Faithfulness In The Small Things with Pastor Sam Mata

We trace Sam’s path from hospital halls to the pulpit and explore how faithfulness in small things shapes a durable life of service. We share tools for planning rest, handling political tension with empathy, and inviting God into real problems.

• learning pastoral care through hospital service
• choosing planned rest over burnout
• music, scripture and silence as renewal pathways
• handling political division with empathy and respect
• focusing on people’s real struggles over headlines
• asking “what is God doing in this?” as a guide
• a mother’s legacy of daily purpose and courage
• finishing the work God gives with steady love

Join us again next week when we have another sidewalk conversation

Shoreline Church | Austin, TX
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Transcript

A Pastor Known For Small Faithfulness

SPEAKER_02 0:01

Welcome to another sidewalk conversation. My name is Pete Van Ward. I'm your host today. And as usual, I'm excited about our guests. In fact, the way I'd like to introduce them is by quoting Mother Teresa. She has this quote about faithfulness, and she says, Be faithful in the small things, for in them you find your strength. And if I were to describe the person that I'm having a chance to talk to today, that describes them. Faithfulness in the small things. Now I've been in Austin for the last six years or so. And uh I I knew this person before I came to Austin because every time I would come, he and his wife would find a reason to take Carol and I out for coffee or join us for a dinner. And I just fell in love with them way back in the day when I first met them. And one of the characteristics that both he and his wife have are faithfulness in the small things, just being kind to people, serving people, asking the question, what can I do to make your life better? And if you have a friend like that, you know that they are not just making a difference in your life, but they are the kind of pick people that make a difference in the world at large. And I'm grateful if you don't already know this person, that you're gonna have a chance to meet them and be inspired by them as I have for many years. So can't wait to introduce them to you. Shoreline Church is here in Austin. They have several campuses, one up north and one south. And the guest that I'm introducing today happens to be the pastor of Shoreline South, Sam Mata. Would you welcome him as he comes?

SPEAKER_03 2:10

Wow.

SPEAKER_00 2:11

Everybody be seated.

SPEAKER_02 2:12

Please be seated. Please be seated. Oh, Sam, it's so good to see you. Thank you for taking time to meet with me and have this conversation.

SPEAKER_00 2:22

My pleasure. And Pete, I just want to say, first of all, uh, thank you for your friendship for many, many years. We've been friends. Uh, I think the moment we met and things, you know, just um we hit it up. Yeah. And um, you've been there for my wife and I uh it throughout the years as a source of support and friendship and laughter and for everything from ministry to family to raising kids to everything. And uh, we really value you guys, and you and Carol are just uh, you know, a really dear part of our lives. So thank you for your friendship throughout the years.

Sam’s Unlikely Path To Ministry

SPEAKER_02 2:53

Oh, my pleasure. And I uh I know Carol feels the same, but we have so enjoyed the both of you. And uh in fact, I wanna I want to start on the ministry side. We'll get into a number a number of things, but I you know, most people uh because you've been in ministry for a long time, most people know you, you know, as Pastor Sam. Yeah. And I'm just curious, was that like an aspiration from early on? Like, did you always imagine yourself being a pastor? Is that kind of the direction you thought you would take?

SPEAKER_00 3:22

Well, no, it's um it's very interesting. Um, I feel like I'm still trying to figure it out. You know, what do I want to do with my life? But um, I had really high aspirations when I was a little kid. Uh, I wanted to be one of two things, either a rodeo clown or a milkman. So let me explain. Seriously, yeah. So I had friends who were that would do the rodeo, they would do bull riding and roping and things like that. And it was always very exciting, but it was too dangerous for me. I'm like, you know what? I I can run pretty quick. I can hide in a barrel. And somehow I just had this dream one day I want to be a rodeo clown. I always wanted to make people laugh, yeah, entertain people, and even now I just find a lot of joy in making people laugh and just bring lighthearted uh conversations in so uh that didn't pan out, and then like, okay, maybe a milkman. And the reason I wanted to be a milkman is because the guy that would deliver milk, that's how long ago it was, they would deliver it to our house, and he would always have free ice cream for all the kids in the neighborhood. So we would chase the ice cream man and he would give us ice cream, and I'm like, you know what? That always made me feel good that I got an ice cream. Like, I want to help other people, so maybe a milkman is what I want to do. But anyway, God had other plans. I got involved in uh in serving uh in the restaurant work and just you know things like that, hospitality, and then I did construction for a little while. And then when I moved to Austin, I'm from South Texas, I um I began working at a hospital. And I never thought I'd work in the hospital. I thought I'll do anything else. I don't know what I want to do with my life. I was kind of lost and confused and just trying to figure life out.

