FINAL CHAPTER

Well...as we come to the end of Bob's MMEMail (and my column therein), I have a few final thoughts:

I am so grateful to Bob Burroughs for giving me the opportunity to share what God has allowed me to experience and learn in the last 20 years of my instrumental ministry pilgrimage. His constant encouragement has pushed me to go where I would not have gone on my own. I am a better person and a better minister because of him. THANK YOU, BOB! Blessings!

I am also thankful for your encouraging comments and suggestions along the way. many of you gave me the incentive (and sometimes the direction) I needed to continue writing. THANK YOU!

Bob may be leaving Florida, but I'll still be here! If you have any questions about instrumental ministry, email me at <skirby@idlewild.org>. If I cannot help, I'll find someone who can! As a matter of fact, John Gage, my dear friend, has developed a website for instrumentalists. Check out <www.churchorchestra.com>. It contains articles and resources pertaining to instrumental ministry and links to instrumental sites. It also has a listing of church instrumental directors from all over the country, plus many other features.

As I close, take these things to heart:

Stay close to the Word. It will never let you down!
Don't take yourself too seriously. Take God and His work seriously!
Duplicate yourself by mentoring. It's a joy beyond measure to have "children" in the ministry. I'm still waiting for "grandchildren!"