I was 15 years old when I walked the aisle of a Baptist church and announced my call to the gospel ministry. Today on my 60th birthday I celebrate 45 years of gospel work.
After serving as a young minister, pastor (in three churches), dean of the chapel on a college campus, and guest preacher for many congregations I have the rare and wonderful pleasure of launching and leading the Academy of Preachers. I spend my days now working with young people of all Christian traditions toward their ambition as preachers of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
What possibly could be a better way to celebrate my 60th birthday?
I am in Nashville meeting with officials of Belmont University preparing for our first preaching camp this summer, May 23-28. Later this week I will be in Atlanta visiting Morehouse College and preparing for the preaching camp in Atlanta June 6-11.
My son Ike is with me, and when we leave Atlanta we will drive to Birmingham, then Memphis and Paducah, before returning home to Lexington and Louisville. Only the presence of Sam, his son and my grandson, would make it a more pleasant trip. We stopped at the Book Store in Horse Cave, Kentucky and bought 10 used books for Sam, including Curious George.
Even in the delight of this day, I remember my good friend and colleague in gospel work Philip Wise, who died one year ago today, at the age of 60. Earlier this month a group of his friends, including me, published a book of essays in his honor: For Faith and Friendship.
Tomorrow morning I will go to morning prayers at Christ Church Cathedral, just around the corner from our hotel in downtown Nashville. A blessed Holy Week to all of you.