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February 16, 2023, my mother Darlene celebrated her 85th birthday. My wife Diann and I had the pleasure to fly to Reno, Nevada to celebrate the weekend with her. It had been 8 years since my dad was called to Glory during the same week in 2015, so birthdays tend to be a bitter/sweet occasion for her.
A highlight to the weekend was worshiping with her at Our Savior Lutheran Sparks, Nevada. Pastor Andrew Simpson has a Florida-Georgia district connection as he was the Vicar at Bethlehem Jacksonville Beach with his wife Holly and two children. Pastor Simpson led worship with an adult baptism/celebration followed by his Sermon. We were all reminded of how our baptism prepares us to live for Christ in a very challenging world. But as Pastor Andrew delivered his message, he took a sharp turn and introduced us to another Pastor Andrew: Pastor Andrew Johnson of Trinity Manilla, Iowa. Pastor Johnson is in his early 30’s. He and his wife Tiffany have served at Trinity since 2017 and are waging a war against a giant that all of us pray we never have to face.
Andrew is battling terminal cancer. As I understand, he beat it once, but now it’s back – this time with a vengeance. I continue because he has chronicled his journey via Face Book and Pastor Simpson chose to read his post from February 12, 2023 as the focus for his sermon.
You can find it here:
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=3335953263287692&id=100006191521377
I have been told that I am as pragmatic as they come. Stone-Cold. I just assumed most Lutherans are. As Pastor Simpson read the post, I was overwhelmed with emotions and buckets started gushing from my eyes. It was a farewell message from Pastor Johnson filled with questions of “why me God” and “why now when there’s still much to be done”.
Though his words pointed to farewell, there still was much more to be accomplished! His post spoke of 3 baptisms in one weekend. The two he presided over on Sunday morning meant as much to him as it did to those baptized.
“I was reminded that I have a bullet-proof identity” he writes.
I call it Armor! Bullet-Proof Armor! It is our identity, and it gives us the courage to stand firm when facing the evil we are called to face. The evil isn’t going away, and at some point we will have to face it.
Good News is that Christ has already conquered it all through His death and resurrection.
There is Victory in Jesus! We are called to stand firm, in Him, wearing the whole bullet-proof armor of God!
I have been wrestling with Pastor Johnson’s life all week. I don’t know him personally, but have been truly moved to stand beside him and Tiffany as his brother in Christ. His testimony speaks to the core of Sacrificial Discipleship: truly Daring to Make a Difference and Talking About Jesus!
How do we stand beside him? We stand beside him in prayer, and then we GO and talk about Jesus!
I ask that you commit this Season of Lent to praying for Pastor Johnson and Tiffany and accepting the call to make a difference!
Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for sending your Son Jesus, crushing the enemy of Sin, Death and the powers of Evil through His Death and resurrection. Remind us of the bullet-proof armor, the identity you gave to us through baptism, and encourage us to approach each day with super natural courage, the courage to share your love and infinite comfort.
I pray for Pastor Johnson and for his wife Tiffany. Immerse them with your love, comfort and peace that passes all understanding. Comfort them with the knowledge that we as the church stand with them through this battle, and that there is Victory in Jesus when we all celebrate together in Heaven!
In Jesus’ name - Amen
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