A few nights ago, my wife and I were recalling the first church we pastored back in the

mid-1980’s. The church, located in a small rural community in Ohio, was constructed in 1826 with one large room for worship, a steeple, and a very loud bell with a thick, course rope that my daughters loved to swing on. My two daughters called the church their “Little House on the Prairie” church.

This beautiful little church was surrounded by fields and farms that yearly produced corn, soybeans, and winter wheat. I tried to imagine what it would have been like in the early years of that church, as families would gather there weekly to worship and spend the day together sharing meals and getting caught up with the latest news.

My wife and I began to reminisce about our favorite stories from our years there, remembering our fall hayrides, Thanksgiving get-togethers, Christmas plays, Easter sunrise services, and summertime ice cream socials. There was great food and, of course, great friendship.

Looking back, I have realized that, over the years, God has placed us where we could fulfill our part in His Kingdom work. In all these places, God has surrounded me with other men of God who helped shape me. As I look back at 45 years of marriage, two daughters, and three granddaughters, I am so thankful for other men who came alongside me and helped me become a better husband, father, and grandfather. I encourage you to look for Godly men whom the Lord has placed around you to help in your journey as the spiritual leader in the home. “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another” (Proverbs 27:17).