I should not give up.  God was using me.  Mrs. Roberta was an astute student of the word and a faithful prayer warrior.  I respected her opinion.  She saw potential in me.  It would be a moment that would forever change the course of my ministry.  She honored me even in death by requesting that I do her memorial service.  So I returned to Dumas a few days ago, full of sweet memories and a grateful heart for someone who saw, not just what I was, but what I could become.

Still green but growing,

Bro. James