SPEAKER_01 4:54

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 4:55

And um through a series of events, I got hired on at St. David's Hospital as a patient transporter because I always loved to serve people and help people. So I just really thrived in that environment. I just really learned about serving, helping people, making them feel warm and comfortable and uh welcomed, and just fit in meeting their physical needs. And I would then I became a dark room tech where I was developing all the x-rays. I worked in the radiology department. So I still I saw now, I see now God's hands on me like was teaching me that life was about serving, it was about helping people feel better, feeling comfortable. So then I gave my life to the Lord through through a series of events there while I was working at the hospital. That's where I met Kelly. Um she chased me for about four years. Um finally said, Yes, yes, okay. If you want any of this, put a ring on it. And she did. So uh we've been married 33 years, but she was in um occupational therapy, and uh so she always had a heart to serve as well. So when we met, we just became really good friends, and uh, and then I was like, okay, well, I want to do the rest of my life. So then when we gave our lives to the Lord, we we thought, okay, we need a really good church. I know enough to because I was raised in church and she was raised going to church and in a Catholic church, but didn't really know much about um you know the Christ and having a relationship and things like that. So then uh we just really got involved serving at at the hospital, and then somebody invited us to Christian Faith Center, which uh is Shoreline now. Yeah, back in the day. Yeah, back in the 19, I think it was 1989 or 90 when we came.

SPEAKER_01 6:28

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 6:29

And we just got involved serving. We just did what we were doing at the hospital, helping and serving, and we did everything from clean the toilets to serve with the nursery and preschool with the youth. I was in the worship band. Uh, that's how desperate we were. I was playing the guitar and singing. Uh and it just was a you know, I I just saw God opening doors. And, you know, I never thought I would be a pastor because I didn't even know that's what you know what I was created to do. Uh so you know, um D.R. Dickey, actually, he's on staff with us too. He's been on staff for a long time. He had a conversation with me one time and he said, you know, Sam, has anybody ever told you you have a pastor's heart? And I said, Well, what does that mean? He's like, I don't know, just go figure it out. I'm like, okay. So I said, I guess just means shepherding people, loving people, guiding people, being there for people. And I started see uh seeking the the life of Christ, what he did, how he loved, how he served. And that's what I've been trying to live my life by. And uh here you are 30 something years later, still doing it. And uh it's a lot of joy, it's a lot of hard work, you know, but there it's very rewarding. So that's my long story of why I'm a pastor now, you know.

SPEAKER_02 7:39

So I I love that from a milkman aspiration to a rodeo clown to like here I am now. So you know it's interesting you mentioned that because uh one of the things like I've been in this transition uh over the last six years trying to figure out what I'm supposed to do now. And so I had some help with uh our website, and so there was a brand manager who was kind of leading this conversation, and they said, like, well, what do you how do you want to define yourself? Like, are you an author? Are you like she wanted to steer away from the religious terminology? Are you an author? Are you like an inspirational speaker? Yeah, and like I kept coming back, I'm like, no, at the core, I'm a pastor. Yeah, and I don't want to shy away from that term because there's something precious about being able to spiritually encourage, support, serve people, yeah, and none of the other words fit. Right. I I love to write and I love to speak, yeah, but at the heart I'm really a pastor. Yeah, yeah, I can totally see that.

SPEAKER_00 8:44

And you're a great pastor. Well you're a great pastor.

SPEAKER_02 8:46

I loved your story because I think that just affirmed again, like that's that's what we're about.

SPEAKER_00 8:51

Yeah.

Learning To Serve: Hospital To Church

SPEAKER_02 8:52

Now, you also mentioned that pastoral work can be tiring and challenging, and you know, sometimes people have, especially, you know, if you're like just kind of sitting in the pew, so to speak, uh, you have this image of a pastor as being like the super person who's always spiritual, who always you know is connected meaningfully to God and never has a period of doubt. Yeah. But of course, we're you're we're human, and we have those seasons as well. So I'm just curious, like when you find yourself in some of those places where you know you don't have the best idea for a sermon, or you're just tired of helping. What what do you do to inspire or you know uh give give yourself fresh motivation?

