FROM A SECOND GENERATION PASTOR

Bobby Mitchell  |  Mid-Coast Baptist Church  |  Brunswick, ME.

Conviction, courage, consistency, compassion, and common sense- Those are the defining characteristics of two of the finest Christians I know. They also happen to be my dad and mom. They also happen to be in the ministry. It is an incredible privilege and a heavenly delight to be able to say that I was raised in a pastor's home. I never knew that it was a "hardship." I never knew that I was supposed to rebel. I never knew the dreadful psychological ramifications that could result from such a limited existence!

All I knew was that there was nothing greater than living in the perfect will of God Almighty. This I knew from messages and Christian training, but most importantly from a life-long observation of the starkest example of what Christianity is in any child's life- my parents. Dad and Mom are people of conviction because they are people of the Book. Unlike other parents that turned to psychology, seminars, Dr. Spock, and other pop-culture ideas of child-rearing they simply raised me by God's Word. They not only raised me by the Bible, but they lived what the Scriptures said.

That took courage. They went against the majority. They endured criticism. But they did right anyway. In their conviction and courage they were consistent. In their priorities, speech, dress, entertainment, activities, and attitude they strove to do right regardless of the situation or circumstances. I was never confused as to what was right and wrong. Standards did not change from one day to the next, waxing and waning like the moon in its cycle. Instead, I saw a steady, Spirit-led consistency concerning their lives.

All of that without compassion would simply be akin to militaristic duty. But that was not so in our home. The determination to do right, the reasoning behind it, and the constant application was all tempered with Biblical compassion. Dad did not see church-members as cattle to be driven, but as sheep to be led. He led his kids the same way. I was led through my shortcomings, my failures, my conviction of sin, and of course, I was led to salvation. Sure, they were tough and unbending concerning right and wrong, but their compassion always made it known that only my best interests were at stake in everything they led me through.

Finally, they just used good old-fashioned common sense. No seven-year-old boy is thrilled at the idea of spending an afternoon visiting sick people in a hospital. But, what little fellow doesn't love an ice-cream sundae? Dad knew how to make the ministry fun, so when we went out to visit I got more than my fair shares of sundaes, snacks, and sodas. He would take me along to do ministry work at times and always combine it with at least a little fun. It wouldn't seem like much to an adult, but to a little boy spending time with the strongest, smartest, most important man in the world, it was incredible!

My dad didn't spend his times of recreation with the other men. He spent time with me. Whether it was taking me to a baseball game, a fishing excursion, or just throwing a ball in the backyard, he gave his free-time to his family. A listening ear, an understanding heart, and time are things that every parent can afford to give to their children and that no child can afford to live without. I was rich in those blessings.

By the way, Dad and Mom didn't gripe about the gossips, they didn't complain about their critics, they didn't mope about the membership, and they didn't poor-mouth about the problems. They took them to the Lord in prayer, and let us kids think that the ministry was the greatest opportunity and the grandest career in the world.

That's because it is! I say that it is because I now have the privilege and honor to call myself a pastor. In my heart I know that their example is one reason why I am.