Report of the Presbytery – Stuart Carroll
Testimonies
Jack Schroeder
Good morning. My name is Jack Schroeder. I have been a member here at Redland for the past two years. I grew up on Long Island, attended Catholic grade school, an all-boys Catholic prep school, the University of Notre Dame where I graduated circa 1960. If I tell you that I graduated from the university in 1960, you’ll know how old I am. I met my first wife, now deceased, while attending college, married right after graduation, had six children. Lived in Detroit, then transferred back to New York and that started a downward trend in my business, personal and spiritual life. When you start downhill without Christ, you risk losing much. The time then over the next twenty years was dark. I did not take care of my children’s spiritual upbringing and it cost me dearly. They had no structure in this area, no Christ to comfort them in their growing years, and no father to guide them along life’s path. My first wife passed way (cancer) and after I hit bottom, spiritually, financially and socially, I met my wife Pam who began the chore of helping me get back on track—reminding me that my comments about The Lord abandoning me were not accurate. She said, you left Him’ He never left you. I was re-baptized, we married and at age 57 decided to turn my life over to Christ. A good decision. We prospered. Our marriage grew, I received my Master’s degree at age 60. Our walk steady in the Lord. I headed the men’s ministry in our first church in Castro Valley, California. Our Lord remained faithful. We had many roadblocks confronting us, spiritual warfare with the devil. I couldn’t believe how we were constantly attacked. We stayed strong and Christ was there. I started a new career. We moved to Idaho twelve years ago. Our walk continued. We grew spiritually. We hosted and led Bible studies in our home and mentored as many as we could. Eight years ago, I had a quintuple heart bypass and while recovering in the hospital, my good college friend checked into a local hospital here in Baltimore with an obstruction. Within a few minutes of the start of his surgery he had a heart attack and died. I lived. God still had plans for me. I went to the Dominican this past January and am honored by being asked to serve as a deacon here at Redland. I ask the Father to guide me and use me. His faithful servant humbly proclaims Thy will be done.
Kevin Tindoll
My walk with Christ started at a young age in a small town in Mississippi. Around the time that I was eight years old I began to ask questions about God, Jesus, and the purpose of life, which led me to have a strong conviction as to what my purpose on earth was. Even though this may seem odd, seeing that I was a young boy, I feel now that it showed I was listening to my preacher’s sermons. Once my mother and father noticed my endless questions about life, faith, and my purpose they had me sit down with my preacher. At this time my parents felt I was too young to fully understand Christianity, so naturally they had their reservations about me being saved.
However, brother Cobb sat down with me and went over what it meant to be a Christian. So the question I had to answer before being baptized was, “How does someone become a Christian?” And this was my answer, now in adult phrasing. First I acknowledged that I was a sinner in need of a savior, Jesus Christ. Then I admitted that God raised Jesus Christ from the dead to pay for “ALL” of our sins. I also stated that Jesus was my Lord and Savior and lastly I stated that I received Jesus as my Savior forever. John 14:6- Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. Romans 6:23- For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Now that I’m an adult I truly see the importance of getting our children and family involved in church sooner rather than later. My wife and son keep me going and I can’t imagine life without them. I’m happy that my son is growing up in an awesome church and has already been exposed to a positive Christian atmosphere. Almost daily he asks, when we’re in the car, if we’re headed to church and often gets upset when it’s not time to go. Megan and I get a kick out of this because even though we fail at parenting at times this is one part we’ve definitely gotten right. I want to become a deacon at Redland Baptist church to help people. I want to share Christ with as many people as possible and what better way to do so then by starting at the church I attend. I feel that it’s important to remember that Christ paid it all so that we may have everlasting life. Remember that the gift of God is “eternal life” therefore it can never be taken from us. No matter how hard life hits us and drags us down, Christ is there for us and gives us his support through his congregation and fellow Christians. Thank you all for supporting me and I hope to be a valued addition to the deacons that are already serving and the others that have just begun.
