Personal Testimony and Call to Support Church Leadership

Michelle Montgomery

I clearly remember my Dad and Mom leading me to Christ when I was 4 years old, in the upstairs of our home in Mercer. Soon after, my Dad entered Grand Rapids Baptist Seminary and completed his MDiv.  We were always active in church during those years and following, as both of my parents are teachers and were usually found leading adult or kid’s classes or prayer meetings.  I learned from their example and was trained around the dinner table in theology, church polity and all matters of Christian duty.  To this day my parents are devoted followers of Christ and excellent examples of humble service to their church community and to each other.

Brian and I met and married while I was a student at Grove City College.  We soon got involved in our Presbyterian church in teaching and Bible school.  Following a season or two of leading VBS my church, the nominating committee requested me to consider the role of Elder and serve on the governing board of the church.  This I enjoyed greatly and did so with energy and commitment.  However, as the months passed I realized that my husband was feeling uncomfortable with my role of authority, so I stepped down from the position.  Brian had been teaching Sunday school and was soon thereafter asked to be an Elder.  

At about the same time as I stepped down from the elder role, we went on vacation and visited Hatteras Island Christian Fellowship, a Calvary Chapel church.  It was quite different from the traditional Presbyterian church we had been attending.  The sermon was delivered by a former gang-member surfer with a casual east coast surfer accent, but his message was startlingly direct.  It was a warning taken from Revelation 3:14-22, written to the church of the Laodiceans. He spoke about the lukewarm church, and how it makes the Lord sick.  The Holy Spirit showed me then and there that I was lukewarm.  Brian and I were both moved by the Holy Spirit to change our lukewarm, selfish attitude and as Pastor Rutledge said, be “sold out” for Jesus.  Our way of reading the Bible and living for the Lord changed completely.  

First, it changed how we viewed our marriage and children.  We both were convicted to turn over our lives regarding children to the Lord without reservation.  This was in no way easy, but it was the right thing to do and has proven to be an amazing blessing and public testimony we were not anticipating.  We are frequently questioned about our many children, and it’s always a great opportunity to give witness to what the Lord is doing in our lives. Also we are blessed to have children willing to serve and share their faith with others. 

Second, we began reaching out and becoming open to people we may not normally have considered reaching out to before.  The Lord brought our neighbor Joyce, who has taught me so much, into our lives.  She has stayed with us several times, and during those times I got to see the world through her eyes as a victim of abuse, neglect, alcohol abuse and poverty.  This was wonderful training for me in a whole new world of ministry.  

We also started hosting international students with Pittsburgh Region International student ministries, yet another way the Lord has taught me to see the world through new eyes.  

Eventually we left the Presbyterian church during a change of leadership that turned out poorly, and being convicted to raise our children with a view of scripture that was to treat it as though it was meant to be read by anyone, trained in seminary or not, and that it was to be obeyed as carefully as possible, we found a local Baptist Church was more closely aligned with our views of theology and scripture.

The Pastor at the Church was multi-talented and taught us a great deal.  He was a very good Bible expositor and pastor.  He had weaknesses as anyone does, but we were very encouraged by him and his wife.

Brian became a deacon and I became a deacon’s wife the Church.  I led a Bible study for women, children’s ministry, VBS, and did many jobs around the church.  Eventually I became a member and administrator of the pastor search committee that called a new Pastor.

When I began to realize there were some problems with the new Pastor, Brian and I struggled a lot over what to do. Brian and the other deacons went to him with the concerns several times, and were rebuffed each time.   Being a congregationally-ruled church, eventually we were forced to bring the problems before the congregation.    Due to my role on the pastor search team, and feeling responsible for the Pastor personally as he came to me for direction and help from time to time, and because I had been witness to certain abuses, I felt I must be the one to present the complaints against the Pastor to the church and I did so.  This led to the split of the church and we were no longer welcome. 

We then started meeting together and studying Scripture in homes, and serving the group feels natural for me.  I enjoy hosting and meeting with women, using some of the skills the Lord has given me along the way for encouragement and teaching.  As a result, I feel equipped for the role of Pastor/Elder’s wife.  

I also affirm that we are qualified according to the qualifications of church leadership outlined by Scripture.  My husband is an honest man, he loves me and his children well, he serves our family selflessly and unceasingly, he is responsible, he takes care of our home and children well, he is a faithful employee, he teaches the children from Scripture regularly, he has self-control over his tongue and actions, he is very generous, he loves serving others, especially the men in prison, and he has worked very hard over many years to be a good teacher and mentor. Most importantly, he prays and reads Scripture with diligence and devotion, and is willing to change and grow as the Lord leads.