To Everything There is a Season.....

by Pastor Gary Ritchie of One Way Ministries

Today is my last day (6/25)… calling it quits. After 37 years serving in public education, I am hanging it up. I am calling it retirement, although I am just turning the page from one ministry to another. I now have the privilege to pursue my passion – to serve full-time in the church in which I pastor. Words cannot describe my excitement! I have dreamed of this day for many years. In many ways, I see this new beginning as a change in seasons – hopefully the season of freedom. Freedom to pursue dreams I have had to put off due to time constraints, freedom to choose the work I do each day (other than when my wife Susie gives the command), and freedom to just be. That sounds like a great retirement plan!

In truth, I would be very nervous if I thought retirement meant going to the house to sit in the recliner. Although last week I celebrated a milestone birthday, I am just getting started. Where will dreams and visions of the work to come take me? Time and the Good Lord can only tell.

I have always believed that God has directed my path. When the vision to plant One Way Ministries was birthed in 1998, it came with much excitement and much work. But look what the Lord has done! When I left a successful teacher and principal career in Johnson County Schools to take on a much more challenging role as principal of Virginia Middle School in Bristol, Virginia, I knew God’s hand was in it. When I was named Virginia Middle Principal of the Year in 2010, once again, God was blessing my work and guiding my path. A few years later after that accolade, when a new superintendent was named, I was invited to move to Central Office to become the assistant superintendent. I made the move without a single interview. Talking about the favor of God.

God’s plans and purpose are without repentance. God sees from the beginning to the end. And with that, I understood why I had moved to Central Office. For after a year in that position, my boss committed suicide. I will never forget that morning in May, when I was called in the middle of the night to find out my friend had passed. I remembered as I took on the role of Interim Superintendent that God had appointed me, not only as the pastor of One Way Ministries, but as the pastor of Bristol Virginia Public Schools. For the past ten years, I have served in that role.

When Rex passed, I was asked to speak at his memorial service which was held in the Virginia High School auditorium. Dignitaries from all over the state showed up for the service. The auditorium was packed. Even the First Lady of Virginia was in attendance. It never dawned on me that I should be careful with my words. I was pastor and preacher first. And because of that, I delivered one of the finest eulogies ever delivered. My friend Rex deserved nothing less. I recall someone telling me later that the First Lady told her that the Interim Superintendent sounded like a preacher.

Although curriculum has been my responsibility during my tenure as Assistant Superintendent, I know my strengths – loving on people. I always tried to be the cheerleader: for teachers, staff, students, and even parents. My pastor gifts were on display every day. Sometimes it meant occasionally praying for someone. Most of the time it was simply offering encouragement for staff to just hang in there and keep fighting the good fight.

I am grateful for my years in public education. This career has been good to me. I am proud of the work I have done. When you are surrounded by greatness, it is easy for some of that to rub off on you. My departure will leave only a small hole, for my replacement is top notch and first class.

Some might say that summer is ending and Fall is upon me. Some might even suggest I am heading into the Winter season. I will reject that thought for now although my bones and joints and graying hair may say something different. I have much to do and a shorter time to get there (at least than before). I welcome this new lease on life.

I end this rather lengthy blog to share part of the lyrics in a song entitled Thank You by Ray Boltz. My prayer is that we all live our lives with the end in mind. What will we do and what have we done in our service to others?

One by one they came

Far as the eyes could see

Each life somehow touched

By your generosity

Little things that you had done

Sacrifices made

Unnoticed on the earth

In heaven now proclaimed

To learn more about our ministries, visit our website at www.onewaydamascus.org or join us on Sunday mornings for our worship service at 11:00 am or Wednesday night at 7:00 pm!