Yesterday, Crystal and I took a detour on our way home from Dallas. We went to Tacoma to surprise our pastor, Dr. Melvin V. Wade Sr. (Senior Pastor of Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles and former President of the National Missionary Baptist Convention) who graduated last night from the Faith Evangelical Seminary in Tacoma with his Masters of Arts Degree. While leading Mt. Moriah, presiding over a national denomination, and preaching all over the country – along with all of his other personal and pastoral responsibilities – pastor has been diligently studying and continuing his formal education. This says something about pastor’s character and commitment that he would resume his studies, after reaching such a settled and established place in his ministry. His desire to continuing learning and growing and striving to be a better pastor and preacher is remarkable. Not only did pastor receive his degree last night; he did so with special recognition for his academic achievement (having a grade point average that was above 3.8)!

I believe it was Mark Twain who said that there are very few things more irritating than the nuisance of a good example. Pastor Wade is, indeed, a great example of the important of giving the Lord both your head and your heart in the service of the gospel. Or, as the old preacher would say it, “He’s got the learning and the burning!” I praise God for my pastor. And I pray that the Lord would continue to use him at Mt. Moriah and beyond to spread the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.