Varetta Hamlin
Good Morning my name is Varetta Hamlin. I am here today to be ordained as a deacon to serve in the body of Christ at Redland Baptist church. I was asked to give my testimony and about my call to serve. I grew up very involved in the church. I am the youngest of four children. My family was very much a part of the church. Sunday school, church camp, service, trips, working around the church and visiting other family member’s events and churches. I was Baptist and had Bible studies, I believe in God so I thought, ok I am a Christian. But there was something missing in my heart. During my teen years and young adult life I was backsliding and had an ungodly life and still attended church. Moving forward, I am married to my wonderful husband for 34 years and we were blessed with a beautiful son and now 3 beautiful grandchildren and a beautiful daughter-in-law. We moved to Pittsburg and there I met a beautiful woman at work, named Emily. She glowed so and shared the love of Jesus with everyone she came in contact with. I asked her to start a Bible study and she did. One day after a class I give my life to the Lord, understanding I am a sinner saved by His grace. Emily first asked me to visit her Wednesday Bible school girls class about careers then invited us to church service. We joined and that is where we became grounded in the Word and our son accepted Christ during that time. I became a youth leader.
During my time in youth ministry the Lord shown me that I needed to equip the young ladies that I had developed relationships with—so that they did not need to fall back on me but would be equipped to seek their Lord and Savior that they had the Holy Spirit living in them and that was all they needed. Then the opportunity came to study biblical counseling. With that I was able to equip the young ladies to turn to the Lord and not me, long their journey of life. I completed my biblical counseling training at the Bible Institute our pastor founded. My talents and gift strengths are encouragement and evangelism that God has purposed in my life. In my quite time with the Lord many times I have need reassuring that He loved me just as I am. Hey, after reading the book Bad Girls of the Bible I get it. Looking back at my life He is an awesome God. These two songs have played over and over again in my head since I was a child: “He’s got the Whole World in His Hand” and “Yes, Jesus Loves Me “that became great for me. Now I understand. The Holy Spirit prompting has said, “Say yes to service because He was equipped me and has a plan and no I can’t see the end but can step out on faith. Something I have written many times “Walk By Faith” speaks to that. Jesus set an example for us to follow: a life of loving, obedient service. So I will Trust and Obey, Be strong and very courageous and not be ashamed of the gospel.
Elisabeth Carroll
I was born into a family that was Roman Catholic, and received most of the sacraments, baptism, 1st Communion, I was confirmed and was married in the Catholic Church. I thought it was funny that when Stuart and I went to our pre-marriage classes (Pre-Canna) since Stuart was not Catholic we went to the mixed marriage group. I thought that was kind of a hoot. I was one of four children, the second one. My parents had two girls and then two boys. Neighbors up the road who had another large family befriended our family. They belonged to a Community Church and they really had a passion for Christ. Each summer they would go to their local mission field, their neighborhoods and hold Vacation Bible School in their homes. Our neighbor’s home became Vacation Bible School Central, Mrs. Harro had her class in the house.
Dr. Harro had his class in the garage and they would have someone else do their VBS class in their basement. When I got older, I would help Mrs. Harro with her classes. There were different classes in the morning for all age groups—especially the younger kids, and I learned how to sew on a sewing machine in my first two years in the morning VBS class. It was during this class when I learned the verse, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.”—John 3:16 and the meaning behind it. At the evening program there was swimming, dinner, the class you had signed up for, and then there was the whole group devotion at the bonfire intermixed with singing and Bible verses. This is when and where I gave my life to Christ. Since I gave my life to Christ as a youth at a VBS program, I have a special place in my heart for the youth and want them to be reached for Christ. Stuart and I work with the Youth on Sunday mornings in Sunday school and at Fuel on Sunday evenings. I know how important it is for the Youth to be exposed to Christ, His Word, and have the consistency of interested adults as Youth Workers. Since VBS has had such an impact on my life, I have purposed and been involved in VBS at other churches and here at Redland for the past few years. I have been involved with Redland’s local mission trip here in our neighborhood, for the past few years—and have had the distinct pleasure of working with Mary Keating help teachers and decorators make words and letters on her electronic die cutting machine—then teaching 3rd Grade as we uncovered clues as to who Christ really was, and then bush-wacked our way through the jungle to get to the truth in the Bible. This year we will be submerged in the ocean discovering Him and His Holy Word. Stuart and I have two children, Stuart, Jr. and Anne. They are in their 20’s. I work for MCPS at Sherwood High School as a Para educator. My work entails encouraging students to do their work especially when they don’t want to and helping them focus on what the teacher is saying. I find that when I do focus and lean on these words from Philippians I am happier: “Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—If anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:8-9 I care for people and that is why I actually listened to people asking me to consider being a deacon this year. After praying about it, I felt it would be the right thing to do at this time. Thank you for your encouragement.
