Religion: A Pastor Ponders

Strength and Courage

by Pastor William Jenkins

March 31, 2006

It was June of ’75 and I was in Midland, Texas, serving my first church after seminary. My Superintendent informed me that I was being moved to Houston to re-locate a church there. I told him that I did not know the first thing about re-locating a church. His reply was, “You will, this time next year.” He handed me a book titled “Move Ahead With Possibility Thinking.”

That little book changed my way of looking at my life and career, but the real value to me was what he wrote inside the cover, “Be strong and very courageous.” I knew it was from a verse in the Bible so I set out to find it. It is in the Old Testament where God is encouraging Joshua after the death of Moses. (Talk about some BIG shoes to fill!) God says to Joshua, “Be strong and very courageous, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)

What a treasure of a verse! That one verse has been more to me than volumes of books or motivational seminars. It is such a promise as has brought me through many trials and tribulations, many moments of doubt, disappointment and failure. It has helped me to achieve things I never knew possible.

As long as I have remembered that verse I have been able to persevere. Since I discovered that verse I have never been afraid to go anywhere or attempt anything. The possibility of failure was no longer a factor in my decisions. The Superintendent was right, a year after arriving in Houston I knew quite a bit about re-locating a church.

In 1984 I was offered a particularly difficult assignment which my colleagues advised me to turn down. I remembered Joshua 1:9 and said “Yes.” After arriving there I was in the check-out line at a grocery store where I spotted a book entitled “Tough Times Never Last…Tough People Do.” But that is another story.

Whoever you are, wherever you are, whatever your circumstances, be strong and courageous; God is with you. Ponder Joshua 1:9.

League City United Methodist Church is located at 1411 Main Street (FM 518), one block east of Interstate 45. For information, call the church offices at 281-332-1557 or visit the website at

HYPERLINK - http://www.lcumc.org