SPEAKER_00 9:35

Yeah, that's a great question. I you know, you can always be giving and giving and giving, running running everywhere. Uh there's always needs around you. For sure. The needs never run out. And um it's a good thing, you know, because you know, it means that God's always at work meeting needs. So I think for me, you know, my wife and I, we really try to plan as much as possible. We plan days off, we plan rest, we plan family time, we plan dates uh and things like that that just to balance it out because if we don't, it doesn't happen. No, for sure. Nobody's gonna tell you, hey Sam, you gotta get some rest now, or you know, go take the day off, or the needs will always be there. And uh, you know, my dad used to s have a saying in Spanish that he would say, you know, work will always uh be there, but some one day your life won't be, you know, there'll always be work to do. So I always took that to heart uh to to plan to to you know eat healthy, work out, get rest, drink water, go for walks, sit times in sitting times of s just silence and not doing anything. You know, of course, sitting with the Lord and you know, opening scripture and listening to music and just those things that do refill you, because you can't really give out of what you don't have. Uh in the times that you know, God is so faithful where you do plan it to meet with him, to spend some time, and he's always there, he's always faithful. I love that. And it it's never been Sam, you got to go do this next, or next time you do this, it's always like, hey, you know, let me minister to you, let me encourage you, uh, let me be with you, you know. Um, you know, t spending time with friends, things that I love to do. We ride our bikes, we we like to work out, just different things that that just help us get refueled. And and the key thing for us is to plan it. Because if we don't plan it in advance, we take it week by week, sometimes month by month, and we plan ahead and then we guard that time. Because if we don't, then you know, you're always gonna be working and stuff. And and God is very faithful.

SPEAKER_02 11:29

Yeah, I love you. I so appreciate you saying that because you know you can be reactive, like which sadly has been the case for me in all too many instances where you just run, run, run, run, run. Yeah, and you look like, oh man, it's been forever since I took a break, and then you're like, okay, you know, you just veg out because you don't have energy to do anything. Right. But if you're proactive about it, then you can circumvent so many of those seasons where you can say, you know what, I there are gonna be seasons where it's a little more intense, you know, Christmas and all that. But if you are on the front end thinking, okay, so now we got Christmas coming, what are you know, Kelly and I gonna do? What are Carol and I gonna do in that season afterwards to replenish? Yeah, that's the way to sustain industry over the long haul.

SPEAKER_00 12:17

And you're right, it is a season, you know, there's really busy seasons. And so we always, like even this season right now that we're in, so we planned a little trip afterwards because we were looking at our calendars, like, okay, um, what are we gonna do uh to just kind of end the uh the year well, rest it, have some fun, and then get ready for the new year. Yeah. So um, yeah, it there's seasons where it's gonna be very, very busy, so you have to look ahead. After the season, we're gonna do this. Yeah, and within that season as well, time uh time uh well prepared to rest is very, very important. And yeah, so we'll try to do that as best as we can.

SPEAKER_02 12:53

Now, um uh you may be familiar with uh uh I think it's Gary North who uh no, Gary Thomas, Gary Thomas, who has this book called Spiritual Pathways, where he suggests that each one of us kind of have a preferred way of connecting to God and replenishing. Uh so he talks about all the like nature and quiet and music and uh conversation. So do you like when you need to be replenished and renewed, what is it that you kind of naturally go to?

SPEAKER_00 13:24

Um I like to pick up my guitar and just play a few chords.

SPEAKER_02 13:27

So you still play?

SPEAKER_00 13:28

I still still play. I was playing this morning at the house. Oh nice uh I have I have it out on a stand, I have a couple of guitars in different rooms in case I have a sitting room and then I have my office and then downstairs. So I have it, there's no excuse because it's sitting on a guitar stand. So I just like to pick it up and just I I just instantly uh sense the presence of God. Um it's a gift that I've had for a while. I'm not a very professional guitar player, but it's just something that I do for myself at the house for Kelly. Sometimes a dog joins us in and lays there and enjoys it. But I I like to get filled up with music, listening to music, but also just playing music and um just playing a few chords, it just it just really brings a lot of um peace and things like that. So, and of course, reading scripture and just um we like to go for walks and we like to sit outside on beautiful days like this, and so um just listening in in silence just for what God is saying, listening to the birds, and you know, sometimes I do play my guitar outside on the patio, and just it's it's something, it's my go-to. Yeah, I like doing that. That's great.

