Michael Swagerty, 60, celebrated his 40th year of ministry in the Worldwide Church of God this past June 2007. Currently pastor of the Sacramento, CA, congregation and district superintendent of the Northern California area, Mike has also served over the years in Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.

People came from as far as Akron, OH, to attend the special 40th anniversary service and evening "roast." The most notable attendee was probably Pastor General Joe Tkach, Jr., who raised eyebrows with the story of his first meeting with Mike Swagerty.

While still a high school student, Pastor General Tkach worked at Ambassador College cleaning the dorms. One evening as he was vacuuming, Mike stopped him and demanded to know, "Who are you and what are you doing here?" There had been a rash of thefts in the dorms, but Joe didn"t know anything of that when he answered. "I"m Joe Tkach, and I work here." Perhaps a bit stung at Mike"s attitude, Joe turned the question around. "Who are you and what are you doing here?"

According to Pastor General Tkach"s story, Mike stood at his full height and declared, "I am Michael Swagerty, and I am the student body president of the whole student body of this college and I am in charge around here!"

There was laughter all around as this story, and many others, were shared by family and friends alike. Earlier that day, Mike had shared the moving and heartfelt story of his journey as a Christian and pastor in the Worldwide Church of God. He described his first year of ministry, which began during his final year of college when Herbert Armstrong appointed him student body president, as "nothing more than absolute torture." He was a full-time, paid employee of the church, responsible for representing the 550 students of the college, handling the budget and finances of the student body, organizing activities, planning events, going with pastors on visits in the evenings and preaching or leading worship on the weekends. It was a 24/7 job, and he hadn"t even graduated yet!

Mike shared his 40-year story, from that hot August night searching for a rock-n-roll song on the radio when he first heard Mr. Armstrong speak, to his most embarrassing moment baptizing a young lady when most of the inner seam of his pants ripped out, to the ten years after the doctrinal changes where he felt he lost another piece of his own flesh and was left bleeding each time someone left his congregation. In that dark time, he says he finally experienced God as the kind of friend who never leaves nor forsakes you, in the midst of the worst of mental and emotional turmoil.

Recently, Mike has seen God"s hand at work in the development of a video ministry. This ministry provides for individuals and small groups around the country who desire to participate and be fed by a church service, but who for whatever reason have no real way to do so. Most of these individuals or groups have been left without a church home due to the unfortunate closing of their local congregations. They now find themselves too ill, too distant or for other reasons, not able to attend a WCG congregation that they have been used to. (For more information about the video ministry, see www.wcgsac.org .)

Mike receives frequent testimonials from hungry souls who are now receiving the bread of life through this long-distance ministry. When Mike shares these letters with the congregation, he often brings out his handkerchief, visibly moved by the way God has touched these lives. This heart-to-heart transparency is the hallmark of Mike Swagerty, as those who know him can testify.

"The reason I have loved the ministry is because I love people," he shared at the anniversary services. "Every congregation has been a family. I say, let"s tell our stories to each other. Let"s laugh, let"s cry together." There was more than one moist eye in the service as this veteran pastor recounted his greatest hopes and griefs of 40 years.

Then, as if to keep the day from being too sentimental, the evening banquet was dubbed a "roast." A wide variety of people shared their stories of Mike"s past, from Mike"s mother, Gladys Swagerty, to Bernie Schnippert, general counsel of the church"s legal department. Stories of exploding peach liquor stills, putting frogs in neighbors" mailboxes, and carrying around his blankie with his thumb in his mouth (although not in that order).

There was much laughter and smiles at the presentation of gag mementos, but in the end, everyone was of one spirit celebrating 40 years of faithful ministry and wishing Mike Swagerty another 40 blessed years in God"s service. As Mike"s wife, Sandy, said, "You"ll do ministry in one form or another until your last breath!"

May the years be long and full of grace before that day comes! —Teddi Deppner

When I first heard of the denomination"s new focus on church planting and multiplication, I confess I was not a happy camper. My initial reaction was "I am barely able to keep existing ministries going in my congregation—how in the world will I spin off a church plant?" The fact that I am 60 years old, and most of my congregation is older, did not help. Other pastors I talked with shared my doubts. But a recent discussion in Glendora with Dan Rogers, Randy Bloom, Ken Williams and some of my fellow District Pastoral Leaders helped give me a more positive view of what our denomination is trying and not trying to do. Let me briefly explain.

First, I came away with a new sense of appreciation that our headquarters leadership has for longtime loyal ministers and church members. They are not asking us to do things we are not capable of and/or gifted to do. How then can we help? While we may not have the energy or talent to be a candidate to plant a church, can we identify and encourage others in our congregation who might have these skills and desires? If we find such an individual, there are resources available from the denomination to assist us in mentoring them. If we do not have an individual in our congregation, can we help support the training and mentoring of someone from another congregation?

If your church is blessed with a few extra dollars that are looking for a good cause, I am sure Dan Rogers could help you find a match. Along these same lines, can we give a helping hand to our Generations ministry? In particular, the summer camps and other activities that are geared toward our young adults and teens. I think all of us can quickly see that if we don"t retain and use our young people, they will be lost to us in time, and our denomination will simply grow old and fade away!

Lastly, we can all be prayer partners, that God will bless our collective efforts to find and train new leaders. God is not trying to burst old wineskins, but he is definitely in the business of asking the old wineskins to help make some new wineskins that are capable of holding the new wine of church plants and multiplication. Surely all of us can look carefully at our congregations and in whatever we can, help with this new direction that has promise of a bright future. —Mike Swagerty

(From left to right) Pastor Paul Markell from the Eastern Hills First Wesleyan Church, Charlie Pero from the Batavia First Wesleyan Church, Pastor Charlie Piscitello (BCF), Pastor David Appleton from the Heart of Christ Fellowship and Pastor Henry Pokrywa (BCF) click on anyphoto to enlarge it

Copyright 2007