My Call / My Journey / My Education
I had been becoming more involved in my church as time passed. I was the occasional lay speaker, a worship leader and a trustee. I felt that I was being a devoted servant of the Lord, while still being a good steward of the family farm, as I managed to keep up with the required work. This routine was broken one morning, as I sat on the couch in our den. Trying to be stoic, I fought back tears as my wife prepared to leave for work.
The day before, we had to make the gut-wrenching decision to place our son in the behavioral health unit of the local hospital. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the first time. A genetic liver disorder with complications that ravaged his brain had reared its head. As my wife kissed me goodbye, my stoicism failed me. I began to weep uncontrollably.
A few moments passed when I felt a comforting touch on my wrist. I thought my wife heard me as she left and had returned. However, as I lifted my eyes, no one was there. It was then that I realized with that touch, that my tears had stopped, and that a complete peace engulfed me. Although I knew at once that the touch was more than human, I raced to the window to find my wife’s car gone. I sat back down and marveled at the love, and compassion and power to soothe within one touch. A touch that could have only been God’s.
From that day on, I felt whatever spiritual service I had been accomplishing in His name was not enough. Although I resisted with every ounce of my humanity, my heart kept leading me back to the moment of that touch. I knew that the ministry, proclaiming the love and care that Jesus Christ promises was my destination. All the details required to enter the ministry seemed to fall neatly into place.
As I began to attend SVMC classes during evenings and Saturdays, the farm work still got done. Almost as though I had help? Not only did I gain a wide range of knowledge during the learning process, but also made lifelong friendships with my fellow students, many of whom are in the ministry also, and we share that fulfilling experience together.
We all have different journeys on our path to the Lord. Because I was more privileged, or perhaps more stubborn, my journey began with a physical touch from our Father. As I talk to my fellow ministers, each one has had a unique and event filled spiritual journey. But none of my Brothers and Sisters have ever voiced that they regret choosing their path. I will never know why it took me so long to choose mine.
Harvey Wason was licensed into the ministry in June 2014, completed ACTS in Oct. 2016 and was ordained in May 2017. He is currently serving as Pastor of the James Creek Church of the Brethren in the Middle PA District. He and his wife Kathy own a farm where they raise hogs and beef cattle.
