Give It a Go: New Beginnings, #2

By Deb Brammer

When visitors move on to other churches, Pastor Greg recites excuses for why church attendance is dropping. Two years after the death of his beloved wife, Dana, however, he realizes that, without a trained, fulltime partner in ministry, the church will continue to suffer. Greg feels the Lord leading him to open his heart again.

Jennifer is happy with her life and job in America and glad to live close to her children and grandchildren. When MacKenzie suggests Jennifer take a puppet team to New Zealand, Jennifer suspects a matchmaking scheme. She responds with a definite "uh uh." No way is she going to traipse down to New Zealand to throw herself at a pastor she respects too highly to consider dating. Or would dating even be possible in their situation?

When the compelling nature of the trip calls to Jennifer, however, she agrees to go, but only to pass new skills on to mission churches. When Greg asks the unthinkable, will she be willing to give the idea a go, trusting God to lead her down a different path, not knowing where it will lead?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Deb Brammer
• Release date: Sep 12, 2022
• ISBN: 9798215005071

Deb Brammer

Deb Brammer has served with her husband, Art, in missions ministry since 1980. They served in Taiwan from 1980 to 1996 and in New Zealand since 1998. The emphases on ministry and cross-cultural relationships in her books grow naturally out of her own ministry. Deb has authored ten books: eight fiction, one true story, and one Bible study. When you read a Deb Brammer fiction book you will find fun characters who deal with real issues that challenge them to grow in their faith. On her website you will find books related to ministries in New Zealand, Taiwan, China, and ministry to international students in America. For more information about Deb, Deb’s Book Blast (author newsletter), her books, her ministry blog and resources, see her website. You can also find her on Facebook.  https://www.facebook.com/DebBrammerAuthor/

Book preview

Chapter 1

Greg Fischer reached for his beloved. Encircling her body, he inhaled the smell of the golden blond hair that fell around his fingers. As her body began to drift away, he clutched tighter, unwilling to let her go. But the tighter he held her the less solid she felt in his arms.

Dana! The scream drove her further away. He awoke, clutching his pillow, his mouth dry.

Dana?

He reached to her side of the bed. Cold and empty, as usual. Taking one last whiff of her pillow, he thrust it aside and forced himself to sit up and place his feet on the cool carpet. Focus on reality, Pastor Greg. It was Monday morning, preacher’s day off. Yesterday could have gone better, to be honest, but then disappointment was a part of life. He couldn’t let a few comments get him down.

In the kitchen he filled the jug, switched it on and pulled the instant coffee from the cupboard. While the water came to a boil, he put his glasses on and booted up the laptop that had become a permanent fixture on the dining room table. May sixth. 6:43 a.m.

Until yesterday, Greg thought the new family liked Friendly Bay Bible Church. They’d come three times and always offered encouraging comments. But yesterday they were absent. Heather said they were starting to look at some other churches.

Do you know why they didn’t want to keep coming to our church? Greg had asked.

They loved your preaching, she’d said. Straight from the Bible and easy to follow. They said our people were friendly. But they wanted a church that offered more for the children.

Yesterday that seemed so unfair. The church people did what they could in their wee mission church in Oamaru, New Zealand.  We have Sunday School. We teach quality curriculum.

Of course. Heather’s eyes had apologized for a fact they could not change. Sunday School is great for teaching kids the Bible, but I think they wanted something during the week, with fun activities, like we used to have. Dana created amazing programs for our kids’ club. Kids like energetic Bible stories, great crafts, fun games. They like to compete for prizes. It’s not anyone’s fault, but we just don’t have the things that worked for us before.

Like it or not, a lot of kids quit coming two years ago when Dana’s heart quit beating and the kids’ club ceased. Dana’s brain was a fountain, ever flowing with endless ideas. He couldn’t expect untrained church ladies to produce the kind of program Dana could create with little more than imagination. In fact, he really couldn’t expect them to do much more than they were doing now. Dana had been a trained, competent, fulltime partner in ministry. Now Greg felt the church was doing well just to have two Sunday School teachers who could teach when they had curriculum placed in their hands.

The church had been patient with the situation for two years, but Greg sensed that patience was wearing thin.

What am I supposed to do, Lord? Raise Dana from the dead? I can’t help it if I’m a single pastor.

