The Ministry of Absence — Capt. Billy

Those who are carriers of Jesus in their lifetime practice the ministry of presence. Once they are gone, they continue to touch our lives though they are no longer present — the ministry of absence. 

This was my Instagram post today: 

Hardly, if ever, does a day go by that I don’t glean wisdom from the life my dad lived. I call it “The Ministry of Absence”. The book I wrote, “Relational Leadership”, has this by-line: “What I learned from a fisherman about leading a church.” I never knew a better leader than my own dad, a simple shrimp-boat captain. And surely a day does not pass that I do not miss his voice. (Thanks dad for leaving me voicemail that I replay often.) This past Sunday, Epiphany Sunday, was my dad‘s spiritual birthday. He came to Christ in the early morning hours — during the 4th watch of the night — aboard his first shrimp-boat, Miss Vickie, docked in Wanchese, North Carolina in 1969. I love this relaxed photograph of him on his last shrimp-boat, Lady Melba ⚓, steering with his feet. #FourWinds #PresenceMattersMost #Maranatha

Presence Matters Most! 

That is... Presence. Unity. Souls. Love. 

Pastor Kerry Willis