"Give my love to..."

"Greet Prisca and Aquila, who work with me in Christ Jesus, and who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. Greet also the church in their house..."

(Romans 16:3-5a)

Palmdale United Methodist Church is my 4th congregation that I've served as a pastor in my 24 years of ordained ministry. I truly feel like God has blessed me with great congregations and wonderful people whom I've been able to share my journey with. People who have been significant in both my development as a pastor, and in the development of my family.

Every June we United Methodists gather for our 'Annual Conference.' John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, believed it was important for the leaders (both laity and clergy) to get together annually. Our area of the country gathers at the University of Redlands.

I LOVE going to Annual Conference because of the people. I love seeing my close friends who are colleagues in ministry, and I love seeing the non-clergy leaders from the other churches I've serve in my past. Every year I give hugs and ask about certain people from their congregations. It's awesome.

As Paul was finishing his letter to the church in Rome, he tacked on his "give my love to..." section in his last chapter. Friends of his: Prisca, Aquila, Epaenetus, Mary, Andronicus, Junia, Ampliatus, Urbanus, Stachys, Apelles, Aristobulus, Herodian, Narcissus, Tryphaena, Tryphosa, Persis, Rufus, Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, Philologus, Julia, Nereus, and Olympus. These are all people he knows and loves.

I could list folks like that: Yun, Julie, Jason, Steve, Dan, Mike... Ernie, Laverne, Judy, Linda, Tupou, Stan, Sue, JB, Katie... Doug, Dorothy, Grace, Joe, Sarah, Peter, Blake, Paul, Jan, Del, Dick, Amy, Malia, Stu, Katie, Betty etc... I could go on and on and on... I've been SO BLESSED by SO MANY people over the course of my life (and ministry). Thank you, Gracious Lord, for these amazing individuals and families!