Commemoration & Celebration of 31 Years of Pastoral Service
As we enter into this time of celebrating our Pastor’s 31 Pastoral Anniversary at Shiloh, I sat down to write a Tribute to Our Pastor. I noted that the scripture reference use on our website for this purpose is Jeremiah 3:15 ESV. I had been thinking on scriptures that referenced “rejoicing,” since to me because of our reason for celebration, “Rejoice in the Lord Always, and again say rejoice,” Philippians 4:4-8 KJV, seemed fitting to me.
But I began to wonder what God meant when He said, “And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding’’ (Jeremiah 3:15 ESV), the scripture adapted for our celebration, and stepping a little bit away from my original intent I began to have a few questions for Jeremiah. Who was he? Why had God spoken these words? Whom was He speaking to?
Here’s what I found. Jeremiah was born about 650 BC in a village close to Jerusalem (Jeremiah 1:1). His father was Hilkiah, a priest (Jeremiah 1:1) Jeremiah’s name means “Jehovah has appointed.” He was very young when called by God to be a prophet (Jeremiah 1:1-20). The prophet Jeremiah prophesied to the Jews in Jerusalem and Judah continually against the folly of idolatry and he pleaded with the people the word of God, about 50 years before Jerusalem would fall and be destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon.
What has this to do with Pastor Washington, I asked, and I kept on reading. The people of Judah apostatized, and after several kings preceded him to the throne, King Josiah reigned. He was the last of the godly kings of Judah, and it was then that Jeremiah was called by God to the ministry (Jeremiah 1:1-10). Read Jeremiah Chapter 3.
Long story short, in Judah’s last days, at the promise of God’s Word, Jeremiah delivered God’s warnings to the people to avoid judgments of God, and they went unheard. Jeremiah is known as the “weeping prophet,” because he shed tears over the sins of his people and their open apostasy against their God. Jeremiah obeyed God, but in the end, failed in his attempts to get the people to turn back to God. His was a life of ministry, sacrifice, and faithfulness. The people were not receptive; and although grieved by their apostasy, he remained true and obedient to God.
If marking our time is symbolic of the way we chant our history, today we are chirping loud and clear because we have been given a shepherd after God’s own heart, who feeds us with knowledge and understanding. Let us not be too hard on Judah, lest we repeat their history. In this 31st year of Pastor Washington’s faithful service, ours is a proud history because of those who came before him, and because of his visionary and unselfish devotion and obedience to the call more than three decades ago.
Pastor, after all these years, your commitment to your calling, much like Jeremiah, is undaunted, and we have grown in leaps and bounds as the result under your leadership and shepherd-care. If you have wavered in your faith, of faltered in your gift, we know nothing of it. We have seen your struggle, as we have struggled. We have seen your weeping, like Jeremiah. And we have wept, perhaps for the same reason. Together we have shared many losses and shed many tears, and we have shared laughs too. You have prayed for us, and with us. You have stood with us, and behind us. In some cases, you have even stood for us when we were not able to stand. You have walked beside us- and you have led, as we followed because we know your voice, and you know HIS.
Pastor, we thank you that you share your family with us. That makes us one family. We have been blessed for 31 years at Shiloh to watch your children, Marissa Annette, Marlon Anthony, and Marshall Andrew grow up literally from babies to adults, as they also follow your lead in their respective calling and places. Nothing could make a father, or a church family like Shiloh more proud. We stand with them, as we all stand together with you.
We are grateful that the Lord has blessed your union with Lady Shonna Washington. She is God’s gift to you and she is a blessing to us. We pray that your ministry together will continue to grow, be blessed, and flourish. We love her for loving you.
Finally, if we had to come up with the exact words to say in this moment, as we celebrate you, rejoice is good, but Thank You, Pastor, is better. We love you.
On Behalf of the Covenant Family at Shiloh Baptist Church
Prayerfully Submitted by Deaconess Irene Gardon