SPEAKER_02 14:29

Now, in church world these days, it's um there's uh it seems like in every season there's like something that percolates to the forefront as as like a big need. Yeah. And it just seems like in this season of uh of the world and of life, uh one of the main points of contention in church world, I mean, I wish it weren't, but it it's just the reality, seems to be on this political front. Like people are so divided about politics and you know, how could you vote for him or how could you vote for her? And how could you, you know, all these things. Um and so as a pastor, you're often called into helping to mitigate like this. Is not something you necessarily want to dive into, but yeah, you're often dragged in. Right. And I I'm curious, uh, how how are you processing that with people? Yeah.

Avoiding Burnout With Planned Rest

SPEAKER_00 15:25

We are living in some very interesting times, aren't we? I think uh I heard somebody say if you want to uh make your Christmas gift shopping list smaller for Christmas, bring up uh politics at the Thanksgiving table. You know, somebody's not gonna get a gift. Um but you know, I I just try to show empathy, you know. I think people are seeking their, you know, we're such a divided nation, and even in church, you know, people it used to be like, okay, you that's your political view, or you believe that, or I think this, I believe this. Hey, let's still be friends. We go go grab a cup of coffee or dinner. But nowadays it's so it's almost volatile. You know, if you disagree with me, well, you can't be my friend, I'm gonna unfriend you, I'm gonna block you, yeah, don't even talk to me. So, you know, and I see that even in church. Yeah. People that love God, people that are, you know, faithful and it's just different views. And I think everybody means well and they really believe that. I think more than anything, people are really um trying to figure out what is it that they believe. So I think what I've been trying to do is just really empathize and listen and seek to understand. And at the end of the day, we might not agree, but that's okay. We can still be friends. I respect your view. You know, I'm gonna pray for you. I wish you the best. I'm not gonna um disassociate from you because I value our friendship. And I try to emulate that with people and and communicate my the best that I can and model it for people. So hopefully, and I've seen some conversations that have gone that way, which is you know a healthy way to approach it. But it's almost like whatever you say, uh it's gonna be taken wrong by somebody. People are like, Why can't why can't you agree with us? Or like, I can't believe you didn't stand up for this. And it's just so challenging. So I think that you know, what helps me is just to empathize, seek to understand, ask questions.

SPEAKER_02 17:15

Now, do do people uh ask of your opinion? Like, do they say, What do you think of what Trump did here?

SPEAKER_00 17:21

or Yeah, who did you vote for? Um what sign is in your yard, right? Um that I've never really been asked, but people people hint. Yeah, well, you know, I'm you know, this proposition or this, you know, this or that, or um you know, I'm they've never asked where I stand. And you know, I don't really freely operate because I don't want to, you know, I just don't want to be a part of the discussion in a negative way with anybody. You know, I I know what I believe, but I try to just, hey, whatever you believe, man, you know, just bring it to the Lord and you know, may He lead you and guide you in wisdom. Uh, but I've never been asked that, put, you know, straight out, what is it, you know, what side are you on, or whatever. I'm on Jesus' side, that's all I know. But I think that, you know, trying to try to model it, conversations and understand it's so divided right now, but that's okay. We can still be united. I think the church is has a great opportunity to unite people, and it's been a very difficult situation to be able to unite, but I think it's I think it's something we can still do as believers. Well, I think we have to. We have to.

SPEAKER_02 18:22

I mean, like the I there's that passage where Jesus says, and they will know you are Christians by your love for one another, you know. And so I feel like this is such uh an opportunity for the church to model something different, yeah. To be able to say, you know, political positions and political parties are not the be all end all. Right. Yeah. There there is something deeper and greater and more important. And now I'm not you know, because you can go to the other side and say, well, politics doesn't matter. Well, of course it matters. You know, it does have an effect on the nation and on the spirit of the nation. So you understand that. But it there has to be a way in which we can model something different.

SPEAKER_00 19:02

And and even if you if love is your motive, you know, sometimes people can even misinterpret that. Like, well, you you know, it doesn't mean that you condone a behavior or a review or whatever just because you love that people, those people. Yeah. You know, the Bible calls it to share the truth in love, as long as we're sharing truth, but it's with grace and with love. Because it is like, you know, you love people like, well, you know, if you love people, you need to tell them the truth. And if you love people, oh, it means you're condoning dad. Like, even that is such a challenge, even right now to navigate. That's why we really need God's help or wisdom and you know, the Holy Spirit to kind of prompt us to have conversations, respond. Sometimes you have to just be silent and listen. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 19:43

All right. So um now that you know we've kind of unpacked that a little bit, it's uh what what do you find yourself talking to people about? Is it is it the political stuff or what what tends to be the thing that you are um having conversations about?

