Rich Shaffer was introduced during the Special Annual Conference as a man with a heart for God, whose leadership and compassion have been on display for the past eight years as he has taken the message and witness of Christ throughout the conference as Conference Lay Leader.
“I was glad I said yes to God when [God] called me to this position,” Shaffer said when reflecting on his time in the position.
Shaffer went on to talk about his father’s whistle, which could be heard up to a mile away. When his children heard this whistle, they knew that it was a command to come home quickly because his father had a reason for calling them.
This whistle call gave Shaffer an opportunity to ponder God’s call on our lives and led to some questions. Like the call of his father, Shaffer pondered whether we recognize the call of our heavenly father. He asked if we realize that when God calls, there is a purpose for that call, that there is something that needs to be accomplished through us. He asked if we can distinguish the voice of God from all the other voices that we hear.
Reflecting on John 10:14 (“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—”), Shaffer said we are reminded that sheep know that their shepherd protects them, cares for them and they can distinguish between their own shepherd and others.
Shaffer closed his presentation with questions to ponder: How much longer do we have on this Earth and what is the urgency for our heart to be attuned to God and our Spirits aligned with the Holy Spirit? Is Jesus Shepherd of our life? How much time have we spent during this pandemic meditating and praying to God? Have we examined our life to assess our spiritual health? Do we know that God desires a close relationship with each of us and that we are created for relationship with God?
Remembering Esther 4:15, Shaffer said we are here for such a time as this. He said we are creative people and asked what it will take to reach others for Christ in this strange time. He asked: Are we improving our relationship with Jesus? He said that when we answer God’s call, we will be amazed at what God has in store.
As Shaffer’s final laity address concluded, he asked us to listen for God’s whistle and asked, “Can you hear God’s call?” He said there is an important purpose of God’s call on your life.