Monday Ministerial Musings
By Rev. Mark William Ennis
2023 Blog #23
June 5, 2023
I Got To Wear a Superbowl Ring on Sunday
Yes, I really got to wear the ring for a short time. A mission speaker owns the ring and brought it to church.
Yesterday in church we had a mission speaker in lieu of a sermon. We heard from a man who was baptized, grew up in our congregation, and was confirmed here. He was very good friends with our consistory vice-president, elder Phil Melius. He is now working with Athletes in Action. His name is George Mc Govern and he has worked in that organization for forty years. This organization is affiliated with Campus Crusade for Christ.
In the past he worked on campuses and ministered to students. He then had the opportunity to be the chaplain of the NY Jets and NY Mets. He held this position for several years before becoming the chaplain for the New York Yankees and New York Giants.
His duties have included conducting chapel services, counseling, and Bible studies. The athletes that he worked with, celebrities though they were, suffered the same fears that you and I do. Being a celebrity and earning large amounts of money does not exempt one from fearing job security, worrying about future health, or having a younger person taking over your job. We sometimes look up to athletes and think that they have lives without troubles but perhaps their fame and celebrities can lead to more troubles and temptations. Thank God for people like George Mc Govern.
So how did George get started on this journey; a journey that allowed him to meet Yogi Berra and Aaron Judge? How did he get to a place where he could receive three championship rings? Yes, team chaplains get rings along with the rest of the team. How did he start to live such a life?
George says that it all began with a Sunday School teacher named Elmer Nord. Elmer has been deceased for a while so I never had the pleasure of meeting him but his son, daughter, and son-in-law are all active members of the church. George said that Elmer taught the creation story to his Sunday school class. Elmer taught George and the other students that God created everything and he owns everything he loves us and wants us to follow him. George made up his mind to follow Jesus.
Sometimes we minimize the importance that we have in other people’s lives. We do have influence. George has done what he has done because of one Sunday school teacher. Let us who teach and interact with, children. We have influence for better or worse. Let that be a warning, but let us also celebrate the influence that our church had on George Mc Govern and countless other people.
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To read more of Pastor Mark’s writings, please look at his website:
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