WITH.

WITH.

This picture is 1985. In the middle, Tim Helms. A year older friend from my church growing up. He was one of several upper classmen that allowed us young bloods to be with them at youth group and church which was huge to me. I still remember it. It still affects me today. The man on the left?

Tinsley.

I'm weeping as I stroke the keys.

My youth pastor.

Those words are some of the most intimate words that I could ever speak.

I am a youth pastor today at 52 years old because God used this man to be WITH me. It is where I believe WITH began its work in me about a desire to be a youth pastor. The picture above says it. As I stare with tears at this image, I see a man who was seeking to be WITH. It wasn't perfect. He struggled and struggles just like me and right in the middle of the mess he was, he was slowing to notice Damon and Tim and Dana and Chris and Jimmy.

As a freshman in high school at Calvary Church in Charlotte, NC, I met my youth pastor, Tim Tinsley. It was during that first year of high school in 1982 that I remember first hearing the whisperings inside of myself. "I think this is what I want to do when I grow up. I want to do what Tim does." And 52 years later, I got to have breakfast with my friend Drew this morning, just like Tim did with me. Lea and I got to watch our friends Hope and Michaela run cross country last night just like Tim did at my football games. In the morning when I have breakfast with Willam and later in the day go watch Myles play football, same. It's what Tim did with me.

I am declaring the work of the sovereign Lord in my life through Tim Tinsley.

He was my youth pastor at Calvary Church in Charlotte.

My first post college job was working with Tim at Cedar Springs Church in Knoxville, TN.

I then worked with him at Park Cities Presbyterian Church in Dallas, TX.

All challenging. All beautiful.

God used Tins to point me towards what God has vocationally shaped me for. Thirty five years later Lea and I are relationally rich beyond measure in the lives of every student, leader and parent that we have had the honor to be WITH for these three and half decades. From lunch at McGuffy's in Knoxville with Lea and students Kelly and Josh in week one at Cedar Springs in 1990 to breakfast with Drew and Willam over these current couple of days, my life has forever been changed because of these lives.

My life has forever been changed because of Jesus in the life of Tim Tinsley.

My friend Tim is sick. His words to me recently were "headed towards home soon".

Tins.

Thank you.

Thank you for being with that freshman in 1982.

Rest good man.

Christ is good in you.

I grieve and I celebrate your life.

Thank you.

The multiplication of WITH is staggering.

There's more.