In honor of our Pastor

We had to keep a secret around here for a few days, but it was all worth the wait! The church staff knew that the reason our pastor was going to be gone for a few days was because Pensacola Christian College was going to give him an honorary doctorate degree. This past Wednesday, Pastor Jeff Redlin was given this incredible honor, and we praise the Lord for that. The church found out about it after the event, and were told to keep another secret! The plans to give Pastor a reception were in the works.

In the morning service, Pastor Redlin was told that the evening service was going to be taken care of and that the church had something special planned for him. These napkins were given as church people received a delicious piece of chocolate cake. We all enjoyed the small glass bottles of Coke that were sitting in ice-filled tubs.

During the service, we sang hymns of praise and were given the opportunity to share a testimony about what Pastor meant to us. A couple video presentations were shown, too. One video was made by the staff, featuring Pastor's dummy and long-time friend, Mike Landers. It was hilarious! The biggest surprise came with the final video. The picture on the screen wasn't showing up, but the audio was working. Actually, it was all a set up as the person speaking came out after a minute or so to surprise Pastor. It was Pastor Schettler, who was the campus pastor at Pensacola for many years. Pastor Redlin worked side by side with him for 15 years as youth pastor before coming to lead our church.

He was so surprised! You can see with this picture that they truly enjoy being with one another. At the end of the service, Pastor Schettler gave a challenge from God's Word, focusing on our pastor's favorite verse: Psalm 84:11. It says, "For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly." We are so blessed to have a pastor who walks with the Lord and challenges us to do the same. This was the time in his life that the Lord raised him up and gave him the honor that he so rightly deserved.

This was one of the gifts that the church gave him. The calligraphy writing of Psalm 84:11 was so beautifully done and placed in this one-of-a-kind frame. The other gift was a software program called, "Scholar's Library." It includes many reference tools for a pastor to use with his studies.

This is our church staff. From left to right they are...Pastor Jeff Redlin (senior pastor), Jamie Coppola (school administrator), Pastor Quentin Johnson (youth pastor and my hubby), Pastor Nigel Wagg (assistant pastor), Steve Wood (maintenance director), and Memory Fender (church secretary). 

Congrats again, Pastor Redlin! We are so glad we have the privilege of calling you "our pastor." You are such a blessing and encouragement to us. May the Lord continue to bless you as you walk uprightly each and every day.