“As for Me and My house,

I will serve the Lord.”

My parents had a beautiful plaque that read

"As for Me and My house, we will serve the Lord.”

No matter where we lived, this plaque was displayed prominently and had a major role in our family life.

As the child of a Baptist minister growing up in New England, I spent a great deal of my time in church. As a kid, I loved going to church. I remember as a little girl running across the grass to get to church next door and to see my friends. When I was 9 years old, I was baptized. My parents were concerned that I was too young to understand, but I knew that I had taken Jesus into my heart and I knew Jesus loved ME and had died for ME. As a child, the decision was easy. Faith is much easier for a young child to accept, I think, than an adult.

All my friends were from church throughout my “growing up” years (including boyfriends during my teen years). I have to say that wasn’t always wonderful, since my dad chaperoned most of the teen events – from Friday night scavenger hunts, bowling parties and roller skating parties to Saturday night Jack Wertzen Word of Life evangelistic services. From singing in the choir to collecting newspapers for paper drives; from feeding the homeless at the Boston mission to Christmas caroling in the snow to shut-ins, I can’t think of anything greater than having my teenage years filled with lots of fun as well as many activities of service, and lots of friends who loved the Lord. I was so blessed.

“As for Me and My house, we will serve the Lord.”

I attended Eastern Baptist College in St. Davids, Pa., just outside of Philadelphia. When I was a sophomore, my parents moved to Philadelphia – I guess they felt they needed to keep an eye on me! No, not really. God had called them to a wonderful church in Philly that I soon joined. After college, I got a job and an apartment and soon became very active in the church, including teaching children’s church and being secretary for the board of Christian Education. I wanted to be a deacon; however, I was considered too young, not mature enough. That made me very sad.

I’m not sure how or why this happened, but after awhile I thought it was time I learned what the world was all about. Even though I attended services and held positions in church and sang in the choir, I strayed, and my lifestyle did not glorify God.

In the early 70s, my job moved me to Pittsburgh. I only knew two people there, so to overcome some of my loneliness, I eventually joined a small church called First Baptist Church of Crafton. The Lord absolutely sent me to the right church to get me back in the fold. I started a junior church program there and had such a grand time with the children. I can’t even begin to tell you how awesome it was. I was living my life Christ-centered again, an answer to my parents’ patient prayers. 

Since the first birthday card I can remember receiving from my parents to the last letter my mother wrote me before she could no longer hold a pen in her hand, III John:4 was written on each and every piece of correspondence from her. I’ll read it for you.  “Nothing brings me greater happiness than to hear that my children walk in the truth.”  She never made a big deal about it, but she always wanted me to know that she was praying that the Lord held first place in my life.

So I am thrilled today to be a servant of God as a deacon here at Central Baptist Church.  I know my dad, who met the Lord face-to-face 30 years ago next month, and my mom, who joined him last year, are filled with great happiness today as their youngest child is finally old enough to become a deacon.

Although I’m a household of one –

 “As for Me and My house, I will serve the Lord.”