Kristin McLendon

Kristin McLendon

Friday, June 18, 2010

Celebrating a Legend

 This past April I was driving out of Richmond Hill after watching a beautiful youth of mine become a wife, and found myself turning my head in the not so comfortable way to see if a car was parked in a certain spot.  It was and I did a U-turn and quickly called Robert to tell him not to get on the interstate (one of our many trips out of town that require two cars).  We pulled into the RHUMC parking lot and I knocked on the window to visit with a legend.  


I didn't know it when I first knocked on the window that evening that it would be my last.  That quickly became known to me and I just started to let the tears quietly fall.  At the end of our visit, when the three of us stood in this mans office one last time, holding hands and praying to our Beloved Jesus, I could no longer let the tears fall quietly, they became choking.


This office and this man was a staple in my life.  There is no way to count how many tears of mine have been shed in that office, as the number is too high.  How many times this man let me cry and all the while quietly whispering and reminding me to press on towards the goal (Philippians 3:13-14).  


You see....it was exactly seven years ago that my call into full time ministry started in that office.  Let me back up a little....


In my story, I abruptly sent you fast forward by several years.  But to go back to the end of college is where we will pick up today:



Towards the end of my 5th year of college, I went on a mission trip to Costa Rica.  While I was there I fell in love and cried when I had to leave.  I came home, graduated from UGA, then quickly started making plans to go back to the country my heart yearned for.  It would be January before I could get there, but I went.  I thought I'd be there for a decent amount of time (I went on a buddy pass with no return date selected).  I was only there 3 months when the Lord told me to go home.  That sounds fine and dandy but at this point in my life Richmond Hill was the last place I wanted to go to.  He spoke so clearly to me that He even gave me a vision of me standing in the pulpit of RHUMC--Katie's church, my sporadically attended church--sharing my story of how I'd met Jesus.  So I went home knowing I was suppose to work with the youth.

I'd been home just a few hours and it was Holy Week...so I went to church with my mom and of course sat next to the Brookshires.  After the service, Mrs. Sharon asked me what I was up to and my response was, "All I know is that Jesus wants me here."  She then proceeded to tell me that the church needed a Youth Minister and they would be getting a new pastor in June (it was then April).  She introduced me to who I needed to meet to volunteer, and well there I was that next Sunday, meeting the youth of RHUMC.  I volunteered for the next few months, not able to be hired there because I was a church member.  But that wasn't going to deter me from the voice of the Lord that told me to be there.  I went on to interview for other jobs--had offers, but could not silence the Voice of my Beloved that was telling me to be with the youth full time.  It made no sense to me.  I needed an income, but the conviction was so heavy, I turned down the offers.  

It was the start of Youth Week 2003 and I came to volunteer.  They asked me how much they could count on me for the week and I said, "100%".  The next day I found myself staying with the youth during the day and was told our new pastor was moving in (it was then June).  I thought I'd walk by his office, say hello and welcome him to Richmond Hill.  What I thought was going to be a quick hello, turned into an hour and an invitation to share my testimony that next Sunday.  I walked out overwhelmed, as that would be the fulfillment of the vision the Lord had given me in Costa Rica.

That next Sunday I poured out my heart to a congregation.  Psalm 40 being the heartbeat of my testimony, "I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry.  He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.  He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.  Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord."  After sharing my God given story, my beloved Mrs. Thelma (I would later live in her garage apartment) came up saying she'd talk to SPR on my behalf.  

And we all know the rest of the story.  I had an official interview and they bent the rules.  At first they let me be interim....then it became a full time hire.  I shiver to think what would have happened had I given into the world telling me I had to take the first job offer because I would have missed this:

For five years I looked up to a man that saw the call Jesus had on my life, even when I was unsure of it.  For five years I learned from a man that was hungry for the Truth and proclaimed it every Sunday from the pulpit and from every foot step he took.    For five years I learned from a man that let me cry, but at the same time encouraged me with every breath that he had to not give up.  For five years when I didn't see the potential in me, he called it forth.  For five years, it was an honor to serve under a legend.

Two years ago I heard the voice of my Beloved again and knew it was time to move on.  I was sad to leave this man, but even he knew His voice and would in no way stop Him.  So I packed up my office and moved north. 

Now, seven years since that first encounter of a man moving into an office, where my call into ministry began, has been packed.  My beloved Rev. Bill retired this past week.  There aren't words enough to express my gratitude to him.  How do you tell a man thank you for saying yes to the call that Jesus had on your life?  I really don't know how, other than to just say a simple "thank you".  Thank you Jesus for the precious five years you gave me to serve with him.

Rev. Bill, I pray blessings on you and your family as you enter into this new season of life.  May you find rest in His peace.  May you find His spirit refreshing.  May you know that you are dearly loved and it's been an honor to serve with you for the sake of the Gospel.


