All in good time my child, all in good time.

“What do we want God to do for us?” I had asked. It was June, and we were in-between jobs. This weekend I was driving my family up to the San Francisco Bay area so that I could finish all the moving details. Now we were back on the road, traveling north. With our hunger satisfied from our favorite roadside burger joint, we slowly compiled a list as we drove. (I have underlined the answers to pray as they happened.)

1. I wanted to teach in what is called a “Principle Approach” school.
2. We wanted to be in the church for a while before I signed a teaching contract.
3. We wanted to live close to the school/church.
4. We wanted to live in a house. 
5. We wanted a 12-month contract.
6. We wanted good insurance coverage.
7. We wanted to be able to live on my salary so she could be home with our children.
8. I wanted to take a year off to “forget”.
9. We wanted a pastor that loved us.
10. I wanted to teach and also do church music. 

With a desperate prayer, and what faith we could muster, we set out in a new direction. We finally settled in at my in-laws until we could find a place to live. First, I needed some new shoes. The administrator at the last school had given me a going away party and a gift certificate for J. C. Penney’s. It was a hot June afternoon as we drove back from the mall. My wife was pregnant with our 3^rd daughter. We decided to get something to eat, but because of the heat my wife ask for us to stop somewhere nicer than a fast food joint so we could relax and enjoy our meal. Right over the freeway was a Denny’s. The hostess informed us that there was a 20-minute wait for a “non-smoking” table. It was cool and comfortable. That’s all that mattered. About 5 minutes later she returned with an odd but welcome proposition. If we were willing to share a booth with a “nice little old lady” (her words) we could get a table now. We enjoyed a nice lunch and good conversation. When she heard I was a Christian School teacher, she began telling us about the church she had just started attending. We said goodbye, and she left. I thought it was somewhat odd that she could not remember the name of the church, but I marked it up to a “senior memory”. After a few minutes she returned to our table. She had found a bulletin in her car. Not much was said about it, although I though the pastor’s face was vaguely familiar. The next Sunday, my wife suggested that we visit the church. It happened to be in the same general area where we were house hunting. 

When I called to get directions, I found that it was the pastor who answered the phone. During our conversation I learned that I had met him at my college when he was a pastor in Wyoming. Although I had really liked the school and its programs, there was no way either of us wanted to go to Wyoming. 

When we arrived at the church we were met by the assistant pastor. We introduced ourselves and after some small talk, he asked me what I did. I said I was currently working for a computer data center in the area, but was a science teacher by choice. “Don’t leave here until we talk to you”, he said with a smile. 

We were escorted to the adult Sunday school class lead by, of all people, the headmaster of the school. “Don’t ask him what his job is right now, ask him what he used to do”, quipped the assistant pastor on his way out. That started the wheels in motion. After the service I was asked to chat with the pastor and the headmaster.

 I was very impressed with their program. It was a Principle Approach School. They paid 20% more for each class over five. After finding out my background basics, the headmaster was disappointed. “I have a problem. I have all the teachers I need for the coming year, but I would really need you for the following school year. You’re going to go get a job somewhere else, and we won’t be able to hire you”, he said. I assured him I was not looking for a position this school year. He then told me that they would be beginning the 12 month contracts the following year. They provided full insurance. Children of faculty went tuition free. 

I signed a contract in early January. Shortly after, my wife’s aunt was murdered. The pastor gave my wife the money for a flight to West Virginia for the funeral. This was only one of the many times that he showed his love for our family.  After one year of teaching, the assistant pastor left. The pastor asked if we would like to move into the church-owned house across the street.  The next year, the music director left so they could take care of his in-laws. I was asked to lead the church services and the choir with pay! Everything we had asked for (and more) had been provided!