The Great Thrill of My Life

Many of you know that God called me into the ministry at a later age than most people – 35.  It is not uncommon for people to begin pursuing vocational ministry while still in their teens.  By the time they are in their mid-20s, they are already serving on staff at a church as they attend college and seminary.  In my mid-20s, I was playing in a band downtown, thinking that the guitar would provide the platform by which God would bring satisfaction to my life.

But God had different plans.

You often hear me speak fondly of the decade I spent as a student pastor.  You’ve seen and met some of my former students and you know that I keep up with them and love them dearly.  A few months after leaving student ministry in 2017, I wondered if I had made a mistake.  I felt that I was following the Lord, but the joy I received from working with teenagers was slipping away.  “How could God ever top that blessing in my life, getting to minister to students everyday who loved me unconditionally?”  I thought it was a period of life that could not be repeated, let alone topped.

But God had different plans.

The Lord called me to pastor Lakewood one year ago, and even before I preached, even before I met all of you, Leanne and I were surrounded by your love and complete support.  Through you (yes, you reading this right now), the Lord restored a joy to my soul and then quickly began to even increase that joy to a place that I can only describe as thrilling.  Even with only one year at Lakewood, I can honestly say that being your pastor has become the great thrill of my life.  I love to prepare sermons and lessons for you, I love to preach to you and teach you.  I love to fellowship and laugh with you.  And all of that makes it possible for me to mourn and even cry with you.  It is a thrill and honor for me to wake up each morning knowing that I get to be the pastor of Lakewood Baptist Church.  May our Lord bless and protect our ministry efforts together for a very long time to come.  I am always here if you need me.

Blessings, 

Pastor Bruce

bruce.cullom@gmail.com