From the moment I stepped into Gotebo, First, I felt something guiding beyond my own plans. My journey to Gotebo began years earlier, winding through classrooms, churches, and a lifetime of service that God quietly authored while I was busy drafting my own path.

I grew up in church, but I did not make a personal decision for Christ until later. High school at Newkirk, graduation in 1979, and a growing curiosity about pharmacy led me to Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) in Weatherford. While at SWOSU, my ambitions shifted from pharmacist to math teacher and football coach. The summer of 1980 changed everything.

I joined the Marines and found salvation during boot camp. Baptism followed on July 4, 1981, at Weatherford, Emmanuel, marking the decision where my faith became personal, not just familiar.

Education carried me forward: a BS at SWOSU, then an M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Oklahoma. I taught college mathematics from 1983, married in 1988, and returned to Weatherford to teach at SWOSU in 1992.

Our family joined Emmanuel, and in 1994, I was ordained as a deacon. A pivotal moment came in February 1997, after preaching on Baptist Men’s Day. At 35, God called me to preach and pastor. What began as supply preaching blossomed into a multi-vocational ministry, a path I walked for five years.

In 2002, I stepped into full-time ministry and pursued seminary studies to strengthen the calling. My path shifted again in 2007, when I returned to Weatherford, Emmanuel, as their pastor. As my journey unfolded, I cycled to Emmanuel three times.

First, as a SWOSU student baptized at Emmanuel. Second, as a church member at Emmanuel, who was ordained as a deacon and later ordained as a minister of the Gospel; and third, called as Emmanuel’s Pastor.

Retirement from full-time pastoral work came in August 2018, after more than two decades across four churches. My plan was simple: teach at SWOSU until Social Security could beckon. I continued serving as a pulpit supply. The COVID era brought a surprising turn. In early 2021, I was asked to supply preach at Salem Church in Rocky, and later that year, a Sunday at Gotebo, First turned into something more lasting. COVID brought tests, and Gotebo offered opportunities. God had a purpose. He had a higher plan.

In November 2021, I was asked to supply preach as the current preacher moved through a family COVID illness. One Sunday turned into three Sundays in a row. Then I learned the church wanted me for ongoing service. It turned out their previous pastor had passed away a year and a half earlier and they were seeking their next pastor.

In January 2022, I stepped in as interim. In February 2022, the search committee asked me to consider becoming their pastor. I had retired to travel and spend time with grandkids, and the thought of a new job felt far from the plan. But the church’s warmth, their faith, and a sense that this was God’s timing nudged me toward “yes.”

The church and I prayed. I talked with some retired mentors who were currently serving as a multi-vocational pastors in their retirement. I listened to them and I listened to God’s leading. May 2022 arrived with a clear sense that this door was meant to stay open. So, I became Gotebo’s multi-vocational pastor, and the journey accelerated in ways I hadn’t imagined. The church welcomed me; I welcomed them. They needed me, and I needed them. Together, we learned to bloom where God plants us.

Since then, God has blessed Gotebo in tangible ways: baptisms, new members, rising attendance, and stronger giving. The church feels revitalized, and I feel humbled by what’s unfolded. My plans keep yielding to God’s higher plan.

Three lessons stand out from this winding road. First, bloom where God plants you. When alignment happens—between a pastor’s heart and a church’s heartbeat—blessings multiply. Second, plans are good, but God’s plan is better. Retirement isn’t a badge that shuts doors; it can be a doorway into deeper ministry when God calls. Third, small churches need a pastor who loves them and a pastor they can love back. The mutual love strengthens faith, sustains hope, and fuels growth.

Today, I remain grateful for the path that led here. The journey isn’t just about the miles traveled or the titles earned; it’s about the shared moments of faith, service, and renewal. Gotebo has become more than a place to preach; it’s a community where God’s plans unfold. And as Jesus invites us to follow, that invitation continues to guide every step—one Sunday at a time, one baptism, one new member, one smile, one generous gift at a time.