Jacqui Galik
Good morning, Redland! My name is Jacqui Galik. You might also know me as Peter’s wife, Daniel’s mom, Peter’s mom, and of course, Amaris’ mom. My deacon, Stewart Carroll asked me if I would consider serving our church in the same capacity, and so I stand before you today, sharing my faith journey. Thank you for allowing me to speak to you today instead of last week. A certain someone just had to attend prom in North Carolina with her sweetheart. I was born in California, the daughter of Cuban immigrants. Like most Cubans, my parents were Catholic, so of course, I was baptized into the faith as a baby. My family was never a very observant family. Kind of odd since, at one point in her life, my mother wanted to be a nun. Go figure. One thing that they did value was education, and not just any education, but a Catholic education. I started the first grade at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic School in Miami, Florida where I remained until I graduated from the 8th grade. I remember telling my mom that they said at school that we needed to go to church on Sunday. Her reply was that the school took me to church during the week and that was enough. I liked going to church, I felt happy there, I found peace there, something that was often lacking at home. A funny thing happened in 7th grade, they gave me a Bible. What was even more unusual was that I actually started reading it. I will not claim to have read the entire book at such an early age, but I do recall reading significant portions of it. One of the effects of spending this time in the Word at this stage in my life when we were adjusting to life with a newly single mom was that it led me to consider my Catholic faith with a more critical mind. From early on I recall comparing the Ten Commandments to Catholic practices and finding that there most certainly were several incongruencies. My grandmother was a devotee of San Lazaro, my father wore Santa Barbara, the saint that is celebrated on his birthday, around his neck and in Miami we have a beautiful, bay front shrine dedicated to La Virgen de la Caridad, the virgin of Charity, the patron saint of Cuba. All these flew in the face of the First Commandment. The Hail Mary, the Rosary, confession to a priest, (I was not very fond of the dark, creepy confessional), ESPECIALLY face to face confession which started in the mid 70’s did NOT sit well with me after learning more about the book that our religion was supposedly based on. The vow of celibacy taken by priests, nuns and other holy orders seemed unnatural and unnecessary for those that wished to live a life dedicated to teaching others the way of the cross. While all these observations led me to question the practices of my faith, they did not cause me to question the essence of my faith which was the sacrifice that was made for me by God’s only son that day on Calvary. I loved Jesus and in that way my Catholic education paid off with eternal dividends.
Once I started driving, I would occasionally go to Mass, for now I was in High School and we no longer were obligated to attend mass as a student body during the school week. If I found myself on campus at the University of Miami and in need of a break from studying, I would often mozey on over to St. Augustine, our Catholic chapel and go to mass led by one of my favorite high school teachers, Father Dennison. Later, at the University of Florida, I still worshiped at the Catholic church, but due to having to work to make ends meet and the demands of dental school, my attendance was starting to wane. Was my faith doing the same? Was the influence of a couple of key atheist friends starting to have an impact on my heart and mind? By the time I finished graduate school I was definitely searching. New Age was big in the early 90’s, I learned more about that. I visited a Pentecostal Church, now there was an experience! The Mormons and the Jehovah’s Witnesses came around. Dianetics and mind control were out there too. By now my Catholic faith was an afterthought, something I subscribed to because my family did, but I felt comfortable enough to part with it should I find something that suited my personal belief system better.