SPEAKER_00 19:59

You know Um, that's a really good question. It's n hasn't been too much about politics or even what's in the news, but people what I hear most is like what's going on in their own lives. Yeah. You know, because I think at the end of the day, um people still are struggling. They still try to figure it out. They're still trying to understand how can I apply scripture or I'm going through the difficult time. So most of the conversations that I'm really having are not as much as what's going on in the world, but really what's going on in their world, in their life. Yeah. Um, which makes it a good thing because that's where we need to be. We can't really change the world. We can't, you know, we can have our opinion, we can vote a certain way, we can pray. But at the end of the day, people are trying to live their best life. They're trying to understand, you know, how am I gonna put food on the table? How am I gonna raise my kids? How am I gonna save my marriage? Yeah, how am I gonna, you know, uh keep my life uh right? How am I gonna, you know, control my thoughts and just things like that that um that I really feel is most important because if that is right, then they'll be able to handle the world's situations, I think, better. Yeah. You know, because we can very easily be distracted of what's going on all over the world and the news and everything and really neglect the hard issues that are going on in our own personal lives. That's so true. So and I think that at the end of the day, people just want to, you know, live their best life.

SPEAKER_02 21:21

And I think that's one of the reasons why it's so important for pastors to be careful about going too political. Because uh if you think about it, if if all the right laws are passed, and and and uh and the perfect candidate, if there is none, but let's say the ideal candidate gets in office, people are still broken, right? You know, the laws are gonna not gonna change anything about like what you just described. It's not necessarily gonna make my marriage better, right? It's not gonna help me have pure thoughts, yeah, it's not gonna help me manage my finances in a more honorable way. Like all of those things are really personal. And if if I as a pastor, let's say, get real political, then I'm not it's gonna close the door for me to have an opportunity to say things to a person whose issues are much deeper than that.

Spiritual Pathways And Music

SPEAKER_00 22:12

Yeah, yeah, right? Yeah. Yeah, there was a a time a long time ago at church that a gentleman came in and um I can't remember what happened, but somebody gave him like um, it was like a a flyer for something or something we were passing out at church. And so I saw him and he grabbed it and he kind of I think he asked somebody like who's the pastor here, and they pointed, I saw them point to me. And I'm like, Okay, yeah, send him over my way. I'm ready for this conversation. He didn't look very happy, and I had never seen him before. So he came over to me and he's like, Uh, are you the pastor here? Like, well, yeah, yeah, how can I help you? And instantly I just knew, and maybe it was the Holy Spirit, I just knew that he was hurting. Yeah. So he's like, you know, I walk into church, they give me this, that, and he just kind of started ranting about all kinds of stuff that didn't really. I was trying to follow him. And so when he paused, I said, Listen, um, I we just met, I said, but what what's hurting your heart right now? It feels like something's not right in your in your life, and I just want to pray for you. And I didn't even ask her, answer all the questions he was asking about. I don't remember what they were, but I just knew that he was hurting. Yeah. And he just kind of paused and he went, Well, you know, my wife just died, and we were married over 20 years, and I'm I'm trying to figure this out, and you know, and I you're right, I'm really hurting. And he kind of started some self-reflection, and I'm like, Well, let's talk about that. And I just sat with him and he just began to weep and cry, and you know, thank God for you know the Holy Spirit that prompts us and things like that. And I said, But I think that's really what he was trying to get at. How do I get help? I'm hurting. Yeah. And um, and he started attending church, it was very involved and very faithful. And he remarried later on, they moved away. But he always thanked me for that um that question that I asked him, What's what's hurting in your heart right now? And I think I think people live there, you know, they're just trying to figure out life and stuff.

