I find it both wonderful and funny that on this upcoming Sunday, Faithbridge will be recognizing the ordination of Pastor Sam Miller.
Wonderful, because, as I’ll explain shortly, Sam is particularly platformed by his life’s experiences to reach folks from many walks of life.
Funny because Sam Miller has struggled with having a title such as “pastor” like a young bronco kicking against being saddled for nearly the entire time I’ve known him.
He’s spent his money supporting ministries, starting ministries and helping others; he’s set up tables to hand out slices of pizza to passers-by just for the chance to pray for them or engage them in conversations, and held recovery meetings and Bible studies, and he’s been preaching the gospel for a decade.
Yet, in some deep part of his being he’d rather be known as Sam the plumber (he owns Sam Miller Plumbing) than Pastor Sam, at least until recently.
We, Sam and I, were separated by years and distance when we were each in our own wilderness, but we chewed some of the same dirt, so I understand the reluctance. There’s a deep sense of “I’m not worthy” attendant to the call, especially when you’re coming to ministry after setting your life on fire in different ways, and we both certainly did that.
But, in truth, no human is “worthy” in and of themself for a call to divine ministry — we’re made worthy by God and his call. As our Catholic friends say, “Only say the word, Lord, and I shall be healed.”
The other real reluctance comes from the concept called “the priesthood of the believer,” which is the belief that the Bible shows us that all Christians are supposed to be active in ministry.
Preaching the word, sharing the gospel, ministering to those in need and teaching the Bible isn’t reserved to men in white collars with calfskins on their office wall — we all can and should learn, teach and serve in ministerial ways.
That being true, it makes many of us, when called to vocational ministry, wonder if a title is necessary, warranted or even beneficial.
Some of the most effective Christian leaders I know carry no title. I know ordained ministers who’ve rarely led a person to Christ, yet my dear friends John Patterson and Larry Krause have led many, many folks to Christ because they’re evangelists at heart and have both been on fire to do so since they each came to Christ in 1981. No titles, just passion.
But Sam, starting yet another ministry in McDonald, came to understand that the title of pastor (which means shepherd) will be beneficial moving forward.
Sam Miller recently spoke at Parables and Pints, a wonderfully quirky outreach on the first Wednesday of each month hosted at the Cobblehaus microbrewery in Coraopolis, and, as usual, he was raw and forthright — and powerful.
His background, like mine, includes a long season of drug addiction and partying. That he has been delivered from such gives hope to those still in the midst of that particularly vile set of shackles.
He’s also a widower, his wife Roxanne having passed unexpectedly two years ago. So he’s felt the weight of the deep grief, and can minister to others suffering the same.
His business has had seasons flush with success and he can run in circles with others whose work life occupies most of their time and most of their heart.
He’s helping raise his daughter’s elementary school-aged son, Larsen, which gives him something in common with many of the grandmothers and a few grandfathers here in the Rocks, where he serves on staff at Faithbridge.
He’s an elite endurance athlete, and speaks to folks on the trails of three-day, 100-mile races as they chug along in the wilderness, and he grew up in motorsports, his family owning a race track.
All of these things aren’t just tidbits about my friend Sam.
They’re platforms. Areas of common understanding with others that can open doors from which Sam can share hope and speak God’s love into lives. The Greek term Oikos means “circle” or “community,” and we all have circles in which we operate.
Sam has quite the collection of circles. Some overlap like Venn diagrams and others are islands unto themselves, but all of them are populated by humans, and I trust God is going to use Pastor Sam Miller powerfully in and through those circles.
Churches, contrary to what some believe, don’t ordain anybody. God ordains. Churches see the fruits and evidence of what God has done, and recognize and celebrate it.
We’re celebrating what God is doing in and through Sam Miller.
You’re welcome to attend the celebration at 11 a.m. Sunday, April 26, at Faithbridge Community Church.
The Rev. James Hogan is a native of Stowe Township and serves as pastor of Faithbridge Community Church. His views do not reflect the views of the West Hills Gazette.
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