Good evening my amazing “PEPers” and other dearly loved family and friends,
This evening when I came home I found Briana watching a video from yesterday’s Pastor’s Appreciation service that she had gotten off Pastor Jonathan’s Facebook page. It was amazing to watch something from our service on YouTube. I said, “Just think Briana, anybody in the world can watch that.” She responded, anybody in the world that is a “friend” of Jonathan; and I responded, “Well that is pretty much everybody!” J (Everybody knows Jonathan \ and loves him unless they’re just one of those “plum mean” people.)
But speaking of yesterday \ I am speechless (through not “typeless”J). Like everything that FMCOG does \ yesterday was an absolutely “top shelf” event. It was a beautiful and affirming day for Sonja and me and a tremendous reflection on what a wonderful congregation we have at FMCOG. My dearly loved “PEPers” words are not enough \ but please know that I LOVE YOU and THANK YOU for all that you did \ you’ve given me a wonderful memory that I will always treasure.
In response, my heartfelt desire is:
- To keep growing in my love and commitment to you
- To keep growing in my ability to lead you in becoming more like Christ so that you can experience the abundant and fulfilling life that God has as His preferred destiny for you
- To finish my course as your pastor with a good name / I don’t want you to ever be ashamed to have called me “pastor”
I covet your prayers that I may achieve these objectives.
I shouldn’t even begin trying to thank everyone that had a part in making yesterday special but it would also be a disservice to not mention minimally the following:
- The Church & Pastor’s Council – gentlemen, thank you for you generosity, love and support \ I am a blessed man beyond words to express in having you as my counselors
- My staff – thanks for all the wonderful years and memories \ you make “work” a joy
My special friend Larry Nivens – thanks Larry for all you did to make yesterday so special \ you are truly a friend that is closer than a brother - The production team – the “bar” was raised!
- My dearly, dearly loved wife and soul mate – thanks for believing in me when it really was a risk to do so!
- My dearly loved children (by birth and marriage) – where would I be if I hadn’t had you as sermon illustrations! Thanks for loving me anyway
- To my deeply loved and respected parents – Wow! What a surprise to turn and see you at church yesterday! That was the cherry on top \ life has separated us from each other so often over the years \ it meant the world to have you there to share in a very special day in my life
- And to all of you that have given words and expressions of love \ be patient for individual thanks \ but I honor you and thank you for your kindness \ may every word and deed be credited as if you did for our Savior.
- And finally, to the wonderful membership of the Fort Mill Church of God \ thanks for believing in me, putting up with me on my bad days and not taking me too serious on my good days! Thanks for loving my family, helping us bear the burdens of life and sharing in the joys also \ it’s been a journey and I believe the B-E-S-T is yet to come.
My inspiration to be the B-E-S-T pastor ever
This morning I wrote in my prayer journal to our Savior of how He was despised and rejected and eventually crucified and I in return have been honored, revered, and accepted – what irony! I, the sinner and He, the savior…to HIM be all the glory, and honor and majesty and praise both now and forever.
His extremely grateful and blessed servant,
david l. kemp
The ONE THING 