SPEAKER_02 24:07

And so that's what And that's the value, you know, going back to what we talked about at right at the beginning. That's the value of a pastor. Yeah, that's what a pastor does. You know, it's not like we want to right away get to the right have a fight about whatever. We're not referees, right? We're pastors, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 24:23

We're just like, no, hi, what's going on? What's that? Help me understand. I know, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 24:28

And and he opened up right away. And sometimes I think people just need to be asked. Yeah. You know, to be bold enough to say, What's going on in your life? You know, we can talk about all this other stuff, and but what's going on in your life? And n I more times than none, people have said, Well, I'm glad you asked, because this is what's going on, and that's really the issue. So, well, let's let's invite God into that instead of trying to figure out everything else, you know. Right.

SPEAKER_02 24:52

So do you find yourself giving like a certain kind of advice on a regular basis? Like I I when I thought think about pastoring, uh, I'm not as active in that particular role right now, uh, doing some other things. But um, when I was serving as a pastor in a local church, I I found myself kind of regularly coming back to a theme with people. Uh, do you find yourself doing something similar?

Navigating Politics With Empathy

SPEAKER_00 25:16

I I do, you know, and I think it really comes down to I find myself um saying this in several ways, like if they're sharing what's going on in their life, or maybe they're struggling with something or trying to figure things out. I always say, Well, what do you think God's doing in this in your life? What do you think he's trying to get at? Because it's always God trying to figure something, fix something. Or, you know, I met with a gentleman recently and his life was just falling apart, and you know, he was just trying to figure it out. I said, What do you think God's trying to trying to do this? And what is he trying to do in your life? Well, you know, I guess he wants me to surrender to trust him, and you know, because it was not even about his marriage and all the symptoms that were going on. It was like, what how's your heart? And and so I find myself trying to bring God into their situation instead of trying to give advice or trying to put a band-aid on it or just fix the behavior. Right. Because if they tap into what what is God doing, then it allows them to trust him and surrender to him, even though I don't understand God and this is this is what's going on. I think this is what's happening, but I don't know. But God, what are you doing? And inviting God into that and just taking time to listen, and and God always shows up. So, you know, whether whatever it is, whether it's great news or you know, people that are struggling, I always try to bring God into the situation and say, What do you think God is doing here? Yeah. And if they don't know, it's like, well, let's pray, let's pray together and find out what is he doing. Sometimes they know and they just need to surrender to that and trust him and kind of get some people around them to walk with them and cheer them on, pray for them so they don't do it alone. Yeah, yeah. But other times if they don't know, it's a great opportunity to kind of open up their hearts to God in a fresh new way. Yeah. And just kind of like, okay, maybe I haven't really asked him about it. You know, I've been trying to figure it out. God knows everything, right? He knows what he's doing. Yeah. So it's it's a good opportunity to just really get him closer to Jesus. Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 27:09

So I it reminds me of a uh passage where I think I I think I had the reference right where Jesus has been confronted about healing on the Sabbath. And of course, that was against the the Pharisaic law, and they were all on this case about it. And Jesus, one of his comebacks in one of these scenarios is look, the Father is always about his work, and I too am working. Yeah. And and so there isn't a thing that's going on in our life right now where God isn't doing something. Right. It's not always uh immediately apparent and obvious. Yeah. But if we're willing to do what you just said, like what's what could it be that God is doing something? Like, what could that be? What what might be the work of the Holy Spirit in the midst of this, which doesn't maybe seem like there's anything God could be doing. Right. But he is, he is always about his work. And there's always something that he's doing, even in the things that we may not uh consider as as like spiritual or uh uh like God would be interested in he he is, he's interested in it all, he's always doing his work, right?

SPEAKER_00 28:18

Yeah, he's always working. He never sleeps or slumber, right? Yeah, and he never gets tired either. So it's good.

SPEAKER_02 28:25

All right. Well, how about like you if you don't mind going personal, like um you've been in ministry a long time and uh when you look at like the next five, ten year run, are you you still excited about ministry? Do you see anything new on the horizon for you?

