DAY 19- JUDITH BAXTER

Day 19 – March 26, 2025

In 2004, we left a home we loved for Seattle, WA where Jerrel had a new job waiting for him.

Our church family helped pack us up and prayed for us on our way off. We were wary of this new adventure, but Jerrel needed the job.

In Seattle, we found a wonderful church and quickly made friends. This church supported us spiritually, emotionally, and financially when Jerrel was looking for work again. I worked for the church for seven years, most of the time as the Administrator. During my last year, the church had a new senior pastor who had many ideas to grow the church. I found out on a Monday that included replacing me and other staff. The pastor came to my office, asked for my resignation, and told me I needed to be out of my office by Friday. My son could continue his confirmation classes, which would be over in April.

In a twenty-minute conversation, we lost our church and church family. I felt ambushed and betrayed. A parishioner commented, “Now that the people that held us back are removed, our church will grow.”

Why would God let this happen to my family when I had done nothing but serve Him with my whole heart? I felt like Job. I later realized that I was about to embark on a period of immense Growth.

I had only God and His Word at the moment. Prayer became focused and scripture precious. I was unemployed and would walk, reciting verses on forgiveness and trust recognizing my problem and my need to change and repent. It was just me and God now.

Jerrel and I will be very quick to tell anyone to find a church community. It is vital for glorifying God, learning and growing, and for outreach. But what I learned through my trial is personal growth through scripture study and memorization is essential. No one can take that away from you. Your personal relationship with God makes you stronger and thereby makes the Church stronger.

FYI: A year later I got a job at another church in the community. It ended up being an even better job and I made incredible friends and was able to complete projects I never thought I would do. Like Job, the blessings were immense. However, we never found another church in Washington that was family like our first church in Washington and like HFUMC is becoming.

Isaiah 40:8 The grass withers the flowers fall but the Word of the Lord endures forever.

– Judith Baxter

Prayer: Holy Father, how wonderful it is to leave the wilderness and realize that we are stronger for having gone through it! Just when we feel like all is lost, you show us a glimmer of your promise and it is enough to get us through another day. When we look back, it gives us a sense of closeness to you as we see the blessings you give us that take the place of whatever we might have lost. You are a good, true, and just God. Praise your name!  Amen.