Change seems to be the only constant in our lives these days. Shopping malls come and go, neighborhoods go through transitions, fame flits from one person to another like a butterfly, and so on and so on. Things change. The Church, of course, is not exempt from change, and our church is no exception. Last week, Tom Devenish, our Minister of Missions and Men’s Ministry, told me he is retiring, and I want to share a few words with you about him.

I have known Tom for more than ten years and have enjoyed having him as a friend, a brother in Christ, and more recently as a staff member. Tom has a genuine love for the Lord and that love transfers over into his relationships with people. Two of the things I love most about Tom are the compassion God has given him for others and his willingness to see the very best in people, even when they don’t merit it.

I have had the privilege of traveling around the world with Tom. We have been in Kenya, Israel, India, Cuba, and Mexico together, among other places. I will never forget how gracious Tom was with the national pastors on the first overseas trip I made with him to Malindi, Kenya. You could tell not only how much he loved them, but that they knew he loved them. On that trip we gave Tom a nickname, “Santo Thomas de la Paz,” or “Saint Thomas of Peace.” He earned it as he went from pastor to pastor, praying for them and blessing them! In India when the rest of us were tired and wanting to get back to the hotel after a day of ministry, Tom wanted to stay behind and spend time with the throng of local pastors who wanted a special prayer or word of blessing from the visiting ministers.

Then there is Tom’s propensity to wander. If you’ve ever traveled with him, you know that Tom charts his own course. We often ‘lost’ him because he had been invited to the home of a national, like the hotel manager in India, or the Kenyan pastor’s hut. These are invitations he never declined.

I will miss Tom and Lee as they head back to Las Vegas. Their church there will receive the blessing of their involvement, and I will have the knowledge that Applewood was blessed to have had this fine man of God in our midst.

We love you, Tom, and thank God for you. May your retirement be peaceful and sweet and may the grace of God continue to be poured out on you as you so graciously pour it out on others.

We will have a retirement reception for Tom on April 11 after the second service, and all are welcome!

Blessings, Pastor Calvin