Single. He preferred to think of himself as previously married. But yesterday’s challenges slapped him awake this morning, demanding he accept the dreaded label. A single missionary pastor could never accomplish as much as a ministry couple could. He’d been telling himself that for two years, reciting the excuse every time the best he could offer didn’t seem good enough. Today, however, he realized that the man in the mirror with quickly graying hair could still have nearly two decades of ministry left in him—as a single man.

As he logged into his computer, the screen flashed on his favorite photo of Dana. He couldn’t imagine why God had chosen to call her away and leave him behind. Greg still missed her, but after more than twenty-seven months without her, he was functioning better than he had at first. That was progress, right? It was all he could do so it had to be good enough.

Losing the new family, however, choked the hope out of him. It reminded Greg yet again of what the church was missing with Dana gone. The kids’ club wasn’t the only area to suffer without her. Their youth group had never been big, but Dana had made the pastor’s home feel like their home. She baked special treats, spread joy and laughter, and made everyone feel like part of the family. Connor and Tegan still attended week by week, but the simple Bible study wouldn’t attract new members.

If that wasn’t bad enough, Ella was having trouble relating to her unsaved husband. Recently, when Greg offered to talk to her about it, she said she only felt comfortable talking about it to another woman. Not just any woman, but a woman she knew. A friend. In other words, Dana.

Raewyn had gotten saved recently, which was great, but the other women in the church didn’t feel qualified to do a new believer’s Bible study with her. She needed Dana.

Greg touched the cheek on the computer screen. Can you see me from up there, Dana? You told me to begin again and I have. It’s not easy being a pastor without a wife, but I’m making it. One step at a time, I’m moving more steps forward than backward.

Greg lifted a magnet from the fridge and reached for a yellow square of paper, worn with age and use, which recorded Dana’s last words to him. Begin again. Serve God with all your heart. He still wants to use you. Finish strong.

Begin again. He underlined the first two words in red ink. He’d read those words every day for the last twenty-seven months. Somehow, he’d felt he had begun again, every day, by simply getting out of bed and doing the work in front of him. But today good intentions seemed like meager attempts to convince himself he was fulfilling God’s plan.

Begin again. Leaning back in his chair, he mumbled the two words over and over again until he could almost hear Dana’s voice speaking them.

What am I missing, Lord?

Greg quieted his heart until his memories carried him one day farther into the past than her last words and her last breath. The family had gathered around Dana. They were saying goodbyes, knowing her time left on earth was almost over. The nurse had given her a sedative and shooed everyone from the room except Greg who quietly held her hand. 

Dana had caressed him with weary eyes. Do me a favor?

He’d kissed her hand and held it close to his heart. Anything.

Her words called to him now across the years. These words had been easy to forget, probably because he had refused to consider them, intentionally blocking them from his mind until today. For weeks he’d been feeling lost, asking God for direction. Just now Dana’s four whispered words and God’s inaudible voice spoke to him in unison with one clear message.

You. Need. To. Remarry.

Chapter 2

Smiley’s violin was drooping. Maybe this was a bad idea, asking puppeteers who were barely managing arm rods to manipulate a two-man puppet. But Matt and Mark were brothers and this script seemed made for them.

Outside the puppet stage Jennifer Titus scanned the script and fed them her line. Was that you playing ‘Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star’ on the violin, Smiley? You sounded great.

That wasn’t really me playing, said Matt in Smiley’s dopey voice. That was a CD. But I’m going to be a great violinist someday. Maybe I can play in a grand concert hall. I’ll wear a tuxedo and a tall silk hat. All the pretty ladies will throw flowers at ...

Cut. Jennifer peered over the top of the stage at them. Matt, the voice is great but you’ve got to stick the violin under Smiley’s chin more. She nudged the instrument into place. And Mark, can you angle the bow better so it looks more like Smiley’s really playing it?

Mark grabbed the bow with his left hand and pulled his right arm out of Smiley’s sleeve. Working a human arm puppet for two looked so easy when Brayden and Alyssa did it, but my muscles are cramping.

Muscle fatigue. It happened to the most experienced puppeteers. She should have seen it coming.  Brayden and Alyssa had five years to grow in their puppet skills, so of course it’s easier for them.  But they’re at Bible college now, so we need new puppeteers to grow into their place. Jennifer had pushed them too far. Experience taught her that, past a certain point, more practice just wore the puppeteers out.  It was time for praise. You know what? I think we’re going to quit for now. We’ll run through it one more time tomorrow night, but it’s going to be a great addition to the kids’ mission program. It doesn’t have to be perfect to be effective. You guys have come a long way in the past couple of weeks. Go home and rest your arm muscles.

