Growing up I never remember missing prayer meeting on Wednesday nights unless I was working. Even when I did work on Wednesday nights I missed being with the family in prayer meeting.
Dad would always open the prayer meeting with a song, then he would have a short Bible study. Usually he would teach systematically through a book of the Bible or he would do a special study on some topic of interest or importance. After the Bible study he would read a letter or two from missionaries, open the floor for prayer requests, and then break into prayer groups. We would all go to our group, kneel at a pew and take turns praying together. The meeting varied very little over the years and when I was a pastor I found myself defaulting to the same pattern.
One Wednesday afternoon Dad said; “Kenny, why don’t you lead the singing tonight?” I had never led singing before.
I said, “I don’t know how to lead singing.”
He said, “That’s OK I will teach you.”
He gave me a hymnbook and turned to the song; “Faith is the Victory.” You could lead it with a simple two-beat pattern. He had me stand in front of a mirror and held my arm to show me how it should look. A few hours later I was the song leader for prayer meeting. He taught me more and in a few weeks I began to feel comfortable leading singing. Before six months had passed I was able to lead congregational singing with some confidence and a great deal of enjoyment.
I’m grateful for the way Dad and Mom had of thrusting each of us into Christian service. They must have said thousands of times that their greatest desire for each of us is that we serve the Lord and today all four of us are doing just that.
We had a little brown plaque in our house that was always displayed in the prominent place. It said; “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” That meant bus calling, soul-winning, hospital visitation, hymn-sings, Sunday School, Five-Day Clubs, Child Evangelism training, vacation Bible school, summer Bible conferences, rest home visitation, jail ministry, summer camp, running and folding bulletins, special music, and, of course, song-leading.
Tonight Chuk, Dan, and Wes are making their way back from South Bend. Kyle preached to his youth group and Chuk helped with the music telling, stories, playing the guitar and singing together. Last week Kyle and his wife drove to Cleveland to sing, play the guitar, and minister in a Christian coffee house. Maybe the only satisfaction greater than serving the Lord is knowing that your children are serving the Lord.
” – choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve – But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” (Jos 24:15)
Ken Pierpont
Brook Place
Hinsdale, Illinois
March 26, 2007
