I am sure everyone has memorable holidays that were spent with extended family members. Jan fondly recalls going to New Year’s Eve parties at her Aunt Nora’s, when she was growing up. July 4th was spent at her Aunt Julia’s house, where her granddad would strategically place firecrackers that were intended to give some unsuspecting soul a surprise jolt. Christmas was more of the same. First and second cousins only lived a few miles away. They all shared the closeness of a rural life, that has vanished before our eyes in the past few years. All of that was a new experience for me. I did not grow up with extended family. Their rural closeness was as culturally foreign to me as living in Russia would be for most Americans.

Memorial Day, however, is a memorable holiday for me. I interviewed for my first ministry position, after finishing a master’s degree at Abilene Christian University, in 1987 during Memorial Day weekend. One of the professors on my oral’s committee suggested that I contact the Tenth and Broad Church of Christ in Wichita Falls. They were searching for a campus minister with a graduate level degreee, because a part-time teaching position at Midwestern State University was a part of the job description. I was thrilled to say the least.

The search committee scheduduled us to come interview on the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend. We drove up there in a old, beat up 1977 AMC Hornet. What a car! Our first impression was very negative…. The auditorium at the church had faded 1960’s “hospital green” paint. It was hideous.
It appeared so cold and uninviting. We looked at each other and could read reach other’s minds. What have we gotten ourselves into? What a cold church!

I am so glad first impressions are often wrong. A tall man with bright red hair was the first person to greet us. Wayne Doran it turned out was stationed at Sheppard Air Force Base there in Wichita Falls. We soon discovered that Wayne was a Christian gentleman of the finest caliber. There were a few characters on the search committee. That was a glimpse of things to come… There are a lot of colorful characters at the Tenth and Broad Church of Christ. I preached my little 25 year old heart out that night during the evening service. Mack Lyon, of the Search for the Lord’s Way television program, just happened to be present in the service that night. He told Tom Taylor, one of the elders, to hire that boy! I have always been indebted to Mack. He helped me get my first real job.

We moved to Wichita Falls on July 15th, 1987. We were young, broke, inexperienced, and full of ideas. The church was reeling from the oil bust and other internal issues. Larry Suttle had just vacated the position I assumed at the university to assume preaching duties. It was just the two of us on the ministry staff. I got to do it all. I served as default youth minister for the first first two years. I assisted Larry with hospital visist and funerals. Larry took the time and effort to be the finest mentor and encourager that any young minister could ever dream of having. The friendship, shared humor, and teamwork was a blessing I will never forget.

The elders were supportive and kind. The members welcomed us warmly from the first day we arrived. They celebrated with us when Randall was born in 1989. And they celebrated again when Daniel was born in 1992. Several of the Tenth and Broad family drove out to Lubbock to grieve with us in 1991, when my mother passed away. I don’t recall how many fifty dollar bills Don Elwell slipped me, when I was making two trips a week to Lubbock to care for my mother. He wanted to make sure that I did not run short on gas money. The weather was awful that day, but it did not stop them. They held our hands and wept with us in 1995, when Jan experienced a miscarraige.
And then later in 1995, they sent us on our way. The time came for me to leave the security of the nest at Tenth and Broad, so I could pursue a pulpit preaching role. I spent eight great years with some of the finest people I have ever known.

We love to go back to see our friends at Tenth and Broad. Friends is not the right word… I love to go back to Tenth and Broad to see members of my extended family. I too have spent some memorable holidays with members of an extended family. I did not grow up with extended family, but I grew into it as an adult. In fact, I think it is about time to plan a trip to Wichita Falls.