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Thursday’s Thoughts:
“Today I Celebrate 37 Years of Ordained Ministry
August 28, 1988 – August 28, 2025”

Today marks 37 years since I knelt in the sanctuary of Reid Memorial Presbyterian Church in Augusta, Georgia, and felt the holy weight of hands resting on my shoulders. The Reverend G. Daniel McCall preached that day, and the words still echo in my soul: “Preach the Word… in season and out of season.”
(2 Timothy 4:2)

That moment—and those hands—changed everything.

Since that sacred day, I’ve had the immense privilege of serving God’s people across the country—from the steepled grace of Reid Memorial in Augusta, Georgia to the prairie of Trinity Church in Katy, Texas; from the snowcapped view of Mt. Shasta in Klamath Falls, Oregon to the vibrant desert of Mountain View Presbyterian Church here in Las Vegas. And in between, God threw in a six-month surprise as a tennis pro at The Club at Carlton Woods—because let’s be honest, the Lord works in curious and comical ways.

I’ve also had the joy of walking alongside 107 churches, helping them raise over $250 million for kingdom-building work, and serving as Vice President for Development at the University of Dubuque and Dubuque Theological Seminary. And somewhere in the midst of sermons and stewardship, God invited me to step onto stages with stand-up comedy and into study rooms to write fifteen books.

Even in the midst of a global pandemic God led me to begin an "internet ministry" called, "Community Prayer Group" (on Facebook) which met for the 1,940th time this morning.

But beyond the pulpits and platforms, there is this:
The sacred honor of holding people’s hands.

I’ve held them at hospital bedsides.
Held them in wedding vows.
Held them in baptisms—infants with wrinkled feet and elders with weathered faith.
Held them in laughter.
Held them in loss.
Held them at gravesides, with trembling hands and eternal hope.

And through it all, I’ve held onto this:
“Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you through prophecy when the elders laid their hands on you.” —
1 Timothy 4:14

I have never forgotten.

To those who’ve allowed me to walk beside you—thank you.
To those I’ve laughed with, prayed with, wept with—thank you.
To the God who called me, equips me, and still whispers, “Feed my sheep”—Thank You.

And now, 37 years later, I still live by this life-altering truth:

Laugh Often and Fear Not.

Because when we laugh often, we live fearlessly.
And when we live fearlessly, we love abundantly.

Here's to 37 years of grace upon grace.
And by God's mercy... Let’s keep this party going!


Grace and Peace,
Laugh Often and Fear not!
David

Ps – A special thank you to my extraordinary wife, Julie and my fabulous kids, Faith and Joshua for supporting and loving me throughout this spectacular journey!

#37YearsOfMinistry #OrdinationAnniversary #LaughOftenFearNot #GratefulPastor #ToGodBeTheGlory