Fast forward to 1992. I found myself in an unhealthy marriage, pregnant with my first child, undergoing a time of crisis. I was driving by myself from Pensacola to Miami to get home. I was so distraught, I found it difficult to continue the 12 hour drive that loomed before me that day. I decided to just park my car at the Tallahassee airport and fly home to Miami where I knew that with the love and support of my mother I would start healing. I asked the flight attendant for an alcohol wipe because being that I was suffering such morning sickness, I would surely lose whatever breakfast I had managed to get down that morning. She didn’t have anything to give me, so I prayed because this was probably the smallest airplane I had ever been on. As it turns out, the mother and daughter duo sitting in front of me started doing the same. They didn’t want me losing my breakfast on the back of their necks either! When we touched down in Miami, thankfully, I had managed to endure the flight without any further distress. While we stood in the aisle waiting to deplane the lady in front of me turned around and let me know that she had been praying for me during the flight. Nobody had ever told me they had been praying for me, much less a perfect stranger. In those brief moments I poured my heart out to this kind soul. She prayed with me right then and there asking God’s peace into my life and situation. She asked me for my address and told me that they would pray for me in her Ladies’ Prayer Group. I thanked her and went my way. At this point I was a separated, pregnant, unemployed dentist. I needed to find a job. The only jobs I could find were in large clinics, but I preferred to find employment as an associate in a smaller private practice. Within a few days a letter arrived from a practice called Island Dental in Key West. They were looking for a full-time associate dentist and the conditions were quite attractive. I called for an interview. While I awaited my interview another letter arrived. It was from the lady I met on the airplane and her return address showed that she lived on Big Pine Key. I got her phone number from directory assistance and called to thank her for her prayers and kind letter. I told her I would be in the Keys for a job interview and that I would like to stop and visit her church. She opened her home to me, offering me a place to stay, but being that I had never been shown such trust and kindness, I felt uncomfortable accepting her generous offer. I stayed at the only hotel I could find and afford on Big Pine Key and went to my two day interview. I visited Marsha’s church, First Baptist Church of Big Pine Key, and wouldn’t you know it, her husband was the pastor! The next day I returned to Miami hoping to hear that I had been chosen for the job. Within a couple of days my prayer had been answered and I was back on my way to the Keys. With Marsha’s help, I found a house on Big Pine Key. A few days after that, with a loaded U-Haul, my car in tow and my two cats, I moved to the Keys. A bunch of kind people from Marsha’s church showed up and moved me into my house. I had never experienced such love and kindness from a bunch of strangers! There was definitely something different about these folks. I started occasionally attending Marsha’s church. Other times I would attend the Catholic church. After Daniel was born, I was getting to where I felt more at home at the Baptist Church and not the Catholic church. While on maternity leave, I attended the Ladies’ Bible Study that had prayed for me. The members of that little church were becoming like family. After having Daniel baptized at the Catholic church in order to make my other family happy, I stopped attending the Catholic church. Brother Charlie and I sat in his office and I prayed to draw nearer to my Savior. To get to know him in a way I had not known him before. From that day I have felt the peace of knowing that my Savior walks with me, and often, in times of trials, He walks for me, and that no matter what may come to pass, I am never alone. The road since that day in 1993 has not been an easy one, but along with the bumps, there have been oh so many blessings. In 1995, in the Singles Group of University Baptist Church in Coral Gables I met a man with an accent I couldn’t quite place. By 1996, Peter and I were married. In 1997 we welcomed our son Peter, and in 1999 our daughter Amaris. Our lives have definitely been an adventure, an adventure that I can face with the confidence that no matter what life brings my way, we know that as Paul states in Philippians chapter 4 verse 13, Christ gives me the strength to face anything. Thank you.
Charge to Candidates
Varetta, Jack, Kevin, and Elisabeth, thank you for sharing your pilgrimages with us. I’m sure I speak for the congregation in saying that hearing them makes us even more grateful that you have accepted God’s call to serve us—the members of your church family as a deacon.
This morning I want to affirm something I am confident you already know—and it is this: the office of a deacon is not an office of authority or power—but rather of servanthood. In fact, that’s what the word deacon literally means, “servant.” So this morning, you are being charged with the task of putting the needs of this congregation above your own. To be more specific, we are setting you apart to follow the example of our Lord, “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to His own advantage—rather, He made Himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant,” (Philippians 2)
Now—I know it doesn’t seem to make sense in this increasingly self-centered world of ours—but SERVANTHOOD is vitally important. People who selflessly work behind the scenes in order to benefit others make this church—make this WORLD a better place.
