1991 Joe Durham

Now here is the picture of a man who is really neat. His life was so opposite of mine. While he was going door to door sharing the gospel of Christ, I was going door to door blowing up pumpkins with firecrackers. He taught his first Bible Study as I went to my first teen party and drank my first drink. While he was being disciplined and finishing college and then seminary, I was trying to find myself and going to school on the slow track because of decisions I made that required me to work through college. He wore so many ties that when he went to the youth function they bought him a T-Shirt with a tie on it. I hated ties, despised formality for formality's sake and people bought me crazy Jesus freak T-Shirts.

Who would have thought that he would become my mentor as I moved from the first years of ministry toward full time ministry? Who would have thought that I would ever even encounter his world?

“My wife and I would like to come over and visit…” was my first contact with Joe as he followed up on our visit to his church. We had already met a few leaders the day before as they came to follow up. They found out that we were in transition from a bi-vocational youth ministry position.

“You don’t know it but the men who came to visit were the head of the deacons and the head of the personnel team. You also don’t know that we have an unusual vacancy in our youth minister position…” he continued in our living room after the general pleasantries.

“I don’t want to tell you what to answer but I need to make sure that we know and believe the same things before your interview with the personnel team…” he began as I was drilled, coached, refined and checked on doctrine. He did not worry that my learning had come in the Bible and on the job rather than in seminary.

“Let me explain the view of the conservative theologian regarding the gifts of the Spirit…” he patiently walked with me as I learned to answer the many questions that arise in deeper Bible Study.

“I think it is time that you preach…” he pressed me and gave me the opportunity to share the pulpit given to him by God.

“Whatever you need…you take whatever time is needed…” he supported me as I began to go into missions work through the church.

“Let me explain the challenges regarding being the pastor. It is unlike any other job. I don’t want you to go but we will find a church where you belong...” he shared with me as I was faced with a God given call to pastor.

Joe stood for me when I was right and gently guided me when I was wrong. Joe taught me always and listened to my challenges. It was Joe who led our church to become Elder Lead instead of democracy led. It was Joe who willingly shared his life with me so that I could be the best minister that I could be. It was Joe who challenged me and gave me straight doctrinal answers.  Joe was the straight man to my craziness. Joe treated me as a friend in ministry, a brother and an equal.

Much learning and many days have passed since we worked together. He went in to missions work (a life-long dream of his) and I was called to follow in his position. Joe was critical in setting the foundation stones of my life and ministry. I built poorly and unskilled at times but I had a firm foundation that was laid by Christ and added to by Joe. The methods, the way I read the Bible, some of the things I do and some of the things I will never do were learned side-by-side with a great guy named Joe.

We were the same age (actually I had him by a few months). We were unlikely to ever have our worlds meet. Jesus became the path on which we crossed. Little did I know that I would be so much better a disciple because of that meeting.