Pastor Rumley

I was raised in a small church in Michigan with the same pastor for basically my entire life.  We called him Pastor Rumley and I’m pretty sure for the longest time I just assumed that was his actual name.  Pastor Rumley always had a deep love for Jesus, his family (he had nine kids) and for Sheridan Drive Baptist Church.  He faithfully preached out of the King James Bible both Sunday mornings and nights and headed up weekly prayer meetings every Wednesday night as well.

It’s funny now that I’m married to a pastor, thinking of all of the important life events that pastors are a part of.  Pastor Rumley married Jeremy and I in 2003.

And he was also the pastor we chose to do a dedication for, for both of our babies.

Most of my memories of Pastor Rumley looked like this.  His faithful preaching of the Word of God behind the pulpit at Sheridan.  Since moving away in 2003, I’ve been blessed to return most every year and spend a Sunday or two at my home church each year.

Many of our family trips back to Michigan were also extra special.

Because they involved meeting up with Sheridan’s church family out at the Lake.

And watching so many of my amazing nieces and nephews share their testimonies and be baptized by Pastor Rumley.

This morning, I learned that they found a quarter-sized tumor on Pastor Rumley’s brain as well as two other spots and I was so saddened to hear this news.  In the days to come there will be more tests as they figure out the best course of treatment.  I wondered what I could do and figured I’d share about my wonderful Pastor and ask for prayers for him and his family.  Pictured below is Pastor with his beautiful wife Nancy.  She was the gentle and kind and Jesus-loving example of a pastor’s wife that I saw growing up.  To this day, whenever I hold babies at our church, I always tell them how much Jesus loves them because I remember Nancy telling me that she always did this for the babies in the nursery at church.  From the youngest to the oldest, Pastor and Nancy have always had a godly love for so many and this has touched so many lives as well.

All this being said, Pastor Rumley has served faithfully at Sheridan Drive for nearly 40 years and I just ask that you keep him in prayer this week.

He’s been there for my family and for so many through all of the sorrows and joys of life.

And it is our prayer that God would bring healing to him throughout all that he is going through.  Deuteronomy 7:9 says ““Know therefore that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments;”  I take great comfort in knowing that God is faithful and loving and that he will care for Pastor and his family during this great time of need.