Jennifer was stuffing her script into a folder when she spotted a couple walking down the center aisle toward her. She’d been expecting Levi and MacKenzie Oliver all afternoon. Faith Community Church had just begun supporting these missionary appointees and had invited them to speak at their mission conference.

MacKenzie stepped onto the platform beside the puppet stage. Hi, Jennifer. I love what you’re doing with the puppets. I never realized a puppet could actually play a violin.

Jennifer nodded towards Matt and Mark who were placing their puppet in a box. A human arm puppet can do almost anything, but a head with two puppet arms takes two puppeteers with a lot of endurance. Right guys?

Setting the lid on the puppet box, Mark grinned. Either that or a puppeteer with three arms. He started dismantling the puppet stage.

Levi stepped onto the platform beside Jennifer.  We need the keys for the guest apartment. Pastor Steve says you know where they are.

Jennifer grabbed her folder and started down the platform steps. Yep. That’s my job. Keeper of the keys and finder of all lost items.

MacKenzie matched her stride toward the office. Pastor Steve says the church would go on if he resigned as pastor, but he’s not sure what they’d do if something happened to you.

He just doesn’t want to break in a new secretary. Jennifer picked up a piece of trash and straightened the tract rack. That’s what I get for staying in the same position for twenty-six years. How’s Pastor Greg getting along in New Zealand?

Levi opened the office door for her. We talked to him a few weeks ago and it sounds like he’s doing all right. Some good things are happening at the church. Of course, he still misses Dana, but I think he’s moving on.

Jennifer pushed her shoulder-length brown hair behind one ear and turned to the Fischers’ dated prayer card on the bulletin board. Dana’s face smiled back at her. When the Lord took Dana home, I just couldn’t believe it. She and I were in the same youth group thirty-some years ago. She was a little older than I was, but she was always fun and nice to everyone.  Then she met Greg and they worked hand in glove in mission ministry for over twenty years. I have so much respect for them. Pastor Greg’s a little slow to keep up with technology and he couldn’t tell a joke if his life depended on it. But he preaches the Word, straight and clear. He loves his people and nothing stops him from faithful service year after year. She straightened the card a little. But I don’t need to tell you that. Levi, how many months did you work with him?

A little more than six months after Dana died.

Jennifer shook her head at the prayer card. When he finally updates his prayer card, no one will want it without Dana in the picture.

Levi sat on the edge of the office desk. I miss Dana’s rubber snake that welcomes visitors to their home, even if it did humiliate me in front of the girl who would become my wife. He winked at Kenzie.  But living with Pastor Greg through months of his grieving process for Dana taught me a lot. It wasn’t so much the words he said, but his steadfast grip on God and his quiet determination to carry out God’s will every day.

Jennifer unlocked a key case on the wall of the church office and handed them a key. Evelyn said she cleaned the apartment yesterday so it should be ready to go. Enjoy.

As the door closed behind them Jennifer brought up the computer file of the bulletin and started printing it. As the last of several hundred copies spit out of the printer, the door opened. MacKenzie slipped into the office and closed the door. Um, about the puppets.

Yes?

You don’t really have to have a lot of puppeteers for a good puppet team, do you?

No. A few committed members can give you a good start. Why?

Levi and I were just thinking. MacKenzie fiddled with some paper clips from Jennifer’s desk. I think puppets could work really well in New Zealand.

I’m sure they could. Would you like me to give you some pointers? Jennifer thought back to their last prayer letter and calculated how long it might take this young couple to reach full support. They had at least a year of pre-field service in front of them. With all your traveling, you’re sure to be through Minnesota several more times. Each time you’re in the Rochester area you could stay in the guest apartment and I could get you all set up.

MacKenzie made a bracelet with the string of paper clips and pulled it onto her wrist. That would be great, but we were just wondering ...

Yes?

We saw Brayden and Alyssa recently at the Bible college. He asked us about taking a mission trip to New Zealand. Alyssa isn’t sure what God has for her. She and her boyfriend seem to be pretty committed to their relationship, but a mission trip would count toward her course requirements.  Seeing the guys work with puppets just now made us wonder. Wouldn’t it be great if Brayden and Alyssa could go down, partner with Kiwi youth, and teach them puppet ministry skills?

Absolutely. Jennifer’s brain shifted into overdrive. Four or five weeks would probably be enough to teach the Friendly Bay Bible Church teens some skills. Our puppeteers could help them build a puppet stage, practice with them, and do several performances.