Caring For People’s Everyday Struggles

SPEAKER_00 28:41

Uh yeah, you know, I I don't think we've run out of people to reach with the gospel. Um You know, my uh my mom was my hero. She she lived to be night, she was two two months shy of her 96-year uh birthday, and she was a strong woman of faith. She was like the closest person to Jesus that I've ever been around. At her funeral, her pastor said to the family and to everybody gathered there, uh he said to us, Your mom was my pastor. So she was a really um she was a unique woman. She fa she had faith, she loved Jesus, and she, you know, when we brought her, um we were she was in South Texas the last year of her life, which we didn't know was going to be her last year, we brought her up to Austin. And um she was living in a facility and uh and we would visit her very often. She stayed with us for a little while with my sister and my brother, and she would wake up in the morning and she would go, Oh, I'm still here. Okay, okay, God, um, somebody needs prayer today, or I need to bless somebody, or I need to tell people about you something. So as long as I'm here, I'm gonna keep serving you. And um, she did that to her last till her last breath. And I remember the night before she passed, I was with her, it was just her and I, and and she told me, you know, I'm I'm dying now, you know, and I'm like, well, I hate to think that, Mom. No, everything's gonna be all right. She's like, No, that's okay. I'm not scared. I'm gonna go see your dad, I'm gonna go see your sister, I'm gonna go see Jesus. And she was so excited about it. And of course, I was like, I don't want to talk about it, you know, because that was my mom. I didn't want her to go. And so um she just said, just keep doing what God has called you to do. She told me, just keep doing what, and he'll always make a way. So I always think of my life as, you know, I wanted to be like that when I tell my last dying breath, you know, oh, okay, I'm still here. I gotta, I gotta tell somebody about Jesus. And sure enough, we would go visit her and people would come in, and people I didn't even know, and they're like, Oh, hi grandma, how are you? I'm like, Grandma, wait a minute, like who's this? Like, you know, my my dad traveled, so maybe I had uh brothers or sisters somewhere. I don't know. I always joke about that, but uh they I was like, hi, uh, I'm Sam, I'm you know, I'm her son, and like, oh, I was like, you called her grandma, like, oh, um, and it was a term of endearment, but because it was people that were working at the facility she were staying at, but they took the day off to come visit her. Wow. And that's kind of how she lived her life, impacting people with the gospel, and like, and she would say, Well, how's your husband? Did he get that job? How's your children at school? So she would get into people's lives and just minister to them. So um to answer your question, I just want to keep doing what God has called me to do as long as I can, as long as I have breath in my lungs and as long as people will listen. Yeah, and you know, my favorite verse in John 17, 4, where Jesus is praying and he tells God, he says, You know, I I've glorified you on earth because I accomplished the work that you gave me to do. And at the end of my life, that's what I want to say, you know, like Lord, I glorified you on earth, and you know, I I accomplished the work, I finished the work that you gave me to do. Um, so that's my long-term goal, you know, just to love people, encourage people, preach the gospel, live my life in a way where it it's making a difference, not because of who I am, but who Christ is in me. Yeah. And just helping people get closer to Jesus. My whole goal every day is like whoever I interact with, when they leave my presence, I want them to feel better. I want them to feel loved, I want them to feel seen. I want them to laugh a little bit. I want them to just know that that somebody sees them, somebody recognizes their their existence, basically, who they are. And then um, and bring them a little closer to God, wherever they are in their life. If their life is great, you know, let's help them get a little closer to Jesus. If their life is not great, they can still take one more step to Jesus. And Lord, just your will be done. Let him use me however he wants. Oh that's so um whatever that looks like, you know, I'm just trusting him and he's he hasn't let me down yet, so I don't think he will. So maybe this rodeo clown thing is maybe not too maybe in retirement. Yeah, exactly. Right. So yeah, it's that's um that's my goal.

SPEAKER_02 33:00

I I I want to end on the note that I started with, which is that um one of the things I've really respected about you is your faithfulness about all those things that you just said, you know, because sometimes, you know, pastors can get a uh you know, a big head. I I can certainly be guilty of that. And like, am I is it okay? Do I still want to, you know, pray for the person who comes up to me after service after two long, you know, d hours of ministering? Like, do I still want to be here? And I just have seen you do that time and time again. And whether it's at a funeral or a wedding or after a service or just uh caring about people being faithful with the small things, and I commend you for it. You're an inspiration. Uh Kelly as well. I know she's trying to transition into a new role, but I'm sure that her heart is still in ministry in the church. I can I see her occasionally on the video of doing a ministry moment or something like that.

SPEAKER_00 33:57

Yeah, she's just as a powerful minister now as when she was working at the church. And so that's that's the way she's wired as well. I'm just so blessed that God paired me up with somebody that is like-minded, has the same value, wants to live their life the same way. And yeah, that brings a lot of joy to me.

SPEAKER_02 34:13

So well, thanks again for being my guest. I really appreciate it, and thank you for joining us. Grateful that uh you have been a part of this conversation. I hope you've been inspired. And uh join us again next week when we have another sidewalk conversation.