Axe-Worthy Event
I attended an Axe-worthy event this evening. Let me explain. My son Jacob uses Axe deodorant…sometimes. If it’s a really special occasion, special enough that he actually showers and puts on some decent clothes, he’ll announce to everyone, "I’m using the Axe tonight." Well, tonight just so happened to be one of those nights.
Jacob used the Axe tonight because I was ordained as a pastor at NewSpring Church along with three of my fellow ministry mates. It was a great service. Perry invited all the staff and their families to attend. Lee led worship on his acoustic. Perry taught. The other ordained guys on staff prayed for us. Then, as you do in the South for Axe-worthy events like this, you eat a lot of food. (The chocolate fountain was my favorite part.)
In case you’re curious, here’s the passage from I Timothy 3 from which Perry taught:
"Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task. Now
the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife,
temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap."
That’s a tall order, but I firmly believe that’s part of God’s calling on my life. I’ve been a Christ-follower for over 20 years. I’ve been in ministry now for almost 9 years. It’s been an incredible journey, and I’m still growing in my faith and my ministry role. But, tonight, it was pretty cool to take this next step with my friends and family there to witness it. I’m honored, encouraged and humbled by this acknowledgment by Perry and NewSpring Church that God has called me for this leadership role in the church. If I could have, I would have used the Axe as well tonight.
nice. make sure you enunciate properly…as in “smells like AXE in here” as I didn’t at middle school youth group the other night.
Congratulations, Tony, from a devoted reader. I’ll never forget the day that i was ordained – very moving and humbling and yes, what a huge order given by Paul. May the Spirit of the Living God give you the ability to be up to the task.
You know I had been in ministry quite some time when I was finally ordained… so it wasn’t a change of ministry… more like an acknowledement of what God was doing… but I can tell you this… there is something supernatural about the ordination. Things were different… Its that officially being set apart for the ministry… and my life was never the same… Congrats Tony and believing for great things to come.
Congrats
I include you in prayers daily.
Also thanks for your blog.
Congrats, Tony. It’s a noble, humbling, and rewarding thing – more than a ceremony .. I’m convinced that with the ordination comes an impartation .. an anointing and equipping to do what He’s called you to do in greater measure.
For the Kingdom,
Fred
Congratulation! May God continue to use you to bring Him much glory!
Congrats, bro! So now you’re official, right?
Been in your ordination shoes just a few months back. Awesome times…