This coming Sunday, September 7, 2025, is my retirement Sunday here at First Assembly of God in Shrewsbury, NJ. After over 40 years of church ministry, ten years here at First Assembly, and over a year of planning with my church board and assistant pastor, the day is upon me. This Sunday I’ll be preaching my final sermon as a “Senior Pastor.” And I’ll be moving from one season of life to another. After Sunday’s service I’ll officially be a “retired minister.”
That doesn’t mean I’ll be sitting around doing nothing. I do hope to still be involved in ministry, filling pulpits and helping churches as needed. I might do some writing. And in case you don’t already know, this past year I received my certification as a personal trainer. Right now the plan is to work at a local gym a few hours per week as well as run my own training business (Second Wind Personal Training). And of course, I’m hoping to get a bit more time with my kids and grandkids!
As most pastors can attest, the life of a pastor is not an easy one. There is always the pressure of preparing another sermon, the administrative tasks at hand, leading board meetings, the counseling needs that arise, and the congregational emergencies that can suddenly disrupt one’s schedule. The demands of pastoring are high. Every congregant has in their mind how the pastor should function, what the church should look like, and how it is a church service should be run. And the pastor’s wife and family can often feel the pressure, especially when things may not be going as well as one would hope.
For sure, my wife Kim and my children, Jonathan, Nathaniel, and Joanna, have ridden some bumpy ministry roads with me. They’ve made sacrifices along the way that no one knows of. They’ve supported my calling, allowing me to serve unhindered the congregations God placed within my care. And they did so without complaining. I am truly grateful for each of them.
Most of all, however, I’m grateful for God’s hand upon my life throughout these many years. It’s true, at times it’s been tough—sometimes very, very tough. But God has proven himself faithful each step of the way. He who called me to shepherd his flock has been a Shepherd to my own soul. He has provided, guided, comforted, and strengthened each step of the way. And that gives me faith and hope for the days to come. Thus, it is with joy and peace that I step into this new season of life, for I know that the God who was with me in the past will be with me in the days to come.
I leave you with the scripture that has become somewhat a theme for me the past few years: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13 – NIV)
I thank God for the reality of those words within my life. I pray that you would find them to be a reality within yours.
Have a great day!
- Pastor Tim Harris
P.S. – I do hope to continue writing these “Pastors Devotions.” Just look for the links on my personal social media pages. Or send me note that you would like to subscribe: pastorsdevotions@gmail.com
Comments
Post a Comment