Tuesday, August 11, 2009

MEMORIAL'S SECRET WEAPON

During the St. Louis Cardinals' championship years of the '80s, Jose Oquendo was known as the team's secret weapon. He was a very good player. He could fill in for any position; in one game he played at all nine which is extremely rare. He could do it all; hit, field, throw, and run.

Memorial Drive has a talented staff. In the mix we have one secret weapon who can do it all; Jason Thornton. When my son told me about Jason being a possible contact to fill a youth minister vacancy years back, Tim said, It's not fair that one person be so talented in so many areas. Tim was so right. Jason can teach, preach, lead singing, handle Bible Hour, work with teens, and organize like crazy. It's not fair.

Most of the members would never guess all this man gets done. I know only a part of it and I work next door to him. Jason is in the lives of hundreds in very deep, important ways. He's a workaholic which is never shown by outward huffing and puffing. He works both in front of and behind the scenes. We are so richly blessed and he is often under-appreciated.

If Jason were not on staff at Memorial all the other ministers would feel immediate stress. This guy covers more church body aches and pains without fanfare than any would guess. His role is one of connecting the body. His effectiveness will not be really known until one day he moves on....which I hope is not for a long time.

So to my colleague and friend whom I love....thanks for being Memorial's great secret weapon!

4 comments:

Norsemanrm said...

Amen and Amen!!

Anonymous said...

Absolute truth! What a blessed man who so effectively allows his gifts to be used over and over without complaint.

Then only way to increase his effectiveness is for him to return to the MULLETT!

Shawn M

Bobby S said...

Amen! His genuine love and concern for people has been experienced by so many! Many don't realize how much he does because of the great humility he has.

Shane Coffman said...

Totally agree, Terry. Jason has a role in encouraging, supporting and advising almost every ministry leader and ministry at Memorial (and many others beyond). He is constantly engaged in the lives of others day and night, and never once have I heard him say he was tired. If he were gone, there would be a HUGE hole...one that none of us could fill. He is an amazing man of God.