God's Shepherd-Pastor Toby Retirement And Anniversary Message

"God's Shepherd—Pastor Toby Anniversary & Retirement"

12/11/ 20 Isaiah 61:1-3 Matthew 25:31-40 1 Peter 5:1-4

Today is a day of joy and celebration and a day of tempered with sadness yet filled with hope, as we celebrate our Pastor’s 35th anniversary to the ordained ministry, her 65th birthday, and her retirement from this wonderful church known as New Life At Calvary. Our hearts are filled with joy and our eyes are filled with tears as one chapter closes and another begins.

We feel this way because we know that we have had the opportunity of being ministered to by one of the greatest servants in the kingdom of God, our own Rev. Dr. Toby Gillespie-Mobley, but known in our hearts as simply “Pastor Toby.”

One of the greatest things God has given to us is His Son Jesus Christ, who said of Himself I am the Good Shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for His sheep.

35 years ago, Pastor Toby received the call of God to be ordained and installed as a Shepherd of Roxbury Presbyterian Church. I was present on that day. With God as my witness, I testify that I have seen Pastor Toby at , Roxbury Presbyterian Church, Glenville Presbyterian Church, Glenville New Life Community Church, New Life Fellowship, Calvary Presbyterian Church and New Life At Calvary, time and time again serve as a shepherd laying down her life for the sheep that have been under her care.

One of the most difficult things about trying to choose a passage of Scripture for today’s message, is that Pastor Toby is the living reality of so much of the word of God. So much of what you find in Jesus, she has already allowed Jesus to put inside of her.

She will be the first to say, “whatever good you see in me, it’s because of Jesus working in me.” I can’t think of another person that I know who has lived a life that has been more full of grace and truth than she has.

The passage of scripture I want us to look at this morning comes to from 1 Peter chapter 5. Peter has a word for us as elders, pastors, youth leaders, bible study teachers, life connect leaders and those who God appoints over others in the body of Christ.

1 Peter 5:2 (NIV2011) 2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve;

You know shepherds are assigned to a particular flock. They can look at the flocks of other shepherds and admire them, but when it comes to their own flock, they are ready to do what it takes to protect them, to guide them and to feed them. You will not find a more loyal shepherd than you see in Pastor Toby to her flock.

Jesus once said, “I have come that you might have life and have it more abundantly.” Pastor Toby has wanted the life that God gives to us to prosper where ever it appears. She worked hard to save lives in their mother’s womb. She worked hard helping mothers with their babies. She raised many a church child right in her own home. She worked with teenagers in need of a role model. She’s been there for young adults trying to find their way.

She’s been there for older adults in need of a friend. She’s been there for senior citizens pouring out her love. She’s been there in the rooms with those who were breathing their last breath before going to be with the Lord. When some people walk into a room they come in saying, “Hey, Here I am,” but with Pastor Toby it’s more “oh there you are.” She consistently seeks to infuse life into others.

She has watched over her flock eagerly going after those who have drifted away. Always ready to receive back the sheep, even the ones who tried to bite her, kick her or knock her down. She’s felt it was more important to get the sheep home safely, than it was to hold a grudge for the wrong that was done. Just like Jesus, she doesn’t give up on you.

Peter adds a comment on watching over the flock. He says, “Don’t do it because you must, but because you are willing as God wants you to be.” It would be very difficult for you to remember a time when you watched Pastor Toby serving without her heart being in it. You’ve never seen her lead a praise song in a dead manner.

She learned from her Mom that love is a part that needs to go into everything she does. One day, her mother asked her to cut up some items to go into a tossed salad. Pastor Toby wanted to be doing something else at the time. So she was chopping and cutting the things like she was angry. Her mother told her, “she was making the salad wrong. She certainly wouldn’t want to eat the salad. It was being made without love in its preparation.” Pastor Toby learned then, “why you do something can be far more important than what you actually do.”