That’s what Levi and I thought. In fact, Friendly Bay Bible is part of a group of churches that might all appreciate learning a new skill set. During their winter school holidays in July, Americans could work with Kiwi churches to provide all they need to get started.

With the right tools the pair of puppeteers could do a lot in a few weeks. Sounds like an amazing idea to me, if the Kiwi churches want it. You can’t push it on them, but you could certainly present it in a compelling fashion.  I know our church would be glad to sponsor a trip like that. Plus, I know a travel agent who can find rock bottom air fares to almost anywhere. Would you go with them?

We’re trying to save our funds for moving down there as missionaries. MacKenzie’s eyes twinkled a little too brightly.  What the trip really needs is an organizer, someone who understands the potential of an effective puppet ministry and can ‘present it in a compelling fashion.’

So that’s what this was about. Jennifer folded her arms. Nice try, MacKenzie, but I’m not looking for a husband. When Jason died in that car accident eight years ago, I was devastated at first, but I knew I was far too young to give up on life. That’s when I attended a puppet conference and started the puppet team here. I love working with the young people as they grow in their puppet skills and desire to serve the Lord. This church needs me as the secretary, at least they think they do, and I like to feel needed. I have a full life and I’ve told the Lord I’m satisfied to stay single for the rest of my life. She anchored one hand on a hip and leaned into MacKenzie’s personal space. You need to understand this. Pastor Greg will always be Dana’s husband to me, unless or until he remarries. I’m not about to go traipsing along to some mission field on some matchmaking mission. No. Not a chance. Uh-uh.

MacKenzie stepped back a step. I’m talking about a mission trip. You’re the one who read romance into the program. You said yourself it was an amazing idea. Think of what one trip could offer several mission churches. An effective tool that even small churches can use. All the expertise they need for a good start. A way for a supporting church in America to truly partner with several Kiwi churches. I thought you might want to be a part of that. She shrugged. Maybe not.

Jennifer studied MacKenzie’s stone face. The young redhead never flinched.

Maybe Jennifer was overreacting. Specific, achievable goals that could, in a matter of weeks, put skills in the hands of national church workers. It ticked all the boxes of the perfect short term mission trip. Jennifer gathered the bulletins from the printer tray and straightened them into several piles. I’m sorry if I misread your intentions, MacKenzie. Single women have to tread more carefully in many situations than married ones. She shook her finger at MacKenzie. "I just want to make it crystal clear that I am not interested in marrying Greg Fischer or becoming a missionary wife."

Sure. MacKenzie shrugged. I hear you. So, getting back to the mission trip that was an amazing idea just moments ago, should we mention it to Pastor Greg and see what he says? We wouldn’t do anything without his full support, of course. But we need to know if it’s a possibility before we present it to him.

Jennifer walked to the giant year planner on the wall and trailed her finger from the present time in May down to June. If Faith Community worked with Brayden and Alyssa, would they be able to organize a puppet mission trip in six weeks? Maybe they could if they got started on it right away.

She turned to MacKenzie. I can’t speak for our pastors or the missions committee, even though I’m on it. The organizer in Jennifer’s brain started clicking again. But we’re the sending church for the Fischers—for Pastor Greg. If we had a request from the field to send a group to help them set up a puppet ministry, I’d say we’d give serious consideration to doing our part to make it happen.

* * *

Greg ended the Zoom call, closed the browser, and lifted his favorite framed picture of his dear wife, the one of her laughing.

Dana, my love, I wish you were here. I understand the basic meaning of that phone call, but I feel like I’m missing the undertones. You always understood the meaning beyond the words far better than I. I guess it’s a female thing.

Levi had, for some strange reason, started growing a beard that was just darker than his blond hair. MacKenzie’s eyes seemed to sparkle with mischief, but he was probably mis-reading that. Maybe she was pregnant. Pregnant women were supposed to have a maternal glow about them, though Greg had never understood that. It was great seeing this couple who had met when they were apprentices at Friendly Bay Bible Church. When Dana received her cancer diagnosis, in desperation, Greg had asked them to take charge of their ministry for six weeks.  The cancer treatment had failed, but Levi and MacKenzie had finished their apprenticeship. Levi had even stayed on to be a special help to Greg. Now they were married and raising support to return to New Zealand as missionaries. Young and enthusiastic, they were just what church plants in New Zealand needed. Maybe they would spend their first year in New Zealand ministry being mentored by him, a single pastor, who was just putting one foot in front of another to minister week by week. That didn’t seem fair to them, but that was the future. The future belonged to God.