This week I came across an excerpt from an article a man named John Gerdner wrote for The New York Times. In it he points to the often unnoticed—but vitally important—jobs of ENGINEERS. For example, how many of you knew that at one time the U.S. had 144 time zones? It did until the beginning of the 1880’s when Sandford Fleming, an engineer and railroad planner, proposed a global grid of time zones that was adopted as a standard by the railroads. And that idea literally went all the way around the world. Can you imagine how confused things would be if we had to call our family in California and they were 144 hours behind us? That’s SIX DAYS by the way!
How many of you know that when penicillin was discovered it was very hard to get to sick people—because scientists could only make enough of this miracle drug to treat a few people at a time? Think of your daughter dying of complications from something like strep throat knowing there was medicine who could save her—but also knowing it was too rare to get. Well, that problem was solved by Margaret Hutchinson, a resourceful chemical engineer who in the 1940’s developed a fermentation method to mass-produce the drug.
Have you ever heard of an African American named Vivien Theodore Thomas? Thomas was an assistant to Alfred Blaylock at Vanderbilt University and later at Johns Hopkins. Thomas was gifted with the mind of an engineer and even though he had no more than a high school education—he provided invaluable help in learning how to cure what was called Blue Baby Syndrome—and in so doing opened the doors to modern heart surgery. Blalock got all the credit—but it wouldn’t have happened without Thomas’ hard work and insight.
In the mid-1700’s an unknown captain in the French military noticed that his army’s cannons, while useful for fortress defenses, were too heavy to transport easily. This military engineer reasoned that an army on the offensive needed agility above all else. So during the Seven Years War he developed a model for a smaller, more agile cannon. Eventually France could boast that it had “the most effective artillery in Europe.” Maybe this was what helped the 7 years war to be ONLY 7 years!?
Well, Gerdner points to all these examples to show that much our lives depend on the often hidden, unappreciated work of engineers like the ones I just mentioned. There are engineers for microprocessors, computer code, pharmaceuticals, rockets, electrical systems—even engineers who focus on big systems made out of smaller systems—such as air-traffic control. Engineers are problem solvers. Unfortunately, in today’s world, that kind of thing often goes unnoticed. Innovators and “creatives” get most of the praise for their efforts. For instance, Alexander Fleming, the discoverer of penicillin, received a statesman’s funeral at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London. He was hailed as a national hero. Margaret Hutchinson, who made the drug available to millions of people, died fairly anonymously on a winter’s day in Massachusetts. Both of their roles were essential but what I would argue are the MOST important ones—went completely unnoticed.
In my mind this is a great illustration of the philosophy behind the idea of the deaconate. The vast majority of the roles deacons play—the roles YOU will play—are behind the scenes. They go unnoticed. But they are still VITALLY IMPORTANT! I mean, when you serve unseen by the congregation—getting needed funds for a family in financial crisis—when you minister to one of our widows in their monthly fellowships—when you help a new family find a Sunday School class and get involved in ministry and mission at Redland—when you counsel someone at the end of a service—a person who decides to become a Christian or to join our church—when you check your e-mail and read of a prayer need and respond by getting on your knees to intercede on behalf of someone who is gravely ill or for a marriage that is in trouble—when you squelch gossip—in all these ways you are doing PIVOTAL kingdom work—things that keep Redland healthy and strong. They may not be seen but they are still VERY important. So—once again—thank you for serving!
Responsive Reading – Mark Adams
Declaration of Induction – Mark Adams
And now Jack, Varetta, Kevin, Elisabeth, and Jacqui, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the authority committed to me as Pastor of this wonderful congregation, I now declare you to be set apart and commissioned for the work of a Deacon, and duly called and installed to that ministry in this church. You may be seated.
Ordination Prayer – Paul Jordan
We close now with a song of commitment to encourage us all to follow Jesus’ example and commit to a life of servanthood. Let this be a time when each of us pledges to do all we can to serve one another. But if you have another commitment to make we invite you to make it public at this time. Perhaps you need to respond by giving your life to Jesus professing publicly that you have asked Him to forgive you and take control of your heart and life. Or you may feel led to commit to become a part of this church moving your membership here to this place. Whatever decision you have to make, I invite you to walk this aisle and share it with me right now as we stand and sing.