My Husband My Pastor

This article by Edith Moore let's us have a glimpse at Guerneville Bible Church's history; it was originally publish in An Independent Church Journal January-February 2005:

My Husband My Pastor
Edith Moore

I've had a few discoveries in my life, but none so profound as the Sunday I discovered that my husband had become my pastor.

Charles and I had been ministering at Guerneville Bible Church in Northern California for about six months. Every Sunday and Wednesday I would listen to my husband's messages and share with him my critique of them. With this attitude I was learning very little. Also my attitude was hard for my husband to bear and was not helping in the ministry. So I began praying about my attitude. Then it happened. One Sunday morning my husband was preaching and the Lord transformed him from just being my husband into my Pastor!

I started learning from him. Each Sunday and Wednesday I would eagerly anticipate his messages, as he was an excellent Bible teacher.

Why did I have this attitude? I can only confess that I was more concerned each Sunday and Wednesday with my husband looking good, sounding good, being accepted by the people, and making me look good. Instead of realizing that Charles was God's spokesman in the pulpit, I thought he was representing me to the people.

After the Lord was able to get through to my heart Charles was free to be directed by the Lord. He did not have to worry about me trying to critique him in his preaching and direct him.

I thank God that He changed my heart and allowed me to truly be blessed and taught by my husband/pastor. I also experienced freedom from all the useless concerns and insecurity that my attitude brought. God continued to bless me for my change of heart by allowing my ministry with other women in the church to be the best that I have ever experienced. Praise God that He is in the business of changing hearts. And I thank Him for showing me that He was speaking to me through my husband, my Pastor!

The Lord saved Charles and Edith in 1973. Charles graduated from Sacramento Bible Institute and did a year internship at Vallejo Bible Church before he was ordained. They had four grown children. Charles went to be with the Lord on Saturday, September 25, 2004