Pastoring is a huge endeavor, especially when you are new to it. I liken it to being a new parent. When your first child arrives, so does the responsibility to care for them. Now, usually you receive a little help in the first few days. We were blessed that my mother-in-law came and helped us for a week. But then, she left and everything was down to us.

As an analytical kind of guy, I quickly figured out the principles of caring for a baby. The key skills necessary are to quickly and efficiently get food into the top end and diligently keep the other end as clean as possible. Oh, there are a few other details, but when they're brand new, those are the big two.

Five and a half years ago, I took over the pastorship of New Life Church in Dodgeville, WI. This was my first pastorate and I had about twenty souls looking intently at me for spiritual nurturing. I understand that having multiple children can be challenging enough, but now I had twenty spiritual charges to feed and clean and raise in the Lord.