20 Years

I have to try to say thank you to you all for the wonderful celebration of our 20th anniversary. I can’t tell you how touched we were, and still are (we’re still reading cards as I write this). The elders and staff really out did themselves giving us a surprise party on Friday night. Bringing in so many of our family. It was unbelievable. I can’t tell you how meaningful it’s all been.  And the video and love shown us in the services was amazing. I wept every service – and a bunch of you did tooJ.  
 
I can’t tell you how much it meant.

 
In many ways I can’t believe it’s already been 20 years. And in other ways I can’t believe it’s only been 20 years. You know how that goes, right? It’s been a lifetime for my family. And I wouldn’t have traded a bit of it. There were some very difficult times. But they were there for a reason. And I’m having so much fun now; it’s not ever a job to me. Denise and I always wanted an Acts 2 church, and now we have one. For awhile there it was more like a church from RevelationJ, but we love it now. I don’t care if Forbes magazine just rated Chicago as the 10th most miserable place to live in the U.S. – they don’t go to Parkview!
 
The thank you cards have been amazing.  Most of you thanking us for sticking it out and letting God make Parkview happen. Well, I want to thank you for the same thing. All of you make this what it is. Whether I know you or not, you make this happen.
 
My prayer is that of Paul in 2 Thessalonians.
 
We ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing.

2 Thessalonians 1:2-3

Your faith is growing and your love is growing.  We’re changing our corner of the world with love and faith! I love that.
 
Honestly, the only analogy I can think of is farming. A faithful farmer plows the field every year. He does what he can to make the field ready for God. I think that’s what we did here for many years. And now the harvest is amazing.
 
I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.  I Corinthians 3:6-7

It’s very important to me that you all understand that God did all this. Not Tim and Denise. We don’t want any of God’s glory. We want you and God to be good. That’s all.
 
And it’s important that I recognize that there are lots of team members in this deal. Lonnie is celebrating 15 years soon, and we have a lot of great, long term, staff here. Vickie has been here longer than me! And Bill, Wayne, and our management team are the ones that really keep the rows straight on our farm. Our entire staff is amazing.  I love them all.
 
I also want to say thanks to the group of elders who have served alongside of me over the last 20 years. They have been amazingly patient with me and amazingly full of faith in our God.  

 
I really can’t ask for any more. Like I said this weekend, I’m the most blessed guy on the planet. And I know that my blessing is not for me, it’s for you.
 
I can’t wait to see what God has in store for the next 20 years.
  
Paul told my namesake, Timothy:
 
I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. 1Timothy 1:12

I couldn’t have said it better myself.
 
Thank you for loving me and my family the way you do. I’m still flying high!
 
PT

Comments

[Kelly]

With all the troubles and heartaches that surround us, it is so awesome to witness and be a part of something so wonderful. Your family is the best...Parkview is the best...God is so great, always! We are all so blessed. Love you, big brother!

[Jaime Zietara]

I'm so happy for you all, For our God is great and in such order isn't he, I'm very tired.Having love from your family means the world to me . I wish you the best I think its time to take another road. God Bless all of you, Please keep praying for love, she needs it so so so much right now. Remember God is order. God Bless your family and Park view forever:( Amen

[Paula]

Whew! Thank GOD you stuck around! He knows what He's doing. and He joined together 2 loving hearts (He created) with the vision to let HIM build the church :) What a great celebration! We Love You :)

[Mr. Puggle]

THAT was an amazing service! Just wonderful. So beautiful to see your extended family there to share in your joy. God is so good.

[Linda]

A very powerful and moving service on Saturday.
Congratulations on 20 years!
Joyful tears were in everyone's eyes!
God has blessed you Tim, you have a beautiful family whose love and support allowed them to share you with all of us. It is in your transparent life that we see how to live the life Jesus Christ wants all of us to have.
I prayed a long time for a church to sustain me, to grow in faith and to serve in. Thank you Tim for believing in Parkview and not giving up. Because everyday you are still reaching people like me and changing our lives for the better.

[Shane Whybrew]

Thank you, Tim and Parkview CC for serving all over the world. FAME is so grateful for your recent collection of everything that will be bound for Haiti in a few weeks. Thank you for caring and serving.
God bless you,
Shane