Update 2015

It is time for me to update my life since I have made some major changes.  On May 19, 2013, I officially relinquished the office of pastor of the First Apostolic Church, a position I held for thirty years, starting in May of 1983.  Before that date, I had been assistant and associate pastor for ten years, so the total years for serving the church was forty.  That’s long enough for anyone to be in charge.  At sixty-five, I felt like the church needed a younger man, a change of direction, an infusion of new life and a different vision.  The younger people needed a new role model, something that I had not been for many years.

Kris Dillingham, a family man, age 39, was elected to serve as pastor.  The margin of approval was very nearly 100%.  He and his wife, Jennifer, and three children, sons Rhett and Reese, and daughter Ashlyn, are already well-loved by the church family.  In his year and a half of leadership, Pastor Dillingham is doing a wonderful job.  The church is experencing great growth, increased contributions, and a vigorous renewal of live and vitality. 

At this point, I still occupy the office of Ohio District Superintendent, a post I’ve held for twenty years (or will be in May of 2015).  I have more time for district duties, I have been able to visit more Ohio churches, and I have been able to travel for speaking engagements.  So far, I have been to several foreign countries (Slovlakia, Serbia, Croatia, Hungary, The Philippines) and a number of states, including Arizona, Mississippi, Texas, Indiana, Michigan and Florida. 

I have also had time to write more.  I have always written monthly articles for the Ohio Apostolic News since 1995, plus a quarterly newsletter to our district ministers.  Now, I have added to that a new book that came out last fall, “They Probably Told Me, but I Wasn’t Listening,” and ventured into Christian fiction with “Morgan County Morning.”  I have my second novel ready to publish, “Morgan County Midnight,” plus several other books, including a revision of “Healing Evangelism.”  I am especially excited about this one because I have input from two medical doctors and a nurse who headed up a surgical department in a major hospital. 

Ryan and Claire, who live in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, gave us another grandchild, Coleman Cash, born January 23, 2015.  That makes three grandchildren (MaKinzie and August).  Ryan is an assistant manager at Rural King, a home and farm chain, and Claire is a real estate agent.  Ross and Melissa live and work in Toledo.  He has a new job at Precision Trim, that is very promising, and Melissa works at a medical billing office.  Rene’ and Kyle live in Florida.  She manages a large apartment complex in St. Petersburg and he commutes to Orlando for a job as a construction foreman.

I am very blessed.  I hope to be active and productive for many years into the future!