January
1967. I was a 16 year old junior at Versailles High School in Missouri. The
first Super Bowl was being played between the Green Bay Packers and my (then)
favorite team, the Kansas City Chiefs. I had just started dating a girl who
would become my first love. Farming was in my blood and my view did not extend
beyond Morgan County, Missouri.
Meanwhile
in Lubbock, Texas, Hank Scott was working to start a new church. I’d never
heard of Lubbock or Hank Scott.
April
1967. Now I was in love with my first
crush and wondering how I could afford to get married right out of high school.
On my radar was attending a trade school to learn electronics while farming
with my father. My view did not extend much beyond Morgan County.
Meanwhile
in Lubbock, Texas, Bacon Heights Baptist Church was newly organized. Hank
taught that the church didn’t exist to serve the members; the members existed
to serve the church. He taught the church to look to the future. He challenged
the members to double-tithe so they could build for the future. I’d still never
heard of Lubbock, Hank Scott, or Bacon Heights Baptist Church.
January
1968. The “love of my life” didn’t want a future that included me. Our breakup
was painful—for me. She immediately began dating one of my close friends. My
future still included farming and possibly trade school. I’d still not heard of
Lubbock and Hank Scott and….
January
28, 1968. A team of students from Southwest Baptist College held a weekend
youth led revival in my home church. My world was rocked as God called me into
full-time vocational ministry. Suddenly my vision was lifted beyond Morgan
County and farming.
Meanwhile
in Lubbock, Hank was busy growing a church and advancing the Kingdom of God.
I’d still not heard of….
February
2017. The 50th anniversary of the Super Bowl has been observed and
Bacon Heights is also approaching a 50th anniversary. Just as Hank
was working on a building program in 1967 so are we again considering
construction. By now I’ve been in Lubbock 23 years, a member of BHBC for 12 and
a staff member for 11. Thank God Hank Scott had a vision 50 years ago and built
for the future.
As
I’ve been reflecting on our church and its history, I’ve been wondering what
teenager somewhere in the United States, who lacks knowledge of Lubbock and
Bacon Heights, will be impacted by our church? Little did I realize 50 years
ago how much this church would mean to my family and this “re-formed farmer.” You see, when Judy and I joined as members in
January 2005, I was suffering from PMSD (post ministry stress disorder). I’d
been beat up and was burned out. I’d
been out of ministry for a year and had no plans to return. But Bacon Heights
loved me back into ministry. In 1967
Hank Scott had never heard of Jim Gerlt, but he built for the future and that
included me.
None
can foresee all the people who will be impacted by what we do today; only God.
(As the old adage goes, “any fool can count the seeds in an apple but only God
can count the apples in a seed.”) Judy and I are “all in” for the construction
project because we’ve reaped the benefits of forward thinking people who built
then for now. Please prayerfully consider how you will partner with us to build
For the Future.
