PR, ML, Kyle and Molly (Dallas skyline in background)
Wow, has it been that long since I've blogged? Time gets away doesn't it? It waits on no one, that's for sure. ML and I just returned from Dallas after spending a few days with our good friends, Steve and Joni Rankin, as well as the privilege of some time with Kyle and Molly who are working with Project Transformation once again this summer. What a great time we had! No set schedule, no real plans, just taking a few days with good friends and family. That's how I like it.
This the fourth summer for Kyle to work in Dallas, the third for Molly. What a blessing for them to work with some underprivileged kids as well as mentor and pastor the interns and others on staff. And isn't it so "coincidental" that they happen to be working "down the road" from Steve and Joni. Strange how these coincidences have been occurring regularly these past 30 years.
Steve was the local pastor of our little church in Aulne in 1984. He and Joni became good friends of ours during that time. "Coincidentally", we both moved to Chicago in August of 1988 to pursue God's calling in our lives. Strangely enough, Joni and ML both gave birth to boys during our time in Chicago (must have been the water). During that time, Steve served on staff of a church in Northbrook, Illinois. He and his family then moved back to Kansas to serve a church in Marquette. "Coincidentally", I was offered the vacant position that Steve left behind at the church in Northbrook.
After I completed seminary, I was appointed to a church in Salina, 30 minutes from Steve and Joni. Strange? Weird? Hmmm. So, we found ourselves serving together in close proximity once again. But, as God would have it, God called Steve and Joni to Southwestern College, where he served for over a decade. During that time, all of their kids graduated from high school and moved on to college. The same happened to us, as Todd and Eric graduated from Salina Central and Kyle from Leoti where we spent 8 years in ministry.
Once again, as God would have it, we "coincidentally" were appointed to Mulvane, just 30 minutes away from Steve and Joni. (See a pattern here?) We were excited to be close to the Rankins once again, only to realize God was calling them to SMU that year. "Hey Steve, what the heck?" The irony is that I received a call from a person on the campus minister search committee from SMU asking me to share "my thoughts" regarding Steve and his ministry. Ok, I could lie and say he was a jerk, thus crippling his chances to go to Dallas. However, I spoke the truth about Steve's ability to minister to people of all ages, his love and passion for the college age kids to come to faith in Christ, not to mention his mentoring me to the point of my saying "yes" to God's call to ordained ministry.
Next thing I know, Steve has been hired as the Campus Minister for SMU and off to Dallas he and Joni go. 'Hey, we just got to Mulvane! What the heck?" But, that's the way it's gone and that's the way it always seems to go. God's ways are not our ways, nor His thoughts our thoughts.
So, here we are. Yes, we are still in Mulvane (no plans to move to Dallas). However, the Just connection to the Rankins is there through Kyle and Molly who are serving the Lord in remarkable ways and who "coincidentally" are based out of the SMU campus. Mercy!
It's been a great ride this far as we've traveled the road of ministry together, although at times miles from one another. But distance doesn't matter to God. Obedience to Him is what matters.
So folks, open your lives to work of God. Watch for the opportunities that come your way. And pay attention to the "coincidences" for in reality, they are just divine appointments!
JUST sayin!
Steve and Joni, PR and ML
