Another pastor who had a great impact on my life was Rev. Timothy Foreman, who pastored the Otsego Church of God, where my wife Tori grew up. Pastor Tim had the challenge of doing our pre-marital counseling as we were preparing to get married at the ripe old ages of 18 and 19. I’m sure that he had some reservations about our youth, and whether we were actually ready to begin our lives together, but he was willing to listen and spent time with us until he was satisfied that we were prepared. He spoke to us on our wedding day about the cord of three strands from Ecclesiastes, and gave us a knot to hang on our wall to remember that God needed to be that third strand in our marriage to hold us together. That knot was on the wall of our bedroom until just a few years ago (it didn’t fair well during one of our many moves) and reminded us if his words and the 28time that he invested in us.
Pastor Tim was also the supervising pastor for my internship and was kind enough to allow me to gain some very practical experience at his church during one of the last summers that I was in school. I’m sure that it took more of his time than he would have liked, but he patiently walked me through the ins and outs of everyday ministry, and even allowed me to preach from his pulpit.
Just a few years ago he was also part of a surprise 25th anniversary Vow renewal ceremony for Tori and I, and once again was there to encourage us and celebrate all that God was doing in and through our lives. Pastor Tim is a mentor and a friend, and I am truly thankful for his influence in my life.