This past Sunday I had the privilege of thanking Mike Exsted for his service and commending his Christian character. 

Mike leads the roadies, who set up for worship every week.  Mike is very dedicated and conscientious about set-up, and he goes out of his way to make things easier for the rest of us – the children’s ministry, worship team, preacher, etc… Really, he does a wonderful job.  He also coordinates the rotation of people who serve once a month in the roadie ministry.  I appreciate what he does so much. 

First of all, I am more of a big-picture person than a detail person so taking care of all the details before worship gets stressful for me.  It’s a huge relief not to have that pressure anymore and to be able to depend on someone else to do a great job.  That allows me to focus on what I need to do – facilitating a worshipful environment, sharing announcements, and teaching the church family the way of life taught to us by Christ Jesus. 

What Mike does really takes the pressure off the musicians as well.  The Family Band does a marvelous job, but it wouldn’t be the same without Mike and his team of roadies supporting them. 

In the four years we’ve been doing this church-plant, there have been mildly discouraging periods of time when it was only the musicians and I setting up and it was a lot of work.  Of course, we were serving the Lord and we were looking toward our reward from Christ Jesus, but when we served in that capacity week after week, with no one seemingly willing to help, it caused us to question whether or not what we were doing as musicians and teacher had value to the congregation.  Of course, we should never have felt that way, because we’re seeing lives change and people in our family are clearly growing in their trust and love for God, but honestly, ministry has its emotional ups and downs.  It was easy to be tempted to feel down when we were working alone, emotionally spent after the worship service, hauling speakers and children’s ministry stuff out to the trailer in blowing wind and 15 degrees below zero. 

Ahhh, but if I learn the value of water after a long run on a hot day, I’ve learned the value of the roadies by struggling along without them for a time.  Everything would be much more difficult without them and none of it would be likely to have the same impact.  Mike Exsted and the roadies, by humbly serving, make it all happen.

But more than that, I have seen Mike grow tremendously in the last couple of years.  He is becoming a man of greater faith, greater humility, and greater commitment.  I love praying with Mike during the prayer time before the worship service.  Mike loves to pray, longs to be being filled with the Spirit of God, and wants to see God glorified in his everyday life. 

Mike, I’m really proud of you.  I’m so excited by what God has been doing in your life, and I’m deeply grateful for your help and service as we plant this church for the glory of God.

Much love, brother!