I preached my first sermon nearly 30 years ago in May 1994. This “mini-sermon” was delivered as part of youth led service at First Presbyterian Church in Arlington, Texas.
Getting Started
I did not preach again until the year 2000. By then, I’d completed an undergraduate degree in ministry and was two-thirds of the way through seminary where I was working toward a Master of Divinity degree. This time, I spoke at First Presbyterian Church in Duncanville, Texas. I had the opportunity to preach a handful of times while there in a part-time staff role and as part of my required field-based learning.
Preaching Weekly
Only after graduating from seminary and starting in my first call as an Associate Pastor did I begin to preach with greater frequency. I preached at Central Christian Church (1863-2021) in Dallas, Texas for the first time in 2001. And, starting in 2002, preached on a weekly basis for a new contemporary service (and occasionally in the traditional service). I then moved on to serve another Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) congregation in Garland, Texas. While at First Christian Church, I preached on a weekly basis for a new contemporary service (and occasionally in the traditional services).
Preaching Sporadically
From 2005 to 2012, I held a variety of parish ministry roles in Texas and Florida that included limited preaching opportunities. I did, however, manage to preach a handful of times at another First Presbyterian Church during these years: FPC in Naples, Florida. It was also during this time that I preached for the first time in a congregation affiliated with the United Church of Christ: Naples United Church of Christ.
Preaching Weekly
In 2013, I accepted my first role as an interim pastor serving as Interim Senior Pastor at United Church of Marco Island, Florida. After completing that interim work, I served as Interim Pastor of Fort Myers Congregational United Church of Christ.
Not Preaching
After preaching my last sermon at FMCUCC in September 2015, I did not step into a pulpit again for two years.
Preaching Weekly
I found my way back to a Presbyterian pulpit in 2017, serving as a supply preacher for the first time. In late 2017 and in early 2018, I preached at West Fork Presbyterian Church in Grand Prairie, Texas.
Not Preaching
After preaching my last sermon at WFPC in March 2018, I did not preach again for five years.
Preaching Sporadically
In 2023, I decided to seek ordination in the United Church of Christ. And, as part of that journey, I returned to the pulpit.
Over the course of last year, I preached seven times in five congregations affiliated with three denominations. (And, I was ordained and installed in November).Notably, this was the greatest number of congregations I’ve ever preached in during a single year.
To date in 2024, I’ve preached twice in two congregations affiliated with two denominations. Next month, I’m scheduled to preach three Sundays in a row.
So What?
In the 2000s, the frequency of my preaching has shifted from occasional to weekly to sporadically to weekly to not at all to weekly to not at all to sporadically. And, it’s primarily been in congregations affiliated with Mainline Protestant denominations, including:
- Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
- The Episcopal Church
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in American
- Presbyterian Church (USA)
- United Church of Christ
I’m grateful for each of these opportunities (and thankful that to the best of my knowledge no recordings exist of my first few sermons). And, I look forward to the opportunity to preach a message of hope in the months and years ahead.
Note: In my current role as CEO of White Rock Center of Hope, I’m fortunate to be invited to speak (and sometimes also to preach) in Dallas area congregations that support the ministry of WRCH. I also welcome general preaching invitations.