Brian and I were on kinda the same wave length today.

I have been having breakfast or lunch with a guy almost once a month for the last 8 years. We’ve missed a few because of vacations or ministry schedules but pretty much we’ve held to the schedule. Today was probably our last meeting for a couple of years. Alvin and his wife are going to China for two years.

Alvin and I have similar career paths, we’ve both been counselors, we’ve both planted churches, and we’ve both worked for the denomination. Because of similar paths we just struck it off. When we met sometimes I would gripe, sometimes he would gripe, mostly we just kinda shared life. What was happening in our ministries, how our families were doing, how to solve the world’s problems.

It was a tough “goodbye” this morning. I’ve been praying for God to open the door for this ministry in Alvin and Ruth’s life for the last year. He will be a counselor to the IMB mission team in the East. I admire that after retirement Alvin and his wife Ruth will be traveling 1/2 way around the world to do something new in a totally foreign environment. You’re never too old for God to use you. I said to him today, “I think if you are called by God to ministry then no matter what age you never retire from ministry.”

Alvin I’ll miss our monthly meetings. Pray God’s most rewarding blessings and protection over you. Thanks for being my friend.