OOOH...Cantankerous x2!!!!!There are a select few people, who have proven themselves formula busters. Those whom continually keep getting spit out of the supercomputer that is used to process the formula created by the team of nuclear scientists, sociologists, climatologists, Benedictine Monks, and ninja-star throwing capuchin monkeys that determine who receives The-Super-Awesome-Fantastic-Amazing-Person-Of-The-Week-Award. The inaugural winner of TSAFAPOTWA is one of those such people.
I am proud to announce that this week’s winner is Pastor Mike Voigts. On the surface, Pastor Mike is someone who is certainly out front in our church. As our Youth Pastor, he is also someone who is well-loved and respected. I can honestly say that I’ve never heard a bad word about him…aside from the fact that he is a Cubs fan. He does a truly remarkable job with our youth, never afraid to hit them with the hard truths and certainly never afraid to challenge them to be better Christians. The job that he does molding our youth is something that is worthy of much praise and accolades. I could honestly go on and on about the job that he does in front of the church and out in the open, but that is not why Mike was chosen. Mike was chosen for the job he does away from the eyes in the church. Mike was chosen for the job that he does when only one or two sets of eyes are upon him.
Mike has absolutely meant the world to my family and I. When my son was going through his struggles that I wrote about in “Wake-Up Call”, Mike was the first person that I called. It was Mike who stayed on the phone with me that evening, calming me, guiding me, and ministering to me, when quite frankly I was at my wits end with my son. It was Mike who cleared his schedule the following morning to meet with both my son and I. It was Mike that gave me his cell phone number as he was headed out of town for the holidays with the order to call him if we needed anything at all. It was Mike that gave me the strength to follow through on the things that I needed to do. It was Mike’s influence upon my son, and the respect that he holds for Mike that held him accountable, as he worked to overcome that which he had to overcome.
People see the fun-loving, gregarious man who leads our youth. They see the man who is always smiling and quick to laugh. But I have witnessed the man when the “bullets” are flying and I can honestly say that there are few others that I would so willing go into battle with.
I’d be remiss if I did not mention the role model he has been for me as I begin my pursuit towards the ministry and becoming a pastor. He has been an invaluable teacher and supporter in these pursuits. I bug the poor guy mercilessly asking him for his opinion on this, that, or the other. I pester him for advice on how to address myriad challenges that have presented themselves in my various roles at our church. And sometimes, I just pop my head in his office to try and annoy him about his beloved Cubbies. But no matter the reasons for my intrusions or what he is in the middle of doing, he is always smiling, ready for at least a few words, and never cantankerous….There is much I still need to learn from him. If I can become half the pastor that he is, I will have succeeded beyond my wildest dreams.
I am sure the story of Mike is not unique to my family and I. Matter of fact, I’m certain of it. And for this reason and many, many more, there could not be a better choice for the inaugural TSAFAPOTWA. Thanks Mike for all that you are and all that you do. You are appreciated and admired by far more than you’ll ever know.
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