TOWEL SERVICE EXAMPLE

^“Jesus, knowing that the Father had handed all things over to Him, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God, got up from supper and laid His outer garments aside; and He took a towel and tied it around Himself. Then He poured water into the basin and began washing the disciples’ feet and wiping them with the towel which He had tied around Himself.” (John 13:3-5 NASB)

Dr, Stephen E. Tucker, my friend since elementary school, a respected, renown, and one highly regarded by his peers in the ministry as a great Pastor; a man of God who not that long ago, went home with the Lord; went from labor to rest, he once spoke from the passage above on the subject of “Towel Service versus Title” service. Many of those in attendance not only remember the message he delivered, but they responded, never letting their title serve as an obstacle that would keep them from serving the Lord in capacities that were not included in their job description. I saw an example of “towel service” this past Saturday and I was so impressed and inspired that I had to share what I witnessed with you.

Our Senior Pastor had just completed leading the church’s Leadership Council through a two-hour meeting. I’m sure he still had to go over his sermon for the next day, complete some theological schoolwork, answer church-related phone calls, and ensure that our new sound and video equipment was ready for the tech team. In addition to that, his beloved grandchildren had been dropped off for their regular weekend visit. And being a bi-vocational Pastor for now, he might have even had to deal with some work issues from the departments that he manages. But none of that kept him from choosing towel service over title service in what I am getting ready to tell you about. Yet, before I do, I have to tell you about another person, one of our Deacons who also put towel service before title service.

Deacon had been in attendance at the Saturday Leadership Council meeting too. He could have gone home and done some other things on Saturday afternoon. He didn’t. He took on the task of painting the Trustee’s Office.

Here’s what I saw, related to towel service. Pastor had just prepared the sound equipment on the platform for the Praise Team’s rehearsal. As he walked back to the control station, he noticed one of the windows had been shattered by a rock. Glass was everywhere. He immediately started to clean up the broken glass that was on a few pews and the sanctuary floor. Now, I was present, so I helped too; towel service. But this is not about me. The Deacon heard the Pastor as he got a broom and a waste container, and he inquired what Pastor was doing. Instead of continuing with his work, being a steward of our facility which comes under his Deacon job description, he did not let his title stop him from helping. He did not let an excuse surface where he could have said, “I good some other things to do.” He did not let any physical tiredness keep him from pausing to do some towel service. He immediately went into the sanctuary to help clean up the mess and using his technical expertise, along with the Pastor’s problem-solving skills, they covered the broken windowpane, being resourceful, using materials they found in the church. It took some measuring, some cutting, some fitting, some bending, some reaching, and some more cleaning up. Together, Pastor and Deacon demonstrated, without thinking twice and chose towel service over title service.

Now, don’t let this be just a good example. Let this meditation be good encouragement for you to do the same. Even if you have the title of “Member” at your church, I hope you will be found choosing towel service over title service. Be inspired! Be glad to be of service, not just in the service! Be blessed!

Committed to the climb,

Mark L. King