“A Time for Everything - Jon & Dreama to Retire"
King Solomon. What more can you say in a name. Except, in this name, we know his time and place in the divine Kingdom of God. We know of his effective leadership on the earthly throne of God’s people, Israel. His name conjures up the image of a wise and noble man seeking God’s will and wisdom in his life. We would be wise to follow the same counsel in our lives to guide our actions and the talents God has given each and every one of us.

Music was put into the depths of my heart and soul. It is that which has brought much joy to serve God in this capacity; knowing now that my musical journey of knowledge and application was divinely intended for my life and useful for church ministry. Although I did not know this at an early age and the difficult years growing up in a non-churched family, following the world before becoming saved and, eventually, the Music Director at Bethlehem. But God knew all along where he could use me for His purpose.

A Time to Reflect
In the book of Ecclesiastes, Chapter 3 pretty much sums up the experiences we all will face at different points in our lives. It starts by saying…”there is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven”.
It is later in the passage we can see how all of these things fit together, and it is written there for us to appreciate and understand our productive time on earth…

Ecclesiastes 3:9-14 9 What do workers gain from their toil? 10 I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet[a] no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. 13 That each of them may eat and drink and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. 14 I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it.

Many good things have come to both Dreama and I over our years of service…
• I became “Born Again” and baptized at Bethlehem
• I helped in planning, initiating, acquiring equipment and developed the Contemporary Service
• Dreama and I met and became Married at Bethlehem
• Over the past decade, we have had successful musical outreach with the Community Christmas Concerts
• We started a Musician/Tech Sunday Bible Class
• We have nurtured several musicians with a firm Biblical foundation

Most important, we have loved serving alongside the wonderful Saints we have come to know and love at Bethlehem.

A Time to Retire
Lately, with this recent surgery, as my beautiful wife has told me on many occasions…”we’re not spring chickens anymore”. She is right in that we do not have the energy we had a decade ago. It is a time we should slow down and do more vacation travel. We have already planned that my daughter come into my insurance practice and train her to eventually take over control of operations. Although, I will be closely engaged over this transition, as I still love the business and enjoy working.

Therefore, it is time for Dreama and I to step down from the BBC Worship Ministry and let new leaders bring new ideas to the Worship Team.

FYI: Both Dreama and I will still serve in the Traditional Service while a new Director of Music and Pianist can be obtained making sure a search committee can be implemented and the new candidates placed in service making this transition as smooth as possible.

Dreama and I are looking forward to just having fun and letting God decide the next chapter in our lives. God has promised this with the verse from Jeremiah.

Jeremiah 29:11 “11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”.

We thank you all for the wonderful opportunity to serve Bethlehem Baptist Church. May it continue for another 250 years or until Jesus comes.

 

 

In His Service for His Glory,

Jon H. Vosburg lll   

Music Director/Bethlehem Baptist Church