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posted by Kristin @ June 18, 2010 2 Comments

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Pictures to go with my story....

A very big thank you goes to all of you that took the time to rejoice with me in my story....

Tonight, here are a few pictures to go with my story....

August 2009, the evening The Brookshires gave me the precious gift of Katie's Bible:


And here is Mrs. Sharon and I just this past Sunday...


Can't express enough how grateful I am for them!

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posted by Kristin @ June 16, 2010 0 Comments

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

It's been ten years...and I have a story to tell.

I remember it like yesterday.  I was 20 years old, home from UGA for the Summer.  Driving through Richmond Hill, I wondered why the flags were at half mast.  I kept driving, drove to my boyfriends house and remember exactly where I was sitting when I got the phone call.  Katie had died.  I remember sitting in a state of shock and not really knowing what to think or do.  As the afternoon dragged by all I could think was Katie was just so happy.


You see, Katie and I cheered together in High School.  We'd kept in touch through out the first year/s of college and I had last seen her at Easter when me and my graceful self fell down the stairs to the balcony at RHUMC (that was for my 1 of 2 yearly visits to church--Christmas and Easter) and she caught me.

Katie was different.  At the time all I could figure out was-- that difference--was that she was just so happy.  I remember the day she died and I said, I want that.  Whatever it is that she had, I want.  I was on a quest from that moment, searching for what she had.  All I knew was that Katie went to church.  So, with that little bit of knowledge, my boyfriend and I broke up before the summer was over and I headed back to Athens.  I'd attended a Methodist Church for those 2 holidays a year, so I thought the UGA Wesley Foundation was a good place to start.

So that next year, with one foot in the world and one foot knowing I needed to go to church, I went to the Wesley Foundation on Wednesdays and I was downtown to party with the rest of Athens on the weekends.  The Lord (still didn't know it was Him, or that He wanted a relationship with me) brought enough believers into my life that had relationship with Him, that they convinced me to sign up for leadership the next year.  So I did.  I remember my leadership interview at the end of that school year and them asking me my opinion of the Trinity and I said, "What's the Trinity."  Nice.  They must have heard the audible voice of the Lord, because they put me on leadership for the next year.

I went home for the summer again.  It had been one year since Katie passed away and I hit an all time low emotionally.  Towards the end of the summer, about 2 weeks before heading back to Athens, I was so desperate, I said, Jesus, if you are real, show me.  I had a drastic encounter with the Lord....surrendered everything and then headed back to Athens.

In Athens I found myself having zero desire to go downtown or party.  Instead, I was drawn to creating relationships with people that knew this man Jesus that I had encountered.  I had finally figured out that what Katie had was not a regular attendance at church (which she did have, but that wasn't what mattered).  What she had was a relationship with Jesus.  I had finally found it.  I had finally found Him.  And that happiness that Katie had--it was the Joy of the Lord and I finally had it.

Upon being back in Athens, I was put in a role of leading a small group of Freshman girls--yes, 2 weeks after surrendering my life.  I knew nothing about this man Jesus other than the fact He had saved me from the pit of Hell (and that was exactly where I was emotionally) yet, I had Freshman girls asking me questions about Him.  The only way I knew how to answer them was with a, I'll get back to you...and I spent that school year (my 5th year of college by the way) at His feet.  I fell in love that year.  I wanted all I could have of Him.  I was so hungry for Him that I was never satisfied and just longed for more.

Fast forward 9 years and my friend Matt dies.  I immediately head back to Richmond Hill to visit with the family and then right after that drove over to see Katie's family.  We visited that night, reminiscing and thinking of Katie.  As I was getting ready to leave, Katie's mom said I have something for you.  She pulled out Katie's Bible and it took all that I had not to lose it right there.  Really, you want to give this to me, was all I could think and utter.  Katie never knew me as a Christian, yet I gave my life to Jesus because of her.  And there I was in her parent's kitchen holding her Bible, 9 years later.

During this last year, the Lord has opened the door for me to speak at a handful of high schools.  I go with Katie's Bible in my hand, knowing I have a story to tell.  I have a story that I was lost, depressed, emotionally wrecked...yet one girl lived her life differently and I was forever changed.

So with that I close as this blog has gotten way too long.  But it's been a moment for me, whether you've read through this whole thing or not, remembering my friend Katie.  The way she lived life and the way she loved Jesus led me to the cross.  The way she was in love with a Man, introduced me to my Bridegroom.  Today it's been ten years since she passed away and I uttered the words, "I want what she had."  Thank you Jesus for allowing me to know Katie.  Thank you Mr. Tommy and Mrs. Sharon for raising a daughter that was madly in love with her Savior.  My life was radically changed because of your daughter and for that I will be eternally grateful.

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posted by Kristin @ June 15, 2010 7 Comments