Help Wanted

Today’s Passage – Isaiah 5 – 8

And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.” (Isaiah 6:8)

Last night at the Northeast Vision Summit, held at Solid Rock Baptist Church in Berlin, NJ, a great giant of the faith was honored. Pastor Rick Wedemeyer is the under-shepherd of The Christian Bible Baptist Church in Berkley Township. Pastor Rick answered God’s call to preach many years ago. He and his wife Kim packed up their two kids and all of their possessions and headed off to Bible college in order to be trained to minister the glorious gospel of grace. After college God called him to serve as the youth pastor of Ocean County Baptist Temple in Toms River, NJ. It was there that I first met Pastor Rick. I had recently been saved, had long hair; no Christian friends or even acquaintances. Pastor Rick befriended me; he mentored me; he opened up his home to me. I would come to him often and at all hours with my questions and problems and he never turned me away. I don’t know how the world would measure the impact of Pastor Rick’s ministry, but to me and many others, he really made a difference. I know that I would not be a pastor today had it not been for the influence of Pastor Rick.

Consider some of the other people that his life has touched:

Pastor and Mrs. Ted Stahl – Assistant pastor at Jersey Shore Baptist Church in Galloway, NJ

Pastor and Mrs. Brian Phalon – Faith Baptist Church in Sparta, NJ

Pastor and Mrs. Dan Bell – Cornerstone Baptist in Browns Mills, NJ

Mrs. Susan Barnes – Pastor’s wife in Illinois

Pastor Mike Sanzone – Ardmore, Oklahoma

Bob and Amy Crease – faithful servants in various ministries at Solid Rock Baptist in Berlin

Sal Valencia – usher at Solid Rock

There are others also. These are just the ones that popped into my head. Pastor Rick answered God’s call. He has been faithful to the Lord and to the Lord’s people for all of these years. Here on earth, he won’t receive much compensation, at least not what he deserves; but he has a pile of rewards waiting for him in Heaven.

How about you? Are you interested in a job? The Lord has a help wanted sign out; and He wants you to answer His call. What will you do in service for Him? You can choose to live your life for the riches of this world; or you can choose instead to sacrifice what this world may offer and serve the Creator of the Universe. He truly has the greatest benefit package available.

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Phil Erickson

Pastor Phil Erickson has been the pastor of Jersey Shore Baptist Church since January of 2002. Having grown up in Ocean County, Pastor Phil has always had a burden for the south Jersey area. After graduating from Bible College in Longview, Texas, he and his family moved to Galloway Township with the vision of digging in and serving the Lord and the people of Atlantic County. Pastor Phil and Cindy Erickson have been married since 1985. They have four children and ten grandchildren. Their oldest son, Phil Jr. and his wife Katelyn are serving the Lord in Egg Harbor Twp., NJ. Their oldest daughter, Melissa, is married to Wesley Clayton who is in the Air Force and is currently stationed in New Mexico. Samantha, their third child, is married to Justin Mears and they are both serving the Lord at the church in Galloway. Hannah, the youngest, is married to Lucas McCollum, and they are also serving here in Galloway. In preparation for ministry, the Lord led him through a variety of educational experiences that have equipped him to serve the Lord and His people. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Georgian Court University, a Bachelor of Biblical Studies in Pastoral Theology from Texas Independent Baptist Seminary (formerly Texas Baptist College), a Master of Religious Education in Bible from West Coast Baptist College, and a Master of Biblical Studies from The Crown College. More recently, he completed a Graduate Certificate in Biblical Counseling and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Veritas Baptist College. He is thankful for these opportunities to study God’s Word more deeply, and counts it a privilege to use whatever knowledge the Lord has given him for the building up of His church. In addition to pastoring, the Lord has given Phil the wonderful privilege of teaching as an adjunct professor at Vision Baptist College in Berlin, NJ and Veritas Baptist College.

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sal says:

July 29, 2010 at 8:32 am

thankms pastor phil i just wanted to thank you again for the years you and your family took teaching me the right way of life and to be a christian also when i come down to your church your church family took me like one of there owe so thnks again for being a faithful serveth of god i owe my life to you.

thank you and i love you,
sal