In the Zoom meeting, Levi and MacKenzie proposed a puppet ministry mission trip that would teach puppet skills to Connor and Tegan and teens in other area churches. It would give Kiwi teens a chance to take part in meaningful ministry as well as bring new interest to children’s ministries.

Greg couldn’t help thinking the idea came from God. If Connor and Tegan learned the skills to run a puppet team, they could probably keep it going on their own. There had to be a way to use puppets to teach their church kids and attract others.

The idea was straightforward, but MacKenzie’s contributions hinted at undercurrents.

The church might feel better about supporting a mission trip if they got an invitation directly from the field. You know, assure them you recognize the value of the trip on your side of the deal.  I don’t think the mission committee would be interested in making a frivolous mission trip that was more fun than help.

Jennifer Titus knew how to start puppet teams. Wouldn’t it be simpler if she just emailed him a plan and he okayed it? Did it have to originate from him?

Brayden and Alyssa would be great workers, but the trip would probably go better with a leader to organize the program. Someone who really understands puppets and the ways they can be used. Of course, Jennifer has always led the puppet team at Faith Community.

Why wouldn’t they bring Jennifer? She was the most capable church secretary he’d ever met. If you wanted to climb Mount Everest, Jennifer would plan the details and make it happen.

She might be willing to come along if she got an official invitation. You know Jennifer. Give her a job and she runs things like a professional.

Jennifer? When he’d been around her before, she and Dana joked and giggled like a couple of teenage girls. Pastor Greg sorted through a file of digital photos from their last furlough until he found one of Dana and Jennifer building a snowman, on the church lawn, at night. Tearing his eyes away from his golden blond Dana on the right, he studied the brunette on the left, the hub of the well-oiled machine of Faith Community Rochester.  Jennifer was ...

Greg took a sip of coffee, paced down the hallway and back, and studied the left side of the photo again. Jennifer was actually ... when you looked closely ... attractive. Forgive me, Dana, but she is. And she seemed to be in the middle of this whole deal. Founding director of the puppet team, missions committee member, close follower of the ministry here in Oamaru.

And single.

Greg turned his back on the computer image and marched to the kitchen to have a bowl of Weet-Bix. Pouring milk on the rectangles of layered wheat, he considered the impossible situation MacKenzie had hinted at. Jennifer was a capable, godly woman with a heart for missions, a widow close to his own age. He had already learned to love her as Dana’s friend. A puppet team ministry, coming at this time, with this woman leading it, seemed like God and Dana ganging up on him. Hello, Greg! Open door here. You going to ignore it or not?

Yet MacKenzie was strongly hinting that Jennifer preferred to deal with it in a professional manner. Not a bad idea. After all, the romance angle could blow up in their faces and they’d still have to finish the mission trip. Maybe Jennifer was as terrified of dating a friend’s husband as he was of dating a friend of Dana’s. It seemed so personal, like three friends in the marriage. 

Just thinking of the M word made him choke on his Weet-Bix, leaving him gasping for air. Lord, help me! Is this idea from you?

Greg dumped his soggy Weet-Bix in the rubbish bin and headed back to his office. Lord, I’ve begged for guidance and you’ve dumped this great ministry opportunity in my lap. I don’t know what you’re going to do with it, but give me courage to take the next step.

He needed courage because any move in the romance direction with Jennifer could end so badly. He could ruin a long-term friendship with Jennifer, tarnish his reputation with his sending church, embarrass his church people, and give the community a chance to ridicule. But a half hour of overthinking all the things that could happen only confused him and sapped his faith. It was just a mission trip and, as such, a good idea. It didn’t need to include romance at all. He’d leave that up to God. Greg snatched up his cell phone and dialed an international number. He would not schedule a Zoom meeting at a time like this. Jennifer might read all kinds of signals from his face, and he would be totally clueless about her—

Faith Community Church. This is Jennifer.

Greg chugged some cold coffee and assumed his most professional voice. Hi, Jennifer. This is Greg Fischer in New Zealand. I hope I haven’t caught you at a bad time.

Just cleaning out the office cupboards. How can I help?

A lifetime of warm welcomes had been replaced with a polite secretarial tone reserved for strangers.

Greg took a deep breath.