The service was filled with prayer, hymns, a message, charges to the congregation and to me, and I was given an opportunity to respond. To conclude, the elders gathered around me and prayed over me. It was an absolute blessing.

We ended the day with a fellowship meal, of course! Before we began to enjoy the food, however, I was surprised to be presented with a special gift. The educational ministries of the church presented me with a framed sermon manuscript by Charles Spurgeon, my spiritual mentor and hero! I was completely taken back and simply at a loss of words. I have read Spurgeon and/or about Spurgeon for years. One of the shelves in my library is dedicated to all things “Spurgeon.” As you can imagine then, I have always wanted one of his manuscripts, but figured that was one of those earthly possessions I would just never acquire. It was a sheer delight for me and is already hanging in my office!

I want to thank Pastor Al Oliver for the ministry he conducted the previous 3 years at CEFC and for orchestrating such a remarkable installation service. I also thank everyone who helped plan, prepare food, took part in, and donated toward a wonderful service that stands as a significant marker in the life of our church.

To CEFC, your recognition and charge to me was also an enormous blessing to my family. I am so thankful that my children were able to witness the church demanding biblical fidelity from its pastor and then honoring him for committing to do so. It is my privilege to be one of your pastors!

Below is the response I delivered yesterday during the service. It is framed in the form of a prayer.

Dear Gracious and Heavenly Father,

I respond to the Charge to the Congregation and the Charge to me, as Teaching Pastor, with this prayer to You.

I rejoice in Your saving grace and thankfully confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. I rejoice in Your gracious calling to teach the Treasure that is Your Word, and I gratefully echo the words of Paul in Ephesians 3:8, “To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.”

Father, the calling and charge that I embrace is that of 2 Peter 5:2, “shepherd the flock of God,” and I readily confess this calling to be beyond me. Therefore, I approach Your throne of mercy to plead for the following graces...

Grant me wisdom, to lead Your people to treasure Christ in all things and above all things.

Grant me discernment, to be gentle with the faint of heart, gracious with the weak in faith, patient with the slow to believe, and yet firm when correction, instruction, and admonishment is needed.

Grant a door for Your Word in the Fresno/Clovis area and beyond to the ends of the earth.

Grant me courage that in the opening of my mouth I may speak Your Word boldly as I ought to speak It.

Grant me the filling of the Spirit that my life may support the message.

Grant me believing grace, to really embrace and believe the Truth of Your Word, sanctifying grace, to treasure Christ, persevering grace, to finish well.

Grant me a God-sized vision so that You alone receive every ounce of credit, praise, glory, and honor!

And I pray these mercies for those You have entrusted to my care...

Open our ears, open our minds, open our hearts, open our eyes, to see, to embrace, to love, to know Christ in all His fullness and in all His glory as we find Him so revealed in Your Word!

May the Truth proclaimed and taught from this Body and magnified in our lives be as a magnet, pulling, drawing, wooing the unsaved, the unbelieving, the lost to saving faith in Christ.

And may our journey together as Pastor and flock be such that we may joyfully sing together, assembled in Your presence forevermore, a praise of celebration - To God be the glory, Great things He has done!

In the name of Your Son I pray,