Get out of the Boat – November 16, 2015

“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” – Matthew 14:28

Last weekend I had the pleasure of spending 24 hours with the PBS Senior Class of 2016 at the annual Senior Retreat. We took the Seniors to Camp Living Waters in Loranger, LA for an overnight trip of bonding, old-fashioned fun, and spiritual growth. I was excited to have one of my own spiritual mentors lead three sessions of sharing God’s Word with the class.

Our featured speaker, Mark Robert, has the uncanny ability to make me want to become a Christian all over again every time I hear him speak. He is a true man of God, a man of humility and integrity. With his stories about his Uncle Pete, leading his football teammates to Christ at halftime of a ball game, and boldly proclaiming the Gospel with students in a public school classroom, Coach Robert challenged us all to “get out of the boat.”

It has been exactly one year this week that I was appointed High School Division Head of Parkview Baptist School. If you had told me two years ago that I would in Baton Rouge serving at Parkview, I would have told you that you were crazy. I was more than comfortable with my family in my hometown of Mandeville, serving the Lord in my dream job as a Bible teacher at my alma mater. I could not imagine ever wanting to be anywhere else. My plan was to finish my career at that school, and I even proclaimed my burial site under the big oak tree on the playground of the campus.

The Bible says in Proverbs 19:21, Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails. I would soon find out the Lord had a different plan for my life.

When I was eight years old, my dad retired from his career as a real-live rocket scientist at the age of 43. With his Ph.D. in Nuclear Physics, he had worked for NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans during the “Space Race” of the ’60s and ’70s. He went on to work at the LSU Medical Center the following decade. In 1973, a neighbor invited my dad to a home Bible study. Through that study, my parents gave their lives to Christ. Once the Lord got a hold of my dad, his relentless desire became sharing the good news of the Gospel with others. He began to enjoy spending his lunch hours at work sharing the Gospel with co-workers more than his job itself. In 1983, he stepped out of the boat and stepped out in faith. My dad gave up a stable paycheck and a comfortable lifestyle and began a ministry of sharing the Gospel with businessmen in the New Orleans area. We had no steady income as we lived by faith, depending upon God’s people to provide our needs. My dad turned 75 a couple weeks ago, and he has not slowed down one bit in his pursuit for the lost.

This example of faith was modeled for me from an early age. I saw the Lord provide for my family time after time, and I am eternally grateful for the influence of my parents and the sacrifices they made to raise me in a Christian home and send me to a Christian school. My faith in Christ is a direct result of their faithfulness.

In May of 2014, the Lord asked me and my family to get out of the boat and step out in faith. He asked me to sacrifice my comfortable lifestyle and my dream job in order to obey Him and trust Him. I was willing and obedient, and the Lord led me and my family to Parkview Baptist School in Baton Rouge. Over the last year and a half, I have watched the glorious unfolding and the riches of His plan come to fruition. It has been an exciting adventure to truly step out in faith. I am humbled daily by His love for me, and it is my heart’s desire to keep my eyes focused on Him.

As you read these words, I pray the Lord is challenging you to step out of the boat. All He asks for is a willing heart and simple obedience to His calling (Isaiah 1:19). The boat ride of life is a lot of fun, but it’s nothing compared to walking on water.

“Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. – Matthew 14:29

For His Glory,

Ben D. Haindel

High School Division Head