“The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.” (1 Thessalonians 5:24)
I grew up in a single-parent home with a mother dedicated to taking us to church every Sunday and Wednesday. I don’t remember but a couple of times where we were not in church. At the age of 10, I began asking my mother questions about baptism. I had seen friends get baptized and wanted to know more about it. My mother wisely set up a time for me to speak to my pastor.
I didn’t make a decision meeting with Brother Laida, as he was affectionately known, but I’ve always been a deep-thinker and late processor. So, after a few months, during a revival service, when the altar call came I made my way to the front. We were seated only a few rows from the front, yet it seemed like it took a long time to get to the altar. That night I prayed to receive Christ as my Savior. I was baptized shortly thereafter. I have had lots of seasons in my life – some walking closer to Christ than others, but I’ve never wavered from that decision as a a 10-year-old boy.
In high school and college, I was more involved with school and community activities than I was church involvement. I still attended every Sunday, but I wasn’t active beyond church services. I recall missing church one Sunday morning during college. I had been out too long the night before and didn’t want to get up. I lived in an apartment near college, which was in our hometown. After church, while I was still in bed, my mother came knocking on my door wondering where I was that morning. I don’t think I ever missed church again.
Community activity increased even more once I graduated from college. Again, I remained active in church attendance but I got less and less involved with any other church activities. The pastor at the time had meant a lot to me personally. His sermons were challenging and applicable to everyday life. I had huge respect for him.
When he announced he was leaving I was devastated. The last night he was pastor he preached on David and Goliath. After church we had a reception for him and a receiving line. As I went through the line to say my goodbyes, he whispered in my ear an encouragement. “Ron”, he said, “You have the ability to be a giant-killer. But you need to kill some giants for the Kingdom of God.” As someone who grew up mostly without a father his words were heavy in my life. I began looking for opportunities to serve in the church more.
“Ron, you have the ability to be a giant-killer. But you need to kill some giants for the Kingdom of God.”
Ron’s pastor who encouraged him upon his departure
Over the next few years, I was self-employed in the marketplace, but grew in my service in the community and in the church; serving as a deacon and Sunday Bible study teacher. We had sold a business and bought another one – and in five years of ownership it had been a continual challenge. When the opportunity came to sell our business we jumped at the chance.
I spent eight months looking for work and nothing seemed to come. I was miserable but in the interim found myself doing multiple ministry assignments. I began seminary, thinking that would be “fun”. I did some interim preaching, counseled people, and led men’s and deacon retreats. It didn’t seem like “work”.
After a job I thought I had fell through, I went on a retreat to be alone with God. It was during that retreat I heard God say, “Trust Me”. I didn’t know all that meant, and candidly it was frustrating to me, as it didn’t seem to be feeding my family. Yet, over the next couple of days God gently confirmed I was working for the Lord – full-time vocationally.
My advice to anyone in that season of life – where they are being ask to trust God – even when it makes no sense is simply to press into Him. He’s worthy of the trust. And He is faithful every time. 1 Thessalonians 5:24 was an anchor for me in that season. “The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.“
“… press into Him. He’s worthy of the trust. And He is faithful every time.”
Ron’s advice to anyone whose being asked to trust God
In the 22 years that have since past, the Lord has had us leading in four church revitalizations, two church plants, and one Christian nonprofit. Additionally, He has allowed me to have influence over thousands of Christian leaders through an online presence, which combines my marketplace experience with my vocational ministry calling.
The Lord has been faithful through it all.
Ron Edmondson
Editor’s Note: Pastor Ron serves faithfully as the lead pastor at Immanuel Baptist Church in Lexington, Kentucky. Ron and Cheryl have two adult sons: Jeremy and his wife Mary, and Nate and his wife Courtney. They’re also blessed with four granddaughters: Eleanor, Margaret, Esther, and Anna.
